Jonathan Gannon is the new defensive coordinator in Green Bay, and he has wasted no time adding a key piece to his defensive staff.
Many have spoken about the Packers' lack of experience on their coaching staff, but they've taken a step toward fixing that. According to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, the team is hiring Bobby Babich as their new defensive pass game coordinator/secondary coach.
Babich has extensive NFL experience working with defensive backs, but most notably, he spent the past two seasons as the Buffalo Bills' defensive coordinator.
Bobby Babich is a massive addition to the Packers' defensive coaching staff
It's notable that the Packers have given Babich the defensive pass game coordinator title, which belonged to Derrick Ansley this season. It's unclear what this means for Ansley. There has been no word on him leaving Green Bay, but that has to be a possibility now, unless he is taking a new role on Gannon's staff.
The Packers needed a defensive backs coach after losing the highly-regarded Ryan Downard, who followed Jeff Hafley from Green Bay to Miami.
Matt LaFleur has previously shown interest in hiring Babich, interviewing him for the defensive coordinator job two years ago. Babich instead landed a promotion in Buffalo, while LaFleur hired Hafley. Now, the Packers will have Babich working closely with Gannon in a new-look defensive coaching staff.
The Packers' work isn't over yet. They still need to find a new linebackers coach after losing Sean Duggan to the Dolphins.
Babich, though, is a fantastic start. He offers much-needed experience, will bring fresh ideas to the table, and is fresh off a two-year stint as a defensive coordinator. LaFleur spends a lot of his time coaching the offense, which is why experience is so vital on his defensive staff.
If Ansley and defensive line coach DeMarcus Covington don't leave for other jobs in this cycle, the Packers will have four coaches with defensive coordinator experience.
Packers fans didn't love the Gannon hire, but to the team's credit, they've hit a home run by adding Babich to his staff.