The Green Bay Packers have found their new defensive coordinator.
After firing Joe Barry last week, Green Bay spent the bulk of the week interviewing candidates, but there was one name who separated himself from the rest of the pack.
The new DC is former Boston College Eagles head coach Jeff Hafley, who spent four years as the team’s coach and compiled a 22-26 record.
Before that, he was a co-defensive coordinator for Ohio State and helped develop Jeff Okudah and Chase Young.
Hafley has coached in the NFL, as he was the secondary coach for the Cleveland Browns 2014-15) and coached defensive backs for the San Francisco 49ers (2016-18)
Fan reactions to the Green Bay Packers hire at DC.
This hire surprised everyone, as Hafley wasn’t rumored to be a target for DC, nor did he interview for the role.
But, Hafley has a proven track record of coaching defensive backs, and the hope is that he can fix a defense that underachieved under Joe Barry.
The fans gave their thoughts on the move.
He was a VERY good DC for Ohio State before taking the BC gig. Very left field hire but not mad about it
— Derik Abbott (@FUnkymoses17) January 31, 2024
But why
— Ty The Sports Guy 🧀🍺🦌🦡🦅🐙🏎 (@WI_Sports_Guy) January 31, 2024
Losing your head coach for a DC postion, oof.
— Big Fan (@Badgers89_) January 31, 2024
Huh?
— Michael_C (@Mike_Callewaert) January 31, 2024
Man coverage heavy scheme. Hafley loves challenging WRs at the LOS. No more soft zone, Packers fans. We rejoice https://t.co/USZatXeZxh
— Tyler Daniel (@HartzheimTyler) January 31, 2024
Are Green Bay Packers fans just happy it wasn’t Brandon Staley?
— Michael Hauff (@TheFFRealist) January 31, 2024
Great hire for the .@packers
— Noah Garguile (@NoahGarguile) January 31, 2024
Good for him. Hope he has some success with the Packers.
— gov.voi.algo (@GovVoi) February 1, 2024
That came out of nowhere
— iowa sports fan (@CjNascar6767) January 31, 2024
What does Jeff Hafley’s hiring mean for the Green Bay Packers?
It sounds like Jeff Hafley’s defensive scheme has less zone coverage and more man-to-man. This is welcoming news, as Green Bay has spent the better part of two decades allowing teams to complete easy passes, not forcing turnovers.
Hafley said this in 2019, and now we await for Hafley to create a ball-hawking secondary that forces turnovers.
“I love press man,” Jeff Hafley said about the zone vs. man coverage debate. “I think you have to be able to play both."
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) October 1, 2019
In the past, Green Bay’s issue defensively is that they haven’t played both coverages. The past four defensive coordinators liked to sit in the matchup zone. The problem with zone coverage is that a smart quarterback picks up easy completions, making 1st and 2nd downs more manageable.
Now, Brian Gutekunst has drafted talented defensive players, but they weren’t in the correct scheme under Joe Barry. With the right scheme, this defense can get after the quarterback and force turnovers.
The excitement level is through the roof for the Jeff Hafley era in Green Bay.
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