Packers Fire Defensive Coordinator Joe Barry

Even after an unexpected playoff run to the NFC divisional round and a close exit at the hands of the Super-Bowl-contending San Francisco 49ers, the Green Bay Packers fired Defensive Coordinator Joe Barry last week.

News of this decision came out just two days after Packers head coach Matt LaFleur declined questions on Barry’s status with the team, as he “was going to go through the process at my own pace.”

“We want to thank Joe for his commitment and contributions to our success the past three seasons,” LaFleur said in a statement. “These decisions are extremely difficult and Joe is one of the best men I’ve had the opportunity to work with in this league.”

The Packers only clinched a playoff spot in the last week of the season, and almost no one expected them to get past the Dallas Cowboys in the wildcard round. Green Bay did great to get that far, but if any part of their team needed improving, it was the run defense.

Green Bay ranked 28th in the league against the run in 2023 and gave up over 200 rushing yards in four games during the season. The defense finished 17th in the league collectively, and they managed to place in the top ten for the fewest points allowed. The defense under Barry hasn’t been great, but not terrible either.

According to reports, it is possible that Barry could remain in the Green Bay coaching staff, but his replacement as defensive coordinator is still undetermined.

Before Barry was hired in 2021, LaFleur was considering hiring Jim Leonhard, Ejiro Evero, Chris Harris, Ryan Nielsen, Chris Kiffin, Matt Burke, Bob Sutton and Jerry Gray. Before Barry, Leonhard was thought to be the first choice to replace Mike Pettine, but he opted to stay at his alma mater in Wisconsin. Evero has been interviewing for several head coaching jobs since the end of the regular season and Nielsen was just hired as the Jacksonville Jaguars’ defensive coordinator.

LaFleur will hope that whoever he hires to replace Barry can shore up that run defense to coincide with a promising young offense led by an emerging star at quarterback in Jordan Love, and take them on another unlikely playoff run with current expectations for Packers fans.