During Jeff Hafley’s first season as the Packers‘ defensive coordinator, Green Bay’s defense was built in 2024 on creating turnovers.
Despite wreaking havoc up front thanks to the addition of All-Pro Micah Parsons, and Rashan Gary playing some of the best football of his career, and All-Pro safety Xavier McKinney in his second season in Green Bay, the turnovers haven’t yet come in bunches for the Packers.
However, that doesn’t mean that Hafley’s unit isn’t still finding new ways to win, and to shut down opponents along the way.
Packers leading the league in key defensive metric
Green Bay defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley is shown before their game against the Houston Texans Sunday, October 20, 2024 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
As the Packers’ offense continues to go through some unexpected growing pains, and despite Green Bay’s secondary taking some lumps while trying to find the right combination, Hafley has done an excellent job taking away big-play opportunities from opponents.
According to Pro Football Focus, through the season’s first nine weeks, the Packers defense has allowed the fewest explosive plays, of any team across the league, at just 46.
Trading for Micah Parsons, and the disruptiveness up front has to be playing a role in Green Bay limiting big-play opportunities deep downfield, especially given that cornerback remains one of the Packers’ biggest weaknesses.
However, Hafley’s defense deserves major credit, given that so far this season the Packers have already matched up against the Detroit Lions’ explosive offense, Dak Prescott and George Pickens amid the Cowboys’ quarterback’s MVP caliber start to the 2025 campaign, and the duo of Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, just to name a few of the prolific offenses, so far.
If the Packers can continue to limit big play chances, they are going to be a daunting out for playoff teams, down the road.
Oct 19, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett (7) throws a pass under pressure from Green Bay defensive lineman Micah Parsons (1) in the second half at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images