GREEN BAY – Jeff Hafley remembers the day Brenton Cox Jr. became undeniable.
A healthy scratch on gameday through the first half of the 2024 campaign, the Packers' second-year defensive end earned the respect of his coaches and peers for the effort he gave on the practice field despite not suiting up on Sundays.
Soon, that effort turned into so much more.
"All of a sudden, it's like 'Whoa, they had a tough time blocking him today,' and the conversation becomes this guy has earned the right to play," said Hafley, Green Bay's first-year defensive coordinator. "That's our job, right? To play the guys who are improving and show us they're getting better and bought in and help us win games."
The Packers made it happen. After Preston Smith was traded to Pittsburgh during Green Bay's Week 10 bye, Cox suited up for the first time this season against Chicago.
Playing 22 defensive snaps, the 6-foot-4, 250-pound pass rusher produced three tackles, two quarterback hits and a sack of Bears quarterback Caleb Williams in a gritty 20-19 road win.
Over the next seven games, Cox provided a badly needed spark for the Packers' pass rush. On just 160 defensive snaps, the 25-year-old finish fourth on Green Bay's defense in both QB hits (seven) and sacks (four).
Still, Cox took the breakout in stride.
"Mostly just me growing within the game, knowing the game speed and everything," Cox said after the season. "What it takes to really beat a great offensive tackle. I'm going to work on that in the offseason, just keep it going and hopefully don't get too high, don't get too low."
A former five-star recruit, Cox has a limitless ceiling from an athletic standpoint but went undrafted in 2023 after his dismissal from both the University of Georgia and Florida football teams.
Since turning pro, Cox has been a model student in Green Bay. Seen as raw, developmental pass rusher, Cox was intentional about learning from Smith, Rashan Gary and Kingsley Enagbare during his first 1½ years on the Packers' roster.
Even when he wasn't active on gamedays, Cox put his time on the scout team to good use working against starting left tackle Rasheed Walker. When Cox's time came, he was ready.
"I kept telling him all season long, we're going to get you up, it's just a matter of time," said Head Coach Matt LaFleur of Cox. "He was always doing a great job. It's always fun to watch him and 'Sheedo' go at it every day. Like two brothers going at it, but they're always getting after it and competing and really pushing each other to be better."
Hafley has been pleased with Cox's progress, as well. To see the young pass rusher make an immediate impact was vindicating but it also came as no surprise based on the promise Cox showed every week in practice.
As Cox gains more in-game experience, the Packers believe his production will only increase. In particular, Cox thrived working some of the inside stunt concepts Hafley likes to deploy.
"He's athletic, he's got good speed to power, he's strong and he showed that he can finish," Hafley said. "And he's getting good at running games, too, which has been fun to watch."
Cox missed the regular-season finale against Chicago with an ankle injury but returned for Green Bay's wild-card playoff matchup with Philadelphia and entered the offseason with a clean bill of health.
After trusting the process and patiently biding his time, Cox recognizes how he seized a major opportunity. Now, he looks to factor into the Packers' pass-rush plan in 2025 and beyond.
"I definitely will be working this offseason to improve my play in the defense," Cox said. "Getting more into that attacking style that Coach Hafley likes and just improving my all-around game.
"Get stronger, faster, and more in tune with my pass rush, so I can help the team more and make those plays that we need."
