Chargers, Commanders To Interview Rams’ Thomas Brown For OC
Thomas Brown interviewed for the Texans’ head coaching job, but he will have the chance at two coordinator positions soon. The Chargers and Commanders will meet with the Rams’ tight ends coach this week.
Mentioned previously as a Commanders candidate, Brown will meet with the NFC East team Tuesday and has a Chargers summit scheduled for Wednesday, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets. Despite only being an NFL assistant for three years, Brown has impressed to the point he could be the next Sean McVay assistant to move up the ladder.
McVay’s coaching tree is already one of the league’s sturdiest. Matt LaFleur, Zac Taylor and Brandon Staley have become head coaches after short spans on McVay’s staff, and Raheem Morris has rebuilt his stock in Los Angeles as well. Wes Phillips became the Vikings’ offensive coordinator last year — a position for which Brown interviewed — while Ejiro Evero‘s value is surging after relocating from L.A. to Denver for a DC opportunity. Joe Barry‘s Rams stay restored his value; he is now going into his third season as the Packers’ DC. Shane Waldron is now entering Year 3 as Seattle’s OC.
Brown was on McVay’s staff with a few of these coaches, coming to L.A. in 2020 after nine years in the college ranks. Viewed as a rising talent for a bit now, the 36-year-old staffer will interview to replace Scott Turner and Joe Lombardi. The Commanders are further along in their search, having fired Turner several days before the Lombardi ouster created the chance to work with Justin Herbert. Washington has some intriguing pieces on offense, though it once again features quarterback uncertainty. Conversely, Herbert’s presence should make the Bolts job one of the most coveted positions available this year.
Cowboys RB Tony Pollard Suffers Broken Leg
JANUARY 24: Pollard underwent surgery to repair the high ankle sprain, according to the Dallas Morning News’ Calvin Watkins, who adds (via Twitter) the Pro Bowl running back did not go through an operation to address his fractured fibula. This tightrope procedure addressed ankle ligament damage, Todd Archer of ESPN.com tweets. Despite that being the more significant of the two maladies, Watkins notes a second surgery to address it is not expected.
JANUARY 23: The Cowboys’ season came to an end yesterday, meaning attention will now turn to their moves made in advance of the new league year. One of the team’s top pending free agents is now dealing with a significant injury. 
Running back Tony Pollard was carted off the field late in the first half and initially ruled out with a high ankle sprain. However, further testing revealed that he had additionally suffered a fractured fibula, as detailed by ESPN’s Todd Archer. Surgery will be required, and the recovery time after that will likely take between three and four months.
The news dealt a significant blow to Dallas’ offense for the remainder of the contest. The team relied exclusively on Ezekiel Elliott without the option of continuing his tandem with Pollard. The former totaled just 26 rushing yards on 10 carries, making Sunday the fourth straight contest (and sixth overall) this season in which he averaged fewer than three yards per rush.
2022 saw the timeshare between Elliott and Pollard continue to swing towards the former fourth-rounder. Pollard reached the 1,000 yard mark on the ground for the first time this season, earning him a Pro Bowl nod. His efficiency and pass-catching ability was on display during Elliott’s midseason absence in particular, and the latter increasingly took on a short-yardage role. That development sets up an intriguing offseason for the Cowboys from a financial perspective.
Pollard, 25, is a pending free agent due for a considerable raise given his production, especially in 2021 and 2022. It was reported yesterday that the franchise tag is an option Dallas would consider to keep him in the fold for at least one more season, but doing so would carry a cost of roughly $10MM. That figure, coupled with the outstanding commitment due to Elliott over the next four years, could make the RB position a hugely expensive one for the Cowboys unless they cut the latter or re-work his contract.
Pollard will now begin the recovery process as the Cowboys weigh their options with respect to their pending free agents and possible moves to free up cap space for the spring.
Broncos Sean Payton Hire Becoming Less Likely?
The Broncos had scheduled a second Sean Payton interview for this week, but NOLA.com’s Jeff Duncan notes (via Twitter) the meeting is now on hold. Next on Payton’s docket will be interview No. 1 with the Cardinals, but chatter about the FOX analyst hopping off the 2023 coaching carousel to join a potentially flashier ride next year persists.
Payton will meet with the Cardinals on Thursday, per Duncan, who adds the delays in the longtime Saints HC’s schedule lend to the notion he will stay put and not coach in 2023. Payton’s initial Broncos meeting may not have gone as well as initially reported, either. Neither side looks to view this as a “must-do deal,” Jason La Canfora of the Washington Post notes. One GM said, via La Canfora, he expects Payton to stay at FOX for another year — a long-rumored path — and wait out potentially better jobs.
