Green Bay Packers Overhaul Coaching Staff After Miami Defections

Green Bay Packers saw two of their top leaders—vice president of player personnel Jon‑Eric Sullivan and head coach Jeff Hafley—jump to the Miami Dolphins, prompting a rapid staff overhaul as the team sits 10th in the AFC with a 7‑10 record and a one‑game losing streak.

Who left and what roles did they hold?

Jon‑Eric Sullivan, the Packers’ first vice president of player personnel, departed for Miami earlier this year after serving as the key architect of Green Bay’s draft board. Jeff Hafley, the head coach who guided the Packers to a 2023 playoff run, also accepted a position with the Dolphins. Both were instrumental in shaping the team’s on‑field identity and talent acquisition.

How did the Packers fill the void?

General manager Brian Gutekunst promoted Milt Hendrickson to vice president of player personnel. Hendrickson, now in his eighth season with Green Bay and 22nd in the NFL, previously directed football operations and spent years scouting for the Baltimore Ravens. John Wojciechowski, a 31‑year NFL veteran, stepped into the director‑football‑operations slot left by Hendrickson. Richmond Williams remains the director of player personnel, keeping continuity in the scouting department.

Which coaches followed Hafley to Miami?

The Dolphins added several Green Bay assistants: Sean Duggan, now defensive coordinator; Ryan Downard, hired as secondary coach; and Wendel Davis, who moves from defensive quality‑control to assistant linebackers coach. Strength‑and‑conditioning veterans Ike Brown and Todd Hunt also made the jump, leaving Green Bay’s training staff thin.

What does this mean for the Packers’ draft and upcoming games?

With Hendrickson overseeing player‑personnel decisions, the Packers retain a seasoned evaluator who knows the roster inside out. The loss of Hafley’s coaching staff may force a short‑term adjustment on defense, but the organization’s depth of experience should cushion the impact. The team’s next test comes against the Minnesota Vikings on September 13, 2026, a divisional matchup that could signal whether the new hierarchy is clicking.

How are the Packers positioning themselves for the rest of the season?

Despite the staff turnover, Green Bay’s front office emphasizes continuity. Veteran scouts like Venzell Boulware, now director of pro scouting for Miami, illustrate the fluid nature of NFL personnel moves. The Packers’ ability to adapt will be measured by their draft selections and on‑field performance as they aim to climb out of the AFC’s lower tier.

What’s the broader outlook?

Change is constant in the NFL, and the Packers have a history of navigating it. By promoting from within and retaining key scouting talent, Green Bay hopes to turn the disruption into an opportunity to refresh its strategic approach. The upcoming Vikings game will be the first real gauge of how quickly the new staff can translate plans into wins.