Packers request interview with Bills LB coach Bobby Babich for defensive coordinator

The Green Bay Packers are one step closer to finding their next defensive coordinator. On Friday, Mike Garafolo of NFL Media reported the team has requested permission to interview Buffalo Bills linebackers coach Bobby Babich for the position.

The Packers also reportedly reached out to former Chargers head coach Brandon Staley about the position. Green Bay fired Joe Barry earlier this week. Barry was the Packers’ defensive coordinator for the past three seasons.

In the 2023 campaign, Green Bay’s defense finished 17th in yards allowed per game (335.1) and 10th in points allowed per contest (20.6). Babich brings the experience needed to fix such issues.

Bobby Babich joined the Bills in 2017 as the team’s assistant defensive backs coach before getting promoted to the team’s safeties coach in 2018. Prior to the 2022 season, Babich was named the team’s linebackers coach.

In his first season leading the Bills’ linebacker corps, he aided the play of linebacker Matt Milano, who was named a 2022 first-team All-Pro. While no Bills were named All-Pros this season, Babich still contributed a productive defensive unit.

The Bills only allowed 307.2 opponent yards per game, the ninth-best in the NFL. Buffalo was particularly talented at wreaking havoc, amassing 54 sacks this season, the fourth-most in the league. Now, Babich is in the running to provide his talents in Green Bay.

More on Green Bay’s decision to fire Joe Barry

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), Barry’s defenses have finished 20th or worse each season. This season, the Packers finished 27th.

Barry’s unit held steady for majority of the Packers’ season-ending loss to 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. Packers head coach 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, Barry’s coaching performance wasn’t impressive enough to save his position with the organization. Barry is expected to interview with the Chicago Bears about their defensive coordinator opening.