Defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley interviewed for the New York Jets head coaching vacancy, but the job went to Aaron Glenn. However, it doesn’t necessarily mean the Green Bay Packers won’t lose any defensive assistant.
On Tuesday, the Jacksonville Jaguars announced they have interviewed Anthony Campanile for the open defensive coordinator position. He is the Packers linebackers coach and run game coordinator.
Whenever they had the chance, both head coach Matt LaFleur and Jeff Hafley praised Campanile’s work throughout his first season in Green Bay. Last year, Campanile interviewed for the Miami Dolphins and New York Giants DC jobs, so eventually he will get an opportunity.
“He’s one of the best, most loyal people I’ve ever been around,” Jeff Hafley said. He’s one of the best football coaches I’ve ever been around. I’m glad, very glad that he’s here. I think you guys (journalists) will enjoy him. More importantly, I think the players are gonna love him and that’s really important as we build this staff.”
In his first season with the Packers, he helped develop rookie Edgerrin Cooper. At the same time, the Packers run defense was eighth in EPA/play—it had been 32nd between 2019 and 2023.
Hafley and Campanile had never worked together, but they have a close relationship. When Hafley left Rutgers to go to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he indicated Campanile as a replacement. At that time, Campanile was a high school assistant coach at Don Bosco Prep in Ramsey, N.J, where he had worked both on defense and offense. That jump to the collegiate level changed Campanile’s career, and he became forever grateful.
In college, he was a defensive assistant, tight ends coach, and wide receivers coach at Rutgers. Then, defensive backs coach and co-defensive coordinator at Boston College, before being a linebackers coach at Michigan.
Before being hired by the Packers in 2024, Anthony Campanile spent four seasons as the Miami Dolphins linebackers coach.
Right now, the Jaguars still have Ryan Nielsen under contract as their defensive coordinator, but that’s expected to change soon. Last week, the team hired former Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Liam Coen as their head coach, and Coen will build a new staff.
The Jaguars’ defensive coordinator position is particularly attractive because, under an offensive-minded head coach, Campanile would be the defensive playcaller.