Jeff Hafley is leaving his post as Boston College’s head coach to return to the NFL.
The Green Bay Packers officially named Hafley, who was the Eagles’ head coach for four years, as their new defensive coordinator on Wednesday.
#Packers hire Jeff Hafley as defensive coordinator.
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) February 1, 2024
Welcome to Green Bay, Coach Hafley!
: https://t.co/DhFPaJ8Llc#GoPackGo pic.twitter.com/P7smcBANo1
Hafley was previously an NFL secondary coach from 2012-18, working for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Cleveland Browns and San Francisco 49ers before joining Ryan Day’s inaugural staff as co-defensive coordinator in 2019. Under Hafley’s leadership, Ohio State’s defense was one of the best in the country, leading the nation with only 259.7 yards allowed per game that season.
Hafley left Ohio State after just one season to become the head coach at Boston College, where he went 22-26 across four seasons.
Hafley’s job security at Boston College was viewed as tenuous after the Eagles started last season 1-3, but the Eagles then rattled off five straight wins to earn bowl eligibility. After losing their final three games of the regular season, Boston College upset No. 24 SMU in the Fenway Bowl to finish with a 7-6 record.
That bought Hafley at least one more year as Boston College’s head coach, but he decided he was ready to return to the professional ranks as an assistant rather than continuing to coach college football.
He wants to go coach football again in a league that is all about football, a source told ESPN. College coaching has become fundraising, NIL and recruiting your own team and transfers. Theres no time to coach football anymore."
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) January 31, 2024
"I loved my four years at Boston College," Hafley said in a Boston College news release. "This is an exceptional place to coach given the caliber of student-athletes we recruit, the facilities, and the support from the University and BC fans. I will miss the players who gave so much of themselves these past four years, and my wife Gina and I will certainly miss the BC community and the many friends we have made here."
