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Falcons Set Up Second GM Interviews With Ian Cunningham, James Liipfert

By | at January 27, 2026 12:38 pm

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:

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Cardinals Arrange Second Mike LaFleur HC Interview

By | at January 27, 2026 11:46 am

JANUARY 27: The Cardinals are one of three teams which have yet to make a head coaching hire at this point, but Connor Hughes of SNY reports LaFleur is still viewed as the frontrunner for Arizona. Once the follow-up between the parties concludes, a potential hire will be something to watch for.

JANUARY 26: With the Rams‘ season having ended on Sunday, their staffers are free to speak with interested teams about head coaching vacancies. That makes Mike LaFleur one of the top names to watch over the coming days.

LaFleur has been strongly linked to the Cardinals with their HC search ongoing. A second interview has now been arranged between the two. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports the Rams’ offensive coordinator will meet in person with Arizona today and tomorrow.

A Saturday report named LaFleur, along with former Falcons head coach Raheem Morris and Jaguars defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile as the “leading” candidates for the Cardinals’ HC gig. As such, today’s update comes as little surprise. LaFleur has also met with the Raiders, one of four teams still in need of a new head coach.

Arizona fired Jonathan Gannon on ‘Black Monday’ in a move which ended his three-year run with the team. Since then, a number of other vacancies have emerged and – based on the level of activity regarding hires and interviews – many have proven to be more attractive. Indeed, six other HC hires have taken place at this point. Of the teams still looking for a head coach, only the Bills reached the playoffs in 2025.

After winning eight games in 2024, a postseason berth would not have been a major surprise in Arizona’s case. Instead, the team ended on a nine-game losing streak and finished 3-14. Improvement will be sought out by the Cardinals’ next head coach, someone who will have to make staffing decisions such as the hiring of a new offensive coordinator (to replace Drew Petzing) upon arrival. Gannon came to Arizona with a defensive background, whereas the opposite is true of LaFleur.

The brother of current Packers head coach Matt LaFleur, Mike worked as the Jets’ offensive coordinator in 2021 and ’22. Since then, he has worked a non-play-calling OC with the Rams. LaFleur, 38, has never been a head coach at the college or NFL levels. He is one of the top candidates still on the market at this point, however, and it will be interesting to see if this upcoming Cardinals interview produces an offer.

Via PFR’s HC Search Tracker, here is a look at where things stand for Arizona:

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Eagles Interview Sean Mannion For OC Gig

By | at January 27, 2026 10:31 am

The list of Eagles offensive coordinator candidates has grown even longer. Philadelphia’s search for a Kevin Patullo replacement has produced another interview.

The Eagles met with Packers quarterbacks coach Sean Mannion, CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz reports. That makes him the 14th candidate linked to Philadelphia’s OC vacancy in one capacity or another. This is the first known coordinator interview Mannion has taken in this year’s cycle. Mike Garafolo of NFL Network confirms Mannion’s first meeting with Philadelphia was virtual, but he adds an in-person follow-up will take place later this week.

Immediately after ending his playing career, Mannion stepped into coaching. The former Rams and Vikings passer joined the Packers’ staff in February 2024. He worked as an offensive assistant on Matt LaFleur‘s staff that year before being promoted to QBs coach following Tom Clements’ retirement. In 2025, Mannion guided a position group which included Jordan Love posting the best passer rating (101.2) of his tenure working as Green Bay’s starter. Backup Malik Willis also drew praise for his work when on the field.

Willis could head elsewhere in free agency this spring, and given today’s updates Mannion could soon leave Green Bay as well. At the age of 33 and with only two years of coaching experience, Mannion would certainly carry a high degree of risk from the perspective of the Eagles or any other suitors. A hire could, on the other hand, set Philadelphia up for a degree of stability at the OC spot, something which has been lacking throughout head coach Nick Sirianni‘s tenure.

Patullo increasingly drew criticism for his unit’s performances in 2024, the first season following his promotion as Kellen Moore‘s successor. Other factors were in play for Philadelphia as last year’s Super Bowl winners fell short of expectations, but it came as little surprise when Patullo was dismissed following the team’s wild-card loss. The search for his replacement has proven to be far-reaching, but Mannion – who will work as an offensive coordinator in tonight’s East-West Shrine Bowl – is firmly on the Eagles’ radar.

Via PFR’s Coordinator Search Tracker, here is a look at where things stand for Philadelphia:

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Jets Remain In Contact With Frank Reich; Aaron Glenn Could Call Defensive Plays?

