NFL Network announced Wednesday that Packers defensive coordinator Joe Barry has been fired after a roller-coaster season in Green Bay. Barry’s defense was 17th overall in the NFL and 10th in points allowed in the regular season, but he ranked 28th overall and 25th in scoring. Third down.
The Packers allowed 128.3 rushing yards per game and 335.1 total yards per game. Opponents are converting 41.1% of their third downs. The Packers hired Barry to replace Mike Pettine in 2021. The 53-year-old previously served as defensive coordinator in Washington and Detroit, and his second NFL career came with Tony Dungy’s Buccaneers.
Tampa Bay State’s defensive backs coach was Barry’s father-in-law, Rod Marinelli. Green Bay’s season ended last week with a loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the divisional round. After losing in the 2021 NFC Championship, Pettine was fired by head coach Matt LaFleur.
LaFleur and Barry were assistants for the Los Angeles Rams in 2017. LaFleur said he was pleased with Barry and the defensive rotation he leads after the team fell to 6-8 after defensive struggles against the Buccaneers on Dec. 17 before a playoff trip to San Francisco. “I couldn’t be happier,” LaFleur said before the loss to the 49ers.
“I know what Joe Barry is all about is perseverance. There were tough times and there were tough times in every season. I felt like I knew who that person was, and I was confident that if (the employee) could fix the boat, it would be him.
