Jonathan Gannon’s arrival in Green Bay has changed the look of the Packers’ defense in a hurry.
After a rocky run with the Arizona Cardinals, Gannon is now guiding a unit that has become one of the NFL’s most disruptive through six weeks. The Packers have turned into a takeaway-heavy defense, and they’ve done it while dealing with major injuries that would have knocked plenty of teams off course.
Arizona’s struggles are well documented. Since 2010, the Cardinals have made the playoffs only three times, and they haven’t gotten there since 2021.
Gannon’s time there was rough, but the source of that failure may not have been all on him. He was, after all, coming off a stretch in Philadelphia that had him looking like one of the league’s rising defensive minds.
As the Eagles’ defensive coordinator in 2021 and 2022, Gannon helped build a monster. Philadelphia led the league with 99 sacks over those two seasons, ranked third in total defense and passing defense, and allowed just 315.1 yards per game overall and 200.4 through the air.
In 2022, the Eagles piled up 70 sacks, a franchise record, and added 27 takeaways, including 17 interceptions. That group made it all the way to Super Bowl LVII, where it lost to the Kansas City Chiefs.
That version of Gannon seems to be showing up again in Green Bay.
Through six games, the Packers are 10th in the league in total defense at 307.7 yards allowed per game and sixth against the pass at 193.3 yards per game. They’re also tied for the NFL lead in takeaways with 11, matching the Seattle Seahawks.
A big piece of that came in Sunday Night Football, when Green Bay beat the Dallas Cowboys and intercepted Dak Prescott twice while completely shutting down CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens.
“J.G. calling that s-t up right now,” cornerback Keisean Nixon said after the contest, per Matt Schneidman of The Athletic. “He dialing it up and we’re playing ball.”
The Packers have reached those numbers without Micah Parsons, who is still working back from the torn ACL he suffered in December of last season. They’ve also been without linebacker Edgerrin Cooper and veteran Javon Hargrave, both of whom are out for the season with Achilles injuries.
Even with those absences, the next man up approach has been working. Lukas Van Ness already has 3.5 sacks this season after recording 4.5 in 2024 and 2025 combined.
Safeties Evan Williams and Xavier McKinney have teamed up for five interceptions, with McKinney accounting for three. Nixon has added an interception and four passes broken up.
Rookie cornerback Brandon Cisse has been thrown into the fire from the start and has looked like a capable NFL corner.
Veteran linebacker Zaire Franklin, filling in for Quay Walker, has also brought some bite to the group. The defense has an edge to it now. It plays with confidence, it doesn’t flinch, and it isn’t shy about talking a little trash.
“I think we got everything we need on all three levels,” Franklin said. “I think when we playing our best ball, I think we definitely one of the best units in the league.”
The numbers back that up, and Gannon deserves the credit for it.
In Other News...
Packers Suddenly Have A Backfield Question Fans Didn't Expect
Green Bays 23-13 win over Dallas brought plenty of encouraging signs, from Matthew Goldens impact in the passing game to a secondary that helped keep the Cowboys in check. Jordan Loves offense moved efficiently enough despite a few drops, and Matt LaFleurs plan drew positive notice as the Packers continued to show a more balanced feel on that side of the ball.
The one unexpected wrinkle came in the backfield, where MarShawn Lloyd never found much rhythm and Pierre Strong Jr. ended up handling the bulk of the work early. For a team that left Week 6 feeling good about several key pieces, the running game suddenly looks like the place where Green Bay has to sort out who it wants carrying the load going forward. [Read more 🡒]
Cowboys Offense Still Looks Broken After Another Brutal Loss
Dallas looked stuck in neutral again at Lambeau Field, where the Packers turned a promising afternoon into another rough result for a Cowboys offense still searching for answers. Green Bays defense bothered Dak Prescott throughout the day, and the game tilted quickly as the Packers built a lead that put Dallas in chase mode before halftime. Jordan Love did enough to keep Green Bay in control, throwing for 276 yards and accounting for two touchdowns as the Packers moved to 4-2.
The bigger concern for Dallas was how familiar the script felt, with the offense failing to find rhythm and the defense unable to keep the game within reach. Green Bays interceptions of Prescott were part of the damage, and the Packers never really let the Cowboys settle into anything comfortable on either side of the ball. For a team that came into the day at 2-3, the loss leaves another lingering question about how much better this offense can get before the standings start to harden around it. [Read more 🡒]
Keisean Nixon Thinks Packers Could Look Dangerous Again Soon
The Packers have been waiting for a stretch like this, one where a little good health might start to change the look of the roster almost overnight. Keisean Nixon pointed to the possibility of a more dangerous Green Bay team with Josh Jacobs back in the mix, a timely thought after the club has had to navigate struggles in both the rushing game and on defense without some of its key pieces.
Nixon also brought up Micah Parsons as another player who could eventually shift the equation, even though the defender is still working his way back from a knee injury. For Green Bay, the idea is simple enough: when those missing impact players start to filter back, the Packers might finally have the kind of balance that makes them tougher to handle on both sides of the ball. [Read more 🡒]