GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Green Bay Packers are allowing their defensive assistant coaches to explore other opportunities.
For Justin Hood, the opportunity to go to the Atlanta Falcons was too good to pass up. A defensive quality control coach the past three seasons, Hood was named the Falcons’ secondary coach under new coach Raheem Morris.
With Atlanta, Hood will be reunited with Jerry Gray. Gray was the Packers’ defensive backs/passing-game coordinator from 2020 through 2022. Hood worked with Gray in 2021 and 2022.
Packers coach Matt LaFleur was quick to credit Hood several times when asked about the play of the secondary. Heading into Week 18 game against Detroit in 2022, for instance, LaFleur said: “I think just what Jerry and Ryan Downard and Justin Hood do for those guys and getting them coached up on some of the looks they can potentially see. I really think the communication and everybody being on the same page. We’ve had less coverage busts, which is typically a recipe for giving up big plays.”
The Packers ranked 10th in opponent passer rating in 2021 and 15th in 2022 but plunged to 25th in 2023. Those numbers were impacted by the midseason trade of Rasul Douglas and the absences of Jaire Alexander. They combined for nine interceptions in 2022 but only one in 2023. The Packers had to lean heavily on journeyman Corey Ballentine and seventh-round pick Carrington Valentine. Those two played key roles in the team reaching the playoffs.
Before arriving in Green Bay, Hood spent the 2019 and 2020 season as the secondary coach and defensive passing game coordinator at Kent State.
Hood was a four-year starter at Ashland (Ohio) University from 2004 through 2007. LaFleur was the offensive coordinator there in 2007.
Over the last week-and-a-half, the Packers have fired defensive coordinator Joe Barry and replaced him with Jeff Hafley.
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