This past Sunday, the news broke that Matt LaFleur and the Green Bay Packers hired Jonathan Gannon to be their next Defensive Coordinator. Gannon spent the past three seasons as the Head Coach of the Arizona Cardinals before being fired at the end of this past season. With Jeff Hafley heading to Miami, he is set to a few Packers assistants with him. Meanwhile, Gannon has begun hiring his new staff in Green Bay.
As of this morning, the following Packers assistant from the 2025 season are no longer with the team – Defensive Passing Game Coordinator Derrick Ansley, Defensive Quality Control Coach Wendal Davis, Linebackers Coach Sean Duggan, and Defensive Backs Coach Ryan Downard. Duggan, Downard, and Davis are all heading to South Beach to join Dolphins Head Coach Jeff Hafley as he builds out his new staff.
The Packers newest coordinator, Jonathan Gannon, has added two new coaches to his staff. It was reported that Gannon has hired the former Buffalo Bills Defensive Coordinator Bobby Babich. Babich is expected to be the Packers Defensive pass game coordinator/secondary coach. The hiring of Babich appears to be the reason as why to Derrick Ansley will not return to Green Bay. In addition to Babich, Gannon and the Packers appear to be hiring Sam Siefkes as their new linebacker coach. Siefkes is currently the Virginia Tech Defensive Coordinator. He previously served as the Arizona Cardinals Linebacker Coach under Gannon in 2023 and 2024.
Taking a Look at the Packers Newest Staff Hires
Bobby Babich spent this past season as the Buffalo Bills Defensive Coordinator. Babich was the Bills coordinator for the past two seasons. The Bills ranked 14th in the NFL in era/play and 20th in DVOA this past season. Prior to taking the reins as the Bills Defensive Coordinator, Babich served as the Bills safeties coach for four seasons. Prior to that, he worked as a defensive backs assistant with the Cleveland Brown. Ironically, Babich interviewed for the Packers defensive coordinator position prior to LaFleur hiring Jeff Hafley.
Sam Siefkes, who is expected to be the Packers linebacker coach, reunites with Jonathan Gannon. Siefkes will join the Packers after serving one year as the Virginia Tech Defensive Coordinator. There seems to be a trend emerging with the Packers new defensive staff. Gannon has hired two new coaches, both who have experience as defensive coordinators. It is unclear if the Packers defensive line coach DeMarcus Covington will return to Green Bay. If Covington stays, that will be the third defensive coach with coordinating experience.
Jonathan Gannon still has a ways to go before his staff is complete but so far he seems to be targeting experienced defensive minds. Gannon’s scheme is fairly unknown so by hiring coaches who have called plays, it might be the best way for Gannon to determine his defensive approach.
