Green Bay Packers Part Ways with Defensive Line Coach After Disappointing Playoff Exit

New Changes Within the Coaching Staff

In the wake of the Green Bay Packers’ early exit in the NFL playoffs, the team is making notable changes to their coaching staff. On Thursday, the Packers announced that they had parted ways with defensive line coach Jason Rebrovich, a decision that followed their disappointing first-round loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in the wild-card round.

Rebrovich, who had previously worked with the outside linebackers under defensive coordinator Joe Barry, was moved to the defensive line coaching role under 2024 coordinator Jeff Hafley. Despite his experience and prior role, the Packers’ defense continued to struggle, especially along the line of scrimmage. This weakness was exposed during their playoff loss, where the Eagles dominated on the ground.

Struggles at the Line of Scrimmage

The Packers’ defense faced a major setback in their wild-card playoff game against the Eagles. Philadelphia’s running back, Saquon Barkley, ran through the Packers’ defense, racking up 119 rushing yards. The Eagles, as a team, accumulated 169 total rushing yards in their 22-10 win, further highlighting the struggles Green Bay faced in controlling the line of scrimmage.

This defeat underscored a broader issue for the Packers, who have now failed to advance past the divisional round of the playoffs since the 2020 season. In that year, they were eliminated by a Tom Brady-led Tampa Bay Buccaneers team at Lambeau Field. With such a strong roster, many were left questioning where the defense went wrong this season.

Defensive Struggles and the Decision to Let Rebrovich Go

The Packers ranked sixth in scoring defense and fifth in total yards allowed during the regular season, which makes their struggles in the latter part of the year all the more puzzling. Despite these strong rankings, the defense fell apart in the final three games, particularly in the playoff loss to the Eagles.

In their last few regular-season games, the Packers allowed over 21 points in every defeat. The Minnesota Vikings put up 27 points in their Week 17 victory, while the Chicago Bears scored 24 in the final game of the season. The Eagles then capitalized on Green Bay’s sudden defensive collapse, racking up rushing yards and exposing the team’s inability to defend the line.

Defensive Line’s Inconsistency: A Lack of Pass Rush

One of the biggest issues for Green Bay’s defense was their inability to generate consistent pressure on the quarterback. In their matchup with the Vikings, Packers’ defenders only managed to sack quarterback Sam Darnold once, while quarterback Jordan Love was sacked three times. Similarly, the Bears’ quarterback, Caleb Williams, faced minimal pressure with just one sack, and even Eagles’ quarterback Jalen Hurts only took two sacks. Despite some solid performances, Green Bay’s defensive line was repeatedly overpowered, especially by teams with a potent rushing attack like the Eagles.

Looking Ahead: The Search for a New Defensive Line Coach

After three seasons with the franchise, Rebrovich’s tenure has come to an end. Despite his role as the pass rush specialist during the 2023 season, the Packers’ defense struggled to maintain consistent pressure on opposing quarterbacks. As the Packers now turn their attention to next season, head coach Matt LaFleur must find a new defensive line coach who can re-emphasize a more aggressive approach to pressuring quarterbacks.

With the 2025 season on the horizon, the Packers will be looking to shore up their defense and ensure that they don’t fall short again in the playoffs. Rebuilding the defensive line and improving pass rush consistency will be key to their success in the future, especially as they aim for a deeper postseason run.