Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator rumors tracker: Brandon Staley, Christian Parker, Bobby Babich; Joe Barry updates

The search is on for the Green Bay Packers' next defensive coordinator.

The potential candidate list is long to replace Joe Barry, who was fired after three seasons in Green Bay.

Jim Leonhard, Al Harris, Ejiro Evero, Don “Wink” Martindale, Chris Harris, Ron Rivera, Leslie Frazier and Brandon Staley are all names you'll likely hear in the coming days. Will any of them interview for the job? And will there be some surprise names?

Here's what we know about who is interviewing for the position based on reports as well as other NFL coaching carousel news for the Packers.

Brandon Staley

Up first to interview for the Packers' defensive coordinator job appears to be former Los Angeles Chargers head coach Brandon Staley, as first reported by The Athletic's Dianna Russini and Matt Schneidman. Staley was fired as Chargers head coach a day after his team was blown out by the Las Vegas Raiders, 63-21, in Week 15 this past season. That loss dropped Los Angeles to 5-9.

Staley became the Chargers head coach in 2021 and in less than three full seasons he finished with a 24-24 record.

Staley quickly elevated in the NFL coaching ranks after learning under Vic Fangio in Chicago and Denver. After just three years as a linebackers coach in the NFL, he became the Los Angeles Rams' defensive coordinator in 2020. The Rams allowed the fewest points that season at 18.5 as well as the fewest total yards and passing yards per game.

The success didn't translate as a head coach. The Chargers missed the playoffs in his first year after losing in the final week of the season, a game in which his decision making was questioned. Los Angeles made the playoffs in 2022 but blew a 27-0 first-half lead in a wild-card game to the Jacksonville Jaguars, losing 31-30. Despite high expectations for Staley and the Chargers in 2023, the team underachieved. The team's defense in each of his three seasons was in the bottom half of the league.

LaFleur got an up close look at Staley this past season when the Packers beat the Chargers, 23-20, at Lambeau Field. While they haven't coached together they have the connection of Rams head coach Sean McVay. Both coached under him for a year. Staley is 41 years old.

Christian Parker

A candidate interviewing for the job who is familiar with the Packers and LaFleur is Christian Parker. The NFL Network was first to report the news about Parker, and the Journal Sentinel was able to confirm the interview.

Parker was the Packers' defensive quality control coach from 2019-20 under former defensive coordinator Mike Pettine. He has spent the last three years in Denver as the Broncos defensive backs coach. He stayed on even through two coaching changes with the Broncos, including when former Packers offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett took over as head coach in 2022. He has also interviewed for the New England Patriots' defensive coordinator job.

Parker is 32 years old.

Bobby Babich

Bobby Babich is looking for his first coordinator job.

The Packers are requesting permission to interview the Buffalo Bills linebackers coach for the defensive coordinator position, Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network reports, citing his sources. Tom Silverstein of the Journal Sentinel has confirmed the report.

Garafolo reports that Babich has already interviewed for the defensive coordinator position with the New York Giants.

Babich has been with the Bills since 2017, first as an assistant defensive backs coach before a promotion to safeties coach. He has been the linebackers' coach since 2022.

The Bills have been among the best scoring defenses in the NFL the last few seasons. Buffalo allowed the fewest total yards and passing yards in 2021. And this past season, the Bills defense was ranked in the top 10 in both total yards, passing yards and points per game. Like Green Bay, Buffalo's season ended last week in the divisional round of the playoffs.

Babich is 40 years old.

Joe Barry interviewing for Eagles and Bears defensive coordinator jobs, report says

Barry isn't wasting any time trying to get back in the coaching game.

While there was a report that Barry could stay on the Packers' staff, it appears he is already looking for his next move. He's reported to be interviewing with the Chicago Bears and Philadelphia Eagles, two teams in need of a defensive coordinator. Russini was first to report the interviews.

Barry was fired four days after the Packers were eliminated from the 2023 playoffs in the divisional round to the San Francisco 49ers.

Barry couldn't elevate the team's defense to a top-ranked unit in his three years. They had one of the NFL's worst rush defenses the last two years, including 28th this past season.

LaFleur hired him away from the Rams after the 2020 season where he spent four years as an assistant head coach and linebackers coach there. The two worked together for a year in Los Angeles in 2017. Barry replaced Mike Pettine, who was a holdover from the previous regime.

Barry is 53 years old and has been a defensive coordinator for three teams (Detroit Lions, Washington Commanders and the Packers).

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Packers defensive coordinator rumors: Christian Parker, Bobby Babich