loading . . . 25 Possible Candidates for the Packers Defensive Coordinator Position It won't be long before the Packers are searching for a new defensive coordinator. Jeff Hafley has been actively interviewing for multiple head coaching opportunities since the season ended. He has interviewed with the Arizona Cardinals, Miami Dolphins, Atlanta Falcons, Tennessee Titans, Las Vegas Raiders, and Pittsburgh Steelers. With newly-hired GM Jon-Eric Sullivan also coming from Green Bay, Hafley is considered the favorite to become the next head coach for the Miami Dolphins.
Hafley landing a head coaching job won't come as a surprise to Matt LaFleur. "I think Hafley's gonna do a great job on the interview, and I fully anticipate him getting one of these (open jobs)," LaFleur said. "I would be so happy for him because he deserves it, and he's a great friend, he's a great man, he's a great coach. I'd hate to see him leave for us, but at the same time, that's what this business is all about, and he's earned those opps."
Hafley has done a solid job with the Packers' defense over the past two seasons. Replacing him won't be easy, but there are plenty of quality candidates available. LaFleur said "all options are on the table" for how he would go about replacing the Packers' defensive coordinator. LaFleur added that the team will "make sure we have a good plan in place" if Hafley indeed leaves.
The Packers have reportedly started exploring all of their options. Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reported that Green Bay has "begun work on defensive coordinators, as they expect Jeff Hafley is going to get a head-coaching job." The Packers obviously can't start interviewing until Hafley officially accepts a head coaching job, but they can start compiling their list of candidates. The Packers will likely explore all avenues. Here are 25 possible candidates that might end up interviewing for the Packers defensive coordinator position.
Meanwhile, sources say the #Packers have begun work on defensive coordinators, as they expect Jeff Hafley is going to get a head-coaching job and will need to make a DC hire. https://t.co/mYt0SnBw9X
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) January 17, 2026
Derrick Ansley
Ansley is currently the defensive passing game coordinator for the Green Bay Packers, working alongside both Matt LaFleur and Jeff Hafley for the past two seasons. Ansley has experience as a defensive coordinator at both the NFL and college levels, but the majority of his coaching career has been coaching defensive backs. Before coming to Green Bay, Ansley was the defensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Chargers under Brandon Staley. At the University of Alabama, Ansley worked for Nick Saban and was instrumental in the recruitment and development of current Packers Xavier McKinney and Trevon Diggs. Ansley also spent a year in Las Vegas working for Jon Gruden, along with Rich Bisaccia. The Atlanta Falcons interviewed Ansley last offseason for their defensive coordinator position. Jeff Hafley could opt to bring Ansley with him as his defensive coordinator.
Mathieu Araujo
Araujo's been with the Dolphins organization since 2022, serving as the cornerbacks coach for the last two seasons. Araujo has remained with the team despite three different defensive coordinator changes. In Miami, he's worked under Mike McDaniel, Vic Fangio, and Anthony Weaver. He also worked with former Green Bay Packer coaches Anthony Campanile and Joe Barry in Miami. Before transitioning to the NFL level, Araujo coached at Yale and Boston College. His only experience as a defensive coordinator came at Yale, where he was the co-defensive coordinator for one season. Araujo interviewed for the New York Jets' defensive coordinator position last week.
Bobby Babich
Babich served as the defensive coordinator for the Buffalo Bills for the past two seasons. Babich was hired in 2017 as an assistant defensive backs coach in Buffalo by Sean McDermott and Leslie Frazier. He eventually transitioned to coaching linebackers before becoming the defensive coordinator. His dad, Bob Babich, coached for nearly 35 years. The Packers reportedly had interest in Babich in 2024 before hiring Jeff Hafley, but Babich was promoted in Buffalo instead. Babich also worked under former Packers' defensive coordinator Mike Pettine in Cleveland for two seasons.
