The Green Bay Packers are beginning the process of finding their next defensive coordinator. Joe Barry, who served in that role from 2021-2023, was fired earlier this week after yet another disappointing season by the defense. While the defense did finish ninth in points allowed, they remained one of the worst run defenses in the NFL. Mistakes that were made in 2021 were not fixed by the end of 2023. The decision was made, therefore, that it was time for a change.
Earlier on Friday, it was reported the Brandon Staley, the former head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers, was going to interview for the Packers’ defensive coordinator position. Staley was previously a defensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams in 2020.
Also earlier on Friday, ESPN’s Dan Graziano reported that the team is very high on Tennessee Titans defensive backs coach and passing game coordinator Chris Harris, who nearly won the Packers job in 2021. Harris has also interviewed for the Chicago Bears’ defensive coordinator job.
Former Green Bay Packers Defensive Coordinator Joe Barry Is Interviewing with a Division Rival
As the day has gone on, though, more names are being revealed on Green Bay’s list of desired candidates. One of whom is a young linebackers coach for the Buffalo Bills, whom the Packers needed permission to interview.
The Green Bay Packers Are Set to Interview Bobby Babich for Their Defensive Coordinator Position
“Bobby Babich joined the Bills in 2017 as the team’s assistant defensive backs coach before getting promoted to the team’s safeties coach in 2018. Prior to the 2022 season, Babich was named the team’s linebackers coach. Last season, Babich aided the play of linebacker Matt Milano who was named a 2022 first-team All-Pro.”
The Bills’ defense was the fourth-ranked scoring defense in the NFL this past season, allowing just 18.4 points per game. They were also top-ten in yards allowed per game (ninth) and passing yards allowed per game (seventh). Their run defense was ranked 15th in the NFL.
Each of these rankings would be remarkable improvements for the Packers. While Babich does not have any coordinator experience, he is a young up-and-coming coach that is already getting interviews with other teams to run their defenses. So respected is he that the Bills required other teams to ask permission before hiring him.
Babich has worked under Bills head coach Sean McDermott and defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier (who took a year off from coaching), so it is likely that his philosophy would be a similar one: a base four-man rush with various blitz packages. This would certainly be a change from the 3-4 defense the Packers have been running since the days of Dom Capers, but it may be a change that they need.
Leave a Reply