HEADLINES

Month: January 2023

Bears Request Interviews With Commanders’ Chris Harris, Packers’ Jerry Gray

January 20th, 2023 at 8:30pm CST by Ely Allen

The Bears requested interviews yesterday with two names that have been brought up in defensive coordinator searches recently. They requested permission to interview Washington defensive backs coach Chris Harris for an unspecified position on the defensive staff, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. Jonathan Jones of NFL on CBS similarly reported that Chicago requested permission to interview Packers defensive pass game coordinator and defensive backs coach Jerry Gray for an “as-yet-undefined” role on the defensive staff.

Harris is a former All-Pro safety who began his NFL coaching career immediately after retiring as a player. He started off as a defensive quality control coach for the team that drafted him in Chicago. Harris was not retained after the firing of then-head coach Marc Trestman, and he joined the Chargers as the assistant defensive backs coach, moving with the team from San Diego to Los Angeles. When Ron Rivera was hired as head coach in Washington, Harris was granted a promotion to defensive backs coach, a position he’s held for the past three seasons with the Commanders.

The past couple of years have seen Harris participate in a few interviews for defensive coordinator positions. He was reportedly a finalist for the Packers coordinator job two years ago and interviewed with the Colts last year. Harris’s name came up today when Tennessee also requested to interview him. If he were to join the Titans, it’s presumed that he would come into the role of passing game coordinator, in addition to his usual position coaching gig.

Gray has actual coordinator experience from his time with the Bills and Titans. The 60-year-old coach was also requested to interview for the defensive coordinator position in Atlanta a week ago. After the Falcons’ former defensive coordinator, Dean Pees, announced his retirement, Gray’s name quickly came up as a replacement candidate. Gray’s defensive units have put up middling results over the years, but his experience calling plays makes him an attractive candidate to replace Pees, who has been doing so since 2012.

With defensive coordinator Alan Williams still in the position for the Bears, neither Harris nor Gray are likely being interviewed for his role. More likely, they are being considered for the role of passing game coordinator. Harris makes the most sense, considering his history with the franchise, but Gray has more experience in larger roles. The Bears should get to talk with both in the days to come.

Minor NFL Transactions: 1/20/23

January 20th, 2023 at 7:22pm CST by Ely Allen

Standard gameday elevations for tomorrow’s playoff games:

Jacksonville Jaguars

Kansas City Chiefs

New York Giants

Philadelphia Eagles

Titans Considering Tim Kelly For OC Vacancy, Request Interview With Chris Harris

January 20th, 2023 at 6:59pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Titans are one of several teams currently in need of a new offensive coordinator. Their ultimate decision with respect to replacing Todd Downing may not take them outside of the organization, however.

Tennessee has met with passing game coordinator Tim Kelly to discuss their OC position, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler tweets. The 36-year-old has been an NFL coach since 2014, when he joined the Texans’ staff. Three years, later he took on the title of tight ends coach, one which he held for a pair of seasons. In 2019, Houston promoted him to offensive coordinator.

The Texans put up middling numbers during Kelly’s first two seasons at the helm. They ranked 13th in the NFL in yardage over that span, finishing 14th, then 18th in scoring. During the 2021 coaching cycle, the Texans denied requests from outside teams interested in interviewing him, showcasing their interest in retaining him. However, the 2021 season (during which quarterback Deshaun Watson sat out amidst his trade request) saw the team plummet to last in the league in yardage and 30th in scoring.

That led to Kelly’s intra-divisional move this past offseason, where he joined the Titans as an offensive assistant under Downing. Tennessee averaged only 171 yards per game through the air, the third-worst figure in the league this year. Injuries to quarterback Ryan Tannehill and the team’s lack of established wideouts certainly contributed to their underwhelming totals and to Downing’s firing. Regardless, Fowler notes that Kelly represents the “strongest in-house candidate” for the OC position.

On the other side of the ball, the Titans have requested an interview with Commanders staffer Chris Harris (Twitter link via Fowler). The former All-Pro safety began his coaching career in Chicago immediately after hanging up his cleats. He spent two seasons with the Bears, followed by four years with the Chargers as their assistant DBs coach. He took a promotion coaching the same position in Washington in 2020, and has remained there since.

Fowler adds that a potential Titans hire would likely come with the title of passing game coordinator in addition to Harris’ current capacity coaching in the secondary. The 40-year-old could also garner interest as a defensive coordinator, however, as he looks to continue his career ascension on the sidelines.

Jets Interview Chad O’Shea For OC; Frank Reich On Radar?

January 20th, 2023 at 4:55pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Jets continued their search for Mike LaFleur‘s replacement on Friday. The team completed an interview with Browns wide receivers coach Chad O’Shea for their vacant offensive coordinator position, reports Tom Pelissero of NFL Network (Twitter link).

