Few expected the Green Bay Packers to do as well as they have done in the NFL 2023 season, but that will be of little consolation to Joe Barry, who has been fired as the team’s defensive coordinator by coach Matt LaFleur.

Many had tipped the Packers to finish last in NFC North and those predictions didn’t look to be too far off for much of the year. However, they ended up with a 9-8 winning record after ending the regular season with three straight victories, which even saw them sneak into the playoffs.

Not only that, they resoundingly defeated the Dallas Cowboys 48-32 in the Wild Card round before narrowly losing to the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Divisional playoffs.

Aaron Rodgers’ move to the New York Jets hasn’t led to the offensive downturn many anticipated, with Jordan Love impressing, on the whole, in his first year as starting quarterback. As expected, there have been moments of inconsistency, although there’s also been plenty for Green Bay fans to get excited about too.

The Packers have struggled defensively, however. Not at first glance or on paper, perhaps, with only eight of the 31 other teams allowing fewer points this year. One of their main issues has been giving up game-winning drives throughout the regular season and the playoffs, including in the defeat to the 49ers, when Brock Purdy’s run late in the fourth quarter led to a game-winning touchdown for Christian McCaffrey.

The writing had appeared to be on the wall for Barry after the Packers’ 33-30 win over the Carolina Panthers, who ended the season with the joint worst offence in the NFL. LaFleur had indicated he himself would be taking more control of the team’s defense and it appears the trust he had in the former Rams assistant has broken completely, with Barry having been relieved of his duties on Wednesday after three years with the team.

LaFleur issued the following short statement on the Packers’ website:

“We want to thank Joe for his commitment and contributions to our success the past three seasons. These decisions are extremely difficult and Joe is one of the best men I’ve had the opportunity to work with in this league.”