The Green Bay Packers have had to replace numerous coaches on their staff so far this off-season. The primary reason for this, of course, was because defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley decided to take the head coaching job with the Miami Dolphins. He took multiple Packers coaches with him, including linebackers coach Sean Duggan, who will be his own defensive coordinator.
In the days that have followed the announcement of Hafley’s hiring and Duggan’s departure, many Packers fans wondered if the team might turn to former defensive coordinator Joe Barry to be their linebackers coach. After all, he is well-respected around the NFL as a linebackers coach despite his shortcomings as a defensive coordinator.
However, that will not be happening.
Former Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Joe Barry will work under Jeff Hafley
After being fired by the Packers after the 2023 NFL season, Barry was hired by the Dolphins to be their linebackers coach and run game coordinator on defense. When Mike McDaniel was fired in Miami, many wondered if Barry would look elsewhere for a new job.
However, Hafley has convinced him to stay on in Miami, and he will keep his same job with the Dolphins under their new head coach:
The #Dolphins have re-signed Joe Barry, their LBs coach and run game coordinator, to a new multi-year contract, source says. The long-time veteran teacher and former defensive coordinator will be a key voice for new DC Sean Duggan. pic.twitter.com/uD3WzOxNsG
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 2, 2026
Barry has been primarily coaching in the NFL since 2000, when he was a defensive quality control coach with the San Francisco 49ers. From 2001-2006, he was the linebackers coach of a Tampa Bay Buccaneers team that won a Super Bowl. After a two-year stint as the defensive coordinator of the Detroit Lions, he returned to Tampa Bay in that role in 2009.
The San Diego Chargers hired him as their linebackers coach in 2012 after Barry spent two seasons in that role at USC. He remained in San Diego through the 2014 season.
From 2015-2016, Barry was the defensive coordinator in Washington, and then became the assistant head coach and linebackers coach for the Los Angeles Rams, a job he held through 2020.
2021-2023, of course, saw Barry as the defensive coordinator of the Packers.
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