Ephraim Banda
Banda is currently the safeties coach for the Cleveland Browns. Most of his coaching career has come at the college level, but he served under Kevin Stefanski and Jim Schwartz for the last three seasons. Banda started as the safeties coach at the University of Miami, but eventually became a co-defensive coordinator for a season. He then became the defensive coordinator and safeties coach at Utah State for two seasons. The Dallas Cowboys and the New York Jets both interviewed Banda for their defensive coordinator positions. He has also been rumored as a candidate to take over for Schwartz in Cleveland if Schwartz leaves.
Gus Bradley
Gus Bradley is currently the assistant defensive head coach of the San Francisco 49ers. Before that, he served as the defensive coordinator for the Indianapolis Colts. Bradley has about 12 total years of experience as a defensive coordinator. Bradley’s first defensive coordinator job was with the Seattle Seahawks, where he played a hand in building the “Legion of Boom.” He also has four years of head coach experience. Bradley has worked for numerous successful NFL coaches, including Pete Carroll, Jon Gruden, Monte Kiffin, Kyle Shanahan, and Robert Saleh. Rich Bisaccia worked with Bradley for a season in Las Vegas. LaFleur's strong relationship with Shanahan, Saleh, and Bisaccia would give LaFleur plenty of insight into Bradley. Bradley could be a candidate to replace Robert Saleh in San Francisco if Saleh leaves for a head coaching opportunity.
Jonathan Cooley
Colley has been the defensive passing game coordinator for the Carolina Panthers for the past two seasons. Before that, he coached the team's secondary. Cooley worked for Sean McVay and the Rams from 2020 to 2022. Cooley has worked under three strong defensive-minded coaches who Matt LaFleur thinks very highly of: Brandon Staley, Raheem Morris, and Ejiro Evero. Cooley has gotten interviews of his own, but he's a candidate to follow Evero if he ends up landing a head coaching position. "He's just got a way with words and making confusing or complex stuff seem real simple," said Pro Bowler Jaycee Horn. "He breaks the game down to the simplest form for you and gives you the ability to play fast."
DeMarcus Covington
Covington is currently the defensive line coach and run game coordinator for the Green Bay Packers, working alongside Matt LaFleur and Jeff Hafley for just one season. Covington has experience coordinating defenses at both the NFL and college levels. He served as New England’s defensive coordinator in 2023 before joining Green Bay’s defensive staff. Before joining the Packers, he spent eight years as a defensive assistant with the New England Patriots, working with Bill Belichick, Jerod Mayo, Matt Patricia, Bret Bielema, and Brian Flores. Former Packer executive Eliot Wolf also worked with Covington in New England. By all accounts, the Packers think very highly of Covington. "I just think DeMarcus has done a fabulous job with that entire group," Brian Gutekunst said back in August. "I like the way they are playing. Excited for what he's going to do for us this year." Covington has already interviewed for the open defensive coordinator position in Dallas.
Aden Durde
Durde is currently the defensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks, a position he's held for the last two seasons. Mike Macdonald currently calls the defense for Seattle, so Durde would be able to pursue a defensive coordinator position that allows him to call the defense. Before joining Macdonald in Seattle, Durde worked under Dan Quinn in Dallas and Atlanta. Both Matt LaFleur and Durde were with the Falcons during the 2016 season, so they have some familiarity with one another. He also worked with Raheem Morris. Durde interviewed for the Packers in 2024, but didn't get the job. Durde has started getting interviews for head coaching opportunities.
Brian Flores
Flores was the defensive coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings for the last three years. The Vikings let Flores' contract expire so he's free to explore all options. Flores’ coaching career began in 2008 as a special teams assistant with the New England Patriots. He coached in New England for 11 seasons before eventually becoming the head coach of the Miami Dolphins. Flores worked with DeMarcus Covington for two seasons in New England. He's also worked under Bill Belichick, Mike Tomlin, and Kevin O’Connell, three incredibly bright football minds. Flores interviewed for the Green Bay Packers’ head coach job back in 2019, but the team hired Matt LaFleur instead. Flores was reportedly the team’s second choice. Flores will have plenty of job opportunities, but there appears to be plenty of mutual respect between Flores and Matt LaFleur. "Quite honestly, we have to do everything we can to stay ahead of a guy like Matt," Flores said. "I think for Matt to go in his bag and be a West Coast guy and then turn around and he's got this whole zone read/RPO/counter read, that's pretty impressive. And I don't think it's being talked about enough. It's impressive to watch. He's obviously a very, very good coach. One of the best in the league."
