Falcons, Giants, Titans Believed To Be Early John Harbaugh Leaders; Latest On Browns, Dolphins’ Pursuits
JANUARY 13: It appears the Titans should not be dropped to the second tier of the Harbaugh sweepstakes. Tennessee is believed to join Atlanta and New York as a frontrunner here at this point in the process, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini tweets. The Titans are conducting a thorough search, but Harbaugh’s name has shot toward the top of the list as Borgonzi prepares to make his first HC hire.
JANUARY 12: John Harbaugh interviews are expected to begin this week. The Giants look to be pushing the hardest among this lot of suitors, and the sides are on track to huddle up soon. But other teams are still in this race.
As of Monday, it is believed the Falcons join the Giants as the early leaders for the 18-year veteran HC, CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones notes. This is a sentiment shared around the coaching market, according to SNY’s Connor Hughes, who indicates the current expectation points to Harbaugh ending up in Atlanta or New York.
[RELATED: Chris Mara, Harbaugh Complete Informal Meeting]
The Dolphins and Titans, however, are still believed to be in the race, SI.com’s Albert Breer offers. Miami and Tennessee are still likely to have a “real shot” to pitch their jobs to the coveted candidate. Harbaugh is believed to have spent the weekend making preparations to assemble a coaching staff, Breer adds.
We heard over the weekend the Dolphins’ decision to hire Jon-Eric Sullivan as GM may steer them away from Harbaugh, and the Miami opening may not be especially desirable among top HC candidates.
The Titans are coming off a second consecutive 3-14 season, but they do have Cam Ward in place and the NFL’s second-most cap space. Though, the AFC South did show significant improvement this season — after being mostly dormant for many years. The Titans should be viewed as the third-place team for Harbaugh right now, Jones adds, but Ward and the lofty cap-space figure have presented some intrigue for Harbaugh, NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo tweets. High draft choices and the Titans moving toward a new stadium are also factors here, Garafolo adds, noting GM Mike Borgonzi‘s presence is viewed as a plus early.
The NFC South, however, has been the NFL’s worst division on the whole this decade. The Falcons were part of a three-way tie for first place at 8-9. They were believed to join the Giants in closely monitoring the Harbaugh situation before the Ravens fired him. Atlanta also does not look to be a rebuilding team, having some quality pieces at the skill positions, up front and, as of 2025, in the pass-rushing department. The divisional outlook also does not look particularly strong moving forward, creating an interesting opportunity.
Harbaugh is believed to want some roster say, according to Jones, but he is not aiming for full control. A high salary will be required, as should be expected with a candidate carrying Harbaugh’s credentials and suitor list, but Jones adds a $20MM-per-year number is not a requirement. That is viewed as at or near the top of the coaching market, where ex-Harbaugh mentor Andy Reid resides.
Giants co-owner Steve Tisch is believed to be the strongest Harbaugh proponent within the NFC East organization, according to Hughes, but team brass is fairly in agreement this should be the way to play it. The Giants have not succeeded, for the most part, with first-timers since Tom Coughlin‘s ouster. Pat Shurmur had experience, a two-year Browns run, but was not in the same league as Harbaugh. A Harbaugh hiring would remind of the 2004 Coughlin pickup, though the latter was not nearly as experienced as Harbaugh when he landed the New York job.
In addition to Harbaugh being intrigued by Jaxson Dart, the coaching free agent is believed to value the Giants’ history. A storied franchise in the pre-Super Bowl era and one that has four Super Bowl titles, the Giants have fallen on hard times over the past decade and change. Even though New York won Super Bowl XLVI, it has not booked back-to-back playoff berths since the 2007-08 seasons. Harbaugh, 63, would have a chance to restore the Giants as a contending operation. That could appeal to a coach whose Baltimore tenure had run its course.
