2026 Coaching Staff

[OldSchool101]

I did not see a thread for our general staff changes
With all the changes to DC come quite a few new changes with Assistant coaches who will working alongside them.

the more I study our new hires the more I see the direction we are headed.

Jonathan Gannon. In his final year as DC of the Philadelphia Eagles (2022) he led the NFL In Sacks (70). That’s an impressive number and while the Roster will be different, you have to be firing on all cylinders to achieve #1

Bobby Babich. In his final season with Buffalo he led the league in Passing Defense. He was square on my radar for DC as seen before Hafley was hired. Although Hafley turned out to be a blessing and very likable to top it off. Babich has near a decade of history coaching DB’s and LB’s. His experience at Safety is obvious.

Babich also served under and was mentored by Leslie Frazier. Frazier has become one of the top Defensive minds of the game. Obviously he is Coaching this weekend and completely turned around the Seattle Defense as Seattles Assistant Head Coach. He also did it in short order. Bobby was one of Leslie’s right hand men and was a key component to dominating level Defenses in Buffalo.

Frazier and Bobby linked up to transform the Buffalo Bills into formidable Defenses ranking

2017 #18 points allowed
8th Turnovers

2018 #18 points allowed
9th turnovers

2019 #2 points allowed
10th turnovers

2020 #16 points allowed
3rd Turnovers

2021 #2points allowed
3rd turnovers

2023 #1 points allowed
4th turnovers

Six consecutive seasons ranking top 10 in turnovers is a really good sign for a team who has struggled in that category.


John Gannon as a DC with Vic Fangio took over for Jim Schwartz #20 ranked unit and improved to.

2021 #18 scoring
26th turnovers

2022 #10 scoring
5th turnovers.

 

[Wi. Mike now in Florida]

Packers are in a serious mode on how to not repeat those embarrassing losses and hiring new blood in our coaching staff with new ideas is their plan with I hope we will be much improvement for next season.

Makes me appreciate what it takes to get to, play, and win a Super Bowl.

 

[rmontro]

Fire them all.
Just kidding.
They sound like good hires, honestly. I'm optimistic about them.

 

[Wi. Mike now in Florida]

Fire them all.
Just kidding.
They sound like good hires, honestly. I'm optimistic about them.

Good luck with your optimistic in 2026

 

[rmontro]

Good luck with your optimistic in 2026

Well, I'm optimistic about these new coaching hires, not necessarily the team as a whole. We still have the draft to get excited about though. One thing I like about next year is the probability that we'll get Parsons back late in the season - right around the time we usually have our late season letdown. Hopefully the defense will find a way to play well without him, and when he gets back he will give the team a real lift. Hopefully we won't have been eliminated by then...

 

[Wi. Mike now in Florida]

My less then optimistic opinion is, yeah, Parson's is a great player along with our QB J. Love.
But it takes more than a couple good players to return to create a winning team.

Maybe I'm wrong, but like you stated, hopefully the defense will come alive when Parson's returns.

 

[gopkrs]

I'm still believing that the O is most important for us. I am hoping for an improved O line with backups there also improved. If that means making past starters backups; I'm fine with that. Or the very good defenses will eat us up.

 

[OldSchool101]

Matt made this announcement regarding some staff changes today, Thursday Mar 19, 2026

I was glad to see us retain Demarcus Covington for maybe some continuity there.

Coach Pauley was Christian Watson’s WR Coach. He also Coached Jaylin Noel and Jayden Higgins, who were all Day 2 draft selections. North Dakota State Won a pair of National Titles during his tenure. He also played Division II where he was part of a team that Won 2 National Titles

Our new LB’s Coach Seifkes, has strong ties to Wisconsin. He’s a WI native (Oconomowoc) and played for UW-L. Go Eagles! Also has coaching ties to Platteville and the Badgers.

Packers announce coaching-staff changes

Head Coach Matt LaFleur made the announcements on Thursday

www.packers.com

 

[El Guapo]

I suppose that this is the place to discuss Special Teams as well. The Packers (or LaFleur) really screwed the pooch here. Gutekunst, who maybe smelled death in the air, spent a lot of time in his post-season press conference tossing out flowers to Bisaccia - more than usual. Bisaccia went on vacation, then came back and worked for a week, and then stepped down mid-February to supposedly be closer to home. I get that if it's the main reason. We will probably never know.

