Jonathan Gannon new Packer DC

[Pugger]

I also post on Football's Future and one Bears fan is not happy we hired Gannon.

 

[OldSchool101]

While Gannon might be debatable from a standpoint that he’s not the #1 most sought after DC, he does bring a wealth of experience over Jim Leonard. Now I liked the intrigue of what a Leonard hire would offer, especially after what Denver accomplished. Yet I still think we’re in an obvious window as a tick behind our Conference leaders. Yet a little magic from a couple incumbents and 1 or 2 fixes from weak point to a strong point and it’s anyone’s guess. This selection was about high floor medium ceiling at DC.

That said. Gannon, in similar fashion to Hafley, brings his specialty experience to the secondary. That was a primary reason I also liked the idea of Leonard.

Another thing that jumps off the page with Gannon is that he promotes using a trio of Safeties. I see GB with a plethora of guys that can play Safety, even if it’s not their natural position. I still believe Hobbs or Bullard could easily “fit the bill” at Safety at as + Starter level or more. Also we’ve been very slow to get Oladapo onto the field, much because he’s obviously not going to upgrade Williams or McKinney. We had an overlap with Zayne and Kitan Oladapo biding their time at Safety. Here we have an answer to mix in Hobbs or Oladapo or Anderson (if he makes the Roster), who I think are all very capable DB’s. This WITHOUT having to choose between Hobbs OR Bullard, which means Hobbs AND Bullard. This also mitigates the stress of thin at Off ball LB in event of a departure.

I’d even early hypothesis we go draft a tweener type this draft at Safety, but more in that 6’0 210-220lb hard hitting rangy Safety.

 

[Zartan]

Well, we probably aren't going to lose him to a HC position anytime soon.

He was really good for the Eagles. Want to listen to the press conference before I judge.

But I wanna make a judgement now.. /s

But all seriousness he might be a decent hire his Eagles defenses were pretty good.

 

[AmishMafia]

But I wanna make a judgement now.. /s

Have at it.

I dont think I know enough to fairly judge. He meets the critetia and he was on the radar. I thought, though, that others were more likely because I felt Matt would hire someone he knows better. So I didnt seriously consider him.

 

[Sanguine camper]

Anything positive to add?

Certainly not yet. His track record as the Packers DC will have to determine whether hiring him was positive.

My default position given MLF's record in hiring coordinators is poor until proven otherwise. The 4th quarter meltdowns by the Cardinals last season reinforces that default position.

 

[Zartan]

Have at it.

I dont think I know enough to fairly judge. He meets the critetia and he was on the radar. I thought, though, that others were more likely because I felt Matt would hire someone he knows better. So I didnt seriously consider him.

I hope he doesn't become the next long running fire DC thread like Capers, Berry and Pettine

 

[OldSchool101]

Certainly not yet. His track record as the Packers DC will have to determine whether hiring him was positive.

My default position given MLF's record in hiring coordinators is poor until proven otherwise. The 4th quarter meltdowns by the Cardinals last season reinforces that default position.

While I certainly respect your opinion overall about the hire, I’m not sure that part is entirely accurate. The average DC in Green Bay ranks #11.28 in scoring in MLF’s tenure. Which equates to the Texans, Bills, Packers, over the last 3 seasons. I don’t think anyone outside of the Green Bay fan base would label those Defenses “poor”.

I’d even say the bulk of DC’s in the NFL who regularly finish at a #11 scoring D wouldn’t be ridiculed.

 

[DoURant]

According to Rob Demovsky, both Harbaugh's were in the mix for Gannon as their new DC ( Chargers/Giants)

 

[pacmaniac]

Gannon had the #1 ranked passing defense for the Eagles in 2022. Seems really good considering teams were mostly playing from behind against them and had to abandon the run.

 

[OldSchool101]

Gannon had the #1 ranked passing defense for the Eagles in 2022. Seems really good considering teams were mostly playing from behind against them and had to abandon the run.

