The Green Bay Packers have secured a key piece for their defensive rebuild, hiring Wisconsin native Sam Siefkes as their new linebackers coach. The move reunites Siefkes with defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon and signals a continued aggressive overhaul of Matt LaFleur’s defensive staff. This hiring marks a homecoming for the rising coaching prospect and places a young, familiar mind directly in charge of developing the heart of the Packers’ defense.
Siefkes, 33, arrives from Virginia Tech, where he served as defensive coordinator for the 2025 season. His appointment fills the vacancy left by Sean Duggan, who followed former coordinator Jeff Hafley to the Miami Dolphins. The hire is particularly notable for its deep ties to both Gannon and the state of Wisconsin, offering a blend of schematic familiarity and local passion.
His connection to Gannon is a cornerstone of this move. Siefkes previously worked under Gannon for two seasons with the Arizona Cardinals, serving as linebackers coach from 2023-2024. During that tenure, he was the youngest coach on the Cardinals’ staff and earned praise for developing a gritty linebacker unit. This pre-existing relationship suggests a seamless integration into Gannon’s defensive vision for Green Bay.
The coach’s journey to this position is a classic tale of rapid ascension. A standout multi-sport athlete at Oconomowoc High School, Siefkes played college football as a defensive back at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. His playing career was cut short by injury, prompting an immediate transition into coaching that began as a student assistant at his alma mater in 2012.
His collegiate coaching resume demonstrates a swift climb. After stops at Air Force and Florida International, he served as a graduate assistant at the University of Wisconsin in 2015, contributing to a Badgers defense that led the nation in scoring defense. He earned his first defensive coordinator role at Wisconsin-Platteville in 2016 and later led successful defenses at Wofford College, winning back-to-back Southern Conference championships.
Siefkes broke into the NFL in 2021 as a defensive quality control coach for the Minnesota Vikings under Mike Zimmer. He was promoted to assistant linebackers coach under head coach Kevin O’Connell in 2022 before following Gannon to Arizona. His diverse background under defensive minds like Zimmer, O’Connell, and Gannon provides him with a versatile and well-rounded coaching perspective.
In Green Bay, Siefkes inherits a linebackers room headlined by emerging star Edgerrin Cooper, who showed tremendous promise in his rookie season. His primary task will be to accelerate Cooper’s development while elevating the play of the entire unit, which will be critical in implementing Gannon’s defensive scheme. His background as a defensive back could also prove valuable in coaching linebackers in coverage.
This hire completes a dramatic defensive staff transformation under Gannon. The coordinator has now installed his own key lieutenants, including passing game coordinator Bobby Babich and Siefkes. The staff boasts a clear pattern: young, upwardly mobile coaches with collegiate coordinating experience and ties to respected defensive trees, suggesting a modern and adaptable approach.
Fan reaction has been cautiously optimistic, with many embracing the idea of a “homegrown” coach understanding the Packers’ culture. The hiring addresses a critical position on the staff with a candidate who possesses both intimate knowledge of the new coordinator’s system and a proven ability to develop talent at multiple levels of the game.
The pressure is now on for this new collective to deliver. After a season of defensive inconsistency, the Packers have invested heavily in a new vision. Siefkes represents more than just a position coach; he is a symbol of the fresh start Gannon is engineering. His success will be intrinsically linked to the unit’s ability to tackle more consistently, create turnovers, and become a formidable force in the NFC North.
With the Senior Bowl underway and the draft approaching, Siefkes will immediately contribute to player evaluation, particularly for a linebacker group that may seek additional depth. His recent college experience at Virginia Tech will provide valuable insight into the current draft pool as the Packers look to build a defense capable of supporting their championship-caliber offense.
The official announcement solidifies a busy offseason for General Manager Brian Gutekunst and Head Coach Matt LaFleur. In securing Siefkes, they have not only filled a vital coaching role but have also made a statement about the desired identity of their defense: young, intelligent, and fiercely connected to the legacy of Packers football. All eyes will now turn to the field to see if this homecoming story translates into a defensive resurgence.
