Las Vegas, Nevada — What began as a hopeful second chance for former Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Joe Barry has unraveled into one of the NFL’s most volatile coaching storylines of the 2025 season. Now sitting at 2–11 entering Week 14, the Las Vegas Raiders are fielding a defense ranked near the bottom of the league — and Barry finds himself increasingly seen as the next likely staff member to be removed if things don’t change immediately.

When Barry arrived in Las Vegas in February 2024, expectations were modest but optimistic. Fired by the Packers only one month earlier, he was brought in by newly promoted full-time head coach Antonio Pierce to restore discipline, identity, and consistency to a defense that had been unstable for years. Instead, the downturn has accelerated.

Through 13 weeks, the Raiders have surrendered 28.5 points per game, allowed explosive plays at a staggering rate, and generated just 18 sacks — one of the lowest totals in the league. Their turnover production is historically low, currently on pace to become the worst in franchise history. Analysts have described the unit as “passive,” “soft,” and “utterly predictable,” criticisms strikingly similar to those Barry faced during his tenure in Green Bay.

Internal Pressure Reaches a Breaking Point

The situation surrounding Barry has intensified in recent weeks. Earlier this season, the Raiders fired their offensive coordinator and multiple position coaches in what insiders characterized as “stabilization moves.” But sources inside the building now admit those changes were also meant to buy time — delaying, rather than preventing, a reckoning on the defensive side.

According to one team insider, Barry has received multiple internal warnings regarding performance expectations. Although Pierce continues to defend him publicly, frustration is reportedly escalating among team ownership and upper management.

One AFC executive described Barry’s situation bluntly:

“If they don’t win soon, Barry is the obvious next move. Everyone can see it. The writing is right there on the wall.”

With Las Vegas on track for another disastrous finish, these warnings have begun to feel less like guidance and more like countdowns.

Barry’s Packers Past — Suddenly Relevant Again

Complicating the narrative is a renewed conversation about Barry’s rocky tenure in Green Bay. From 2021 to 2023, his units struggled despite premium draft picks and Pro Bowl talent. Critics often pointed to the same concerns visible today: inconsistent tackling, soft zone coverage, lack of in-game adjustments, and failure to maximize player strengths.

After the Packers’ late-season collapse in 2023, head coach Matt LaFleur decided to part ways with Barry in January 2024 — a move that was widely celebrated by fans who had long pushed for change.

Ironically, it is Barry himself who has revived comparisons to Green Bay. During a press session last week, he unexpectedly praised the Packers’ top-five defense under their new staff.

Barry said:
“That defense is no longer the unit it was when I left. Right now they’re playing at an entirely different level. They’re fast, physical, and connected — that’s the foundation of any truly elite defense.”

The remarks were polite on the surface, but they ignited immediate speculation across the league.

Some interpreted Barry’s words as admiration. Others viewed them as subtle messaging — a hint that he still feels more alignment with the Packers’ organizational philosophy than with the Raiders’ current situation. Several Green Bay reporters noted that despite his firing, Barry maintains close personal relationships with staff members inside Lambeau Field.

Player Reactions and Locker Room Tension

Behind closed doors, frustration among Raiders defenders is reportedly growing. Players have privately questioned scheme simplicity, coverage choices on key downs, and communication breakdowns that have become weekly occurrences. One veteran defender, speaking anonymously, described the atmosphere as “confused and exhausted.”

Another said,
“We’re working. But the system isn’t giving us answers.”

These concerns have reached team leadership, adding fuel to an already volatile situation.

A Career at a Crossroads

For now, Barry is fighting to survive the final month of the season. But unless Las Vegas’ defense shows a dramatic and unexpected turnaround, multiple league insiders believe his departure could come as early as the Monday morning after their next loss.

Whether he ultimately seeks a return to Green Bay — or any opportunity elsewhere — remains to be seen. But one thing is certain:

Joe Barry’s time in Las Vegas is rapidly approaching a breaking point, and the next four weeks may determine not only the Raiders’ future, but the trajectory of Barry’s coaching career.