Jeff Hafley, the defensive coordinator for the Green Bay Packers, has a defensive background that includes one outstanding season as the co-defensive coordinator at Ohio State, where he played with blue-chip players, and four poor seasons as the head coach at Boston College, where he played with so-so guys.
However, what happens when skill levels are more or less equal, as they will be in the NFL?
Hafley coached defensive backs in the NFL for seven seasons prior to joining Ohio State in 2019. His record with the Detroit Lions and Washington Redskins isn’t exactly Joe Barry, but it also isn’t particularly noteworthy.
He was the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ secondary/safeties coach in 2012 and 2013. Their opponent passer rating placed them 25th.
He was the Cleveland Browns’ defensive backs coach in 2014 and 2015. In terms of opponent passer rating, they were rated 12th.
He was the San Francisco 49ers’ defensive backs coach from 2016 to 2018. Their opponent passer rating placed them in 31st place.
Here’s a closer look at the 49ers, his most recent NFL team, provided by Pro Football Focus.
• Rank 31st for EPA per play on average (0.170)
• The percentage of pass snaps (48.0%) where a positive EPA was permitted ranked 23rd.
• QB passer rating allowed, which is 31st (98.7)
• With first downs or touchdowns per passing attempt as the definition of “conversions,” the team ranks 21st in terms of the allowed rate of 36.2%.
• Yards allowed per pass play (6.4) ranks 22nd.
With a definition of “explosive play” as 15 yards or more, this play ranks 24th in terms of allowable explosive play rate (14.6%).
• The forced completion rate per attempt, at 9.8%, ranks 29th.
The disclaimer is that this is all player-related. Players are always the focus. Coaches have the power to change things. Obviously, this explains why they get paid so well. The 49ers had a strong defensive coaching staff in 2018 that included defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, inside linebackers coach DeMeco Ryans, and defensive backs coach Hafley.
In four of the last five seasons, Saleh’s defenses as a head coach or coordinator have placed in the top five in terms of total defense. In his three seasons as the Jets’ head coach, he is 18-33, but more than anything, it is due to their quarterbacking problems. In 2021 and 2022, Ryans’ defenses in San Francisco came in third and first, respectively. He was selected the Pro Football Writers of America’s coach of the year in 2023 while serving as the Houston Texans’ first-year head coach.
Just on the defensive end of the ball, that is an incredible staff. What caught Hafley’s attention was the work ethic.
It was Robert Saleh, the head coach of the Jets, who was in San Francisco, according to Hafley on The Next Up with Adam Breneman Podcast. Our former linebacker coach, DeMeco Ryans, is currently the head coach of the Texans. Our wide receivers coach, Mike McDaniel, currently serves as the Dolphins’ head coach. Kevin O’Connell, the head coach of the Vikings, was a member of the staff. Not to mention Kyle Shanahan.
“First off, they’re all genuinely nice folks. They comprehend football and are quite intelligent. However, it’s the diligence with which they labor. It’s a challenging career. They work hard, learn a lot, and are strict. Their rapport with their players is excellent. They make people answerable. They don’t shy away from conflict.
They’re all unique, and the group has been excellent. Each of them is a distinct kind of leader. They’re terrific individuals, great leaders, extremely intelligent in their profession, and hard workers—some are rah-rah guys, some are more reserved, and some are a touch odd.
All of that didn’t stop the Shanahan-led 49ers from having a 4-12 season and ranking 28th in terms of points allowed in 2018.
Looking at that 49ers team, the starting cornerbacks were Richard Sherman, Ahkello Witherspoon, and K’Waun Williams, while the favorite safeties were Jimmie Ward and Jaquiski Tartt.
Sherman, 30, was recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon, Ward was dealing with his third straight season of injuries, and Tartt and Witherspoon were on injured reserve at the end of the year.
So, from 2016 to 2018, the 49ers had the best opponent passer rating, followed by the Packers, was it Hafley’s fault? or the fact that they were in interceptions last?
Was it Hafley’s fault that the 49ers, who ranked 25th in sacks and had injuries to their secondary, were a respectable 15th in opponent completion % and 13th in passing yards allowed?
Hafley is taking over a motley crew of talent with the Packers. Yes, the depth charts do have a number of first-round selections. Among the best players at their positions are cornerback Jaire Alexander, defensive end Rashan Gary, and defensive tackle Kenny Clark. However, there are concerns at cornerback beside Alexander, a vacancy at linebacker, and no clear starting safety, much alone starting safeties.
From that angle, it’s likely that he’ll start in Green Bay in much the same place as he did at Boston College in 2020.
“Obviously, plans are large,” he stated in the show. The most important thing to me at the moment was talking to the players and trying to give them some confidence so they could enjoy the game. Everywhere I’ve been, it seems to be a game that you have to have fun with. Practice must be enjoyable for you. You must play with assurance.
