Cowboys To Interview Zach Orr, Aaron Whitecotton For DC Vacancy
The Cowboys’ search for their next defensive coordinator has expanded to include two new candidates.
The team requested an interview with Ravens defensive coordinator Zach Orr (via Clarence Hill of DLLS Sports). They will also interview their current defensive line coach, Aaron Whitecotton, per CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones.
Orr, 33, succeeded Mike Macdonald as the Ravens’ defensive coordinator in 2024. The unit regressed at the beginning of his debut season, but moving Kyle Hamilton back to a traditional safety role and inserting Ar’Darius Washington into the starting lineup stabilized the secondary. This past season, Baltimore’s defense had another rough start with an especially weak pass rush. Another round of midseason adjustments – including trades for Alohi Gilman and Dre’Mont Jones – yielded some results, but they did not last through the end of the season.
Despite his shaky results, Orr’s connection to Macdonald and John Harbaugh is one reason that other teams may be interested. He may also be a free agent in the coming weeks. The Ravens are currently looking for a new head coach after firing Harbaugh, and their eventual hire may not retain Orr in his current job.
Whitecotton has spent the last 13 years coaching in the NFL with the last eight as a defensive line coach for the Bills (assistant), 49ers (assistant), Jets, and Cowboys. Despite the additions of Kenny Clark and Quinnen Williams to Dallas’ defensive line, the unit (and the defense as a whole) still struggled in 2025. Whitecotton’s familiarity with those key players, however, could upgrade his candidacy in the eyes of the team.
Lions To Interview Mike Kafka For OC Job
The market for Mike Kafka is heating up. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Giants interim head coach will interview for the Lions offensive coordinator job on Wednesday.
We heard earlier tonight that Kafka was set to meet with the Buccaneers for the same role. The 38-year-old met with the Giants last week about a promotion to full-time head coach. As the NFL’s coaching carousel continues to spin, he could receive more interest. Teams that were eliminated from the playoffs may make staff changes this week, and others that lose offensive coordinators to head coaching jobs could call Kafka, too.
His results with the Giants are not encouraging, but those struggles were mitigating by a lack of talent on the roster. His past success as the Chiefs’ passing game coordinator could be a better indicator of his abilities with a stronger set of playmakers and a more reliable quarterback.
The Lions have both of those in Detroit already. Jared Goff may not be at the same level as Patrick Mahomes, but he flourished under the team’s last offensive coordinator, Ben Johnson. His successor, John Morton, was not able to capture the same magic, leading head coach Dan Campbell to take on play-calling duties midway through the season. That was a sign that Morton was unlikely to remain in his job for 2026, and Campbell indeed relieved him of his duties after the regular season.
Kafka would not be asked to focus on developing a young quarterback as he was in New York. Instead, his job will be to take the talented pieces already populating the Lions offense and reform the unit into one of the league’s best.
Nikhil Mehta contributed to this article.
Cowboys’ Donovan Ezeiruaku Arrested On Reckless Driving Charge
Cowboys defensive end Donovan Ezeiruaku was arrested yesterday in Texas, according to Calvin Watkins of The Dallas Morning News.
Ezeiruaku was jailed for a reckless driving charge. He was later released on a $500 bond. The Cowboys said they were aware of the arrest but offered no further comment, per Watkins.
Following a standout career at Boston College, the Cowboys selected Ezeiruaku with the 44th selection in this past year’s draft. He had a productive rookie campaign in Dallas, starting nine of his 17 appearances while tallying 40 tackles, nine tackles for loss, and a pair of sacks. He graded out 38th among 117 qualifying edge defenders on Pro Football Focus.
While Ezeiruaku already led Cowboys edge rushers in snaps in 2025, the team is set to be even more reliant on him in 2026. Sam Williams, Jadeveon Clowney, and Dante Fowler are all set to hit free agency, and the front office will surely be looking for some extra reinforcement at the position this offseason.
It’s uncertain how much Ezeiruaku’s arrest will factor into their plans. The NFL generally waits for the legal process to play out before launching an investigation and handing down a potential suspension (or fine) under the personal conduct policy.
Mike McDaniel To Interview With Falcons, Ravens For HC Position
8:00pm: McDaniel has completed his interview with the Falcons, according to the team.
10:30am: An offensive coordinator gig could await Mike McDaniel by the time the hiring cycle comes to a close. There is strong interest for a second head coaching opportunity as well, however. 
McDaniel is among the coaches who were fired last week. He has already arranged interviews with the Browns and Titans for their HC positions, and the list of suitors is growing. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports the Falcons and Ravens have reached out to McDaniel as well. Interviews with Atlanta and Baltimore will take place this week.
The Lions reached out to McDaniel about their offensive coordinator opening hours after his Dolphins firing. Per Pelissero, an interview for that spot will also take place shortly. Further interest for other OC positions would come as no surprise, but McDaniel is clearly a candidate to continue leading an NFL team in 2026 at this point.
