Buccaneers Talked To Sean McDermott About Position On Staff
While it seems likelier than not that Sean McDermott will sit out the 2026 campaign, that won’t stop teams from approaching the former Bills head coach about new opportunities. That includes the Buccaneers, who recently talked to McDermott about joining Todd Bowles‘ staff, per Greg Auman of FOX Sports.
Despite Tampa Bay’s interest, Auman notes that McDermott isn’t expected to coach in 2026. Instead, the 51-year-old is expected to re-assess his options during the 2027 offseason. This echoes a report from the other day that indicated that McDermott could sit out the upcoming campaign, although there were some previous rumblings that he could dive right back into coaching.
Tampa Bay would be a logical landing spot for McDermott. Bowles hasn’t employed a traditional defensive coordinator since he earned a promotion from that role in 2022, with the head coach still preferring to call plays on that side of the ball. However, the team could have still eyed McDermott for a significant role on the staff, especially after the Buccaneers saw three defensive coaches depart this offseason (cornerbacks coach Kevin Ross and defensive line coach Charlie Strong were fired while safeties coach Nick Rapone retired).
McDermott also has some connections to the organization. He overlapped with current Buccaneers GM Jason Licht when the two worked for the Eagles, and he also interviewed for the head coaching job in 2016.
McDermott does have coordinator experience, as he was responsible for the defense during stints with the Eagles and Panthers. More likely, he’ll garner some head coaching interest next offseason. After getting fired by the Bills, the coach reportedly received “positive reviews” from those who took a year off from coaching following their ousters, and it appears that McDermott is planning on following the same path.
Chargers To Hire OL Coach Butch Barry
The Chargers are starting to fill out Mike McDaniel‘s offensive staff, starting with his offensive line coach.
Butch Barry, who spent the last three years as the Dolphins’ offensive line coach, will take up the same position in Los Angeles, per NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe. Barry previously worked with McDaniel as the 49ers’ assistant offensive line coach during McDaniel’s final season in San Francisco
In Miami, Barry worked closely with left tackle Patrick Paul and center Aaron Brewer in Miami, with both making noticeable improvements from 2024 to 2025, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required). Before that, he served as the Broncos’ offensive line coach in 2023 after a two-year stint in San Francisco.
Barry is replacing veteran offensive line coach Mike Devlin, who worked with the Jets’, Texans’ and Ravens’ offensive lines. Devlin worked under Greg Roman in Baltimore in 2022 and joined his staff in Los Angeles in 2024. The Chargers had one of the best tackle duos in the NFL in 2024, but when both Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt suffered season-ending injuries this past season, the rest of the O-line was badly exposed. The interior spots – primarily held by Zion Johnson, Bradley Bozeman, and Mekhi Becton – were already shaky, and losing the best bookends in the league proved too much to recover from. The Chargers allowed 60 sacks, the second-most of any team in 2025, and Justin Herbert suffered a few injuries as a result.
Barry will be tasked with improving the unit, which may prove difficult right away. The Chargers have not provided a timeline for Slater’s return, but the severity of his injury – a torn patellar tendon – could put his availability for 2026 in doubt. Alt’s timeline is similarly unclear, but his recovery from surgery to repair a high ankle sprain should not take as long. Alt can hold down the blind side until Slater gets back on the field, but Los Angeles will still need a right tackle during that period. They could also change out multiple interior offensive linemen – potentially all three – which will require Barry to identify and coach up replacements who fit in McDaniel’s scheme.
Offseason Outlook: Houston Texans
Reaching the divisional round for the third straight season, the DeMeco Ryans-era Texans assembled one of the best defenses to come through the NFL in many years. Houston's defense stampeded to a No. 1 ranking in yards and EPA per play in Ryans' third year. That unit arguably made this the best team in Texans history, as the 12-4 2012 operation may be its only competition. But a concerning conclusion to C.J. Stroud's third season impeded Ryans' troops.
Stroud becoming a turnover machine in the playoffs prevented the Texans from competing closely with a Patriots team that accomplished little on offense in Round 2. While the Texans have struggled to give their franchise quarterback a solid offensive line, Stroud's regression from a standout rookie season has become a front-burner issue. And this offseason represents the first window to decide on Stroud extension value. Suddenly, there are questions about where this process will go.
Coaching/front office:
- Team to retain OC Nick Caley; staff changes in play
- DC Matt Burke interviewed for Cardinals' HC position
Bobby Slowik has since returned to the OC tier, being promoted by the Dolphins over the weekend despite Miami hiring a new head coach. The Texans canned Slowik after Stroud's sophomore step back. Rumblings about the team firing Caley did not produce another change, but Ryans effectively called out his OC shortly after the New England loss. One of many ex-Sean McVay staffers to move up the ladder, Caley will enter the 2026 season on the hot seat.
