The Green Bay Packers are bringing head coach Matt LaFleur back on a multiyear contract extension, but defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley looks like he will be another story.
Mike Garafolo of NFL Media reported on Saturday, January 17 that the team is starting work on finding a new DC, as Hafley is crushing interviews for head coaching jobs around the NFL.
“Meanwhile, sources say the #Packers have begun work on defensive coordinators, as they expect Jeff Hafley is going to get a head coaching job and will need to make a DC hire,” Garafolo posted to X.
Jeff Hafley Finalist for at Least 6 Head Coaching Jobs Around NFL
GettyGreen Bay Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley.
Hafley is already arguably the favorite to win the lead role with the Miami Dolphins.
“Packers DC Jeff Hafley has emerged as a frontrunner for the Dolphins head coaching job, per sources,” Tom Pelissero of NFL Media reported Saturday. “No final decisions made.”
“Four other teams have requested second interviews with Hafley,” Pelissero continued. “But he appears to be the leading candidate in Miami.”
Later on Saturday, league insider Jordan Schultz reported via Instagram that Hafley is essentially a finalist for the HC job with every team that has interviewed him to this point, including the Tennessee Titans.
“Hafley, I’m told, is a likely finalist everywhere he’s interviewed — including the Dolphins, [Las Vegas] Raiders, [Pittsburgh] Steelers, [Arizona] Cardinals, [Cleveland] Browns — should he choose to proceed with all six,” Schultz wrote.
Green Bay may not announce any DC interviews until Hafley officially takes a position elsewhere, but with that outcome looking more like a question of when rather than one of if, the Packers have likely begun compiling a list of potential candidates.
Packers Close Multi-Year Deal With Matt LaFleur to Remain Head Coach
Head coach Matt Lafleur is returning to the Green Bay Packers on a multi-year contract extension. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
While losing Hafley will be something of a step back for a defense that was among the better units in the NFL over his two seasons as coordinator, even despite a rash of major injuries down the stretch in 2025, the Packers still had reason to celebrate on Saturday.
That is because LaFleur, whose future was something of a question heading into the offseason, is now Green Bay’s head coach for the foreseeable future. LaFleur has one year remaining on his current deal and agreed to a multiyear extension over the weekend. The financial details of the agreement were not immediately available.
“Once they all agreed to move forward, LaFleur’s contract was the first order of business. It didn’t take long, and the deal was agreed to on Friday evening and signed on Saturday,” per Rob Demovsky of ESPN. “Deals for [general manager Brian] Gutekunst and [president/director of football operations Russ] Ball are also in the works, sources said.”
“The Packers are keeping their organizational structure in place even with the new extensions, sources said, as Gutekunst and LaFleur will continue to report to [team president Ed] Policy,” Demovsky continued.
Packers Make Major Coaching Decision After Inking Matt LaFleur