Packers Hire Jeff Hafley As DC
Green Bay has landed on a defensive coordinator hire. The Packers are set to bring in Boston College head coach Jeff Hafley as their new DC, ESPN’s Pete Thamel reports. 
Hafley took his first NFL coaching gig in 2012 when he became an assistant defensive backs coach with the Buccaneers. He took charge of Tampa’s DBs the following season, later doing the same with the Browns and 49ers. Hafley returned to the college ranks in 2019, serving as Ohio State’s co-defensive coordinator. That led him to Boston College’s head coaching role, which he held from 2020-23.
The 44-year-old did not have a known connection to an NFL DC posting since 2019. That includes being off the radar, in terms of known interviews, of the Packers through this year’s search. In a move which came as little surprise, Green Bay elected to fire Joe Barry after the team’s divisional round elimination. A long list of candidates emerged to fill the opening, but the team has gone in a different direction.
The Packers conducted at least three interviews for their Barry replacement, and another was lined up. Other staffers, including sought-after Panthers DC Ejiro Evero, were named as potential Green Bay targets. None of them have landed the position, though, one which will come with serious expectations given the highly-drafted players present on the Packers’ defense and the unit’s shortcomings under Barry.
Green Bay posted finishes of 13th, 17th and 10th in terms of points allowed over the past three seasons. Struggles against the run in particular were present for much of Barry’s tenure, and improvement in that regard will no doubt be a priority for Hafley. The latter led the Eagles to a 22-26 record during his time in charge, earning bowl eligibility for the school three times.
Boston College allowed an average of 28.3 points and just under 384 yards per game in 2023 while generating 1.3 takeaways per contest. Green Bay posted only seven interceptions in 2023, and better production in the secondary would go a long way toward overall improvement on defense moving forward. Hafley’s background working with defensive backs could help in that regard.
As Thamel notes, Hafley and head coach Matt LaFleur are close friends. Their relationship will now continue at the NFL level, with the former becoming the third DC in the latter’s time at the helm in Green Bay. The Packers’ defense will be worth watching closely as Haley makes a long-awaited return to the pro game and takes on his first career NFL coordinator gig.
Panthers Hire Brandt Tilis As EVP Of Football Operations
As expected, Brandt Tilis has landed a position in the Panthers’ new-look front office. The longtime Chiefs exec has officially been hired as Carolina’s executive vice president of football operations, per a team announcement. 
Tilis was named as a candidate to join new general manager Dan Morgan when the latter was promoted to his position. Morgan is a rookie general manager with a background on the football side of operations, so a veteran front office staffer experienced in cap management and analytics represented a logical target as his top lieutenant. The most recent update on the situation noted that Tilis had prepared to depart Kansas City’s front office despite the team preparing to play in the Super Bowl.
Tilis spent 14 years with the Chiefs, including three as the team’s VP of football operations. He interviewed with the Panthers for their general manager vacancy earlier this month, but most signs pointed to owner David Tepper elevating Morgan to replace Scott Fitterer. Still, the Panthers-Tilis connection remained strong throughout the hiring cycle, and the long-awaited agreement between the two is now in place.
Tilis will be responsible for, among other things, contract negotiations in his new Panthers position. He held the same duties for much of his Chiefs tenure, playing an integral role in allowing the defending champions to remain amongst the league’s elite teams with Patrick Mahomes‘ mega-contract on the books. Talks with a number of pending free agents – including Pro Bowl edge rusher Brian Burns – will be among the top priorities for Tilis in his first offseason with Carolina.
“It’s great to add Brandt and his experience to our organization,” a statement from Morgan reads. “He comes from a championship-caliber team in Kansas City and will play a lead role in our front office. We are looking forward to getting him here and working together to build this team.”
Ben Johnson To Remain With Lions
After drawing significant head coaching interest for the second consecutive year, Ben Johnson has repeated his decision from 2023. Detroit’s highly-acclaimed offensive coordinator will remain with the Lions, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
Johnson entered the 2024 hiring cycle as a prime candidate to land a head coaching gig. Only two vacancies remain, and he was a finalist to join both the Commanders and Seahawks. Washington in particular seemed to be in pole position to land him, but both teams’ searches will now move in a different direction. As ESPN’s Adam Schefter notes, Johnson’s asking price served as a deterrent for some teams. Schefter further details that Johnson’s decision was learned as the Commanders were en route to speak with his counterpart, Aaron Glenn. 