While the Browns are aiming to interview Harbaugh, Breer leaves them off the upper echelon of pursuers here. Though, Jones confirms a recent report that indicates mutual interest does exist. It will be tough for the Browns to lure Harbaugh or a comparable candidate, given ownership’s rocky history and Deshaun Watson‘s contract still on the books. The Browns, who will almost definitely roster Watson in 2026 and be on the hook for his megadeal in 2027 thanks to void years-driven dead money, also do not have a great path to a quarterback in this year’s draft due to holding the No. 6 overall pick.
Bears Activate Braxton Jones From IR
The Bears lost left tackle starter Ozzy Trapilo for the season. They have placed both he and linebacker T.J. Edwards on IR; the veteran linebacker also suffered a season-ending injury against the Packers.
One tackle reinforcement will be in place for Chicago’s divisional-round game, however. The team activated Braxton Jones from IR. The former fifth-rounder has been on IR since October. This could set up as Jones’ final act(s) with the Bears, as he is on track for free agency in March.
Jones’ placement on injured reserve (with a knee injury) came not long after being benched for the first time in his career. Jones operated as a full-time starter during his first three seasons with Chicago, a team which has looked into numerous options on the blindside in 2025. Chicago has used Trapilo and Theo Benedet as starters since demoting Jones. Benedet took Trapilo’s place against Green Bay.
With right tackle Darnell Wright earning All-Pro acclaim in a breakthrough season, Trapilo’s future will be at left tackle. The Bears will at least have an option against the Rams in Jones, who came up in trade rumors before his IR placement.
Prior to Jones’ IR trip, he had started 44 games since his 2022 rookie season. Winning Chicago’s LT job that year, Jones kept it through the end of the 2024 campaign before needing to fend off Trapilo and Benedet for the job in training camp. Jones still prevailed in that competition but had emerged as the weak link on Chicago’s revamped O-line — one that also placed left guard Joe Thuney on the All-Pro team.
It will be interesting to see how the Bears replace Trapilo. Benedet, a 2024 UDFA, started eight games this season. Pro Football Focus, however, graded the Canadian blocker poorly, placing him 74th among qualified tackles this season. PFF slotted Trapilo 34th in his rookie year, making this a situation to monitor ahead of the Bears’ 2-5 matchup with the Rams. This also drops Chicago’s injury activation count to one, even with the NFL granting playoff teams two additional activations. As PFR’s IR return tracker shows, the Bears have used nine total activations this season.
The Bears also signed linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin from the practice squad. The NFLPA president has played in four games with the team this season, including the wild-card matchup.
Panthers Will Pick Up QB Bryce Young’s 5th-Year Option
Panthers general manager Dan Morgan said on Tuesday (via The Athletic’s Joseph Person) that the team would pick up Bryce Young‘s fifth-year option for the 2027 season.
Young, 24, was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 draft. He has met the playtime requirements to be in the second tier of fifth-year options, currently projected by OverTheCap to be $26.53MM for quarterbacks. After a rough first two years in the NFL, he took some strides in 2025, enough for the Panthers to affirm their belief in him.
“I think Bryce has shown flashes of greatness this year against high-level competition,” Morgan said. “As a team, we weren’t as consistent as we wanted to be on a game-to-game basis.”
Young was not especially consistent, either, with only marginal improvements over his 2024 stats. The “flashes” to which Morgan is referring are likely Young’s four fourth-quarter comebacks and six game-winning drives in 2025, which matched his total from his first two seasons.
“I just felt like he had a lot more command out there this year, and really just coming into his own and getting better every week and just attacking every day,” Morgan added. “And that’s really all you can ask for from any player, let alone your quarterback.”
Despite his effusive praise of his young QB, Morgan was non-committal on potential extension negotiations this offseason, per Person, saying only that “it’s still up in the air.” That is a sensible position considering that Young has yet to prove that he is worth a multi-year extension in a pricey quarterback market.
Young will be much more expensive in 2027, and an extension would likely raise his pay further. The Panthers have leaned on veteran backups for the last three years, but Morgan indicated (via Person) the team was open to bringing in a younger passer this offseason. That will make it easier to build a roster in 2027 and potentially beyond, as Carolina would not have to pay for a premium backup. Adding a young quarterback now also gives the Panthers more options for the future. He would have two seasons to develop behind Young; by then, the team would have an idea of his potential as a starter. If Young has not made more progress, the Panthers could opt to part ways with him and move onto a younger, cheaper quarterback.
