From the outside looking in, the Green Bay Packers defense could not be in worse shape. Prior to the season, most people predicted that the offensive would be the weakest link on the team. Of course, this was due to the concerns about Jordan Love and his youthful wide receiver and tight end core. Love, on the other hand, has looked better than Aaron Rodgers did last year, putting up comparable/greater stats than his predecessor did in 2008.
The defense, which had the greatest experience and the majority of the team leaders, was expected to be as good as, if not better than, the attack. But, while the offense has had its challenges, it has also triumphed. The defense cannot be claimed to be the same.
While some may blame the defense’s troubles on the frequency of injuries to key players, the truth is that no one in the NFL worth their salt uses injuries as an excuse for failure. No, the Packers’ problems go all the way back to defensive coordinator Joe Barry.
Green Bay Packers All-Pro Sends Brutal Message to Coaches Following Players’ Blame for Week 15 Loss
At this point, it seems almost certain that the Packers will release Barry at the end of the season. If and when they do, there will be a flood of individuals vying for the position. According to one NFL source, LaFleur will go to former Los Angeles Chargers head coach Brandon Staley.
NFL Insider believes Matt LaFleur will hire Brandon Staley as the Green Bay Packers’ defensive coordinator to replace Joe Barry.
When Jim Leonhard, who was also on the Packers’ list for defensive coordinator after this season, declined the position in 2021, the only two candidates left were Barry and Ejiro Evero. LaFleur went with expertise and a friend in Barry (both he and Evero were on LaFleur’s 2017 coaching staff). That season, Barry also served as an assistant head coach.
Evero and Barry were both considered for the job since they both operate a Fangio-style defense. Staley, who comes from the same coaching tree as Sean McVey, employs a similar defensive. Because of these factors (the defensive style and their shared coaching lineage), NFL analyst Ted Nguyen believes LaFleur will seek to Staley as his next defensive coordinator:
If Matt LaFleur chooses Brandon Staley as his defensive coordinator next season, they’ll be in good shape. I’ll get chastised for saying this, but Staley isn’t HC material, but he’s an excellent DC.
Staley was fired as the Chargers’ head coach in the middle of his third season. He previously worked as the Rams’ defensive coordinator in 2020, the Denver Broncos’ outside linebackers coach in 2019, and the Chicago Bears’ outside linebackers coach from 2017 to 2018.
Staley’s Rams defense finished first in the NFL in points allowed and yards allowed per game in his lone season as defensive coordinator.
