NFC North Notes: Walker, Doubs, Tom, Wyatt, Byard
This past weekend, Packers left tackle Rasheed Walker was arrested at LaGuardia Airport on gun charges, per a report from multiple contributors at the New York Post. On Friday morning, Walker was taken into custody after trying to check a bag that contained a handgun and ammunition.
Arthur Aidala, Walker’s attorney, explained that Walker legally owned the firearm but that it is licensed in Wisconsin, and he didn’t know that he couldn’t travel with the gun to New York. It was actually Walker’s attempt to disclose the contents of the locked gun box in his luggage that led to his arrest.
Walker was charged with two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon and criminal possession of a firearm. After an appearance at criminal court, Walker was released on his own recognizance with a return date of March 19. Aidala is confident that the case will be dismissed.
Here are a few other recent rumors from around the NFC North:
- In the Packers’ young receiving corps, pending free agent Romeo Doubs has been perhaps the most consistent contributor in the talented position group. When asked if he would be returning to Green Bay in a recent appearance on the Up & Adams Show, Doubs wanted to make it known that he “would love to be a Green Bay Packer” but that he knows the nature of the business.
- Packers right tackle Zach Tom was unable to finish out the season with his team in the playoffs this year due to a knee injury, but it wasn’t for a lack of trying. According to Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Tom tried to get back on the field using a PRP injection, but he didn’t feel he would be able to pass block with it. He’s expected to undergo surgery to repair a partially torn patellar tendon with a recovery timeline of approximately six months.
- Silverstein also reported on the injury to Packers defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt, who reportedly suffered a broken fibula and torn ligament in his ankle. The soft tissue injury certainly lengthens any recovery time, but per Silverstein, Wyatt expects to be back in time for training camp.
- Following a surprising late-season run into the playoffs, Bears pending free agent safety Kevin Byard made it known that he “would love to be back” in Chicago on a new deal, according to Bears writer Gabby Hajduk. Byard expressed a desire to “finish what (the Bears) got started this year” as he “wants to be on a team that wants to win.” There’s no doubt Chicago will want to retain Byard, but the question will be if they can afford it. Byard led the NFL in interceptions this year for the second time in his career, earning a third first-team All-Pro selection as a result. Two picks in the two years before this season seemed to indicate a fall off as Byard ventured into his thirties, but he turned back the clock just in time for it to pay off in a big way on his next deal.
NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 1/27/26
Tuesday’s reserve/futures contracts in the NFL:
Chicago Bears
Denver Broncos
Falcons Set Up Second GM Interviews With Ian Cunningham, James Liipfert
The Falcons are getting closer to hiring a general manager to replace the ousted Terry Fontenot. Falcons president of football Matt Ryan said the team has “some” in-person interviews coming up (via Josh Kendall of The Athletic). They’ve identified at least a couple of finalists.
Bears assistant general manager Ian Cunningham will meet with the Falcons for a second interview this week, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN relays. Texans assistant GM James Liipfert, a Georgia native, also remains in the running after an impressive initial interview, according to Albert Breer of SI.com. Both Cunningham and Liipfert will interview on Thursday, per Breer.
Cunningham, reportedly the favorite to become the Falcons’ GM, interviewed for their newly created president of football position before it went to Ryan. The 40-year-old has a connection to Ryan in Bears GM Ryan Poles, who was one of Ryan’s teammates at Boston College.
Cunningham, formerly with the Ravens and Eagles, has worked under Poles in Chicago since 2022. He has interviewed elsewhere for several promotions since then, including the Commanders’ president of football operations gig in January 2024. Cunningham was a finalist for that opening, but the Commanders hired Adam Peters instead. Two years later, Cunningham may head to Atlanta in a prominent position.
Liipfert, a former Georgia Tech linebacker, spent nine years in a scouting capacity with the Patriots before the Texans hired him as their director of college scouting in 2019. He has since climbed up the front office ranks in Houston, which promoted him to assistant director of personnel and then executive director of player personnel before moving him to assistant GM last June. Liipfert has a long history with Texans executive vice president/GM Nick Caserio, as the two previously worked together in New England.
“He’s earned his opportunity, so credit to him,” Caserio said of Liipfert (via Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2). “Whatever the Falcons decide to do, but hopefully he’s here helping the Texans. He’s fortunate to have the opportunity and I’m sure he’ll do a good job with it. Happy for James and see how it goes.”
