As of yesterday, the Packers are short a full coaching staff with the loss of Jerry Gray to the Falcons; with the possibility of more holes opening up as the 2022 season comes to a close (PLEASE STAY Rich Bisaccia!!!!). At first, I was taken by surprise by the move, but then I remembered who our head coach was. My guess is as good as yours that Head Coach Matt LaFleur made no attempt to retain Gray, and will opt to sign "his" defensive backs coach as he continues to impose his vision for the Packers' future. I've scoured LaFleur's Rolodex, and I struggled to find a buffet of quality candidates for the job. It was at that very moment, that I actually got excited. This next coaching hire might be the result of an extensive search for a coach that has a resume that will hold up under the pressure of both the team's and the fans' lofty ambitions. Given the success of the Packers' secondary in recent years, the reins shouldn't just be handed over to just anybody, the ideal candidate should have a long list of experience(7-10+ years coaching), success at preferably more than one organization (or sustained success if only one team), and it'd be ideal if they were a former player. A notable up-and-comer wouldn't be a bad choice either, but they would have to give the impression that they are on par with a more senior coach, if not notably better. In my eyes, as your resident Armchair GM, that narrows down the search quite a bit. While this list tried to take some influence from one Matthew Patrick LaFleur, I fully expect him to exact a loud and profane "C'MON MAN!!!!" reaction with the announcement of the eventual hire.

UPDATE - Jerry Gray was named the Assistant Head Coach/Defense of the Falcons today; a definite promotion from his former position as DB Coach/Passing Game Coordinator for the Packers.

Al Harris, DB Coach - Cowboys

I've been silently panhandling for Harris to come home for years; this could be the year it finally comes to fruition. Cowboys DC Dan Quinn has been making his rounds for HC vacancies, and it's possible that he either takes Harris with him or the prospective new Cowboys DC brings his own and leaves Al looking for a new team. Harris has been coaching for 9 years, starting out as an intern with the Dolphins under another familiar face, Joe Philbin in 2012. He took that success and landed a job as the Chiefs' DB coach from 2013-2018. The Chiefs secondary finished Top-10 in the league in interceptions in all but 1 of his 6 seasons leading the unit. With that being said, I credit Harris with the sensational season that Trevon Diggs had in 2021, leading the NFL with 11 interceptions after leading the team his rookie year with only 3. The Cowboys had another Top-5 unit this year in 2022. If I had it my way, I would hire Harris as DB Coach and groom him for an eventual DC position after we take out the trash....ahem, I mean after Joe Barry and the Packers part ways. Harris checks all the boxes after a 15-year NFL career(Harris was inducted into the Packers Hall of Fame in 2020), multiple Pro Bowls, and transforming secondaries wherever he goes. 

Marquand Manuel, DB Coach - Jets

Manuel may not be as familiar to the Packers' faithful, as he only played for the Packers one year; back in 2006. Manuel doesn't come with the same prestige as his former Green Bay teammate as Harris, but he has enjoyed success at multiple stops in the NFL. After a 7 year career that included leading the Seahawks to a Super Bowl before coming up short to the likes of Jerome Bettis and the Steelers, Manuel went on to become an assistant for Seattle in 2012, working his way up to Asst DB Coach under Pete Carroll. Manuel leveraged his success and went over to coach the Falcons in 2015; first as a DB coach but eventually promoted to Defensive Coordinator in 2017. During that time, he probably made friends with an up-and-coming QB Coach, Matt LaFleur. This was a rocky stop for Manuel, as the Falcons struggled to put together winning seasons under Dan Quinn, and for 2019, Manuel was out of coaching before resurfacing with the Eagles in 2020. I won't put it all on Manuel though, because in his first year as DC the Falcons were 9th in total defense before the bottom fell out in 2018. He found success in Philadelphia though and has reunited with another old friend from Seattle, Robert Saleh who now is the Head Coach of the Jets. I don't think Manuel has the chops as a DC in waiting, but the experience in itself shouldn't be discounted. His niche in the league could be as a DB Coach. I just don't know if Saleh will allow his friend LaFleur to interview him unless he has a ready replacement already on the coaching staff. But as a former player in the league with some healthy experience in the league, he still headlines my list of candidates.

Chris Harris, DB Coach - Commanders

Depending on your football knowledge outside of Lambeau, Harris is another familiar face. Harris was a CB for the Bears from 2005-2006, and 2010-2011, where he made 2nd Team All-Pro. After retirement, Harris started as an assistant and then S Coach with the Bears from 2013-2014 before landing a similar gig with the Chargers from 2016-2019; culminating in a unit that was the 5th-ranked passing defense. Under his current stint with the Commanders, Harris has helped produce two Top-5 teams in passing defense as well as two Top-10 units for interceptions. I want to emphasize the interceptions part because we all know the monster defensive front that Washington has, but at the end of the day when the ball is thrown, pressure or not, your DBs gotta challenge for the ball. Harris for me presents as an up-and-comer who I think could bolt for a team with more stability than the current Ron Rivera administration. Harris has had similar talent available to him during his Chargers days, so I don't think the spotlight is too bright for him here in Green Bay. 

Dino Vasso, CB Coach - Texans

Coach Vasso is another up-and-comer, who may find himself on the outside looking in as DeMeco Ryans looks to most likely take the reins in Houston next season. Dino has 9 years of NFL experience, with his crowning achievement a Super Bowl ring with the Eagles in 2017, where he served as the assistant DB coach. Under Doug Pederson he eventually worked his way up to Asst DC(Marquand Manuel was his DB Coach), which is something of note. Unfortunately, once Nick Sirianni came in and cleaned house, Dino found himself on the outs and landed with the Texans as the CB coach. Vasso also previously worked with Al Harris with the Chiefs, and I want to give him credit for the success of that unit as well. Dino Vasso is probably the lowest-hanging high-quality fruit the Packers could reach for and get without too much fuss if they negotiate just right, as I'm sure anyone inside the Texans building is wondering what is to come when/if DeMeco Ryans closes out his tenure with the 49ers.

UPDATE - DeMeco Ryans and the Texans have agreed in principle to a deal for him to be the next Head Coach.

Brandon Lynch, Asst DB Coach - Browns

Lynch is the greenest talent to close out this list, but he intrigues me as a former player and Super Bowl winner with the Colts in 2006. Since joining the Browns in 2020, Lynch has helped produce two Top-5 units in passing defense. Like the aforementioned Texans, the Browns present some instability in the coaching ranks, and Lynch could be an easy target to poach. I like the promise of a former player who's won a championship, and although he's short on experience, the promise of such a young candidate is occasionally hard to ignore. In a league where cronyism is almost nearly encouraged, it'd be a breath of fresh air to see a young coach get an opportunity to coach for what should still be a contender next year in the Packers. 

It's only been a day since Jerry Gray signed with the Falcons, and if we don't hear of an immediate promotion or shuffling of duties in the next 48 hours, I expect a coaching search. Again, I do believe we have reason to hope for a solid coaching search, but who knows what LaFleur is actually thinking or leaning towards. I will say it should be interesting to watch to see who he actually brings in if any. I look forward to your reactions folks as we continue to "enjoy" this uncharacteristic offseason.

#GPG