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Head coach Matt LaFleur and the Green Bay Packers are hiring Jonathan Gannon as their next defensive coordinator.

One of the biggest changes the Green Bay Packers made during the offseason was hiring Jonathan Gannon to be their defensive coordinator.

Jeff Hafley left the position after a two-year tenure to take the head coaching job with the Miami Dolphins. Gannon joins the Packers following a three-year run as the Arizona Cardinals head coach.

Gannon has an extensive background as a defensive coach dating all the way back to 2007. The last time he was a defensive coordinator was during a two-year stint with the Philadelphia Eagles, helping them get to Super Bowl LVII.

Jonathan Gannon Credits QB Jordan Love as Big Reason He Joined Green Bay Packers

Gannon spoke to the Green Bay media for the first time on Monday, and revealed that Love being among the elite quarterbacks in the NFL was a big reason why he wanted to join the Packers.

“When you look at the people that are in the organization, the place, the people, and the players — having competed against them last year — not just the people on defense, but the people on offense,” Gannon said. “This is a good crew on offense. Having to try to defend them over the last couple years. Jordan Love, that was a huge thing for me. I think he’s in the top tier. If you got those things right, you probably have a chance to win.”

Gannon experienced plenty of quarterback woes during his time with the Cardinals. Starter Kyler Murray missed 22 games in three seasons, and was inconsistent when healthy. Love and the Packers beat Gannon’s Cardinals 34-13 in 2024, and again in 2025 by the score of 27-23. Gannon went on to describe the qualities he sees in Love.

“He can make all the throws,” Gannon continued. “He doesn’t give you chances to take the ball away. He protects the football. He’s mobile and smart. Accuracy, decision making, his legs — he’s hard to defend.”

Will Jordan Love Join Ranks of Elite QBs in 2026?

Since taking over as Green Bay’s starter in 2023, Love has been considered one of the better QBs in the league, but not quite in the elite category. 2023 was his best season statistically, setting career highs in passing yards with 4,159, and touchdowns with 32. Love has not crossed the 4,000-yard passing or 30-TD mark since then, as his totals have decreased each year.

He has also not yet reached double-digit wins in a season as a starter. Love is 1-3 in the postseason, completing 60.4 percent of his passes for 1,001 yards, nine TDs, and five interceptions. In the Packers’ playoff loss to the Chicago Bears last season, Love completed under 50 percent of his passes in the second half.

Love’s struggles aren’t all squarely on his shoulders. The Packers haven’t surrounded him with many top tier weapons, and his offensive line has been heavily impacted by injuries. Green Bay still has a lot of unproven wide receivers that Love will have to help elevate, but tight end Tucker Kraft returning from injury will provide a big boost. Love will be considered among the elite QBs once he takes the Packers on a deep postseason run.