It’s unknown if the Falcons will conduct second interviews with other candidates, but here’s a look at the other names they’ve considered:
- Mike Bradway, assistant general manager (Chiefs): Interviewed 1/23
- Joe Douglas, senior personnel director (Eagles): Interviewed 1/23
- Andy Weidl, assistant general manager (Steelers): Interviewed 1/22
- Josh Williams, director of scouting and football operations (49ers): Interviewed 1/23
Ravens Request OC Interview With Bears’ Declan Doyle
The NFL has attempted to help fast-track upward mobility by loosening restrictions on coordinator movement. Teams are no longer permitted to block OC interviews if the job would allow a non-play-calling OC to commandeer a call sheet for another team.
Chicago currently employs an assistant in this position, and teams are looking into Ben Johnson‘s non-play-calling OC. After the Eagles requested a Declan Doyle OC interview, the Chicago Tribune’s Brad Biggs reports the Ravens have submitted a request to meet with the Bears’ OC.
Doyle, however, withdrew his name from the Eagles’ search today. It would be interesting if he went forward with a Ravens meeting after that decision. The Ravens hired Jesse Minter as their new HC last week. Doyle also came from the AFC West, serving as the Broncos’ tight ends coach prior to his Bears hire. Doyle, who was just 28 when hired by the Bears last year, had previously been on Sean Payton‘s final few Saints staffs.
The Bears transformed their offense in 2025. They ranked 28th in scoring during Caleb Williams‘ rookie year; they finished ninth this season. They ranked sixth in yardage and seventh in EPA per play. Johnson is naturally receiving most of the credit for that improvement, but Doyle was a central figure for Chicago’s offense as well. Rookie Colston Loveland led the Bears in receiving, and rookie running back Kyle Monangai went from seventh-round pick to 783-yard rusher as a rookie.
Being hired as an OC before age 30 is rare, and teams are taking notice. The Ravens are early in their OC search, but a few names have surfaced. Baltimore may still be eyeing Kliff Kingsbury, who interviewed for the job along with his HC meeting, but Lions assistant HC Scottie Montgomery is also on the team’s radar. Montgomery plans to take the meeting; once he does, the Ravens will be Rooney Rule-compliant. Kingsbury’s name primarily came up before Minter’s hire; it is notable Doyle’s has surfaced after the ex-Chargers HC took over.
Eagles Conduct Frank Smith OC Interview; Team To Meet With Jerrod Johnson
The list of candidates for the Eagles’ offensive coordinator position has continued to grow. Two new Philadelphia targets have emerged for the role. 
The team has conducted an interview with Frank Smith for the OC gig, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports. Smith worked as the Dolphins’ offensive coordinator during head coach Mike McDaniel‘s tenure in Miami. Jeff Hafley is now in place, though, and he elected to promote Bobby Slowik to the OC role. That move confirmed Smith will be heading elsewhere during the 2026 hiring cycle.
The Eagles have primarily focused on candidates who have called plays before at the NFL level. McDaniel was Miami’s play-caller on offense, making this interview a deviation from Philadelphia’s targets to date. Smith, 44, has experience as an offensive line coach at the college and NFL levels, and he was a tights coach with two teams from 2015-20.
Philadelphia is also set to interview Texans quarterbacks coach Jerrod Johnson, per Dianna Russini of The Athletic. Johnson received an interview request from the Dolphins prior to their decision to promote Slowik to OC. A hire on this front would represent a reunion. Johnson and Nick Sirianni worked together in 2020 as members of the Colts’ staff. Johnson remained in Indianapolis one more year, then worked with the Vikings for one season. Since 2023, the 37-year-old has been Houston’s QBs coach.
While Smith and Johnson are new names to watch regarding the Eagles, one OC candidate is no longer in the running. Bears offensive coordinator Declan Doyle has withdrawn from Philadelphia’s search, Russini reports. Doyle’s first coordinator opportunity came about last winter when he joined Ben Johnson‘s staff. Johnson called plays on offense in 2025, and that will no doubt continue moving forward. Doyle received an interview request from the Eagles (the only team which reached out so far), but he will instead remain in Chicago.
In other Eagles OC news, Russini reports LSU offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr. spoke with Philadelphia about the position. Weiss has also withdrawn from consideration, electing instead to remain in place on Lane Kiffin‘s staff. No other current college staffers have received any known interest from the Eagles to date.
