And so the three-team game of musical chairs continues.
It started when the Miami Dolphins hired Jeff Hafley as their new head coach, followed by Hafley stealing multiple members of Matt LaFleur's staff. It's almost surprising he didn't try to take the Don Hutson Center and Ray Nitschke Field with him to Miami.
The Green Bay Packers responded by hiring seemingly as many members of the Arizona Cardinals' coaching staff as possible, beginning with Jonathan Gannon as their new defensive coordinator. Gannon brought Sam Siefkes with him to be his linebackers coach, while the Packers have also reportedly interviewed Cardinals passing game coordinator Connor Senger for their vacant QB coach position.
Now, though, the game of musical chairs has reached another level. One of the coaches Hafley poached from Green Bay was Nathaniel Hackett, but his tenure in Miami may last a matter of days. He could, poetically, now head to Arizona.
Cardinals reportedly interested in hiring former Nathaniel Hackett, who only just left Packers for Dolphins
The Cardinals have hired Matt LaFleur's brother, Mike, as their new head coach. He is reportedly keen on making a move his brother once did in Green Bay: Hiring Nathaniel Hackett as his offensive coordinator.
According to Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports, Hackett is "among the early possibilities" for the Cardinals' OC job.
Just six days ago, Hackett was a defensive analyst for Matt LaFleur in Green Bay. Hafley hired him to be his quarterbacks coach in Miami, but that tenure could be short-lived with a potential promotion on the horizon from LaFleur's brother.
From LaFleur to Hafley to LaFleur? Green Bay to Miami to Arizona?
It's fitting for a bizarre coaching carousel. Hafley is determined to create the Miami Packers, while Mike McCarthy is rebuilding his 2018 Packers staff over in Pittsburgh, potentially in hopes of a reunion with Aaron Rodgers. Meanwhile, the NFC North can't stop hiring staff from the 3-14 Cardinals.
Hackett could quietly be a smart hire for Mike LaFleur in Arizona. While his reputation took a seismic hit after a brutal head-coach stint with the Denver Broncos and a rough tenure with the New York Jets, Hackett has enjoyed plenty of success in his NFL career. That included a run as Matt LaFleur's OC in Green Bay. The players loved his energy and the famous "Gold Zone." It's why Hackett landed a head coach job in the first place.
He is an experienced coordinator and could help the younger LaFleur get comfortable in his new role.
Imagine a month ago saying that we'd get a LaFleur-Hackett head coach-offensive coordinator combination in Arizona, Gannon in Green Bay, McCarthy in Pittsburgh, and Hafley in Miami (alongside Joe Barry, might I add).
What a wonderfully bizarre start to the offseason, and it's only February.