By | at January 27, 2026 9:42 am

Frank Reich emerged over the weekend as a candidate to watch for the Jets as their coordinator searches continue. A hire in his case could be drawing near.

Conversations are “progressing” between Reich and the Jets, SNY’s Connor Hughes reports. An agreement remains the team’s priority as this point while head coach Aaron Glenn attempts to fill out his staff. Tanner Engstrand is set to remain in New York for 2026, but his responsibilities for next season are still unclear.

As Hughes notes, Engstrand could wind up retaining the title of offensive coordinator for 2026. In the event he were to be hired, though, Reich would handle play-calling duties. The longtime NFL quarterback – who spent one year of his playing career with the Jets – has worked as an offensive coordinator on two occasions (Chargers from 2014-15; Eagles from 2016-17). Reich’s Philadelphia tenure included a Super Bowl championship but then-head coach Doug Pederson called plays at the time.

Reich worked as the Colts’ head coach for four-plus years, with his time there ending midway through the 2022 season. He lasted less than one full campaign during his debut season as the Panthers’ head coach, one in which play-calling duties changed hands along the way. Since his most recent NFL gig came to a quick end, Reich has worked at Stanford. A return to the pro game remains something to watch for in the 64-year-old’s case, though.

Meanwhile, the search for defensive coordinator Steve Wilks‘ replacement is ongoing. Don Martindale remains a leading candidate at this point, per Hughes, although he cautions a hire on that front is not considered as certain as it was in recent days. Martindale has a lengthy track record in the NFL, having been a DC with three teams. After a less-than-cordial departure from the Giants in 2023, Martindale spent the past two seasons as Michigan’s defensive coordinator.

A return to the NFL would be in store in the event of a Jets agreement. Other options are still being explored, however. According to Hughes, candidates who met with the team received the impression Glenn’s preference would be to call plays himself. That leaves the door open to Chris Harris remaining New York’s D-coordinator through 2026 (after he took over from Wilks) but in a role which does not include play-calling duties.

Prior to landing the Jets’ HC gig last winter, Glenn called plays with the Lions during his four-year run as their DC. Detroit ranked seventh in points allowed during the 2024 season, but Glenn’s tenure there included a number of middling showings in terms of total defense. New York bottomed out on defense during Glenn’s first HC season, one in which Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams were traded away. Significant improvement on that side of the ball will be a key priority over the coming months.

How the Jets go about that on the sidelines remains unclear at this point. Neither Reich nor Martindale have been connected to any other coordinator openings around the NFL so far. One or both could be in the fold soon, but that will depend in large part on what Glenn decides his role will be in 2026.

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Steelers To Conduct OC Interview With Lunda Wells

By | at January 27, 2026 8:53 am

Once Mike Tomlin resigned as head coach of the Steelers, the possibility of widespread coaching changes emerged. Pittsburgh now has Mike McCarthy in place, and one of his first priorities will be filling the offensive coordinator position.

It was learned over the weekend that Arthur Smith has agreed to join Ohio State as the school’s new OC. That marks an end to his two-year tenure in Pittsburgh. Smith was connected to other NFL coordinator opportunities as well as some of the league’s head coaching vacancies. In any case, his departure did not come as a surprise and it created the need for a new Steelers OC.

A target on that front has now emerged. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports Pittsburgh is expected to interview Cowboys tight ends coach Lunda Wells this week. Wells has been in his current position since 2020, the year McCarthy arrived as Dallas’ head coach. The two worked together for five years on the Cowboys’ staff.

Wells began his NFL coaching career in 2012 with the Giants. The 47-year-old remained in New York for eight years before joining McCarthy in Dallas. Wells has a background as an offensive line coach, but his final two years with the Giants saw him coach the team’s tight ends. He has continued doing so throughout his Cowboys tenure, including the 2025 campaign after head coach Brian Schottenheimer retained him last winter. Wells interviewed with the Commanders for their OC gig earlier this month before Washington ultimately promoted David Blough to the position.

Wells has drawn praise for his role in developing the likes of Dalton Schultz and Jake Ferguson during his Cowboys tenure. He is currently occupied with preparations for tonight’s East-West Shrine Bowl, where he will coach the West team. After that commitment is finished, though, another OC interview will likely be arranged.

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Philip Rivers Withdraws From Bills’ HC Search; Team To Interview Davis Webb

By | at January 26, 2026 11:30 pm

Philip Rivers did well in his recent head coaching interview with the Bills. It will not result in him being hired, however.

