Matt LaFleur’s evening began on a tense note even before his team took the field on Thursday.

During the pregame ceremonies, the head coach of the Green Bay Packers found himself in a heated exchange with a Detroit Lions supporter who was present on the field to assist with holding up the American flag during the national anthem.

LaFleur and the fan, clad in a Brian Branch jersey, exchanged shouts and gestures until a Packers staff member intervened. Several Packers players then approached the scene before officials intervened to diffuse the situation. “I’ve never experienced anything like that,” LaFleur remarked following the Packers’ 34-31 defeat.

“He was taunting our players, making a throat-slash gesture. I was trying to calm things down, and then he got in my face. It seemed pretty unsportsmanlike to me.”

LaFleur further expressed that he wished the fan had been removed before the situation escalated further. “I’ve never witnessed anything like that. I’ve been on many fields, and typically they manage such situations much better.

I thought it was a pompous fan who wanted to be part of the action. I hope security would step in and remove him because he shouldn’t be doing that.”