The Green Bay Packers’ hiring of Jonathan Gannon as defensive coordinator is being hailed as a masterstroke of process by Head Coach Matt LaFleur, a stark contrast to the organization’s recent struggles in assembling a coaching staff. This meticulous approach marks the second consecutive cycle where LaFleur has successfully navigated a major coordinator search, signaling a significant evolution in his leadership capabilities. The move comes after a period of scrutiny regarding LaFleur’s ability to build a complete staff, particularly following failed experiments with special teams coaches and the underwhelming tenure of former defensive coordinator Joe Barry.
LaFleur’s latest search yielded an exceptionally strong pool of candidates, several of whom have since landed prominent coordinator roles elsewhere in the league. Christian Parker is now with Dallas, Dennard Wilson with Washington, and Al Harris received multiple interviews. From this group, the Packers secured Gannon, the former Arizona Cardinals head coach. This methodical selection stands in direct opposition to the chaotic processes that previously plagued the special teams coordinator position, where hires like Maurice Drayton and Rich Bisaccia failed to stabilize a perennially troubled unit.
The critical question now shifts from process to performance: how much blame does Gannon bear for the Cardinals’ recent collapse? According to Alex Clancy of the Locked On Cardinals podcast, the situation in Arizona was a perfect storm of institutional dysfunction and catastrophic injury. Gannon inherited a challenging scenario, taking over a team illegally after a tampering penalty and immediately facing a quarterback crisis with an unprepared Josh Dobbs in his first season. His initial cultural reset was widely praised, replacing the lax atmosphere of the Kliff Kingsbury era with a more disciplined, professional approach.
Gannon’s Cardinals showed flashes of competitiveness, even leading the NFC West at 5-3 midway through the 2024 season before a complete second-half implosion. While game management and conservative fourth-down decisions drew criticism, the team’s downfall coincided with an unprecedented injury crisis. Arizona finished the 2025 season with the most players on injured reserve and the most games missed due to injury in the NFL, decimating an already thin roster, particularly on defense and at running back.
Analysts point out that the defensive scheme, largely orchestrated by then-defensive coordinator Nick Rallis under Gannon’s oversight, was innovative and adaptive, not stubborn. The unit frequently employed unique, college-inspired looks, including using four or five safeties on the field simultaneously to mask talent deficiencies. For the first nine weeks of the past season, the defense ranked in the top ten before the injury avalanche reduced it to a bottom-five unit, unable to withstand the offensive ineptitude that left them constantly on the field.
A significant part of Gannon’s appeal to Green Bay is his expected ability to attract top-tier assistant coaches, notably Nick Rallis, who is considered a future head coaching candidate. This ability to manage down and build a quality staff is a crucial head-coaching skill that LaFleur evidently values. The potential package of Gannon and Rallis is viewed internally as a substantial upgrade, especially for a linebackers room that has seen stagnant development.
The Cardinals’ failure is now seen less as a indictment of Gannon’s coaching and more a product of a volatile organization and sheer bad luck. He never had a fully healthy season from quarterback Kyler Murray, and the 2025 campaign was wrecked before it truly began. His willingness to adapt schematically and the strong culture he instilled are the primary takeaways for the Packers, who offer the stability and roster talent Arizona lacked.
For Packers fans, the hire represents a calculated gamble on a coach whose strategic mind was often overshadowed by circumstances beyond his control. The rigorous process that led to his hiring inspires confidence, but the proof will be on the field. If Gannon can translate his adaptive defensive philosophy to a more talented Green Bay roster and import a strong supporting cast, LaFleur’s much-criticized staff-building acumen will be fully vindicated. The pressure is now on Gannon to prove his Arizona tenure was a misrepresentation of his coaching ability, and on LaFleur to demonstrate that his refined hiring process can consistently yield winning results.