The longtime NFL quarterback has withdrawn from consideration in Buffalo’s search, as first reported by Dianna Russini of The Athletic. As recently as yesterday, the Bills were reported to be giving “serious consideration” to a Rivers hire despite his lack of coaching experience. Instead, both parties will move in a different direction.

Once the regular season ended, Rivers confirmed his three-game cameo with the Colts late in the year represented his final action as a player. The potential for head coaching interest was immediately raised, although Buffalo is the only team which has interviewed him so far. Provided that remains the case, Rivers will likely return to coaching his eldest son’s high school team for the 2026 season.

The 44-year-old has coached at the high school level for four years. He has never held a position on any NCAA or NFL staff, something which would have made a head coaching hire a rather noteworthy one. Rivers’ football IQ and leadership qualities played a key role in his success as a player, and they could easily translate into a coaching career. Interest in his case during future hiring cycles will be something to watch for.

The Bills, meanwhile, will proceed with their search for Sean McDermott‘s replacement. A number of outside candidates have spoken with the team so far, while offensive coordinator Joe Brady looms as an option to be promoted to head coach. Buffalo was linked yesterday to interest in Davis Webb, who is currently in place with the Broncos but spent part of his playing career as a teammate of Josh Allen with the Bills.

Webb immediately turned his attention to coaching once his playing career ended following the 2022 season. He was a member of Sean Payton‘s initial Broncos staff in 2023, serving as the team’s quarterbacks coach. In 2025, the 31-year-old had pass-game coordinator added to his title. With the Broncos’ season having ended yesterday, Webb and his colleagues are free to speak with interested teams as the HC carousel continues to spin. Per Russini, Webb will indeed meet with the Bills this morning.

In the wake of today’s updates, here is where the Bills now stand:

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Rooney: Door Open For Aaron Rodgers Steelers Return

By | at January 26, 2026 11:27 pm

The Steelers have hired an offense-oriented head coach for the first time in 60 years. The coach they hired happens to have considerable experience coaching Pittsburgh’s 2025 starting quarterback. After some rumors indicating the Steelers would be interested in extending their Aaron Rodgers partnership to a second season emerged, Art Rooney II confirmed them.

Rooney said upon hiring Mike McCarthy the Steelers are interested in a second Rodgers season. While indicating Rodgers’ status did not affect the team’s McCarthy decision, the longtime owner noted the door is open for Rodgers to stay in Pittsburgh and play a 22nd NFL season.

“We don’t know what Aaron’s plans are right now, and that did not weigh heavily in the decision,” Rooney said of the McCarthy hire, via The Athletic’s Mike DeFabo. “We’ll see where Aaron is, and we’ve left the door open, but obviously we all have to sit down and see if that makes sense. So that’ll happen sometime in the next month or so. But the decision was made based on Mike being the coach we want, and it really had very little to do with whether Aaron is going to be back or not.”

Rooney had said several days ago Mike Tomlin‘s departure would likely affect Rodgers’ Steelers future, but upon McCarthy being hired to coach in his native Pittsburgh, a reported pointed to Rodgers not slamming the door on playing for the veteran HC once again. Rodgers, of course, was the Packers’ starter for 11 seasons with McCarthy at the helm. Overall, the Super Bowl-winning HC coached the future Hall of Fame QB from 2006 until his firing during the 2018 season. Rodgers won two of his four MVP awards under McCarthy, who was Green Bay’s play-caller for almost all of that stretch.

Although Rodgers did not exactly flash prime form this past season, the Steelers could use him as a bridge quarterback. Rodgers, 42, ranked 23rd in QBR — one spot behind where Russell Wilson ranked in 2024. Though, teams had Rodgers slotted higher in the free agency queue than Wilson last year. The Steelers, though, would have preferred Matthew Stafford or a Justin Fields re-signing to Rodgers. The Vikings appealed to Rodgers more than the Steelers, but when Minnesota did not express sufficient interest, it became Pittsburgh or retirement for the recent Jets starter.

While Rodgers said the 2025 season most likely would be his last, a report in late December pegged him as not being committed to retiring. It would be quite Rodgers-like for this decision to drag on; after all, he did not finally commit to the Steelers until June 2025.

Pittsburgh’s latest playoff one-and-done leaves the team with the No. 21 overall pick. That might be enough to land the top non-Fernando Mendoza QB option in this year’s class, but the talent pool looks much thinner than it was projected to at last season’s outset. It is possible non-Raiders teams will need to consider eyeing their rookie options in 2027 rather than 2026, though some younger QBs — Kyler Murray, Tua Tagovailoa among them — are in play to relocate.

