Green Bay Packers Hire Former NFC HC As Next Defensive Coordinator

The Green Bay Packers have hired former Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon as their defensive coordinator to replace Jeff Hafley, who became the head coach of the Miami Dolphins.

Gannon spent the last three seasons as the head coach for the Cardinals, going 15-36 in that span. His defense didn't have a ton of success during his tenure in Arizona, but he was not the defensive playcaller.

Back in 2022, Gannon was the defensive coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles and called the plays for the unit that went to the Super Bowl. 

That Eagles defense had a ton of talent, but it still took great playcalling to maximize them. 

Gannon will now take over a Packers defense that has superstar pass rusher Micah Parsons. Parsons is rehabbing from a torn ACL he suffered in Week 14, but should be back early in the 2026 season.

In his first season as a Packer, Parsons was named to the All-Pro First Team and a finalist for the Defensive Player of the Year award despite missing the final three games. 

He finished the season with 41 total tackles, 12.5 sacks, 12 tackles for loss, and 27 quarterback hits. 

Green Bay also has a talented safety combination of Xavier McKinney and Evan Williams. Linebacker Edgerrin Cooper has also shown his ability to be a difference maker on defense. They will also get defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt back for the 2026 campaign.

However, the Packers need to improve their cornerback room, as that was their weakness in 2025.

Green Bay started Carrington Valentine and Keisean Nixon on the outside for most of the season, and both had moments, but were not consistent. Free agent signing Nate Hobbs did not pan out on the outside after spending his first four seasons with the Las Vegas Raiders as a slot corner.

General manager Brian Gutekunst will need to upgrade the cornerback room, but Gannon will need to maximize it. Prior to becoming a defensive coordinator, he was a defensive back coach, which could help the secondary play at a higher level.

The Packers have more work to do to improve the roster this offseason, but they have their Hafley replacement in Gannon.

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