He also ranked #1 in Sacks. #4 Turnove rate, #4 INT, #3 total yardage allowed.

 

[AmishMafia]

Maybe the guy we need needs to be able to be a bit more aggressive, as a leader, than we have on our current staff. A guy who stops practice when a coverage is blown and lets everyone know what the mistake was.

Well, he did punch one of his players.

 

[OldSchool101]

I’ve noticed a pattern with Green Bay (and quite a few teams) is they aren’t afraid to pump a newer Coordinator with a dynamic player add. I’m leaning that if GB grabs another outside, higher-echelon, FA player, it’ll be on Defense.

 

[Sanguine camper]

While I certainly respect your opinion overall about the hire, I’m not sure that part is entirely accurate. The average DC in Green Bay ranks #11.28 in scoring in MLF’s tenure. Which equates to the Texans, Bills, Packers, over the last 3 seasons. I don’t think anyone outside of the Green Bay fan base would label those Defenses “poor”.

I’d even say the bulk of DC’s in the NFL who regularly finish at a #11 scoring D wouldn’t be ridiculed.

I based my 'not getting the benefit of the doubt' on all the coordinator positions MLF has hired. MLF didn't hire Pettine. I think that Hafley was a good hire as well as his first OC. I would conclude that the 3 Special Teams coordinators have been disasters and that Joe Berry didn't get the most out of his talent. I also think that Stenovich had a great track record as an O line coach but has a much more questionable tenure as the current OC.

While talent always matters, I think the Packers two biggest problems are the team culture and the injuries. Those are coaching/ management issues. Will Gannon help? Hope so, but his tenure in Arizona doesn't support the notion that we should be confident he can help fix the Packers main problems.

Must be nice to be a member of the coaches good ol' boy network. No matter how bad you screw up, you land on your feet with another sweet gig. Gannon left Arizona with a winning percentage under 30%, which places him in the bottom 10 coaches who have coached over 50 games.

In the NFL coaches carousel, it doesn't seem to matter much.

 

[McKnowledge]

My initial thoughts are that this is a safe move.

Not my 1st-4th choice. But he won and most importantly earned a Super Bowl ring.

This will make or break MLF’s tenure.

Gannon isn’t going to move to HC any time soon ensuring stability.

More 3-4 alignments is expected which will hopefully get Walker, Coop, Hopper, and McDuffie on the field at the same time more often.

Gotta revamp the D-Line. Bigger Bodies.

Time will tell.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

Has anyone started the "Fire Gannon" thread yet?

 

[Magooch]

Broadly speaking it feels like we were kind of looking at two "categories" for our DC search -

Guys like Harris, Jones, Parker, Leonhard on one hand...and then guys like Morris or Gannon in the other.
The first group feels like higher risk, higher reward...the second feels like perhaps lower risk, higher floor type of guys

I guess I'd say I'm cautiously optimistic. I don't love it, I don't hate it, but it kinda feels like one of the "safer" picks for us

 

[NC_Cheese_Fan_100]

Given the similarities in scheme between Gannon and what Hafley did in 2025, continuity had to have been a big factor in this decision. So this hire is a smart move if GB its close to competing for a SB.

Gute has to prioritize some kind of replacement for Kenny Clark in 2026, especially if Gannon is going to utilize 3-4 fronts more often. I guess this also means that Walker now needs to be a priority to retain?

Assuming its going to take a couple of years to develop some CB's, they've got to be able to stop the run on 3rd down to get the defense off the field in the second half of games.

Hopefully the first 3 picks of the draft are DL, OL, DL and Gute doesn't reach for project players that might contribute in 2-3 years.

 

[Sanguine camper]

My initial thoughts are that this is a safe move.

Not my 1st-4th choice. But he won and most importantly earned a Super Bowl ring.

This will make or break MLF’s tenure.

Gannon isn’t going to move to HC any time soon ensuring stability.

More 3-4 alignments is expected which will hopefully get Walker, Coop, Hopper, and McDuffie on the field at the same time more often.

