The Green Bay Packers had a great deal of questions surrounding their offense heading into the 2023 NFL season. After trading future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers to the New York Jets, their biggest question surrounded Jordan Love‘s ability to lead the offense. Fortunately, Love proved to be more than capable of doing so and had the best first season for a Packers’ starting quarterback in franchise history.
While Love and the offense got off to a slow start in 2023, they were able to grow and improve throughout the duration of the season. Despite starting the year 2-5, the Packers went 7-3 in their final 10 games and clinched a Wild Card spot in the NFL Playoffs. They even upset the Dallas Cowboys on the road in the first round.
But as much as the offense improved over the course of the season, the defense did not. So, after three long seasons, a change was finally made.
The Green Bay Packers Fired Joe Barry and Hired Jeff Hafley as Defensive Coordinator

All season long, the Packers’ defense struggled to remain consistent. While they had good performances against the Chicago Bears and the Brett Rypien-led Los Angeles Rams, Green Bay was consistently confounded by mobile quarterbacks and average running backs. Perhaps the low-point of the season for the defense, and the best example of this, was when Tommy DeVito led the New York Giants down the field for a game-winning field goal with 1:33 left in the fourth quarter.
Things were not great off the field for the defense, either. When Love and the offense struggled, it was understandable because of how young and inexperienced they were. The defense, though, had eight former first round picks on it when at its full strength, and had the majority of the team’s established veterans.
Despite these factors, there were constant rumors of disconnect and frustration on the part of the players. Specifically, Jaire Alexander and De’Vondre Campbell were especially dissatisfied with the way things were. Alexander ended up suspended for a game due to conduct detrimental to the team and Campbell was released when the season was over.
Additionally, the Packers made the decision to fire defensive coordinator Joe Barry, who either refused to make adjustments or could not figure out how to.
In his place, the Packers brought in former Boston College head coach Jeff Hafley, who has received rave reviews from his players so far.
Green Bay Packers Cornerback Eric Stokes Is a Big Jeff Hafley Fan

During a media session with reporters following practice on Wednesday, fourth-year cornerback Eric Stokes, who had his fifth-year option declined by the Packers earlier this offseason, said the following about Coach Hafley:
Eric Stokes: “Ooooooh, I love Hafley … He just want you to go out there and have fun and just play 110 miles per hour and that’s what I love about Hafley … he always say, ‘Imma go ahead and take the bullet. You just go out there and just have fun and you just play.'”
— Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) May 29, 2024
In other words, Hafley wants his players to play fast and be aggressive. If something goes wrong, he will take responsibility for it.
It certainly is a drastic change from the last three years.
Green Bay Packers Defensive Players Are All Saying the Same Thing

Stokes’ comments above are not the only ones of their kind from defensive players so far this offseason. Recently, Kenny Clark, Devonte Wyatt, and Jaire Alexander all said similar things.
In short, there are two big differences between Hafley’s defense and approach to coaching as compared to Barry’s, as none of them are the fact that Hafley prefers the 4-3 scheme to Barry’s 3-4.
First, Hafley wants his defense to be aggressive and attack the ball. Barry wanted his defenses to read and react. In other words, Hafley wants his players to be fast and hit hard without thinking too much; Barry wanted all of his players thinking all the time. Indeed, one of the biggest criticisms of his defense was that it was too complicated.
Second, Hafley is promoting a fun and cohesive group of players. He also is not going to throw his players under the bus. Last season, when the defense played poorly, Barry would say that guys (he would not mention names) were playing out of position or had missed their assignment. Hafley is not going to do that.
He is taking a real “The Buck Stops Here” approach to leading the defense, and the players are responding in a positive way.
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