The Green Bay Packers have obviously let go of a lot of their coaches in recent years. Joe Barry’s dismissal as defensive coordinator was the main off-season story. The defensive coaching staff of the Packers is being revamped this summer.
At the very least, the Packers will have a new defensive line coach and coordinator. One coach, nevertheless, was let go by the franchise a few years ago and is currently coaching an NFC squad.
A former coach of the Green Bay Packers Joins the Washington Commanders
Talking with defense pass game coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. during training camp drills at Ray Nitschke Field on Friday, August 3, 2018, in Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin, is defensive coordinator Mike Pettine of the Green Bay Packers.
The commanders reportedly filled the role of defensive coordinator shortly after it was announced that they had hired Cliff Kingsbury to oversee their offensive scheme. Cowboys secondary coach and pass game coordinator Joe Whitt will be joining Dan Quinn and Kingsbury in Washington as the team’s new defensive coordinator, according to Steve Wyche of NFL Network. It is officially official now.
This hiring is somewhat unexpected because Whitt was the clear frontrunner to succeed Quinn as Dallas’ new defensive coordinator. Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News reports that Whitt had a Monday interview arranged with the Cowboys for the coordinator position. Whitt will instead follow his former boss to Washington, DC, and take a position as coordinator for the team’s division foe.
Whitt Jr. spent nine seasons (2009–17) coaching the Green Bay Packers’ secondary and cornerbacks before taking on the role of defensive pass game coordinator in 2018.
He was a part of the Green Bay team that won Super Bowl XLV. With 176 interceptions, the most in the NFL, and an opponent passer rating of 83.2, he led the Packers to victory. In terms of opponent completion percentage (59.8) and touchdown-to-interception ratio (1.34), his team came in sixth.
Between 2010 and 2014, cornerbacks Sam Shields and Tramon Williams combined for 33 interceptions, the most of any pair of teammates during that time. The Packers had 85 total interceptions between 2009 and 2011, and they led the NFL twice (in 2009 and 2010).
Since the Minnesota Vikings and San Francisco 49ers each recorded 86 from 1986–88, it was the most by any NFL club and the most by the team over a three-year period since 1943–45 (95).
As a rookie defensive coordinator, it will be interesting to watch what Whitt can accomplish with the Commanders.
