The Green Bay Packers are turning the page on defense, and they're doing it with a bold move: bringing in former Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon to replace Jeff Hafley, who recently took over as the Miami Dolphins' head coach.
Gannon, 42, is coming off a tough stint in Arizona, where things never quite clicked. Over three seasons, he posted a 15-36 record, including a 3-14 mark this past year.
The 2025 season started with promise-the Cardinals opened 2-0-but quickly unraveled with five straight one-possession losses. One of those was a 27-23 heartbreaker to Green Bay in Week 7, a game that now feels oddly full-circle.
It wasn’t just the losses that defined Gannon’s final year in Arizona. The organization fined him $100,000 after a sideline incident with running back Emari Demercado during a Week 5 loss to the Titans. It was a moment that underscored the tension and frustration that seemed to follow the Cardinals throughout the season.
But before Arizona, Gannon’s résumé was a different story. He made his mark as the defensive coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles, helping guide them to the Super Bowl.
In his final season in Philly, the Eagles ranked first in the league in passing yards allowed and eighth in points allowed-numbers that speak to a defense that was both disciplined and dangerous. That unit played a key role in the Eagles’ run to the Super Bowl, where they narrowly fell to the Chiefs in a 38-35 thriller.
Now, Gannon takes over a Packers defense that has talent but struggled with consistency. Statistically, Green Bay finished 11th in both points allowed and passing yards allowed this season-solid, but not elite.
The real issues showed up in key moments: they ranked 28th in interceptions and 21st in red zone efficiency. That’s where Gannon’s expertise in pass defense and situational football could make an immediate impact.
It’s worth noting that Green Bay’s defense took a major hit late in the year when star linebacker Micah Parsons went down with a season-ending knee injury in Week 15. At the time, the Packers were 9-3-1 and trending toward a deep playoff run. Without Parsons, they didn’t win another game, ultimately bowing out in a 31-27 loss to the Bears in the NFC wild card round.
Gannon walks into a situation that’s far from a rebuild. The Packers have a foundation in place, and if Parsons returns healthy, the defense could be one of the league’s most formidable. The challenge for Gannon will be tightening up the red zone execution, generating more takeaways, and restoring the swagger this unit had before injuries derailed their season.
For Green Bay, this hire isn’t just about fixing a few numbers on a stat sheet-it’s about unlocking the full potential of a defense that showed flashes but never quite put it all together. Gannon’s track record in Philadelphia suggests he’s capable of doing just that. Now, it’s up to him to prove it in Titletown.