It is unknown if financial hesitancy applies to the Commanders and/or Seahawks, teams which have interviewed Johnson twice. The 37-year-old was believed to be Washington’s top choice on a number of occasions, and recent reports pointed to a Johnson hire being the likeliest outcome. After doing the same last year, though, he has elected to make at least one more run at a Super Bowl with the Lions.
Detroit’s offense has been among the league’s best during Johnson’s two-year run as the team’s OC. He has drawn considerable interest around the NFL as a result, and it was reported before the season ended that the Panthers would be a team to watch closely. Carolina attempted to land Johnson last year, and he was believed to be the team’s top choice before Buccaneers OC Dave Canales was tapped for the position. The Commanders and Seahawks openings profile as being more attractive than the one in Carolina, but those teams have now seen one of their finalists bow out of the running.
The Commanders have taken an extended look at candidates with a background on both sides of the ball during their search for a Ron Rivera replacement. Washington has spoken twice with Glenn, Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn and Texans OC Bobby Slowik in addition to the second sit-down with Johnson. The Commanders are also interested in Ravens DC Mike Macdonald, and a member of that group of candidates will now be in line for the gig in the nation’s capital.
Quinn and Macdonald in particular are also central figures in Seattle’s search. Both teams decided to wait until after Sunday’s conference championship games to make their final HC decisions, and the elimination of the Ravens and Lions opened the door to their respective searches reaching an end in the near future. That may well still be the case, but Johnson is no longer in consideration.
Today’s update will of course be welcomed news on a Lions staff which was labeled as one likely to see signficant departures in the wake of the team’s success. Glenn landing a head coaching position would deal a blow to Dan Campbell and Co., but the Lions’ offense will again be expected to put up high-end production with Johnson in place. The latter’s relationship with quarterback Jared Goff was a central reason why he declined to leave last year, and their partnership will continue in 2024. That season marks the final one of Goff’s contract.
Steelers Hire Arthur Smith As OC
Not long after Arthur Smith landed on the radar of the Steelers for their offensive coordinator vacancy, an agreement has been reached. The ex-Falcons head coach is expected to take over as Pittsburgh’s OC, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
Smith’s three-year run at the helm of the Falcons came to an end on Black Monday after he posted a third consecutive 7-10 record. An inability to maximize the team’s potential at the offensive skill positions played a key role in that decision, but Smith boosted his stock during his previous time as OC of the Titans.
The recently fired HC will now return to a coordinator posting featuring a run-based attack, with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Gerry Dulac indicating this is expected to be a three-year deal.
During a press conference yesterday, Steelers owner Art Rooney II confirmed the team would likely have its next OC in place in the near future. He added that a clear profile was in place with respect to what Pittsburgh was targeting, given the plans for the offense. Smith was interviewed on Sunday, and that meeting has now produced an agreement.
As Pelissero notes, Smith was on the radar of other teams (although his Steelers summit was his only known interview). Indeed, it had been recently reported that the 41-year-old was likely to land a coordinator gig during the 2024 hiring cycle despite the underwhelming nature of his Atlanta tenure. The Falcons ranked no better than 15th in scoring under Smith, though the team’s struggles can be traced in large part to a lack of consistent high-end play at the quarterback position.
In Pittsburgh, Smith will enter a situation which is not entirely settled under center. 2022 first-rounder Kenny Pickett remains in place atop the depth chart for now, but an offseason competition for the starting spot should be expected. Mason Rudolph is a pending free agent, but he could find himself on a new Steelers contract, especially if a path exists for him to claim the full-time No. 1 role. Smith will be tasked with developing Pickett or overseeing a transition to a new passer.
Smith spent 10 years on the Titans’ staff, including a pair of seasons (2019-20) as the team’s offensive coordinator. During that time, a ground-heavy approach yielded a top-four showing in both total and scoring offense in 2020. Smith’s HC stock rose to the level that he landed the Falcons gig, but it has obviously taken a hit over the past three campaigns. This opportunity will allow him to rebuild his value on at least a coordinator level.
Matt Canada entered the 2023 season with signficant pressure, and the Steelers made an all-but unprecedented move in firing him midseason. It has been clear for some time that an outside hire would be made, and Pittsburgh spoke with a pair of external candidates (Panthers OC Thomas Brown and Texans QBs coach Jerrod Johnson) before landing on Smith.
With a running back tandem of Najee Harris (who will likely be in place through at least 2025) and Jaylen Warren, Smith will have the pieces in place to continue the run-heavy approach which yielded success late in the year for Pittsburgh. The impact he makes on the team’s offense will be a key factor in determining the Steelers’ ability to at least replicate their run to a wild-card spot in 2024.
