The Green Bay Packers are on the hunt-again-for a new defensive coordinator, marking the fourth such search under head coach Matt LaFleur. With Jeff Hafley heading south to take over as the Miami Dolphins’ new head coach, the position in Green Bay is once again up for grabs.
Hafley follows Mike Pettine and Joe Barry, each of whom had multi-year runs in the role, but none managed to solidify the position long-term. Now, the Packers are looking for someone who can bring stability-and results-to a defense that’s been searching for its identity.
This offseason has been a whirlwind across the league. Ten NFL teams have either fired or moved on from their head coaches, creating a ripple effect of vacancies and reshuffling across coaching staffs. That means Green Bay isn’t alone in its search, and if they’re aiming to land a top-tier defensive mind, they’re going to have to outmaneuver some serious competition.
Naturally, when a coaching spot opens in Green Bay-especially one with as much impact as the defensive coordinator role-the speculation ramps up quickly. Fans and media alike throw out names, often with a mix of nostalgia and football logic. And in Titletown, where the past is woven tightly into the fabric of the present, former players always have a special place in the conversation.
One name that’s already surfaced in a big way is Al Harris. Yes, that Al Harris-the former Pro Bowl cornerback, memorable for his iconic pick-six in the 2003 Wild Card game against Seattle, and now a Packers Hall of Famer. Harris has officially interviewed for the position, and his candidacy is getting a strong push from former players, including ex-Packers defensive lineman Mike Daniels, who made his feelings clear with a simple but emphatic tweet: “Do it.”
Harris transitioned into coaching right after hanging up his cleats in 2011. He started from the ground up-literally-as an intern with the Kansas City Chiefs.
From there, he climbed the ladder, becoming their secondary coach by 2018. After a brief college stint at Florida Atlantic in 2019, Harris returned to the NFL when Mike McCarthy brought him aboard in Dallas to coach the Cowboys’ secondary.
That partnership paid off-McCarthy promoted Harris to assistant head coach in 2024, a clear sign of respect for his leadership and football acumen.
In 2025, Harris took on the role of secondary coach with the Chicago Bears, and his impact was immediate. Under his guidance, Chicago’s defensive backfield led the entire league in interceptions-a stat that speaks volumes about both scheme and execution. That kind of production doesn’t go unnoticed, especially in Green Bay, where playmaking on defense has been inconsistent in recent years.
Harris isn’t the only candidate to get a look from the Packers, but his combination of coaching experience, locker room respect, and deep ties to the organization make him a compelling option. He knows what it means to wear the green and gold.
He’s seen the highs and lows of Lambeau Field from both the sideline and the field. And now, he might just be in line to lead the next chapter of the Packers’ defense.
As the search continues, Green Bay has a chance to reset and redefine what their defense looks like moving forward. Whether that means bringing in a fresh voice from outside or turning to a familiar face like Harris, one thing is clear: this hire matters.
The Packers have a young, talented roster and a quarterback in Jordan Love who showed serious flashes in 2025. If they can pair that offensive promise with a defense that finally finds its footing, Green Bay could be back in the thick of the NFC playoff picture sooner than later.