Jets Complete Five OC Interviews
After moving on from offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand yesterday, the Jets have officially kicked off their search in full force. The team announced that they’ve completed interviews with five candidates. Three names on the list are new: Dolphins quarterbacks coach/passing game coordinator Darrell Bevell, Bills QBs coach Ronald Curry, and recent Chargers OC Greg Roman. The two other names are Lunda Wells, whose interview we learned about this morning, and Frank Reich, who was previously mentioned as a potential option.
[RELATED: Jets, OC Tanner Engstrand Part Ways]
Bevell has spent the past four seasons as Miami’s QBs coach and passing game coordinator. He helped guide Tua Tagovailoa to a ninth-place finish in MVP voting during his first season at the helm, and he saw the former first-round pick later pace the NFL in passing yards (4,624 in 2023) and completion percentage (72.9 in 2024). Tagovailoa’s numbers took a notable step back in 2025, including a career-high 3.9 interception rate. While that performance may lead to some changes in Miami in 2026, it apparently didn’t do enough to ruin Bevell’s reputation.
Following a brief stop with the 49ers to begin his coaching career, Curry climbed the coaching ladder in New Orleans. As a receivers coach, he helped guide Michael Thomas to two of the most productive seasons of his career, and he led a QBs room in 2021 that relied on three different starters (Jameis Winston, Trevor Siemian, and Taysom Hill). He earned a promotion to passing game coordinator in 2022 and was responsible for passing attacks led by Andy Dalton and Derek Carr. He moved to the Bills ahead of Josh Allen‘s MVP season in 2024, and he got a career-high 69.3 completion percentage from the star QB in 2025.
Roman was recently fired by the Chargers following a three-point showing in the team’s Wild Card Round loss to the Patriots. Before that, the veteran coach had stints as offensive coordinator in Baltimore, Buffalo, and San Francisco. He also served as the associate head coach at Stanford under Jim Harbaugh. Considering the Jets’ uncertainty at quarterback, it’s worth noting that Roman has successfully worked alongside a wide range of QBs throughout his coaching career. While he recently had an experienced play-caller in Justin Herbert, he’s helped guide young QBs (like Lamar Jackson and Colin Kaepernick) and journeymen (like Tyrod Taylor).
Before the Jets and Engstrand parted ways, there were rumblings that Aaron Glenn was planning to strip the OC of his play-calling duties while seeking a replacement. Reich was the first coach connected to the gig, and the team was reportedly “progressing” in conversations with the former Colts and Panthers head coach. The 64-year-old remains the favorite for the role. Wells joined the fray this morning, with the Cowboys TEs coach garnering his third OC interview of this year’s cycle. One name that’s rejected the team’s overtures is Jon Gruden, who would have certainly fit Glenn’s desire to find a “head coach” for the unit.
Whoever ends up getting hired for the open OC job will have a tall task of turning around a Jets offense that finished bottom-four in yards and scoring this past season. The team’s QB approach remains uncertain following the failed Justin Fields experiment, and running back Breece Hall is set to hit free agency. Fortunately, the Jets do have some foundational pieces, including a solid offensive line, star wideout Garrett Wilson, and promising rookie TE Mason Taylor.
NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 1/28/26
Today’s reserve/futures move:
Tennessee Titans
A former sixth-round pick by the Bengals, Trey Hill got into 25 games in Cincinnati, starting three of those appearances. After spending most of the 2024 campaign on the Bengals practice squad, he spent last offseason with the Packers organization, although he ended up being cut loose at the end of the preseason. He later signed with the Bears practice squad, where he spent most of the 2025 season.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 1/28/26
Two practice squad moves to pass along:
New England Patriots
- Signed: LB Patrick Johnson, WR Trent Sherfield
Patrick Johnson is a new addition in New England, as he spent most of the 2025 campaign on the Eagles practice squad. The former seventh-round pick actually spent the majority of his career in Philly, appearing in 58 games with the organization. He’s garnered 1,902 special teams snaps in his career vs. 615 defensive snaps.
Trent Sherfield is a more familiar face, as he had a stint on the Patriots practice squad earlier this month before getting cut. The veteran wideout brings 124 games of experience to New England, and he’s hauled in 89 career catches for 1,034 yards and six touchdowns. He appeared in 12 games with the Broncos and Cardinals earlier this season, hauling in three total catches.
Chargers Interview Chris O’Leary For DC Job
Jim Harbaugh is once again considering a familiar face for his defensive coordinator vacancy. The Chargers announced this evening that they’ve interviewed Chris O’Leary for the role.
Unlike some of the other familiar candidates for the job, O’Leary wasn’t on the Chargers staff in 2025. Rather, he was on Harbaugh’s inaugural staff in Los Angeles, where the assistant served as the Chargers safeties coach. During that 2024 campaign, O’Leary guided a safeties group that led the NFL in sacks (6.5) and finished fifth in interceptions (nine). As Omar Navarro of the team’s website notes, the Chargers safeties also allowed a 75.9 passer rating when targeted, which was good for third at the position in the NFL.
He left to become the defensive coordinator at Western Michigan in 2025. During his one season at the school, O’Leary led a defense that ranked second in the Mid-American Conference in total defense (17.4 points per game). That mark also ranked ninth in all of FBS.
Other than his one-season stint on the Chargers coaching staff, all of O’Leary’s coaching experience has come in the college game. He got his first gig at Georgia State before being named the safeties coach at Florida Tech in 2017. After one year in that role, he left for Notre Dame, where he ended up spending six seasons. During his time with the Fighting Irish, O’Leary worked his way up from a defensive analyst to defensive backs coach.
Since Jesse Minter left to become the Ravens head coach, Harbaugh has considered a handful of internal candidates for the DC job. That includes safeties coach Adam Fuller, who replaced O’Leary in the role this past season. The full list of candidates includes:
- Steve Clinkscale, defensive backs coach (Chargers): Interviewed 1/26
- Adam Fuller, safeties coach (Chargers): Interviewed 1/26
- Jim Leonhard, defensive backs coach (Broncos): Interviewed 1/28
- Zach Orr, defensive coordinator (Ravens): Interviewed 1/23
- Aubrey Pleasant, pass-game coordinator (Rams): Interviewed 1/24
- Dylan Roney, outside linebackers coach (Chargers): Interviewed 1/26
- Dennard Wilson, former defensive coordinator (Titans): Interviewed 1/23
Eagles Conduct Second OC Interview With Jim Bob Cooter
The Eagles have cast perhaps the widest net in the NFL in their search for a new offensive coordinator, but it sounds like the organization is starting to settle on some final candidates for the job. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Eagles conducted an in-person interview today with Colts offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter.
We heard previously that the Eagles had requested an interview with the long-time offensive coach. According to Fowler, the two sides previously conducted a virtual interview. While the Philly job would represent a lateral move for Cooter, it appears as if Shane Steichen is willing to let one of his top lieutenants consider a new job.
Cooter has spent the past three seasons serving as the Colts offensive coordinator. Despite having to turn to six different starting QBs over that span, Indy’s offense has still ranked in the top-half of the NFL in yardage in each of the past three seasons. The offense has also had some success scoring the ball, culminating in an eighth-place finish in points scored this past season. While Steichen brings an offensive pedigree, Cooter also earned some praise for his ability to squeeze an impressive showing out of Daniel Jones in 2025.
The 41-year-old coordinator has been coaching in the NFL since 2009. He earned his first OC gig with the Lions in 2016, and he had stints as the Jets running backs coach and the Jaguars passing game coordinator before he got his current job with the Colts in 2023.
Cooter also has some connection to the Eagles. He worked alongside Nick Sirianni when the two were on the Chiefs coaching staff, and he later served as an independent consultant in Philly during the 2021 campaign. When Sirianni announced that move, he noted that he thinks “very highly” of Cooter while describing him as a “great football mind.”
If Cooter ends up back in Philly, he’ll be tasked with guiding an offense that took a significant step back in 2025. After ranking in the top-10 in points scored and yards each season between 2022 and 2024, the team finished 19th in points and 24th in yards in 2025. That performance led to the team parting ways with OC Kevin Patullo after the season.
Since then, the Eagles have looked high and low for a replacement. Cooter joins a long list of candidates that also includes:
- Josh Grizzard, former offensive coordinator (Buccaneers): To interview
- Jerrod Johnson, quarterbacks coach (Texans): To interview
- Sean Mannion, quarterbacks coach (Packers): To conduct second interview
- Matt Nagy, former offensive coordinator (Chiefs): Interviewed 1/21
- Bobby Slowik, senior pass-game coordinator (Dolphins): Interviewed 1/23
- Frank Smith, former offensive coordinator (Dolphins): Interviewed
- Davis Webb, quarterbacks coach (Broncos): Interview requested
Rams, Steelers Request Interviews With Browns ST Coordinator Bubba Ventrone
With the Browns welcoming in a new head coach, some key assistants may be on the move. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports that the Rams have requested an interview with Browns special teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone for the same role. Meanwhile, Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com reports that the Steelers have also requested an interview with Ventrone. Cabot adds that the Rams are the likelier landing spot for the coach.
