The Jeff Hafley era is officially over in Green Bay. On Monday, the Miami Dolphins hired him as their next head coach, and the Packers will start a new search to find a defensive coordinator — the fourth under Matt LaFleur, after Mike Pettine, Joe Barry, and Hafley.

The process starts now. We’ve already made a list of potential options, but let’s update and complement it. The good news is that the Packers have plenty of solid options on the market.

Candidates for Green Bay Packers’ defensive coordinator job

Raheem Morris, former Falcons HC

Morris has two stints as a head coach with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Atlanta Falcons, and he’s now available again after being fired in Atlanta. Despite having extensive experience in the NFL, Morris has served as a defensive coordinator only once, from 2021 to 2023 with the Los Angeles Rams.

They were 14th in EPA/play and 17th in success rate in that timeframe. Morris worked with Matt LaFleur on the Falcons between 2015 and 2016, and they have a connection point with Sean McVay.

Jonathan Gannon, former Cardinals HC

Gannon, 43, was the Philadelphia Eagles’ defensive coordinator from 2021 to 2022. In that period, the Eagles’ defense was eighth in EPA/play and 19th in success rate. A former defensive backs coach, he spent three years as the Arizona Cardinals’ head coach.

Christian Parker, Eagles PCG/DB coach

Parker was one of the Packers’ favorites in 2024 until Jeff Hafley surprisingly emerged from Boston College. At the time, he was the Denver Broncos’ defensive backs coach, but left to be the Philadelphia Eagles’ passing game coordinator and DBs coach.

Parker worked for the LaFleur and the Packers from 2019 to 2020 as a defensive quality control coach, and he is still looking for his first opportunity as a defensive coordinator.

Jim Leonhard, Broncos AHC/PGC

LaFleur offered Leonhard the DC job back in 2021, but he refused the offer to stay at Wisconsin at the time — and the Packers hired Joe Barry instead. Now, Leonhard has already made the jump to the NFL, working for the Denver Broncos.

Initially, he was hired as a defensive backs coach and pass game coordinator, and in 2025, he was promoted to assistant head coach. He works under Vance Joseph and helped build one of the top defenses in football this season.

DeMarcus Covington, Packers DL coach/RGC

Covington had an unsuccessful stint as the Patriots’ defensive coordinator in 2024. Then, he was hired by the Packers as the defensive line coach and run game coordinator. Covington has generated DC interest from the Dallas Cowboys and New York Jets, and would be the top internal candidate.

Sean McDermott, former Bills HC

When we initially made this list, Jeff Ulbrich hadn’t extended with the Atlanta Falcons, and McDermott was still the Bills head coach. Things change fast, though, and now McDermott could be a viable option. The timing was bad for McDermott to get another HC job in this cycle, and he has DC experiences with the Philadelphia Eagles and Carolina Panthers.

More considerations

> Brian Flores’ contract with the Minnesota Vikings is expiring, but he has a strong offer to remain in Minnesota. If he doesn’t get a HC job, which is very possible on the Pittsburgh Steelers, Flores will demand more than what the Packers would likely be willing to pay.

> Chicago Bears defensive backs coach and defensive pass game coordinator Al Harris is a name that Packers fans would love, and he might very well be a candidate. But his most recent jobs aren’t that impressive — from a fan perspective, there’s an obvious desire for a reunion because Harris played eight seasons in Green Bay, but practically it’s probably not the best option.

Green Bay Packers News

Jeff Hafley is leaving the Packers, and these assistants might follow him to the Miami Dolphins soon

Packers will need a new defensive coordinator and potentially some other pieces.

Wendell Ferreira