Packers Defensive Coordinator Jeff Hafley’s NFL Pass Defenses Have Struggled

It’s not quite Joe Barry with Detroit and Washington, but Jeff Hafley’s NFL pass defenses have been bad. Focusing on his time with the 49ers, there are reasons.

GREEN BAY, Wis. – New Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley’s defensive resume consists of four mediocre seasons as the head coach at Boston College, where he played with so-so personnel, and one brilliant season as the co-defensive coordinator at Ohio State, where he played with blue-chip personnel.

But what about when the talent levels are relatively equal, as will be the case in the NFL?

Before landing at Ohio State in 2019, Hafley spent seven seasons coaching defensive backs in the NFL. His track record isn’t exactly Joe Barry with the Detroit Lions and Washington Redskins, but it’s not exactly inspiring, either.

In 2012 and 2013, he was the secondary/safeties coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They ranked 25th in opponent passer rating.

In 2014 and 2015, he was the defensive backs coach for the Cleveland Browns. They ranked 12th in opponent passer rating.

From 2016 through 2018, he was the defensive backs coach of the San Francisco 49ers. They ranked 31st in opponent passer rating.

Focusing on the 49ers, his most-recent NFL job, here is a deeper dive, courtesy of Pro Football Focus.

• 31st in average EPA per play (0.170)

• 23rd in percentage of pass snaps where positive EPA was allowed (48.0%)

• 31st in QB passer rating allowed (98.7)

• 21st in conversion allowed rate (36.2%), with “conversions” defined as first downs or touchdowns per passing attempt

• 22nd in yards allowed per pass play (6.4)

• 24th in explosive play allowed rate (14.6%), with an “explosive play” defined as 15-plus yards

• 29th in forced incompletion rate per attempt (9.8%)

All of this comes with the caveat that it’s about players. It’s always about players. Coaches can and do make a difference. It’s why they’re paid handsomely, obviously. The 49ers’ defensive coaching staff in 2018 was loaded, with, among others, Robert Saleh the defensive coordinator, DeMeco Ryans the inside linebackers coach and Hafley the defensive backs coach.

As a head coach or coordinator, Saleh’s defenses have finished in the top five in total defense four of the past five seasons. He’s 18-33 in three seasons as head coach of the Jets but that’s because of their issues at quarterback more than anything. Ryans’ defenses in San Francisco ranked third in 2021 and first in 2022. As the first-year head coach of the Houston Texans in 2023, he was named the Pro Football Writers of America’s coach of the year.

That’s one heck of a staff just on the defensive side of the ball. The work ethic is what stood out to Hafley.

As Hafley said on The Next Up with Adam Breneman Podcast: “In San Francisco, it was Robert Saleh, who’s the head coach of the Jets. DeMeco Ryans, who was our linebacker coach; he’s the head coach of the Texans. Mike McDaniel was our wide receivers coach; he’s the head coach of the Dolphins. Kevin O’Connell was on the staff; he’s the head coach of the Vikings. And, obviously, Kyle Shanahan.

“One, they’re all really good people. They’re very intelligent, understand football. But it’s the work ethic that they put in. It’s a hard profession. They grind, they study, they’re demanding. They have great relationships with their players. They hold people accountable. They’re not afraid of confrontation.

“It’s been a really good group, and they’re all different. They’re all different types of leaders. Some are rah-rah guys, some are more introverted, some are a little quirky, but they’re great people, they’re great leaders and they’re highly intelligent in their field and they grind.”

None of that could prevent the Shanahan-coached 49ers from finishing 4-12 and ranking 28th in points allowed in 2018.

Taking a look at that edition of the 49ers, Richard Sherman, Ahkello Witherspoon and K’Waun Williams were the starting cornerbacks, and Jimmie Ward and Jaquiski Tartt were the preferred safeties.

The 30-year-old Sherman was coming off a torn Achilles, Ward suffered through a third consecutive injury-plagued season and Tartt and Witherspoon ended the season on injured reserve.

So, was it Hafley’s fault that only the Packers had a worse opponent passer rating than the 49ers from 2016 through 2018? Or that they were last in interceptions?

Of was it to Hafley’s credit that the 49ers were a respectable 15th in opponent completion percentage and 13th in passing yards allowed despite injuries in the secondary and ranking 25th in sacks?

With the Packers, Hafley is taking over a mish-mash of talent. Yes, there are a bunch of first-round picks on the depth charts. Defensive tackle Kenny Clark, defensive end Rashan Gary and cornerback Jaire Alexander are among the highest players at their positions. But there is no obvious starting safety, let alone starting safeties, there are questions at cornerback alongside Alexander and a hole at linebacker.

From that perspective, the starting point in Green Bay probably won’t be all that different from when he took over at Boston College in 2020.

“Well, obviously, schemes are big,” he said on the podcast. “The biggest thing for me was at the time, talking to the players, I wanted to bring some confidence to them and I wanted them to enjoy the game. I think everywhere that I've been, it’s a game, you’ve got enjoy it. You’ve got to enjoy practice. You’ve got to play with confidence.”

Hafley Has Filled All Key Positions on Defensive Staff