Jonathan Gannon
Gannon was most recently the head coach for the Arizona Cardinals, but was fired at the end of the 2025 season. Before his time in Arizona, Gannon coached defensive backs for seven years before earning a defensive coordinator job with the Philadelphia Eagles. He also has experience as a college and pro scout. Gannon has coached under Mike Zimmer in Minnesota, Frank Reich and Matt Eberflus in Indianapolis, and Nick Sirianni in Philadelphia. He also worked with former Green Bay Packer assistant Jerry Gray in Tennessee as a defensive quality control coach. Gannon is currently interviewing for head coach and defensive coordinator jobs around the league.
Patrick Graham
Graham is currently the defensive coordinator for the Las Vegas Raiders. Before that, he served as the defensive coordinator for the Miami Dolphins and New York Giants. Graham has about six years of experience as a defensive coordinator. Graham was a defensive assistant in New England under Bill Belichick for seven seasons, then spent two seasons as an assistant for Steve Spagnuolo and the New York Giants. The Green Bay Packers hired Graham in 2018 to be the linebackers coach and run game coordinator. Graham never worked directly with Matt LaFleur, but the front office and the current defensive backs coach, Ryan Downard, are all familiar with Graham.
Al Harris
Harris is currently the pass game coordinator and defensive backs coach for the Chicago Bears. Before coaching, Harris played eight years for the Green Bay Packers as a cornerback. Harris started coaching in 2012 as a coaching intern for the Miami Dolphins. Andy Reid then hired Harris to coach the defensive secondary for the Kansas City Chiefs. After six seasons with the Chiefs and one at Florida Atlantic University, Harris was hired by McCarthy to be the Dallas Cowboys' defensive backs coach. He eventually became the assistant head coach. Harris worked with both Micah Parsons and Trevon Diggs in Dallas. Harris has learned from some highly-respected defensive coaches, including Dan Quinn, Mike Nolan, Mike Zimmer, Matt Eberflus, and Dennis Allen.
Chris Harris
Harris spent the 2025 season with the New York Jets. He started the season as the defensive backs coach and passing game coordinator, but took over as the interim defensive coordinator last month. That's the extent of Harris' defensive coordinator experience. Most of his coaching experience comes as a defensive backs coach. Harris has worked under Gus Bradley, Ron Rivera, Jack Del Rio, Mike Vrabel, and Dennard Wilson. He also worked with former Packers' assistant Justin Outten, who Matt LaFleur knows well. LaFleur already has some familiarity with Harris, having reportedly interviewed him in 2021. Harris was said to have "crushed" his interview with the team.
Jim Leonhard
Leonhard is currently the assistant head coach and defensive pass game coordinator for the Denver Broncos. Packer fans know him best from his time as the defensive coordinator and interim head coach at the University of Wisconsin. He made his move to the NFL in 2024 under Sean Payton and Vance Joseph, but it almost happened in 2021. It was reported that Matt LaFleur offered Leonhard the defensive coordinator job for the Packers, but Leonhard opted to stay at Wisconsin instead. “It was me choosing UW,” Leonhard said at the time. "I want to stay at UW. I want to be at this level right now. Extremely flattered. Awesome opportunity. But it was not the right time for me to go back to the NFL." Leonhard has strong ties to Rex Ryan from his playing days. Leonhard interviewed for the Dallas Cowboys' defensive coordinator position last week.
