Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur is leaving no stone unturned as he continues his search for his next defensive coordinator. Last week, LaFleur made the decision to fire Joe Barry after three disappointing and frustrating seasons. The last time LaFleur was in this position, the Packers had decided not to renew Mike Pettine’s contract, and LaFleur went into the hiring process wanting a defensive coordinator who followed the Fangio-style of defense.
This time around, however, the Packers’ head coach seems much more concerned about getting a quality coach rather than hiring for a specific scheme. While he has interviewed Fangio disciple Brandon Staley, the former head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers, the other candidates he has interviewed, or requested permission to interview, come from a wide variety of backgrounds.
So far, the Packers have been confirmed to have interviewed or have requested to interview the following coaches:
- Brandon Staley (former Chargers head coach)
- Christian Parker (defensive backs coach for the Denver Broncos)
- Bobby Babich (inside linebackers coach for the Buffalo Bills)
- Aden Durde (defensive line coach for the Dallas Cowboys)
- Dennard Wilson (defensive backs coach for the Baltimore Ravens)
Last time he was in the market for a defensive coordinator, LaFleur interviewed nine candidates. In addition to these five, NFL Network‘s Tom Pelissero just revealed the Packers’ sixth candidate.
The Green Bay Packers Want to Interview Baltimore Ravens Inside Linebackers Coach Zach Orr

According to Pelissero, the Packers have requested to interview Baltimore Ravens inside linebackers coach Zach Orr. Earlier in the day, it was reported that Green Bay also requested to interview the Ravens’ defensive backs coach, Dennard Wilson:
The #Packers requested to interview #Ravens ILB coach Zach Orr for Green Bay’s defensive coordinator position, per source. Orr is a former Ravens LB who is projected as a DC very soon. Orr has been a close lieutenant to Mike Macdonald in Baltimore.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 30, 2024
Orr had a short three-year NFL career that saw him have one of the best final seasons in recent memory. In 2016, his only year as a starter, he had 133 total tackles, three interceptions, five passes defended, and a forced fumble. He was named Second Team All-Pro that year, but a neck injury made it the last of his brief playing career.
The following year, Orr joined the Ravens coaching staff as a defensive analyst, a job which he held until 2021. That year, he was plucked by Urban Meyer to be the Jacksonville Jaguars inside linebackers coach.
Following one year in Jacksonville, Orr returned to Baltimore as their inside linebackers coach. This season, the Ravens had the best scoring defense in the NFL, holding opponents to just 16.5 points per game.
Many Ravens defensive assistants are getting looks at defensive coordinator jobs around the league. At just 31 years old, Orr is the youngest. He is also widely believed to be one of the best up and coming young coaches in the NFL.
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