New Packers Defensive Coordinator Jeff Hafley held his first media session in Green Bay Thursday afternoon.
Hafley left the position of Head Coach at Boston College to take a job that's been a lightning rod in recent years.
“It's the Green Bay Packers," said Hafley. "This is like the Mecca of the football world to me, and probably to most people who grew up loving football. Just being here and driving into Lambeau every day, it still feels surreal. The community, maybe the best fans in all in all of the world as well. I mean, that made a really, really hard decision for me, leaving Boston College players that I love, staff that I loved the leadership of the school and made a really hard decision a lot easier.”
Packers Head Coach Matt LaFleur respected Joe Barry personally and professionally but thought a change needed to be made.
“We interviewed a lot of candidates and a lot of those guys actually went on and got coordinator jobs," said LaFleur. "Just felt really good about what Jeff Hafley is going to bring to us in terms of his ability to lead, his ability to connect.”
Hafley knows it's up to him and his staff to improve the defense.
“I believe in defense," said Hafley. "Whether you're playing three-four, four-three plus man, which I do love zone coverage, vision and break quarters match. I mean, it comes down to: can you take your players who you have and put them in the best position to succeed? And can you take your players and maximize their ability. Every player wants to get better and that's our job to do. Our job is to put the players in the best position to succeed and make plays. We try to make it simple for the players so they can play fast, so they don't have to think, so they can be confident and not be afraid to make mistakes. I can get them the information, we can get them the information that they need so they can go out there and be fearless and play with their hair on fire and just run and hit and cover and get off blocks and tackle.”
Hafley said wife and two daughters, ages eight and five, are still in Boston before they join him in Green Bay.