[RELATED: Browns’ Bill Callahan No Longer A Jets OC Candidate]

O’Shea, 50, has nearly 20 years of experience as an NFL staffer. Most of that has come working with wideouts as a positional coach, including a 10-year stint spent in New England in that capacity. That tenure was immediately followed by a single season in Miami as their offensive coordinator in 2019.

Under O’Shea that year, the Dolphins failed to put up impressive numbers on offense. The team ranked 27th in the league in yards and 25th in scoring, and finished with the worst rushing attack in the NFL. While a distinct lack of talent played a significant role in those struggles, it nevertheless came as little surprise when he was fired by then-head coach (and fellow Patriots alum) Brian Flores at the end of the campaign.

O’Shea has spent the past three years coaching the Browns’ wideouts while also holding the title of passing game coordinator. The position has not seen much in the way of production over that span, as Cleveland ranked 27th in 2020 and 2021 in terms of passing yards, improving only to 23rd this past season. A number of factors have limited the team’s efficiency through the air, from quarterback play to a lack of consistent pass-catchers aside from Amari Cooper. Still, O’Shea is a candidate for a second OC gig with what would be a third AFC East employer.

Meanwhile, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler notes (on Twitter) that Frank Reich could garner interest from New York depending on the status of his head coaching interviews. The former Colts bench boss has been connected to the HC vacancies in Arizona, Carolina and Denver – though he is not currently expected to be a contender for the latter job. Should he strike out on those fronts however, he would be a highly sought-after OC candidate, and one who would understandably find himself on New York’s radar.

RB Miles Sanders Eyeing New Eagles Deal

January 20th, 2023 at 3:56pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Eagles entered the 2022 campaign with significant expectations, and their performance during the regular season has Philadelphia positioned as Super Bowl contenders. A key member of the team’s offense is looking to parlay his production into a new contract once their playoff run is over.

Running back Miles Sanders is a pending free agent, which could put him in line to be one of the more sought-after players at the position this March. If he has his way, however, he will be able to remain with the Eagles in 2023 and beyond by virtue of signing a new deal.

The 25-year-old had a down year in terms of yardage totals in 2021 by virtue of missing time with an ankle injury. However, his 5.5 yards per carry average was a career best, showcasing his potential when healthy and leading to heightened expectations for the 2022 campaign. Sanders responded by comfortably setting new personal benchmarks in rushing yards (1,269) and touchdowns (11). Those figures ranked fifth and fourth in the NFL, respectively, and led to his first Pro Bowl selection.

Having showcased his potential, the former second-rounder has no doubt boosted his free agent value in the event he hits the open market. Sanders could join what is shaping up to be a loaded free agent class at the position, one which has in recent years become notably devalued. The lack of progress on contract talks with the Eagles last offseason, and his overall status relative to the league’s top tailbacks drove his career-year, though.

“We try to ignore all the stuff that’s being said about us, but we hear it, we see it,” Sanders said, via ESPN’s Tim McManus. “I just tuck it in… Especially when I’m training, I’m thinking like, ‘OK, I really don’t have no respect out here. Why don’t people respect me?’ Stuff like that going through my head. I just wanted to earn a lot of respect. And the only way I knew how to do that was work, work, work.”

The Eagles are currently projected to rank mid-pack in the league in terms of offseason cap space, and already have rotational backs Kenneth Gainwell and Trey Sermon under contract for 2023. Quarterback Jalen Hurts – who put himself in the MVP conversation this year with his own breakout performance – is also eligible for an extension, so talks on that front will undoubtedly be a top priority in the near future.

Sanders’ play in the postseason could affect his ranking in the pending free agent class, which could also include former Penn State teammate Saquon Barkley. Regardless of how the former (who added that he “loves” Philadelphia) fares in the divisional round this weekend, he will be a name to watch as the offseason begins to unfold.

Panthers To Interview Frank Reich, Request Kellen Moore Meeting

January 20th, 2023 at 2:57pm CST by Sam Robinson

JANUARY 20: As is the case with their Sean Payton interview, the Panthers’ meeting with Moore will not take place as planned. Tom Pelissero of NFL Network notes that it has been postponed, along with those of a number of other candidates (Twitter link). In Moore’s case, the Cowboys’ immediate playoff future could affect his availability for scheduling purposes, but the Panthers remain interested in the young OC.

JANUARY 11, 9:44am: Continuing a focus on offensive-minded candidates, the Panthers have sent out an interview request to Cowboys OC Kellen Moore, Todd Archer of ESPN.com tweets. Moore was on the 2022 coaching carousel, interviewing with the Broncos, Dolphins, Jaguars and Vikings. With the Cowboys in the playoffs again, it is unsurprising Moore is back in the mix.

