GREEN BAY — The Green Bay Packers are hiring former Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon as their new defensive coordinator, according to reports from Adam Schefter of ESPN and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network on Sunday.
Gannon, 42, coordinated the Philadelphia Eagles defense for two seasons (2021-22) before leading the Cardinals for three seasons (2023-25). He replaced Jeff Hafley, who took the head coaching job with the Miami Dolphins.
Gannon did not call defensive plays for the Cardinals over the past three seasons, but he will return to a play-calling role with the Packers.
With the Eagles, he was coordinator of a defense that led the NFL in sacks and helped them advance to the Super Bowl in 2022. Philadelphia was defeated by the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII, 38-35.
During the 2022 season, the Eagles ranked second in yards allowed and eighth in points allowed.
The Cardinals did not have the same success on defense. They never finished higher than 21st in yards allowed or 15th in points allowed during the past three seasons, including 27th place in yards allowed and 29th in points allowed in 2025.
The Cardinals gave up the third most points in the NFL between 2023 and 2025. Arizona was 15-36 during that stretch and Gannon was fired on Jan. 5.
Gannon had also interviewed for defensive coordinator jobs with the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Commanders and spoke to the Tennessee Titans about their vacant head coach position.
Jim Harbaugh of the Los Angeles Chargers and John Harbaugh of the New York Giants also were reportedly interested in Gannon for their vacant defensive coordinator positions, perhaps explaining for the Packers haste in getting him into the fold.
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