Such a decision is a long ways away, and Young’s performance in 2026 and 2027 could pre-empt it entirely. For now, Carolina has made its next decision regarding Young and can now turn their offseason attention to the rest of the team.
Commanders Want To Interview Brian Flores For DC Job
The Commanders have already hired a new offensive coordinator and are now turning to fill their rest of their coaching vacancies.
Their defensive coordinator job is their next crucial hire. The team is looking to bring in Brian Flores to interview for the gig, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. He just completed his three-year contract with the Vikings in the same position. Though he has been seeking another shot as a head coach, his ongoing lawsuit against the league and three teams could be an insurmountable obstacle until it is resolved.
Washington’s defense took a notable step back in 2025 relative to their first year under head coach Dan Quinn and DC Joe Whitt. Quinn took over play-calling duties during the season, which made Whitt’s dismissal after the season no surprise. Flores should be an upgrade. After adjusting to a new team in his debut year in Minnesota, he led a solid defense in 2024 and a great one this past season across the board. The Vikings ranked seventh in points allowed and third in yards allowed in 2025 with Flores’ diverse blitz packages wreaking havoc on opposing offenses. The Commanders, meanwhile, ranked 27th in yards and dead-last in points. Their 19.6% pressure rate was the seventh-lowest mark in the NFL, while the Vikings finished third with a 28.1% pressure rate.
But Flores has already interviewed with the Ravens regarding their head coaching position, and he could draw additional interest as a defensive coordinator now that his contract in Minnesota is up. The Vikings still believe they can retain him, but proving himself with another franchise may strengthen his case for another head coaching job, though it still might have to wait until the lawsuit concludes.
The Commanders are also filling David Blough‘s offensive staff, starting with a quarterbacks coach to work with Jayden Daniels. Panthers assistant quarterbacks coach Mike Bercovici was one of their first candidates, and Falcons quarterbacks coach D.J. Williams has joined the list. Washington submitted a request to interview Williams, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. He is the son of franchise legend Doug Williams, who was named MVP when the team won the Super Bowl at the end of the 1987 season.
D.J. Williams worked as an offensive assistant in New Orleans from 2019 to 2023. In 2024, he joined the Falcons as assistant quarterbacks coach and took over the lead role after T.J. Yates was promoted to pass game coordinator. Michael Penix has shown flashes as a starter in the last two years, but he has lacked consistency. Williams’ family connection with Washington will certainly help his chances, but it will ultimately come down to the team’s belief to get the most out of Daniels.
Jesse Minter Receives HC Interview Request From Cardinals, Falcons, Dolphins, Giants
In the early stages of the head coaching hiring cycle, Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter was confirmed as one of the top candidates on the market. Interest in his case now runs the gamut of HC-needy teams. 
Minter has received an interview request from the Cardinals, Falcons, Dolphins and Giants, Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated reports. He had already received a slip from each of the other four teams currently seeking a head coach. As such, Minter is officially a candidate for every current opening in the NFL.
An interview will take place with Arizona today, per Breer. Minter will be busy on that front over the coming days, especially if he accepts all eight requests. With the Chargers’ season now over, his attention will turn to the possibility of a first career head coaching opportunity being offered in the near future.
The Cardinals have already met with several former NFL head coaches in their search for Jonathan Gannon‘s replacement. Arizona has also been connected to less experienced staffers like Klint Kubiak and Chris Shula, however. This Minter news thus comes as little surprise.
Atlanta’s first major piece of business was taken care of recently with Matt Ryan being hired as the team’s president of football operations. Attention will now turn to the Falcons’ head coach and general manager vacancies. It remains to be seen which of those will be filled first, but in recent years many NFL teams have brought in both members of a new HC-GM combination in quick succession.
