The Green Bay Packers’ defensive coordinator search is up to six candidates after it was reported on Tuesday that the team would interview the Baltimore Ravens’ Dennard Wilson and Zach Orr. The question now is just how many more names are going to be added to the list before either a second round of interviews comes or the team finally settles on a defensive coordinator to hire
Interestingly enough, the Packers haven’t (reportedly) talked to any of the eight defensive coordinator candidates that they interviewed for the job opening back in 2021. Three of them currently hold defensive coordinator positions around the league, which means that those potential interviews could be blocked, but it’s worth mentioning that the other five coaches would be allowed to interview for the Packers’ defensive coordinator opening without restrictions
Jerry Grey, the assistant head coach of the Atlanta Falcons, is one of the five coaches. Gray’s contract with the Packers expired at the end of the 2022 campaign. Grey allegedly sought employment elsewhere after a falling out philosophically with defensive coordinator Joe Barry, who was sacked. Initially, Grey had an interview for the position of defensive coordinator with the Falcons during the previous season; however, Ryan Nielsen, a different coach, was chosen to take the position for the Packers in 2021. After failing to secure the position, Grey joined Atlanta as head coach Arthur Smith’s assistant.
Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports that Grey recently inked a contract extension with the Falcons, adding that he will be kept on by head coach Raheem Morris through the 2024 campaign. With the recent announcement that Jimmy Lake, a former head coach at the University of Washington, will take over as the team’s defensive coordinator, Grey will likely serve as either Morris’ assistant coach or assistant head coach. Although Grey is technically free to interview for Barry’s position, it doesn’t seem likely given that he recently inked a new contract in Atlanta.
Grey played for four seasons in the Pro Bowl as a player and then joined the NFL as a defensive backs coach in the 1990s. In addition, he was the Buffalo Bills’ defensive coordinator from 2001 to 2005. Grey began working with the Packers in 2020, when Mike Pettine was the defensive coordinator, as a defensive backs coach. For his final two seasons in Green Bay, Grey had the position of passing game coordinator when Barry was promoted as the defensive coordinator in 2021.
