LaFleur, Haffley say new coaching staff, team like a puzzle
By Tori Wittenbrock
Associate Sports Editor
GREEN BAY – As the Green Bay Packers climb deeper into the offseason, head coach Matt LaFleur says that completing a new coaching staff and finding the right players for the 2024 season has been like putting together a puzzle and he feels that defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley fits the bill.
“I wanted to get who I thought was the best for us,” said LaFleur. “I equate putting a coaching staff together to putting a puzzle together. How does each piece fit? That’s an important part of it is the fit.”
After the 2023 season, the Packers ranked 17th in total defense in the NFL averaging 335.1 defensive yards per game and 37 touchdowns on the season, despite their offensive push to make it to the NFL Divisional Round of the postseason under defensive coordinator Joe Barry.
As head coach at Boston College with previous NFL coaching experience, LaFleur said he believes Haffley is the perfect piece to the Packers puzzle.
“I felt comfortable with what we had and the last thing you want to do is scrap everything you worked for, especially when you had some pretty good players that performed at a high level,” said LaFleur. “You hire people for a reason. I feel the same way about our position coaches. You’re the ‘head coach’ of that position and it’s your responsibility. It’s my responsibility ultimately, but there’s got to be ownership across the board.”
Though Haffley has extensive coaching experience at the NFL level, LaFleur said that he is not at all concerned about him transitioning from the college level to the Packers.
“I think it’s more similar than you’d think. I think that nowadays, especially, with a lot of the things that are happening in college football, you’re finding them at the NFL level,” said LaFleur.
Haffley’s take
Haffley said that he is thrilled to become a part of the Green Bay Packers community and that he can’t wait to contribute to the success of the franchise.
“It’s the Green Bay Packers. I mean this is like the Mecca of the football world,” said Haffley. “Just being here and driving up to Lambeau every day — it still feels surreal. The community has maybe the best fans in all the world as well.”
Haffley said that his main mission as defensive coordinator is to be able to bring his players everything they need to find success.
“People can say that a lot of the scheme is simpler, but it’s very detailed. We try to make it simple for the players so they can play fast, so they don’t have to think, so they can be confident and not be afraid to make mistakes. So that I can get them the information that they need so that they can go out there and be fearless and play with their hair on fire,” said Haffley.
Haffley said that being a head coach has taught him how to be more open to ideas and finding a path to success.
“I don’t care whose idea it is. If it’s the best idea and it’s going to help us win games then that’s what we are going to do,” said Haffley. “And that’s what we are in the process of now. We are going to piece it all together.”
Haffley said that his main job is to simplify and translate everything for the players so that they can have all the information they need to play at the top of their game.
“Part of me being a great coach is that I have to be a great teacher. I have to take all this information that I have and make it very simple for you to understand so you can play fast and aggressive and not worry about anything,” said Haffley.
According to Haffley, his main priority is his players’ trust. Maintaining good relationships with each person on his team is paramount to their success.
“There has to be great communication but first there has to be great relationships. You guys aren’t just going to trust me because I walk into the room as the defensive coordinator. I have to earn that trust and they have to earn it from me,” said Haffley.
Another integral part of Haffley’s coaching philosophy centers around his expectations for his players and himself.
“I don’t think you’re going to find a lot of yelling. I think you’re going to find a lot of coaching and I think you’re going to see a lot of juice on the field from the staff, but that doesn’t mean we’re yelling,” said Haffley. “I know we’re not going to be the type of staff that motivates through fear at all. These guys are going to know that we care about them and we want what’s best for them and that we are in it with them. We are going to push them and they are going to push us.”