The worst part of it was the timing. There were 11 special teams coaches hired after Black Monday, 9 of which with experience as the head ST coach (veterans). The Packers were left sorting through the discard bin. To pour salt in the wound, our assistant ST coach was Byron Storer, who was poached by Cleveland to be their ST coach earlier in February. So the Packers couldn't even promote him for continuity. He may not have been better than Bisaccia, as Green Bay's special teams has been a factory of sadness for far too long. Can anyone make it better? I wonder if it was just coincidence that Storer left just before Bisaccia went on vacation and then came back and stepped down.

The Packers eventually hired Cam Achord, who doesn't have much of a stellar record to make us happy. I think Patriots fans chimed a bell to clear the negative energy after he left. The best thing going for him is Bill Belichik's stamp of approval, for whatever that is worth these days. Achord hired Jeff Koonz to be his assistant, and was either told to promote Cody Harkey to be co-assistant or he really wanted to retain some of the ST coaching experience from last season. Harkey was third key under Bisaccia.

We don't really know what all of this means, but I am setting some even lower expectations for ST in 2026. I hope to be surprised.

 

[El Guapo]

Bobby Babich. In his final season with Buffalo he led the league in Passing Defense. He was square on my radar for DC as seen before Hafley was hired. Although Hafley turned out to be a blessing and very likable to top it off. Babich has near a decade of history coaching DB’s and LB’s. His experience at Safety is obvious.

Babich also served under and was mentored by Leslie Frazier. Frazier has become one of the top Defensive minds of the game. Obviously he is Coaching this weekend and completely turned around the Seattle Defense as Seattles Assistant Head Coach. He also did it in short order. Bobby was one of Leslie’s right hand men and was a key component to dominating level Defenses in Buffalo.

This is the only coaching move that has me mildly excited for 2026. Getting Leslie Frazier would have been the bees knees. Maybe Babich is also the a great coach, we shall see.

Noah Pauley has me mildly intrigued as well. Coming from DII to the NFL is a jump, but coaching is coaching. If you know how to connect with players and get the best out of them, that is what matters most. Any fool can blow a whistle in practice and yell.

 

[OldSchool101]

I suppose that this is the place to discuss Special Teams as well. The Packers (or LaFleur) really screwed the pooch here. Gutekunst, who maybe smelled death in the air, spent a lot of time in his post-season press conference tossing out flowers to Bisaccia - more than usual. Bisaccia went on vacation, then came back and worked for a week, and then stepped down mid-February to supposedly be closer to home. I get that if it's the main reason. We will probably never know.

The worst part of it was the timing. There were 11 special teams coaches hired after Black Monday, 9 of which with experience as the head ST coach (veterans). The Packers were left sorting through the discard bin. To pour salt in the wound, our assistant ST coach was Byron Storer, who was poached by Cleveland to be their ST coach earlier in February. So the Packers couldn't even promote him for continuity. He may not have been better than Bisaccia, as Green Bay's special teams has been a factory of sadness for far too long. Can anyone make it better? I wonder if it was just coincidence that Storer left just before Bisaccia went on vacation and then came back and stepped down.

The Packers eventually hired Cam Achord, who doesn't have much of a stellar record to make us happy. I think Patriots fans chimed a bell to clear the negative energy after he left. The best thing going for him is Bill Belichik's stamp of approval, for whatever that is worth these days. Achord hired Jeff Koonz to be his assistant, and was either told to promote Cody Harkey to be co-assistant or he really wanted to retain some of the ST coaching experience from last season. Harkey was third key under Bisaccia.

We don't really know what all of this means, but I am setting some even lower expectations for ST in 2026. I hope to be surprised.

Oh I think we can bend the rules and let you talk Teams, there’s like 7 of us in here right now. lol.

Anyway I’m a firm believer in the Insanity Clause. I think we have 50/50 chance of improving by flipping a coin with anyone other than who was here. I’m sorry if that’s hurtful to old Rich, but whatever protocols he implemented didn’t add up to Jack Squat. That’s the same Jack Squat that Chris Farley was referring to in his famous “living in a Van down by the River” speech.

I might be alone but the only positives I saw from Rich were a couple players under his tutelage that likely got here due to him. The most prominent is Keisean Nixon.
Other projects like his idea of drafting Anders Carlson in hopes of “coaching him up” was not only a total failure of a roster spot.. we misused a RD6 on a bad Kicker was single-Footedly responsible for critical losses.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

This article was alarming to read and raises lots of questions for me about MLF, his coaching staff and of course, the current roster.

