While the Green Bay Packers are getting ready for their final regular-season game against the Minnesota Vikings on January 4, they at least have the luxury of knowing that, win or lose, the playoffs are on the horizon. Green Bay is locked into the No. 7 seed in the NFC.
That doesn’t mean the Packers are feeling particularly comfortable, though. They’ve dropped three straight games dating back to Week 15 and would like nothing more than to stop the skid and carry some momentum into the postseason. But another potential distraction could soon surface — defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley’s name is expected to draw interest from teams with head-coaching vacancies.
Virtual interviews with head-coaching candidates can begin three days after the regular-season finale and run through the end of Wild Card Weekend. In-person interviews for candidates whose teams are eliminated can begin after the Divisional Round, while interviews for candidates on Super Bowl teams are permitted during the bye week before the game.
All that to say, Hafley is once again expected to be in demand. And one team, in particular, keeps coming up.
Jeff Hafley Linked to NFC East Team
ESPN NFL insider Jeremy Fowler wrote on December 31 that Hafley has been repeatedly linked to the New York Giants.
“He’s part of the cluster of strong defensive-minded candidates this cycle,” Fowler wrote. “He seems to have some traction in New York, too. I’ve heard his name linked to the Giants job a few times in my calls over the past week, and I expect him to be on their list. Hafley is also a geographical fit as a Montvale, New Jersey, native.”
Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer added further context, noting that while Hafley is one of roughly 10 names on the Giants’ internal list, there are clear organizational ties that could work in his favor.
“Hafley, who was the head coach at Boston College, owner John Mara’s alma mater, and is a New Jersey native, carries a reputation as a strong strategist and culture builder,” Breer wrote.
Hafley’s previous head-coaching experience could help him during the interview process, even if his overall record at Boston College was modest. He went 22-26 over four seasons, but BC has long been a difficult job, and Hafley led the program to its first bowl win in seven years during the 2023 season.
Jeff Hafley Could Take Packers Assistants With Him
If Hafley were to land the Giants job — or any head-coaching role — the concern in Green Bay would go beyond simply replacing him. There’s a real possibility he could take members of the Packers’ staff with him.
Lombardi Ave’s Mike Luciano pointed out that a staff exodus could follow.
“One problem the Packers may need to face if Hafley leaves is a massive staff exodus,” Luciano wrote. “Not only is he likely to take some of the defensive assistants to create his hypothetical staff elsewhere, but he could even lure Adam Stenavich away with the promise of letting him call plays.”
Stenavich is currently the Packers’ offensive coordinator, though head coach Matt LaFleur retains play-calling duties. Still, Stenavich is viewed as one of the most respected coaches on staff and a long-term fixture in Green Bay. Losing both Hafley and Stenavich in the same offseason would be a significant blow.
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