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

[Packphin]

This is a major chance for a reset.
Hafley was better than his predecessor, but lets not act like he lit the world on fire. The offense put them in tough spots by going dormant, but his defenses did cave on many occasions. IMO he relied too much on Parsons to get pressure instead of dialing up blitzes and dictating terms. Instead, it was death by a thousand papercuts. After the Cleveland game enough teams learned to just hold the ball and eventually we'd cave, which we did quit often.

Get me a DC that believes in pressure packages.
Brian Flores is not making a lateral move.
Raheem Morris is much more realistic. Only thing is, do we have the roster to switch back to a 3-4 defense?

 

[milani]

Hafley is being hired by the Dolphins.

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Do you remember the last Green Bay coach to be hired by Miami for the top spot? Was it Philbin?

 

[Packphin]

Do you remember the last Green Bay coach to be hired by Miami for the top spot? Was it Philbin?

Ding ding ding
This one won't be that much better. I like Hafley, but I'm not convinced he was as good as some made him out to be.
Give me Raheem Morris and Mike McDaniel and LFG!

 

[OldSchool101]

Do you remember the last Green Bay coach to be hired by Miami for the top spot? Was it Philbin?

Yep. He didn’t do very good though.

 

[lambeaulambo]

Jim Leonhard available?

 

[Pkrjones]

Jim Leonhard available?

Yes, and I HOPE GB makes a serious run at him. May need to wait until next week, though, with Denver still playing.

 

[BrokenArrow]

This is a major chance for a reset.
Hafley was better than his predecessor, but lets not act like he lit the world on fire. The offense put them in tough spots by going dormant, but his defenses did cave on many occasions. IMO he relied too much on Parsons to get pressure instead of dialing up blitzes and dictating terms.

Why on earth would you blitz when you don't need to?

 

[XPack]

A blow. Flores should be a adequate replacement.

 

[Heyjoe4]

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.

Good points Magooch. Hafley is headed to Miami. Not a surprise.

Yeah McDermott's presence among the unemployed HCs is sure to slow things down a bit for other openings. The Bills have certainly struggled in the playoffs, failing to reach their potential. Josh Allen is the kind of QB who should be able to cary his team to a SB.

The situation in Buffalo seems similar to what Rodgers experienced in his last 5 years or so with GB. He had the talent and leadership skillls to lead a team to a SB win. The talent around him was not able to support that, in spite of his enormous talent. I see these as GM issues, not payer or HC issues, although an argument can be made either way.

 

[Heyjoe4]

A blow. Flores should be a adequate replacement.

Is Flores available XPack? I did see an article that he may leave for 1) a HC opportunity or 2) a DC position with a contending team. I can't keep up with the changes.

He is certainly highly regarded as a DC. And it would be sweet to pick the Viqueen's pcoket for a change.......

 

[milani]

Why on earth would you blitz when you don't need to?

Of course, when you have a secondary that is not that good those blitzes can result in catastrophe.

 

[Heyjoe4]

With Hafley gone, curious about what you all feel about hiring Raheem Morris as DC. He is still being considered fr a HC job in Arizona, maybe a few other places. I think he'd be crazy not to take the DC job in GB - well assuming he wants it.

MLF and Morris have crossed paths. If this is what MLF wants, he need to move fast. There is also some rumbling that Brian Flores may want out of MN.

My concern with Hafley leaving is how many assistants he takes with him. Although it may not matter. If they hire Morris he'll want to bring in his guys.

 

[GBkrzygrl]

On the one hand I'm happy for Hafley and wish him well. On the other hand I'm just not sure he can handle all the pressure. We'll see.

 

[Heyjoe4]

On the one hand I'm happy for Hafley and wish him well. On the other hand I'm just not sure he can handle all the pressure. We'll see.

Agreed and I feel the same way, sort of. I don't doubt that Hafley can handle the added pressure that comes with being a head coach. The question is - can he build a solid staff of coaches on offense and defense (and yeah, STs)? It seems certain he'll take some GB assistant coaches with him. And vice versa. The next Packers' DC, assuming it's not Covington, will be likely to bring in hsi own assistants.

And while it's just intuition, I think offensive coaching types, OCs specifically, make better HCs in the NFL.

I certainly wish Hafley the best and thank him for the terrific job he did in his two years as DC for the Packers. He's creative and comes across as a straight shooter who will not tolerate ******** from anyone on the team. He knows how to get stuff done.

He'll need to hire a solid OC, and that will be his first big test. And unless he plans on calling plays on defense, he'll need a DC. Packers' assistant Covington seems a likely choice.

Finally, I don't remember the last time the Packers had a DC as good as Hafley. Fritz shurmur, maybe? Gluten and especially MLF have to act fast on this. Maybe Covington, if he doesn't follow Hafley to Miami. Or Raheem Morrris, or maybe Brian Flores from MN. It seems Flores would like to be with a contending team.

 

[pacmaniac]

With Hafley gone, curious about what you all feel about hiring Raheem Morris as DC. He is still being considered fr a HC job in Arizona, maybe a few other places. I think he'd be crazy not to take the DC job in GB - well assuming he wants it.

Looking at Raheem Morris's rankings as DC, he did put together some good run defenses, but his pass defenses were always near the bottom third of the league.

Raheem Morris Record, Statistics, and Category Ranks | Pro-Football-Reference.com

Get Stats, Coaching Records, Team Ranks, Coordinators, and more for Raheem Morris on Pro-football-reference.com.

www.pro-football-reference.com

 

[lambeaulambo]

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?

i didnt finish my sentence should have been beware of dc opening. lol

 

[OldSchool101]

Why on earth would you blitz when you don't need to?

