Despite the Green Bay Packers having their coaching staff set, defensive coordinator Joe Barry’s name starts trending on social media whenever there is news surrounding a different team’s defensive coordinator position makes headlines. In this case, the position in question hit a bit close to home. Jim Leonhard, the former Wisconsin Badgers defensive coordinator and interim head coach, has reportedly interviewed for the top defensive job with the NFC Champion Philadelphia Eagles. As one may expect, Packers fans had some things to say about the situation.
Green Bay Packers Fans Would Prefer Jim Leonhard Over Joe Barry
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To be fair, the idea of Jim Leonhard as the Packers defensive coordinator is not something that Green Bay fans came from the Packers themselves when they interviewed and offered Leonhard the position back in 2021. Of course, Leonhard turned it down to stay at Wisconsin, but the recent coaching transition on the Badgers have made things, well, complicated. Leonhard left the program and is on the market. Meanwhile, the Packers’ defense has underperformed and there were reports that Jerry Gray thought so little of Barry’s scheme, he had his defensive backs deviate from it.
Gray is now with the Atlanta Falcons and numerous high-profile defensive coaches have been available and accepted jobs around the NFL. Such names include Brian Flores (Vikings) and Vic Fangio (Dolphins). All the while, the Packers have maintained they will not look elsewhere for a new/better defensive coordinator.
All of this being said, Packers fans reacted as one might have expected when news broke that Leonhard was interviewing with the Eagles:
This year could end up being both a referendum on Brian Gutekunst (Jordan Love) AND Matt LaFleur (Joe Barry) for key decisions they made over the last few seasons.
Getting those wrong could end up costing one or both of them their jobs, or at least severely undercutting GB.
— Peter Bukowski (@Peter_Bukowski) February 20, 2023
Really starting to dislike Joe Barry https://t.co/mFP0C3tU9z
— Wisconsin Clothing Company (@WiscoClothingCo) February 20, 2023
Yet here we are with Joe Barry still being employed… MLF better hope to god Joe makes changes or he could be the reason MLF is fired sooner than later https://t.co/5Rdra3Ftpp
— BrewMasterMurphy (@tfromfranklin) February 20, 2023
But we have Joe Barry guys we’ll be fine!!!! https://t.co/RJbAtuDqmk
— Kush (@kush7_) February 20, 2023
and we're STILL rocking with joe barry? https://t.co/gdj3LKtl4I
— ball knower 🇵🇸 (@notjknox) February 20, 2023
Hopefully Barry proves everyone wrong and the Packers’ defense is improved in 2023. If it is not, well, it is not every offseason that there is a pool of such high-quality defensive coordinators on the market. Let’s hope the Packers did not blow it.
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FAQs
Will the Green Bay Packers Make the 2023 NFL Playoffs?
According to sportsbooks, the Green Bay Packers are currently ninth overall (+3000) to win the 2024 Super Bowl. This is the highest among 2022 non-playoff teams, signaling they’ll be playoff-bound.
Who Do the Green Bay Packers Play in 2023?
Aside from their divisional opponents (Vikings, Lions, and Bears), whom they place twice, the Packers play the Saints, Buccaneers, Chiefs, Chargers, and Rams at home in 2023. They’ll travel on the road to face the Falcons, Panthers, Broncos, Raiders, Giants, and Steelers.
Who Owns the Green Bay Packers?
The team is owned by Green Bay Packers, Inc., a publicly owned and traded non-profit. There are currently over 360,000 stockholders. Mark Murphy currently holds the role of Packers president and CEO, with plans to retire in 2025.
How Many Super Bowls Have the Packers Won?
The Packers have won four Super Bowls. These victories include Super Bowl 1 and Super Bowl 2 after the 1966 and 1967 seasons. Their next title came in Super Bowl 31, following the 1996 season. Their most recent championship was Super Bowl 45, crowning them the winners of the 2010 season.
