Systems and methods for decoding data using a decoder that includes a primary decoder and an auxiliary decoder are provided. A codeword is retrieved from a storage device. A primary decoder attempts to decode the codeword using hard data associated with the codeword. If the primary decoder fails, an indication of the failure may be received by a decoder controller, which activates an auxiliary decoder. The auxiliary decoder attempts to decode the codeword using either hard data or soft data associated with the codeword. The primary decoder is designed to consume less power, consume less silicon area, and have a higher throughput than the auxiliary decoder. The primary decoder is configured to have a higher probability of successfully decoding a codeword, stored in the storage device, in the first attempt to decode the codeword, than failing and requiring the auxiliary decoder to decode the codeword.