For all the worrying that Green Bay Packers fans went through when they hired former Boston College head coach Jeff Hafley to be their defensive coordinator, the defense actually played pretty well for most of the year.
Heading into this weekend's Wild Card game in Philly, the Packers' defense ranks fourth in turnovers, fifth in yards, and sixth in points scored. Only two teams have more interceptions than the Packers do, and the worst stat their defense ranks in is passing attempts (17th).
Any concerns about how they'd respond to changing schemes with Hafley in charge were put to rest, and their defense has kept them in more than a few games where the offense wasn't entirely firing on all cylinders.
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It probably didn't hurt that the Packers brought in Robert Saleh – who was fired midseason by the Jets – to help consult, though. Despite Saleh working more with the offense in Green Bay, his track record, when it comes to defenses, speaks for itself.
That's why the new reporting about Saleh's job opportunities probably won't sit well with Packers fans who had any hope of LaFleur bringing his best man (literally) on full-time next season.
It sure sounds like Robert Saleh is going to go be a defensive coordinator somewhere besides Green Bay
Just-in: I’m told Robert Saleh’s first head coach interview with the #Jaguars is Tuesday. Another head coach interview is expected thereafter. The #49ers are also expected to make him an offer at defensive coordinator, per sources. https://t.co/RZ1zgicFsp
— JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) January 8, 2025
Maybe Saleh ends up getting another shot at a head coaching gig right away – and good for him if so – but it sure seems like his next real job is going to be as a defensive coordinator somewhere.
The 49ers obviously make a ton of sense, but he'd probably do wonders with the Bengals as well. I imagine there are even a few teams interested (cough cough New England, cough cough Chicago) that haven't even been publicly discussed yet.
Regardless, it sounds like Saleh's week-day, part-time gig in Green Bay is coming to a close. Luckily, Hafley seems more than capable of doing the job well, and the Packers are in pretty good shape there.
But the idea of Saleh biding his time on the Packers' coaching staff for multiple seasons felt too good to be true, and now we know that it is. Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened.