Browns Want To Keep Jim Schwartz In Some Capacity; Schwartz Favorite For HC Job?
Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz has made it to the next stage of the club’s head coaching search, as he will take a second interview with Cleveland on Monday. Albert Breer of SI.com believes Schwartz will ultimately land the position, and he says the preference within the organization is to keep a talented DC on the staff in some capacity.
That suggests that even if the Browns go in a different direction at HC, they still want to keep Schwartz aboard for what would be a fourth year as defensive coordinator. And given the success he has had in that role, the team’s wish makes plenty of sense.
[RELATED: 2026 HC Search Tracker]
Schwartz, 59, has further cemented his status as one of the league’s top defensive minds during his Browns tenure. His unit ranked first in the NFL in yards allowed in 2023 and fourth in that capacity this past season (albeit with a 19th-place finish in 2024 sandwiched in-between). Schwartz has received a number of endorsements from his players, and though Cleveland limped to a 5-12 mark in 2025, the team’s offense was the primary culprit for that showing.
That offense – or, more accurately, the unappealing quarterback situation – is one of the reasons why the Browns’ HC post is not as well-regarded as some of the other openings around the league. On the other hand, the Ravens are the only other club that appears to be considering Schwartz for a head coaching role in this year’s cycle, so the Cleveland vacancy may represent his best chance to get back in the HC ranks.
Schwartz has not worked as a head coach since 2013, which marked the end of a five-season run as the Lions’ sideline general. His overall 29-51 record in Detroit is a poor one, though he did lead the then-moribund franchise to a playoff berth in 2011, which was the first time since 1999 the Lions had qualified for the postseason. Schwartz earned a Super Bowl ring as the Eagles’ DC in 2017.
Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken is also scheduled for a second HC interview with the Browns. That summit is due to take place on Tuesday, one day after Schwartz speaks with team brass for a second time. If he does not land the Cleveland post, Monken is expected to follow John Harbaugh to New York and become the Giants’ OC.
Other offensive-minded candidates are getting additional consideration from the Browns as well. Jaguars OC Grant Udinski has secured a second interview. The same is true of former Dolphins HC and highy-popular candidate Mike McDaniel, per Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network, who reports McDaniel’s second summit is scheduled for Wednesday. According to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, Rams pass game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase has also earned another interview request following his Friday meeting. Since LA is still in the playoffs, the date of his in-person sit-down is to be determined.
In light of his accomplishments, it stands to reason that another candidate who gets the Browns’ job would want to keep Schwartz as their DC. It remains to be seen if Schwartz would be amenable to that, or if he would seek a coordinator job elsewhere.
Kevin Stefanski Withdrew From Raiders’ HC Search
To no surprise, Kevin Stefanski became the second head coaching domino to fall last night. As many expected, he would up joining the Falcons. 
That decision came amidst considerable interest from other HC-needy teams around the league. Both the Ravens and Dolphins submitted requests for an in-person second interview in Stefanski’s case. Those wound up being moot, with a face-to-face Falcons meeting producing Saturday’s agreement.
Stefanski also found himself on the radar of the Raiders early in the hiring cycle. According to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, however, the two-time Coach of the Year withdrew from Vegas’ search process last week. That allowed him to turn his attention elsewhere, with Falcons connections emerging in short order.
The Giants’ top priority was landing John Harbaugh, and after initially agreeing to a hire his arrival was made official yesterday. Stefanski was viewed as the backup plan for both New York and Atlanta, so it came as no surprise when links to the Falcons were strengthened once it became clear Harbaugh would join the Giants. Stefanski secured a five-year deal in Atlanta not long after his run with the Browns came to an end.
The Raiders are one of seven teams which still have an opening at the head coaching position as things stand. The Pete Carroll era ended on ‘Black Monday,’ with his firing coming in the wake of a 3-14 campaign. Vegas owns the first overall pick in April’s draft, but otherwise the Raiders’ roster faces a number of questions. It will be interesting to see what the team’s list of finalists looks like as it takes shape over the coming days.