For now, though, the Steelers have let it be known they are interested in pairing Rodgers with McCarthy again after seven seasons apart. The team did not set a deadline on Rodgers last year, but with other veteran options likely set to come up as starters in 2026, it will likely need to hear from the all-time great sooner this offseason.

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Chargers Confirm Mike McDaniel OC Hire

By | at January 26, 2026 11:21 pm

Mike McDaniel will not take on a new head coaching position in 2026. After exploring options on that front over the past few days, the ex-Dolphins HC will indeed focus on his offensive coordinator agreement with the Chargers.

The Bolts announced on Monday that McDaniel has officially joined the team. An agreement was reached last week which set him up to take on OC duties in Los Angeles. At the time, though, McDaniel was still a candidate for the head coaching gigs in Vegas and Baltimore. The Raiders have yet to make a hire, but one candidate has officially been removed from consideration.

The Bills are also among the four teams which still have a head coaching vacancy at this point. Buffalo was slated to interview McDaniel, but he withdrew from consideration on Saturday. According to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, McDaniel was hesitant about meeting with the Bills shortly after working out an arrangement with the Chargers.

As of this weekend, McDaniel was still expected to ultimately take the job with Los Angeles (h/t Dianna Russini of The Athletic). No deal was formally in place at the time, but that has now changed. The Chargers have their Greg Roman replacement in hand. Roman was fired immediately after Los Angeles lost in the wild-card round for the second straight year.

That decision came as little surprise given the Chargers’ struggles on offense during the playoffs under Roman. Nevertheless, it ensured head coach Jim Harbaugh would have someone else operating as his OC for the first time at the NFL level. McDaniel, 42, will certainly represent a notable change on the sidelines for Los Angeles as the team seeks improvement in efficiency.

At times during his Miami tenure, McDaniel guided a unit which thrived in a number of areas. The Dolphins posted a top-six finish in total offense in 2022 and ’23, the years in which Miami reached the postseason. Things did not go according to plan afterwards, with the team regressing in a number of categories. McDaniel is nevertheless regarded as one of the league’s top offensive minds.

That reputation was largely generated during a lengthy period which saw McDaniel work alongside Kyle Shanahan on multiple staffs. From 2017-21, he operated as a key figure in San Francisco. McDaniel was the 49ers’ run-game coordinator for four years before a single campaign in an OC role. That one did not include play-calling duties, but with the Chargers McDaniel will handle those responsibilities.

Several candidates interviewed with the Bolts for their offensive coordinator position, including three other former head coaches. In the end, though, the expected outcome has emerged with McDaniel heading to Los Angeles. His future head coaching stock will no doubt be tied in large part to his ability to maximize the potential of quarterback Justin Herbert and Co. moving forward.

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Commanders To Hire Daronte Jones As Defensive Coordinator

By | at January 26, 2026 11:20 pm

The Commanders have found their new defensive coordinator. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Commanders are finalizing a deal to hire Daronte Jones as their new DC.

We learned just yesterday that Jones was set to interview for the job, marking his fifth DC interview during this year’s hiring cycle. Jones first emerged as a coordinator candidate during the 2024 offseason when he interviewed for the Giants DC job. His candidacy took another bump last year, as he interviewed for the Bears, Jaguars, and Saints gigs.

That interest seemed to culminate this offseason, as Jones was viewed as a DC in waiting. He was a candidate for the Cowboys, Packers, Giants, and Jets jobs before he ultimately landed the gig on Dan Quinn‘s Washington staff. He was also a candidate to take over as the Vikings DC if Brian Flores ended up leaving for a head coaching job. This will represent a bit of a homecoming for the coach, who grew up just outside of Washington and played college football at Morgan State in Baltimore.

Jones had a long stint coaching college football before taking his first NFL gig with the Dolphins in 2016. Since then, he’s quickly climbed the ranks, serving as a cornerbacks/DBs coach with the Bengals and later the Vikings. He’s actually completing his second stint in Minnesota, as Jones briefly left the organization to serve as LSU’s defensive coordinator in 2021. After returning as the Vikings defensive backs coach in 2022, he earned a promotion to defensive pass game coordinator in 2023.

The Commanders’ need for a new DC wasn’t unexpected. Joe Whitt was stripped of play-calling duties midway through the 2025 season, and he was ultimately dismissed earlier this month. Quinn had a long list of candidates, including Flores before the Vikings DC ended up re-upping with Minnesota, per Dianna Russini of The Athletic. Instead, the Commanders ended up pivoting and snagging someone from Flores’ staff.

