Packers have big plans for promising linebackers

GREEN BAY – The Packers had a feeling they may need an extra inside linebacker or two during their transition to a 4-3 front under new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley last season.

But even that might have been a light estimate based on how creative Hafley got with what proved to be one of Green Bay's deepest position groups on his side of the ball.

"I think we played three linebackers more this past year than I expected us to," said General Manager Brian Gutekunst at the NFL Annual Meeting. "I think if there's anything coming out of this past year … we maybe need more bodies than we had."

There were a few injuries scattered throughout the season, but the group stuck together on its way to recording 338 tackles (32½ for loss), 8½ sacks, 11 passes defensed, two interceptions, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.

Hafley leaned on the position to not only improve the run defense but also contribute to the blitz packages.

Former first-round pick Quay Walker and durable veteran Isaiah McDuffie finishing one-two in tackles while rookie sensation Edgerrin Cooper had the most impactful season by an off-ball linebacker in Green Bay since Clay Matthews slid inside in 2014.

Cooper played all over the defensive front and was rewarded with PFWA All-Rookie honors after recording 77 tackles (13½ for loss), 3½ sacks, two fumble recoveries and an interception.

"I think what you're starting to see, too, is we are going to be able to (build) bit by bit as he grows, put him in some pretty fun positions," said Hafley in January. "What a great draft pick and what a great person. He loves ball. He's got a really bright future."

The linebackers performed well enough to earn promotions for both of their position coaches. With Anthony Campanile being tabbed as Jacksonville's new defensive coordinator, his assistant Sean Duggan was promoted to Green Bay's linebackers coach.

Meanwhile, Gutekunst worked to keep the room intact on the personnel side of things. While veteran Eric Wilson returned to Minnesota, the Packers signed the 26-year-old McDuffie to a multiyear contract to complement Walker and Cooper.

A former sixth-round pick who played for Hafley at Boston College, McDuffie recorded a career-high 94 tackles while being the only Green Bay linebacker to start all 17 games last season.

He's played in 54 consecutive regular-season contests dating back to Week 15 of his rookie season in 2021.

"As we were talking, that made a lot of sense to bring him back," Gutekunst said. "He's just a glue guy, does everything the right way and again, when you have a player of his caliber who's been an elite (special) teams player and really performed very well every time you put him on the field on defense, it just made sense."

With Hafley's hiring last February, Green Bay doubled down at linebacker on Day 2 of the 2024 NFL Draft when it took Cooper in the second round (No. 45 overall) and Ty'Ron Hopper in the third (No. 90).

The 6-foot-2, 228-pound Hopper played almost exclusively on special teams as a rookie but showed promise when he racked up 11 tackles in the Packers' second preseason game in Denver.

"Obviously he didn't get as many opportunities as he probably would've liked but I think certainly that will come," Gutekunst said.

"I thought in practice throughout the year he continued to develop. Every time he got an opportunity, whether it was preseason or towards the end of the year, I thought he produced and showed what we were looking for."

There was one casualty of Green Bay's depth last summer. With Wilson and Hopper rounding out the linebacker room, the team was forced to part ways with Kristian Welch at the end of training camp despite the Iola, Wis., native leading the Packers with 16 tackles and three takeaways during the preseason.

After seeing Welch play in 15 games between Denver and Baltimore, the Packers pounced to re-sign the 6-foot-3, 240-pound linebacker and special-teams mainstay.

"Kristian's played a lot of football in this league and still a very young player, I think still an ascending player," Gutekunst said. "We were kind of hoping to keep him around and so as that possibility came about, made a lot of sense for us."

All told, the Packers' linebackers contributed directly to the defense finishing fifth in total yards (314.5 yards per game), seventh against the run (99.4 ypg) and sixth in scoring (19.9 points per game).

Entering 2025, it's the Packers' goal to make sure Hafley has all the necessary resources to build on a promising debut.

"I really admire how he approaches the game, how he leads," said Head Coach Matt LaFleur of Hafley. "I think we all came in with a vision of being one thing and it transitioned to something totally different.

"I think that's what coaching is, trying to maximize each individual, put 'em in the best position possible to help the team win."