McDuffie Eager to Play Again Under ‘Aggressive’ Hafley

For Green Bay Packers linebacker Isaiah McDuffie, the team’s hiring of Jeff Hafley as defensive coordinator was a “full-circle” moment.

“It was crazy because my fourth year of college, I had him as my head coach. And now my fourth year in the NFL, I have him as the DC,” McDuffie told Packer Central on Thursday.

“He came in and he definitely changed the culture of our program. And we had a winning season that year. Defensively, a lot of guys got opportunities, me being one of them, to take the next step in my play. Definitely he brings that energy, and he’s super-smart, super-detailed. I think he’s going to do a great job. I’m just excited to reconnect.”

Hafley was named Boston College’s head coach in 2020. That coincided with McDuffie’s senior season at BC. With Hafley putting him in position to be a playmaker, he had the best season of his career with 107 tackles, three sacks and 6.5 tackles for losses.

“The years previous, I didn’t really play in the box that much,” McDuffie recalled. “I was kind of on the line of scrimmage. That year, I got a chance to really be an off-the-ball, inside-the-box inside linebacker. It was my first time really doing it, so it was kind of a learning curve but, at the same time, I felt like they coached me up to a point where I got really comfortable after camp and everything. So, things were just kind of rolling, and I got a lot of opportunities to make plays.”

McDuffie parlayed his strong final season into being a sixth-round draft pick by the Packers in 2021. After starting only one game during his first two seasons, he started eight of his 16 appearances in 2023.

His strong play had him positioned to be a starter in 2024, regardless of the coordinator. If Hafley installs the 4-3 scheme he directed at Boston College, McDuffie will become a no-doubt-about-it starter.

What can his defensive teammates expect when Hafley starts laying the schematic foundation when offseason workouts begin on April 15?

“When we were at Boston College, we definitely were an aggressive defense,” McDuffie said. “We did a lot of pressures, a lot of creative things to try to make the quarterback uncomfortable. We played some man coverage, as well, to try to make the quarterback get the ball out of his hand.

“I only had one year in the system, so it was kind of the first year implementing the defense, so I didn’t really get a chance to get that evolution of the next step of the defense in Year 2. I only got the first year of it, but I’ll definitely say we were aggressive.”

Players love aggressive.

“Being a football player, we want opportunities to change the game,” McDuffie said.

McDuffie made a difference in 2023, with Quay Walker and De’Vondre Campbell in and out of the lineup due to injuries. Even while starting only eight games, he was second on the team with 82 tackles.

“It was a lot of fun,” he said. “That’s just the best way I can describe it. Going into Year 3, I really wanted to try to make a difference defensively, and any opportunity I got I was just trying to take advantage of. I got my opportunity and I was just trying to run with it. Any chance I get, any special teams, defense, any snaps I get, I just want to be a playmaker and make a difference.”

McDuffie had four games of double-digits tackles to solidify his standing as a quality NFL linebacker.

“I definitely feel I made my mark,” he said. “I put a lot of good things on tape. I can only build off of it. At the end of the day, I’m always trying to get better, and I’m always trying to excel at my job. There’s always room for improvement, too, but I feel like I did a lot of good things this year. You look back at the tape, I have a lot of things to be proud of.”

Back home in Buffalo, McDuffie was taking some time to get his body right after the rigors of the season. Before long, his attention will turn to 2024. It will be a big season, with McDuffie in the final season of his rookie deal.

The stage is set for McDuffie to start and be a key player for the coach who made him an NFL-caliber player at Boston College. Knowing how Hafley attacked at Boston College has McDuffie excited for the possibilities.

“Statistically, I want to try to rack up more sacks. I want to try to get more pressures on the quarterback,” he said. “The more opportunities I get, I feel like the better people are, at the end of the day. Once you get your opportunity, you’ve just got to run with it. The more chances I get to get on the field, I feel like the more plays I can make.”