The New York Giants may be zeroing in on their next head coach-and the name drawing the most buzz right now is Jeff Hafley.
Hafley, currently the defensive coordinator for the Green Bay Packers, is reportedly a strong frontrunner for the Giants’ top job. And when you look at his résumé, it’s easy to see why his name is gaining traction.
Let’s start with what he’s doing in Green Bay. Hafley is in his second season running the Packers’ defense, and the results speak for themselves.
The unit ranks fifth in the league in total defense, giving up just 287.2 yards per game. They’re sixth in scoring defense, allowing only 19.0 points per contest.
This isn’t just a defense that’s holding its own-it’s dominating across the board: top-10 in sacks, rush defense, pass defense, and yards per play. That kind of across-the-board success doesn’t happen by accident.
It’s the product of a coach who knows how to scheme, adjust, and get the best out of his players.
But Hafley’s coaching chops go beyond just X’s and O’s. He’s got a track record of leadership that stretches from college football to the NFL.
Before joining the Packers, Hafley made waves as the co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach at Ohio State in 2019. That Buckeyes defense was elite, and Hafley’s recruiting prowess didn’t go unnoticed-he was ranked as the ninth-best recruiter in the country for the 2020 class by 247Sports.
From there, he took over as head coach at Boston College, where he spent four seasons. His first year in 2020 was particularly impressive-he went 6-5 in a pandemic-shortened season, the most wins by a first-year head coach in college football that year.
Over his tenure, he led the Eagles to three bowl appearances, including a victory in the 2023 Fenway Bowl. He finished with a 22-26 record, but more importantly, he showed he could run a program from top to bottom.
And that’s what makes Hafley such an intriguing candidate for the Giants.
New York isn’t just looking for a playcaller-they’re looking for a leader. Someone who can command the room, set the tone, and be the face of the franchise.
Hafley’s time as a college head coach gave him that CEO experience. He knows what it’s like to oversee an entire operation, manage a staff, handle the media, and lead a locker room.
That kind of experience matters, especially for a franchise like the Giants that’s looking to reset its culture and find stability.
While he hasn’t been a head coach at the NFL level, Hafley checks a lot of the boxes teams look for. He’s got a sharp defensive mind, proven leadership experience, and a background that blends both collegiate and professional success. And being a New Jersey native certainly doesn’t hurt when it comes to understanding the market and the expectations that come with coaching in New York.
The Giants need more than just a tactician-they need someone who can unify the locker room, build trust, and steer the team forward. Jeff Hafley might just be that guy.