The Green Bay Packers need a new defensive coordinator. Head coach Matt LaFleur fired DC Joe Barry on Wednesday after three seasons of disappointing performances.
While the Packers were starting as many as seven first-round picks on the defensive side of the ball, Barry’s unit consistently failed to deliver, getting gashed in the run game while giving up explosive plays through the air. There’s talent on Green Bay’s defensive depth chart, but it may not have been harnessed correctly.
Can the Packers’ defense become as exciting and productive as the team’s offense? Here’s who Green Bay should consider for DC.
Green Bay Packers DC Candidates
Ejiro Evero, DC, Carolina Panthers
While Ejiro Evero would be a home-run hire for LaFleur and the Packers, the Carolina DC may have his sights set a bit higher. Evero has interviewed twice for the Atlanta Falcons’ head coaching job and has planned second meetings with the Seattle Seahawks and his incumbent Panthers.
Carolina is likely hoping that Evero will stay on as its defensive play-caller even if they head in another direction for HC. The Panthers denied the Jacksonville Jaguars’ request to interview him for DC earlier this month.
Green Bay might have to wait until Carolina hires its new head coach and hope they don’t want to retain Evero, who did an outstanding job with the Denver Broncos’ defense in 2022 before moving to the Panthers this past season. LaFleur and Evero worked together on the Los Angelles Rams’ staff in 2017.
Brandon Staley, Former HC, Los Angeles Chargers
Brandon Staley struggled with the responsibilities of being the Chargers’ head coach, but he’s undoubtedly an excellent defensive coordinator. The Rams’ defense ranked No. 1 in the NFL in efficiency in 2018, Staley’s sole season at the helm.
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Although Staley seemed overwhelmed by head coaching duties in Los Angeles, he still crafted solid game plans at times (think of the Chargers’ strategy against the Miami Dolphins’ offense in 2022). When he’s purely focused on designing a defense, Staley is a whiz.
Patrick Graham, DC, Las Vegas Raiders
Patrick Graham is facing a situation similar to Evero’s. He’s under contract as the Raiders’ DC, and Vegas surely wants him to stay after he helped turn around their defense over the second half of the season.
Graham is also in the head coaching mix. He has a second interview on the books with the Seahawks and has also met with the Chargers.
Graham might be a pipe dream for the Packers. He won’t be allowed to leave the Raiders unless they enable him to, which they likely won’t.
Jim Leonhard, Defensive Analyst, University of Illinois
We already know LaFleur was interested in Jim Leonhard before hiring Barry in 2021. The Packers approached Leonhard, then the University of Wisconsin’s DC, about replacing Mike Pettine, but Leonhard declined the opportunity.
Leonhard is now an analyst with Illinois, so he might be more willing to make the move to the NFL. His Wisconsin units ranked in the top five in total defense in each of his five seasons in charge.
Wink Martindale, Former DC, New York Giants
Wink Martindale’s Giants defense ranked dead last in yards allowed last season but was 21st in DVOA, suggesting the unit wasn’t as poor as its baseline statistics might’ve indicated.
One of the blitz-heaviest coordinators in the NFL, Martindale has a proven track record thanks to his time with the Baltimore Ravens. But there are personality questions.
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Martindale got into verbal spats with Giants head coach Brian Daboll during the season before reportedly cursing him out and resigning once the year was over. Will LaFleur want to add a potentially volatile presence to the Packers’ staff?
Dennard Wilson, DBs Coach, Baltimore Ravens
Dennard Wilson worked with the Philadelphia Eagles’ secondary from 2021 to 2022 before joining the Ravens in 2023. That résumé alone should be enough to get Wilson DC looks after he worked with stars like Darius Slay and James Bradberry in Philadelphia and lower-profile defensive backs such as Brandon Stephens, Ronald Darby, and Arthur Maulet this year.
Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni considered promoting Wilson to replace Jonathan Gannon as Philadelphia’s DC last offseason. Wilson probably would have offered better results than the club’s failed Sean Desai/Matt Patricia combo (just ask Slay).
If the Packers want a modern, creative defense to pair with their young, electrifying offense, Wilson might be the guy.
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