We already know several of the Green Bay Packers' potential Joe Barry replacements.
Head coach Matt LaFleur is interviewing candidates for the vacant defensive coordinator job, and he has options. Brandon Staley, Christian Parker, Aden Durde, and Bobby Babich are among them. There could be more candidates shortly, especially if LaFleur is interested in hiring a member of the Baltimore Ravens' or Detroit Lions' coaching staff since they are now eliminated.
Who would be the best fit for Green Bay? It's impossible to say with certainty which defensive coaches will become the best coordinators. But based on everything we know, here are our rankings of the Packers' defensive coordinator candidates.
Note: This was updated following reports of the Packers interviewing Baltimore Ravens assistants Dennard Wilson and Zach Orr.
7. Brandon Staley
Brandon Staley led the league's No. 1 defense with the Los Angeles Rams in 2020. It earned him the head coach job for the Los Angeles Chargers a year later. However, his defenses struggled each year, ranking 23rd, 20th, and 28th in yards allowed during the past three seasons. Staley was fired after a 63-21 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders.
The Packers need a change in defensive philosophy, but Staley runs a similar system to Joe Barry's. And they had similar results last season. The Packers finished 27th in defensive DVOA, but the Chargers were only one spot above.
Green Bay ranked 17th in total defense, ninth against the pass, and 28th against the run. Los Angeles finished 28th, 30th, and 17th in those categories.
Maybe a return to defensive coordinator without the head coach pressures would benefit Staley. However, his Chargers' defenses underperformed, and there's a risk the Packers won't make the necessary improvements with his similar scheme.
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6. Aden Durde
Several teams, including the Packers, have requested to interview Dallas Cowboys defensive line coach Aden Durde.
Durde was born in London, England, and played in NFL Europe. He also spent time in the NFL with the Carolina Panthers and Kansas City Chiefs. He was hired for his first NFL coaching job in 2018, joining Dan Quinn's staff in Atlanta. Quinn promoted Durde from defensive quality control coach to outside linebackers coach after only two seasons.
Quinn became the Cowboys' defensive coordinator in 2021, and he hired Durde to be his defensive line coach, where he has enjoyed a lot of success. Dallas' defensive front is among the best in football. According to ESPN, the Cowboys led the NFL in pass rush win rate this season.
"I think one of his gifts is he strips it down, the learning process, to the very beginning and doesn't assume that you know anything," said former Cowboys defensive backs coach Jerome Henderson, per The Associated Press. "And he teaches from there and builds from there. And he has this unique ability to understand where people are at and what they need."
Durde has learned from Quinn, one of the league's top defensive coordinators. Quinn has a good relationship with Matt LaFleur, having worked together in Atlanta.
Durde would likely bring a 4-3 system to Green Bay, and we could see similarities to the scheme Quinn ran in Atlanta and Dallas. Durde lacks play-calling experience, but he is a talented young coach who is deservedly getting interest from around the league.
5. Zach Orr
Following the Baltimore Ravens' elimination from the playoffs, the Packers have reportedly requested to interview two members of Mike Macdonald's defensive staff. One of them is inside linebackers coach Zach Orr.
Quite honestly, Orr could easily rank higher on this list. It's a tough call. The reason he is fifth is due to less experience as a coach.
Orr was an undrafted free agent with the Baltimore Ravens in 2014. He retired in 2016 and immediately joined the Ravens' coaching staff under Jim Harbaugh. Orr began as a defensive analyst before landing a job as the Jacksonville Jaguars' outside linebackers coach in 2021. He returned to Baltimore as its inside linebackers coach in 2022 and has done an outstanding job.
A key factor in the Ravens' defensive dominance is the play of inside linebackers Roquan Smith and Patrick Queen. They were first-team and second-team All-Pros this season, respectively. Smith and Queen combined for 291 tackles, five sacks, 14 tackles for loss, 14 pass defenses, two interceptions, and two forced fumbles.
Orr has only been an NFL coach since 2016, but there's a reason why he is already being considered for defensive coordinator jobs around the league. He could be an excellent hire for the Packers.
4. Christian Parker
Christian Parker is a future defensive coordinator. The question is if the opportunity will arrive in Green Bay this offseason. The 32-year-old has caught attention around the league for his work as the Denver Broncos' defensive backs coach, earning multiple defensive coordinator interviews, including in Green Bay.
Parker has previously worked under Matt LaFleur—he was the Packers' defensive quality control coach for two seasons before moving to Denver in 2021.
