The Packers’ defense had another poor outing in Week 15, a game in which Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield posted a perfect passer rating. That has led to a fresh round of questions regarding defensive coordinator Joe Barry‘s job security, but it remains intact for the time being. 
When speaking to the media on Monday, head coach Matt LaFleur said Barry will continue as the unit’s coordinator and play-caller through the remainder of the 2023 season. The latter is in his third season at the helm of Green Bay’s defense, and the team’s performances on that side of the ball have increasingly come under scrutiny. Sunday’s 34-20 loss marked the latest example of defensive struggles, but LaFleur remains committed to the status quo.
“If I thought that was the best solution today, then we’d make that decision,” he said, via ESPN’s Rob Demovsky, of a potential DC change. “But when you’re having basic communication problems and you’re supposed to be in a certain coverage or a certain rotation and we’re not getting that communication, that’s what’s so disappointing to me is the fact that it was poor communication.”
LaFleur (who added he will have a larger hand in defensive preparations this week) has not made an in-season change to his staff during his tenure in Green Bay. He gave Barry a vote of confidence multiple times this offseason, despite a pair of campaigns with mediocre results. Expectations have been high for the Packers given their sustained draft investments on defense, but the team has once again not delivered on them in 2023. Green Bay currently sits 17th in the league in points allowed per game (21.5) and 23rd in yards surrendered (350).
Once again, run defense has been a sore spot. Green Bay has given up 139 yards per game on the ground, which ranks 30th in the NFL. The secondary – a unit which has been without cornerback Jaire Alexander for the past six games and saw Rasul Douglas traded away at the deadline – has fared better, but frustration still exists amongst the players. Linebacker De’Vondre Campbell took to social media on Tuesday to voice his displeasure with his own situation, which has included playing through injury in recent weeks.
A report from the summer indicated 2023 would likely be Barry’s final season in Green Bay barring a turnaround. Improvement has not taken place in a number of areas, but the 53-year-old still has the public backing of his head coach. It will be interesting to see if that remains the case after the campaign has come to an end.