Several initial interviews took place last week, but so far the only candidate to arrange a follow-up meeting is Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero. Others will soon join him, but even in the absence of his Falcons hire Stefanski would not have been among the staffers to speak with Vegas for a second time.
Jeff Hafley Emerging As Dolphins’ HC Frontrunner
JANUARY 18: Jackson adds in a follow-up report that it is a real possibility Miami does not allow Hafley to leave the building without a contract in hand following his Monday inteview. An agent for other candidates tells Jackson that Hafley is the team’s top choice.
In addition to Graham and Hafley, the ‘Fins will have an in-person meeting with Kelvin Sheppard on Monday. The Graham and Sheppard summmits would satisfy the Rooney Rule and thereby make the Dolphins eligible to hire Hafley.
JANUARY 17, 10:05pm: A representative for one of the other candidates connected to the Dolphins’ vacancy told Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald he believes the job is Hafley’s to lose at this point. With at least many of the seven remaining HC vacancies likely to be filled in the coming days, this situation will be worth watching closely.
2:08pm: Coming quick off the heels of news that he is being brought in for the second round of the Dolphins‘ interview process, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports that Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley has “emerged as a frontrunner” for the head coaching job in Miami. No decisions have been made on either side, but Hafley seems to have the early favor of the Dolphins’ search committee. 
Miami and Hafley are still moving forward with their interview processes, as usual, though. This isn’t John Harbaugh cancelling meetings after one in-person interview with the Giants just yet.
The Dolphins have first-round interviews still on the schedule for this weekend and are in the process of setting up more second-round interviews beyond Hafley. It seems, as they’re wrapping up the first round of interviews with Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady on Sunday and Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham on Monday, Hafley will be kicking off the first of multiple in-person, second interviews. Dianna Russini of The Athletic has noted that they’re attempting to get former Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski in for his in-person on Wednesday.
We also aren’t aware if the feelings are mutual for Hafley, though; Miami isn’t the only team to have moved him on to the next stage of the interview process, and according to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, Hafley is expected to be a finalist everywhere he’s interviewed. Pelissero notes that the Titans, Falcons, Raiders, and Cardinals have also requested second interviews for Hafley, and he’s in the process of completing another initial interview today with the Steelers.
In fact, Hafley is scheduled to come to Miami on Monday, and he already has his visit to Tennessee scheduled for the Tuesday, according to Matt Schneidman of The Athletic. The Dolphins are certainly trying to get out ahead of what appears to be a lot of interest in Hafley by scheduling him early and pronouncing their interest very publicly. We’ll see if that tactic earns them any points with Hafley or if it turns on the pressure in his pursuit.
For the other candidates set to interview with Miami, it’s certainly discouraging, assuming Hafley prefers the Dolphins. It’s hard enough to overcome Hafley’s Green Bay ties to Miami’s new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan but adding in his proclamation from the media as an early frontrunner makes it necessary to hope Hafley prefers to be elsewhere. In fact, strangely, the rumor of Hafley being the frontrunner first was leaked by Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald, whose source was an agent of one of the several other candidates for the job. After seeing the rumor confirmed by Pelissero this afternoon, seekers of the Miami job will be hoping the Dolphins don’t get their guy.
The only certainty anywhere comes out of Green Bay where Mike Garafolo reports the Packers have begun researching defensive coordinator candidates. While it’s still extremely up in the air where Hafley lands, it’s quite certain that he won’t be coming back to Green Bay. As Parker Gabriel of The Denver Post points out, Broncos defensive pass game coordinator/assistant head coach Jim Leonhard once turned down the Packers’ defensive coordinator position under Matt LaFleur thinking he’d be at Wisconsin long-term. Having since moved on from the Badgers, one would think Leonhard’s name would come up in Green Bay relatively soon.
Cardinals Could Retain QB Kyler Murray In 2026
A recent report suggested the Cardinals are likely to move on from quarterback Kyler Murray this offseason. As ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler notes, however, Arizona could retain Murray for at least one more year.
Now 29, Murray has not been able to recapture the form that led to consecutive original-ballot Pro Bowls in 2020 and 2021. That early success convinced the Cards to authorize a five-year, $230.5MM contract for the first overall pick of the 2019 draft, but the Murray/Kliff Kingsbury partnership veered off course soon after.