"LaFleur noted that some players were "upset about roles last year" and even admitted that it "took a toll on our football team.""

John Kuhn highlights 'red flag' about Matt LaFleur comments: 'I'm shocked'

Former Packers Pro Bowler John Kuhn was 'shocked' about Matt LaFleur's comments regarding player frustrations.

lombardiave.com

 

[DoURant]

This article was alarming to read and raises lots of questions for me about MLF, his coaching staff and of course, the current roster.

"LaFleur noted that some players were "upset about roles last year" and even admitted that it "took a toll on our football team.""

John Kuhn highlights 'red flag' about Matt LaFleur comments: 'I'm shocked'

Former Packers Pro Bowler John Kuhn was 'shocked' about Matt LaFleur's comments regarding player frustrations.

lombardiave.com

I think it's a combo issue. For the players, if you don't like your role, do something about it, on the field. Also, the "player" leaders in the locker room need to step up and help take care of the these problems from disgruntled players. (player only meetings to get concerns out and work through them).

As for coaching and MLF, I don't like that he went public with that comment. Also, "if" the coaches don't listen or are unapproachable, that can cause disscension in the ranks. It's not like this is a new problem. Jaire, Z'Adarius, Romeo getting suspended for missing practice, Jenkins not wanting to play Center. There is a pattern.

That being said, players need to embrace their roll and do their part to help the team win a Championship. If you want to pull the entitlement card, pout, or not play up to the standards of being a professional... that's a you problem.

 

[OldSchool101]

Oh it’s 100% entitlement that’s being promoted more and more in culture. Hopefully we’ve parted ways with primary culprits. There’s an old saying “a little leaven leaven’s the entire loaf”. These guys get paid handsomely to do what they love and unless it’s overwhelmingly bad (which I highly doubt) the players need to take the attitude that they signed a contract to help the team. If they don’t like their role go find the grass ain’t greener because I’ve learned in life it won’t be better 90% of the time. If they think this is bad? Get ready for a wild ride in life!


I don’t have any respect for players whining about something so trivial and it’s becoming more and more a thankless generation from my experience. It’s kinda Annoying imo and it’s not directed at 1 individual or group. I’d 100% say that to the Coaches if they were whining. Go do something about it!

PS. Everyone’s feelings get B hurt nowadays like we’re all on our mighty Thrones. Please. Toughen up!

 

[DoURant]

College sports isn't helping this issue. The transfer portal is like the wild west. If a player doesn't like their roll they can transfer every year, with no penalty. Unfortunately, for them, the pros isn't that way. You sign a contract for 3 or 4 years after being drafted, you are basically there for that amount of time, unless a team trades or cuts you.

 

[OldSchool101]

College sports isn't helping this issue. The transfer portal is like the wild west. If a player doesn't like their roll they can transfer every year, with no penalty. Unfortunately, for them, the pros isn't that way. You sign a contract for 3 or 4 years after being drafted, you are basically there for that amount of time, unless a team trades or cuts you.

Good point. Maybe setting some unrealistic expectations. Many of the draft prospects transferred schools and while in some cases it put them on the radar, it doesn’t speak to the ones who transferred and regressed.
Lots of players with 5 years of experience in college or 4 year starters. I guess you could say a larger proportion of older athletes.

 

[milani]

This article was alarming to read and raises lots of questions for me about MLF, his coaching staff and of course, the current roster.

"LaFleur noted that some players were "upset about roles last year" and even admitted that it "took a toll on our football team.""

John Kuhn highlights 'red flag' about Matt LaFleur comments: 'I'm shocked'

Former Packers Pro Bowler John Kuhn was 'shocked' about Matt LaFleur's comments regarding player frustrations.

lombardiave.com

Sometimes this is the case. However, I believe that a team that suffers massive numbers of injuries to its players can obviously affect the roster. And the coach has to make changes for the sake of the team, not in order to placate someone's personal interest. MM had to do this in a number of seasons. This is when team players show that they are " team " players. MM had to use Ty Montgomery, a receiver, in the backfield in one season due to injuries. Lombardi lost his starting backfield in 1967 and had to alternate 4 other backs to fill the bill. In 1964 he lost Jerry Kramer and had to move HOF tackle, Forrest Gregg, to guard. He had to move LT, Bob Skoronski, to play center after Jim Ringo left and an injury happened. He had to use RG Jerry Kramer to place kick when Hornung got injured and then suspended. In his last couple seasons Vince would take out defensive tackles, Henry Jordan and Ron Kostelnik on 3rd and short, then substitute them with the younger and bigger Bob Brown and Jim Weatherwax. I do not praise a lot of the MLF personnel choices, but he was strapped quite a bit in 2025.

