The Green Bay Packers have moved swiftly to fill a critical vacancy on their defensive coaching staff, securing a highly-regarded name from the Buffalo Bills organization. The team is hiring Bobby Babich as their new defensive passing game coordinator and secondary coach, according to multiple reports including ESPN’s Adam Schefter. This move comes as a direct response to the departure of several defensive assistants, including former secondary coach Ryan Downard, who followed ex-defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley to the Miami Dolphins.
Babich arrives in Green Bay with a formidable reputation as a developer of elite defensive talent, most recently serving as the defensive coordinator for the Buffalo Bills. His appointment marks a significant addition to new Packers defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon’s staff, effectively installing a seasoned play-caller as the unit’s second-in-command. The hiring underscores Head Coach Matt LaFleur’s proactive approach to rebuilding his defensive coaching lineup with proven, upwardly mobile candidates.
The 41-year-old coach brings a versatile and successful track record across multiple defensive positions. Babich’s coaching prowess was first prominently displayed during his tenure as the Bills’ safeties coach from 2018 to 2021, where he was instrumental in the All-Pro development of safeties Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer. His ability to elevate players is a noted hallmark of his career, offering promise for a Packers secondary in need of consistent, high-level performance.
Demonstrating remarkable adaptability, Babich transitioned to linebackers coach for Buffalo in 2022 and immediately produced more elite results. He coached Matt Milano to a First-Team All-Pro selection that year and aided in the breakout season of Terrell Bernard in 2023. This experience coaching both the secondary and the front seven provides Green Bay with a uniquely versatile schematic mind who understands the entire defensive landscape.
His promotion to defensive coordinator for the Bills in 2024 yielded immediate and impressive results. Babich’s unit finished 11th in scoring defense in his first season and then led the entire NFL in pass defense in 2025, allowing a league-low 156.9 passing yards per game. This proven success in crafting a top-tier defense makes his acquisition a major coup for the Packers as they seek to overhaul their defensive identity.
The connection to Green Bay runs deeper than mere opportunity. Babich was previously interviewed by Matt LaFleur for the Packers’ defensive coordinator position before the hiring of Jeff Hafley a year ago, indicating the organization’s longstanding respect for his football acumen. His philosophy, emphasizing a relentless pursuit of perfection, echoes the historic standards of the franchise and aligns with the cultural reset underway on defense.
Babich also reunites with Jonathan Gannon, with whom he shares a coaching history, suggesting a seamless integration into the new defensive vision. His hiring completes a defensive staff that retains key figures like defensive line coach DeMarcus Covington and pass game specialist Derrick Ansley, creating a blend of continuity and fresh perspective aimed at revitalizing a unit that has struggled with inconsistency.
The son of longtime NFL coach Bob Babich, he brings a lifetime of football knowledge and a collegiate playing career as a defensive back at North Dakota State University. His journey from graduate assistant to NFL defensive coordinator reflects a steady, merit-based rise through the coaching ranks, characterized by tangible results at every stop. Packers players, particularly in the secondary and linebacker rooms, will be coached by a man with a documented history of maximizing potential.
This strategic hire signals a clear intent from the Packers’ front office to support Jonathan Gannon with the strongest possible staff. By bringing in a coordinator-caliber coach for a key assistant role, Green Bay ensures a depth of strategic thinking and a modern defensive approach. The focus now shifts to the draft and free agency, where the personnel will be assembled to execute this new schematic vision.
Fan reaction has been largely positive, with many highlighting Babich’s youth, energy, and proven success as major assets. The pressure will be on this new collective brain trust to translate their individual accomplishments into a cohesive, dominant unit on the field in Green Bay. The 2026 season will serve as the first major test for a defensive coaching staff that, on paper, appears to be one of the most intriguing and experienced in the league.
The official announcement from the Packers is expected imminently, finalizing a pivotal piece of their offseason restructuring. As the organization turns the page from the Hafley era, the Babich hiring represents a bold statement of intent, prioritizing defensive expertise and a track record of excellence to return the Packers to championship contention. All eyes will be on how his defensive mind merges with Gannon’s system throughout the upcoming offseason program.
