Packers’ Matt LaFleur expects smooth transition to Jonathan Gannon’s 3-4 defense
· Yahoo Sports
PHOENIX – Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur held court for his annual interview at the NFC coaches breakfast March 30 at the NFL owners meetings. Here are some substantive topics LaFleur addressed:
Matt LaFleur expects smooth transition to 3-4 defense under new coordinator Jonathan Gannon
While the Packers will continue to predominantly be a subpackage defense like the rest of the league, they appear to be moving to more of a base 3-4 scheme under new defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon.
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LaFleur does not expect it to be a difficult transition from the 4-3 they incorporated under former coordinator Jeff Hafley.
“If you really look at it last year,” LaFleur said, “I know on paper we were 4-3, but we ended up getting into a lot of odd structures. Whether it was [linebacker Isaiah] McDuffie going down on the ball or [linebacker Ty’Ron Hopper] or whoever. So we played a lot of 3-4 principles, I would say, last season. It’s just who was in that position more so than that scheme.”
LaFleur had to consider the change when he hired Gannon. He had rarely crossed paths with Gannon before interviewing him, though LaFleur made clear he was impressed with his new defensive coordinator entering last season’s matchup against the Arizona Cardinals, where Gannon was head coach.
The Packers cast a wide net in their search to replace Hafley, and LaFleur said he pulled others into his interview with Gannon. “It wasn’t like a quick interview,” LaFleur said. “It was a long interview.” He especially appreciated the experience Gannon brings into the role as a former play-caller and head coach, something Hafley had also done, albeit at the college level.
“We interviewed a bunch of guys.” LaFleur said. “I thought it was pretty clear when he came in there, the guy knows football, he’s got a passion for football, he’s done it at a high level. Obviously, what he did in Philly was pretty remarkable, making it to the Super Bowl. I love the experience he has not only as a play-caller but as a head coach as well, somebody that I’ll be able to bounce things off of from time to time.”
Packers will be ‘very protective’ of investment in Micah Parsons
A move to a 3-4 defense might require superstar pass rusher Micah Parsons to drop more into coverage, rather than chase after the quarterback with the frequency of a 4-3 defensive end. How Gannon balances Parsons’ role remains unseen, but LaFleur said the All-Pro edge rusher can do anything asked of him at a high level.
“I think when you have elite players like that,” LaFleur said, “there’s nothing you can’t do. I think Micah is well versed in it. He’s done it before in his career. I’m just excited to get Micah back. That will be huge for our football team.”
LaFleur didn’t provide specifics on Parsons’ timeline returning from his torn ACL. Parsons indicated after last season he could miss the first month of 2026.
“We’ve got a plan,” LaFleur said. “I don’t ever want to put limitations on people, but obviously there’s a process and the medical [staff] has to feel good about it before we put a guy back out there coming off that significant of an injury.”
Said general manager Brian Gutekunst: “Obviously, we invested quite a bit in him, so we will be very protective of that investment.”
Until Parsons returns, the Packers could be thin on the edge of their defense. They will be without Rashan Gary after he was traded to the Dallas Cowboys. Key backup Kingsley Enagbare also signed as a free agent with the New York Jets.
In their departure, the Packers are left with 2023 first-round draft pick Lukas Van Ness, Barryn Sorrell, Collin Oliver and Brenton Cox Jr. until Parsons returns.
“There’s definitely some work to be done in there,” LaFleur said, “and certainly the development of some of our young players in there is a big step, because there’s no hiding it. Those guys accounted for a ton of snaps and a lot of production. So other guys have to be ready to step up and take that next step in their careers.”
Matt LaFleur never got ‘direct conversation’ with Rich Bisaccia before his departure
Up until the moment LaFleur knew he needed to make a change at special-teams coordinator on his staff, he believed he wouldn’t.
LaFleur said he expected Rich Bisaccia to return for his fifth season guiding the Packers special teams in 2026. Then he learned one month into the offseason Bisaccia wouldn’t return. LaFleur said he never got a chance to ask him why not.
“I never had that direct conversation with him,” LaFleur said, “but he came to me after he got back [from off time], and I was hoping he’d have a different feeling. The guy has done it for a long time, and I don’t want to speak for him, but I think a lot of it has to do with getting closer back to home, his home base. Obviously, his family is very important to him, and he’s got ties down in Florida. So I think that was a big reason as to why.”
Bisaccia did not step away to retire. He was hired as Clemson’s special-teams coordinator shortly after leaving.
“We were operating under the assumption that he was going to be back,” LaFleur said.
Bisaccia’s departure left the Packers in a bind, forced to hire a new special-teams coordinator late in the coaching cycle. They were the last NFL team to hire a special-teams coordinator this offseason. LaFleur said Bisaccia left a list of names he recommended to be his replacement.
One of the names was a special-teams coach LaFleur already had heard from others in the industry. Despite less than ideal circumstances, LaFleur believes he found the right replacement in Cam Achord, the New York Giants assistant special-teams coordinator. Before New York, Achord spent four seasons coordinating special teams on former New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick’s staff.
“I was really impressed,” LaFleur said. “I didn’t know Cam prior to [interviewing him]. The timing wasn’t the best when you’re trying to hire a new special-teams coordinator, but I was super impressed. I talked to guys around the league in regards to who was available, and his name came up quite often. In fact, Rich brought me a list of names on his way out, guys that we should talk to, and he was on his list as well.
“So I think Cam is a guy who, obviously he’s done it in New England, he’s learned from arguably the greatest or one of the greatest coaches in NFL history. So I’m really excited about what he’s going to bring to our special teams.”
This article originally appeared on Packers News: Packers’ Matt LaFleur sees smooth change to Jonathan Gannon 3-4 defense