Joe Barry, the defensive coordinator for the Green Bay Packers, was let go a few days after the club lost in the NFL playoffs’ Divisional Round. Although it appears like the Packers are just beginning their hunt for a new coach to replace Barry, a recent source indicates that one contender may have received an offer already.https:
Green Bay Packers defense 2023: 13th in points allowed per game (21.4), 20th in yards per play (20), 28th in third-down conversion rate (43.75%), and 13th in opponents’ red-zone touchdown rate (53.97%).
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Green Bay has already set up meetings or interviews with a number of potential defensive coordinators. Among them are Buffalo Bills linebackers coach Bobby Babich, Dallas Cowboys defensive line coach Aden Durde, and former Los Angeles Chargers coach Brandon Staley. Green Bay, though, is apparently concentrating on a much younger assistant coach.
The Packers have made Christian Parker, the coach of the Denver Broncos’ defensive backs, an offer to become their defensive coordinator, according to Andrew Mertig of the Pack-a-Day podcast. Parker conducted an interview with head coach Matt LaFleur earlier this week; he is currently not in Green Bay. As of right now, it’s unknown if Parker accepted the rumored offer.
Christian Parker, 32, is a New Jersey native who started his coaching career at Virginia State. From 2013-’13, Parker coached the Trojans’ defensive backs before taking the same position at Norfolk State (2015-’16). After four seasons outside the Power 5, Notre Dame hired Parker as a defensive analyst in 2017.
After spending a season on Brian Kelly’s coaching staff, learning from renowned defensive mind Mike Elko, Parker joined Texas A&M as a defensive analyst, following Elko to work with the Aggies’ defense. Still in his 20s, Parker was hired by LaFleur in 2019 as the Packers’ defensive quality control coach (2019-’20).
The rapidly developing defensive assistant then leaped at the chance to join the Denver Broncos and advance in his career. He worked for a season as defensive backs coach under Vic Fangio, where he received hands-on training from the architect of one of the NFL’s most successful defensive schemes. Beyond his contributions to Denver’s pass defense, what really makes Parker noteworthy is that he was kept on as the defensive backs coach by the Broncos’ two subsequent head coaches, Sean Payton and Nathaniel Hackett, as soon as they were appointed.
Parker remained with three different head coaches in a league where nepotism and coaches favoring assistants they have good working ties with are still pervasive. It is evidence of his leadership, week-long preparation, and keen sense of the game. To DenverBroncos.com, Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph also gushed about Parker’s coaching abilities.
“Dude, he’s sharp.” He is intelligent. He is renowned. He’s a pleasure to collaborate with. I’ve been coordinating for almost seven years as an experienced coach. Now that my tape is out, I’m trying to think of other approaches. It’s been enjoyable to talk to Christian every day and bounce ideas off him based on his previous experiences with folks like Vic Fangio, the former head coach of the Broncos, and others. We’re adapting and expanding upon their work from the previous year. He is a brilliant guy who puts in a lot of work, and his players enjoy being around him. He is renowned.
Parker is recognized for helping Pro Bowl safety Justin Simmons advance in his career and for helping All-Pro cornerback Patrick Surtain II grow. The 32-year-old is well-liked in the Broncos defensive backs locker room, and there is speculation that he may grow into a head coach in the future.
Parker was a popular candidate for defensive coordinator positions with the New England Patriots and Los Angeles Rams, despite the risk involved in selecting a 32-year-old for the position. Parker would be a great addition to the Packers defense going ahead given his history of producing defensive backs and his working relationship with LaFleur.
