As the Green Bay Packers continue to restructure their defensive coaching staff under new Defensive Coordinator Jeff Hafley, they look to have landed former Miami Dolphins' linebackers coach, Anthony Campanile to be their linebackers coach as well as run game coordinator. 

After spending four seasons with the Dolphins, it looked like Anthony Campanile could have been a shoo-in for defensive coordinator on the team after Vic Fangio's departure back home to the Philadelphia Eagles. Instead, the Dolphins hired Anthony Weaver for the position passing on Campanile for the second year straight. Campanile had interviewed for the coordinator position before Vic Fangio was hired the year prior but was eventually passed up for the veteran defensive guru. Campanile had also interviewed for the Giants defensive coordinator position this year, before they decided to hire former Titans coordinator Shane Bowen.

Before his time in Miami, Anthony Campanile was the linebackers coach for a year with Michigan, defensive backs coach from 2016-2017 at Boston College, and then defensive coordinator at the school in 2018. Campanile has also held numerous positions with Rutgers as an offensive and defensive positions coach from 2012-2015. Coincidentally, Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley coached at both Rutgers and Boston College, but the two did not coach at the same time at either school. 

After missing out on the two DC gigs, reports had Campanile possibly following Vic Fangio to Philadelphia. It seemed like a probable move until Tuesday morning when reports came out from Tom Silverstein that the Packers were expected to hire Anthony Campanile to join their defensive staff. 

What does Campanile bring to the table?

Let's look at the stats. As linebackers coach with Miami in 2023, the Dolphins defense finished 6th in yards allowed per carry with a 3.81 average. During Campanile's tenure, the Dolphins averaged a top-10 defense against the run. I don't think I have to tell most Packer fans that this is way above what the Packers' defense averaged. In 2023, the Packers' defense averaged 4.42 yards per carry against the run ranking 23rd. And, well, during Campanile's tenure in Miami, the Packers defense was 31st against the run in yards per carry. On top of that, in the last season, the Dolphins defense allowed the least amount of explosive run plays in the league with only 20. 

Campanile is expected to help Hafley transition the Packers to a 4-3 defense, but it is known that Campanile has coached linebackers in varying schemes just like Hafley has had a 4-3 base, but has shown many different looks on his defense. 

Outside the numbers, Anthony Campanile is known to be a very fiery coach and drew a lot of attention with a speech to Miami players during HBO's Hard Knocks series this past season. He started by showing a quote from Vince Lombardi:

"Imagine for a moment, if you can, a man running down the street with all of your worldly possessions. Taking from you everyone that you have ever loved and everything that you hold dear. I guarantee you would find a way, by any means necessary, to stop that man, that very simply put is pursuit."

Campanile went on to say that you are at your best when you are doing things for the people you love. He then continued with a profanity-laced speech that in summarization stated that players do everything for those they love. On Sundays, they honor those loved ones by being the best they can be. If someone's running away with their loved ones, no one's getting in their way. They will do everything they possibly can to stop that person. Campanile then transitioned into how he wants his guys to work every day, he said, "All over the world, they speak ass whooping, to the day you die. So here's what I'm saying, let's eliminate that factor. They can't outwork us. Eliminate that and let's see what happens. Don't stop throwing punches, don't stop attacking the ball, don't stop finishing blocks, and let's see what happens." That's the type of intensity Campanile offers, and how he wants his players hitting the field every game day.

The linebackers that benefit

In Campanile's stint with the Miami Dolphins, he coached players like Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips. 

When it comes to the Packers' defense, we will have to see how the positions shake out with the 4-3 transition for who stands up and who puts their hands in the dirt. But Quay Walker and Isaiah McDuffie will likely be the top beneficiaries of Campanile's tutelage. Even if they end up being more commonly defensive ends in a 4-3, Rashan Gary and Lukas Van Ness will likely also benefit from Campanile. The fiery attitude brought on by the linebackers coach will hopefully rub off on the entire squad and we'll see a lot of improvement to the run defense. 

What strikes me as interesting though, is Campanile choosing the Packers over the Eagles. Sure, it could be money. But after that, he could have sat on the Eagles staff and collected defensive coordinator interviews in a defense he already knew under Vic Fangio. Instead, he moves to Green Bay in a system with a brand new defensive coordinator in the league. Something could be intriguing for Anthony Campanile in terms of scheme Jeff Hafley plans to run or even the players he gets to coach. 

Either way, I believe this is a huge hire for the Packers to land such a talented coach to help reshape their defense. 

Did I mention the comedy that is Joe Barry replacing Campanile in Miami as a linebacker and running game coach?  Though I believe Barry may be a better positions coach than a coordinator, it simply can't get much more entertaining than the idea that the Packers traded their failed defensive coordinator to the Dolphins for a fiery, well-sought-after linebackers coach. 

I'm excited to see how Anthony Campanile can impact the Packers' run defense and how he can perhaps improve the team's intensity overall.