The Green Bay Packers appear as though they will reach a longterm agreement to bring back head coach Matt LaFleur after his contract ends following the 2026 campaign, but defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley may prove a different story.
Highly sought after around the NFL following two successful seasons running the defense in Green Bay, Hafley has garnered interest from at least five teams with head coaching vacancies: the Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, Las Vegas Raiders, Miami Dolphins and Tennessee Titans.
However, Dan Graziano of ESPN predicted on Tuesday, January 13 that Hafley will ultimately land with the New York Giants.
“Hafley has been high on the Giants‘ list for a while, according to what I’ve been told. I think New York will try very hard to get [John] Harbaugh or [Kevin] Stefanski, and the Giants might land one of them,” Graziano wrote. “But I placed those guys elsewhere, and I had to make a pick for the Giants based on the rest of the pool.”
Graziano believes that Harbaugh will take the reins in Atlanta, while Stefanski will end up coaching the Baltimore Ravens after that franchise fired Harbaugh following 18 seasons with the team.
“Hafley has college head coach experience from Boston College, and his work with the Green Bay defense has earned him a lot of attention from NFL teams looking for a head coach,” Graziano continued. “The Giants’ defense allowed 5.8 yards per play this season, tied for 26th. Hafley’s Packers were at 5.0, tied for eighth best.”
Packers Have Ranked Top 12 in NFL Defense During Both of Jeff Hafley’s Seasons as Defensive Coordinator
GettyJeff Hafley, former head coach of the Boston College Eagles.
Hafley was the head coach at Boston College for four years before returning to the NFL as Green Bay’s defensive coordinator in 2024.
Before his time at BC, Hafley served as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive backs coach for two years (2012-13), the DBs coach for the Cleveland Browns for two seasons (2014-15) and coached the DBs for the San Francisco 49ers for three campaigns (2016-18).
Hafley was also the defensive backs coach for Ohio State, as well as the co-defensive coordinator, for a full season before departing for Boston College.
The Packers fielded the sixth-ranked defense in the NFL in 2024, Hafley’s first season as DC, giving up 315.6 yards per game. Green Bay’s defense finished 12th this year after surrendering 311.8 yards per contest.
Hafley was able to achieve those numbers in 2025 despite injuries to superstar pass-rusher Micah Parsons, defensive lineman Devonte Wyatt and multiple members of the secondary.
Head Coaching Cycle in 2026 May Rob Several Quality DC Candidates From Packers if Jeff Hafley Leaves
GettyGreen Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur.
Of course, if Hafley leaves for the Giants job or some other head coaching position, the Packers will need to find a new defensive coordinator.
That could prove difficult, as Graziano predicts that several of the NFL’s top DCs will be in high demand and ultimately land head coaching jobs.
Graziano linked Los Angeles Chargers DC Jesse Minter to the open Pittsburgh Steelers position, Los Angeles Rams DC Chris Shula to the Miami Dolphins job and San Francisco 49ers DC Robert Saleh to the Las Vegas Raiders.
Packers Predicted to Lose DC Jeff Hafley to NFC Foe