Ballhawk Index

The Ballhawk Index is a simple way to keep track of how often the Packers are making plays on the ball. An interception, pass defensed, fumble forced, or sack counts as a “ballhawk.” Ballhawks correlate well with overall defensive success. The more often defenders are making plays on the ball, the more likely your team is to win.

The chart below breaks down each of the Packers’ defenders that recorded a stat eligible for the Ballhawk Index during the 2023 season in addition to tracking overall performance relative to past seasons. The data below goes back to 2000 and covers every defensive coordinator included on this page.

Here is the same data, broken down by position group.

Why track Ballhawks?

Football is not as complex as coaches and analysts might like you to believe. Sure, there are complicated schemes and tactics to learn, but at its simplest, football is about making plays with the ball and on the ball. Ballhawks track how often teams and players are making plays on the ball.

Historically, the Packers have done better as a defense when they make plays on the ball. Here is how they’ve fared each season dating back to 2009, Dom Capers’ first year as the Packers’ defensive coordinator.

Key data

The above chart shows, intuitively, that the better the Packers do at getting their hands on the ball, the better the defense performs overall.

In 2019, the Packers saw a big jump in their ballhawks, which corresponded to a significant jump in their overall performance. This was fueled in large part by a better overall performance by the Packers’ defensive backs.

You’ll also note a very strong performance by the Packers in 2011, when a flurry of turnovers covered up what was otherwise a lackluster defense, powering the Packers to a 15-1 record.

Finally, you’ll note one unusual statistic: ballhawks credited to non-defensive players. That’s no mistake. Jarrett Boykin forced two fumbles on special teams in 2014 (in consecutive weeks, no less) and Mason Crosby did the same in 2015, tackling Cordarrelle Patterson on a kick return and causing a fumble.