Via PFR’s Coordinator Search Tracker, here is an updated look at where Philadelphia’s search stands:
- Klayton Adams, offensive coordinator (Cowboys): Interview request blocked
- Jim Bob Cooter, offensive coordinator (Colts): Interview requested
- Brian Daboll, former head coach (Giants): Interviewed 1/20
- Declan Doyle, offensive coordinator (Bears): Interview requested; withdrew from search
- Josh Grizzard, former offensive coordinator (Buccaneers): To interview
- Jerrod Johnson, quarterbacks coach (Texans): To interview
- Mike Kafka, former interim head coach (Giants): Interviewed 1/17
- Mike McDaniel, former head coach (Dolphins): To interview
- Matt Nagy, former offensive coordinator (Chiefs): Interviewed 1/21
- Zac Robinson, offensive coordinator (Falcons): Interviewed 1/16
- Bobby Slowik, senior pass-game coordinator (Dolphins): Interviewed 1/23
- Frank Smith, former offensive coordinator (Dolphins): Interviewed
- Charlie Weis Jr., offensive coordinator (Ole Miss): Withdrew from search
Commanders Interviewing Bears DBs Coach Al Harris For DC Job
The Commanders are interviewing Al Harris, the Bears’ defensive backs coach and passing game coordinator, for their defensive coordinator vacancy, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
With Brian Flores and Jeff Ulbrich staying in their current DC jobs in Minnesota and Atlanta, the Commanders are adding more candidates to their list, per NBC4’s JP Finlay.
Harris, 51, spent 13 years as an NFL cornerback – primarily with the Eagles and the Packers – before joining the coaching ranks. After an internship with the Dolphins, he spent six years in Kansas City and one at Florida Atlantic University before landing in Dallas in 2020, where his reputation began to soar.
As the Cowboys’ defensive backs coach under head coach Mike McCarthy, Harris oversaw the development of ballhawking cornerbacks Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland, who led the league in interceptions, return yards, and return touchdowns in back-to-back years. The team’s passing defense as a whole ranked as a top-10 unit in 2022 and 2023, but regressed in 2024 in no small part due to injuries. Harris added assistant head coach to his title that year, his final in Dallas as McCarthy was fired at the end of the season.
Harris quickly found a new job in Chicago on Ben Johnson’s staff, but the Bears’ pass defense did not excel statistically this year. They led the league in interceptions, including an individual league-high by Kevin Byard. After earning Pro Bowls and first-team All-Pro nods with the Titans in 2017 and 2021, the veteran safety returned to those heights in his first year under Harris.
Eagles Submit OC Interview Request For Declan Doyle
Mike McDaniel is in position to become the Chargers’ new offensive coordinator. Zac Robinson, meanwhile, has reached an agreement to take on the OC gig with the Buccaneers.
Both of them were Eagles targets regarding their offensive coordinator vacancy. The team’s list of candidates to replace Kevin Patullo continues to grow, however. Philadelphia has submitted an interview request for Bears OC Declan Doyle, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.
This marks the first time Doyle has been linked to another team’s coordinator opening. A move to Philadelphia’s staff would technically not be a lateral one since Bears head coach Ben Johnson handled play-calling duties during his first season leading the team. The Eagles’ next OC will likely be tasked with calling plays, although head coach Nick Sirianni‘s level of involvement on offense in 2026 remains to be seen.
Doyle began his coaching career in 2016 as a student assistant at Iowa. After three years in that role, he made the jump to the NFL. Following a four-year Saints tenure, Doyle joined Sean Payton in Denver in 2023; he spent two seasons as the Broncos’ tight ends coach. Doyle’s first coordinator opportunity came during last year’s hiring cycle when he joined Johnson’s initial Bears staff.
The possibility of numerous Chicago departures was raised shortly before the coaching carousel began spinning in 2026. Eric Bieniemy is indeed set to reprise his role as the Chiefs’ offensive coordinator, and other changes could be coming soon as well. Doyle will also be a name to watch in the wake of Chicago’s highly successful campaign.
Via PFR’s Coordinator Search Tracker, here is an updated look at where things stand for the Eagles:
- Jim Bob Cooter, offensive coordinator (Colts): Interview requested
- Brian Daboll, former head coach (Giants): Interviewed 1/20
- Declan Doyle, offensive coordinator (Bears): Interview requested
- Josh Grizzard, former offensive coordinator (Buccaneers): To interview
- Mike Kafka, former interim head coach (Giants): Interviewed 1/17
- Mike McDaniel, former head coach (Dolphins): To interview
- Matt Nagy, former offensive coordinator (Chiefs): Interviewed 1/21
- Zac Robinson, offensive coordinator (Falcons): Interviewed 1/16
- Bobby Slowik, senior pass-game coordinator (Dolphins): Interview requested
Packers Interview Al Harris For DC
Looking for a defensive coordinator to replace the departed Jeff Hafley, the Packers could turn to one of their former players. They’ve completed an interview with Bears defensive backs coach/pass game coordinator Al Harris, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Harris, a former cornerback, spent a large chunk of his playing career in Green Bay. A Packer from 2003-10, Harris piled up 14 interceptions and earned two Pro Bowl nods in their uniform. He’s now a member of the team’s Hall of Fame.