A Payton hire would be a blockbuster for the Broncos, who have struck out with first-time HCs in 2017 (Vance Joseph), 2019 (Vic Fangio) and 2022 (Nathaniel Hackett) and are believed to be prioritizing experience. But it would be expensive — both in terms of financial and trade compensation. A two-first-rounder haul has been floated, though some around the league believe a first-rounder and both of Denver’s 2023 thirds could be enough for New Orleans. The Saints would undoubtedly ask for a bigger return from Carolina, given the potential intra-NFC South jump in that scenario. The Broncos have been more closely connected to Payton compared to the Panthers, but The Athletic’s Joe Person adds Denver may no longer have the former Super Bowl-winning HC as its frontrunner (subscription required).
Considering what has come out on the Broncos’ HC search, it would surprise if the team passed on Payton. Russell Wilson reached out to the well-regarded play-caller, who, as of Monday, was still believed to have the inside track for the job. But the team has interviewed a host of other candidates, including Cowboys DC Dan Quinn, who was close to landing the job last year. If Payton does not have a substantial lead in this race, the Broncos backing off and hiring a coach they would not need to trade for would make sense. Then again, Payton is by far the most accomplished candidate available.
The prospect of Payton waiting out 2024 jobs continues to be discussed around the league, La Canfora adds. This will keep the dots connected to the Chargers and Cowboys positions, gigs Payton has eyed for several months. The Chargers announced intentions to retain Brandon Staley, despite a historic wild-card collapse, and the Cowboys do not look like they will be canning Mike McCarthy after back-to-back 12-win seasons. That said, ESPN.com’s Dianna Russini tweets a mystery team of sorts could lurk. Said team is observing this process and could make a move once it “gets [its] ducks in a row.”
Anonymous suitors notwithstanding, Payton will soon have interviewed for four of the five open positions this year. It is not known if an offer has come his way, but Panthers owner David Tepper was believed to be quite interested in this splashy hire heading into their meeting. Tepper’s reputation of being a “hands-on” owner might also impact Payton’s interest, Person adds.
The Texans, who hold two first-round picks (including No. 2 overall), are believed to intrigue the veteran coach. But buzz about the NFC championship game defensive coordinators — DeMeco Ryans and Jonathan Gannon — and this position is circulating as well, La Canfora adds. Gannon has long been connected to the Texans job, which he interviewed twice for in 2022, and Ryans spent the first six seasons of his playing career in Houston.
Texans Schedule Second HC Interviews With Mike Kafka, Ejiro Evero
Houston’s third consecutive offseason spent searching for a new head coach is heading into its next phase. The Texans are set to conduct a second interview with Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka, per ESPN’s Field Yates (Twitter link). 
The 35-year-old met virtually with the Texans this past Sunday, one day after New York’s surprisingly successful campaign came to an end. Now, he is set to interview in person with Houston’s front office. Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 notes that the sit-down is scheduled to take place in Houston on Wednesday.
Kafka has enjoyed a quick rise up the ranks of NFL assistants receiving serious consideration for head coaching jobs. He was already a popular name in league circles last offseason when he left Kansas City (where he worked closely alongside Patrick Mahomes as the team’s quarterbacks coach) to join Brian Daboll‘s new staff in the Big Apple.
That represented not only his first OC opportunity at both the college and NFL level, but, to the surprise of many, his first time handling play-calling duties. Daboll’s time as Buffalo’s OC led to the expectation that he would carry on in a similar capacity with the Giants, but his decision to delegate to Kafka proved to be a successful one. New York put up middle-of-the-road numbers in terms of scoring and yardage totals, but ranked fourth in the regular season with an average of 148 rushing yards per game. The postseason saw New York continue that success against the Vikings, though their loss to the Eagles was certainly a different story.
Kafka is still a logical candidate for a second interview, as is Ejiro Evero. The Broncos defensive coordinator will also meet with the Texans’ brass tomorrow, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network tweets. The 42-year-old is, like Kafka, relatively inexperienced in terms of serving as a coordinator, with 2022 being his first DC gig, but his success has made him a hot commodity during this year’s cycle.
