Matt LaFleur, the Green Bay Packers’ head coach, is searching for his next defensive coordinator. Last Monday, LaFleur fired Joe Barry following three unsuccessful and difficult seasons. The last time LaFleur was in this situation, the Packers had elected not to renew Mike Pettine’s contract, and LaFleur went into the hiring process looking for a defensive coordinator who followed the Fangio-style defense.
This time around, however, the Packers’ head coach appears to be more concerned with finding a competent coach than with hiring for a specific plan. While he has interviewed Fangio disciple Brandon Staley, the former head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers, the other individuals he has interviewed or requested permission to interview are from a diverse range of experiences.
So far, the Packers have confirmed that they have interviewed or sought to interview the following coaches:
Brandon Staley (Former Chargers Head Coach)
Christian Parker is the defensive backs coach for the Denver Broncos.
Bobby Babich (inside linebackers coach for the Buffalo Bills).
Aden Durde (Defensive Line Coach for Dallas Cowboys)
Dennard Wilson (Defensive Backs Coach for Baltimore Ravens)
The last time LaFleur was looking for a defensive coordinator, he interviewed nine applicants. In addition to these five, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero recently announced the Packers’ sixth candidate.
The Green Bay Packers want to interview Baltimore Ravens’ inside linebackers coach, Zach Orr.
According to Pelissero, the Packers have requested an interview with Zach Orr, the Baltimore Ravens’ inside linebackers coach. Earlier in the day, it was rumored that Green Bay also requested an interview with the Ravens’ defensive backs coach, Dennard Wilson.
Orr had a brief three-year NFL career, but he finished with one of the best seasons in recent memory. In 2016, his only season as a starter, he recorded 133 total tackles, three interceptions, five passes defended, and a forced fumble. He was voted Second Team All-Pro that year, but a neck injury ended his brief playing career.
The following year, Orr joined the Ravens’ coaching staff as a defensive analyst, a position he retained until 2021. That year, Urban Meyer hired him to coach the Jacksonville Jaguars’ inside linebackers.
After one year in Jacksonville, Orr returned to Baltimore as the inside linebackers coach. This season, the Ravens possessed the NFL’s best scoring defense, limiting opponents to 16.5 points per game.
Many Ravens defensive assistants are interviewing for defensive coordinator positions across the league. Orr is the youngest, at only 31 years old. He is also largely regarded as one of the NFL’s most promising young coaches.
