Coaching Carousel: Featuring Hafley and Co.

Earlier this week, the Green Bay Packers made long-term commitments to both head coach Matt LaFleur and general manager Brian Gutekunst, but even with those commitments, they’ll still be taking part in the NFL’s annual coaching carousel.

Most importantly, the team will look to replace defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, but a variety of other positions could come open as well.

Let’s discuss the changes that are on the horizon in the next few weeks.

In The Front Office

The Green Bay Packers won’t just be experiencing changes on the sideline this offseason.

Last week, the Miami Dolphins hired former Green Bay Vice President of Player Personnel Jon-Eric Sullivan to take over as their general manager, and that decision will lead to a series of additional moves for the Packers.

Sullivan started with the team in 2003 as an intern and rose through the ranks thanks to his scouting prowess, eventually emerging as one of the most respected voices at 1265 Lombardi Avenue.

He’ll now become the third former Packers’ front office member since the 2010 Super Bowl victory to be given the opportunity to lead another team, joining the Seahawks’ John Schneider and the Patriots’ Eliot Wolf.

Sullivan’s departure will mean that Brian Gutekunst will need to find a new right-hand man, and it’s likely that Green Bay will promote from within to fill the role.

It always hurts to lose individuals with over a decade of experience and insight, but the fact that Packers’ staffers continue to get bigger opportunities with other teams bodes well for the quality and depth of the front office talent within the organization.

Considering that Sullivan was one of the first Packers’ scouts to zero-in on Jordan Love in 2020, the team has a lot to be thankful for as they attempt to fill his shoes.

Finding a New DC

With the success that defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley was able to bring to Green Bay’s defense in 2024, it was evident that he wouldn’t be sticking around for long.

Now that that has mostly continued, and the 2025 season has come to a close, Hafley’s path to taking a head coaching job has become clear as day.

Since the Packers’ playoff loss, Hafley has interviewed with or been requested by nearly all of the nine teams that are looking to fill vacancies, including the Dolphins, Cardinals, Falcons, Raiders, Browns, Titans, and Steelers.

He was also considered a favorite for the Giants job due to his New Jersey ties, but was never interviewed in the team’s pursuit of John Harbaugh.

As of now, it seems likely that Hafley will follow Jon-Eric Sullivan to the Dolphins, where both respect and familiarity are already established, but regardless of the destination, Hafley will no doubt be a home run hire.

That, of course, would leave the Green Bay’s defensive coordinator job up for grabs.

Considering the quality of the opportunity for possible candidates—I mean, who wouldn’t want to coach one Micah Parsons—the Packers’ should have a myriad of options.

The only name that has come up so far is former Falcons’ head coach Raheem Morris, who is a close friend of Matt LaFleur, but as soon as Hafley commits to a job, we should hear more from the Packers’ camp.

Several coaches who previously interviewed with Green Bay in 2024 will probably be circled back to, including the Titans’ Dennard Wilson and the Ravens’ Zach Orr, and the team may also consider the Broncos’ Jim Leonhard, who turned them down to stay at Wisconsin in 2021.

Plenty of former Packers’ assistant coaches have risen the ranks as well, and those options include the Eagles’ Christian Parker, the Rams’ Aubrey Pleasant, the Raiders’ Patrick Graham, and the Commanders’ Joe Whitt Jr.

Staying inside the organization, the Packers could also choose to promote an assistant like Demarcus Covington.

If you’re looking for the most fun option, it’s probably former Green Bay corner Al Harris, who currently coaches defensive backs for the Bears.

Regardless of who the Packers choose, it’s crucial that they make the right call.

The team’s current Super Bowl window can’t withstand another Joe Barry situation, and another performance like his would certainly take the wind out of fans’ sails.

Position Coaches and Assistants

The biggest question mark when it comes to the rest of the Packers’ staff is undoubtedly assistant head coach Rich Bisaccia, but Green Bay will likely be looking to replace several other names as well.

With Jeff Hafley being eyed by a handful of teams, it seems likely that some of the Packers’ defensive staff will follow him to his new destination, leaving Green Bay with holes to fill.

In addition, DeMarcus Covington, who I mentioned for the defensive coordinator job, could leave if he’s not promoted. He’s received coordinator interest from the Jets and Cowboys, and might land a job with one of them.

A lot is likely to be in flux, and it will result in a new look coaching staff for Packers in 2026.

Looking Ahead

Following a season in which the Green Bay Packers contended for a number one seed in late weeks, the staff is probably going to see more turnover than they would have liked.

For the team to continue to be successful, they’ll have to hit on coaching hires just as much as draft picks, and in a weak cycle, it’ll be interesting to see who Green Bay settles on.

Hopefully, it’ll be a coach who get the most out of the talent we have.