REPORT: The Green Bay Packers Rule Out Joe Barry’s No. 1 Candidate for Defensive Coordinator.
According to reports, the Green Bay Packers have eliminated one possible candidate for defensive coordinator for the 2024 campaign. The Packers are getting ready to interview a number of coaches in the coming weeks following head coach Matt LaFleur’s announcement that Joe Barry will not be returning for the following season.
Any coach who wants to increase their prospects of becoming a head coach has to find the position of defensive coordinator at the Packers to be intriguing. The front seven of the Packers’ defensive lineup is full of young talent, and cornerback Jaire Alexander is in charge of an excellent secondary.
The NFL’s youngest team, the Packers, advanced to the Divisional Round. They needed just a couple more plays to advance to the NFC Championship Game. This club could push for the Super Bowl the next season, according to an NFL scout. Thus, the Packers have every incentive to choose carefully who they bring on board to take Barry’s place this offseason.
The Packers are not interested in appointing former Los Angeles Chargers head coach Brandon Staley as their defensive coordinator, sources tell ESPN’s Rob Demovsky. Due to Barry’s relationship with Staley during her time as the Rams’ assistant, LaFleur was able to hire him:
In 2017, Barry and LaFleur collaborated with the Los Angeles Rams. That happened when Barry was a member of the Rams’ coaching staff, specifically under Brandon Staley, who implemented a Vic Fangio-style defense. LaFleur intended to run a similar operation in Green Bay, which is why he hired Barry. According to people with knowledge of the situation, Staley, who was sacked this season as head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers, is not anticipated to be a top contender to succeed Barry in Green Bay with LaFleur’s plans.”
Staley was a national punching line during his final two seasons as the Chargers head coach. Despite his lackluster tenure as head coach, Staley is regarded as one of the best defensive brains in the game. Per Daniel Popper with The Athletic, Staley’s defensive strategies weren’t his downfall with the Chargers. His abilities in communicating were:
“Staley is an excellent coach with schematics. Using the whiteboard, he can create a strategy that will neutralize any offensive. The game isn’t played on a whiteboard, which is the main issue. There were times during the season when this genius was on display, such as in a victory against the Miami Dolphins in Week 14.
