The Green Bay Packers are in the preliminary stages of evaluating potential successors for defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, who is a finalist for multiple head coaching jobs around the NFL and likely to land one in the coming days or weeks.
Andy Herman of Packer Report authored a list of names to watch on Saturday, January 17, which included two-time head coach Raheem Morris.
“Looks like a new DC will be at the helm in Green Bay one way or the other. Some immediate names to keep a very close eye on: Demarcus Covington, Zach Orr, Christian Parker, Raheem Morris, Derrick Ansley, Jim Leonhard,” Herman wrote on X. “I’d put Morris as my initial best guess if [Matt] LaFleur is back.”
LaFleur agreed to a multiyear extension over the weekend and is returning as Green Bay’s head coach for the foreseeable future.
Raheem Morris Has Strong Connection to Matt LaFleur Coaching Tree
GettyFormer head coach Raheem Morris of the Atlanta Falcons.
Morris lost his job as head coach of the Atlanta Falcons this month following three years at the helm. Morris was also the head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2009-11. He owns a record of 37-56 over six seasons and has never made the playoffs.
While Morris’s success as a HC hasn’t been there, he’s proven himself a reliable enough coach to get two different shots at the top role. Before his stint in Atlanta, Morris spent three years as defensive coordinator of the Los Angeles Rams under head coach Sean McVay, winning a Super Bowl ring following the 2021 campaign in his first year on the job.
McVay and LaFleur came up through the league together as part of the same coaching tree. LaFleur’s younger brother, Mike LaFleur, is currently the offensive coordinator with the Rams.
Due to the multiple cross-connections and the ability to rely on the experience and recommendation of his close friend McVay, LaFleur is liable to take a hard look at Morris if Hafley leaves and Morris doesn’t land a head coaching job of his own elsewhere.
Multiple Reports Have Jeff Hafley Landing NFL Head Coaching Job Sooner Than Later
GettyDefensive coordinator Jeff Hafley of the Green Bay Packers.
Mike Garafolo of NFL Media reported on Saturday that Green Bay already believes that Hafley getting a head coaching job elsewhere is essentially a done deal, even though he has received no official offers as of yet.
“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.
NFL insider Andrew Schultz reported Saturday that Hafley is a finalist for up to six HC jobs across the league.
“Hafley, I’m told, is a likely finalist everywhere he’s interviewed — including the [Miami] Dolphins, [Las Vegas] Raiders, [Pittsburgh] Steelers, [Arizona] Cardinals, [Cleveland] Browns — should he choose to proceed with all six,” Schultz wrote.
Schultz also mentioned that Hafley is a finalist for the Tennessee Titans position earlier in the post.
Finally, Tom Pelissero of NFL Media reported that Hafley is the top contender for the Dolphins job.
“Four other teams have requested second interviews with Hafley,” Pelissero posted to X. “But he appears to be the leading candidate in Miami.”
Packers Predicted to Hire 2-Time NFL Head Coach as Hafley’s DC Replacement