Fast forward to September, and the Green Bay Packers could have Brian Gutekunst building the roster, Matt LaFleur running the show, and Jeff Hafley leading the defense. Or all three could be gone.
That's the unusually uncertain spot the Packers find themselves in. Hafley, as expected, is drawing interest in this year's NFL head coach hiring cycle, and his potential departure has inched a step closer to reality.
According to Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, three teams — the Atlanta Falcons, Arizona Cardinals, and Tennessee Titans — have requested to interview Hafley for their vacant head coach openings.
Likelihood of Jeff Hafley leaving Packers just increased, but it's still not guaranteed
For now, Hafley's future with the Packers remains up in the air. The interest is clearly real, and only a little over a week ago, it seemed like he could be the leading candidate for several teams.
Since then, the head coach market has become more saturated, with Jim Harbaugh, Kevin Stefanski, Mike McDaniel, and Kliff Kingsbury all becoming available. Hafley seemed like the obvious top choice for the New York Giants, but the availability of Harbaugh and Stefanski could shift their focus.
The Giants haven't yet requested an interview with Hafley. The Falcons, Cardinals, and Titans have, and each team would make sense for the Packers' defensive coordinator.
Not only has Hafley proven himself as an excellent defensive mind, but he is also an undeniable leader. His press conferences are rarely boring. He brings energy to each with an anti-coachspeak approach, and even boldly predicted a Packers win over the Chicago Bears as a final mic-drop moment before he left the podium this week.
Hafley has head coach experience from his time at Boston College, and his leadership is evident. The players love him. He can change the culture for one of those three teams, so it's no surprise they are interested.
And it also won't be surprising if he blows them away in the interview. He's such a likable character with infectious energy.
Yet, it's not guaranteed. Harbaugh will land a job. McDaniel could find a head coaching job elsewhere. He will, if nothing else, become an offensive coordinator, as the Detroit Lions have already shown an interest. Robert Saleh, Mike McCarthy, and Brian Flores are also receiving interest in this hiring cycle.
Hafley is in the mix, but he also faces competition. However, with three interviews already lined up, his departure now feels more real than ever.