After three seasons, the Green Bay Packers have parted ways with defensive coordinator Joe Barry. Despite his defense improving during the playoffs, head coach Matt LaFleur decided a change was necessary. NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported the news on Wednesday.
Green Bay has the potential to enter 2024 with a championship-level defense. The defensive front, featuring stars like Rashan Gary and Kenny Clark and talented young players like Devonte Wyatt, Lukas Van Ness, and Karl Brooks, creates problems for opposing offensive lines.
With an offseason to upgrade the secondary, the Packers can take a significant step forward defensively next year. But LaFleur must make the correct call on which defensive coordinator candidate to hire.
Who could he turn to?
Wink Martindale
One of the most experienced candidates is Don "Wink" Martindale, who recently mutually parted ways with the New York Giants. LaFleur would completely shift his defensive approach by hiring Martindale, who is a far more aggressive coordinator than Barry.
We would see far less of the soft coverages that have frustrated Packers fans over the past three seasons. Martindale wants to get after quarterbacks. He loves to blitz and send pressure, and the Packers have the talent to make it work.
Martindale had a lot of success during his time with the Baltimore Ravens. He was part of the defensive staff that won Super Bowl XLVII and eventually landed the defensive coordinator job in 2018. Martindale's defense ranked first in the league that season, and they would finish fourth and seventh in the following two years.
The Ravens moved on after a disappointing 2021 season, and Martindale struggled to get much out of the Giants' defenses in recent years.
Martindale would bring experience to Green Bay. He's had previous success as a defensive coordinator, and his system would be completely different from Barry's.
Shane Bowen
Matt LaFleur and Shane Bowen were part of Mike Vrabel's staff in Tennessee in 2018. Perhaps LaFleur would consider Bowen for the defensive coordinator job in Green Bay. Bowen is the current defensive coordinator for the Titans but is interviewing with other teams for the same role. The Titans fired Vrabel this offseason, leading to uncertainty over Bowen's future in Tennessee.
The Titans have posted average defensive numbers in the past two seasons, but Bowen's unit ranked sixth in scoring in 2021. His defenses have enjoyed success against the run, ranking No. 2 in 2021 and No. 1 in 2022. That's an area where the Packers must improve.
Chris Shula
Another name receiving interest around the league is Los Angeles Rams pass rush coordinator and linebackers coach Chris Shula. The Draft Network's Justin Melo wrote that Shula is "among the league's most ascending defensive-minded coaches."
LaFleur and Shula were part of Sean McVay's coaching staff in 2017. LaFleur moved on after a season, and Shula has worked his way up in Los Angeles. He has earned a promotion three years in a row, which shows what McVay thinks of him. Shula is 37 years old and could help turn things around for the Packers' defense.
Jesse Minter
Jesse Minter could soon return to the NFL. He spent time on the Baltimore Ravens' staff between 2017 and 2020 before replacing current Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald and Michigan's defensive coordinator in 2022. Under Minter, Michigan's defense has dominated, playing a vital role in the team's National Championship win this year.
The 40-year-old was also briefly named Michigan's interim head coach while Jim Harbaugh was suspended. He went 1-0. Minter could land a defensive coordinator job in the NFL this offseason, and the Packers would face competition. Minter has interviewed for the Eagles' DC job, and Harbaugh may want to hire him if he returns to the NFL.
Joe Whitt Jr.
It's no coincidence that the Dallas Cowboys' secondary has dominated in recent seasons. Joe Whitt Jr. has made an impact since becoming the Cowboys' secondary coach and pass game coordinator under Mike McCarthy. Trevon Diggs made an NFL-best 11 interceptions in 2021. This year, DaRon Bland led the league with nine.
Whitt spent a decade in Green Bay. He was McCarthy's cornerbacks coach for nine years before being promoted to defensive passing game coordinator.
It could be time for Whitt to finally land a defensive coordinator job, and the Packers should be interested.
Jim Leonhard
One coach LaFleur has already had interest in is Jim Leonhard. He interviewed the then-Wisconsin Badgers defensive coordinator in 2021, but Leonhard declined the offer. Things have changed over the past few years. Leonhard is no longer in Wisconsin. He took a year away from coaching in 2023, working as a senior football analyst for Illinois.
Would LaFleur consider speaking to Leonhard again? It's unclear whether he would be more interested in moving to the NFL than three years ago, but LaFleur interviewed him in the past, so he may reach out again.
Under Leonhard, Wisconsin ranked No. 1 in defense twice.
Chris Harris
According to Albert Breer of The MMQB, Chris Harris was a "very close second" behind Joe Barry for the Packers' defensive coordinator job in 2021. At the time, Harris was the Washington Commanders' defensive backs coach. He spent 2023 as the defensive pass game coordinator and cornerbacks coach for the Tennessee Titans.
NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported that Harris has interviewed for the Chicago Bears and Jacksonville Jaguars' defensive coordinator jobs this offseason. Harris could help Green Bay's secondary improve. He is another name to watch, having interviewed for the job three years ago.