The Green Bay Packers’ choice to employ Jeff Hafley, former Boston College head coach, as their next defensive coordinator has made headlines in recent weeks. With Hafley calling the shots opposite Matt LaFleur, there will be many adjustments, both conceptually and technically.
One of Hafley and LaFleur’s first moves to rebuild the defensive side of the ball was hiring Miami Dolphins linebackers coach Anthony Campanile to train Green Bay’s linebackers. He will also serve as the run-game coordinator on offense, which might aid both sides of the ball.
After spending the previous four seasons in South Florida, Campanile was a candidate to become the Miami Dolphins’ defensive coordinator after Vic Fangio left to become the Philadelphia Eagles’ DC. But Miami recruited Anthony Weaver, and Campanile will work in the icy tundra.
Campanile has an interesting coaching history and background. Similarly to Hafley, his first big break came at Boston College. Campanile was BC’s defensive backs coach from 2016 to 2017, and was promoted to co-defensive coordinator in 2018.
In 2018, Boston College’s defense ranked 65th nationally in total defense, 49th in rushing defense, and 29th in defensive efficiency. The Golden Eagles were also 11th nationally in total takeaways, tying for the ACC lead with 18 interceptions against a talented conference that included Trevor Lawrence and Kenny Pickett. Furthermore, Boston College’s rigorous academic standards make recruiting exceptional athletes more difficult than at many other colleges.
Campanile became the linebackers coach at the University of Michigan in 2019. Michigan’s defense finished 11th in total defense in the country with Don Brown as coordinator. Following his one-year stay in Ann Arbor, the Dolphins signed Campanile as their linebackers coach.
Miami has had a top-10 run defense for the past four years. Last season, the Dolphins were ninth in run defense, giving up only 97.1 rushing yards per game and 3.81 yards per carry. Campanile worked with Fangio last year, who has built strong defenses with the San Francisco 49ers from 2011 to 2014 and the Denver Broncos from 2019 to 2021.
Learning from Vangio’s defensive plan and skills should have helped Campanile advance his career as an assistant coach and defensive strategist.
By switching to a 4-3 style, Hafley is capitalizing on Green Bay’s linebackers’ skills. Outside linebackers Preston Smith and Rashan Gary will transition to the defensive line as edge rushers, assisting Lukas Van Ness, Kenny Clark, and Devonte Wyatt with the pass rush.
The middle linebackers will have to cover more ground, but Hafley’s 4-3 style allows them to move more freely. Quay Walker has incredible speed and strength, so covering more of the field will help him develop as a player.