Moore, 33, has been an NFL play-caller since he was 30. The Cowboys promoted him to OC during Jason Garrett‘s tenure, and Mike McCarthy has kept him on in the role for three years. After Dallas led the NFL in points and yards last season, the team ranked fourth (scoring) and 11th (total offense) this year. Of course, a chunk of that came with backup quarterback Cooper Rush at the helm. Dallas’ performance during Rush’s fill-in starts should reflect well on Moore. Both Cowboys coordinators are in the mix for HC jobs; the Broncos have Dan Quinn back on their radar.

JANUARY 11, 9:08am: Frank Reich‘s first interview on this year’s HC carousel will take place today. The Panthers are bringing in the former Colts leader for a Wednesday meeting, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.

Rumored to be on Carolina’s docket for a few days, this Reich meeting will follow summits with Jim Caldwell and interim HC Steve Wilks. The Panthers are not planning to go through an expansive search, so Reich being part of it certainly indicates the Panthers are serious about a second-chance stint.

Reich has some history with the organization. During the Panthers’ inaugural season (1995), Reich was on the team as Kerry Collins‘ backup. The longtime Bills QB2 spent one season with the Panthers, though his brother (Joe Reich) has been the head coach at Division II Wingate — a Charlotte-area school — for over 20 years (h/t The Athletic’s Zak Keefer).

[RELATED: Reich On Rams’ OC Radar]

Because the Colts fired Reich, he does not have any restrictions as to when he can meet with teams for interviews. Coaches attached to wild-card teams must wait until at least three days after their team’s respective first-round game to interview. The Panthers are checking off the available boxes early, meeting with two unattached coaches and their popular interim leader this week. Reich, 61, has indicated he wants a second HC opportunity and would prefer to step back into such a role next season.

Hired after the 2018 Josh McDaniels snafu, Reich went 40-33-1 with the Colts. Although the 2018 Indianapolis squad was viewed as one amid a rebuild, Reich directed the team to a late-season surge that ended in the divisional round. Andrew Luck‘s retirement gutted the franchise, but Reich’s reunion with Philip Rivers produced another playoff berth in 2020. Reich’s push for a Carson Wentz reunion in 2021, however, did not work out as well. And the team’s Matt Ryan move helped lead to Reich’s ouster midway through this season. Reich, however, is a respected offensive coach who called plays throughout his Colts tenure and contributed significantly to the Eagles’ Super Bowl LII-winning season.

Beyond Wilks, the Panthers are focusing on offense-oriented candidates. Reich joins Caldwell, Giants OC Mike Kafka, Lions OC Ben Johnson, Bills OC Ken Dorsey and Eagles OC Shane Steichen in receiving interview requests from the team. No external defensive coaches are on Carolina’s interview docket, which certainly paints a clear picture of what the Panthers are targeting.

Colts Conduct HC Interview With Rich Bisaccia

January 20th, 2023 at 1:59pm CST by Adam La Rose

Staying true to their stated intentions of a widespread search for their next full-time head coach, the Colts’ list of HC candidates continues to grow. The team announced on Friday that they have completed an interview with Packers special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia.

The 62-year-old has a thorough background as an NFL assistant, having served on five different pro staffs. In each case, he worked primarily on special teams, establishing himself as one of the league’s most well-respected third phase coaches. He expanded his duties on a temporary basis last season, however.

In the wake of Jon Gruden‘s resignation from the Raiders in 2021, Bisaccia took over as head coach on an interim basis. He led Vegas to a 7-5 record down the stretch, which was enough to secure a surprising playoff berth. That level of success earned him an interview to retain the position on a full-time basis, but the organization pivoted to ex-Patriots staffers both in the front office (hiring GM Dave Ziegler) and on the sidelines (hiring Josh McDaniels).

Bisaccia also interviewed in Jacksonville last offseason, but he ultimately ended up making a lateral move to Green Bay. The Packers entered the offseason once again looking for a solution to their long-standing special teams problems, and the team saw notable improvement in that department. Green Bay ranked 17th in special teams DVOA in 2022, after finishing dead last the year before.

One element of their success was the play of first-team All-Pro returner Keisean Nixon. The former UDFA led the NFL in kick return yards, including a 105-yarder which led to his only touchdown. His 25.6 return average ranked fourth in the league, and has helped put Bisaccia back on the HC radar for the 2023 cycle. This is the latter’s first interview of the winter.

With Bisaccia having sat down with the Colts, here is an updated breakdown of their ongoing search:

Giants’ Initial Saquon Barkley Offer In $12MM-Per-Year Range?

January 20th, 2023 at 12:49pm CST by Sam Robinson

Set for their first divisional-round game since their Super Bowl XLVI-winning season 11 years ago, the Giants have been one of this season’s top success stories. The rebuilding team-turned-contender has a complex offseason ahead, however.

