The Green Bay Packers are reportedly interested in interviewing Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Gus Bradley for their vacant defensive coordinator job.
Bradley was coaching the defense in Los Angeles on a one-year deal. That deal is up, which means the Chargers cannot stop him from interviewing elsewhere.
The Packers will have competition, of course. The Seattle Seahawks, where Bradley spent four years working as the DC, are in the mix.
Even though Chargers’ DC Gus Bradley’s contract expired today, Packers have requested permission to interview him for their DC job, per league source. Seahawks also interested, as are others.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 9, 2018
It’s widely believed that the Packers will hire a defensive coordinator from outside the organization. The favorite appeared to be former Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Vic Fangio. However, it’s unknown if the Packers can even get an interview with him. The Bears are reportedly trying to keep Fangio under new coach Matt Nagy.
The Packers, and coach Mike McCarthy, have interviewed three in-house candidates — cornerbacks coach Joe Whitt, linebackers coach Winston Moss and safeties coach Darren Perry. They were also supposedly interested in former Browns coach and Jets and Bills’ defensive coordinator Mike Pettine.
Bradley, in his time with the Seahawks had these defensive rankings — 24th, 27th, 26th and seventh. Then he went on to become head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars. In his one season as DC of the Chargers, had the 15th-ranked overall defense, but the third-ranked scoring defense.
If his contract expired today, why would they request permission?
That doesn’t make any sense. Maybe the Packers are going to start being a kinder and gentler team with the restructuring process? ;-).
Gonna be Pettine
During Pettine’s first year as a coordinator in New York, the Jets defense finished first in the NFL in yards, points, third-down conversions, first downs, passing yards, passing touchdowns and DVOA. The dominant group helped lead the Jets to the AFC title game.
In Buffalo in 2013, Pettine’s defense tallied 57 sacks and 30 takeaways, while finishing fourth in DVOA.
Overall, defenses led by Pettine did not finish lower than fifth in DVOA or 10th in yards allowed over his first five seasons as a defensive coordinator. Even as head coach in Cleveland in 2011, Pettine helped the Browns finish 11th in defensive DVOA and win seven games.
I guess since no one else said it in the earlier Fangio article. The bears top ten defense with Fangio in charge gave up 23 points to the Packers offense ran by Brett Hundley. In addition the bears lost that game at home. Providing Hundley with his first career win. Great idea! Sounds like something that would happen to a Capers defense. A first ever for an unknown QB, or receiver, or RB. Go after Bradley if you want a real change in the defense.
Mike Pettine is the new DC.
My memory ain’t as good as it once was but seems to me Capers was not the man McCarthy wanted to be DC after he fired Snadrs. I forget who he wanted but his choice wound up going somewhere else. Anyone remember who it was?
Fairly certain MM offered the job to Greg Williams. Williams went to the Saints? I think?
Pettine our new DC eh?
Well he has had high-ranked defenses I suppose… But I hate the effen 3-4