Murray did not play particularly well in 2022, and an ACL tear suffered in December of that year forced him to miss the last few games of the campaign as well as the first half of the 2023 slate. By that point, Kingsbury had been replaced by Jonathan Gannon (with Drew Petzing coming aboard as offensive coordinator), but Murray’s performance was no better than it had been the year prior.
The 2018 Heisman Trophy winner had something of a resurgence in 2024. He ranked ninth in the league in QBR, and the Cardinals finished with an 8-9 record that suggested a playoff berth could be within reach in 2025. That did not materialize, and Murray’s season came to a premature end due to a Week 5 foot injury.
His recent medical history and middling results over the past four seasons have put his future with the Cardinals in doubt. Although multiple NFL executives have opined that Murray is far better than any other player projected to be available in the free agent and trade markets this offseason, his contract situation – he is due $36.8MM in guarantees in 2026 – means Arizona likely would have to eat a considerable amount of salary to facilitate a trade (even then, it is unclear how much of a market would form).
Even a post-June 1 release would come with a dead money charge of nearly $50MM, and several sources have told Fowler that Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill may not want to pay both Murray and Gannon – who was fired on Black Monday – a great deal of money to work elsewhere next season. If Gannon lands a new defensive coordinator or head coach job to offset what he is still due from Arizona, that could change Bidwill’s thinking.
Still, whomever the Cardinals tap as their next head coach may need to be comfortable with the possibility that Murray will be on the roster next year. If that person is as bullish on Murray as some of the above-referenced executives, the signal-caller’s presence could even be a selling point. After all, the 2026 class of collegiate quarterbacks was dealt a major blow when Oregon’s Dante Moore announced he will not be turning pro this year, and with the Raiders seemingly likely to nab Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 choice, the Cardinals (No. 3 overall) may not be in position to upgrade the position via the draft.
The club also has Jacoby Brissett under contract at a palatable $4.88MM salary in 2026. The well-traveled signal-caller actually ran the offense more effectively than Murray in ‘25, and despite his 1-11 record, his surface-level stats (94.1 QB rating, 23 TDs, eight interceptions) are appealing. He was also mentioned as a possible trade candidate, though he could also remain as a bridge option for the Cardinals if they move on from Murray.
Naturally, the 33-year-old would like to remain a QB1. When asked if he wanted another shot as a starter, Brissett replied with a simple “hell yeah” (via ESPN’s Josh Weinfuss).
Davis Webb Garnering Interest For Second HC Interviews
Multiple teams are targeting Broncos quarterbacks coach Davis Webb for second head coaching interviews, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
Webb, 30, has conducted initial interviews with two teams – the Ravens and the Raiders – so Pelissero is indicating that both want to move forward with an in-person meeting. Since the Broncos are playing in next weekend’s conference championship round, those interviews will have to wait until the following week.
In the meantime, Webb will be focused on getting backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham ready for Denver’s matchup with the Patriots with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line. Starter Bo Nix suffered a broken ankle at the end of Saturday’s win over the Bills, positioning Stidham to make the fifth start of his career and first in the playoffs. He will also be throwing his first non-preseason pass since 2024.
This seems like dangerous territory for the Broncos, but it also represents a huge opportunity for Webb to showcase his coaching prowess on a massive stage. A solid performance from Stidham a few days before Webb visits his prospective new teams could boost his chances of securing a top job. That would be a meteoric rise for a former journeyman quarterback who retired after the 2022 season and is only in his third year as a coach at any level.
Sean Payton hired Webb as Denver’s quarterbacks coach in 2023. His first year with Russell Wilson was a bust, but Webb coached Nix to a third-place finish in Offensive Rookie of the Year voting in 2024. Nix did not, however, take a significant leap in his sophomore season.
But hiring Webb would be about more than just his work with quarterbacks. He added passing game coordinator to his title this season, expanding his work as a schemer, and he is also considered a strong leader within the Broncos’ organization. Going from coaching a single position to coaching the entire team would be quite a jump, but it might be worth the gamble. Webb will receive interest from more and more teams in the next year or two. If one with a current vacancy believes in his potential, they may strike now to lock him down for the long-term, if they are willing to weather a few bumps as he makes the adjustment to the role.
