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GREEN BAY – Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur added another former NFL defensive coordinator to his defense, giving him plenty of experience on board in his attempt to replace departed coordinator Jeff Hafley.
LaFleur is hiring former Buffalo Bills defensive coordinator Bobby Babich to join new coordinator Jonathan Gannon in his remake of the defensive staff, a league source confirmed.
NFL Network, which was first to report Babich’s hiring, said he would be Gannon’s defensive passing game coordinator/secondary coach. Last season, Derrick Ansley served in that role, so it’s possible Babich is replacing Ansley or creating a different coaching structure.
LaFleur lost defensive backs coach Ryan Downard to Miami and so it’s not clear how the titles will work.
Babich interviewed for the Packers defensive coordinator’s position in 2024 when LaFleur ultimately chose Hafley. An NFL assistant coach for 14 years, Babich joined Bills coach Sean McDermott’s staff in 2017 and coached defensive backs and linebackers before being named coordinator in ’24.
McDermott said in October that he and Babich had been calling plays together.
The Bills ranked seventh in total defense, first in pass defense, 28th in run defense and 12th in scoring last season. The Packers ranked 12th, 11th, 18th and 11th, respectively, in those categories last season.
Babich is the son of Bob Babich, who was the offensive line coach for the Wisconsin Badgers from 1988-89 and spent 13 years with the Chicago Bears, including three as defensive coordinator.
The Packers had two former defensive coordinators – run game coordinator DeMarcus Covington and Ansley – on staff last year, but it isn’t known if new Gannon has other ideas for his staff.
Covington, who was defensive coordinator with New England in 2024, interviewed for several defensive coordinator positions around the NFL but has not landed a new job. LaFleur has been complimentary of the job Covington has done and so it would seem logical that he would return if he doesn’t accept a promotion somewhere else.
Ansley was defensive coordinator for the Tennessee Titans (2019-20) and Los Angeles Chargers (2023) before joining the Packers in ’24.
Another defensive coordinator who could be joining the Packers’ staff is Gannon’s play-caller in Arizona, Nick Rallis. He coached linebackers for the Philadelphia Eagles when Gannon was the coordinator there in 2021-22, so Gannon may be trying to hire him to replace Sean Duggan, who left to accept a job with Hafley in Miami.
However, Rallis may be under contract with the Cardinals, who are still in the process of hiring a head coach. Among the candidates for the job is Mike LaFleur, Matt’s brother. It’s possible Mike LaFleur will hire his own defensive coordinator and would allow Rallis to leave.
This article originally appeared on Packers News: Packers adding ex-Buffalo defensive coordinator Bobby Babich to staff
Continue reading...
LaFleur is hiring former Buffalo Bills defensive coordinator Bobby Babich to join new coordinator Jonathan Gannon in his remake of the defensive staff, a league source confirmed.
NFL Network, which was first to report Babich’s hiring, said he would be Gannon’s defensive passing game coordinator/secondary coach. Last season, Derrick Ansley served in that role, so it’s possible Babich is replacing Ansley or creating a different coaching structure.
LaFleur lost defensive backs coach Ryan Downard to Miami and so it’s not clear how the titles will work.
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Babich interviewed for the Packers defensive coordinator’s position in 2024 when LaFleur ultimately chose Hafley. An NFL assistant coach for 14 years, Babich joined Bills coach Sean McDermott’s staff in 2017 and coached defensive backs and linebackers before being named coordinator in ’24.
McDermott said in October that he and Babich had been calling plays together.
The Bills ranked seventh in total defense, first in pass defense, 28th in run defense and 12th in scoring last season. The Packers ranked 12th, 11th, 18th and 11th, respectively, in those categories last season.
Babich is the son of Bob Babich, who was the offensive line coach for the Wisconsin Badgers from 1988-89 and spent 13 years with the Chicago Bears, including three as defensive coordinator.
The Packers had two former defensive coordinators – run game coordinator DeMarcus Covington and Ansley – on staff last year, but it isn’t known if new Gannon has other ideas for his staff.
Covington, who was defensive coordinator with New England in 2024, interviewed for several defensive coordinator positions around the NFL but has not landed a new job. LaFleur has been complimentary of the job Covington has done and so it would seem logical that he would return if he doesn’t accept a promotion somewhere else.
Ansley was defensive coordinator for the Tennessee Titans (2019-20) and Los Angeles Chargers (2023) before joining the Packers in ’24.
Another defensive coordinator who could be joining the Packers’ staff is Gannon’s play-caller in Arizona, Nick Rallis. He coached linebackers for the Philadelphia Eagles when Gannon was the coordinator there in 2021-22, so Gannon may be trying to hire him to replace Sean Duggan, who left to accept a job with Hafley in Miami.
However, Rallis may be under contract with the Cardinals, who are still in the process of hiring a head coach. Among the candidates for the job is Mike LaFleur, Matt’s brother. It’s possible Mike LaFleur will hire his own defensive coordinator and would allow Rallis to leave.
This article originally appeared on Packers News: Packers adding ex-Buffalo defensive coordinator Bobby Babich to staff
Continue reading...
