GREEN BAY – Bobby Babich has been added to new Packers defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon's coaching staff. He will hold the title of secondary/pass game coordinator, a position previously held by Derrick Ansley, who is now with Dallas.
Here are five things to know about Babich.
- He spent the last two years as a defensive coordinator.
For the 2024-25 seasons, Babich served as Buffalo Bills defensive coordinator under recently dismissed head coach Sean McDermott. He rose to that position during McDermott's tenure, starting as an assistant defensive backs coach in 2017 and then coaching the team's safeties (2018-21) and linebackers (2022-23).
This past season, McDermott indicated he and Babich shared defensive play-calling duties as Buffalo's defense ranked seventh in yards allowed and 12th in points allowed. Key to that total yardage ranking was the Bills leading the league in pass defense, allowing just 157 passing yards per game.
The year before, the Bills ranked 17th in yards allowed and 11th in points allowed.
- He nearly came to Green Bay two years ago.
Babich reportedly interviewed in 2024 for the Packers defensive coordinator position that went to Jeff Hafley before staying on at Buffalo and being promoted by McDermott to defensive coordinator.
During that same hiring cycle, the Giants also reportedly requested an interview with Babich for defensive coordinator.
- His defensive backs had a lot of success in Buffalo.
During four seasons coaching the Bills' safeties, Babich's primary tandem featured Jordan Poyer and former Packers draft pick Micah Hyde. From 2018-21, Poyer intercepted 13 passes and Hyde picked off nine.
The fourth and final year of that stretch, in 2021, both Poyer (first team) and Hyde (second team) received All-Pro recognition.
As Buffalo's assistant DB coach in 2017, Babich also worked with rookie cornerback Tre'Davious White, a first-round draft pick who finished second in the Defensive Rookie of the Year voting following a four-INT season. Hyde also was named second-team All-Pro in '17 as he and Poyer each intercepted five passes that season.
In addition, while coaching Buffalo's linebackers, Babich helped Matt Milano earn first-team All-Pro honors in 2022.
- He entered the NFL at a young age.
After five years in the college ranks at Kent State (grad assistant) and Eastern Illinois (secondary coach), Babich broke into the NFL in 2011, turning 28 during his first training camp with Carolina as a coaching administrator.
He became a defensive assistant for the Panthers the following year, moved on to Cleveland for the next three seasons as a defensive backs assistant – working with then Browns DB coach and recent Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley – and then returned to college for one year with Florida International before getting back into the NFL with Buffalo.
- Coaching is in his blood.
Babich, 42, is the son of longtime coach Bob Babich, who coached at six different colleges from 1984-2002 and then with five different NFL teams from 2003-21.
The elder Babich's college tenure included two seasons as offensive line coach at Wisconsin (1988-89), and he eventually became head coach at North Dakota State (1997-2002), where his son played for him his freshman year, at cornerback.
In the NFL, the elder Babich spent most of his time with the Chicago Bears (2004-12), including two years as defensive coordinator. His final pro coaching stint was as Buffalo's linebackers coach from 2017-21, with his son on the defensive staff, and the younger Babich took over coaching the linebackers when his father retired.
