Seven years into Matt LaFleur’s tenure as head coach of the Green Bay Packers, his coaching tree has remained pretty bare. That might be about to change. Defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley is reportedly drawing serious interest from Penn State as the Nittany Lions continue their search for a new head coach.
Hafley’s name has surfaced as a late-stage candidate in Penn State’s coaching hunt, alongside Iowa State’s Matt Campbell. While Hafley doesn’t have direct ties to the Penn State program, he’s no stranger to the region.
Penn States coaching search so far:
— College Football Report (@CFBReport) December 3, 2025
Matt Rhule extended at Nebraska ❌
Kalani Sitake extended at BYU ❌
Curt Cignetti extended at Indiana ❌
Mike Elko extended at A&M ❌
Eli Drinkwitz extended at Missouri ❌
Clark Lea extended at Vandy ❌
Jeff Brohm staying at Louisville ❌
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He played his college ball at Siena and spent nearly a decade coaching in Pennsylvania, with stops at Albany and Pittsburgh as a defensive assistant. That local familiarity, combined with his NFL pedigree, could make him an intriguing option for a program that’s quickly running low on them.
Before joining LaFleur’s staff in Green Bay, Hafley served as head coach at Boston College from 2020 to 2023. His tenure there was a mixed bag.
He led the Eagles to two bowl appearances, but never cracked more than seven wins in a season. It wasn’t a firing that ended his run in Chestnut Hill-his contract expired, and he opted to return to the NFL, where he’s since earned praise for his work with the Packers’ defense.
Boston College moved on with Bill O’Brien, who hasn’t exactly turned things around-he’s gone 9-16 in his first two years.
Now, Hafley’s back on the radar as a college head coach, and Penn State might be his next stop. It’s not the kind of hire that’s going to light up message boards or send shockwaves through the Big Ten, but in the current landscape, he might be one of the best remaining options on the board.
Penn State’s coaching search has taken some unexpected turns. After parting ways with James Franklin-a move that felt inevitable following a disappointing 6-6 season-the Nittany Lions set their sights high.
Names like Matt Rhule, Curt Cignetti, Mike Elko, and Eli Drinkwitz were floated early, but each of them has since signed extensions to stay put. That’s left Penn State in a tough spot, scrambling to find a viable replacement in a market that’s quickly drying up.
It’s a sharp fall from where the program started the year. With quarterback Drew Allar returning and a dynamic backfield duo in Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton, Penn State entered the 2025 season as a legitimate national title contender. Instead, they stumbled to a .500 finish and dropped out of the top 25 entirely.
The decision to move on from Franklin was understandable given those lofty expectations, but the aftermath has been anything but smooth. With few high-profile names left on the board, the Nittany Lions are now navigating what could be one of the most pivotal-and precarious-moments in recent program history. Hafley might not be the splashy hire fans were hoping for, but he could represent a stabilizing presence at a time when Penn State desperately needs direction.