Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Joe Barry was fired days after the team was eliminated in the Divisional Round of the NFL playoffs. While the Packers coaching search to replace Barry is seemingly in its early stage, a new report suggests one candidate may have already been offered the job.
The Packers’ offense demonstrated in the second half of the season that it has the firepower to be a top-10 unit in 2024. However, Green Bay’s defense has underperformed for years and after pushing off changes in two consecutive offseason, the Packers front office made the call to part ways with Barry in January.
- Green Bay Packers defense 2023: 21.4 PPG allowed (13th), 5.4 yards per play allowed (20th), 43.75% third-down conversion rate allowed (28th), 53.97% opponents’ red-zone touchdown rate (13th)
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Green Bay has already either scheduled interviews or met with several defensive coordinator candidates. Among them are former Los Angeles Chargers coach Brandon Staley, Buffalo Bills linebackers coach Bobby Babich and Dallas Cowboys defensive line coach Aden Durde. However, a much younger assistant coach is reportedly at the center of Green Bay’s focus.
According to Andrew Mertig of the Pack-a-Day podcast, the Packers have offered Denver Broncos defensive backs coach Christian Parker their defensive coordinator job. Parker, who isn’t in Green Bay right now, interviewed with head coach Matt LaFleur earlier this week. There’s currently no word on whether or not Parker accepted the reported offer.
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Here’s a quick rundown of everything you need to know about potentially the next Packers defensive coordinator in 2024.
Who are the Packers looking at for defensive coordinator? Meet Christian Parker
Christian Parker, 32, is a New Jersey native who started his coaching career at Virginia State. From 2013-’13, Parker coached the Trojans’ defensive backs before taking the same position at Norfolk State (2015-’16). After four seasons outside the Power 5, Notre Dame hired Parker as a defensive analyst in 2017.
After spending a season on Brian Kelly’s coaching staff, learning from renowned defensive mind Mike Elko, Parker joined Texas A&M as a defensive analyst, following Elko to work with the Aggies’ defense. Still in his 20s, Parker was hired by LaFleur in 2019 as the Packers’ defensive quality control coach (2019-’20).
The fast-rising defensive assistant then jumped at an opportunity to accelerate his career with the Denver Broncos. He spent a season as Vic Fangio’s defensive backs coach, learning directly from the mastermind of one of the most favored defensive systems in the NFL. What truly stands out about Parker, beyond his work with Denver’s pass defense, is the fact that the next two Broncos’ head coaches (Nathaniel Hackett and Sean Payton) retained him as defensive backs coach immediately after they were hired.
Denver Broncos pass defense with defensive backs coach Christian Parker
| QB Rating | YPA | Dropback EPA | Dropback Success Rate | |
| Broncos’ pass defense (2023) | 83.1 (7th) | 5.9 (4th) | -0.32 (5th) | 43.8% (9th) |
| Broncos’ pass defense (2023) | 87.6 | 7.0 | -0.022 (11th) | 43.3% (8th) |
In a league that is still rampant with nepotism and coaches preferring assistants, they have strong working relationships with, Parker stuck around through three different head coaches. It’s a testament to his eye for the game, his preparation during the week and his leadership. Broncos’ defensive coordinator Vance Joseph also raved about Parker as a coach to DenverBroncos.com.
“He’s sharp, man. He’s sharp. He’s a star. He is a great partner to work with. As a veteran coach, I’ve coordinated for about seven years now. My tape is out there, so I’m looking for ways to do different things. Speaking with Christian every day and bouncing ideas off him from what he’s done with [former Broncos head coach] Vic [Fangio] and guys in the past has been fun. [We’re] making changes and growing off what they did last year. He’s smart, he works his butt off and his players love playing for him. He’s a star.”
Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph on DBs coach Christian Parker
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Parker is credited for the development of All-Pro cornerback Patrick Surtain II and for helping Pro Bowl safety Justin Simmons reach another level in his career. The 32-year-old is beloved in the Broncos’ defensive backs room and there’s a belief he could develop into becoming a future head coach.
While there is a risk in hiring a 32-year-old as defensive coordinator, Parker was sought-after for defensive coordinator vacancies with the New England Patriots and Los Angeles Rams. Considering his past working relationship with LaFleur and his track record developing defensive backs, Parker would be a strong hire for the Packers’ defense moving forward.
