Goodbye Barry
I think we can all still hear the cheers from the news of the Packers moving on from defensive coordinator Joe Barry. It’s not cool to call for people’s jobs and I hope Barry finds success somewhere else, but watching his defense week in and week out was bad for the mental health of everyone involved. Whether it be letting up a perfect passer rating to Baker Mayfield in Lambeau just a short time ago or a string of losses conceding over 21 points a game to the Giants, Commanders, and Jets in the 2022 season, Barry left more than enough meat on the bone with a defense comprised of legitimate talent and draft capital. So less than a week after losing to the San Francisco 49ers with a chance to go to the NFC Championship, the Packers announced the departure of Joe Barry. With at least a dozen interesting defensive coordinator prospects and just one short week of interviews, the Packers found their guy in an unexpected place. Boston College head coach Jeff Hafley is on his way to Green Bay.
Moving Away From the Old
There was a spectrum of names of interviewees for the Packers (now closed) coaching spot. From notable vets like Wink Martindale, young positional coaches that look to get a promotion and make a name for themselves like Ravens defensive back coach Dennard Wilson or recently promoted to Coordinator Zach Orr. Zach Orr is actually *rumored* to have gotten an offer for the job in Green Bay but understandably decided to stay where he has made home. The writing on the wall was there for a type of coach like Hafley, as the interviews ranged in experience, all the potential hirees harbored a more aggressive playstyle than the former Joe Barry, the Packers were looking for a fresh new start.
The Packers were victim to trying the Vic Fangio defense, first with Mike Pettine then with Barry. This style is the 2 high shell, quarters disguise style. This trend took over the NFL as it works pretty okay against elite QBs who try to stretch the ball downfield, Vangio found a bit of success with it against a young Patrick Mahomes when he head coached the Denver Broncos playing him twice a year. It is a useful scheme to implement at times, as we could see with the Packers picking up big wins against quality offenses. The problem comes with using it week in and week out against system QBs who will accept what the defense gives them, like check-downs and open spots in the middle of the field. This as well as the run game, even with perfect personnel the run game will be available against this scheme. This is a part of the reason we’ve seen extremely high yards per carry in the NFL because there is a swathe of Fangio defensive systems that have permeated the NFL. But it seems it will leave as quickly as it came, at least with the Packers.
Jeff Hafley’s Background
So what lies ahead for the Packers? The intriguing aspect of this question is the unpredictability of it all. Jeff Hafley boasts a remarkably diverse coaching background, leaving an impact wherever he goes. His journey began humbly as a D-backs coach at his alma mater in 2002, and over the years, he took on pivotal roles, including coaching cornerback Darrelle Revis at Pitt in 2006. His tenure at Rutgers in 2011 saw him shaping the skills of NFL talents like Logan Ryan and Duron Harmon, resulting in a ninth-ranked passing defense nationally.
Transitioning to the NFL, Hafley joined Greg Schiano, his former head coach at Rutgers, with the Buccaneers in 2012. Schiano and Hafley share a commitment to adapting their defensive philosophy to match the roster’s strengths, a trait that has defined their coaching careers.
Hafley’s impact was profound in a transformative two-season stint with the Cleveland Browns under coach Mike Pettine. In 2014, the Browns led the NFL in opponent passer rating (74.1), opponent completion percentage (57.1), and passes defended with 99, securing the second rank in the league with 21 interceptions.
Following his successful NFL run, Hafley spent three seasons as the defensive backs coach with the San Francisco 49ers from 2016 to 2018. Working under Chip Kelly in 2016 and Kyle Shanahan in the final two seasons, the 49ers’ passing defense ranked 11th in the league in 2018, showcasing Hafley’s ability to make a positive impact. Richard Sherman speaks of Hefley highly based on his time with him in San Francisco, acclaiming him as an elite communicator of the defensive side of the ball.
Before his head coaching job at Boston College, Hafley became co-coordinator in Ohio State helping a talented Buckeye team transform Ohio State from a 72nd national ranking in 2018 to claiming the top spot in 2019 in yards per play. Hafley emerged as a finalist for the Frank Broyles Award and secured recognition as the 247 Sports Defensive Coordinator of the Year. Serving as one of the key architects behind the Buckeye defense, he played a pivotal role in achieving top national rankings, including first in yards per play, second in total defense, third in scoring defense, third in sacks, seventh in rushing defense, second in passing yards allowed, and first in red zone defense.
Jeff Hafley’s coaching trajectory demonstrates a consistent ability to elevate defenses. With a rich history of success at both the collegiate and professional levels, his adaptability and talent development make him a promising addition to the Packers. As he brings his wealth of experience to Green Bay, the only certainty is change, and Packers fans have every reason to be optimistic about the defensive transformation under Hafley’s guidance.
Fan Reaction
Most people were caught off guard by this hire, simply because they’d never heard of him. On top of this Boston College isn’t exactly the big-name school you expect to harbor NFL talent. Not to mention the fact Hafley was not publicly noted to be interviewed at any point, so the hire caught everyone off guard. But no one who has worked with him or researched him doubts his abilities and credentials, exactly the opposite.
“I have had some great defensive minds and he’s right up there with his preparation and how he breaks down film”- Probable Hall of Fame corner, Richard Sherman.
“He’s impressive dude, everyone loves how aggressive he is. How aggressive his scheme is… Seems like a good hire it really does.” – Packers all-time leading tackler, AJ Hawk
Why Leave Head Coaching for Coordinator Position
The idea of moving from a college head coach to an NFL coordinator is not the most common transition, but in the case of Hafley, it seems to make perfect sense. The college head coach job is in an awful state with the “wild-west” system of transfers and NIL deals, developing and maintaining talent is hard enough even at headlining schools, much less a smaller school like Boston College. Hafley talked a lot about the stresses of this in an interview with Adam Breneman on his YouTube channel. He disagrees with the way college football works right now. He wants to get back to coaching players and coaching defense, something that you do not have time for as a College head coach trying to grab and maintain talent on top of fundraising. An NFL Coordinator position seems to be his dream job.
What to Expect
It is impossible to know what results Hafley is going to put on the field, what we do know is the Jeff Hafley defense will be nothing like Joe Barry’s. The days of 10 yards off coverage on 2nd and long are over. Jeff Hafley’s philosophy is much more aggressive, he uses complicated defensive fronts and believes in press-man coverage. Single high safety has been a staple through his defenses and he’s coached it as well as anybody. Expect Jaire Alexander lined up face-to-face with WR1s. Expect Quay Walker to be an unpredictable chess piece on the front. Expect a play for more talented safeties, whether free agency or trade. Expect something a bit more tolerable than the days of Mike Pettine and Joe Barry.
