Breaking News: Information surfaces regarding the composition of Jeff Hafley’s coaching staff with the Packers.
Conflicting reports have emerged regarding the prospective defensive staff for Jeff Hafley since his appointment by the Green Bay Packers. ESPN’s Pete Thamel, the initial source announcing Hafley’s return to the NFL, suggests in his article on Hafley filling the Packers’ defensive coordinator role that the entire coaching staff is under contract for the 2024 season. This implies the need for potential terminations and payouts for coaches to make changes, and there is a possibility that some or all of the current assistant defensive coaches could continue under Hafley.
On the other hand, Tom Silverstein, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Packers beat reporter, offers a different perspective. He states that head coach Matt LaFleur has given assistants the freedom to explore other opportunities, indicating a potential openness to bringing in external coaching talent. Silverstein highlights that in 2021, LaFleur retained the 2020 defensive coaching staff when Joe Barry was hired, suggesting a precedent for considering both internal and external options.
Last year, the Packers had five full-time on-field coaching assistants under Barry, including Jerry Montgomery, Jason Rebrovich, Kirk Olivadotti, Greg Williams, and Ryan Downard. Notably, Downard had previously worked with Hafley in Cleveland, making him a likely candidate for a return. The potential return of Montgomery, who has been with the Packers since 2015 and would be working with his fourth defensive coordinator, adds an intriguing element to the evolving coaching dynamics within the organization.
