BC's Hafley Is Latest to Leave Headache of NIL and Transfer Portal Behind, Heads to NFL to Coach Football

January 31, 2024 by CollegeFootballPoll.com Staff

On January 31, the Green Bay Packers announced Boston College's Jeff Hafley as their new defensive coordinator, creating a new FBS power 5 head coaching vacancy for the Eagles.

He joins Saban and Harbaugh in what could be a looming exodus from college football. Hafley has taken a defensive coordinator position with the Green Bay Packers. He previously had NFL stints, mainly coaching defensive backs, with Tampa Bay, Cleveland and San Francisco.

Hafley was 22-26 in 4 seasons at BC, achieving bowl eligibility in 3 of his 4 seasons. But the Eagles had to cancel their 2021 Military Bowl appearance just a day before the game against East Carolina due to Covid-19 issues. The prior year, the team was one of many that declined bowl consideration due to the pandemic. After a 3-9 campaign in 2022, the team rebounded to finish 7-6 in 2023 with a 23-14 win over SMU in the Fenway Bowl after ending the regular season on a 3-game snide.

An interim head coach was not immediately named.

At Green Bay, Hafley replaces Joe Barry who was fired after three seasons as the DC under head coach Matt LaFleur.

ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported the reason for his decision stemmed from the changing landscape in college football, and the need to focus on other areas such as NIL and roster retention. “He wants to go coach football again in a league that is all about football,” a source told Thamel. “College coaching has become fundraising, NIL and recruiting your own team and transfers. There’s no time to coach football anymore.”

NIL (name, image, likeness) contracts and the transfer portal have become a headache for college football head coaches, one that many have determined they just don't need. Jim Harbaugh left Michigan, Nick Saban walked away from Alabama, and Dabo Swinney has voiced his disdain. Meanwhile, the NCAA is under fire for investigating and penalizing teams for NIL and transfer portal 'violations' (Florida, Tennessee, Florida State - just to name a few) when the rules themselves are vague and ever-changing, and being challenged in multiple lawsuits.

SEE: Coaching Changes