Green Bay Packers fans didn’t appear to meet the decision to hire Jonathan Gannon as defensive coordinator with much enthusiasm. Packers fans online mostly expressed criticism over the move.
But CBS Sports’ Jordan Dajani argued in favor of the hire while grading all of the coordinator additions around the league.
In fact, according to Dajani and his CBS colleague Bryan DeArdo, only one coordinator addition has been better this offseason.
On Friday, Dajani gave the Packers an A-minus for the Gannon hire.
“The social media reaction to this hiring was puzzling,” Dajani wrote. “Packers fans know Gannon is being hired as a defensive coordinator, not a head coach, right?
“The Cardinals fired Gannon after he went 15-36 over three seasons, but he was widely regarded as one of the league’s best coordinators during his time with the Eagles. During Philadelphia’s run to Super Bowl LVII, the defense ranked in the top eight in points allowed per game, total yards allowed per game and sacks with Gannon calling plays.”
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported on January 25 the Packers were hiring Gannon. Since then, Green Bay has also added several defensive assistants. Gannon has experience coaching with most of those assistants.
Gannon will replace Jeff Hafley as Packers defensive coordinator. Hafley departed to become the Miami Dolphins head coach.
Jonathan Gannon’s Defensive Coordinator Resume
Grading offseason coaching hires can be tricky. Oftentimes, what appears to be a great hire often isn’t and vice versa.
So, only time will tell if Gannon works out in Green Bay.
But Dajani is correct that Gannon was once one of the top defensive coordinators in the league. That’s why he landed the head coaching job with the Arizona Cardinals three years ago.
As Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator from 2021-22, Gannon led a unit to back-to-back seasons of a top 10 ranking in yards allowed. In 2022, the Eagles defense finished ranked second in yards yielded, eighth in points allowed and fifth in takeaways.
Behind that defense, the Eagles won the NFC championship, earning a trip to the Super Bowl.
On Friday, Dajani and DeArdo graded every coordinator hire of the offseason (as of January 30). Only the Los Angeles Chargers hiring Mike McDaniel as offensive coordinator was graded higher than the Gannon addition.
On the list, the Chargers hiring defensive coordinator Chris O’Lear, and the Miami Dolphins adding offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik also earned A-minus grades.
Gannon Replacing Jeff Hafley as Packers Defensive Coordinator
As previously mentioned, Gannon will take over for Hafley in Green Bay. The Packers are replacing several other defensive coaches who also left for the Dolphins.
Hafley has brought four former Packers assistants with him to Miami — Sean Duggan, Ryan Downard, Wendel Davis and Derrick Ansley.
As of January 30, the Packers have replaced Duggan with linebackers coach Sam Siefkes. Green Bay also hired Bobby Babich to be the team’s next defensive pass game coordinator. Ansley held that role last season.
The Packers finished 11th in points allowed and 12th in yards yielded during 2025. The defense had better statistical rankings during Hafley’s first season in 2024.
Packers Social Media Gets Major Pushback on Jonathan Gannon Hire