The Green Bay Packers have been busier than they would have liked to be early on this offseason. While the team managed to reach a contract extension with head coach Matt LaFleur, it lost defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, as he was hired to be the Miami Dolphins‘ new head coach.
LaFleur moved quickly to replace Hafley by hiring former Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon to be his new defensive coordinator. Now, Gannon is beginning to identify guys he wants to work with him on the defensive side of the ball, and that led to him hiring former Virginia Tech Hokies defensive coordinator Sam Siefkes.
Sam Siefkes Gets Hired to Be Packers’ New Linebackers Coach
Was Virginia Tech’s defensive coordinator this season. Before that, was linebackers coach for the Cardinals under new Packers DC Jonathan Gannon.
Gannon’s stint with the Cardinals as their head coach never really panned out as expected, but before that, he established himself as one of the premier defensive minds in the game during his time with the Philadelphia Eagles. Now that he’s with the Packers, Gannon will look to build himself back up by working as LaFleur’s right-hand man.
It’s pretty clear that Gannon is being given the freedom to identify coaches he wants to work with on defense, as he has previous experience working with Siefkes. Prior to spending the 2025 campaign with Virginia Tech as their defensive coordinator, Siefkes worked with Gannon in Arizona as his linebackers coach for two seasons.
It appears Siefkes made quite an impression on Gannon, because shortly after he got hired by Green Bay, he reached out to his former assistant coach. The end result saw Siefkes follow Gannon to the Packers, where he will once again be working as a linebackers coach, while also presumably acting as one of Gannon’s most trusted assistants.
“The Packers are expected to hire Sam Siefkes as a linebackers coach, sources tell CBS Sports,” Matt Zenitz reported in a post on X. “Was Virginia Tech’s defensive coordinator this season. Before that, was linebackers coach for the Cardinals under new Packers DC Jonathan Gannon.”
Packers Coaching Staff Beginning to Come Together
GettyMINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – JANUARY 04: Head coach Matt Lafleur of the Green Bay Packers looks on during the second quarter against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium on January 04, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
Losing a coach like Hafley is never easy, but if there’s a guy who is a suitable replacement for him, it’s Gannon. He has a wealth of experience working on the defensive side of the ball, and he has a laundry list of coaches he’s worked with in the past who he can bring to town to join his staff. Siefkes is another strong hire, as his experience as a defensive coordinator should help him out and he transitions back to the NFL.
With this move, the pieces of the Packers’ coaching staff are beginning to fall into place. While there is still some work to be done, the majority of the main positions have been filled, which means the front office can begin focusing on potential upgrades to the roster. And if they can put together a strong body of work in that department, Green Bay could make some serious noise when it returns to action in 2026.
Packers Hire Virginia Tech Defensive Coordinator to Fill Spot Under Jonathan Gannon