The Green Bay Packers made a significant decision this week by parting ways with their defensive coordinator, Joe Barry.
Despite a relatively improved performance in the last four games, which included two playoff appearances, it wasn’t enough to overshadow three years of underachievement. While the Packers managed to finish in the top ten for points allowed, their run defense remained among the NFL’s worst. Barry’s tenure as defensive coordinator saw no meaningful improvement on this front.
What was particularly frustrating about the Packers’ underwhelming defense was the fact that it featured eight former first-round picks. General manager Brian Gutekunst had invested heavily in defensive players during his tenure, with the exception of Jordan Love in the 2020 NFL Draft.
With such a wealth of talent, the expectation was that the defense should have performed much better, certainly not ending up in the bottom half of the league in any category.
Joe Barry’s stint in Green Bay marked his third as a defensive coordinator, following previous roles with the Detroit Lions and the Washington Commanders, neither of which retained him for more than two years.
Throughout his coaching career, Barry has also served as a linebackers coach for multiple NFL franchises, where he gained a strong reputation. Players reportedly enjoyed working with him, which has contributed to the interest in his coaching services, despite his unsuccessful run as Green Bay’s defensive coordinator.
Diana Russini of ESPN has reported that Barry is in demand and has multiple teams interested in adding him to their defensive coaching staff. One of these teams is none other than the Chicago Bears, the Packers’ oldest rivals:
The Bears found themselves in a peculiar situation in 2023 when their defensive coordinator, Alan Williams, resigned amidst reports of FBI activity at his home and Halas Hall.
While some of these reports later proved to be untrue, it created a turbulent chapter in the Bears’ season. Instead of immediately naming a replacement for Williams, Bears head coach Matt Eberflus took over the defensive play-calling duties. Despite another disappointing season in Chicago, Eberflus was retained but is making significant changes to his coaching staff.
Though the Bears have yet to name a defensive coordinator, Russini’s report suggests that Joe Barry is in discussions for a role on their coaching staff, without specifying whether it’s for the defensive coordinator position.
Interestingly, the Bears recently dismissed their offensive coordinator, Luke Getsy, and brought in Shane Waldron as his replacement. This move has led many to speculate that the Bears might select USC quarterback Caleb Williams with the first pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
In addition to the Bears, Barry is also interviewing with the Philadelphia Eagles, who are expected to hire Vic Fangio as their defensive coordinator. Fangio recently resigned from his position with the Miami Dolphins, and it’s worth noting that Barry employed a Fangio-style defense during his time in Green Bay.
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