Report: Packers expected to hire UAB’s Eddie Gordon as assistant OL coach

The Green Bay Packers are expected to hire UAB offensive line coach Eddie Gordon, according to a report from Matt Zenitz of 247Sports. He will be an assistant offensive line coach with the Packers.

Gordon spent just one season at UAB after working at Georgia from 2019-22, helping the Bulldogs to back-to-back national championships in 2021 and 2022. He began as a graduate assistant working with the offensive line before being promoted to offensive quality control coach in 2022.

Georgia ranked fourth in the country in 2022 and sixth in 2021 in sacks allowed under Gordon’s direction. The Bulldogs were also top 20 in rushing offense during the 2022 season.

Prior to joining Georgia, Gordon spent two seasons (2017-18) at his alma mater, Louisiana. He was the Ragin’ Cajuns’ offensive line graduate assistant in 2017 and spent 2018 as the director of player development and assistant strength and conditioning coach.

Gordon played center in his college days, beginning his career at NC State before transferring to Hutchinson Community College in 2013. He spent his final three seasons at Louisiana and was named honorable mention All-Sun Belt Conference as a senior.

Eddie Gordon will join a Packers team that was among the top teams in the NFL in sacks allowed last season. Green Bay also ranked 15th in rushing yards and will look to maintain that level of play with Gordon added to the staff.

Matt LaFleur addresses ‘tough decision to fire Joe Barry

After advancing to the Divisional Round of the NFL playoffs this past season, the Green Bay Packers shook things up when Matt LaFleur parted ways with defensive coordinator Joe Barry. The franchise’s offense got plenty of attention as Jordan Love got the keys at quarterback, but struggles on defense highlighted the season.

Ultimately, LaFleur decided to make a change, firing Barry and bringing in Jeff Hafley from Boston College – although he said it wasn’t an easy decision.

Barry took over as the Packers’ defensive coordinator in 2021, and the franchise brought in plenty of talent on that side of the ball through the NFL Draft. Green Bay notably struggled in the running game, though, ranking 28th in the NFL with 128.3 rushing yards allowed on average. While the numbers weren’t great, LaFleur said it still wasn’t an easy call to make a change.

“There’s a lot of thought and deliberation that goes into that,” LaFleur said, via Pro Football Talk. “You guys know how I feel about Joe Barry. I’m so thankful for our time together. I’ve got so much respect for him as a man and as a coach, and what he was able to do for us. Those are tough decisions, but I think as a head football coach, sometimes you’ve got to make some tough decisions in terms of what you think you need to do moving forward to put your team in the best possible position.”