As per NFL reporter Aaron Wilson, known for promptly sharing the league’s transaction updates, the Green Bay Packers made an offer to Zach Orr, the former inside linebackers coach for the Baltimore Ravens, for the position of defensive coordinator. However, Jeff Hafley, previously the head coach at Boston College, ultimately secured the role.
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Zach Orr presents an intriguing choice for a defensive coordinator, being just 31 years old and having a background as a player. In 2016, he earned Second-Team All-Pro recognition but retired shortly afterward due to a spine condition. After working as an analyst for the Ravens, where he played, Orr swiftly progressed from being the Jacksonville Jaguars’ inside linebackers coach in 2021, his first full-time on-field coaching position, to becoming Baltimore’s defensive coordinator in 2024.
To trace the sequence of events, on January 30th, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reported that Orr was requested to interview with the Packers. The following day, Mike Macdonald, the Ravens’ defensive coordinator, accepted the position of head coach for the Seattle Seahawks. It was also on this same day that Hafley agreed to become Green Bay’s defensive coordinator.
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Reading between the lines, if Wilson’s report is accurate, it appears that the Packers likely swiftly extended an offer to Zach Orr following the Ravens’ loss to the Chiefs on January 28th. However, Orr emerged as the top candidate to replace Mike Macdonald in Baltimore, leading him to decline Green Bay’s offer. Subsequently, Matt LaFleur shifted focus to Jeff Hafley.
Whether LaFleur or anyone else from the Packers will provide insights into whether Hafley was their initial choice for defensive coordinator this offseason remains uncertain. The reported interest in Orr adds an element of surprise, considering he was only requested to interview with the Packers before opting for the Ravens’ offer. In contrast, Ravens defensive backs coach Dennard Wilson had multiple outside interviews, raising speculation about his standing as a more sought-after candidate during the coaching carousel.
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