The Green Bay Packers announced they have hired Jeff Hafley to be their new defensive coordinator on Wednesday. Hafley will replace Joe Barry at the position. Here are 10 things you may not know about Hafley as he joins the Packers coaching staff ahead of the 2024 campaign.
First Thing You May Not Know About New Packers DC Jeff Hafley: He Is a New Jersey Native
Hafley was born and raised in Montvale, New Jersey. While there, he attended Pascack Hills High School. He later attended Sienna College where he played wide receiver.
Second Thing: Hafley Has Coached Several Different Defensive Systems
Hafley has a diverse background in coaching at both the pro and college level. He has coached in defensive systems that are considered pressure defenses that emphasize blitzes and in cover schemes that emphasize taking away the big play.
He has also coached both the 3-4 defense and the 4-3. While at BC, Hafley ran the 4-3 defense. Hafley has yet to confirm what style of defense the Packers will run under him in 2024.
Third Thing You May Not Know About New Packers DC Jeff Hafley: He Led Boston College to Three Bowl Eligible Seasons
Hafley took over as head coach at Boston College after the 2019 season. His four-year record at BC was 22-26.
In four seasons with the Eagles, his teams were bowl eligible three times although they decided not to go to a bowl game in 2020 due to concerns about the Covid-19 pandemic.
Hafley led Boston College to the Military Bowl after the 2021 season and to a win in the Fenway Bowl after this past season.
While at BC, he coached Packers inside linebacker Isaiah McDuffie for one season.
Fourth Thing: Hafley’s Background Is Primarily in Pass Defense
While Hafley has been a head coach and a defensive coordinator in college, he rose through the ranks in both college and the NFL as a defensive backs coach. He worked as a defensive backs coach at Albany, Pittsburgh, and Rutgers and served as the defensive backs coach and co-defensive coordinator at Ohio State in 2019.
At the NFL level, he was a defensive backs coach with the Buccaneers, Browns, and 49ers.
Fifth Thing You May Not Know About New Packers DC Jeff Hafley: He Has Coached Some Strong College Defenses
As head coach of BC, Hafley’s team ranked third in the nation in passing yards allowed in 2021. They were also in the top 30 in the country in red-zone defense, total defense, first downs allowed and third-down percentage.
While coaching at Rutgers, the team ranked ninth in the country in passing defense in 2011.
Sixth Thing: Hafley Has Never Worked with Matt LaFleur Before But…
Hafley has never been on the same coaching staff with Packers head coach Matt LaFleur before. However, he did work with LaFleur’s brother Mike and current Jets head coach Robert Saleh, who is one of LaFleur’s close friends, while coaching in San Francisco.
He also been on the same coaching staff with former Packers defensive coordinator Mike Pettine when they were both with the Cleveland Browns in 2014 and 2015.
Seventh Thing You May Not Know About New Packers DC Jeff Hafley: One of His Specialties Is Teaching Tackling
One of Hafley’s specialties is teaching players how to tackle. This is an area the Packers have struggled with in recent years.
“We don’t just talk about running to the ball,” Hafley explained. “To me, the most important thing about tackling is the approach…I think people spend way too much time just talking about the finish and driving your legs and wrapping up. But people put themselves in such bad positions, where they’re not even close to being in a position to make the play.”
Hopefully, this will help the Packers going forward.
Eighth Thing: Hafley Is Unlikely to Bring Assistant Coaches with Him From BC
According to several published reports, Hafley is not expected to bring any of his assistant coaches with him from Boston College.
This means that some or most of the team’s defensive assistant coaches could stay with the Packers if they don’t find promotions elsewhere. We will follow this story as it develops.
Ninth Thing You May Not Know About New Packers DC Jeff Hafley: This Is the First Time Hafley Has Been a Defensive Coordinator in the NFL
Unlike his predecessor, the 44-year-old Hafley has never been a defensive coordinator in the NFL. The highest position he held in the pros until now is defensive backs coach.
He has been a defensive coordinator and head coach in college. He wanted to get away from the college game at this time because he wanted to focus more on football than fundraising. The introduction of NIL in college football recently put a greater emphasis on fundraising.
Tenth Thing: Family
Hafley is married to his wife Gina. They have two daughters, Hope and Leah who were born in 2016 and 2019.
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