The Green Bay Packers made the widely accepted choice to fire defensive coordinator Joe Barry after the defense failed to make significant strides.
The Packers defense has the potential to be one of the best in the NFL, as evidenced by the eight former first-round picks currently on the roster.
Unfortunately, Barry has failed or refused to release the full potential of his players. Barry interviews the coaching staffs of the Chicago Bears and the Philadelphia Eagles. He won’t get a chance to be considered for one of several defensive coordinator roles.
Meanwhile, Packers coach Matt LaFleur must choose his third defensive coordinator in as many seasons. When he was first hired in 2019, he kept Mike Petty on staff to keep Mike McCarthy. After Pettine’s contract was not renewed, he tried to hire then-Wisconsin Badgers defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard, but Leonhard decided to stay in Madison.
So Pattin hired Barry instead. It goes without saying that LaFleur, who has been heavily criticized for his hiring practices, should make a good hire with this one. Recent reports from Green Bay have not allayed concerns that he is too loyal to those he considers friends in NFL coaching circles.
Green Bay interviews LaFleur’s friend and the man who taught Barry how to manage Fangio’s teams.
That’s the style of defense, according to The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman, who previously broke the news that Staley would not be a top candidate for the defensive coordinator role. Before becoming head coach in 2020, Staley was the defensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams. Coach of the Los Angeles Chargers.
It was the only year in my career as a coordinator.
He previously coached the Denver Broncos and Chicago Bears. As head coach of the Chargers, Staley went 24–24 in the regular season and his club lost the only postseason game in which he played.
As mentioned above, Staley was not expected to be the first defensive lineman to be drafted. Coordinate the packer and location. That doesn’t mean he won’t be in the spotlight and won’t have the opportunity to be interviewed. He’s one of the hottest players on the market, and his short stint as the Rams’ defensive coordinator has impressed many front offices. But the real question is whether LaFleur wants to try something different or whether FangioStaley wants to stay on the defensive, as he has angered many fans and, to some extent, players, by using a strategy very similar to the one Barry used in Green Bay.
After two days off work, Staley was the first person to be interviewed on Barry’s behalf. There may be more interviews and Staley may find another job before the Packers complete the interview process.
