One pressing question for every new NFL defensive play caller in 2025

New York Times

a day ago

As summer approaches, NFL coaches and players continue to lay the foundation for the upcoming season. This week featured another round of voluntary offseason workouts and, next week, most teams will hold their mandatory minicamps and then break for roughly a month before getting back to work at training camps.
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Wednesday, we took a look at one pressing question facing every new offensive play caller. Today, we turn our attention to defense, where 11 teams have new coordinators they hope can make the impact necessary for championship aspirations.
Here's a question each of these new leaders must answer first.
Can he solve last year's struggles for sacks and interceptions?
Last season's Falcons defense struggled mightily to deliver game-changing plays. The unit ranked 31st with only 31 sacks (league leader Denver had 63) and 17th with 12 interceptions (Minnesota led the NFL with 24). It's no coincidence the Falcons' opponents had a 45.3 percent third-down conversion rate, second highest in the NFL. So head coach Raheem Morris hired Ulbrich, Atlanta's linebackers coach from 2015-20 and interim defensive coordinator in 2020, to help cure these crucial deficiencies.
The Falcons drafted two edge rushers (Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr.) in the first round, then added Billy Bowman Jr. and Xavier Watts to bolster their secondary. If Ulbrich can help these youngsters make meaningful impacts, Atlanta should have a chance this season to end a seven-year playoff drought.
How quickly will players get comfortable in his complex system?
Allen was hired after 10 seasons in New Orleans, the last three as head coach, and he has an expansive bag of tricks with varied fronts, diverse blitz packages and coverages. Asked for thoughts on their initial introduction to their new leader's system, Chicago's defensive players described Allen's philosophies as 'very complex.'
Top pass rusher Montez Sweat noted how much more extensive Allen's schemes were compared to previous defenses in which he has played. It could take some time for Chicago's players to fully absorb all of Allen's defense, which isn't necessarily a good thing. Players are at their best when they can attack instinctively. There are hours of training camp and preseason practices ahead of them, but the Bears could be looking at a slow start to the season.
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Will he have to revamp the defense without top pass-rusher Trey Hendrickson?
The Bengals once owned a top-10 defense that complemented their explosive offense. But Cincinnati experienced a severe decline last season, which led to the firing of coordinator Lou Anarumo and hiring of Golden, formerly Notre Dame's defensive coordinator.
Pass coverage was one of the Bengals' biggest weaknesses last season, as they allowed 30 touchdown passes (fourth most), a completion percentage of 64.9 and passer rating of 91.9. Cincinnati added linebackers Oren Burks and Joe Giles-Harris in the offseason and used its first-round pick on pass rusher Shemar Stewart.
But the biggest piece to the puzzle remains unresolved, as top edge rusher Hendrickson remains at odds with the team over the lack of a contract extension. Hendrickson, who led the league with 17 1/2 sacks last season, received permission to seek a trade earlier this spring, but for now the sides remain at a standstill. Hendrickson's presence would dramatically improve Golden's chances for a quick turnaround, but whether the Bengals decide to pay the 30-year-old remains to be seen.
Can he bring long-needed stability to an underachieving defense?
The Cowboys have always had talented pieces on defense, but the philosophies have frequently changed — Dallas has had five different defensive coordinators in the last 10 seasons. The lack of continuity has made it difficult for players to reach their full potential.
Dallas brass views Eberflus as a sign of hope and stability, even though he was fired as Bears head coach after three seasons. Eberflus is familiar with how things operate in Big D, having served as linebackers coach from 2011-17. But he usually takes a far more conservative approach than what Dallas' players are used to. Whether this approach fits talented pass rusher Micah Parsons remains to be seen. Priority No. 1, however, is fixing the run defense. Dallas ranked 29th in that department last season, surrendering 137.1 yards per game.
Can he fill the big shoes left by Aaron Glenn's departure?
While Detroit is starting over on offense with John Morton, an external replacement for Ben Johnson, the team had a succession plan in place for the loss of defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn (now the Jets' head coach). Sheppard, who has been linebackers coach since 2021, now steps into the role of defensive play caller. The move should ensure continuity for a unit that ranked among the league leaders in takeaways, scoring and rushing in 2024. Sheppard shares the same philosophies and also possesses a good understanding of the defense, but that doesn't mean the 37-year-old former linebacker will not experience some growing pains as he develops a feel for this larger role.
