Packers Announce Coaching Changes

GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Green Bay Packers have named Joe Barry defensive coordinator and promoted Maurice Drayton to special teams coordinator. Head Coach Matt LaFleur made the announcements today.

Barry has worked as an assistant coach in the NFL for 19 seasons. He comes to the Packers after serving as the assistant head coach/linebackers for the Los Angeles Rams from 2017-20. In his four seasons with the Rams, Barry was part of a defensive staff that helped the team rank No. 2 in the league over that span in in sacks (192.0), tied for No. 2 in takeaways (104) and interceptions (63), No. 7 in overall defense (329.9 ypg) and No. 9 in scoring defense (21.5 ppg). This past season marked the first time in franchise history that the Rams led the league in both scoring defense (18.5 ppg) and overall defense (281.9 ypg). The Rams also led the NFL in pass defense for the first time in franchise history and ranked No. 2 in the NFL in 2020 with 53.0 sacks.

Drayton was the assistant head coach/defensive coordinator/cornerbacks coach at The Citadel (2014-15), where he played defensive back (1994-98). It was his second stint at his alma mater, having previously worked there as a graduate assistant/secondary in 1999 and then coached tight ends/offensive tackles in 2000, wide receivers in 2001, outside linebackers in 2002 and secondary/special teams from 2003-05. He was the secondary coach at Southern Mississippi in 2012, the assistant head coach/special teams/wide receivers coach at Coastal Carolina from 2010-11 and coached special teams/defensive backs at South Carolina State in 2008-09. Drayton spent 2007 as an assistant coach at Goose Creek (S.C.) High School, was the defensive coordinator for the Seinajoki (Finland) Crocodiles of the European Football League in 2006 and was an assistant coach with the Charleston Swamp Foxes (Arena 2) from 2000-02.