GREEN BAY, Wis. — The sting of a 31-27 Wild Card loss to the Chicago Bears still lingers in the frozen air of Titletown, but the Green Bay Packers found their heartbeat in the secondary. Xavier McKinney and Evan Williams didn’t just play safety this season; they locked the gates. While the late-season collapse following Micah Parsons’ ACL injury stole the headlines, the “X and Evan” connection became the most reliable insurance policy in the league.
Elite Production at the Third Level
The numbers from the 2025 campaign tell a story of absolute coverage dominance. Xavier McKinney earned second-team All-Pro honors, racking up 107 tackles and proving why he’s worth every penny of his massive contract. Quarterbacks simply stopped looking his way. Across from him, sophomore standout Evan Williams exploded onto the scene, leading the roster with 3 interceptions and matching McKinney’s physicality with 100 total tackles. Together, they anchored a pass defense that allowed the fourth-fewest yards per play in the NFL.
New Defensive Coordinator Jonathan Gannon, hired just three days ago, inherited a gold mine. Gannon’s history with aggressive, split-safety looks suggests he will lean even harder into the versatility of this duo. Williams spent over 300 snaps in the box last year, while McKinney played the “centerfield” role to perfection. This flexibility allows Green Bay to disguise blitzes and coverages in a way few teams can match. The “third level”—the deep secondary—is no longer a weakness in Green Bay; it’s a fortress.
“We call it the third level for a reason. If you get past the front six, you’ve still got to deal with us. Evan and I have that chemistry where we don’t even have to speak. We just know where the other is going to be. 2025 was the foundation; 2026 is the takeover.” — Xavier McKinney, Packers Safety
The Gannon Era and 2026 Outlook
The transition from Jeff Hafley to Jonathan Gannon marks a strategic pivot for the Packers’ defense. Gannon, who led the Eagles to a Super Bowl appearance as a DC, is known for a “top-down” philosophy that prioritizes limiting explosive plays. With McKinney and Williams, he has the perfect personnel to execute a “bend-but-don’t-break” style that actually breaks the opposing quarterback’s will.
Expect the Packers to prioritize cornerback depth and defensive line rotations in the upcoming draft to support their elite safety duo. With Micah Parsons expected back by mid-season 2026, the potential for this defensive unit to jump from “good” to “historic” is real. The front office knows the window is wide open as long as Jordan Love has a defense that can actually get him the ball back.
