2026 NFL Offseason Outlook Series
Pro Football Rumors is breaking down how all 32 teams’ offseason blueprints are shaping up. Going forward, the Offseason Outlook series is exclusive to Trade Rumors Front Office subscribers, and that link provides details on how to sign up for an annual membership.
This post will be updated as more Outlooks are published.
AFC East
- Buffalo Bills
- Miami Dolphins
- New England Patriots
- New York Jets
AFC North
- Baltimore Ravens
- Cincinnati Bengals
- Cleveland Browns
- Pittsburgh Steelers
AFC South
- Houston Texans
- Indianapolis Colts
- Jacksonville Jaguars
- Tennessee Titans
AFC West
- Denver Broncos
- Kansas City Chiefs
- Las Vegas Raiders
- Los Angeles Chargers
NFC East
- Dallas Cowboys
- New York Giants
- Philadelphia Eagles
- Washington Commanders
NFC North
- Chicago Bears
- Detroit Lions
- Green Bay Packers
- Minnesota Vikings
NFC South
- Atlanta Falcons
- Carolina Panthers
- New Orleans Saints
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
NFC West
- Arizona Cardinals
- Los Angeles Rams
- San Francisco 49ers
- Seattle Seahawks
Bears To Hire Eric Studesville As RBs Coach
The Bears have found their replacement for Eric Bienemy, their running backs coach in 2025 who returned to Kansas City as the Chiefs’ offensive coordinator this offseason. Former Dolphins assistant Eric Studesville will take up the job in 2026, per Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune.
Studesville, 58, began his NFL coaching career with the Bears as an offensive quality control coach in 1997. Interestingly, that followed a college career in which he played and coached on the defensive side of the ball. He then served as the wide receivers coach/assistant special teams coach in 1999 and 2000 before he was hired by the Giants to be their running backs coach. He spent three years in New York before taking the same job with the Bills (2004-2009), Broncos (2010-2016), and Dolphins (2017-2025).
In Miami, he also held the titles of run game coordinator (2017-2020), co-offensive coordinator (2021), and associate head coach (2022-2025). He also overlapped with then-Dolphins WRs coach Ben Johnson for two years and will now fill a key role on his staff in Chicago.
Studeville has developed notable star running backs in his career, including De’Von Achane, Tiki Barber, Fred Jackson, Willis McGahee, C.J. Anderson, and Knowshon Moreno. He will now work with D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai, who were an effective one-two punch in 2025.
Bears Could Promote Press Taylor To OC
A successful first season as Chicago’s passing game coordinator may lead to a promotion for Press Taylor. The Bears will consider Taylor for their offensive coordinator job, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.
Head coach Ben Johnson is on the hunt for a new O-coordinator after losing Declan Doyle to the Ravens last week. Doyle left to work as a play-caller, which is a responsibility Johnson handles in Chicago. Taylor and Cardinals passing game coordinator Connor Senger are the first known candidates to replace Doyle.
Unlike Senger, the 38-year-old Taylor has previous OC experience, having held the position in Jacksonville from 2022-24. Head coach Doug Pederson called the plays in the first of those seasons, but he passed those responsibilities to Taylor over the next two years.
While the Jaguars finished a respectable 13th in total offense and scoring in 2023, they plummeted to 25th and 26th in those categories during a four-win 2024. That led to a coaching change in Jacksonville and Taylor’s departure.
With Taylor assisting their aerial attack in 2025, the Bears climbed from 31st in passing to 10th. Quarterback Caleb Williams made obvious strides in the second year of his career, helping the Bears to 11 wins and an NFC North title. While wide receiver D.J. Moore‘s production declined significantly, and fellow wideout Rome Odunze missed five games because of a foot injury, tight end Colston Loveland helped pick up the slack during an outstanding rookie campaign.
The Bears selected Loveland 10th overall last year and then grabbed another promising target, receiver Luther Burden, in the second round. After he helped Loveland and Burden combine for 105 catches, 1,365 yards and eight touchdowns in 2025, the Bears are considering a bigger role for Taylor.
Bears Request OC Interview With Connor Senger; Troy Walters Declines Interview
Now in the market for an offensive coordinator to replace the departed Declan Doyle, the Bears have requested an interview with Cardinals passing game coordinator Connor Senger, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports. The Bears also requested an interview with Bengals wide receivers coach Troy Walters, but he declined, according to Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports.
It’s unclear why Walters turned down the Bears, but it may have something to do with the fact that their offensive coordinator doesn’t call plays. Head coach Ben Johnson handles those duties. The allure of calling plays led the 29-year-old Doyle to exit Chicago for Baltimore last week.
