During the first few weeks of the NFL offseason, Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur has been quite active in the coaching carousel, making significant adjustments in positions of authority. Having recently hired a new defensive coordinator, the coaching staff of the Packers is currently in the process of hiring one of the most accomplished position coaches in the sport of football.
Following the dismissal of Joe Barry as defensive coordinator, Green Bay went through an extensive search for a replacement defensive play-caller that they could hire. Following the failure of the Green Bay Packers to get Ejiro Evero and Zach Orr’s refusal to accept Green Bay’s offer for a promotion with the Baltimore Ravens, LaFleur was able to successfully acquire his next target.
Now, just a few days after formally signing Jeff Hafley, the coach at Boston College, to be the new defensive coordinator, the coaching staff of the Packers is apparently getting even stronger with the addition of a line-backers coach who has the potential to be a game-changer for Quay Walker and Isaiah McDuffie.
Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports that Anthony Campanile, the linebackers coach for the Miami Dolphins, will be joining Green Bay following his departure from the Dolphins. It is interesting to note that the Packers and Dolphins are basically exchanging coaches, with Joe Barry moving to Miami to take up the identical position that Campanile would have held.
As a member of the coaching staff for the Packers, Campanile, who is 41 years old, will become the linebackers coach and the run-game coordinator. After graduating from Rutgers, the former student worked in Miami for the previous four seasons before moving to Green Bay. Prior to that, he worked at Boston College as a defensive backs coach (2016-2017) and co-defensive coordinator (2018) before Hafley’s arrival. In 2019, he was the linebackers coach for the Michigan Wolverines, where he was under the direction of Jim Harbaugh. When Hafley arrived, he was working at Boston College.
It is interesting to see that the Packers appear to have emerged victorious in a market that was highly competitive for Campanile. Additionally, according to Silverstein, the Philadelphia Eagles were very interested in him for the same position. Additionally, during this offseason, he was considered for the position of defensive coordinator for the New York Giants.
A significant amount of Campanile’s experience is in the field of linebacker development. In 2022, Jerome Baker, who was selected in the third round in 2018, emerged as a prominent defender for Miami’s defense. He also performed exceptionally well in coverage during the previous season. Additionally, Campanile is credited with getting the most out of linebacker David Long Jr. during the previous season. Long is considered to be one of the most effective run-stuffing linebackers in the National Football League.
As a corresponding move on the coaching staff of the Packers, it has been stated that Jason Rebrovich, who formerly coached the outside linebackers, is currently in the process of being confirmed to be Green Bay’s defensive line coach in the year 2024.
