Joe

Barry

Barry was given his walking papers by the Packers at the end of the 2023 season after his defense struggled in two years under his tutelage. In Barry’s two seasons, the Packers ranked in the bottom 10 in EPA per dropback and dropback success rate. The Dolphins’ decision to hire Barry as their run game coordinator is a somewhat curious one, as the Packers allowed the fifth-most rushing yards per game in 2023 and the seventh-most rush yards in the previous season.

It’s a wonder Barry has been able to land interview opportunities after the Green Bay defense collapsed in 2023, as Packers opponents destroyed Barry’s defense in the middle of the field. Barry’s Packers defense over the past two seasons has allowed the NFL’s fifth highest EPA per play and seventh highest drop back success rate. Chicago is also talking with Bills assistant head coach/defensive line Eric Washington for their DC opening. The Eagles, after becoming one of the league’s worst defenses in 2023, hired former Dolphins DC Vic Fangio to head the defense in 2024.

Green Bay’s defensive coordinator since 2021, Barry’s unit collapsed during crucial parts of the season before stepping up in the postseason. The Packers in 2023 allowed the ninth highest EPA per play and the sixth highest success rate. Packers opponents regularly exploited the middle of the field and Barry seemed hesitant to blitz and pressure the passer in critical late-game situations. Barry, who has also served as DC in Washington and Detroit, will surely land elsewhere this offseason.

Barry’s defense faced plenty of scrutiny throughout the season. Under Barry, the Packers finished 17th in the league in points allowed (21.8), 28th in yards per play (5.8) and allowed the 16th-most yards per game (336.5). In the team’s 20-16, Week 18 loss to the Lions, Barry’s defense allowed two second-half touchdowns, with the last coming with just under six minutes to go in the game. At the time he was hired, Barry never had a defense ranked better than 28th in the league. While he’s gotten marginally better since being hired in 2021, nobody is confusing him for being one of the top defensive minds in the league.

University of Wisconsin DC Jim Leonhard was reportedly offered the job first but turned it down. Barry, 50, was the team’s next choice, previously working with coach Matt LaFleur in Los Angeles in 2017 as the assistant linebackers coach to the latter’s tenure as QBs coach. This will be Barry’s third turn as a defensive coordinator in the league, having held that job previously with the Lions (2007-08) and Washington (2015-16). Barry has never engineered a unit better than 28th in total defense in four seasons as an NFL coordinator.

Evero joins Washington DBs coach Chris Harris and Chargers defensive passing game coordinator Joe Barry. Barry previously served as Washington’s defensive coordinator. Evero has spent the past four years coaching the Rams’ safeties, working with Packers head coach Matt LaFleur before he landed Green Bay’s top job.

Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports reports the Redskins have also parted ways with the “entire defensive staff.” It is a massive but necessary shakeup for a team which should be looking to take the next step. Barry has never finished better than 28th in total defense in four seasons as an NFL coordinator. This may end up being the last time he runs a defense.

Barry will reunite with Sean McVay, who he coached with for the last two years in Washington. Barry has been a disaster as a coordinator, but he is clearly a well-respected position coach.

It would be an underwhelming hire. Barry, 44, was the Chargers’ LBs coach each of the past four seasons, but had a previous stint as the Lions’ defensive coordinator from 2007-2008 under coach Rod Marinelli, who is Barry’s father-in-law. The Lions went 0-16 in 2008 and finished dead-last in total defense each of those two seasons, giving up over 404 yards per game in the winless year. We’d actually maybe prefer Jim Haslett over Barry.

The Chargers ran a 3-4 during Barry’s four seasons as linebackers coach, so it will not be a difficult transition. Barry did run a 4-3 during his two years as Lions defensive coordinator in 2007-08, fielding one of the league’s worst units.