Over the course of four seasons in Miami, McDaniel posted an overall record of 35-33. The team reached the playoffs in 2022 and ’23 but lost in the wild-card round both times. Things did not go according to plan over the following two seasons, with the Dolphins posting a losing record both times and the connection between McDaniel and Tua Tagovailoa not producing the same success as was seen in previous years. A change of scenery for one is known to be imminent, while the other could be playing elsewhere in 2026.
Atlanta cleaned house after the regular season came to an end, firing both Raheem Morris and Terry Fontenot before ‘Black Monday’ even began. The Falcons spent last week interviewing candidates for their new president of football operations role, and as expected Matt Ryan is now in place. With that front office hire having been made, attention will turn to the league’s only GM vacancy along with the search for Morris’ replacement. McDaniel spent two years with the Falcons, serving as an offensive assistant in 2015 and ’16.
Baltimore’s list of candidates to serve as John Harbaugh‘s successor is long and continuing to expand. McDaniel, 46, is among those with an offensive background and previous head coaching experience. That is rare when it comes to the 2026 hiring cycle, something which helps explain the widespread interest in McDaniel. Whether or not he emerges as a finalist for any of the league’s eight HC openings as the coaching landscape takes shape will make for a notable storyline.
Bucs To Interview Mike Kafka For OC Job
The Buccaneers are set to interview Mike Kafka for their offensive coordinator vacancy, per FOX Sports’ Greg Auman.
Kafka, 38, has been the Giants’ offensive coordinator for the last four years. He was also named interim head coach after Brian Daboll was fired in November. Under Kafka, New York’s offense has never ranked higher than 13th in points or 15th in yards with bottom-five finishes in both categories in 2022 and 2023. He was working with a weak offensive roster, especially at quarterback, but at the same time, part of his task was developing that roster.
Kafka previously spent five years in Kansas City, including four seasons as the quarterbacks coach. In 2020, he added pass game coordinator to his title. The Chiefs offense was consistently one of the best in the NFL during his tenure, which featured the ascent of Patrick Mahomes into one of the best quarterbacks in the history of the sport. While Mahomes’ pure talent and Andy Reid‘s influence are largely credited for the unit’s success, Kafka seems to have been a key factor, too. After his departure in 2022, the Chiefs had one more season as the best offense in the NFL before falling to the middle of the league in the last three years.
In Tampa Bay, Kafka would be working with a more talented offense with improvement over the Giants’ players at nearly every position. The Buccaneers clearly felt that Josh Grizzard did not get enough out of the unit this past season and may be seeking a more experienced option. Kafka also has a connection to the franchise: during his playing career, he served as Tampa Bay’s backup quarterback for the 2014 season.
The Buccaneers are also looking for a replacement for special teams coordinator Thomas McGaughey, who was fired along with Grizzard after the regular season. Lions assistant special teams coordinator Jett Modkins interviewed for the job on Monday, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Tampa Bay’s 60.6 special teams grade from Pro Football Focus (subscription required) was the third-lowest in the NFL this season, though their average starting field position ranked 12th. In contrast, the Lions have consistently fielded one of the top-graded special teams units in the NFL. Their 90.5 grade was the league’s sixth-best in 2025, and their average starting field position ranked fifth.
The two interviews are part of the Buccaneers’ major offseason staff shake-up after another disappointing end to their season. Head coach Todd Bowles is clearly willing to make some changes after a 35-33 record and one playoff win in the last four years.
Giants’ Chris Mara Had Informal Meeting With John Harbaugh
The Giants and Falcons have emerged as the frontrunners in the John Harbaugh sweepstakes. While the Falcons were quick to announce this evening that they completed an interview with the head coaching candidate, the Giants are also making it clear that they’re aggressively pursuing the former Super Bowl winner.
[RELATED: Falcons Meet With John Harbaugh]
Giants executive Chris Mara told Ian O’Connor of The Athletic that he met for lunch with Harbaugh yesterday and had an “informal meeting” at the coach’s house. O’Connor adds that sources from both the organization and the coach have made it clear that Harbaugh “remains very interested in the Giants job.”
This in-person meeting follows a 30-minute conversation between Harbaugh and Giants GM Joe Schoen last week, per Paul Schwartz of the New York Post. ESPN’s Jordan Raanan echoes that Schoen spoke with Harbaugh about the Giants head coaching job.
Depending on who you ask, this may have been the first sit-down that Harbaugh’s had with a potential suitor. While the Falcons themselves reported today that they definitively interviewed Harbaugh, Paul Schwartz of the New York Post says their “interview” was merely a “phone conversation.” In fact, Schwartz compared the conversation to the calls Harbaugh has fielded from other potential suitors. The reporter adds that the Giants will have a formal sit-down with Harbaugh later this week or early next week.
While it may be semantics, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network’s categorizes Harbaugh’s meeting with the Falcons today as a “virtual” conversation, which included Matt Ryan and other Atlanta execs who have been involved in the search. This would seemingly qualify as an official interview, although the Giants may have an issue with that positioning.
