Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon delivered a message on why he joined the Packers.
The Green Bay Packers had to replace defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley this offseason after he was hired as the head coach of the Miami Dolphins. That led to Green Bay bringing in Jonathan Gannon, who was previously the head coach of the Arizona Cardinals and a defensive coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles.
Gannon comes in at a pivotal time for the Packers, as they are in their Super Bowl window with Jordan Love and Micah Parsons.
In his first presser with the team, Gannon was asked why he joined Green Bay and stated, "Jordan Love. That was a huge thing to me. I think he's in the top tier."
That is major praise for the Packers quarterback, who is coming off the best season of his career.
In the 2025 season, Love completed 66.3 percent of his passes for 3,381 yards, 23 touchdowns, and six interceptions. He also rushed for 199 yards on 47 attempts.
He established himself as one of the best quarterbacks in the league, and it's now pivotal for the Packers to capitalize on his prime and win now.
Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn ImagesA key component to that will be Gannon maximizing the talent on their defense. They made additions to the unit in the offseason, trading for linebacker Zaire Franklin, signing Javon Hargrave, and Benjamin St-Juste.
In the draft, they selected cornerback Brandon Cisse in the second round, defensive tackle Chris McClellan in the third round, and edge rusher Dani Dennis-Sutton in the fourth round.
They will also be looking for a breakout season from pass-rusher Lukas Van Ness. Van Ness is entering his fourth year in the league after being a first-round pick in 2023.
In the 2025 season, he only appeared in nine games due to injury, finishing with 19 total tackles, three tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, and seven quarterback hits.
His ability off the edge opposite of Parsons will be a major factor in the Packers' chances of going on a deep run.
Gannon has a ton of experience, and his defensive playcalling will be crucial for Green Bay's defense to become one of the best units in the NFL.
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