3 Jack Del Rio replacements Commanders should have on speed dial

2. Jerry Gray

The Packers have fallen short in the playoffs in each of the last two seasons, but that’s through no fault of their secondary. In 2020, the 49ers ran rampant against Green Bay’s sorry excuse of a run defense in the NFC Championship Game. You might remember Raheem Mostert running for 220 yards and four touchdowns.

In 2021, the Packers fell to San Francisco yet again. This time, the blame was on Aaron Rodgers and the offense. The point we’re trying to make is Green Bay surrendered a combined 175 passing yards in both contests.

That’s a testament to the work Jerry Gray has done since he was hired as the Packers’ defensive backs coach in 2020. A former four-time Pro Bowl corner as a player, Gray actually coached Washington’s secondary from 2006-09 and has eight years of experience as a defensive coordinator in the NFL.

Under Gray’s tutelage, Jaire Alexander has morphed into one of the NFL’s premier lockdown cornerbacks.

In 2020, Green Bay’s pass defense finished seventh and it finished 10th in that department this year despite Alexander and Kevin King missing a chunk of the schedule. In fact, from Weeks 6-17, the Packers allowed just 210.6 passing yards per game, which encapsulated the wonders Gray’s done with young corners Rasul Douglas and Erick Stokes.

Still in Lambeau as the team’s defensive backs coach, Gray would be a fantastic hire for Washington if it pulls the plug on Del Rio.