The Green Bay Packers are locking in their leadership core for the foreseeable future, with head coach Matt LaFleur signing a contract extension that keeps him at the helm in 2026 and beyond. General manager Brian Gutekunst and executive vice president/director of football operations Russ Ball are also set to receive new deals, though those contracts are still being finalized. It’s a clear signal from team president and CEO Ed Policy: the Packers believe in the structure they’ve built and are doubling down on continuity at the top.
Now comes the next big move-one that’s become all too familiar in recent years: finding a new defensive coordinator.
Jeff Hafley, who held the role for just one season, is heading to South Beach to become the new head coach of the Miami Dolphins. He’s not going alone, either-former Packers executive Jon Eric-Sullivan is joining him in Miami as the team’s new general manager. That leaves Green Bay searching for its fourth defensive coordinator under LaFleur, following Mike Pettine, Joe Barry, and now Hafley.
And while the Packers' front office begins that search, one former player has already made his pick.
Vince Biegel, a former Packers linebacker and standout at the University of Wisconsin, took to social media to throw his full support behind Jim Leonhard for the job. Biegel played under Leonhard during their time with the Badgers, and it’s clear he holds his former coach in high regard.
Leonhard’s name should ring a bell for Packers fans. He was offered the defensive coordinator position back in 2021 but turned it down, believing he was in line to become Wisconsin’s head coach. That opportunity never came to fruition, and after a stint as a defensive analyst at Illinois, Leonhard is now serving as the Denver Broncos’ assistant head coach, defensive backs coach, and passing game coordinator.
He’s also one of the hottest names on the defensive coaching market. Leonhard has already interviewed with the Dallas Cowboys, New York Jets, and New York Giants.
However, due to league rules, he won’t be able to meet with any additional teams until the Broncos’ postseason run ends. Denver is still alive in the playoffs and set to compete in the AFC Championship Game.
That timeline might actually work in Green Bay’s favor. With their leadership group now secured, the Packers can afford to be deliberate in this search.
Leonhard checks a lot of boxes: he’s a respected defensive mind, has deep ties to the state of Wisconsin, and brings a player-first mentality that resonates in today’s NFL. Whether or not he ends up back in his home state remains to be seen, but he’s certainly a name worth watching as the Packers navigate their latest defensive reset.
For now, Green Bay is betting on stability at the top-and hoping to find the right voice to lead the defense into the next chapter.