The Green Bay Packers have been busy in the wake of their crushing postseason elimination, and it seems like they have more work on their slate. While the team signed head coach Matt LaFleur to a contract extension, it will now have to find a replacement for defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley after he accepted the Miami Dolphins‘ head coach position.
Considering the work Hafley had done with Green Bay’s defense over the past few years, losing him is a big blow for the Packers, and it adds another item to the team’s to-do list early in the offseason. The work to replace Hafley has already begun, though, and it sounds like the team has already locked in on one of the Minnesota Vikings‘ top assistant coaches.
Packers Request to Interview Vikings’ Daronte Jones for Defensive Coordinator Gig
In his two seasons as the Packers’ defensive coordinator, Hafley helped turn them into one of the top units in the league. While Green Bay dealt with a slew of issues on the offensive side of the ball that have ultimately prevented the team from emerging as a top Super Bowl contender, Hafley’s work with its defense helped him earn Miami’s head coach job.
With Hafley gone, though, the Packers have a big hole to fill on LaFleur’s coaching staff. Losing a coach to a head coach gig is never easy, as Green Bay now finds itself behind the eight-ball when it comes to hiring a new defensive coordinator. There are still several strong candidates available, though, and the team has begun the process of requesting interviews.
The first name that has emerged for the Packers is Vikings’ pass game coordinator and defensive backs coach Daronte Jones. While Brian Flores has earned his fair share of praise for his work with Minnesota’s defense, Jones has his admirers, too, and after earning several interview requests already this offseason, he has quickly emerged as a top candidate for Green Bay’s defensive coordinator opening.
“With the Jeff Hafley hire complete, the Packers begin their search for a new DC: They’ve requested to interview Vikings Pass Game Coordinator/DBs coach Daronte Jones, sources said. Jones interviewed in-person with the Cowboys, as well as the Jets. The Giants also requested,” Ian Rapoport of NFL Network wrote in a post on X.
Should the Packers Hire Daronte Jones?
GettyMINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – JANUARY 04: Head coach Matt Lafleur of the Green Bay Packers looks on during the second quarter against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium on January 04, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
Considering how experienced LaFleur is with Green Bay, that gives the team freedom to hire pretty much anyone it wants to work as its defensive coordinator. LaFleur could target a more veteran option if he wanted, but right off the bat, it seems like the Packers are looking for a younger, unproven option to establish themselves in this role.
Jones is the first of what will surely be many interview requests for Green Bay as this hiring process unfolds, but it’s encouraging to see that the team is moving quickly after losing Hafley. His departure certainly hurts, but if the Packers hire the right replacement, the defense could pick up right where it left off when it returns to action in 2026.
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