Kyle Shanahan: 49ers Will Not Allow Lateral Move For OC Klay Kubiak
Like his brother Klint, 49ers offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak has received interest from multiple teams regarding their head coaching vacancy.
However, if another team comes calling after Kubiak for their offensive coordinator job, San Francisco intends to block such a move, even if it comes with play-calling duties.
“He’s our offensive coordinator, so I don’t know, why would you let him be somebody else’s offensive coordinator,” 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said on Saturday (via The Athletic’s Matt Barrows). He added that Kubiak “calls a lot of plays here,” suggesting that an offensive coordinator gig elsewhere may not offer him much more than his current role in San Francisco.
That may not be entirely accurate. Kubiak is only the second coach to hold the 49ers’ OC title in Shanahan’s tenure, and the head coach is still considered the team’s main play-caller. Getting out from under Shanahan’s shadow would allow Kubiak to be the primary architect of his own offense. He could demonstrate his ability to bring one of the league’s signature offensive schemes and even add his own wrinkles to further establish his own identity. Success in that role, particularly as a full-time play-caller, would boost Kubiak’s resume for potential future head coaching opportunities.
It seems, though, that he will not get that chance. Kubiak could petition the 49ers to let him out of his contract for a lateral move to another offensive coordinator gig, but the team does not have to oblige him. If that remains their stance, Kubiak may have to wait out his current deal or wait for an offer for a head coaching job to land with a different team. Shanahan’s only other offensive coordinator in the past nine years, Mike McDaniel, was able to vault directly into the Dolphins’ head coaching job without a stint elsewhere, so the potential is certainly there for Kubiak, too.
Eagles Request OC Interview With Bobby Slowik
The Eagles have added Dolphins senior passing game coordinator Bobby Slowik to their list of offensive coordinator candidates, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Slowik, 38, arrived in Miami last offseason after a two-year stint as the Texans’ offensive coordinator. He led rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud and Houston’s offense to their best finish in years in 2023, but the unit took a clear step back in 2024. However, the team’s continued offensive struggles under Nick Caley this season indicate that Slowik may not have been the primary problem.
The rest of Slowik’s resume is comprised of four years as an offensive assistant on Kyle Shanahan‘s staff in San Francisco, along with this past season in Miami. The 49ers’ passing game largely thrived while Slowik was its architect in 2021 and 2022, though he could not help Mike McDaniel revitalize the Dolphins’ air attack in 2025. If the Eagles are looking to branch out from Nick Sirianni’s coaching tree, Slowik could be an option to infuse some new concepts into Phily’s offense.
Slowik’s current competition for the Eagles’ offensive coordinator job includes several top offensive coaches, including McDaniel, Jim Bob Cooter, Zach Robinson, Kliff Kingsbury, Brian Daboll, and Mike Kafka.
Chargers Request Interview Arthur Smith For OC Job; Davis Webb On Radar
The Chargers submitted an interview request for Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Smith, 43, has been in Pittsburgh for the last two years. The team has informed all of the assistant coaches on Mike Tomlin‘s staff that they are free to pursue opportunities elsewhere, leaving no obstacle between Smith and a lateral move to another offensive coordinator job.
The Chargers are the fourth team to express interest in hiring Smith in recent weeks. The Cardinals and the Titans have already interviewed Smith for their head coaching vacancies, and the Lions put in a request to interview him for their offensive coordinator gig.
Smith came up as an offensive assistant in Tennessee and took over as their offensive coordinator in 2019. He parlayed two successful seasons into a head coaching job with the Falcons, but his offenses in Atlanta and Pittsburgh never ranked higher than 15th in points or yards. Smith’s lack of consistent quarterback play is a mitigating factor, but he still got a high level of play out of Ryan Tannehill in Tennessee. Smith could not do much with Marcus Mariota or Desmond Ridder in Atlanta and struggled to find consistency with Justin Fields, Russell Wilson, and Aaron Rodgers in Pittsburgh. Justin Herbert would be the best quarterback with whom Smith has worked by far, but he will have to make his case for his ability to elevate the star quarterback and the Chargers offense in general.
