Is Jeff Hafley the Packers’ Secret Weapon—and a Future NFL Head Coach?
The Packers have been known for their flashy offense under Matt LaFleur, but lately, it’s the defense that’s turning heads—and defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley is the guy behind the shift.
For years, Green Bay had plenty of talent on defense, but the results just didn’t match up. Enter Hafley, who came in and started getting the most out of that talent. After bouncing around with a few defensive coordinators (remember Mike Pettine and Joe Barry?), the team finally looks like it has a guy who knows how to maximize what he’s got.
Hafley, who was Boston College’s head coach before coming to Green Bay, led the Packers defense to some of their best numbers in years. In 2024, the Packers ranked 4th in total yards allowed and 5th in scoring defense—their best defensive season since 2010. That kind of leap doesn’t go unnoticed.
NFL folks are already talking. On her podcast, Mina Kimes had Mike Golic Jr. on, and they both agreed Hafley is a name to watch. Golic pointed out that Hafley’s college head coaching experience, plus how quickly he turned things around in Green Bay, makes him a solid candidate for a future head coaching gig.
Sure, his run at Boston College wasn’t groundbreaking in terms of wins, but defensively, they were tough—third in the nation in pass defense one year. And that skill clearly translated to the NFL, even if some initially doubted whether his more “college-style” schemes would work at the pro level.
But Hafley’s proven adaptable. He ditched the predictable stuff and brought variety to the Packers’ secondary, using more than just the standard single-high safety looks. Having playmakers like Xavier McKinney, Javon Bullard, and Evan Williams definitely helped, but Hafley’s game plans kept things fresh—and effective.
Kimes even said this version of the Packers defense wasn’t the reason they stumbled in the playoffs, which has *not* been the case in the past. With Hafley calling the shots, there’s optimism this group will be even better next season.
Beyond Green Bay, Hafley’s got a solid NFL resume—he’s worked with the Bucs, Browns, and 49ers as a defensive backs coach. Add that to his head coaching experience and what he’s doing now, and yeah, it’s starting to look like he’s just getting started.
So, could Hafley be calling the shots as an NFL head coach soon? A lot of signs are pointing that way.
