Packers Lose Defensive Assistant to Falcons

GREEN BAY, Wisconsin: The defensive assistant coaches of the Green Bay

Packers are free to pursue other jobs. The chance to join the Atlanta Falcons was too good to refuse for Justin Hood.

Hood, who has coached defense and quality control for the previous three seasons, was appointed the Falcons’

secondary coach by head coach Raheem Morris. Hood and Jerry Gray will be

reunited in Atlanta. From 2020 to 2022, Gray oversaw the passing game and

defensive backs for the Packers. Hood and Gray collaborated in 2021 and 2022.

When questioned about the performance of the secondary, Packers coach Matt

LaFleur was quick to give Hood credit. “I think just what Jerry and Ryan Downard and Justin Hood do for those guys and

getting them coached up on some of the looks they can potentially see,” LaFleur said prior to the team’s Week 18 matchup

against Detroit in 2022. The communication and everyone’s

alignment truly stand out, in my opinion. Less coverage busts have occurred,

which usually leads to the loss of big plays. In terms of opponent passer

rating, the Packers placed 10th in 2021, 15th in 2022, and 25th in 2023. Rasul

Douglas’s midseason trade and Jaire Alexander’s absences had an effect on those figures. While they only managed

one interception in 2023, they combined for nine in 2022. Journeyman Corey

Ballentine and seventh-round pick Carrington Valentine were the Packers’ mainstays. These two were crucial to the

team’s postseason success. Hood worked as Kent State’s defensive passing game

coordinator and secondary coach in 2019 and 2020 prior to moving to Green Bay.

Hood started all four years of his time at Ashland University in Ohio between 2004

and 2007. In 2007, LaFleur served as the offensive coordinator there. The Packers fired defensive coordinator Joe Barry a

week and a half ago, and Jeff Hafley took his place. Jerry Montgomery, the defensive line coach, is reportedly not

coming back. In order to help the quarterbacks and the passing game,

LaFleur brought in former NFL quarterback Sean Mannion.