The Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator position was not open long, with the team hiring Jonathan Gannon.
After the departure of Jeff Hafley just under a week ago, the Green Bay Packers had a big hole in their coaching staff that they needed to fill. After years of lackluster defenses and defensive coordinators, the Packers finally got a decent hire in Hafley. With an extensive list of candidates and a few really talented players on the defensive side of the ball, the Packers’ defensive coordinator position was one of the more coveted roles in the current coaching carousel.
The Packers found their guy quickly and decided to name Jonathan Gannon as their new defensive coordinator.
Jonathan Gannon New Packers Defensive Coordinator
Not many NFL fans may know a ton about Gannon, thanks in part to him bursting into the limelight over the last few years and being a younger guy in general. At just 43 years old, Gannon played safety for Louisville in college and, right after playing, became a student assistant at his alma mater. He made his move to the NFL in 2007, following head coach Bobby Petrino to the league as defensive quality control coach for the Atlanta Falcons in 2007. He spent some time in St. Louis as a scout for the Rams before finding his way back into coaching.
After floating around the league for some time, he found his big break coaching the Philadelphia Eagles as their defensive coordinator from 2021-22. Gannon took over the position from Jim Schwartz and immediately improved the defensive unit. In 2020, the team ranked 19th in yards allowed per game and 20th in points allowed per game. Gannon’s defenses saw immediate success, improving to 10th and 18th in those same respective categories. In his second year, the defense improved into one of the best units in the NFL, ranking second in yards allowed per game and eighth in points allowed per game.
Struggles As Cardinals Head Coach
His performance as defensive coordinator for the Eagles paid dividends for his career, as just days after losing Super Bowl LVII, Gannon was hired by the Arizona Cardinals to take over as their new head coach. Immediately following his appointment, he and the Cardinals received a lot of heat as the Cardinals interviewed him the week before the Super Bowl, and some believed it made him distracted for the Super Bowl. Nevertheless, Gannon became the head coach, and unfortunately, his teams never really found their footing in Arizona.
In 2023, the Arizona Cardinals struggled mightily, finishing 4-13, which was dead last in the NFC West. The team did improve a lot in year two, going 8-9 and finishing third in the NFC West. Unfortunately, an injury to Kyler Murray and more poor play spelled the end of his time with the Cardinals as they went just 3-14 this past year, resulting in his prompt dismissal as head coach.
Gannon’s Brings Mixed Bag As Packers Defensive Coordinator
Jonathan Gannon’s time as the Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator could truly go in any direction. With the Philadelphia Eagles, he revitalized a defense that struggled for a bit and turned them into one of the best units in the NFL. With the Arizona Cardinals, he struggled to rally the troops, produced some weird clips during Hard Knocks, and was fined by the team for yelling at running back Emari Demercado and seemingly throwing a punch at his stomach. He is, without a doubt, a very intelligent coach, but he isn’t your stereotypical “football guy,” so to speak.
For a Green Bay Packers team that struggles with leadership on the field, and with their coaches, the naming of Gannon as defensive coordinator will be interesting to watch going forward. The Packers need a strong leader, and it’s clear that Gannon isn’t that, although he has shown some brief flashes. With that being said, his track record, although very brief, as a defensive coordinator speaks for itself. With so many unknowns around him and this Packers defense for this upcoming season, the one guarantee is that this will be fun to watch play out.
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