Javon Hargrave picked Packers because of Jonathan Gannon
· Yahoo Sports
Connections are everything in the NFL world, and it should come as no surprise that the top motivating factor for Javon Hargrave picking the Green Bay Packers is the presence of his former coach.
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Speaking with Larry McCarren of Packers.com after signing, Hargrave made it clear why he wanted to come to Green Bay.
"My old DC, Jonathan Gannon. I had my best years with him. He did a lot of things to give me ops, give us all ops. I think his defense fits my style, what I like to do," Hargrave said.
The Packers hired Gannon to replace Jeff Hafley as defensive coordinator after Gannon was fired in Arizona and Hafley was hired in Miami. Hargrave, meanwhile, was released by the Minnesota Vikings on Wednesday. The circumstances led the two to a reunion in Green Bay, where the Packers were desperate for interior defensive help.
When mentioning his "best years," Hargrave is talking about the 2021 and 2022 seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles. Gannon was his defensive coordinator each season, and Hargrave produced back-to-back seasons with at least 60 pressures and a pass rush grade at PFF of at least 91.0.
In 2021, Hargrave produced 7.5 sacks, a career-best 18 quarterback hits, 63 total pressures, 34 stops and a career-best 91.6 pass-rush grade. In 2022, Hargrave produced a career-best 11.0 sacks, 16 quarterback hits, a career-best 66 total pressures, a career-best 36 stops and a 91.0 pass-rush grade.
In 2021, Hargrave's pass-rush grade and pass-rush win rate trailed only Aaron Donald among interior defensive linemen. A year later, Hargrave trailed only Chris Jones and Dexter Lawrence in pass-rush grade and Jones, Donald and Lawrence in pass-rush win rate.
Needless to say, Hargrave was undoubtedly one of the elite pass-rushing defensive tackles while playing under Gannon between 2021 and 2022.
Hargrave is now 33, and three years removed from playing for Gannon in Philadelphia. But he's clearly expecting a reunion with his former coach to help get the most out of what's left in his pass-rushing tank with the Packers in 2026.
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Javon Hargrave picked Packers because of Jonathan Gannon