The Green Bay Packers may have reached the divisional round of the NFL playoffs in the first year of the Jordan Love era, but they’re not going to make it back in 2024.
The team announced Wednesday that it is moving on from defensive coordinator Joe Barry after three seasons.
“We want to thank Joe for his commitment and contributions to our success over the past three seasons,” head coach Matt LaFleur said in a statement. “These decisions are extremely difficult and Joe is one of the best individuals I have had the opportunity to work with in this league.”
Barry began his coaching career in 1994 as a 24-year-old USC graduate assistant. He got his NFL break in 2000 with the San Francisco 49ers. He spent time as the defensive coordinator of the Detroit Lions (2007–08) and Washington (2015–16) and held other positions with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, San Diego Chargers and Los Angeles Chargers. The Angels Rams spent two decades playing DC before becoming Green Bay’s DC in 2021.
The Packers were ninth in total defense in 2021 and dropped to 17th in 2022. They once again ranked 17th in total defense in 2023, although they allowed the 10th fewest points.
The biggest decline came in run defense. After finishing 11th in 2021, Green Bay is 26th against the run in 2022 and 28th this season.
Green Bay had a very poor defensive season in December, giving up 24 points in a loss to Tommy DeVito and the New York Giants, giving up a perfect passer rating to Baker Mayfield in a loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and giving up 30 points versus Bryce Young and the struggling Carolina Panthers. Crime.
The team allowed only 19 total points over the last two weeks of the regular season and intercepted Dak Prescott twice – including a Darnell Savage pick-six – in a wild card upset over the Dallas Cowboys. Green Bay nearly pulled off another playoff stunner in the divisional round, but ultimately lost 24–21 against the top-seeded 49ers.
LaFleur will now begin the search for his third defensive coordinator since being named head coach of the Packers in 2019.