Evero has met with all five teams currently in need of a new head coach, illustrating the way he is viewed around the league. He led the Broncos’ defense to solid rankings in terms of yards allowed in particular, a testament not only to the unit’s talent and his coaching ability, but also his success in maintaining consistency in the wake of Denver’s offensive struggles. Evero has previously worked with the Rams, Packers, 49ers and Buccaneers at the NFL level, all-but exclusively seeing time on the defensive side of the ball.
After seeing David Culley and Lovie Smith each receive their walking papers after one-year stints, Texans owner Cal McNair recently indicated that he would take a more hands-on approach to the 2023 search. Adding either Kafka or Evero would provide the team with a much younger option on the sidelines, and presumably set the franchise up for long-term stability.
With the team’s set of second round interviews beginning to take shape, here is the latest on Houston’s HC search:
- Thomas Brown, tight ends coach (Rams): Interviewed 1/17
- Ejiro Evero, defensive coordinator (Broncos): Interviewed 1/17; to conduct second interview 1/25
- Jonathan Gannon, defensive coordinator (Eagles): Early frontrunner?; interviewed 1/14
- Ben Johnson, offensive coordinator (Lions): Interviewed 1/12; plans to stay with Lions
- Mike Kafka, offensive coordinator (Giants): Interviewed 1/22; to conduct second interview 1/25
- Sean Payton, former head coach (Saints): Interviewed 1/16
- DeMeco Ryans, defensive coordinator (49ers): Interviewed 1/20
- Shane Steichen, offensive coordinator (Eagles): Interviewed 1/13
Cardinals To Conduct Second HC Interview With Dan Quinn
With their new general manager in place, the Cardinals are continuing their search for a new head coach. That process could be nearing an end, as their second round of interviews is set to begin tonight. 
Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports that Arizona will conduct an in-person meeting with Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn tonight (Twitter link). Arizona had met virtually with the 52-year-old this past weekend, as he and the Cowboys were preparing for their game against the 49ers. With Dallas having lost that contest, Quinn is free to meet with prospective teams during the week, meaning clarity on his future could be coming soon.
Quinn has also undergone first interviews with the Broncos and Colts; Pelissero notes that both of those teams are also interested in lining up a second meeting in the coming days. That comes as little surprise, given how highly-regarded Quinn is during this year’s coaching cycle, as he was last offseason as well. His decision to ultimately remain in Dallas for 2022 paid dividends for the Cowboys, who finished the regular season with the league’s No. 5 scoring defense.
To open up the playoffs, Quinn’s unit held the Buccaneers to 14 points and an average of only 4.8 yards per play. On Sunday, they delivered another noteworthy performance by limiting San Francisco to 19 points, 3.5 yards per carry and less than 200 passing yards. That has, unsurprisingly, kept him squarely on the radar to receive a second head coaching opportunity.
Quinn spent five-plus years as Atlanta’s bench boss, a stint which was highlighted by a Super Bowl appearance. His tenure with the Falcons was preceded by a pair of seasons as the Seahawks’ DC, so a move to Arizona would mean a return to the NFC West. It would also allow new GM Monti Ossenfort to shift the coaching staff to a defensive mind as a replacement for Kliff Kingsbury. Such a move has been hinted at by Arizona’s DC Vance Joseph being named an early candidate to take on the job, along with Brian Flores being rumored to be a serious contender and multiple other defensive staffers receiving interest.
With Quinn set to kick off the second round of Arizona’s interviews, here is the current breakdown of their search:
- Ejiro Evero, defensive coordinator (Broncos): Interview requested
- Brian Flores, linebackers coach (Steelers): Interviewed 1/23, favorite?
- Aaron Glenn, defensive coordinator (Lions): Interviewed 1/21
- Vance Joseph, defensive coordinator (Cardinals): Interviewed 1/18
- Dan Quinn, defensive coordinator (Cowboys): Interviewed 1/21; to conduct second interview 1/24
- Sean Payton, former head coach (Saints): To interview 1/26
- Frank Reich, former head coach (Colts): Interviewed 1/17
- DeMeco Ryans, defensive coordinator (49ers): Interview on hold?
Patriots To Hire Bill O’Brien As OC
The Patriots’ search for an offensive coordinator has come to an end. New England is reuniting with Bill O’Brien to fill the vacancy, as first reported (on Twitter) by ESPN’s Adam Schefter. O’Brien will also serve as the Pats’ quarterbacks coach, the team announced.
Both during and after New England’s season came to an end with the team sitting outside the postseason (in large part due to their offensive struggles), it became clear that O’Brien was the Patriots’ preferred choice to help the unit rebound in 2023. The 53-year-old spent the past two seasons at the helm of Alabama’s offense, but his next NFL gig will be in a familiar place. 
