Packers reportedly fire defensive line coach Jason Rebrovich
The team will interview Jets defensive line coach Aaron Whitecotton for the vacancy.
By PackerAaron
Rebrovich was a holdover from former defensive coordinator Joe Barry's staff, coaching outside linebackers in 2022 and then named pass rush specialist in 2023 before coaching the defensive line for new coordinator Jeff Hafley.
Rebrovich was previously with the Bills and Jaguars after spending time at Syracuse.. He finished his time in Buffalo as the defensive line coach.
NFL Network reports that the Packers will interview Jets defensive line coach Aaron Whitecotton for the vacant spot.
Whitecotton has spent four seasons with the Jets under former head coach (and close friend to head coach Matt LaFleur) Robert Saleh, who may have suggested Whitecotton for the job.
The 12 season NFL coaching veteran previously worked as the assistant defensive line coach in San Francisco and Buffalo. Whitecotton started in the NFL in Jacksonville in 2013 working as a defensive assistant before being promoted to assistant defensive line coach in 2016.
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Comments (22)
Spock
January 17, 2025 at 05:00 am
"Whitecotton has spent four seasons with the Jets under former head coach (and close friend to head coach Matt LaFleur) Robert Saleh, who may have suggested Whitecotton for the job." That seems likely and, while I'm not a big fan of the nepotism aspect, Saleh isn't the worst guy to give a recommendation for defensive coaches.
T7Steve
January 17, 2025 at 06:46 am
Previously we were decent at pass rush and poor against the run. This season we were pretty stout against the run but lacked a consistent pass rush. Will this guy be able to marry the two and still work with the other parts of the DC's plan? I know the Jets used to have been known for a good defense, I just hope this guy doesn't have too much rope.
I wasn't paying close attention, I guess, and wasn't aware that the new DC had to find work for existing personnel. I don't understand the holdover, and is this normal? I thought he'd bring in his own people in that he thought would best run his system.
NFLfan
January 17, 2025 at 06:47 am
I think letting go of Rebrovich was a very good move, though I think it should have happened much sooner. The weak Pass Rush strained the makeshift CB room (and fan's nerves) all year. Was this failure coaching or personnel-related?Hats off to Hafley for dealing with that all year. I have the same question as T7S-why didn't Hafley bring his own DL coach?
Though Whitecotton may be the man, I do wish Green Bay would interview a wider range of candidates as their tendency is to limit their choices to a very small circle (MLF's BFF, Saleh). Another pivotal coaching position is open (QB coach) and my preference would be to interview external candidates as well.
The Jet's DL (Whitecotton) has historically been amazing though it was very weak this last season. Hopefully, most of that mess was on owner, Woody or GM Douglas for becoming enamored with perennial no-show Haason Reddick and the resulting trades of 2 foundational players, Bryce Huff and John Franklin-Myers. Jermaine Johnson was also out w/an ACL. Kinlaw and Clemons were a bust.
With that said, Whitecotton is likely a major upgrade. I don't think he played a significant role in the Jet's DL's recent failure. (I hope)
T7Steve
January 17, 2025 at 07:20 am
Do you know if he can get these or has in the past brought out the intensity and hardnosed football in his players? More in line with the knee biters of the league, I hope!
NFLfan
January 17, 2025 at 07:33 am
@T7S-I think he and the Jets DL was very talented, hard-nosed and aggressive. Saleh would always talk about playing 'violently' and they did. My guess is Whitecotton will bring intensity.
T7Steve
January 17, 2025 at 07:47 am
How do you think the friendship between Saleh and MLF survived his calling the Packers a bunch of soft wimps after we played and lost to his bad Jets team?
NFLfan
January 17, 2025 at 08:12 am
LOL
NickPerry
January 17, 2025 at 07:38 am
I remember when the Packers hired Jason Rebrovich in 2022. He had been OUT of coaching in 2021 after being fired in 2020 after a 1-15 season with the Jags. IIRC this was the guy who was supposed to replace Mike Smith who IMO had been a hell of a OLB coach.
My first thought was WHY hire a dude who didn't coach the year before AND I had never heard of. My 2nd thought...A former coach of the Jags 1-15 team. Really MLF? That was the best you could get?
This goes back to my thoughts about MLF since the day he was hired. He has the who's who of WHO THE HELL ARE YOU of assistant coaches. I mean just last season his FIRST choice at DC was Anthony Weaver who flat turned MLF DOWN. He would rather go to the Dolphins as their DC and coach with that weirdo Mike McDonald.