The Chargers are also keeping Broncos quarterbacks coach Davis Webb on their radar, per Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer. The fast-rising coach interviewed for the Ravens’ and Raiders’ head coaching jobs and could garner interest from other teams as a potential offensive coordinator.
Webb is facing a seemingly gargantuan task this week getting Jarrett Stidham ready for the AFC Championship Game against a Patriots defense that savaged C.J. Stroud in the divisional round. Even a semi-successful game from Stidham would speak volumes about Webb’s coaching ability and could raise his profile as a candidate for other jobs around the league.
Broncos To Bring Back QB Ben DiNucci
The Broncos will spend the coming week preparing to host the AFC championship game. They will do so knowing quarterback Bo Nix is unavailable the rest of the way. 
Nix broke a bone in his right ankle late in overtime last night. Surgery is required as a result, and a return to action will not be possible even if Denver advances to the Super Bowl. In need of depth under center, the team has elected to bring back a familiar face.
Ben DiNucci is being signed to the Broncos’ practice squad, as first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The 29-year-old himself has since confirmed the news. Denver will rely on Jarrett Stidham to handle starting duties next week, with Sam Ehlinger set to operate as his backup. DiNucci will give the team a well-traveled depth option on the taxi squad.
A seventh-round pick of the Cowboys in 2020, DiNucci has bounced around professional football since then. During this past offseason, he saw time with the Saints before being released shortly after the draft. When the Falcons needed healthy QB options for their preseason finale, DiNucci briefly joined them. He was then included among Atlanta’s roster cuts just before the start of the campaign.
During his career, DiNucci has logged only three regular season NFL appearances (and just one start). Those came during his rookie season in Dallas. For a period of one calendar year (May 2023-24), though, the James Madison product was in the Broncos’ organization. As a familiar signal-caller to head coach Sean Payton and Co, DiNucci will give the team a third-string option as it aims to compensate for Nix’s absence.
Titans To Conduct In-Person Robert Saleh HC Interview
Robert Saleh was originally slated to interview with the Titans today. That will no longer be the case, but not because the 49ers‘ defensive coordinator is out of the running. 
Tennessee has moved the Saleh interview to tomorrow, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. Had the parties spoken today, they would have needed to do so virtually due to the rules governing HC interviews. Instead, Saleh will now be able to meet with the Titans in person given the timing of his summit.
Tennessee lined up a trio of finalists yesterday: Kevin Stefanski, Jeff Hafley and Matt Nagy. The Falcons have since hired Stefanski, however, while Hafley appears to be the top option in Miami. Nagy has long loomed as a logical fit in this case, but at least one other candidate will receive a look. Nagy is set to conduct his second interview Monday morning, per Rapoport, while Saleh’s initial sit-down will take place in the afternoon.
Despite the fact Saleh was not among the three staffers to receive a request regarding an in-person interview, he resided as a potential finalist. Today’s update thus comes as no surprise. The 49ers lost last night, ending their season. Saleh’s attention can now turn fully to his potential return to the NFL’s head coaching ranks.
The 46-year-old saw his Jets run come to an end midway through its fourth season (2024). Saleh’s New York teams posted a losing record every year in which he was at the helm; overall, his tenure produced a mark of 20-36. In a year comparatively short on bluechip first-time head coaching candidates, however, Saleh is among the many former HCs potentially in line to receive a second opportunity.
The Titans’ decision to fire Mike Vrabel has not yielded success on the field or stability in the organization. Brian Callahan was dismissed before finishing his second year with the team, and a front office now led by Mike Borgonzi and Chad Brinker is in place to find his replacement. Nagy and Borgonzi worked together in Kansas City, and a reunion in Tennessee is something to watch for. Saleh – who is also in the running for other positions – will also take part in an in-person interview, however. With a Hafley summit currently scheduled for Tuesday, the next few days will be critical in the case of the Titans.