The Green Bay Packers are lucky to have defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, but it may not last much longer.
Hafley oversaw massive improvements in his first season as Joe Barry's replacement, and with the help of Micah Parsons, he has taken the Packers' defense to new heights this season. His unit ranks No. 5 in yards allowed per game, No. 7 against the pass, No. 9 versus the run, and No. 6 in scoring.
But he has almost been too good, as Hafley's name is rising as one of the top head coach candidates in the upcoming offseason cycle. Speaking on ESPN's Monday Night Football broadcast, Troy Aikman named Hafley alongside Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter as one of the top candidates.
"There's a couple defensive coordinators that I think are going to be high on a lot of people's lists to talk to about head coach vacancies. One being Jeff Hafley with the Green Bay Packers. What a job he has done. And Jesse Minter, I can't imagine he won't be getting a few interviews as well," Aikman said.
Packers fans need to enjoy defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley while they still can
Aikman is right. Hafley is coaching his way into an opportunity to lead a team in 2026. And as much as it will hurt the Packers to see him go, he deserves it.
Hafley has done a fantastic job of making the Packers' defense one of the league's best. They are phenomenal at preventing explosive plays. While the Chicago Bears ran well against them, particularly in the second half, they generated no big rushes on the ground.
According to ESPN's Dan Orlovsky, the Bears lead the league with 54 explosive runs this season (a gain of 10-plus yards counts as an explosive run). Orlovsky notes that Chicago had six last week against the Philadelphia Eagles, but versus Hafley's defense? Zero.
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But Hafley will likely soon take his delightfully chaotic scheme elsewhere, and he deserves it.
Beyond being a great defensive mind, Hafley is a leader. Turn on one press conference, and you'll wish he could speak for an hour. Hafley loves to talk football, and it's clear how passionate he is for the game. He also has some head coach experience from his time at Boston College.
Hafley should be the top head coach candidate in the offseason, and any team will be lucky to have him.
Sadly, Aikman is right. The Packers may soon need a new defensive coordinator. Hopefully, he can help bring home the Lombardi Trophy before his inevitable departure.