Packers hire Boston College coach Jeff Hafley as their new defensive coordinator to replace Joe Barry

GREEN BAY – Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur has hired Boston College head coach Jeff Hafley as his new defensive coordinator.

Hafley has coached defensive backs with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Cleveland Browns and San Francisco 49ers, but the past four seasons he has led the Eagles, going 22-26. His hiring comes after LaFleur interviewed at least six NFL assistant coaches for the coordinator position.

The club announced the hiring Wednesday evening, hours after ESPN first reported the move and PackersNews.com confirmed it.

“We are excited to welcome Jeff, his wife, Gina, and their daughters, Hope and Leah, to the Packers and the Green Bay community,” LaFleur said in a statement. “Jeff has had success at every stop of his coaching career with an impressive track record of developing players at every level. We look forward to him leading our defense.”

The Hafley hire comes out of the blue. No media outlets reported that LaFleur had interviewed Hafley and it was generally considered that the Packers coach was seeking either an NFL assistant coach or former head coach or coordinator.

Hafley, 44, will replace Joe Barry, who was fired after the Packers’ playoff loss to the San Francisco 49ers.

Matt LaFleur has several coaching connections to Jeff Hafley

Though LaFleur and Hafley have not worked together, they share many associations within the NFL from which LaFleur undoubtedly drew in researching his new defensive coordinator.

Hafley was defensive backs coach in San Francisco under former defensive coordinator and current New York Jets coach Robert Saleh, who is one of LaFleur's best friends. Saleh would have been able to give LaFleur a solid evaluation of whether Hafley would be able to call plays in the NFL.

Hafley also worked in San Francisco when LaFleur's brother, Mike, was an assistant coach, and so he undoubtedly received good background from him. Packers college scouting director Matt Malaspina also was there with Hafley, so LaFleur might have gotten information from them as well.

Hafley also worked under former Packers defensive coordinator Mike Pettine in Cleveland for two seasons (2014-'15) and one of Pettine's assistants at the time was Ryan Downard, who is now LaFleur's defensive backs coach.

One of the things that probably appealed to LaFleur was that Hafley has coached the secondary his entire career. The Packers have continually had issues with communication and confusion in the secondary and having someone who has specialized in that area will help..

Jeff Hafley’s situation at Boston College was on shaky ground

Hafley's position at Boston College was not secure, according to a source close to the program. He might not have made it past this season were it not for the team going 6-6 and making it to the Fenway Bowl, where the Eagles beat No. 24 SMU, 24-13.

Prior to that victory, BC had lost three straight conference games.

The source said Hafley had two years remaining on his contract at just under $4 million per year. His 2024 season wasn't shaping up very well because he was losing key parts of his team to graduation, the source added, and he might have been looking to get out.

It's likely his salary will be similar in Green Bay. The Packers may have to pay to buy out Hafley from his contract with Boston College.

Hafley's best year defensively at Boston College was in 2021 when the Eagles ranked third nationally in passing yards allowed and were ranked in the top 30 in total defense, red-zone defense, first downs allowed and third-down percentage. His team went 6-6 that season.

In 2022, the Eagles dropped to 100th in scoring defense (30.3) and 67th in yards allowed (377.8), and in '23 ranked 86th (28.3) in scoring and 70th in yards allowed (385.1).

Hafley's hiring will likely mean some changes on the defensive staff. LaFleur has told the assistants they are free to explore other options, a source said, but he probably will have to sit down with Hafley and find out how many coaches he wants to bring in from outside. When Barry was hired, LaFleur kept everyone on staff and didn't let Barry bring in people he knew and trusted.

Hafley has worked under several defensive coordinators who run different systems

Hafley has worked under a number of defensive coordinators, most of whom don't run the same system, so it's uncertain if he'll be partial to a 4-3 or 3-4 scheme. He has worked both in pressure and coverage schemes and should be able to run whatever LaFleur prefers.

In 2011, Hafley worked under Rutgers coach Greg Schiano and in 2012 Schiano brought him along when he was hired as the Buccaneers head coach. Schiano ran a 4-3 scheme that incorporated a decent amount of blitz pressure, but the Buccaneers went 11-21 over two years and he was fired after the ’13 season.

After two years with the Buccaneers, Hafley joined Pettine’s staff in Cleveland. The offensive staff included current 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan, who is one of LaFleur’s close friends, and current Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel.

The defensive staff included some talented young coaches, such as current Buffalo defensive coordinator Bobby Babich, Baltimore Ravens defensive line coach Anthony Weaver and Detroit Lions coordinator Aaron Glenn.

Pettine was a disciple of New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan and ran a 3-4 pressure system. When LaFleur was hired in 2019, he retained Pettine, who had been hired as defensive coordinator under Mike McCarthy. He fired him after two years and hired Barry.

After his time in Cleveland, Hafley was hired by 49ers coach Chip Kelly to coach defensive backs. Kelly was fired the following year and Hafley was reunited with Shanahan, who replaced Kelly. In San Francisco, Hafley worked under Saleh, who runs a 4-3 coverage scheme where blitzing is not a big part of the weekly game plans.

In 2019, Hafley became co-defensive coordinator at Ohio State under coach Ryan Day. Hafley shared the coordinator title with veteran college assistant Greg Mattison.

The Buckeyes defense rank No. 1 nationally in yards per play, No. 2 in total defense and passing yards allowed, and No. 3 in scoring defense and sacks.

The following year, he replaced Steve Addazio as Boston College head coach.

Among the NFL candidates LaFleur interviewed were former Los Angeles Chargers coach Brandon Staley, Buffalo inside linebackers coach Bobby Babich, Dallas defensive line coach Aden Durde, Denver defensive backs coach Christian Parker, Baltimore defensive backs coach Dennard Wilson and Ravens inside linebackers coach Zach Orr.

A source said that LaFleur also talked to former New York Giants defensive coordinator Wink Martindale.

LaFleur never got the opportunity to interview a coach who might have been at the top of his list. Ejiro Evero, who was a finalist when Barry was hired, remains under contract with the Carolina Panthers, who have shown no willingness to let him leave despite a change in the head coaching position.

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