The Green Bay Packers made the decision to fire defensive coordinator Joe Barry earlier this week. While Barry’s defense had performed relatively well over the past four games (including Green Bay’s two playoff games), it was not enough to erase the three years of underachievement. The Packers may have finished in the top-ten in terms of points allowed, but their run defense remained among the worst in the NFL. Additionally, there had been no improvement on that side of the ball in Barry’s three-year run as defensive coordinator.
What was especially frustrating about the Packers’ defense being so underwhelming was the fact that it boasts eight former first round picks. General manager Brian Gutekunst has used every single one of his first round picks except one (Jordan Love in the 2020 NFL Draft) on defensive players. A unit so laden with talent should not finish in the bottom half of the league in any category.
For Barry, his stop in Green Bay was his third as a defensive coordinator. He previously held the same role with the Detroit Lions and Washington Commanders, with neither team keeping him more than two years. Barry has also served as a linebackers coach for several NFL franchises during the course of his coaching career.
It is as a linebackers coach that he is most respected, and players reportedly love playing for him. This is part of the reason why he will not be out of a job long, despite his failed run as Green Bay’s defensive coordinator.
Former Green Bay Packers Defensive Coordinator Joe Barry Is Interviewing with the Chicago Bears
According to Diana Russini of ESPN, Barry is not short on teams that are interested in his services on their defensive staffs. One of these teams is Green Bay’s oldest rival: the Chicago Bears:
Former Packers defensive coordinator Joe Barry will interview for jobs on the defensive staffs for both the Philadelphia Eagles and Chicago Bears, per sources. Philly up first…
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) January 26, 2024
The Bears’ defensive coordinator, Alan Williams, infamously resigned in the midst of a very confusing situation that saw reports of the FBI raiding both is home and Halas Hall. While some of these reports turned out to be false, it was still a very strange chapter in the Bears’ 2023 season.
Instead of replacing Williams during the season, Bears head coach Matt Eberflus assumed control of the defensive play calling duties. Despite yet another disappointing season in Chicago, Eberflus was retained, though he is overhauling most of his coaching staff.
While the Bears do not have a defensive coordinator yet, it is worth noting that Russini’s post says that Barry is simply interviewing for a place on their staff. It does not indicate that he is in the running for the their defensive coordinator position.
Former Packers quarterback coach Luke Getsy was recently fired as the Bears’ offensive coordinator. They just replaced him with Shane Waldron, leading many to believe that Chicago will take USC quarterback Caleb Williams with the first pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
As Russini notes, Barry is also interviewing with the Philadelphia Eagles, who are expected to hire Vic Fangio as defensive coordinator. Fangio recently resigned his position with the Miami Dolphins. Barry ran a Fangio-style defense in Green Bay.
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