Senger, 30, is coming off his fourth season in Arizona and first in his current role, but his future is uncertain in the wake of a head coaching change. New head coach Mike LaFleur, who’s taking over for Jonathan Gannon, may elect to go in another direction.
Even if LaFleur wants to keep Senger, it’s possible he’ll take a different job elsewhere. Before the Bears showed interest in Senger, the Bills and Packers requested to interview him for their open quarterbacks coach positions.
A former Wisconsin and Wisconsin-Oshkosh QB, Senger began in the NFL as a coaching fellow in 2022 and has steadily risen through the ranks. He was an offensive quality control coach in 2023 and an assistant QBs coach in 2024.
Under Senger’s guidance this past season, the Cardinals finished seventh in the league in passing despite backup signal-caller Jacoby Brissett starting for the injured Kyler Murray in 12 of 17 games. Their QBs combined for 29 touchdowns against 11 interceptions and ranked a respectable 13th in traditional passer rating (92.5).
While Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. didn’t progress as hoped in his second season, third-year wideout Michael Wilson broke through during a 78-catch, 1,006-yard, seven-touchdown campaign. Meanwhile, with 126 grabs, 1,239 yards and 11 scores, Trey McBride was the most prolific tight end in the game. Only superstar Rams receiver Puka Nacua (129) amassed more catches than McBride.
In heading to Chicago for a promotion, Senger would join a reigning division champion that boasted a top-10 offense in 2025. Unlike the Cardinals, the Bears are set at quarterback with Caleb Williams. They also have an enviable group of weapons consisting of running backs D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai, receivers Rome Odunze, Luther Burden and D.J. Moore, and tight ends Colston Loveland and Cole Kmet.
Declan Doyle Left Bears, Joined Ravens To Call Plays
Declan Doyle was planning to stay in Chicago for at least one more year. The 29-year-old withdrew from the Eagles’ search for a new offensive coordinator, telling them he would remain with the Bears, who were under the same impression.
Then, the Ravens came calling, and their offer – to work with Jesse Minter and call plays for Lamar Jackson – was too good to turn down. Ben Johnson‘s presence in Chicago would keep Doyle from ever becoming the Bears’ play-caller. With many (though not all) teams looking for such experience when hiring new head coaches, Doyle accepted the job in Baltimore.
While Minter and Jackson were major draws, Doyle was already working with one of the league’s most exciting head coach-quarterback duos in Johnson and Caleb Williams. Instead, the opportunity to develop and call his own offense put the appeal of the Ravens’ offensive coordinator gig over the top, according to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer.
Jackson was named MVP in his first season with his last two offensive coordinators, Greg Roman and Todd Monken. The latter’s success with Jackson is a major reason he was named the Browns’ new head coach last week.
Similar results from Doyle will keep him on the radar for future head coaching gigs. He is already seen as a fast riser in the coaching world with time under Johnson and Sean Payton, two of the most respective offensive minds in the league. He played a key role in revitalizing the Bears in 2025, and success in Baltimore will further boost his resume for future hiring cycles.
Ravens To Hire Declan Doyle As OC
The Ravens are expected to hire Bears offensive coordinator Declan Doyle for the same position on Jesse Minter‘s new staff in Baltimore, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Doyle, 29, has just seven years of NFL coaching experience and only one season as a coordinator. He previously served as an offensive assistant with the Saints (2019-2022) and a tight ends coach with the Broncos (2023-2024) before joining Ben Johnson in Chicago. He helped Johnson quickly install his offense and played a crucial role in Caleb Williams‘ second-year breakout, both of which contributed to the Bears winning their first playoff game since 2010.
Doyle’s success in those roles – as well as his time under Johnson and Sean Payton – attracted the attention of the Eagles and the Ravens in recent weeks as they look for new offensive coordinators. Though the Bears could block those interviews, they allowed Doyle to speak with other teams. He withdrew from the Eagles’ search, but traveled to Baltimore on Friday to interview with the Ravens. That meeting clearly went well, as the two sides quickly reached an agreement for Doyle to join Minter’s staff.
In Baltimore, Doyle will get to work rebuilding the Ravens offense around Lamar Jackson after a disappointing 2025 season. The unit regressed significantly from their elite numbers in 2023 and 2024 and finished 11th in points and 16th in yards. A number of injuries to Jackson played a role, though they were also symptomatic of bigger issues. The offensive line could not consistently keep Jackson clean in the pocket or open up holes at the line of scrimmage, and the Ravens went from being one of the league’s best red-zone offenses to one of its worst.
The Bears were confident that Doyle would remain in Chicago after he withdrew his name from the Eagles’ search, per Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune. However, the opportunity to work under Minter and call plays Jackson on a Ravens team that is expected to return to championship contention in 2026 was too much to turn down. Johnson will now have to find a new offensive coordinator heading into his second season as a head coach, and he will not be able to offer play-calling duties to entice candidates with interest from other teams.