Brandon Staley Meets With Packers, Dolphins; Rams To Conduct DC Interview
JANUARY 30: The Rams indeed have interest in bringing Staley back. The former Chargers HC will interview for Raheem Morris‘ old job Wednesday, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets.
Staley cemented his place as a top HC candidate in 2021 by overseeing a No. 1-ranked Rams defense. While Staley’s Chargers defenses could not justify the franchise’s investment, the 2020 Rams ranked first in scoring defense and yardage allowed. With multiple teams pursuing the three-year HC, an immediate move back to a coordinator job may be in the cards.
JANUARY 26: A short list of names worth watching quickly emerged for the Packers’ defensive coordinator position once Joe Barry was fired earlier this week. Green Bay had yet to line up an interview, but that has now changed. 
[RELATED: Offensive/Defensive Coordinator Search Tracker]
The Packers are speaking with Brandon Staley for their DC position, Matt Schneidman and Dianna Russini of The Athletic report. Staley’s first head coaching gig, which came with the Chargers, certainly did not go according to plan. He was let go midway through the 2023 season, his third in Los Angeles. A coordinator role likely awaits him in his next NFL opportunity.
Staley was not originally thought to be under consideration for Green Bay, but he is indeed meeting with the team today, ESPN’s Adam Schefter notes. This Packers summit represents the first firm interest shown in the 41-year-old, but it does not appear to be the last. Schefter adds that Staley will interview with the Dolphins for their DC posting this weekend, and that a Rams reunion could be on the table.
Miami moved on from Vic Fangio after just one season at the helm, and he has already taken the Eagles’ DC role. The Dolphins thus have a notable vacancy to fill, and their upcoming Staley interview is the team’s first known one to fill the position. Miami underperformed relative to expectations at times during the season, although by the playoffs the team’s defense was ravaged by injuries. A number of key roster pieces are in place on that side of the ball.
Like the Dolphins, the Rams made it to the wild-card round of the postseason this year. Morris played a key role in that success, and he landed the Falcons’ head coaching position in a return to Atlanta. Staley could embark on a reunion of his own by taking the Rams’ DC position, one which he held in 2020. The Athletic’s Jourdan Rodrigue names Staley as a potential candidate for the gig (subscription required).
Despite his background, Staley’s Chargers never ranked better than 20th in total defense. That, coupled with a regression on offense in 2023, helped inform the team’s decision to dismiss him and general manager Tom Telesco. The latter has already landed the Raiders’ GM job, but it will be interesting to see where (and in what capacity) Staley winds up. Today’s update certainly point to competition for his services in a coordinator role being a distinct possibility.
Bills Promote Bobby Babich To DC
The Bills elected to retain Joe Brady as their full-time offensive coordinator, and the team has taken a similar approach on defense. Linebackers coach Bobby Babich has been promoted to DC in Buffalo, Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL Network report. The move is now official.
Babich has a longstanding relationship with head coach Sean McDermott, having been a member of Buffalo’s staff since 2017. Over that span, he has worked alongside the team’s safeties and linebackers while spending time with both McDermott and ex-DC Leslie Frazier. After the latter stepped away, McDermott took on play-calling duties for the 2023 season.
The younger Babich drew extensive interest for DC posts, including one in the AFC East. The Giants requested an interview with Babich earlier this month. That would have been a fairly natural fit, considering two ex-Bills bastions — Joe Schoen, Brian Daboll — are running the Giants now. The Packers then sent out an interview request, preceding Dolphins interest about their again-vacant job. Rather than see Babich depart for one of those positions, the Bills will elevate the 40-year-old assistant.
It will be interesting to see if McDermott keeps the play-calling reins or entrusts Babich, who has coached multiple positions during the Bills’ four-season run as AFC East champions. The son of former NFL DC Bob Babich, Bobby coached the Bills’ safeties from 2018-21 and has been the team’s linebackers coach for the past two years. Standout performances from midlevel investments have ensued during that time, and after D-line coach Eric Washington left to become the Bears’ DC, Babich will take over the post Frazier held for years.
During Babich’s time as safeties coach, Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer grew from part-time starters for their previous teams — the Packers and Browns, respectively — into impact players as Bills. The 2017 free agency pickups transformed from bargain signings to one of the best safety tandems of the 21st century, each signing multiple contracts with the Bills and becoming Pro Bowlers. During Babich’s first season in charge of Buffalo’s linebackers, former fifth-round pick Matt Milano earned first-team All-Pro recognition. Both Terrel Bernard and Tyrel Dodson played well this season following Milano’s injury.
