Jonathan Gannon Is the Most Important Hire Of the LaFleur Era

Jonathan Gannon is the third defensive coordinator Matt LaFleur has selected since taking over as head coach of the Green Bay Packers in 2019. When considering all the different factors at play — where the Packers are as a franchise, what the expectations are, and who is on that defense — this will be the most important hire of the LaFleur era.

When LaFleur took over in 2019, he inherited a defense that had Mike Pettine as the DC. That situation was short-lived, and LaFleur pivoted from Pettine after the 2020 season, bringing in Joe Barry.

Green Bay was coming off back-to-back NFC Championship appearances when it hired Barry. The expectation was that he would finally get them over the hump.

Faithful fans will recall: He did not.

The Barry hire was a disaster and put a bit of a stain on some of LaFleur’s hiring decisions. However, there was no great pressure at the time, no serious questions about his potential job security. For as much grief as LaFleur received for the Barry hire and letting him stick around for a third year when it was evident after two that he wasn't the guy for the job, LaFleur deserves as much praise for hiring Jeff Hafley.

Hafley provided stability, confidence, and an actual edge to Green Bay's defense. He was hired in the early stages of the transition from the Aaron Rodgers era to the Jordan Love era. That matters because, again, there wasn't a ton of pressure on LaFleur to deliver at that very moment.

Fast forward to now, and the expectations have elevated, and there is a ton of pressure on LaFleur to produce Super Bowl results soon, which means he has to have gotten the Gannon hire right.

General manager Brian Gutekunst traded for Micah Parsons last year, parting ways with Kenny Clark and two first-round picks to do so. The Packers developed and identified Love as the future of the franchise and backed up a Brinks truck to show that commitment. They have constructed their roster to be in a championship window now.

Gannon won't have a soft landing in Green Bay, where he can take his time to settle in. After the playoff loss to the Chicago Bears — and the devastating fashion in which it occurred — some Packers fans wanted LaFleur gone. Instead, in his first major decision as President and CEO, Ed Policy extended LaFleur's contract to keep him around for the long haul. That didn't dispel the skeptics' doubts.

Gannon will be expected to hit the ground running with a defense that must be championship-caliber. There will be very little wiggle room. Is it fair? That's up for debate. Is it a reality both Gannon and LaFleur must accept? Absolutely.

If there is doubt creeping into the minds of some fans — maybe yours —  it's fair to be a bit skeptical. LaFleur promoted Maurice Drayton to special teams coordinator in 2021, and it was an unmitigated disaster. It lasted one season. The Barry hire was nauseating at the time it was made, given that Barry had been a failed defensive coordinator at his two previous stops. Then there's Adam Stenavich, Green Bay's current offensive coordinator, who remains a mystery. What exactly does he do for the offense after taking over as coordinator in 2022?

It'd be unfair to lump Gannon into the group just because he is a LaFleur hire, but it speaks to how a lot of LaFleur’s big-decision hires haven't exactly turned out. Gannon will have a chance to be more like a Hafley hire, one who worked out well for the Packers. If Green Bay wants to take advantage of this championship window, he'll have to be that, and maybe even more.

The hope is that Gannon can excel as a defensive coordinator after not doing so well as a head coach in Arizona. Then again, who would have success in that borderline dumpster fire of a situation?

The Barry and Hafley hires came in far different stages of LaFleur's time in Green Bay. Not only is there pressure on Gannon to prove he's the right guy, but there's also plenty of pressure on LaFleur now as well. That's the big difference. Of all of LaFleur's hires throughout the years, this one will be the most important.