College Sports

Boston College football coach Jeff Hafley reportedly to join Packers as DC

Hafley coached the Eagles for four seasons, posting a 22-26 record.

Boston College Eagles head coach Jeff Hafley questions a call during the fourth quarter. Boston College hosts Northern Illinois in their home season opener at Alumni Stadium in Chestnut Hill, MA.
Jeff Hafley is reportedly leaving Boston College after four seasons. Barry Chin / The Boston Globe

By Conor Ryan

1 minute to read

The Boston College football team will reportedly be on the search for a new coach.

BC football coach Jeff Hafley is expected to become the next defensive coordinator with the Green Bay Packers, According to ESPN’s Pete Thamel. Hafley will take over for Joe Barry, who Green Bay let go after three seasons with the organization. 

Hafley coached the Eagles for four seasons, posting a 22-26 record but bringing them to bowl eligibility in three of those campaigns. BC closed out the 2023 season with a 7-6 record, including a win over No. 22 SMU in the Fenway Bowl.

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According to Thamel’s report, Hafley’s decision to leave Chestnut Hill for the NFL was tied to the current state of college football — as well as the appeal of the Packers.

“He wants to go coach football again in a league that is all about football,” a source noted in Thamel’s story. “College coaching has become fundraising, NIL and recruiting your own team and transfers. There’s no time to coach football anymore. A lot of things that he went back to college for have disappeared.”

Hafley, who Thamel notes is a “longtime friend” of Packers head coach Matt LaFleur, served as a defensive-backs coach for several NFL franchises before rejoining the college ranks as Ohio State’s co-defensive coordinator in 2019. He joined the Eagles as head coach the following season.

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Despite some up-and-down play by the Eagles in 2023, expectations were high for Boston College this fall — especially with quarterback Thomas Castellanos and several other key contributors expected to return.

It remains to be seen how much roster turnover will be in place for the Eagles, who have yet to have a coach win nine games in a season since Jeff Jagodzinski in 2008.

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Conor Ryan

Sports Writer

 

Conor Ryan is a staff writer covering the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Red Sox for Boston.com, a role he has held since 2023.

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