Bob Babich served as defensive coordinator for the Bears, Lions and Jaguars from 2007-15. His stop in Buffalo — as linebackers coach — in 2017 led to both Babiches coaching under McDermott. Bobby has a pre-Buffalo history with McDermott, breaking into the league during the latter’s time as Panthers DC during the 2010s. Bobby Babich coached Poyer in Cleveland as well. After a lengthy grooming period, the Bills will gauge Babich’s chops running a defense.
Sam Robinson contributed to this post.
Panthers Hire Brad Idzik As OC
Dave Canales is in place as the new head coach of the Panthers, and his choice to fill the offensive coordinator role comes as no surprise. Carolina is set to hire Buccaneers receivers coach Brad Idzik as OC, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
Canales and Idzik have a history with each other dating back to their Seattle days, and for that reason it was reported over the weekend that the latter was the likeliest candidate for Carolina’s OC post. Canales will likely take on play-calling duties with the Panthers after he did the same during his time with the Buccaneers in 2023, but Idzik will be a central figure on Carolina’s staff.
The Panthers were again all-in with respect to their pursuit of Lions OC Ben Johnson. While that did not materialize, it remained the expectation that an offensive candidate would be tapped as head coach. Canales will be tasked with overseeing quarterback Bryce Young‘s development after a poor rookie season. Idzik will assist in that regard as both staffers take on their respective new titles for the first time.
Idzik, 32, began his coaching career in 2019 with the Seahawks. During much of his time in Seattle, he worked with the team’s wide receivers, though he also had one year as an assistant QBs coach with the added title of offensive quality control coach. His first year with the Bucs came in 2023 as he followed Canales from Seattle to Tampa Bay, and their relationship will now continue in a new environment once again.
The fate of incumbent Panthers OC Thomas Brown has remained uncertain through the hiring cycle, but it had been expected that a new face would be added once the team’s next head coach was in place. Brown drew praise upon arrival on Frank Reich‘s staff, but he struggled in a play-calling capacity as the Panthers underwhelmed on offense both before and after Reich’s firing. Today’s news means Brown (who has been connected to multiple outside OC openings) will be free to pursue other options.
Carolina ranked at or near the bottom of several offensive categories in 2023, and improvement from Young, along with developments along the O-line and at the skill positions will be needed moving forward. Plenty of attention will be on Canales to deliver that, but Idzik will remain a key confidant along the way as his rise through the NFL coaching ranks continues.
Broncos To Hire Pete Carmichael
Pete Carmichael‘s run with the Saints came to a close at the end of the 2023 season. The longtime New Orleans offensive coordinator has not needed to wait long to find his next opportunity, however. 
Carmichael is set to join the Broncos in an as-yet undetermined offensive role, NOLA.com’s Jeff Duncan reports. That comes as little surprise, as the move will allow Carmichael to once again work alongside Denver head coach Sean Payton. The agreement is expected to be formally announced down the road, Duncan adds.
Since taking over as Broncos head coach last offseason, Payton has brought in a number of staffers and players with whom he shares a history from his time in New Orleans, including current offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi. Carmichael will now become the latest to make the New Orleans-to-Denver trek as the Broncos look to take a step forward on offense. The central storyline in that effort, of course, will be the future of quarterback Russell Wilson.
Denver showed signs of improvement under Payton in 2023, but the team as a whole and Wilson in particular did not meet expectations. The Broncos finished 26th in total offense and 19th in scoring, and Wilson was benched once a postseason berth was essentially out of reach. Jarrett Stidham finished the campaign as a starter, and the quarterback spot is marked by uncertainty as things currently stand with Wilson still on the books through 2028.
Carmichael became the Saints’ offensive coordinator in 2009, and he held the post through the 2023 campaign. Notably, Payton served as the team’s play-caller during his time there, although Carmichael took over in that regard after Payton’s departure in 2022. Over the past two seasons, the Saints have put up middling numbers in several categories, but the team did rank ninth in scoring in 2023 amidst an uptick in passing efficiency with Derek Carr under center.
Denver’s offense will be a unit worth watching closely after the Payton-Wilson partnership did not yield the desired results. Payton will no doubt remain the team’s play-caller, but Carmichael’s experience with the Saints should make him a key figure on the Broncos’ staff moving forward.
Saints To Interview Greg Lewis For OC Position
A new candidate has emerged in the Saints’ ongoing search for a new offensive coordinator. New Orleans is set to speak with Ravens receivers coach Greg Lewis today, reports Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. 
Lewis’ meeting comes at a time when a decision could be forthcoming relatively soon for the Saints. As Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.football notes, the team’s OC search has “narrowed considerably.” New Orleans moved on from Pete Carmichael at the end of the campaign, bringing a close to his lengthy tenure at the position. Lewis will join the list of candidates under consideration to replace him.
