NFL insider believes the Packers heart will get broken during the head coach hiring cycle, and the fallout may sting for years
Jeff Hafley is a prime HC candidate.
The Green Bay Packers are leaning on the decision to keep Matt LaFleur as their head coach — if the parties can agree to a contract extension. And if LaFleur stays, his priority is to keep defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley. However, that might be out of the Packers’ control.
ESPN’s NFL insider Dan Graziano made a predictions piece, projecting what will happen in this head coach hiring cycle. And he expects the New York Giants to hire Hafley away from Green Bay.
“Hafley has been high on the Giants’ list for a while, according to what I’ve been told. I think New York will try very hard to get Harbaugh or Stefanski, and the Giants might land one of them. But I placed those guys elsewhere, and I had to make a pick for the Giants based on the rest of the pool.
“Hafley has college head coach experience from Boston College, and his work with the Green Bay defense has earned him a lot of attention from NFL teams looking for a head coach. The Giants’ defense allowed 5.8 yards per play this season, tied for 26th. Hafley’s Packers were at 5.0, tied for eighth best.” — Dan Graziano.
Packers’ coaching staff situation
If Jeff Hafley leaves to take the Giants (or any other team) over, Matt LaFleur will have to look for a new defensive coordinator once again. The former Boston College head coach is LaFleur’s third DC, and the first truly successful one after questionable at best stints with Mike Pettine and Joe Barry.
“All options are on the table,” LaFleur said when asked if he would consider an internal promotion. “I think that’s something we’ll be working through. We’ll make sure we have a good plan in place.”
If the Packers go the internal route, defensive line coach and run game coordinator DeMarcus Covington and passing game coordinator Derrick Ansley would be the most natural options, since they’ve already had DC experience in the NFL.
Outside, it could go to several different routes — but Philadelphia Eagles passing game coordinator and defensive backs coach Christian Parker is someone LaFleur had a lot of interest in back in 2024.
Matt LaFleur didn’t shy away from his appreciation for Jeff Hafley.
“I fully anticipate Hafley’s going to do a great job on the interview and I fully anticipate him getting one of these,” LaFleur mentioned. “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. So I’m excited for him in that regard.”
Decision time is coming for the Packers, and some parts of that process are out of their control.
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