The Ravens, meanwhile, will now work with Doyle to build out the rest of his offensive staff. They have already made key hires to coach their offensive line, but former coaches John Harbaugh and Todd Monken have been poaching assistants from their previous staff in Baltimore. With Doyle hired, the Ravens will be able to make decisions on the rest of their incumbent coaches, including important figures like quarterbacks coach Tee Martin.
Here is an overview of Baltimore’s now-completed offensive coordinator search:
- Joe Brady, offensive coordinator (Bills): Mentioned as candidate
- Declan Doyle, offensive coordinator (Bears): Hire expected
- Kliff Kingsbury, former offensive coordinator (Commanders): Interviewed 1/12
- Mike McDaniel, former head coach (Dolphins): Mentioned as candidate
- Scottie Montgomery, wide receivers coach (Lions): To interview
- Davis Webb, quarterbacks coach (Broncos): Interview requested
Falcons To Hire Ian Cunningham As GM
The Falcons are hiring Bears executive Ian Cunningham to be their next general manager, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The team has since confirmed the news with an official announcement.
Cunningham, 40, has been Chicago’s assistant general manager for the last four years. He was a candidate for the newly created president of football operations job that went to Matt Ryan and quickly emerged as a favorite for the general manager job. He will replace Terry Fontenot, who was fired after five seasons on the job. Atlanta finished under .500 in every year of Fontenot’s tenure, which featured zero playoff berths. Falcons owner Arthur Blank fired Fontenot and head coach Raheem Morris after the 2025 season with the hopes of quickly reshaping the franchise.
Hiring Cunningham is the third step in doing just that. Bringing Ryan aboard was the first, and installing Kevin Stefanski as Morris’ successor was the second. Now, the trio will head into the offseason looking to build around the Falcons’ core of exciting young players on both sides of the ball.
This marks a significant step for Cunningham, who was a finalist for the Commanders’ GM job in 2024 and the Cardinals’ position in 2023. While Adam Peters won out for the Washington gig, Cunningham is believed to have turned down an Arizona GM offer. Cunningham also emerged as a strong Jaguars GM candidate last year. Despite Ryan’s presence, the veteran exec accepted this Atlanta position and will work in helping the team turn things around.
Cunningham began his football career as an offensive lineman at the University of Virginia. He went undrafted in 2008 and signed with the Chiefs but did not make the 53-man roster. He immediately moved into a front office career as a personnel assistant with the Ravens. He contributed to Baltimore’s 2012 Super Bowl win and became an area scout the following year. His success in that role eventually attracted the attention of Howie Roseman and the Eagles, who hired him to be their director of college scouting in 2017.
Cunningham spent five years in Philadelphia with promotions to assistant director of player personnel in 2019 and director of player personnel in 2021. The Eagles consistently had strong rosters during his tenure, with three playoff berths and the franchise’s first Super Bowl victory in 2017. Though he left for Chicago in 2022, Cunningham’s fingerprints were also all over the teams that made the Super Bowl that season and won it in 2024.
In Chicago, Cunningham joined new general manager Ryan Poles and the two worked to rebuild a team that had not won a playoff game in more than a decade. After three years and a 15-36 record, their efforts finally paid off. After drafting quarterback Caleb Williams and hiring head coach Ben Johnson in back-to-back offseasons, the Bears went 11-6, won the NFC North, and beat the Packers in the wild-card round, their best finish since 2018. Their season ended the next week with an overtime loss to the Rams, but it was clear that Cunningham helped build another championship contender.
He will now attempt to do the same in Atlanta, this time as the general manager. The Falcons already have a number of pieces in place. On offense are quarterback Michael Penix Jr., running back Bijan Robinson, wide receiver Drake London, left tackle Jake Matthews, and right guard Chris Lindstrom, and the defense features edge rushers Jalon Walker and James Pearce, cornerback AJ Terrell, and safety Xavier Watts.
From there, Cunningham will work with Ryan and Stefanski to build around that young core, though he will not be able to get too aggressive right away. The Falcons are projected to have just $17.4MM in cap space entering the 2026 offseason, per OverTheCap, though Cunningham can obviously find ways to make more room. Atlanta will also be without its first-round pick in April’s draft having used it last year to trade up for Pearce.
Typically, when a team hires another team’s minority executive to be their general manager, the original team receives two third-round compensatory selections. But since Ryan is considered the Falcons’ primary football executive, the Bears will not be receiving any draft picks as a result of Cunningham’s hire, per Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune. That also means Chicago could have blocked the move, but the NFC North club opted not to. Instead, the Bears will begin their own search to replace Cunningham as Poles’ top lieutenant.
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