Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst made it clear today in his end-of-the-season press conference that he believes he has the right bodies in-house on the defensive line, but that the unit just didn’t do a good enough job of getting after quarterbacks this year. With that being said, it shouldn’t have been a shock when ESPN’s Rob Demovsky reported that the Packers moved on from defensive line coach Jason Rebrovich on Thursday night.

Rebrovich was a holdover from Joe Barry’s staff, joining the Packers in 2022 as an outside linebackers coach before being given the title “pass rush specialist” in 2023. In 2024, under a new coordinator in Jeff Hafley and in a defense that transitioned from a 3-4 to a 4-3, Rebrovich was in charge of the entire defensive line.

It’s hard to say that the Packers’ defensive line this year was anything more than disappointing. High-priced veterans like Kenny Clark and Rashan Gary appeared to regress under Rebrovich, at least from a pass-rushing standpoint, while former first-round picks Devonte Wyatt and Lukas Van Ness never took that step forward.

If Gutekunst is serious that he believes that the team has the right players on the line, then letting go of Rebrovich was an obvious move.

According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Packers are planning on interviewing New York Jets defensive line coach Aaron Whitecotton for the vacancy. He’s been the defensive line coach for the Jets for the last four seasons. With former Jets head coach Robert Saleh being an analyst in Green Bay during the second half of the season, it wouldn’t be surprising if Saleh put in a good word for Whitecotton.

The defensive line job is the second opening on the Packers’ coaching staff, following the retirement of quarterbacks coach Tom Clements.