New Packers DC Jonathan Gannon says
he will adjust his scheme to suit players' strengths
[May 06, 2026]
By STEVE MEGARGEE
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — New Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator
Jonathan Gannon says he doesn’t consider himself a “huge rah-rah
guy,” but there’s one point the former Arizona Cardinals coach is
trying to make sure he gets across.
This is his message: You are under no obligation to be the person
you were five minutes ago.
“I said it for the players, but it’s for us, too,” Gannon said
Monday during his first media session since taking this job three
months ago. “And what that’s basically saying is grow and adapt and
get better. And if we all have that mindset and can continually
stick to the process, we’ll get better.”
That adaptability is apparent from Gannon’s schematic approach.
The Packers had run a 4-3 defense during Jeff Hafley’s two years as
coordinator before the Miami Dolphins hired him as their coach.
Green Bay previously had utilized a 3-4 alignment under Joe Barry,
the Packers’ defensive coordinator from 2021-23.
Gannon says he wants to adjust his scheme to reflect the strengths
of his personnel.
“I don’t really get caught up in 4-3, 3-4,” Gannon said. “We’re an
NFL-style defense hopefully, right? I just believe that you’ve got
to be, you’ve got to continually every year try to adapt and solve
problems and really with your guys in mind.”
Gannon has some specific principles he likes to utilize, but he said
he’s not going to force a defense to do something that doesn’t suit
its players’ talents.
“We’ve got to put them in the best positions possible, that they
feel comfortable that they can go out and play the game,” Gannon
said. “Before scheme, I truly believe it’s not what you play, it’s
how you play.”
Gannon comes to Green Bay after an unsuccessful head coaching stint.
He went 15-36 at Arizona before getting fired late in his third
season.
Before going to Arizona, Gannon had a productive two seasons as the
Philadelphia Eagles’ defensive coordinator. The Eagles reached the
Super Bowl, ranked second in the league in total defense and had a
franchise-record 70 sacks — 15 more than any other NFL team — in
Gannon’s final season with them.
Gannon described the interview process with Packers coach Matt
LaFleur and how it made him eager to join his Green Bay staff.
[to top of second column] |
Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon smiles as he talks with
referee Scott Novak during the second half of an NFL football game
against the New Orleans Saints Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, in New
Orleans. (AP Photo/Butch Dill, File)
“I think Matt’s a savant, so he can go from topic
to topic to topic, and you’ve got to be pretty wired up or you’ll
fall behind pretty quick,” Gannon said. “It was intense. I was
sweating. I was in a coat and tie, and I think I was sweating a
little bit. It was fun. It was fun. I got home off the plane and I
told my wife, Gina, I said, ‘This is where I want to go.’"
Gannon takes over a defense that ranked 12th in
yards allowed per game (311.8), ninth in yards allowed per play
(5.0) and 11th in points allowed per game (21.2) last season. That
defense wasn’t the same after All-Pro pass rusher Micah Parsons tore
his anterior cruciate ligament, an injury that occurred during the
first of Green Bay’s five straight losses to end the season.
Parsons has said he hopes to be back for the start of the 2026
season, but has indicated a Week 3 or Week 4 return is more likely.
Gannon believes Green Bay’s defense has plenty of other productive
players to go along with Parsons.
“It’s a good mix of some younger players, (and) we’ve got some vets
that are some really good players — that sweet spot,” Gannon said.
“(Safety Xavier) McKinney, you think he’s been playing forever
because he’s such a high performing vet, but he’s still pretty
young. And then you got some guys that are younger and in their
first contract that have played really good football.”
Green Bay’s defense has some new faces who are familiar with Gannon.
Linebacker Zaire Franklin began his NFL career in Indianapolis when
Gannon was coaching the Colts’ defensive backs. Defensive tackle
Javon Hargrave had a career-high 11 sacks as part of Gannon’s
Philadelphia defense in 2022.
Gannon knows the type of defense he wants to see. He believes the
Packers have the pieces in place to play that style, no matter how
they line up.
“I think that’s what a good defense looks like — a fast, violent,
physical team that takes the ball away,” Gannon said.
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