Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur has interviewed at least six people to replace Joe Barry as defensive coordinator. You must know this.
Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur is methodically searching for a defensive coordinator to replace Joe Barry. So far, he has interviewed at least six candidates to prepare a defensive mind to build a championship defense. Maybe even more than that. Here’s what we know about the known candidates.
Brandon StaleyCurrent Job: Fired as head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers last December. His three-year record was 24 wins and 24 losses. The Chargers went 10-7 and made the playoffs in 2022 (27-0 at Jacksonville). But when he was fired in 2023, they were 5-9. The Plan: Vic Fangio’s style is 3-4, so he applies what the Packers have done with Barry the last three seasons, but doesn’t break out.
That may be more appealing to LaFleur, who hopes to create a new twist on a familiar approach. Will offense: The Chargers have the eighth-highest offensive percentage (31.5 percent), according to Pro Football Reference. However, the Packers ranked 10th at 29.3 percent. How good it is: Staley only served as defensive coordinator for one season. In 2020, he ranked first with the Rams in points allowed, first against the pass and third against the run.
He was also a defensive lineman for the Chargers for three seasons. What we didn’t like: His defense was terrible as the Chargers coach. It ranked 29th in 2021, 21st in 2022 and 24th in 2023. During his tenure, they ranked 28th in points allowed, 31st in points allowed with 4.7 yards per carry and 25th in opponent passer rating of 92.7. In their last game, the Chargers lost 63-21 to Aden Durdeh, who was cut a week ago.Current job: Defensive line coach for the Dallas Cowboys.Organization: Durde spent most of his coaching career under former Atlanta Falcons coach and current Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn. Quinn runs a 4-3 scheme. By the end of the season, the Cowboys ranked fourth in man coverage percentage.
It was an interesting change for Quinn, who had been a regional coordinator. Will blitz: In 2023, Quinn’s Cowboys ranked 13th with a 28.5 percent blitz rate. In 2019, Quinn’s final season as coach in Atlanta, the Falcons ranked 22nd in offense. What I like: The Cowboys’ defensive line has been very good, but Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence will help attack the pass. With that unit, Dallas ranks fifth in points allowed and total defense.
Colleagues, including Quinn, praise Durd, a Briton, for his teaching skills. The not-so-fun part: You never know what you’re going to get when you hire a trainer. This is neither good nor bad. It’s just the truth. Durdey was only a position coach for four years and his department was swept by the Packers in the playoffs. The Cowboys defense has been average the past three years.
