The Green Bay Packers didn’t necessarily want to make significant changes to their coaching staff, but that’s not how the NFL works most of the time. Defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley left to become the Miami Dolphins’ head coach, and that factor outside of the Packers’ control generated an influx of changes.

Therefore, let’s talk about every defensive addition and subtraction to the coaching staff.

Who’s in

Jonathan Gannon, defensive coordinator

Gannon has been in the NFL since 2007, most notably as the Philadelphia Eagles’ defensive coordinator from 2021 to 2022 and more recently as the Arizona Cardinals’ head coach. The results were excellent in Philly, not so great in Phoenix, as you would expect considering the differences in personnel. GM Brian Gutekunst said Gannon offers schematic flexibility, but with the Cardinals he ran a 3-4 base.

Sam Siefkes, linebackers coach

Siefkes arrives in Green Bay after a season as Virginia Tech’s defensive coordinator. He had spent the previous two seasons, though, as the Cardinals’ linebackers coach — he also worked on the Minnesota Vikings as a defensive quality control coach and assistant linebackers coach. A rising assistant at 34 years old, Siefkes will help Gannon implement a new scheme.

Bobby Babich, defensive backs coach/pass game coordinator

Babich replaces two in one, doing the work that was previously done by Derrick Ansley and Ryan Downard. It’s a big hire for the coaching staff, because he brings DC experience after two years in this position with the Buffalo Bills. Back in 2024, the Packers interviewed Babich for the DC job themselves, but he was promoted in Buffalo. He has experience working with defensive backs and linebackers as well.

Daniel Bullocks, position to be determined

Bullocks was the San Francisco 49ers’ defensive passing game coordinator and defensive backs coach in 2025, and he had been working under Kyle Shanahan since 2017 — curiously, he worked directly with Jeff Hafley there. His position with the Packers hasn’t been publicly determined, but it will most likely be under Babich with the defensive backs — or at least the safeties specifically, which is his main area of expertise.

Will Smart, position to be determined

Former Vanderbilt pass rush specialist Will Smart arrives in Green Bay most likely for a lower-level position — like a defensive assistant or quality control coach. But due to his track record, it’s an interesting hire after the Packers invested so much to unify interior defensive linemen and edge rushers in the same room under Hafley. The Packers already have DeMarcus Covington as the defensive line coach and run game coordinator, plus Vince Oghobaase as the assistant DL coach, so Smart could work more directly with the edge rushers.

Who’s out

Jeff Hafley, defensive coordinator

As previously mentioned, Hafley left to become the Dolphins’ head coach after two years on the Packers.

Sean Duggan, linebackers coach

Duggan is close to Hafley, so it was natural that he followed the head coach to Miami. Initially hired from Boston College as a defensive assistant, Duggan was promoted to linebackers coach in 2025 after Anthony Campanile left. Now, he’s going to be the Dolphins’ non-playcalling DC.

Derrick Ansley, passing game coordinator

This is the only departure that the Packers promoted. Ansley was let go after two years, and he’s already been hired as a PGC and defensive backs coach by the Dallas Cowboys.

Ryan Downard, defensive backs coach

Downard was the longest-tenured defensive coach on the Packers — he was on the staff since 2018, hired by Mike McCarthy and retained by Matt LaFleur. He spent the past three years as the defensive backs coach, and he will have a similar role in Miami under Hafley (secondary coach). Practically, the Packers could have blocked the move, but with Babich on the board, things moved fast.

Nathaniel Hackett, defensive analyst

Hackett is an offensive mind, but he worked on a part-time role in 2025 as a defensive analyst to bring an offensive perspective to the Packers’ defensive coaches. Now, he’s back on the offensive side. First, he had been hired by the Dolphins as a quarterbacks coach, but he agreed to become the Arizona Cardinals’ non-playcalling offensive coordinator under Matt’s brother Mike LaFleur. 

Wendel Davis, defensive quality control coach

Davis also followed Hafley to Miami. Curiously, though, he won’t have an actual promotion. He’ll be the Dolphins’ DQC as well.

Green Bay Packers News

Packers deliver logical reunion by bringing back Jordan Love’s first NFL position coach

Luke Getsy was promoted back to QBs coach.

Wendell Ferreira