Joe Barry, the defensive coordinator for the Packers, is fired. Here are four possible candidates that Green Bay should consider
After three seasons as the defensive coordinator for Green Bay, Barry has departed.
The Green Bay Packers have made the decision to alter their defensive scheme despite a late-season comeback. Joe Barry, the defensive coordinator for the Packers, was let go on Wednesday, according to lead NFL insider Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports.
According to Jones, other defensive linemen for the Packers may be prohibited from moving laterally to another team, but they are free to hunt for other employment.
In a statement, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said, “We want to thank Joe for his commitment and contributions to our success the past three seasons.” “These decisions are extremely difficult and Joe is one of the best men I’ve had the opportunity to work with in this league.”
Barry was the Packers’ defensive coordinator for three seasons. In terms of yards allowed per game (335.1) and points allowed per game (20.6), the Packers and the No. 10 scoring defense were tied. Green Bay made a significant turnaround at the conclusion of the regular season. In terms of opponent running yards per game (141.8) from Weeks 1–14, the Packers were ranked No. 31, but from Weeks 15–18, they were ranked No. 4. The Packers gave up the fewest yards per game (201.5) and points per game (9.5) in the NFL from Weeks 17–18.
The Dallas Cowboys suffered their first home loss of the season as a result of two turnovers forced by the Packers defense, which carried that momentum into the postseason. This previous weekend’s loss to the San Francisco 49ers ended the Packers’ 2023 campaign.
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LaFleur stated in November that he “absolutely not” intended to fire Barry in the middle of the season. It seems he was hoping to hold off until after the season.
Who could take Barry’s place and benefit from this alluring position with rising talent? Let’s examine this.
Martindale, Wink
Martindale, who spent two seasons as the New York Giants’ defensive coordinator, is no longer with the team and is expected to be among the top candidates for the position. This season, Martindale’s former team, the Baltimore Ravens, and his Giants were tied for the league lead in both turnover differential (+12) and forced turnovers (31).
In addition to having extensive experience as a defensive coordinator, Martindale gained recognition for his work as an NFL linebacker coach. With players like Preston Smith, Rashan Gary, Quay Walker, and De’Vondre Campbell, just think of what he could accomplish.
Al Harris
Take him back to his house! After serving as the Cowboys’ defensive backs coach for the previous four seasons, the storied cornerback for the Packers is currently a coach in the NFL. He aided in Trevon Diggs’ development into one of the league’s most formidable defensive backs, and in 2023, DaRon Bland set the NFL record for interceptions with nine. After spending six seasons as a defensive assistant with the Kansas City Chiefs, Harris started his coaching career as an intern with the Miami Dolphins. Harris is already inducted into the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame. He was a two-time Pro Bowler.
Evero Ejiro
Regarded as one of the NFL’s brightest defensive minds of the future, Evero joined the Denver Broncos in 2022 and the Carolina Panthers in 2023 as their defensive coordinator after working in the secondary for the Los Angeles Rams. Remember that in 2016, Evero was a defensive quality control coach for the Packers.
Despite a lot of injuries, the Panthers defense placed fourth in the NFL at the end of the regular season. It is only feasible that Evero will join the Packers if he is not hired as head coach. The Panthers, Atlanta Falcons, and Seattle Seahawks are all interviewing him.
Leslie Frazier
This cycle, Frazier is another applicant interviewing for head coaching positions; however, he did not coach in 2023. Prior to that, Frazier was the Minnesota Vikings’ head coach from 2011 to 2013 and the Buffalo Bills’ assistant head coach and defensive coordinator for six years. Frazier conversed with the Packers for two days during the previous offseason, so he might be a possibility for LaFleur to consider as the “head coach” of the defense.
