Gannon charts a new, player-centric defense for the 2026 Packers

Green Bay defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon says the 2026 defense will be a fresh, player-driven system rather than a clone of his past schemes. He’s prioritizing how players fit and play fast, violent, and takeaways, tailoring concepts from multiple stops to the Packers’ roster, while simplifying assignments to make the defense look complex to opponents. Gannon has begun assembling his staff, reviewing last season’s film, and has already added Javon Hargrave and Zaire Franklin as part of building around a veteran-young mix.