Green Bay Packers request to interview Ravens assistant Zach Orr

The Green Bay Packers remain on the hunt this week for a replacement for defensive coordinator Joe Barry. Following their brief playoff run, the Packers have now put in requests for interviews with some of the league’s top assistant coaches. Among the group are Baltimore Ravens assistants Zach Orr and Dennard Wilson.

Orr, the Ravens’ inside linebackers coach, played for Baltimore from 2014-16 after a standout career at North Texas. He opted to enter the coaching ranks after a spinal injury cut his playing career short a year after he earned second-team All-Pro honors. He’s coached under John Harbaugh for the bulk of his career, first as an analyst, then as linebackers coach, but he also coached linebackers for the Jacksonville Jaguars for one season under Urban Meyer in 2021.

A former cornerback and safety for Maryland, Dennard Wilson played in the NFL before beginning his post-playing career as a scout with the Chicago Bears in 2008. He transitioned to coaching in 2012 and has been in the NFL for the last 12 years. He’s worked with the Rams, Jets, Eagles and the Ravens as a defensive backs coach, as well as a pass game coordinator at several of his stops. He was with the Eagles in 2022 during their Super Bowl run before joining the Ravens this year.

Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald led Baltimore’s defense to a first-place finish in points allowed per game this season, making him, and his assistants, some of the most sought-after coaches this hiring cycle.

Packers split from DC Joe Barry

The Green Bay Packers made an unexpected run to the NFC Divisional Round, but now they’re making some changes to their coaching staff.

While the Packers defense wasn’t terrible in the playoffs, Green Bay decided to part ways with defensive coordinator Joe Barry. Barry had been the subject to immense criticism during the season.

Joe Barry, 53, has been a defensive coordinator for seven seasons in the NFL, serving previous two-year tenures with the Detroit Lions and Washington Commanders before joining the Packers in 2021.

In Defense-adjusted Value Over Average (DVOA), Berry’s defenses have finished 20th or worse each season. This season, the Packers finished 27th. In more traditional stats, Green Bay finished 17th in yards per game (335.1) and 10th in points per game (20.6). 

Packers head coach Matt LaFleur is moving on to his third defensive coordinator in his five years as the team’s skipper.