The latter had an eight-year playing career with the Eagles and Vikings which came to an end in 2010. He quickly turned to coaching, beginning with stints at San Diego, San Jose State and Pittsburgh as a WRs coach. Lewis’ first NFL opportunity came with the Saints in 2015 as an offensive assistant, and it set him up for future positions in the pro game.
The 43-year-old worked as the Eagles’ WRs coach in 2016, then took the same position with the Chiefs for a four-year stretch. Lewis remained in Kansas City from 2021-22 as the team’s running backs coach, allowing him to become a two-time Super Bowl winner as a member of Andy Reid‘s staff. He joined the Ravens this past offseason as part of Baltimore’s overarching goal of improving in the passing game.
That effort resulted in 214 passing yards per game, which ranked just 21st in the league. Still, Lewis was part of an staff overseeing the league’s fourth-highest scoring offense this year, and he has now landed on the OC radar. The New Orleans vacancy is the first to which he has been connected during the 2024 hiring cycle.
Here is how the Saints’ OC search is shaping up:
- Ronald Curry, quarterbacks coach (Saints): Interviewed
- Brian Griese, quarterbacks coach (49ers): Interviewed
- Brian Johnson, former offensive coordinator (Eagles): Interviewed 1/29
- Jerrod Johnson, quarterbacks coach (Texans): Conducted second interview 1/27
- Klint Kubiak, pass-game coordinator (49ers): Interviewed
- Greg Lewis, receivers coach (Ravens): To interview
- Dan Pitcher, quarterbacks coach (Bengals): Second interview on 1/24; hired as Bengals OC
- Zac Robinson, quarterbacks coach (Rams): Interviewed; hired as Falcons OC
- Mike Sullivan, quarterbacks coach (Steelers): To interview
- Shane Waldron, offensive coordinator (Seahawks): Interviewed; hired as Bears OC
Packers Request DC Interviews With Dennard Wilson, Zach Orr
9:20am: Wilson is not the only Ravens staffer on the Packers’ radar. Green Bay has also requested a DC interview with linebackers coach Zach Orr, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports. Orr’s playing career was cut short due to a congenital spine condition, but he has transitioned to coaching at the NFL level. The 31-year-old worked with the Ravens from 2017-20 before taking a position with the Jaguars. He then returned to Baltimore in 2022 in his current role, which has made him a key figure on DC Mike Macdonald‘s staff.
8:56am: Dennard Wilson remains a highly sought-after defensive coordinator candidate. The Ravens defensive backs coach has received a DC interview request from the Packers, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
Green Bay moved on from Joe Barry after the team’s elimination, a move which had been predicted by many before the 2023 campaign. The Packers have cast a wide net in their search for his replacement, although to date only two interviews have taken place with one more lined up. Wilson adds to the list of Green Bay’s targets, but the team will likely have competition for his services if an interview produces an offer.
Wilson, as Rapoport notes, has a Titans interview scheduled for today. He is also set to speak with the Rams, and those teams are joined by the Giants in having shown interest. New York has lined up a second interview with Wilson, whose stock rose during the 2023 campaign. After being passed up for the Eagles’ DC position last offseason, Wilson departed for Baltimore to take on the same role.
The 41-year-old helped oversee a Ravens secondary which was among the league’s best this year. Baltimore finished sixth in terms of passing yards allowed per game, and the team racked up 18 interceptions. An NFL staffer since 2012, Wilson has extensive experience as a secondary coach and passing game coordinator. He has never held a defensive coordinator title, however.
Green Bay finished 10th in scoring defense in 2023, but overall the team underperformed relative to expectations during much of Barry’s tenure at the helm. Improvement against the run in particular will be a target moving forward, and the team’s new defensive staff will be a key storyline entering the 2024 season as the Packers aim to build off their offensive success.
Here is an updated look at the Packers’ DC search:
- Bobby Babich, linebackers coach (Bills): To interview
- Aden Durde, defensive line coach (Cowboys): Interview requested
- Ejiro Evero, defensive coordinator (Panthers): Rumored candidate
- Chris Harris, secondary coach (Titans): Rumored candidate
- Zach Orr, linebackers coach (Ravens): Interview requested
- Christian Parker, defensive backs coach (Broncos): Interviewed 1/25
- Aubrey Pleasant, defensive backs coach (Rams): Rumored candidate
- Brandon Staley, former head coach (Chargers): Interviewed 1/26
- Dennard Wilson, defensive backs coach (Ravens): Interview requested