[RELATED: Browns Hire Todd Monken As HC]
Following a playing career that saw him appear in 708 special teams snaps vs. only 16 defensive snaps, Ventrone transitioned to coaching. He got his first gig with a former team, the Patriots, where he served as an assistant special teams coordinator between 2015 and 2017. He took a promotion to special teams coordinator with the Colts in 2018 and proceeded to spend five seasons in Indy. He joined the Browns in 2023 for the same gig, but he added the title of assistant head coach.
The Browns weren’t the most efficient special teams squad in 2025. The team lost primary returner DeAndre Carter in late September, and the Browns ended up finishing 31st in kick returns and 26th in punt returns. However, Ventrone did squeeze an impressive showing out of first-time starting kicker Andre Szmyt, who converted 24 of his 27 field goal attempts and 25 of his 26 XP tries.
The Rams fired special teams coordinator Chase Blackburn in late December, but the move didn’t do much to improve the squad’s special teams woes. These issues popped up during the NFC Championship Game, when Xavier Smith muffed a punt that ultimately led to a Seahawks score. So, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that the Rams are also moving on from interim ST coordinator Ben Kotwica (along with assistants Mike Harris and Matthew Harper), per Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston. Meanwhile, Mike McCarthy will be searching for a new coordinator for his staff in Pittsburgh, as long-time ST leader Danny Smith left for the same role in Tampa Bay.
New Browns coach Todd Monken will have some work to do to fill out his staff. Offensive coordinator Tommy Rees left for the same job with the Falcons (alongside former Browns HC Kevin Stefanski), while intended defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz is likely out of the equation after he lost out on Cleveland’s head coaching gig. Assuming Ventrone is also gone, Monken will be tasked with hiring three new coordinators this offseason.
Ladell Betts, Tyke Tolbert Among Those Joining Dolphins’ Staff
A former NFL running back, Ladell Betts made his debut coaching in the league last season. The Giants employed the former Washington cog as its RBs coach in 2025, but he is heading to Florida.
The Dolphins will hire Betts for the same role, ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets. Betts is among Jeff Hafley‘s new hires. Veteran wide receivers coach Tyke Tolbert will be Miami’s new wideouts coach, per NFL.com’s Cameron Wolfe. Zach Yenser is coming over from the Texans to be the Dolphins’ new offensive line coach, per the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson. KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson linked Yenser to Miami previously, and he adds the team is hiring Ryan Downard from the Packers as DBs coach.
Prior to Betts’ New York arrival, he coached RBs at his alma mater — Iowa — for four seasons. Betts, 46, spent the previous seven seasons coaching at the high school level. Betts was Clinton Portis‘ top backup for much of his Washington tenure, which lasted from 2002-09. He finished his career with the Saints in 2010.
Tolbert, 58, has been coaching wideouts in the NFL since 2003. He comes over after a two-year stint as Titans WRs coach. This will be Tolbert’s eighth gig coaching wideouts in the pros. Prior to the Titans, Tolbert coached Cardinals, Bills, Panthers, Broncos, Giants and Bears receivers from 2003-23. He has not previously worked with either Hafley or OC Bobby Slowik. Tolbert earned a Super Bowl ring while in Denver.
Hafley will bring Downard with him from Green Bay. Downard, 37, has ties to both Hafley and GM Jon-Eric Sullivan. The Packers had kept Downard on their staff through the Mike Pettine, Joe Barry and Hafley DC tenures. He oversaw Xavier McKinney‘s first-team All-Pro season in Hafley’s debut and helped Evan Williams prosper early as a fourth-round pick. Downard will also serve as Dolphins defensive pass-game coordinator, per ESPN.com’s Rob Demovsky.
Yenser worked under Slowik in Houston, and he spent the past two seasons as the Texans’ assistant O-line coach. He had served as Kentucky’s O-line coach under Liam Coen in 2023. This will mark Yenser’s first shot at being an NFL O-line coach. Yenser also worked with Slowik in San Francsico.
Additionally, Wilson notes Sullivan is expected to bring at least one Packers scout with him immediately. The Dolphins are expected to hire Green Bay staffer Venzell Boulware. The former college lineman spent his final collegiate season (2018) at the University of Miami.