NFL Exec 'Worried About' Packers Defense Despite Hype Entering 2024 Season

The Green Bay Packers are getting plenty of love as a potential Super Bowl contender heading into the 2024 season, but one NFL executive isn't buying the hype.

"I'm worried about the defense," the executive told Mike Sando of The Athletic for a piece that was published Thursday. "They weren't very good defensively last year. Their new coordinator has never done it in the NFL. They are switching to a 4-3 from a 3-4. I don't really know what to buy there to think how good they will be."

Green Bay hired Jeff Hafley as its new defensive coordinator this season. While Hafley was an assistant coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Cleveland Browns and San Francisco 49ers in the past, he is best known for his work in the college game.

He helped lead Ohio State to a Big Ten championship and the College Football Playoff as its defensive coordinator in 2019 and then became the head coach of Boston College for the last four seasons. The Eagles went 22-26 during his tenure, although they improved to 7-6 and won the Fenway Bowl last season.

For as much hype as the Packers are receiving entering a new season, they were just 9-8 in 2023 and needed three straight wins at the end of the season to sneak into the playoffs. Those three wins came against the Carolina Panthers, Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears, who all missed the playoffs.

To Green Bay's credit, it took full advantage of its postseason opportunity and shocked the Dallas Cowboys on the road before challenging the eventual NFC-champion San Francisco 49ers during a three-point loss in the Divisional Round.

Quarterback Jordan Love may also take another step with a full season of starting experience under his belt.

But the defense will have to improve after finishing 17th in the league in yards allowed last season if the Packers are going to be true Super Bowl contenders. The front office made the change going with Hafley, and he will be put to the test on Friday against the Philadelphia Eagles.