Green Bay defensive coordinator Joe Barry will not return for 2024 season

The Green Bay Packers made an unexpected run to the NFC Divisional Round, but now they’re making some changes to their coaching staff.

While the Packers defense wasn’t terrible in the playoffs, Green Bay is still deciding to part ways with defensive coordinator Joe Barry, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. Barry had been the subject to immense criticism during the season.

Now, he’ll be looking for a gig with a different franchise, as Pelissero reported his departure on Wednesday morning.

A change in Green Bay: Joe Barry will not return as the #Packers’ defensive coordinator, per sources. pic.twitter.com/XDPyrUC0wC

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 24, 2024

“A change in Green Bay: Joe Barry will not return as the #Packers’ defensive coordinator, per sources,” Pelissero posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Barry had Green Bay’s defensive coordinator for the past three seasons, but he certainly wasn’t a lock to return for the 2024 season after another season in which his defense failed to meet expectations.

Whereas head coach Matt LaFleur said after the season ended last year that he anticipated Berry and his coaching staff returning in 2023, his tone was much different during his end-of-season press conference Monday when asked about Berry’s status. 

Now, a decision has been made. We’ll see what direction the Packers turn as they look to contend for a Super Bowl next season.

More on Joe Barry, Green Bay Packers

Joe Barry, 53, has been a defensive coordinator for seven seasons in the NFL, serving previous two-year tenures with the Detroit Lions and Washington Commanders before joining the Packers in 2021.

In Defense-adjusted Value Over Average (DVOA), Berry’s defenses have finished 20th or worse each season. This season, the Packers finished 27th. In more traditional stats, Green Bay finished 17th in yards per game (335.1) and 10th in points per game (20.6). 

Berry’s unit held steady for majority of the game against San Francisco, before allowing the 49ers to rattle off a 12-play, 69-yard game-winning drive in the final six minutes of the game. Matt LaFleur, however, still came away impressed with the defense’s performance. 

“I thought it was fantastic,” LaFleur said when asked about the defense’s performance. “Certainly, we’d like to get a stop at the end, that’s one of the best offenses in this league. It’s one of the best football teams in this league. Like I said, there were so many opportunities in the first half, even in the second half, where we didn’t take advantage of. That stinks.”

Evidently, it wasn’t enough to save Joe Barry’s job, as he and the Packers will go in a different direction next season.