In Washington, Jones will be tasked with turning around a defense that took significant steps back in 2025. While the Commanders were a respectable 12th in sacks, they finished 27th in points, 31st in takeaways and dead last in yards. Quinn took play-calling duties from Whitt after Week 10, though there’s a chance the head coach passes those responsibilities to his new DC. While Jones doesn’t have extensive experience, he did call defensive plays during his lone season at LSU.

While more changes are surely coming to Washington’s coaching staff, Jones will represent the most significant addition this offseason. With David Blough taking over for Kliff Kingsbury as the offensive coordinator, the Commanders will enter the 2026 campaign with first-time coordinators on both sides of the ball.

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John Harbaugh Retains Two Giants Coaches, Hires Two From Ravens Staff

By | at January 26, 2026 11:20 pm

John Harbaugh is about to complete his first week as the Giants’ new head coach, and as promised, he is making some changes in New York.

Outside linebackers coach Charlie Bullen and tight ends coach Tim Kelly are the only two members of Brian Daboll‘s staff that will retain their jobs under Harbaugh, according to Paul Schwartz of the New York Post.

Bullen was hired before the 2024 season and served as the team’s interim defensive coordinator for the last four games of the 2025 season. His position group has arguably been the best part of the Giants’ defense over the last two years.

Brian Burns, Azeez Ojulari, and Kayvon Thibodeaux combined for 20 sacks and 32 tackles for loss in 2024; Burns put up 16.5 sacks and 22 tackles for loss on his own this past season. Bullen also put together a decent defensive showing to end the season. His debut was a rough 33-15 loss to the Patriots, but after a Week 14 bye, the Giants allowed only 72 points and forced eight turnovers in their last four games.

Kelly also arrived in New York in 2024. He has not gotten much out of the Giants’ tight ends, though both Theo Johnson and Daniel Bellinger both took a step forward this past season. Kelly’s pre-Giants coaching career is not especially encouraging, either. Harbaugh may have preferred to hire George Godsey, his former tight ends coach in Baltimore, but Godsey already took a job as Georgia Tech’s offensive coordinator.

Harbaugh will be bringing other members of his previous staff to New York. The Ravens initially blocked a lateral move for special teams coordinator Chris Horton, but reversed course after hiring Jesse Minter. They are also letting running backs coach Willie Taggart follow Harbaugh, per Ian O’Connor of The Athletic.

Taggart’s role with the Giants is not yet known. He interviewed for the offensive coordinator job, but that is still expected to go to Harbaugh’s most recent OC in Baltimore, Todd Monken. Monken is still a candidate for the Browns’ head coaching job, but if he does not get it, he will immediately join Harbaugh’s staff in New York, according to SNY’s Connor Hughes.

Monken completing the expected Maryland-to-New York trek would only leave Taggart available for a lateral move, which the Ravens would have to permit. Given that Taggart’s hiring was reported before the Giants made their OC hire – and after Minter was hired – Baltimore seems to have allowed him to leave.

The same appears to be true of defensive line coach Dennis Johnson, who is also among Harbaugh’s initial hires, per KRPC2’s Aaron Wilson. He spent the last two years in Baltimore and played a key role in developing Travis Jones, though he could not get enough out of the rest of the unit in 2025 after Nnamdi Madubuike‘s season-ending injury. News of Johnson’s move to New York also came after the Ravens officially brought Minter aboard, indicating that he wanted to go in a different direction at the position.

Harbaugh could also be considering a much bigger reunion with a former Ravens coach: Rex Ryan.

“I’m not ruling anything out,” Harbaugh said on WFAN after being asked about hiring his former defensive coordinator (via Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio). “A guy like Rex, he’s around the game, he knows the game. He’s going to have to get updated a little bit with some of the scheme stuff, but I’ll tell you, no one calls a better game than Rex Ryan.”

Bringing the former Jets and Bills head coach back to the NFL would be a major swing on Harbaugh’s part, especially if he hired him as the Giants’ defensive coordinator. That job would come with play-calling duties, a tall task after a decade away from coaching.

Still, Ryan has interviewed for jobs in each of the last three hiring cycles. He was a finalist for the Broncos’ DC gig in 2023, interviewed for the same job with the Cowboys in 2024, and managed to insert himself in the Jets’ head coach search last offseason. He no doubt would jump at the opportunity to return to the league, especially under a former longtime colleague like Harbaugh.

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