Gotta revamp the D-Line. Bigger Bodies.

Time will tell.

When did Gannon win a Super Bowl as a HC or DC? The Eagles went to the Super Bowl with Gannon as the DC but lost to the Chiefs 38-35.

If the Packers went with the 'safe' choice as you say, is that what they need right now? I don't think a team that finished 0-5 should be prioritizing the 'safe' choice.

I don't disagree but Gannon and MLF went 0-14 in their last 14 games and blew 14 games last season leading or tied in the 4th quarter. Really, how 'safe' is it to put two coaches with notorious 4th quarter teams together?

 

[OldSchool101]

Must be nice to be a member of the coaches good ol' boy network. No matter how bad you screw up, you land on your feet with another sweet gig. Gannon left Arizona with a winning percentage under 30%, which places him in the bottom 10 coaches who have coached over 50 games.

In the NFL coaches carousel, it doesn't seem to matter much.

I’d be much more inclined to give you an “agree” if we hired Gannon to replace Matt. I think you’re putting way too much weight on Gannon’s Head Coaching record myself. There have been plenty of good Coordinators that’s sucked as Head Coaches or Vise Versa. That doesn’t (or shouldn’t) negate their entire Coaching Career.



I will say that I think that a coaches experience level is often underestimated (not suggesting you said that just making a general point) One thing I do think is advantageous is that the longer a Coach at the Professional level, the greater the contact list they grow. Much of being a great Coordinator comes down to assembling a great Staff. The more people you’ve worked with the larger the pool of potential assistant coaching attraction you possess. It’ll be interesting to see who he brings in (poaches) from around the league.

 

[NC_Cheese_Fan_100]

When did Gannon win a Super Bowl as a HC or DC? The Eagles went to the Super Bowl with Gannon as the DC but lost to the Chiefs 38-35.

If the Packers went with the 'safe' choice as you say, is that what they need right now? I don't think a team that finished 0-5 should be prioritizing the 'safe' choice.

I don't disagree but Gannon and MLF went 0-14 in their last 14 games and blew 14 games last season leading or tied in the 4th quarter. Really, how 'safe' is it to put two coaches with notorious 4th quarter teams together?

I see this move as confirmation that the Packers are in a relatively tight 2-3 year window of competing for a SB before needing some kind of rebuild. So they didn't want to risk wasting a year migrating to a different style of defense.

They'll probably have to restructure Love's contract in 2027 and they may have to do the same with Parsons in 2028, if they decide to retain Parsons beyond '28. Regardless their contracts will have an enormous impact on what talent GB is able to retain over the next few years.

 

[Packphin]

More 3-4 alignments is expected which will hopefully get Walker, Coop, Hopper, and McDuffie on the field at the same time more often.

I'd absolutely shocked to see Quay on this roster next season. That would mean they're paying him $15mil/yr, which would be asinine for his production relative to our cap figures. I'd much rather spend that money on a CB and roll with Hopper

 

[AmishMafia]

I'd absolutely shocked to see Quay on this roster next season. That would mean they're paying him $15mil/yr, which would be asinine for his production relative to our cap figures. I'd much rather spend that money on a CB and roll with Hopper

Why would we have to pay him $15M per year?

I think we can and should resign him for $6-7m ish.

 

[OldSchool101]

I'd absolutely shocked to see Quay on this roster next season. That would mean they're paying him $15mil/yr, which would be asinine for his production relative to our cap figures. I'd much rather spend that money on a CB and roll with Hopper

Totally in agreement here. You can often get a really good Off Ball Linebacker inside the first 4-5 Rounds, just from previous experience. I mean McDuffie is a recent good example.

 

[OldSchool101]

Why would we have to pay him $15M per year?

I think we can and should resign him for $6-7m ish.

Oh id do that.

 

[Pugger]

I don't know if we should put too much stock into what he did in Arizona. Often guys are better suited as coordinators than HCs.