The Green Bay Packers are wasting no time setting the tone for their 2026 campaign. With a new season on the horizon, the organization has made two significant moves on the coaching front-one that reinforces stability, and another that signals a fresh direction on defense.
First up, head coach Matt LaFleur has secured a contract extension, locking him in for what will be his eighth season at the helm. LaFleur’s tenure in Green Bay has been marked by consistent playoff contention and the development of a young core, and this extension is a clear vote of confidence from the front office. While the Packers have faced their share of ups and downs, LaFleur’s ability to guide the team through roster transitions and maintain competitiveness has earned him staying power in a league that rarely offers it.
But the bigger headline might be what’s happening on the other side of the ball.
With former defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley now the head coach of the Miami Dolphins, the Packers have turned to a familiar face in NFL circles: Jonathan Gannon. Gannon, who just wrapped up a three-year stint as head coach of the Arizona Cardinals, is stepping in to lead Green Bay’s defense.
Now, let’s be honest-Gannon’s record in Arizona (15-36) doesn’t exactly scream success. But context matters.
He inherited a rebuilding roster and faced an uphill battle from the start. Before his time in the desert, Gannon made his mark as a defensive backs coach across multiple NFL teams, and most notably, as the defensive coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles.
That Eagles defense helped power a Super Bowl run, and it’s that version of Gannon the Packers are hoping to see in Titletown.
His arrival, however, coincides with a key departure.
According to league sources, defensive backs coach Ryan Downard is heading to Miami to join Hafley’s staff with the Dolphins. It’s a notable loss for Green Bay, especially considering Downard’s deep roots within the organization.
He joined the Packers back in 2018 as a defensive quality control coach and steadily climbed the ladder. When LaFleur came aboard in 2019, he promoted Downard to assistant defensive backs coach.
From there, Downard took over as safeties coach in 2022 before becoming the full-time defensive backs coach the past three seasons.
Downard’s departure leaves Gannon with a key vacancy to fill right out of the gate. Whoever steps into that role will be tasked with developing a young, talented secondary that’s shown flashes of high-level play but hasn’t quite put it all together consistently. And with Gannon's background in coaching defensive backs, expect him to have a strong hand in choosing the right fit.
Before his time in Green Bay, Downard also spent two seasons with the Cleveland Browns and held the Director of Football Operations role at Bowling Green. He’s a rising name in coaching circles, and his move to Miami is another sign of the ripple effect Hafley’s hiring is already having across the league.
As the Packers recalibrate their defensive identity under Gannon and continue building around LaFleur’s offensive vision, this offseason could prove pivotal. The foundation is there. Now it’s about how the new pieces fit together-and whether this coaching shuffle can push Green Bay back into the upper echelon of the NFC.