After leaving Boston College, the Packers employ Jeff Hafley to serve as their defensive coordinator.

 

 

 

Head coach Jeff Hafley of Boston College is departing to take a position as defensive coordinator for the Green Bay Packers.

Hafley will succeed Joe Barry, who was sacked last week after three seasons as Green Bay’s defensive coordinator, the Packers confirmed on Wednesday night. Hafley spent four seasons at Boston College, going 22-26 overall with a 7-6 record and a victory against SMU in the Fenway Bowl this past season.

In a statement sent by the university, Hafley stated, “I adored my four years at Boston College.” “With the level of student-athletes we recruit, the facilities, and the support from the university and BC fans, this is an amazing place to coach.” In addition to my wife Gina and I missing the BC community and all of our newfound friends, I will miss the players who have given so much of themselves over the last four years.

Following the departures of Kane Wommack from South Alabama to join the staff of new Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer and Maurice Linguist from Buffalo, 44-year-old Hafley is the most recent collegiate head coach to leave for an assistant position.

 

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Along with opening up the coaching carousel again, his decision leaves Boston College with the lone opening of any Football Bowl Subdivision institution.

In a statement announcing the appointment, Packers coach Matt LaFleur noted, “Jeff has had success at every stop of his coaching career with an exceptional track record of developing players at every level.” “We are excited to have him in charge of our defense.”

Hafley takes over a defense that struggled this season for the most part before making a comeback in the end.

With a defense that had eight previous first-round draft selections, Green Bay finished the regular season ranked 10th in points allowed per game (20.6), 17th in yards allowed per game (335.1), and 23rd in yards allowed per play (5.4).

The Packers’ defense played significantly better the remainder of the season after giving up 29.3 points per game over a 1-2 December run of games against the New York Giants, Tampa Bay, and Carolina.

In their final two games of the regular season, the Packers gave up just one touchdown, which was recovered by Minnesota at the Green Bay 7-yard line after a mishandled punt. The Packers then defeated Dallas 48–32 in the wild card round, keeping them scoreless until the very last play of the first half.

In a 24-21 NFC divisional playoff loss to San Francisco, which saw the 49ers drive 69 yards and score the game-winning touchdown with 1:07 left, Green Bay’s season came to an end.

Hafley’s performance at Boston College was erratic.

Soon after Steve Addazio was fired for failing to achieve more than seven victories in his seven seasons at Chestnut Hill, BC enticed Hafley to leave Ohio State, just as the Buckeyes were gearing up for the College Football Playoff Championship.

However, Hafley struggled to adapt to his new surroundings in the midst of a pandemic and only achieved six victories in each of his first two seasons.

The Eagles, who had only one positive test during the season—during the last week—were maybe the best club in the nation at controlling the COVID-19 epidemic in 2020. However, the players chose to skip the bowl game so they could spend Christmas with their family; as a result, the Military Bowl had to be canceled in 2021 because of a COVID epidemic.

In 2022, BC finished with a 3-9 record, plagued by injuries and the quarterback turnover that typified a large portion of Hafley’s time in the Heights. Hafley’s employment was at risk as the Eagles started this season 1-3; however, they won five straight games to secure another bowl spot.

“We are tremendously appreciative” for Hafley’s years of service, according to a statement from Boston College athletic director Blake James. A nationwide search for a new head coach will start right away.