Mike McDaniel appeared to be safe early last week, but his tenure in Miami ultimately came to an end. That has left the Dolphins as one of the teams in need of a new head coach, although their vacancy is not considered to be among the more attractive ones on the market. Adding Minter would give Miami a defense-oriented head coach for the first time since McDaniel’s predecessor, Brian Flores, was in place.
Like the Falcons, the Giants are seen as a frontrunner to land John Harbaugh. Other, more established coaches would represent a logical fallback option in the event the longtime Ravens HC heads elsewhere. Still, Minter’s inclusion on the list of targets for New York helps illustrate how widespread the interest is in his case.
After winning a national championship at Michigan in 2023, Minter followed Jim Harbaugh to the Chargers. The Bolts have gone one-and-done in the playoffs both years with those two in place, but strong defensive play has largely been prevalent over that span. Minter, 42, remains one of the most sought-after candidates with a defensive background in particular. His interview schedule over the coming days will be worth following closely.
Chargers OLB Khalil Mack Undecided On Future
After the end of the 2024 season, Chargers outside linebacker Khalil Mack said that he was contemplating retirement. He opted to play another year and re-signed in Los Angeles on a one-year deal, hoping to make another playoff run.
That never materialized. The Chargers exited in the first round for a second season in a row, leaving the 34-year-old considering his future once again. Last year, he said (via team writer Omar Navarro) that he wanted to consult his family and avoid “a rash decision after a loss.”
He said something similar after Sunday’s loss to the Patriots: “Not trying to make that decision right now like I’ve almost done before. Trying to stay as present as possible, stay prayed up, make a decision based on how I’m feeling and how my family is feeling, the vibes.”
But another year of wear and tear in the NFL may lead Mack to a different conclusion this offseason. A dislocated elbow early in the season landed him on injured reserve for just the second time in his career. He said that the injury “took something off of the elements of what I am and who I am as a player.”
He was still able to occupy a similar snap share and better per-game production, both in terms of traditional stats like sacks and tackles for loss as well as advanced metrics from Pro Football Focus (subscription required) like pressures and stops. While older players are more liable for sudden drops in performance, Mack’s numbers indicate that he still has a good chance of contributing in 2026.
However, this year’s decision is not exactly the same as last year. After another year, Mack is trying to figure out what another year n the NFL would mean for him and his family. Obviously, coming off a playoff loss, his immediate reaction might be to run it back another year. Perhaps the Chargers would fare better after investing in their offensive line this offseason, or he could find another team with Super Bowl aspirations.
Last year, his comments on his future came on January 12 and ultimately made his decision less than two weeks later. His initial thoughts came on the same date this time around, suggesting that we will not have to wait too long for his answer about 2026.
Todd Monken To Interview For Buccaneers’ OC Position
The Buccaneers made a number of staffing changes shortly after their season ended. That included the expected dismissal of offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard. 
In the aftermath of Grizzard’s firing, a shortlist of replacement candidates emerged. Todd Monken is among the staffers who have been linked to Tampa Bay. That comes as no surprise since he spent three years (2016-18) as the Bucs’ offensive coordinator.
The sides will meet this week about a potential reunion. Monken will conduct an in-person interview for Tampa’s OC vacancy, Greg Auman of Fox Sports reports. The summit will take place tomorrow, he adds. Monken was named this past weekend as someone of interest to Tampa Bay, so it certainly makes sense an interview will take place. As things stand, Monken is under contract with the Ravens as their OC, but the firing of John Harbaugh came about after he refused to consider making an offensive coordinator change.
With that in mind, there is a widespread expectation Monken will not be retained by the Ravens once their new head coach is in place. Head coaching interest has also emerged in Monken’s case from the Browns. The 59-year-old could find himself on the HC radar of other teams shortly, but another offensive coordinator opportunity would come as no surprise. Of those, the one in Tampa Bay would be an attractive one given the success seen when the team is fully healthy on offense.