 

[gopkrs]

LaFleur has been pathetic on choosing where to play offensive linemen when the starters aren't all available. Especially in big games.

 

[milani]

LaFleur has been pathetic on choosing where to play offensive linemen when the starters aren't all available. Especially in big games.

I do not know that he had many choices. I recall one season when MM was relegated to putting Don Barclay to replace Bulaga at RT. And then had to go with Marshall Newhouse at LT and even Dietrich-Smith at C. There was a game in AZ that our O line was so decimated that Rodgers was either on the ground or running for his life all afternoon.

 

[gopkrs]

Definitely bad decisions in the Tampa 0layoff fame and qlso the year b4. San Fran?

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

Sometimes this is the case. However, I believe that a team that suffers massive numbers of injuries to its players can obviously affect the roster.

I think injuries have a massive influence on a teams success. In timing, severity, positions effected, roster depth, etc.

That said, while the Packers did have some notable injuries (Parsons and Kraft), they actually were closer to the middle of the pack when it comes to measureing the impact of all their injuries. That is if you believe this article and how they calculated the impact that injuries had on each team.

Noteworthy are the teams that were determined to be least effected by injuries.....Patriots, Rams, Seahawks and Broncos. All very successful teams in 2025.

"The five teams with the fewest Total Points missed due to injury (adding in the Cowboys and Broncos) were a combined 61-23-1, compared to 39-46 from the five most injured teams."

Which NFL Teams Were Most and Least Affected by Injuries in 2025

The teams that have been least impacted … they’re doing pretty well right now.

www.sportsinfosolutions.com

 

[El Guapo]

The only player that I can think of in the past decade that didn't get to play when he truly deserved the playing time, was Aaron Jones. He must have urinated in MM's coffee to be relegated to the dog house that long.

LaFleur has been slow bringing along players for sure. Recently he was slow to let the leash out on Love and also seemed to not let Golden play when he earned the time. Then again, the coach is like a parent sometimes that has to pull back to protect those in their ward. I may not totally agree with how he handled Love and Golden, but he may have had an instinct to shield them from confidence-crushing moments early in their careers.

The best advice that I ever got as a parent was to introduce your kid to something (like skiing) and then leave early that first time. Then instead of being cold/wet/miserable at the end of their first skiing adventure, they are left wanting more. LaFleur *could* have been doing something similar with those young players. Keep them wanting more and working harder to get there.

 

[OldSchool101]

I think 1 good move was retaining Covington on DL. Until we became riddled with injuries, GB did a nice job of applying pressure and stopping the run. We were ranked up there with Cleveland at one point middle season. Opponents were regularly getting like 3.8-4.0 yards per play area which is awful for Passing and running combined.

I’m actually excited to see Gannon. He brings near 20 years of Pro Defensive coaching. His most recent D sting with the Eagles took them from 20th before his arrival to 18th his first year at DC to 8th in 2022. It’s really why he was promoted.

Bobby Babich was adequate as a DC (12th/11th) but it was his stint as a DB’s coach that was remarkable. As a Safeties Coach their D Ranked:
#2, #16, #1
Babich also peaked at #3 in INT As a DB coach with Buffalo. He took 7th Rounder Jordan Poyer at Cleveland and gradually turned him into a Superstar. When he joined Buffalo Babich lobbied for them to go after Poyer and they wisely followed Babich advice into Stardom. He started Poyer immediately in 2017 and never looked back.
95 tackles, 5INT
100 tackles 4INT
107 tackles 2INT
124 tackles 2INT
93 Tackles. 5 INT All-Pro-1
12 games :65TKL;4INT PROBOWL

Not bad for developing a 7th rounder. So he was probably just lucky right?

They


Buffalo brings Micah Hyde over from GB also in 2017.
5 INT 13 PD! PROWBOWL
2X ALL-Pro-2

Draft Tre’Davious White (2017) in Babich season as DB Coach
4 INT 18 Pass Deflections
AP Rookie of the year-2