A significant coaching addition and a surprise Pro Bowl nod headline a busy period for the Green Bay Packers as the organization reshapes its staff and roster for the coming season. The team has secured a highly-regarded defensive mind while one of its own players receives a late invitation to the NFL’s all-star game, underscoring the constant movement of the NFL offseason.

The Packers have made a major addition to new defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon’s staff, hiring former Buffalo Bills defensive coordinator Bobby Babich. Babich will assume the role of defensive pass game coordinator and secondary coach, bringing a proven track record of success to a unit in desperate need of improvement.

Babich’s impact in Buffalo was undeniable. During the 2025 regular season, his Bills defense led the entire NFL, allowing a mere 156.9 passing yards per game. The unit also ranked seventh overall in total defense. This expertise directly addresses Green Bay’s most glaring weakness from a season that ended in playoff disappointment.

This hiring represents a homecoming of sorts and indicates strong interest from Head Coach Matt LaFleur. Sources confirm LaFleur previously interviewed Babich for the Packers’ defensive coordinator vacancy before ultimately hiring Jeff Hafley two years ago. Babich now joins Gannon’s revamped defensive staff.

The move comes as the Packers continue to lose assistants to former coordinator Jeff Hafley, now the head coach in Miami. Linebackers coach Shawn Dugan has officially followed Hafley to the Dolphins, leaving another vacancy for LaFleur and Gannon to fill in the coming weeks.

While the coaching carousel turns, a current Packers player is preparing for a trip to Orlando. Cornerback Keisean Nixon has been added to the NFC Pro Bowl roster as a replacement for Seattle’s Devon Witherspoon, who is unavailable due to Super Bowl preparations.

Nixon’s selection comes as a surprise following a season of extreme highs and lows thrust into a CB1 role. His year was defined by inconsistency, featuring a game-sealing interception against Chicago in Week One but also a game-winning touchdown allowed in the rematch and a critical missed tackle in the playoff loss.

Statistics reveal the challenges of Nixon’s season. He was tied for the most penalized player in the league with 14 flags, 11 of which were accepted. Despite these struggles, his late addition means he will be one of only two Packers representatives at the Pro Bowl, alongside injured star Micah Parsons.

Nixon’s promotion spotlights the pressing need for reinforcements in the Packers’ cornerback room. The position is viewed as a primary offseason priority, with the team expected to be aggressive in both free agency and the draft to find a true top-tier cover man.

A deep pool of unrestricted free agent cornerbacks will be available, with 67 set to hit the market. Only one, Trayvon Diggs, is currently a Packer, and his return is considered unlikely due to his contract situation, leaving 66 external options for General Manager Brian Gutekunst.

Among the potential targets, Tampa Bay’s Jamal Dean emerges as a compelling candidate. Dean, who recorded three interceptions and two forced fumbles this season, offers a bigger physical profile at 6’1″ and 206 pounds compared to Green Bay’s current corners, potentially adding a new dimension to the secondary.

A sentimental favorite would be a reunion with Rasul Douglas, the former Packers standout who is set to become a free agent from Miami. Now 30, Douglas’s familiarity with the organization and his proven playmaking ability could provide valuable veteran leadership for a young group.

Another intriguing name is Seattle’s Tariq “Riq” Woolen, who will play in the Super Bowl but could be available in March. Woolen, known for his exceptional length and ball skills, could represent a high-upside gamble for a defense seeking playmakers on the back end.

The focus on defense coincides with the approaching Super Bowl, which will feature the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots. For Packers fans, the game presents a conflicted viewing experience, with historic playoff losses to Seattle and a general reluctance to see the Patriots add another championship.

As the league prepares for its championship finale, the Packers’ front office is already deep into planning for 2026. The hiring of Bobby Babich signals a serious commitment to fixing a pass defense that too often faltered at critical moments last season.

Babich’s task will be formidable. He must improve a unit that generated a mere seven interceptions all season and develop young players like Carrington Valentine and Corey Ballentine while integrating new talent. His regular-season success in Buffalo provides a blueprint for optimism.

The departure of assistants like Shawn Dugan to Miami is part of the natural cycle of NFL staffing, but it requires LaFleur to continuously cultivate a strong coaching tree. Identifying the next linebackers coach will be a key step in ensuring Gannon’s system is implemented effectively.

All this activity occurs against the backdrop of Keisean Nixon’s Pro Bowl honor, a testament to his resilience in a difficult year. His presence at the all-star game, however unexpected, offers a brief celebration before the hard work of building a contender resumes.

The Packers’ offseason is in full swing, characterized by strategic hires and clear-eyed assessments of roster needs. The message from 1265 Lombardi Avenue is unambiguous: after a promising season that ended too soon, the goal is to construct a defense capable of finishing the job.