Ex-Vikings Coach Hired by Packers
The Green Bay Packers lost 2024 and 2025 defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley to the Miami Dolphins due to a promotion, and they didn’t take long to find a former Minnesota Vikings coach to replace him. Minnesota’s main rival hired Jonathan Gannon last week, and now the purple team will see Gannon at least twice next season.
Green Bay adds Gannon, betting his Vikings-rooted experience steadies a defense that needs better production in 2026.
Gannon’s unemployment didn’t last long, fired by the Arizona Cardinals after the regular season ended and hired by Green Bay two weeks before the Super Bowl.
Green Bay’s Defense Gets a New Architect with Vikings Tie
It’s the cheese team for Gannon.
GB Tabs Gannon for DC
Without Hafley, Green Bay will turn to Gannon.
CBS Sports‘ Bryan DeArdo wrote Sunday, “With Jeff Hafley filling the Miami Dolphins’ head coaching vacancy, the Green Bay Packers plan to replace him with former Arizona Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon, according to CBS Sports NFL insider Jonathan Jones. Arizona recently fired Gannon, 42, after he went 15-36 as coach.”
“The Cardinals went 4-13 during his first season, were 8-9 in 2024 and were 3-14 this season. Arizona started 2-0 this season before losing five straight one-possession games that included a 27-23 loss to the Packers in Week 7. A rocky year included Arizona hitting Gannon with a $100,000 fine following his interaction with running back Emari Demercado during a Week 5 loss to the Tennessee Titans.”
Packers fans mostly applauded the hire on social media.
Gannon worked as the Vikings’ assistant defensive backs coach on Mike Zimmer’s staff from 2014 to 2017.
Gannon’s Stint in ARI
Gannon was tied to the Cardinals for three seasons, and the results never really amounted to anything. His quarterback situation unraveled, with Kyler Murray effectively sidelined in 2025 — first “kind of benched” for Jacoby Brissett, then shut down on injured reserve. The organization made little effort to push back on the idea that it was a quiet, intentional benching, which only deepened the dysfunction.
From Gannon’s 2023 arrival to his exit, Arizona produced the league’s sixth-worst record. A 15–36 mark across three seasons translated to a 30% win rate, and that erosion never slowed. Heading toward 2026, the franchise lacked momentum, clarity at quarterback, and any visible upward trajectory. At that point, Gannon got the boot.
The underlying metrics painted a grimmer picture. Since Gannon took over, the Cardinals ranked 17th in offensive EPA/Play and 30th on defense. That defensive collapse is especially damning given Gannon’s background. His side of the ball cratered under his watch, offering no corrective force and no identity. When a defensive coach fails to lift the defense, that’s a bit of an indictment and a lost cause.
What He’ll Inherit in GB
Here’s the defensive situation for Gannon by the numbers:
Packers Defense,
per EPA/Play,
Since 2022:
2022: 26th
2023: 23rd
2024: 4th
2025: 22nd
And barring any suprise roster cuts or trades, Gannon will have these core defenders at his disposal:
- Edgerrin Cooper (LB)
- Evan Williams (S)
- Javon Bullard (S)
- Lukas Van Ness (EDGE)
- Micah Parsons (EDGE)
- Rashan Gary (EDGE)
- Xavier McKinney (CB)
It’s worth noting that any defensive coordinator taking over a defense with Parsons in the mix starts from a position of strength.
No Word on Gannon’s Replacement
Who will replace Gannon in Arizona? That one is still up in the air. Since Gannon’s dismal. Arizona has interviewed or requested interviews with these candidates:
- Anthony Campanile
- Arthur Smith
- Chris Shula
- Jeff Hafley
- Jesse Minter
- Joe Brady
- Klint Kubiak
- Matt Burke
- Matt Nagy
- Mike LaFleur
- Robert Saleh
- Thomas Brown
- Vance Joseph
Mike LaFleur — not Matt, Gannon’s new boss — is the frontrunner per oddsmakers.
SI.com‘s Dan Lyons noted on LaFleur last weekend, “After serving as FCS program Davidson’s offensive coordinator in 2013, LaFleur jumped to the NFL as an intern with the Browns the following year, later coaching alongside his brother and current 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan (as well as the aforementioned Morris) with the Falcons as an offensive assistant. While his brother went to work for McVay with the Rams, Mike followed Shanahan to San Francisco in 2017, spending four years as passing game coordinator.”
“LaFleur had an ill-fated two-year stint as Jets offensive coordinator under Robert Saleh from 2021 to ’22, and then took over the Rams OC job once held by his older brother in ’23. The McVay tree has borne significant fruit despite the fact that the Rams coach just turned 40 on Saturday, with Zac Taylor (Bengals), Kevin O’Connell (Vikings) and Coen (Jaguars) all finding success after working in Los Angeles. That tree could sprout a second LaFleur branch if Arizona opts to hire the Rams OC.”
Gannon turned 43 earlier this month.
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