It turned out GREAT with Hafley, but once again MLF first choice told him no thanks.
This is the shit that keeps me up at night!
Oppy
January 17, 2025 at 07:59 am
"He has the who's who of WHO THE HELL ARE YOU of assistant coaches. "
Without consulting outside sources (Google, websites, magazines, etc) name all of the assistant coaches you can think of who currently hold jobs in the NFL for a team other than the Packers.
Of that list of coaches, now jot down a brief synopsis of each of their coaching careers, their strengths, their weaknesses.
My guess is you list is very small and is made of mostly of coaches who already hold DC or OC jobs as opposed to positional coaches, and you don't know much at all about their coaching history, strengths and weaknesses. I know I wouldn't, and I assume the vast majority of fans wouldn't either.
So why do fans continually say stuff like "WHO THE HELL ARE YOU"?
Do we not understand it makes zero difference if we know these people or not? position coaches toil in high school and college ranks for decades sometimes before entering the pro ranks, and some spend entire careers in relative anonymity (as far as the public is concerned) but being lauded by NFL personnel guys and their peers.
The audacity of fans to be upset that they haven't heard of a defensive line coach is absolutely mind boggling to me.
NFLfan
January 17, 2025 at 08:19 am
@Oppy-
Personally I don't care about name recognition but I do care about doing due diligence & putting in the time and effort to seek out the very best candidate. Sometimes the best people are not in one's inner circle or a friend of a friend.
Bitternotsour
January 17, 2025 at 08:37 am
why do you assume that no due diligence has taken place. This is a multi-billion dollar franchise, are you so deluded as to think shit happens randomly?
grow up. start thinking.
Coldworld
January 17, 2025 at 11:45 am
I’m sure due diligence is done, but it’s how well it’s done and how it’s interpreted that matters. You only get what you look for and most of the key stuff is not on the surface. Once you have it it’s only as good as the use you make of it, in football or any sphere. The only way to evaluate that is results over time.
Oppy
January 17, 2025 at 09:38 am
Having direct knowledge of a candidate is often the difference in job placement in any and all industries. Thats a fact of life.
Hiring is always full of risk, and mitigating risk is a big part of the process.
I also think people underestimate how tight ties are in the NFL. It's a small talent pool working in a 32 team league. If you haven't directly worked with someone, you probably have someone in the building who has.
Fans also have a tendency to believe the what they hear via media is the end-all, be-all total sum truth. The Packers may be looking at an excessive amount of candidates for all we know. They're not under obligation to tell us about it and sports media misses "the inside scoop" frequently.
NFLfan
January 17, 2025 at 08:26 am
@NP-
'He has the who's who of WHO THE HELL ARE YOU?'
-Hilarious-lol
Joster11
January 17, 2025 at 11:29 am
"My first thought was WHY hire a dude who didn't coach the year before AND I had never heard of."
What a coincidence! My first thought was also why hire a dude Nick Perry had never heard of. I mean, c'mon, MLF, get it together. You should be running all of your hires past Nick Perry.
Coldworld
January 17, 2025 at 11:50 am
I don’t care so much about the record or if he coached last year. What is more indicative is how they have performed and with what and contemporary perceptions combined with how players and overall performance progressed post his prior departures and arrivals and whether he sustained improvement. Then it becomes relevant to look at which areas he positively impact and how they fit with what we want to do and what we have to work with.
BruceC1960
January 17, 2025 at 08:26 am
Assignment #1……LVN
NFLfan
January 17, 2025 at 08:27 am
@BC-
Assignment #2-Gary
Assigmnent #3 Clark
splitpea1
January 17, 2025 at 11:26 am
I'd be rolling the red carpet out for Whitecotton after reading what he's done for the Jets' pass rush in 2022 and 2023. Because I would think Saleh might be interested in having him on his own staff should he land another HC job, which is quite possible.
Leatherhead
January 17, 2025 at 12:25 pm
Not a surprise. They couldn't fire Barry again.
Qoojo
January 19, 2025 at 11:03 am
Last night's game, Washington showed what happens when you have a pass rush with just 4. Pay Whitecotton whatever he wants. He sounds really good. Then draft a DL, and get 1 DL from FA.
Packerlifer
January 19, 2025 at 12:40 pm
While we're looking at areas of subpar production, is any one looking into passing game coordinator Jason Vrable and. wide receivers coach Ryan Mahaffey?