The Green Bay Packers made one of their most significant offseason moves by hiring Jonathan Gannon as their new defensive coordinator. While the full impact of that decision will take time to play out, an interesting wrinkle has emerged from Dallas - a team that also had Gannon on their radar during their own defensive coordinator search.
According to Cowboys beat reporter Nick Harris, Gannon was very much in the mix for the Cowboys’ job before they ultimately went with Christian Parker. And the reasoning behind that decision sheds some light on how Gannon is viewed around the league - and what the Packers might be getting.
First, let’s set the stage. Both the Packers and Cowboys cast a wide net in their coordinator searches, and there was plenty of overlap.
Gannon, Parker, and Vikings assistant Daronte Jones all interviewed with both teams. The only candidate the Packers brought in who didn’t have a recent tie to Dallas was Al Harris, the Bears’ pass game coordinator and former Cowboys defensive backs coach.
So it’s clear both teams were shopping in the same aisle.
Dallas, though, had a head start. After firing Matt Eberflus on January 6, the Cowboys moved quickly, ultimately hiring Parker on January 22 - one day before Gannon even sat down with the Packers.
That timing gave Dallas a broader view of the market and a bit of a first-mover advantage. Whether they made the right call is something we’ll be debating for a while, especially now that both Gannon and Parker are in high-profile roles with NFC contenders.
What really makes this situation compelling is how differently the two franchises operate. Green Bay is famously tight-lipped - the kind of place where leaking a draft board would cause a full organizational meltdown.
Dallas, on the other hand, is the land of the open mic. If Jerry Jones has a thought, it’s probably going public.
That openness gives us a rare behind-the-scenes look at how Gannon was evaluated during Dallas’ search.
According to Harris, Gannon was a serious candidate - a top-two name from the start of the process. He had strong support in the building from figures like Brian Schottenheimer and Clayton Adams, both of whom had worked with him previously.
From a football IQ standpoint, there was no question. Gannon was described as “very smart” with a deep understanding of defensive concepts.
But the sticking point? Player connection and communication.
Dallas reportedly struggled to get a clear answer on whether Gannon could build the kind of personal relationships and on-field rapport needed to lead a defense effectively. That concern loomed large, especially in the wake of Eberflus, whose downfall in Dallas was tied to a similar issue - the inability to clearly and consistently communicate with his players. The fear, it seems, was hiring a different coach with the same problem.
Now, here’s where it gets interesting. While Gannon might not be the most charismatic voice in front of a mic, there’s evidence that he gets his message across where it matters most - on the field.
Last season, his Arizona Cardinals defense had just 10 coverage busts, the third-fewest in the league. That’s impressive under any circumstance, but especially so in a quarters-heavy scheme that requires constant communication and trust between defensive backs.
That kind of execution doesn’t happen by accident.
It’s also worth noting that Gannon didn’t call plays in Arizona - that responsibility went to his defensive coordinator, Nick Rallis, who followed him from Philadelphia. That wrinkle may have added to the Cowboys’ hesitation.
If Gannon wasn’t the one dialing up the defense, how much credit does he deserve for its success? It’s a fair question, but it also raises another: if Dallas had those doubts, why was he a top contender in the first place?
There’s also a possible psychological element at play. Gannon spent three seasons coaching under Eberflus in Indianapolis. Given how things ended with Eberflus in Dallas, it’s not unreasonable to wonder if the Cowboys were projecting some of that baggage onto Gannon - fair or not.
Then there’s the elephant in the room: Gannon’s $100,000 fine for making contact with a player who fumbled the ball last season. That’s a serious misstep, and one that can’t happen again. But it’s also the only known incident of its kind in his career, and it doesn’t appear to have factored heavily into the Cowboys’ evaluation.
Ultimately, Dallas went with Parker - and according to Harris, it wasn’t close after the second interview. Parker “blew them out of the water,” prompting the Cowboys to make the hire within 24 hours.
That’s notable, especially considering Parker got his NFL start with the Packers back in 2019. Now, with both coordinators stepping into high-stakes roles, their careers are bound to be compared in the months - and years - ahead.
For the Packers, the Gannon hire is a calculated bet. They’re getting a coach with a strong track record in quarters-based schemes, a history of disciplined coverage, and the kind of football intellect that earns respect across the league.
Whether he can build the right relationships in Green Bay’s locker room will be something to watch. But if his past defenses are any indication, the communication concerns may be more perception than reality.
One thing’s for sure: both Green Bay and Dallas made bold moves. Now it’s time to see which one pays off.