The Green Bay Packers are shaking up their defensive staff with a surprising new hire, and it's sparking some serious buzz! It seems the team is bringing in fresh talent with a focus on getting after the quarterback, but the exact role of this new addition is still a bit of a mystery.
FootballScoop has reported that the Packers have tapped Will Smart, a former pass-rush specialist from Vanderbilt University, to join their defensive coaching ranks. He'll be working under the new defensive coordinator, Jonathan Gannon. Now, while Smart's specific title hasn't been officially announced, it's common for promising young college coaches to land in Green Bay in roles like defensive quality control or as assistants to positional coaches, rather than taking the reins as a primary positional coach right away.
This move comes after the Packers saw a defensive quality control coach, Wendel Davis, depart for the Miami Dolphins earlier this offseason. It's quite possible that Smart is stepping in to fill that void.
But here's where it gets interesting and a bit of a puzzle for some fans... The Packers already have an assistant defensive line coach, Vince Oghobaase, who was brought in by the previous defensive coordinator, Jeff Hafley, from Boston College. Interestingly, there's no news yet about Oghobaase being poached by the Dolphins, who are now led by Hafley himself. Nor has there been any announcement about him being let go by the Packers.
Currently, the main man for the defensive line, and likely a key holdover from the previous staff to the new Gannon era, is DeMarcus Covington, who holds the title of defensive line coach and run game coordinator.
And who is this Will Smart guy, anyway? Before diving into coaching, Smart played college football for Wake Forest from 2019 to 2021. Unfortunately, his playing career was cut short due to a medical retirement. He then embarked on his coaching journey in 2024 as a graduate assistant at his alma mater, Wake Forest. By last year, he had earned his first on-field coaching position.
This isn't just a random hire; it's part of a trend! In 2025, Vanderbilt had a phenomenal season, finishing with a 10-3 record and an impressive 6-2 mark in the SEC. This was their best SEC performance since World War II and their first-ever double-digit win season! It's worth noting that Smart isn't the only Vanderbilt assistant to catch the NFL's eye. Jimmy Thompson, their nickels coach, also secured a position with the Los Angeles Chargers. What's particularly noteworthy is that the Chargers, like Gannon is expected to implement in Green Bay, utilize a quarters-based defensive system.
So, what do you think about this strategic move by the Packers? Is bringing in a college pass-rush specialist the key to unlocking a more dominant defense, or is it just a minor adjustment in a complex coaching staff? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below – do you agree with this direction, or do you have a different take on what the Packers need?