Daronte Jones
Jones is currently the defensive pass game coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings. Before that, he was primarily a defensive backs coach. Jones has started getting buzz as a candidate for defensive coordinator positions across the league. He's already interviewed for the Dallas Cowboys' vacant defensive coordinator position. Jones coached at the college level for the first 15 years of his coaching career, including one season as the defensive backs coach at the University of Wisconsin under Paul Chryst and Dave Aranda. Jones hasn’t been in the NFL for very long, but he has worked for some bright defensive minds (Lou Anarumo, Brian Flores, Vance Joseph, and Mike Zimmer) and is already well-respected.
Wink Martindale
Martindale was the defensive coordinator at the University of Michigan last season. Before that, he served as the defensive coordinator for both the New York Giants and Baltimore Ravens. He has about seven years of defensive coordinator experience at the NFL level. He learned from Rob Ryan, Mike Nolan, and Don Pees. Matt LaFleur has an immense amount of respect for Martindale. "He’s a guy that does a great job just putting people in position," said LaFleur. "He presents a lot of different challenges for an offense. I've got a ton of respect for what he’s capable of doing and what he’s done over the course of his career. You never feel easy going against a team that he’s coaching because you know that he can deploy a number of different blitzes and a number of different looks.”
Raheem Morris
Morris was most recently the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons before being fired after the 2025 season. Before his most recent stint as a head coach, Morris served as the defensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams. Morris has a lot of NFL experience, including six years as a head coach and four years as a defensive coordinator. He’s also held the positions of assistant head coach, defensive pass game coordinator, offensive pass game coordinator, defensive backs coach, and wide receivers coach. He comes from a strong coaching tree, working under the likes of Jon Gruden, Mike Shanahan, Dan Quinn, Kyle Shanahan, Jay Gruden, and Sean McVay. Matt LaFleur is a close friend of Morris. The two worked together for two years in Washington and two years in Atlanta. After Morris was fired, LaFleur said, "I've talked to Raheem. Certainly, never want to see that period, but especially for one of your closest friends. I thought he did a really nice job with that push at the end of the season."
Zach Orr
Orr was most recently the defensive coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens, a position he’s held for two seasons. Most of his coaching experience is in Baltimore, primarily as both an outside and inside linebackers coach. Matt LaFleur already thinks highly of Orr, having interviewed him back in 2024. Aaron Wilson reported that LaFleur offered the vacant defensive coordinator job to Orr, but he turned down the offer and became the defensive coordinator in Baltimore. Orr hasn’t been coaching for very long, but he has worked under John Harbaugh, Wink Martindale, and Mike Macdonald. His brother Chris played for the University of Wisconsin. Harbaugh's firing allows Orr to interview for any jobs, but there's a possibility he follows Harbaugh to New York.
Christian Parker
Parker is currently the passing game coordinator and defensive backs coach for the Philadelphia Eagles. Parker is considered by many to be a rising star in the coaching ranks. His coaching career started at the college level before transitioning to the NFL. His NFL career started as a defensive quality control coach for Matt LaFleur and the Green Bay Packers in 2019. Between his time in Green Bay and Philadelphia, Parker worked as the defensive backs coach for the Denver Broncos. He’s served under Mike Pettine, Vic Fangio, Ejiro Eviro, Sean Payton, and Nick Sirianni. Parker reportedly interviewed for Green Bay’s defensive coordinator position in 2024 before Green Bay ultimately hired Jeff Hafley. "He's a guy that I hold in high regard, just by the quality of work he did when he was here with us," Matt LaFleur said back in November. "Whenever we go against a secondary that he's coaching, they're fundamentally sound."
Aubrey Pleasant
Pleasant is currently the assistant head coach and defensive passing game coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams. Pleasant doesn’t have any experience as a defensive coordinator. The majority of his coaching experience has come as a defensive backs coach. Matt LaFleur knows Pleasant well. The two coached together in Washington during the 2013 season and in Los Angeles during the 2017 season. LaFleur even brought Pleasant to Green Bay during the 2022 season as an offensive consultant. “He’s a really knowledgeable guy when it comes to the game,” LaFleur said about Pleasant. "He’s just a guy I’ve always really respected how he works.” Pleasant has similar coaching connections to LaFleur, having worked with Mike Shanahan, Kyle Shanahan, Jay Gruden, Joe Barry, Sean McVay, Wade Phillips, and Raheem Morris.
