The Green Bay Packers are searching for their next defensive coordinator after head coach Matt LaFleur made the decision to fire Joe Barry after three underwhelming and frustrating seasons. It has only been two days since the Packers announced Barry’s departure, but there have not been many names officially linked to or rumored to be of interest.
Former Los Angeles Chargers head coach and Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Brandon Staley was reported to be interviewing for the position. Many Packers fans want the team to hire former Wisconsin Badgers defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard or current Dallas Cowboys defensive backs coach Al Harris.
The Packers, though, have not released the names of any candidates that they plan to interview. The only reason anyone knows about the Staley interview is because it was leaked to ESPN’s Diana Russini and The Athletic‘s Matt Schneidman.
Related: Former Green Bay Packers Defensive Coordinator Joe Barry Is Interviewing with Division Rival
Of course, there will be other candidates, and one NFL insider revealed one that is reportedly very high up on LaFleur’s wish list this time around.
Related: Report States the Green Bay Packers May Look to Keep Recently Fired Coach on Staff
NFL Insider Reports the Green Bay Packers Are Interested in Chris Harris for Their Defensive Coordinator Position
On Thursday, McQuade Arnold of Wisconsin Sports Heroics reported that Tennessee Titans pass game coordinator Chris Harris is on the Packers’ short-list of highly desired candidates. According to the report, Harris crushed his interview with the Packers in 2021, but was passed over for the position in favor of Barry.
NFL insider Dan Graziano of ESPN has now also listed Harris among the small list of names he knows the Packers have on their list of candidates:
“On the defensive coordinator front, Titans DBs coach Chris Harris is getting an interview in Chicago, and I’m told he’s on Green Bay’s list as well. The Packers job might be more appealing, since coach Matt Eberflus seems likely to keep calling the defensive plays in Chicago, but the point is Harris is a relatively hot name and could have options.”
It is an interesting note that the Packers have one thing going for them that other teams do not as they hunt for their next defensive coordinator: the ability to call plays. Green Bay’s Matt LaFleur is an offensive minded coach and calls the offensive plays. Whichever defensive coordinator he hires will have more freedom to do what they want in terms of calling plays.
What Other Names Could Be on the Green Bay Packers List for Potential Defensive Coordinators?
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In addition to Harris, whom his sources have said are on the Packers’ list, Graziano also lists the following candidates as names to watch:
- Jim Leonhard
- Wink Martindale
- Aubrey Pleasant
As mentioned, there are many fans who would love to see Leonhard take the job that he turned down in 2021. Others, however, are not so keen on him and view his initial rejection as a slap in the face.
Martindale recently parted ways with the New York Giants, with whom he was the defensive coordinator for the past two seasons. He has also had stints as the defensive coordinator for the Denver Broncos (2010) and Baltimore Ravens (2012-2017).
Aubrey Pleasant is another former Wisconsin Badgers player that is now making the rounds as a NFL coach. He previously spent some time as an offensive consultant in Green Bay in 2022. This past season, he was the defensive backs coach and passing game coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams.
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