If there’s any takeaway, the Giants clearly want us know that they’re serious about their Harbaugh pursuit. On the flip side, we’re plenty aware that the court of public opinion will have no bearing on where the coach lands, no matter how hard the Giants may try.
NFL Reserve/Futures Deals: 1/12/26
Today’s reserve/futures deals:
Carolina Panthers
- LB Jared Bartlett, G Ja’Tyre Carter, G Saahdiq Charles, WR Dan Chisena, CB Tyrek Funderburk, G Joshua Gray, RB Montrell Johnson, OLB Jamil Muhammad, LB Maz Mwansa, TE Bryce Pierre, WR Ja’seem Reed, S Demani Richardson, WR Ainias Smith, RB Anthony Tyus, LB Jacoby Windmon
Green Bay Packers
- OT Brant Banks, DL Dante Barnett, OG Karsen Barnhart, DL Anthony Campbell, TE McCallan Castles, OT Dalton Cooper, TE Drake Dabney, DL James Ester, K Lucas Havrisik, CB Tyron Herring, LB Jamon Johnson, RB Damien Martinez, S Mark Perry, WR Will Sheppard, RB Pierre Strong, TE Messiah Swinson
Jacksonville Jaguars
- QB Carter Bradley, WR Chandler Brayboy, G Jerome Carvin, TE Patrick Herbert, RB Ja’Quinden Jackson, WR Tim Jones, T Ricky Lee, DB Keni-H Lovely, DB Jabbar Muhammad, DT Keivie Rose, DB Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig, DB Trevian Thomas, WR Austin Trammell, G Sal Wormley, OT Kilian Zierer
New York Jets
- WR Mac Dalena, K Lenny Krieg, QB Bailey Zappe
Philadelphia Eagles
- LB Chance Campbell, DB Tariq Castro-Fields, WR Danny Gray, DT Gabe Hall, DB Brandon Johnson, C Jake Majors, T Hollin Pierce, WR Quez Watkins
Washington Commanders
- DE Andre Carter
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 1/12/26
One practice squad move to pass along:
New England Patriots
- Released: OT Sebastian Gutierrez
Sebastian Gutierrez has bounced around the NFL a bit since going undrafted out of Minot State in 2022. He’s seen time in two career games, one with the Raiders (2022) and one with the 49ers (2024). He’s spent most of the 2025 campaign on New England’s practice squad.
Minor NFL Transactions: 1/12/26
Today’s minor moves:
Houston Texans
- Activated from IR: S Jaylen Reed
- Elevated: DT Leki Fotu
- Waived: DE Darrell Taylor
New England Patriots
- Waived: RB D’Ernest Johnson
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Elevated: CB Tre Flowers, CB D’Shawn Jamison
The Texans will get some extra reinforcement on their secondary and special teams for tonight’s playoff matchup. A rookie sixth-round pick, Jaylen Reed has spent half of the 2025 season on the sideline. He started the season on PUP thanks to a knee injury, but he managed to make his NFL debut in late October. He ended up getting into seven games (one start) for Houston, collecting 14 tackles (12 of which came in one game) in 73 defensive snaps. He landed on injured reserve in December after suffering a forearm injury that required surgery.
Lions To Interview Mike McDaniel For OC Job
The Lions expressed interest in Mike McDaniel immediately after his Dolphins ouster. Days later, the sides have scheduled a meeting.
McDaniel will interview for Detroit’s OC post on Tuesday, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports. This process may take some time, though. McDaniel is on at least three teams’ HC radars, booking Ravens and Falcons interviews today to go with his Titans meeting.
The Lions weren’t shy about their pursuit of McDaniel, as the team reached out to him only hours after his ouster in Miami. Detroit has been hunting around for a replacement for OC John Morton, who was fired after only one season in the role. The Lions are clearly hoping to reboot an offense that sorely missed Ben Johnson in 2025, and McDaniel provides as much upside as anyone on the market.
The 42-year-old put himself on the head coaching map following his first stint as an offensive coordinator. McDaniel spent one season in that role with the 49ers, where he helped guide a Jimmy Garoppolo-led offense to a top-10 showing in total yards. Part of that offensive success was thanks to rookie RB Elijah Mitchell, who finished with 1,100 yards from scrimmage that season.
The Dolphins were quick to name McDaniel as their next franchise leader in 2022, and the coach had immediate success in Miami. He helped guide the Dolphins to playoff appearances in each of his first two seasons at the helm, with his 2023 squad representing one of the league’s best offenses. The Dolphins fell off in 2024 and 2025, partly thanks to McDaniel’s inability to control the locker room. Following a 7-10 showing this year, the 42-year-old was issued his walking papers.
Considering his initial success in Miami, McDaniel is already looking to land on his feet, as he’s garnered three head coaching interviews. Still, a job in Detroit wouldn’t be the worst fallback. While the Lions offense took a step back in 2025 and especially struggled down the stretch, the unit still finished top-five in both points and yards. While the Lions haven’t tapped into the Mike/Kyle Shanahan tree since Anthony Lynn, McDaniel would certainly warrant some consideration for the gig.
Ben Levine contributed to this post.