Packers Hire New Defensive Coordinator: Jeff Hafley, formerly Head Coach, Boston College

[Pkrjones]

Probably could get more if he wanted.

As mentioned above, he currently will be interviewing for: Falcons, Cardinals, Titans, Raiders & Dolphins, as of Tuesday AM.

 

[Heyjoe4]

Probably could get more if he wanted.

Yeah, like Pittsburgh now that Tomlin has retired. That n=might be the best place for Hafley to start is HC career. They need talent, but seem closer to winning than the other teams mentioned, TN, Atlanta, Miami, LV, Arizona.

And the Steeler are more or less known for their D. Seems like a good fit, although I wish he would stay in GB.

 

[Magooch]

So I don't mean this as a huge slam on Hafley...but I am kind of curious as to why it seems like he has made it through the season without receiving that much criticism?

Obviously the Parsons injury was a huge blow, but that happened in week 15...and for the 14 weeks prior, outside of Parsons himself being electric, it's not like the rest of the defense was setting the world on fire...

In 2024, the Packers defense was...
6th in points allowed
5th in yards allowed
Tied for 5th in yards allowed per play
4th in takeaways
Tied for 10th in net yards per pass attempt against
3rd in yards allowed per rush
5th in scoring percentage allowed (drives ending in a score)
3rd in turnover percentage (drives ending with a turnover)
4th in expected points contribution, defense
Tied for 8th in sacks
14th in pressures
16th in pressure percentage
4th in total EPA allowed per play
20th in defensive success rate
4th in passing EPA allowed
28th in pass defense success rate
8th in rush EPA allowed
9th in rush defense success rate

And in 2025, it was....
11th in points allowed (-5)
12th in yards allowed (-7)
9th in yards allowed per play (-4)
28th in takeaways (-24)
8th in net yards per pass attempt against (+2)
Tied for 10th in yards allowed per rush (-7)
24th in scoring percentage (-19)
Tied for 25th in turnover percentage (-22)
19th in expected points contribution (-15)
20th in sacks (-12)
6th in pressures (+8)
7th in pressure percentage (+9)
22nd in total EPA per play allowed (-18)
19th in defensive success rate (-15)
22nd in passing EPA allowed (-18)
13th in pass defense success rate (+15)
18th in rush EPA allowed (-10)
28th in rush defense success rate (-19)

Basically, it feels like we added Micah Parsons and improved in getting more pressures....but regressed basically everywhere else. Kind of playing devil's advocate here but what are other teams seeing that has them convinced of HC material?

 

[Magooch]

Oh and just for some added context - I'm not going to go back thru and calculate every stat but here's some of the analytics pre/post Parsons injury

2024:
Total EPA/play - (-)0.066 (4th)
Defensive success rate - 44.7% (20th)
Passing EPA - (-)0.023 (4th)
Pass defense success rate - 49.0% (28th)
Rush EPA - (-)0.137 (8th)
Rush defense success rate - 37.5% (9th)

2025 PRE-injury:

Total EPA/play - 0.001 (15th) (-11)
Defensive success rate - 43.4% (11th) (+9)
Passing EPA - 0.062 (17th) (-13)
Pass defense success rate - 43.9% (7th) (+21)
Rush EPA - (-)0.096 (13th) (-5)
Rush defense success rate - 42.6% (22nd) (-13)

2025 POST-injury:

Total EPA/play - 0.167 (28th) (-24)
Defensive success rate - 50.6% (30th) (-10)
Passing EPA - 0.312 (28th) (-24)
Pass defense success rate - 53.2% (27th) (+1)
Rush EPA - 0.015 (23rd) (-15)
Rush defense success rate - 47.7% (28th) (-19)

 

[Magooch]

He's getting an interview for the Steelers HC position as well.

Like I said above, no disrespect and I'm happy for him. But that is kind of wild to me.... for the Steelers to have had just three head coaches since 1969* to be looking at Hafley after just two seasons with us (and as above...not exactly two rock-solid start-to-finish ones at that) would really be something

But, then again, Tomlin was not particularly well-established when they hired him. Just ~5 years as a DB coach and 1 year as Vikings DC before getting the Steelers HC job. I guess it would kind of be on brand in that sense

 

[Heyjoe4]

So I don't mean this as a huge slam on Hafley...but I am kind of curious as to why it seems like he has made it through the season without receiving that much criticism?

Obviously the Parsons injury was a huge blow, but that happened in week 15...and for the 14 weeks prior, outside of Parsons himself being electric, it's not like the rest of the defense was setting the world on fire...

