Former Virginia Tech Defensive Coordinator Heads Back to NFL

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Sam Siefkes, who served as the defensive coordinator for the Virginia Tech Hokies in 2025, is leaving the college ranks to rejoin the NFL as a linebackers coach for the Green Bay Packers. Siefkes previously worked in the NFL with the Minnesota Vikings and Arizona Cardinals before taking the Virginia Tech job under former head coach Brent Pry, who has since returned to the Hokies as defensive coordinator.

Why it matters

Siefkes' departure is a setback for the Virginia Tech football program, which struggled in 2025 and is undergoing a coaching transition. His return to the NFL, where he has more experience, represents an opportunity for professional growth and a chance to work with a new defensive coordinator in Green Bay.

The details

Siefkes was hired as Virginia Tech's defensive coordinator in 2025 after previous stints in the NFL and at smaller college programs. However, his lone season with the Hokies was marked by a talent deficit on the roster and the departure of multiple players when head coach Brent Pry was fired in September. Pry has since been rehired as Virginia Tech's defensive coordinator. Siefkes will now join the staff of new Packers defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon, with whom he previously worked in Arizona.

• Siefkes was hired as Virginia Tech's defensive coordinator in 2025.
• Brent Pry was fired as Virginia Tech's head coach in September 2025.
• Pry was rehired as Virginia Tech's defensive coordinator in December 2025.
• Siefkes is joining the Green Bay Packers as a linebackers coach in 2026.