That was not the case often in 2025, but Baker Mayfield along with an intriguing skill-position group and an offensive line anchored by left tackle Tristan Wirfs represents a strong core to work with. Some holdovers from Monken’s Tampa stint – including wideouts Mike Evans and Chris Godwin – are still with the team, although Evans is a pending free agent so a reunion in that case would not be assured.
Monken’s Bucs offenses finished mid-pack in scoring during each of his three seasons with the team. Tampa Bay ranked ninth in total offense in 2017, though, and followed that up with a third-place finish the following year. He would seek a repeat of that success in the event a return to the Buccaneers were to take place.
Titans To Conduct HC Interview With Brian Daboll
Brian Daboll is among the top candidates for an offensive coordinator gig during the 2026 hiring cycle. He will receive at least one look from a team in need of a new head coach, however. 
The Titans have arranged a HC interview with Daboll, as first reported by NFL insider Jordan Schultz. The sides will meet each other on Friday. This represents the first known head coaching interview in Daboll’s case.
The 50-year-old saw his tenure with the Giants come to an end midway through the 2025 campaign. Very little went according to plan for Daboll and Co. after New York’s surprising run to the divisional round during his first year in charge. The team posted a losing record in each of the two seasons following that initial success and sat at 2-8 when Daboll was dismissed. Overall, his Giants run produced a record of 20-40-1.
A head coaching hire at this point would thus come as a surprise. Still, Daboll’s stock was boosted in large part by his strong run as the Bills’ offensive coordinator from 2018-21. He also has OC experience dating back to his time in Cleveland, Miami and Kansas City. The possibility of Daboll joining the Raiders alongside Brian Flores has been floated, and Dianna Russini of The Athletic confirms Daboll is currently a candidate for “multiple” offensive coordinator positions.
The Titans tapped Brian Callahan as their Mike Vrabel replacement. Things did not work out as planned, and he joined Daboll as a head coach dismissed in the middle of the 2025 season. Tennessee is known to be seeking experience with the team’s next HC hire, something made abundantly clear by the list of candidates receiving interest. Daboll is the 23rd staffer to be connected at some level to the Titans’ opening and the 15th with head coaching experience at the NFL level.
In other Titans news, Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated reports interviews with Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter and Packers DC Jeff Hafley will take place today. Tennessee will then speak with Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith tomorrow. All three of those coaches had previously received an interview request, but today’s update confirms they will be part of a long list of candidates to speak with the team about one of the NFL’s eight HC openings.
Here is an updated look at where things stand with the Titans:
- Lou Anarumo, defensive coordinator (Colts): Interviewed
- Anthony Campanile, defensive coordinator (Jaguars): Mentioned as candidate
- Brian Daboll, former head coach (Giants): To interview 1/16
- Marcus Freeman, head coach (Notre Dame): Rumored candidate; staying at Notre Dame
- Jonathan Gannon, former head coach (Cardinals): To interview 1/18
- Jason Garrett, former offensive coordinator (Giants): Interviewed 1/9
- Jeff Hafley, defensive coordinator (Packers): To interview 1/13
- John Harbaugh, former head coach (Ravens): Contacted
- Vance Joseph, defensive coordinator (Broncos): Interviewed 1/7
- Kliff Kingsbury, former offensive coordinator (Commanders): Interview requested
- Klint Kubiak, offensive coordinator (Seahawks): Mentioned as candidate
- Mike McCarthy, former head coach (Cowboys): To interview
- Mike McCoy, interim head coach (Titans): Interviewed
- Mike McDaniel, former head coach (Dolphins): To interview 1/14
- Jesse Minter, defensive coordinator (Chargers): To interview 1/13
- Raheem Morris, former head coach (Falcons): To interview 1/12
- Matt Nagy, offensive coordinator (Chiefs): Interviewed 1/8
- Robert Saleh, defensive coordinator (49ers): Interview requested
- Steve Sarkisian, head coach (Texas): Rumored candidate; expected to stay at Texas
- Chris Shula, defensive coordinator (Rams): Interview requested
- Arthur Smith, offensive coordinator (Steelers): To interview 1/13
- Steve Spagnuolo, defensive coordinator (Chiefs): Interviewed 1/8
- Kevin Stefanski, former head coach (Browns): Interviewed 1/10
Packers, Matt LaFleur Expected To Reach Extension Agreement
With the Packers’ season now over, attention will turn to the future of their coaching staff. Head coach Matt LaFleur is currently under contract for one more season, but that could change very soon. 
