Maurice Drayton, Green Bay Packers. (MARK HOFFMAN/MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL)
The Green Bay Packers have made it official by hiring Joe Barry to coordinate the defense and promoting Maurice Drayton from within to run the special teams.
As of Monday, the Green Bay Packers have two new coordinators: Joe Barry and Maurice Drayton.
Green Bay announced the two hirings formally on its team website. Barry comes over from the Los Angeles Rams to coordinate the Packers’ reeling defense. He replaces Mike Pettine after four seasons on Sean McVay’s staff as their linebackers coach and assistant head coach. This is Barry’s third stint as an NFL defensive coordinator, having previously worked in Detroit and Washington.
Drayton replaces Shawn Mennenga as special teams coordinator. For the last three seasons, he has served as an assistant special teams coach working alongside Packers kicker Mason Crosby.
Before arriving in Green Bay in 2018, Drayton previously worked with the Indianapolis Colts and former All-Pro punter Pat McAfee. Head coach Matt LaFleur opted to promote from within here.
Will these changes help Matt LaFleur’s Packers reach Super Bowl 56?
Green Bay had the No. 1 seed in the NFC this past season, yet the Packers were unable to get to the Super Bowl.
Since winning it all back in 2010, the Packers have lost their last four conference title bouts to the 2014 Seattle Seahawks, the 2016 Atlanta Falcons, the 2019 San Francisco 49ers and the 2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Packers have sure wasted Aaron Rodgers’ prime alright.
Can these coaching staff changes set the Packers up for future success? Potentially, or that is what LaFleur is hoping will happen. While he has great job security because he has led the Packers to the NFC Championship in both years as head coach, it will be on him if they cannot make it to Super Bowl LVI over in Los Angeles. Adding Barry and promoting Drayton gives them a fresh start.
Firing two coordinators was a bold move for the Packers to make, but it had to be done this winter.