In the aftermath of an abysmal 31-27 playoff loss to the Chicago Bears, it may be time for the Green Bay Packers to make a change at head coach.
Plenty of criticism has been made of Matt LaFleur's late-game management in the Packers' losses, but the collapse against the Bears after being up 21-3 at the end of the first half is in a category of its own.
While the popular replacement candidates in recent days have been former Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh and former Cleveland Browns coach Kevin Stefanski, the choice that makes the most sense is currently employed in Green Bay: Jeff Hafley.
Jeff Hafley would provide stability on defense and head coach experience
Promoting Hafley to head coach might rub some fans the wrong way, given how this season ended, but context matters. Not having Micah Parsons and Devonte Wyatt (who rank first and third on the team in sacks) down the stretch limited Green Bay's ability to stop the run and get to the quarterback.
Overall, Hafley made the best out of an injury-hit situation, with his unit still managing to make plays and keep them in games. Before the fourth quarter on Saturday, the defense held the Bears to six points. They would bend but not break until late in the game.
READ MORE: Jordan Love just learned the harsh Packers lesson Aaron Rodgers already knew
Hafley also wouldn't be stepping in with a lack of head-coaching experience, having called the shots at Boston College from 2020 to 2023 before coming to Green Bay. In three of his four seasons at Boston College, Hafley's teams had a record of at or above .500.
An additional benefit to retaining Hafley is that the problem of LaFleur's refusal to give up play-calling would be solved. The Packers would be able to have an offensive coordinator who is fully focused on offense instead of trying to balance everything.
A popular candidate for offensive coordinator to watch in a Hafley-led regime is former Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel, who worked with Hafley on the San Francisco 49ers from 2016 to 2018.
For those who still have doubts, it should be noted that Hafley has interview requests with the Las Vegas Raiders, Miami Dolphins, Atlanta Falcons, Tennessee Titans, and Arizona Cardinals head-coaching vacancies. If five of the seven teams needing a new coach are interested in talking to Hafley, that says something.
As everyone awaits a resolution for LaFleur's future, Hafley will continue to generate interest as a head coach.
If the Packers move on from LaFleur, Hafley should be their answer at head coach.