In 2024, the Packers defense was...
6th in points allowed
5th in yards allowed
Tied for 5th in yards allowed per play
4th in takeaways
Tied for 10th in net yards per pass attempt against
3rd in yards allowed per rush
5th in scoring percentage allowed (drives ending in a score)
3rd in turnover percentage (drives ending with a turnover)
4th in expected points contribution, defense
Tied for 8th in sacks
14th in pressures
16th in pressure percentage
4th in total EPA allowed per play
20th in defensive success rate
4th in passing EPA allowed
28th in pass defense success rate
8th in rush EPA allowed
9th in rush defense success rate

And in 2025, it was....
11th in points allowed (-5)
12th in yards allowed (-7)
9th in yards allowed per play (-4)
28th in takeaways (-24)
8th in net yards per pass attempt against (+2)
Tied for 10th in yards allowed per rush (-7)
24th in scoring percentage (-19)
Tied for 25th in turnover percentage (-22)
19th in expected points contribution (-15)
20th in sacks (-12)
6th in pressures (+8)
7th in pressure percentage (+9)
22nd in total EPA per play allowed (-18)
19th in defensive success rate (-15)
22nd in passing EPA allowed (-18)
13th in pass defense success rate (+15)
18th in rush EPA allowed (-10)
28th in rush defense success rate (-19)

Basically, it feels like we added Micah Parsons and improved in getting more pressures....but regressed basically everywhere else. Kind of playing devil's advocate here but what are other teams seeing that has them convinced of HC material?

Good stuff Magooch, thanks. I think the talk of Hafley as a solid HC candidate occurred well before the Parsons acquisition. The play of guys like Cooper, Walker, Williams. McKinney, Wyatt and others last season was good enough to consider Hafley a very good DC, with HC qualities. That can certainly be debated, and your stats highlight that.

Even so I expect Hafley will be gone soon. It would be ballsy if Policy whacked MLF and promoted Hafley to HC. Even though that might not be a great move, Policy would be sending a message that business as usual is not good enough for ths team. And that's correct. Changes are needed. This is a talented team with weak leadership, well, outside of Gluten.

 

[DoURant]

Word is Hafley blew away his 1st interview with Miami, and is scheduled for a 2nd interview this week.

 

[milani]

Word is Hafley blew away his 1st interview with Miami, and is scheduled for a 2nd interview this week.

Might like the weather down there. Except in August-Oct.

 

[DoURant]

Might like the weather down there. Except in August-Oct.

I figured Hafley or LaFleur would have a good shot at the Miami job after their GM signing. With Matt extended, it's Hafley's for the taking.

 

[milani]

I figured Hafley or LaFleur would have a good shot at the Miami job after their GM signing. With Matt extended, it's Hafley's for the taking.

And we play them next season.

 

[DoURant]

And we play them next season.

Yes we do, at Lambeau.

 

[Sanguine camper]

If Hafley gets a HC job, that will be the first coach under MLF to be hired as a HC. At this point after 7 seasons, MLF's coaching tree is a twig.

 

[Magooch]

One option off the table: Atlanta are hiring Kevin Stefanski

 

[Pugger]

Might like the weather down there. Except in August-Oct.

Try May - October.

 

[Heyjoe4]

And we play them next season.

My best guess is that Hafley goes to Miami. Cleveland is another possibility. They have an excellent defense, and need to beef up their offense. It will certainly be a challenge for a DC to become a HC, but Hafley certainly seems capable.

 

[Heyjoe4]

Try May - October.

Even April-October. Miami is not technically in a tropical zone, like Houston, but it's plenty hot and humid for much of the year in Miami. Personally, I think it's a harder climate to play in than the north.

 

[Pugger]

With McDermott on the HC market you have to wonder if he'll be a more attractive candidate than any of the other guys being interviewed so far?

 

[lambeaulambo]

not seeing hafley getting a hc job and if he does beware.

 

[Half Empty]

not seeing hafley getting a hc job and if he does beware.

Who should beware of what?

 

[Heyjoe4]

not seeing hafley getting a hc job and if he does beware.

I think he'll have a HC job by the end of the week. Miami seems to be the likely destination.

I don't understand the "beware" comment. Can you explain lambeau?

 

[Magooch]

By all accounts, Hafley is the big favorite to land the Miami job. Just earlier this afternoon, they completed an interview with Patrick Graham, Raiders DC (and onetime Packers assistant ) which means they have met their Rooney Rule requirements. In theory they would now be free to make him an offer today, when I believe he's got another interview schedule.

That said there are some whispers now that McDermott's sudden availability may cause them to pause for at least a second.

It sounds like he is in somewhat high demand too, landing an interview for the Steelers job AND second interviews with the Titans, Falcons, Raiders, and Cardinals, too.

At least one of those are set for tomorrow, but Miami may be inclined to see to it that he doesn't leave town.

 

[GBkrzygrl]

As mentioned above, he currently will be interviewing for: Falcons, Cardinals, Titans, Raiders & Dolphins, as of Tuesday AM.

I wonder with the number "named" HCs that are available, if he might be over-looked.

 

[PackerinSD]

Gone to Miami

 

[DoURant]

Hafley is being hired by the Dolphins.

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[PackerinSD]

Let's get Flores