The Packers have made their move - and it’s a bold one. Green Bay is hiring former Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon as their new defensive coordinator, a decision that’s already sparking plenty of conversation across the league.
The hire comes amid reports that the team had strong mutual interest with Jim Leonhard, the former Wisconsin standout and highly regarded defensive mind. But with Leonhard still coaching in Denver and unavailable for interviews until after the AFC Championship Game, head coach Matt LaFleur and the Packers front office didn’t wait.
And that’s where things get interesting.
There was legitimate buzz around Leonhard potentially returning to Wisconsin in green and gold. His ties to the state, his reputation as a sharp defensive strategist, and his success both as a player and a coach made him a natural fit - not just for the fanbase, but for a defense in need of a fresh identity.
League-wide, Leonhard has been one of the hottest names on the coordinator carousel this offseason. The Cowboys reportedly had interest but opted not to wait.
Now the Packers join that list, choosing to act quickly rather than risk missing out on Gannon, who was drawing attention from other teams as well.
According to ESPN, Green Bay’s urgency was driven by the fear that if they didn’t move fast, Gannon would be off the market. Timing, as always in the NFL, is everything. But in this case, it’s fair to ask whether the Packers were too quick on the trigger.
Leonhard, still coaching with the Broncos, would have been eligible to interview even if Denver advanced to the Super Bowl. It would’ve taken just a few more hours.
That window, small as it was, could’ve made all the difference - at least in giving LaFleur a chance to weigh both options. Instead, the Packers went all-in on Gannon before that opportunity ever came.
To be clear, Gannon isn’t without merit. He helped guide the Eagles to a Super Bowl appearance as their defensive coordinator before taking over in Arizona, and his defensive philosophy has shown flashes of promise. But his tenure with the Cardinals was rocky, and his return to a coordinator role will come with high expectations - especially in a place like Green Bay, where the defense has struggled with consistency and identity in recent seasons.
LaFleur, already under pressure to get this team back into serious contention, is now staking part of his future on Gannon’s ability to right the ship on that side of the ball. And that’s where the optics of this hire matter. When a respected, homegrown candidate like Leonhard is available - and when the fanbase is already restless - not even granting an interview can feel like a missed opportunity.
The reality is, Leonhard isn’t going to be on the market for long. Teams like the Steelers, Giants, and Jets are reportedly still in the mix, and his next opportunity may be just around the corner.
For Green Bay, the hope now is that Gannon can deliver the kind of defensive turnaround that makes all of this a footnote. Because if he doesn’t - if the defense falters again - the questions about what could’ve been with Leonhard won’t go away.
At the end of the day, the NFL is a results-driven league. LaFleur made his choice. Now Gannon has to make it work.