GREEN BAY – By virtually every metric, the Packers’ defense showed marked improvement in its first season playing for Jeff Hafley.
But don’t think for a second Green Bay’s defensive coordinator is sleeping with any added comfort this summer.
Statistically, the Packers boasted one of the league’s best defenses in 2024. They jumped from 17th to fifth in total defense, had their best performance against the run in 15 years and generated 13 more takeaways than it did the year prior.
In reviewing the season, however, Hafley saw room for growth in one key area entering his second year at the defensive helm.
“We took the ball away last year. We didn’t force enough fumbles,” said Hafley on Wednesday. “That’s not good enough, so the emphasis coming in is one, our play style, how hard we’re gonna play, how physical we’re gonna play, how we run to the ball. That’s non-negotiable. The other is we’re gonna attack the football, so we need to emphasize it more. We need to coach it better and we need to put it out there on tape.”
It’s not like Green Bay didn’t punch the ball out last year. In fact, the defense tied for eighth in the NFL with 16 forced fumbles that it converted into the third-most recoveries (14).
With nearly all his defensive starters back, Hafley began laying the groundwork during the offseason program for how he wanted his unit to play once training camp came around.
Based on the first week alone, Hafley’s message has resonated with a defense that’s aiming high entering 2025. One number the team appears to be using as its North Star is Washington’s NFL-record plus-43 turnover margin set in 1983.
Coincidentally, recently retired team president and CEO Mark Murphy caught a league-leading nine interceptions for Washington that year en route to being named first-team All-Pro by the Associated Press.
“That’s something we’re always preaching every day – 43, 43,” safety Evan Williams said. “A quarterback might give you a couple gimmes (but) to go earn that forced fumble is definitely different. I like the way guys are approaching every day having the right mentality about coming to practice, always being ball aware.”
Aiming to lead the NFL in key defensive categories such as turnover margin, takeaways and forced fumbles makes for a lofty goal but Green Bay wasn’t too far off the mark last year.
The Packers were two takeaways off the pace Pittsburgh and Minnesota set in 2024 (33), six forced fumbles behind the Steelers and Philadelphia (22), and trailed Buffalo for most recoveries by just two (14).
To help carry out his creed, Hafley designated defensive quality control coach Wendel Davis as the “Ball King” responsible for charting plays from practice and giving his findings in defensive team meetings.
Before Hafley speaks, Davis has the floor. Because, after all, the ball is the most important thing.