Jim Schwartz
Schwartz has served as the defensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns for the last three seasons. Schwartz has a ton of NFL experience, including 17 years as a defensive coordinator and five as a head coach. He was named the AP NFL Assistant Coach of the Year in 2023. He’s been coaching since 1989. He got his start with the Cleveland Browns under Bill Belichick. He’s also worked under Marvin Lewis, Jeff Fisher, Doug Marrone, Doug Peterson, Mike Vrabel, and Kevin Stefanski. Schwartz is known for having an aggressive, attacking scheme that generates pressure without blitzing, one that Matt LaFleur has a lot of respect for. “I’ve got a lot of respect for Jim Schwartz," LaFleur said after losing to the Browns last season. "He was better than us today. Better than me specifically."
Anthony Weaver
Weaver is currently the defensive coordinator for the Miami Dolphins. He has three years of experience as a defensive coordinator, but has spent the majority of his coaching career as a defensive line coach. Weaver’s NFL coaching career began with the New York Jets in 2012 under Rex Ryan, with whom he played for during his playing career. He’s learned from Romeo Crennel, John Harbaugh, Wink Martindale, and Mike Macdonald. Weaver also worked for Mike Pettine, Mike Vrabel, and Mike McDaniel, three coaches whom Matt LaFleur knows well. Interestingly enough, Weaver hired former Packer defensive coordinator Joe Barry as the linebackers coach in Miami.
Aaron Whitecotton
Whitecotton spent the 2025 season as the defensive line coach for the Dallas Cowboys. The Green Bay Packers interviewed Whitecotton last offseason for their vacant defensive line coach position. Before moving to Dallas, Whitecotton worked under Robert Saleh in New York and San Francisco. Whitecotton also worked for Sean McDermott and Leslie Frazier in Buffalo. The Dallas Cowboys interviewed Whitecotton for their vacant defensive coordinator position. He will also call the defense at the East-West Shrine Bowl later this month.
Joe Whitt Jr.
Whitt Jr. was the defensive coordinator for Dan Quinn and the Washington Commanders for the last two seasons, but was fired at the end of the season. Before that, he worked under Quinn in Dallas and Atlanta as the defensive pass game coordinator and secondary coach. Whitt Jr. worked for the Green Bay Packers from 2008-2018, but his path never crossed with Matt LaFleur. That said, both Whitt Jr. and LaFleur worked for Quinn. Trevon Diggs and Micah Parsons both were Cowboys while Whitt Jr. was on staff. Whitt Jr. is widely respected as a defensive backs coach, but his experience as a defensive coordinator is shaky.
Dennard Wilson
Wilson is currently the Tennessee Titans’ defensive coordinator. He’s been in that position for the last two seasons. Before that, he served as a defensive backs coach for the Baltimore Ravens, Philadelphia Eagles, New York Jets, and Los Angeles Rams. His experience also includes being a defensive passing game coordinator, defensive quality control coach, and pro scout. Matt LaFleur interviewed Wilson for the defensive coordinator position back in 2024 before hiring Jeff Hafley, but Wilson took the job in Tennessee. Wilson worked under Jeff Fisher, Todd Bowles, Gregg Williams, Nick Sirianni, Jonathan Gannon, John Harbaugh, and Mike Macdonald.
Filed Under: Packers NewsFeaturedGreen Bay PackersCarter Semb
PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHEESEHEAD NATION WEEKLY NEWSLETTER HERE.
__________________________
Carter Semb is a lifelong Packer fan, shareholder, and season ticket holder. He is a contributor for Cheesehead TV and Packers Talk. For commentary surrounding Wisconsin sports, he can be found on X at @cmsemb.
__________________________
NFL Categories: Green Bay PackersTags: Matt LaFleurBrian GutekunstDeMarcus CovingtonDerrick Ansley
Like
0 points http://dlvr.it/TQRdsq
