The Green Bay Packers have been on a bit of a carousel when it comes to their defensive coordinators in recent years. Since Dom Capers wrapped up his nine-year tenure, the Packers have cycled through Mike Pettine, Joe Barry, and Jeff Hafley.
Now, there's a new face in town as Jonathan Gannon steps in, following Hafley's move to become the head coach of the Miami Dolphins. Interestingly, Barry, after being let go by the Packers, found a spot on Hafley’s staff in Miami as the linebackers coach.
Meanwhile, Pettine, after spending some time with the Minnesota Vikings, has decided to hang up his coaching hat, announcing his retirement earlier this winter. As for Capers, at the seasoned age of 75, he's not slowing down. After leaving the Packers post-2017, he’s been a bit of a journeyman, offering his expertise as a senior defensive analyst to various teams.
Most recently, Capers was with the Carolina Panthers, where he once served as head coach from 1995 to 1998. Now, he’s taking his talents to the Cleveland Browns, stepping in as a senior defensive assistant.
This move comes as the Browns adjust to a new defensive leadership structure, with Jim Schwartz stepping down after being passed over for the head coach role, and Mike Rutenburg taking the reins as defensive coordinator. Capers’ extensive experience, including head coaching roles with the Houston Texans and defensive coordinator stints with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Miami Dolphins, promises to be a valuable asset to the Browns’ defense.