I always wondered why he got away from Cooper in the Blitz and playing downhill.
In 2024 Edgerrin was used in the Blitz (32) at a ratio at 15:1 snaps per blitz

In 2025 Edgerrin was used in the Blitz (40) near 1/2 his previous season at 26:1. Coop had a Sack every 140 snaps in his Rookie season and was pacing 1 sack per 2,080 snaps in 2025.

In 2024 Cooper had a TFL (13) every 38 snaps.


In 2025 Cooper had a TFL (4) every 325 snaps

Cooper was not allowed to use his instincts and play downhill in attacking fashion like he was last year 2024. Now if his Pass Defensed or INT rate was higher this 2025 season, I could see some trade off for keeping him home. However he had 4 PD in both seasons and in 2024 he did that in 47% of his current year snaps.
So his snaps more than doubled but his production tanked? Whats the purpose of keeping him home if his per snap production drops drastically across the board.

 

[BrokenArrow]

I always wondered why he got away from Cooper in the Blitz and playing downhill.
In 2024 Edgerrin was used in the Blitz (32) at a ratio at 15:1 snaps per blitz

In 2025 Edgerrin was used in the Blitz (40) near 1/2 his previous season at 26:1. Coop had a Sack every 140 snaps in his Rookie season and was pacing 1 sack per 2,080 snaps in 2025.

In 2024 Cooper had a TFL (13) every 38 snaps.


In 2025 Cooper had a TFL (4) every 325 snaps

Cooper was not allowed to use his instincts and play downhill in attacking fashion like he was last year 2024. Now if his Pass Defensed or INT rate was higher this 2025 season, I could see some trade off for keeping him home. However he had 4 PD in both seasons and in 2024 he did that in 47% of his current year snaps.
So his snaps more than doubled but his production tanked? Whats the purpose of keeping him home if his per snap production drops drastically across the board.

It was necessity. When your secondary is suspect, if you can get good pressure with 4, you keep him back in coverage and run support.

 

[milani]

I always wondered why he got away from Cooper in the Blitz and playing downhill.
In 2024 Edgerrin was used in the Blitz (32) at a ratio at 15:1 snaps per blitz

In 2025 Edgerrin was used in the Blitz (40) near 1/2 his previous season at 26:1. Coop had a Sack every 140 snaps in his Rookie season and was pacing 1 sack per 2,080 snaps in 2025.

In 2024 Cooper had a TFL (13) every 38 snaps.


In 2025 Cooper had a TFL (4) every 325 snaps

Cooper was not allowed to use his instincts and play downhill in attacking fashion like he was last year 2024. Now if his Pass Defensed or INT rate was higher this 2025 season, I could see some trade off for keeping him home. However he had 4 PD in both seasons and in 2024 he did that in 47% of his current year snaps.
So his snaps more than doubled but his production tanked? Whats the purpose of keeping him home if his per snap production drops drastically across the board.

You think it had something to do with Parsons?

 

[OldSchool101]

You think it had something to do with Parsons?

Absolutely did but it didn’t work.
Why not use both? It’s not like we switched schemes from 2024 to 2025

 

[OldSchool101]

It was necessity. When your secondary is suspect, if you can get good pressure with 4, you keep him back in coverage and run support.

Sure. Point being is it was not a good use of his services. Here’s a guy that ranked #6 in Rookie of the Year voting. In a Sophomore season where he’s poised to grow and potentially get into Probowl Voting or similar, he’s used like a babysitter for our secondary? That didn’t work very well imo.
He had 553 Coverage snaps which was the 15th most for his position group. He had quite a few more coverage snaps than he did Pass Rush and Run Support combined. He allowed a 94% Passer rating. While that’s adequate it’s not like he was a game changer wandering into coverage.

Would like to see better use of Edgerrin Coopers talent. He had double digit sacks his last year in Texas as an Aggie. 0.5 shared sacks across 2025? and he played the 12th most snaps of any LB in the NFL. Coop runs a 1.54 10 yard split, get him running at the QB more where can use his disruptive ability.

 

[Magooch]

Do note that we also did get a new linebackers coach between 24/25 as well. I don’t know how much of that Hafley would delegate out (ie. Blitz vs not) but it may also be that that change of coaches just came with a different philosophical approach to the position or emphasis on other traits and or duties

 

[AKCheese]

Jim Leonhard available?

Didn’t they offer him the job last time and then he said “mehhhhhhh nah…” ?

 

[tynimiller]

Didn’t they offer him the job last time and then he said “mehhhhhhh nah…” ?

He was never actually offered the job. Numerous close to GB guys have confirmed this is not what happened.

 

[Heyjoe4]

Looking at Raheem Morris's rankings as DC, he did put together some good run defenses, but his pass defenses were always near the bottom third of the league.

Raheem Morris Record, Statistics, and Category Ranks | Pro-Football-Reference.com

Get Stats, Coaching Records, Team Ranks, Coordinators, and more for Raheem Morris on Pro-football-reference.com.

www.pro-football-reference.com

Thanks pac, much appreciated. In retrospect, it's probably better to find an ascending talent. A person who has shown significant promise and is clearly on an upward career path.

That's how relatively young guys like McVay, Shanahan, Hafley, even MLF and others made it to HC. They showed great promise as assistants, and they probably showed great coaching promise as junior assistants.

Maybe it's a good idea to at least inteview Covington for DC, assuming he doesn't follow Hafley to Miami.

One guy I am still interested in is Brian Flores of MN. Sounds like he want to coach for a contender. I don't think he'll get that in MN in the foreseeable future.

But again, probably best to find an ascending talent. The NFL has become a young person's league with players performing at the highest level from age 22 to 30 and coaches performing v well while in their 30s, even 20s. MLF, nearing 50 I think, is relatively old compared to some if his young peers.