Leading up to Green Bay’s wild-card game on Saturday, it was reported LaFleur was not coaching for his job and that extension talks would occur after the season ended. To no surprise, then, the seven-year HC said yesterday that he and president Ed Policy spoke briefly with one another after the Packers’ loss to the Bears. He added further talks would be coming shortly, and that is indeed the case.
Efforts will be made to work out a new LaFleur contract over the coming days, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. He adds the sides are expected to reach an agreement. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network also anticipates a deal being struck (video link). Policy is known to prefer coaches and GMs not operating in a lame-duck situation, so the status of general manager Brian Gutekunst – also under contract through 2026 – will be worth watching. It was reported yesterday that LaFleur and Gutekunst are not a package deal.
That leaves the door open to a number of possibilities in the Packers’ case. The team reeled off three straight 13-win campaigns at the beginning of LaFleur’s tenure. That was followed by an 8-9 season and the transition to Jordan Love at quarterback. Green Bay has reached the playoffs in each of Love’s three seasons as QB1; the Packers have just one postseason victory during that span, however. Overall, LaFleur has a regular-season winning percentage of .654 but a playoff record of 3-6.
“I mean, this is one of one,” the 46-year-old said of his desire to remain in Green Bay (via Ryan Wood of the Green Bay Press-Gazette). “I love this place… I love our players, the locker room, everybody in our organization. I mean, this is a unique place. The community has been outstanding.”
There are currently eight head coaching vacancies around the NFL. LaFleur would join John Harbaugh as one of the top candidates on the market in the event of a firing, and Rapoport confirms teams are monitoring his situation. A dismissal would come as a surprise at this point, however. Talks producing a new agreement appears to be a far likelier outcome with negotiations set to take place.
Mutual Interest Between Steelers, Aaron Rodgers For 2026 Deal
Last summer, Aaron Rodgers strongly indicated the 2025 campaign would be his last in the NFL. His one-year stint in Pittsburgh has gone well, though, and it could continue beyond tonight’s game. 
The Steelers have been willing to keep Rodgers in the fold for next season, and midway through the campaign it was reported Pittsburgh’s hope was for that to take place. The future Hall of Famer, meanwhile, has left the door open to playing at least one more year. It appears an extended arrangement would be welcomed by both parties.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Network confirms (video link) there is a mutual interest between Rodgers and the Steelers to continue their partnership. The relationship between Rodgers and head coach Mike Tomlin remains strong, and Pittsburgh managed to win the AFC North this season with a 10-7 record. Aiming for a similar level of success in 2026 could obviously prove beneficial for all involved.
Rodgers’ legacy certainly took a hit during his Jets tenure, and a messy parting of ways with New York left his future unclear for much of last offseason. Limited free agent interest was shown, but a short-term Steelers pact long loomed as a reasonable proposition on both sides. A one-year deal was ultimately finalized, and it has proven to be worthwhile. Rodgers is now 42, but he missed only one game this season.
The four-time MVP did not match the statistical output of his best seasons, but an efficient passing output has proven sufficient in Pittsburgh this year. Improvements along the offensive line and at the receiver position would go a long way in providing a boost on offense for 2026. Keeping Rodgers in the fold would also give the unit a high floor next season.
The Steelers have been unable to find a long-term Ben Roethlisberger replacement since his retirement after the 2021 season. Efforts in the draft and along the free agent and trade routes have not yielded the desired results, but Rodgers has proven to be an effective stopgap option. Veteran Mason Rudolph and sixth-round rookie Will Howard are under contract for next season, so stability on the depth chart can be expected moving forward. It is unclear at this point if Rodgers will also be in the fold, but another deal being worked out with the Steelers would not come as a surprise.