5 Joe Barry replacements Packers need to start thinking about

A change at defensive coordinator is long overdue for the Green Bay Packers.

Green Bay's defense has put in consecutive embarrassing performances against Tommy DeVito, Baker Mayfield, and Bryce Young.

Head coach Matt LaFleur passed on the opportunity to replace Joe Barry last offseason. Potential candidates, including Brian Flores, Ejiro Evero, and Jim Schwartz, have all found success on new teams this year.

The Barry era has to end at the conclusion of the regular season. Green Bay's defense isn't showing improvements year over year. Stopping the run remains a major issue, while opponents are burning the Packers with easy first-down completions due to Barry's soft coverages.

LaFleur must make a change. But who could he hire to replace Barry? Here are five potential candidates.

Joe Whitt Jr.

Joe Whitt Jr. coached for 11 seasons in Green Bay as part of Mike McCarthy's defensive staff. Whitt spent most of that time as the Packers' cornerbacks coach before being promoted to defensive passing game coordinator in McCarthy's final season.

The two reunited in Dallas in 2021, where Whitt is McCarthy's secondary coach and pass game coordinator.

Whitt is an experienced coach but may finally get an opportunity to land a defensive coordinator job, considering the success of the Cowboys' defense. The Packers' secondary regularly reached a high level under Whitt's coaching, and we are seeing the same in Dallas.

A return to Green Bay could be a possibility.