Although Dexter Lawrence and Leonard Williams are entering contract years in 2023, the Giants’ two most pressing priorities will be agreements with free agents-to-be Daniel Jones and Saquon Barkley. The team has come around on Jones being part of its future, and the former top-10 pick raised his price again with a quality wild-card performance. But Barkley has been in the new regime’s plans longer. The Giants have the franchise tag to deploy, though they will need to determine which player will be tagged.

While no Jones talks occurred during the team’s November bye that doubled as a midseason negotiating window, the Giants did make Barkley an offer. That proposal was believed to be in the $12MM-$12.5MM-per-year range, according to the New York Post’s Ian O’Connor. The Giants offered Barkley either a three- or four-year deal, but the former No. 2 overall pick turned it down. Barkley is targeting a top-market contract, which makes sense given the season he has put together and cap rise since the last such deal was awarded.

The $12MM-AAV range has been the compromise point that has helped a number of teams retain their standout running backs in recent years. It forms a solid second tier at the position. Dalvin Cook, Derrick Henry, Nick Chubb, Aaron Jones and Joe Mixon are each attached to a deal between $12MM and $12.6MM on average. Christian McCaffrey, Ezekiel Elliott and Alvin Kamara‘s pacts comprise the first tier — north of $15MM per year — but the $12MM-AAV quintet is well above every other player at the position. No other back is attached to a deal worth more than $8MM per annum.

Barkley, 25, totaled 1,650 scrimmage yards this season and did not miss a game due to injury, re-establishing himself after three injury-plagued years. He entered the season with an uncertain future, even being mentioned in trade rumors during the 2022 offseason. But even by the midseason point when Barkley turned down the offer, his value was trending toward the McCaffrey price range. A November report indicated the sides did not come close on a deal, and that could be a prelude to their 2023 talks.

The Giants can tag Barkley at barely $10MM per year, and a second tag in 2024 would come in just above $12MM. That gives the Giants some leverage, though considering the former Offensive Rookie of the Year’s importance to their cause, a hardline stance may not be the best course of action. The Giants are believed to be willing to pay Barkley a top-market rate, but it will be interesting to see if the five-year veteran targets the McCaffrey contract — four years, $64MM — or attempts to move the bar higher. CMC’s market-topping deal came to pass early in the 2020 offseason. Nearly three years later, the cap is expected to check in beyond the $220MM point. McCaffrey’s contract occurring when the cap resided at $198MM bodes well for Barkley, who was instrumental in the Giants’ first playoff win in over a decade.

Jones’ contract year complicates the Giants’ path. How the team proceeds with its two offensive cornerstones will be one of the more fascinating contract situations in recent memory.

Bill Callahan Signs Browns Extension, Nixing Jets OC Interview

January 20th, 2023 at 12:09pm CST by Sam Robinson

With Brian Callahan on the HC radar for a second straight year, his father re-emerged in the OC mix. The Jets requested an interview with Bill Callahan, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets, but the elder Callahan made other plans.

The Browns’ offensive line coach for the past three seasons, Bill Callahan will stay on the position coach level. The 66-year-old assistant signed an extension to stay in Cleveland, Garafolo notes.

Callahan, a former Raiders head coach who was last an OC in 2014 (with the Cowboys), has a history with the Jets. After his four-season run as Nebraska’s HC, the Jets brought him in for a four-year stint as their offensive line coach during Rex Ryan‘s stay. The team ventured to back-to-back AFC championship games during Callahan’s time in New York, which included work with Pro Bowlers Nick Mangold and D’Brickashaw Ferguson. Each of the latter’s three Pro Bowls came during Callahan’s New York tenure.

Cleveland’s offensive line has been one of the NFL’s best throughout Callahan’s tenure. The Browns have invested significantly in the unit, doling out second or third contracts to four of their Callahan-era cogs — Joel Bitonio, Wyatt Teller, Jack Conklin, J.C. Tretter. The group has seen a host of accolades come in during this period. Bitonio has been to the past five Pro Bowls, earning All-Pro recognition during his age-30 and age-31 campaigns over the past two years, while Conklin earned first-team All-Pro honors in 2020. A former Bills draftee acquired in a low-profile 2019 trade, Teller was a Pro Bowler last season. Cleveland’s O-line has helped drive Nick Chubb to the past four Pro Bowls.

The Jets saw one of the frontrunners for their OC post — Darrell Bevell — decline an interview, doing so with the Commanders as well. With Bevell out of the picture, the Jets have gone through a few interviews. Patriots tight ends coach Nick Caley, former Broncos HC Nathaniel Hackett and three Eagles staffers — Marcus Brady, Brian Johnson, Kevin Patullo — have interviewed for the position. But the Bevell and Callahan decisions have affected the team’s search.

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