The Jacksonville Jaguars search for their next defensive coordinator is moving quickly. The team announced on Tuesday morning that they’ve interviewed current Packers’ linebackers coach Anthony Campanile for their defensive coordinator opening.
Campanile is now the fourth candidate interviewed for this role, joining Patrick Graham, Daronte Jones, and Aubrey Pleasant.
The 2024 season was Campanile’s first with the Packers as their linebackers coach and running game coordinator. Under Campanile, rookie Edgerrin Cooper was a two-time NFC Defensive Player of the Week award winner and the NFC Defensive Rookie of the Month in December.
The Packers run defense also improved greatly in 2024–ranking third in yards per rush allowed. While that is always a collaborative effort, the linebacker play is always going to be a key element to that success.
Previously, Campanile was the Miami Dolphins linebackers coach from 2020-2023, and before that, coached at the college level for a number of years.
At the NFL level, Campanile hasn’t held the defensive coordinator title, but did so with Boston College in 2018. He did interview last offseason with the New York Giants for their defensive coordinator opening at that time.
“I’ll be involved,” head coach Liam Coen said about the defensive side of the ball, “but I’m not going to be overbearing. I want that guy to have autonomy. I want that guy to have confidence, to be able to go and do it, and feel like his personality and his moral compass is showing on the product.”