After wrapping up his career with the Rams in 2011, Harris jumped into coaching as an intern with the Dolphins.
Since he got his feet wet for a year in Miami, Harris has coached defensive backs with the Chiefs, Cowboys and Bears. Harris doesn’t have any experience as a coordinator, but he has learned from the likes of Bob Sutton, Mike Zimmer, Dan Quinn and Dennis Allen.
In 2025, his first season in Chicago, Harris helped guide a turnover-happy defense that led the league with 23 interceptions. The Bears pulled that off despite going without two high-end corners, the injured duo of Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon, for significant periods. Johnson missed 10 games, and Gordon sat out 14. The Bears nonetheless finished 11-6 and won the NFC North before knocking the archrival Packers out of the wild-card round with a 31-27 comeback victory.
After dropping a nail-biter to the Rams in the divisional round, the Bears could lose Harris to the Packers. The 51-year-old joins former Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon, Vikings defensive backs coach Daronte Jones and Eagles DBs coach Christian Parker as early candidates to succeed Hafley. After two years running the Packers’ defense, Hafley left to become the Dolphins’ head coach on Monday.
In Hafley’s last year in Green Bay, the team ranked a solid 11th in points allowed and 12th in yards. The Packers’ defense likely would have enjoyed more success had the unit’s best player, superstar edge rusher Micah Parsons, not gone down with a torn ACL in Week 15. The rehab process is expected to sideline Parsons for the start of 2026, but he’s optimistic he’ll return by Week 4.
NFL Reserve/Futures Deals: 1/21/26
Today’s reserve/futures deals:
Atlanta Falcons
- TE Joshua Simon
Chicago Bears
- TE Qadir Ismail
Las Vegas Raiders
- LS Alex Ward
Los Angeles Rams
- S Nate Valcarcel
Miami Dolphins
- LB Seth Coleman
Philadelphia Eagles
- TE Jaheim Bell
San Francisco 49ers
Chiefs Bring Back Eric Bieniemy As OC
JANUARY 21: Bieniemy and the Chiefs have officially agreed to a deal, according to Pelissero.
JANUARY 19: Earlier today, Eric Bieniemy received an interview request from the Chiefs for their offensive coordinator position. A reunion is indeed set to take place. 
Bienemy is expected to return to his previous role with Kansas City, as first reported by Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. Once a hire takes place, the Chiefs will have their Matt Nagy replacement in the building. Nagy has not yet taken a head coaching position, but the team has been preparing for a departure in his case.
According to Scoop City‘s James Palmer, this reunion has been in the works for a notable stretch. Chiefs head coach Andy Reid spoke with Bieniemy last night after the Bears’ divisional round loss, Palmer adds. A plan to have Bieniemy depart Chicago – where he served as the team’s running backs coach in 2025 – is now in motion.
From 2013-22, Bieniemy worked on Reid’s staff in Kansas City. The final five years of that span included Bieniemy operating as the team’s offensive coordinator. Reid routinely campaigned for the 56-year-old to receive a head coaching opportunity, but numerous interviews across various hiring cycles did not result in a hire. In the end, Bieniemy took on a play-calling OC gig with the Commanders for 2023. One season in that role was followed by another one-and-done campaign at UCLA.
During last year’s hiring cycle, Bieniemy returned to the NFL ranks by joining Ben Johnson‘s staff. The Bears produced a record of 11-6 and advanced to the divisional round of the playoffs during Johnson’s first year as a head coach. The ground game played a key role in that success, and both D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai enjoyed strong seasons down the stretch in particular. Their performances have helped Bieniemy’s stock as a coordinator, although this KC reunion will no doubt see Reid continue to handle play-calling duties.
Nagy was a top Reid assistant during his first Chiefs stint, and he was the team’s OC for one season before becoming the Bears’ head coach. After that Chicago run ended, Nagy returned to Kansas City at first as a quarterbacks coach. Nagy has again held the title of offensive coordinator for the past three years, but this Bieniemy return signals he will be coaching elsewhere in 2026. Nagy has been connected to a number of HC openings in recent days, and a Titans hire in particular would come as little surprise given his Chiefs connections with general manager Mike Borgonzi.