It would be a quick rise to go from his first NFL coaching job in 2019 to defensive coordinator five years later, so there is some risk, but the Packers may need to hire him before it's too late. Over the past three years, three different defensive coaches kept Parker on their staff: Vic Fangio, Ejiro Evero, and Vance Joseph. They all wanted to retain Parker, which shows how highly regarded he is.
Joseph, the Broncos' defensive coordinator, has this to say about Parker: "He's smart, he works his butt off, and his players love playing for him. He's a star."
Parker has helped get the best out of the Broncos' defensive backs, including cornerback Ja'Quan McMillian and safety PJ Locke. He is an ascending defensive coach, and it won't be surprising if the Packers give him an opportunity to lead their defense.
3. Bobby Babich
UPDATE: NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports the Bills are promoting Babich to be their next defensive coordinator. He is no longer available for the Packers.
Another young coach who will soon become an NFL defensive coordinator is Buffalo Bills linebackers coach Bobby Babich. The Packers are one of several teams to have reportedly requested an interview with Babich this offseason.
Babich is quickly rising through the ranks in Buffalo. The 40-year-old began coaching in 2006. He has spent time with the Carolina Panthers and Cleveland Browns, and his role has increased across seven seasons with the Bills. He began as Buffalo's assistant defensive backs coach and has since earned two promotions.
It's clear Babich is loved in Buffalo. Former Bills Pro Bowl center Eric Wood had incredibly high praise for him earlier this week.
"Whether it's as DC calling plays or just the title, I would 100% approve and want Bobby Babich to earn that title," said Wood. "Bobby is one of the smartest coaches I've been around. Incredible energy and one of the best developers of talent I've witnessed."
Wood is spot on. Babich has enjoyed success developing players in Buffalo, both during his time as the safeties coach and, most recently, with the linebackers. It's hard not to come away impressed when listening to Babich speak about his coaching philosophy, which includes the need to focus on what a player puts on tape rather than how you think they should play based on their size.
Like some of the other names on this list, Babich lacks NFL defensive coordinator experience, but he has the talent to quickly succeed in that role.
2. Dennard Wilson
Another Baltimore Ravens coach the Packers are interested in is Dennard Wilson. The defensive backs coach is receiving interest around the league for vacant defensive coordinator positions, and there's good reason why.
Since becoming an NFL coach in 2012, Wilson has worked under some great defensive minds, including Steve Spagnuolo, Todd Bowles, Jonathan Gannon, and now Mike Macdonald.
Wilson helped the Ravens' secondary dominate this season. Baltimore's defense ranked first in passer rating allowed and made 18 interceptions. First-team All-Pro Kyle Hamilton was a key to their success, making 13 pass defenses and four interceptions. According to Pro Football Reference, Hamilton allowed a passer rating of just 38.4 in his coverage. Incredible.
Green Bay's secondary needs the most work this offseason. Brian Gutekunst needs to add talent via the draft, but Wilson could help get the most out of this group. He would put Jaire Alexander, Carrington Valentine, and any new additions to the defensive backfield in the best position to succeed.
Wilson is one of the top defensive coordinator targets available. He has worked in various schemes under excellent coaches. The Packers would face competition to hire him, as many other teams have requested interviews.
Matt LaFleur may need to act quickly, especially since Bobby Babich, another potential target, is no longer available.
1. Ejiro Evero
Hiring Ejiro Evero is the least likely to happen, as he is currently the Carolina Panthers' defensive coordinator. The Panthers can block any interest from other teams. Green Bay's only hope is if Carolina decides to go in another direction at defensive coordinator, having already made a change at head coach. Evero has also interviewed for head coaching jobs.
However, if the Packers get an opportunity to hire Evero, they must make it happen. According to Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, the Packers and Los Angeles Rams would have Evero "near or at the top of their lists" if he becomes available.
"He's done a hell of a job. You saw it a year ago in Denver, and you see the carryover this year with a whole new group. I've got a lot of respect for Ejiro," Packers coach Matt LaFleur said in December. "He's a great communicator, he's demanding, he holds guys accountable. I've just got a ton of respect for what he's been able to accomplish."
Evero runs a similar system to Vic Fangio's, and he's had tremendous success as a defensive coordinator. Despite the Panthers only winning two games this season, their defense, incredibly, ranked fourth in yards allowed. The Denver Broncos only won five games a year earlier, but Evero's defense finished eighth.
LaFleur has previously worked with Evero and interviewed him for the defensive coordinator opening in 2021 before hiring Joe Barry. Evero also spent time in Green Bay as a defensive quality control coach in 2016.
Evero would be a dream defensive coordinator hire for the Packers if he is available.