GREEN BAY – By virtually every metric, the Packers' defense showed marked improvement in its first season playing for Jeff Hafley.
But don't think for a second Green Bay's defensive coordinator is sleeping with any added comfort this summer.
Statistically, the Packers boasted one of the league's best defenses in 2024. They jumped from 17th to fifth in total defense, had their best performance against the run in 15 years and generated 13 more takeaways than it did the year prior.
In reviewing the season, however, Hafley saw room for growth in one key area entering his second year at the defensive helm.
"We took the ball away last year. We didn't force enough fumbles," said Hafley on Wednesday. "That's not good enough, so the emphasis coming in is one, our play style, how hard we're gonna play, how physical we're gonna play, how we run to the ball. That's non-negotiable. The other is we're gonna attack the football, so we need to emphasize it more. We need to coach it better and we need to put it out there on tape."
It's not like Green Bay didn't punch the ball out last year. In fact, the defense tied for eighth in the NFL with 16 forced fumbles that it converted into the third-most recoveries (14).
With nearly all his defensive starters back, Hafley began laying the groundwork during the offseason program for how he wanted his unit to play once training camp came around.
Based on the first week alone, Hafley's message has resonated with a defense that's aiming high entering 2025. One number the team is using as its North Star is 42, which is the modern NFL record for most forced fumbles in a season (New York Giants, 2010).
"That's something we're always preaching every day – 43, 43," safety Evan Williams said. "A quarterback might give you a couple gimmes (but) to go earn that forced fumble is definitely different. I like the way guys are approaching every day having the right mentality about coming to practice, always being ball aware."
Aiming to lead the NFL in key defensive categories such as turnover margin, takeaways and forced fumbles makes for a lofty goal but Green Bay wasn't too far off the mark last year.
The Packers were two takeaways off the pace Pittsburgh and Minnesota set in 2024 (33), six forced fumbles behind the Steelers and Philadelphia (22), and trailed Buffalo for most recoveries by just two (14).
To help carry out his creed, Hafley designated defensive quality control coach Wendel Davis as the "Ball King" responsible for charting plays from practice and giving his findings in defensive team meetings.
Before Hafley speaks, Davis has the floor. Because, after all, the ball is the most important thing.
Like most film sessions, the Packers award pluses and minuses to players based on how players attacked (or didn't attack) the football. Some funny videos are mixed into the presentations and there's also a weekly award for defenders who excel.
To add some spice, Davis and the defensive coaches have installed a button that sounds like a nearby siren every time someone forces a turnover on tape. The Packers are so serious about the mantra players have started referring to Davis strictly as "Ball King" or "BK."
"He gets up there and does an unbelievable job and the guys have fun with it," said Hafley of Davis, an inaugural member of LaFleur's coaching staff in 2019. "The cool part about our guys is they're able to have fun with it and I think it's bringing them together. They're buying into and you can see that when we got out there and practice.
"As fun as it is, it's serious. If we can continue to do that, I do believe it's going to show up when we start playing. So, I'm pretty proud of Wendel – or Ball King."'
Head Coach Matt LaFleur has seen a difference. Addressing reporters Tuesday, LaFleur remarked the defense is "attacking the ball unlike anytime I've seen going into Year 7 now."
Through the six practices, Williams, Javon Bullard and Rashan Gary have all punched the ball out while the secondary is still picking off passes, too. Xavier McKinney, Carrington Valentine and first-year safety Omar Brown have two picks apiece.
If the Packers prove successful in boosting both their takeaway totals and forced fumbles this season, the roots can be traced back to the work the defense put in this summer and a defensive quality control coach who took his mission to heart.
"You're seeing some haymakers being thrown at the ball right now and it can't just be from one guy," Hafley said. "It has to be from everybody, and I appreciate the buy-in of the players. But if we want to lead the league in forced fumbles, we are going to have to work at it and that's very important to us."
