Per multiple reports, Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Joe Barry has been fired Wednesday. The Packers defensive coordinator understood he was on the hot seat following Green Bay’s loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 15.

Joe Barry’s defense struggled this season

Barry’s defense allowed quarterback Baker Mayfield to become the second quarterback in history to have a perfect passer rating at Lambeau Field. Head coach Matt LaFleur met with defensive players after the game to find out how to help the team get through the rest of the season.

The defense didn’t improve much for Week 15 when rookie quarterback Bryce Young had his best career game in the Carolina Panthers’ 33-30 loss to the Packers. However, the defense improved in the last two weeks of the regular season when they gave up just 19 total points to the Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears.

The Green Bay Packers defense played well in the postseason

The Packers’ defense was a major reason why Green Bay upset the Dallas Cowboys in the Divisional Round. The defense helped the Packers gain a lead over the San Francisco 49ers in the Divisional Round, but they allowed the 49ers to score a game-winning touchdown in the fourth quarter.

That’s a formula the Packers saw multiple times, including against the Tommy DeVito and the New York Giants in Week 14.

According to Tom Pelissero with the NFL Network, LaFleur saw enough after the 49ers’ loss to make a change.

A change in Green Bay: Joe Barry will not return as the #Packers’ defensive coordinator, per sources. pic.twitter.com/XDPyrUC0wC

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 24, 2024

The Packers needed to make a change

NFL circles believe the Packers can win a Super Bowl next season. But for the Packers to do that, the defense must improve before they face an elite AFC quarterback in the Super Bowl. Firing Barry is the first step in improving that side of the ball.

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