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Can he mask the deficiencies of a shorthanded defense?
Anarumo was viewed as a head-coach-in-the-making because of consistent success with the Bengals, but injuries and free-agent departures weakened his unit and ultimately cost him his job. Now he's in Indianapolis, where the Colts need a strong defense to shoulder the load because of uncertainty at quarterback. The only problem: Anarumo likes to run a defense founded on versatility and smarts, and the Colts lack experience at many key areas.
Indy did add veteran safety Cam Bynum and cornerback Charvarius Ward in free agency, but injuries to linebackers Zaire Franklin and Jaylon Carlies could hamper the installation process. The young and inexperienced backups will certainly get more practice reps, which could expedite their development, but Anarumo likely will have to wait a while to see the full potential of his squad.
Will his high-energy approach translate into a more punishing defense?
Ask any Jaguars defensive player for his impression of the rookie defensive coordinator and that player will rave about his intensity, high level of energy and how contagious that all. The former Packers linebackers coach/run game coordinator is part of the youth movement in Jacksonville that includes first-time general manager James Gladwell, first-time head coach Liam Coen and offensive coordinator Grant Udinski.
Campanile inherits a defense that ranked among the worst in the league in most major statistical categories last season, but he has visions of transforming the Jaguars into a physical, mauling defense capable of attacking in a variety of ways. But as Campanile has reminded his players often during OTAs, 'Talk is cheap,' so execution will have to match the energy for the unit to improve.
Will coordinator's absence hamper defense's growth?
The 50-year-old Williams has missed much of the offseason program due to what the team has described as a 'health scare.' Williams has been working remotely, communicating with assistants and players by Zoom, with inside linebackers coach Zak Kuhr filling in as defensive coordinator. It's unclear when Williams, who was a defensive line coach under Mike Vrabel in Tennessee, will return. Vrabel said Williams' leadership has been felt from afar and that he doesn't believe the Patriots' growth will be hampered given that Williams' absence has primarily been during voluntary workouts. The hope is that Williams returns by the start of training camp.
Will a switch to the 3-4 front better suit the personnel and lead to improvement?
The Saints were one of the worst tackling teams in the league last season, and that played a big role in New Orleans going 5-12 and missing the playoffs for the fourth straight year. New head coach Kellen Moore has tabbed former Chargers coach Brandon Staley to fix a defense that features aging stars and underdeveloped youngsters. Staley is switching from the 4-3 front to the 3-4, which requires some learning and adjusting of players. The hope is that the 3-4 front gives the Saints more versatility and leads to improved pass-rush effectiveness. Given the limitations of the personnel, however, Staley's unit could take its lumps while bracing for a multi-offseason rebuilding process.
Can a blend of Wilks' schemes and Aaron Glenn's help solve the Jets' woes?
Many regarded the Jets defense as an impactful unit under former coach Robert Saleh and defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich. Yet despite talent on multiple levels, New York struggled to protect leads and never lived up to its potential. As defensive coordinator in Detroit, Glenn was regarded as one of the best defensive minds in the game. Wilks also is highly regarded, and now they join forces in New York.
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Wilks will direct the defense, but he is tasked with blending his system with Glenn's and producing a dominant unit. Both coaches say they share similar philosophies. They like to blitz, they like their units to play with aggression all over the field. So offseason workouts have been about experimentation and instruction as Wilks implements a new way of doing business. The Jets' offense could be a work in progress as quarterback Justin Fields continues to develop, but under Wilks' leadership, the defense should help keep New York in games.
Can he position new faces for major impact and return San Francisco to dominant form?
In his first stint as San Francisco defensive coordinator, Saleh played a key role in helping mold the 49ers into one of the top teams in the NFL. His defense delivered dominant performances to complement Kyle Shanahan's offense and helped the Niners reach the Super Bowl in the 2019 season. After three-plus seasons as Jets head coach, Saleh returns to San Francisco, where Shanahan has since had three other defensive coordinators (DeMeco Ryans, Steve Wilks and Nick Sorensen). Saleh reassumed his role as DC during an offseason in which the 49ers saw significant roster retooling and the free-agent departures of Dre Greenlaw, Talanoa Hufanga and Charvarius Ward. Now, Saleh will be asked to identify and develop the next wave of defensive cornerstones, which could include rookie pass rusher Mykel Williams and linebacker Nick Martin.
(Top photo of Dennis Allen: Michael Reaves / Getty Images)