It was inevitable.
After receiving interest from multiple teams, Green Bay Packers linebackers coach and run game coordinator Anthony Campanile leaves for the Jacksonville Jaguars defensive coordinator job.
It leaves Matt LaFleur with another coaching vacancy after he parted ways with defensive line coach Jason Rebrovich this offseason.
Campanile departs for the opposite reason. He only spent one year in Green Bay, and it was inevitable that a defensive coordinator job would be in his future. It's a huge loss for the Packers, not just because of Campanile's intensity and high energy but also because of his work to help revamp one of the league's worst run defenses.
In 2023, Green Bay allowed 128.3 rushing yards per contest, ranking 28th in the NFL. With Campanile's help, the Packers improved that figure to a 99.4-yard average, good for the league's seventh-best run defense.
Campanile also helped Edgerrin Cooper produce an unforgettable rookie season.
Packers need to find the right Anthony Campanile replacement to help Edgerrin Cooper reach next level
Under Campanile's guidance, Cooper earned PFWA All-Rookie honors after making 87 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, seven quarterback hits, four pass defenses, and one interception in 14 games. He made Packers history by becoming their first rookie in 33 years to record a sack and interception in the same game.
That performance helped Cooper win his second NFC Defensive Player of the Week award. He also earned the NFC Defensive Rookie of the Month prize in December.
The Packers must now replace their talented assistant coach. Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports that Sean Duggan is the leading candidate. He was Jeff Hafley's co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach for Boston College and spent this season as a defensive assistant in Green Bay.
Whether it's Duggan or an outside hire, the Packers need to get it right.
Cooper has All-Pro potential. He showed flashes early in the season while overcoming injuries before becoming arguably the team's best defensive player down the stretch. Cooper is a game-changer. That's what makes losing Campanile even tougher. He undoubtedly helped Cooper get off to an impressive start in the NFL.
LaFleur must find the right replacement to help Cooper build momentum and enjoy a breakout, Pro Bowl-level season in 2025.
Campanile's stay in Green Bay was unlikely to last long. He made an immediate impact, and it didn't go unnoticed. We wish him all the best in Jacksonville, but LaFleur faces a big decision to find a replacement.