O’Brien began his pro coaching career in New England in 2007 as an offensive assistant. Over time, he took on a larger role on Bill Belichick‘s staff, working with the team’s wide receivers and quarterbacks before being promoted again to offensive coordinator in 2011. While he only held that title for one season, he operated as the team’s play-caller after Josh McDaniels departed in 2009.
Following that time, O’Brien took a two-year head coaching gig at Penn State, which led him to the same role with the Texans. He operated as the team’s bench boss – and, for part of that stretch, the general manager as well – from 2014 to the one-quarter mark of the 2020 campaign. Overall, the Texans sported winning records in five of his six full seasons at the helm, though his firing came as little surprise by the time it happened in the wake of an 0-4 start and several missteps in terms of managerial moves.
O’Brien returned to the college ranks after that, working under Nick Saban and with the help of current Patriots quarterback Mac Jones. The latter helped O’Brien, a Massachusetts native, get acquainted with the Crimson Tide’s scheme, one which allowed Bryce Young develop into a Heisman winner and a serious contender to be selected first overall in the upcoming draft. O’Brien and Jones working together on a full-time basis could be beneficial to unlocking the latter’s potential.
After a rookie campaign in which Jones earned a Pro Bowl nod, the former first-rounder took a step back statistically. Overall, the Patriots finished below-average in almost every offensive category in 2022, a season in which Belichick drew criticism for his arrangement with Matt Patricia calling plays and Joe Judge having a key role in the unit as well. Both ex-head coaches had plenty of experience in New England, but not on the offensive side of the ball.
O’Brien’s hire comes not long after he interviewed for what will be a much more traditional OC role. New England also spoke with their TEs coach Nick Caley, Vikings WRs coach Keenan McCardell, Cardinals assistant head coach Shawn Jefferson and Oregon associate head coach Adrian Klemm in a more expansive, outward-looking search process than many others Belichick has overseen. O’Brien and the Patriots will enter 2023 with expectations for a significant step forward in offensive production to compliment the team’s highly-regarded defense.
Ezekiel Elliott Would Consider Pay Cut To Stay With Cowboys
Ezekiel Elliott had one of the least-productive seasons of his career in 2022, making his $10.9MM salary in 2023 potentially unpalatable. However, it sounds like the veteran running back is willing to take a pay cut if it means sticking with the Cowboys. A person familiar with the player’s thinking told Michael Gehlken of The Dallas Morning News that Elliott would consider reducing his salary if it meant he’d stick around Dallas.
[RELATED: Cowboys RB Tony Pollard Suffers Broken Leg]
As Gehlken notes, there’s no real rush to reduce Elliott’s salary, although it may be in the organization’s best interest to renegotiate a deal before the league year starts on March 15. Still, the fact that Elliott is even willing to hit the negotiating table should be a positive sign for everyone involved.
The Cowboys are equally interested in keeping their star running back. The reporter notes that Elliott is considered a “selfless teammate” who supported Tony Pollard‘s increased offensive role, and the veteran RB has also earned praise for his pass blocking ability and ball protection (Elliott has only one fumble over the past two years). The Cowboys also have a bit of leverage when it comes to negotiating, perhaps explaining why Elliott is so eager to discuss a reworked deal. As Gehlken notes, the Cowboys don’t have any guarantees tied to Elliott’s salary for the first time since they inked him to a six-year, $90MM extension in 2019. The team could theoretically cut Elliott and be left with ~$6MM dead cap hits in 2023 and 2024, although that route is naturally “believed to be counter to the club’s intentions.”
Further complicating negotiations will be the status of Pollard’s impending free agency. Following a productive fourth NFL season that saw him finish with 1,378 yards from scrimmage and 12 touchdowns, Pollard was eyeing a sizable pay raise as a free agent this offseason. While a broken leg during this past weekend’s playoff loss may have cost him a bit of money on his next contract, there’s no denying that the Cowboys would have to budget if they hoped to maintain their RB depth chart. Reducing Elliott’s salary could provide the front office a bit of extra wiggle room when it comes to working out a new contract for Pollard.
Following the Cowboys’ loss to the 49ers last night, Elliott made it clear to reporters that we wants to stay in Dallas.
“I’ve definitely thought about it,” said Elliott (via Gehlken). “I want to be here. I don’t have a crystal ball; I can’t tell you the future. But I definitely want to be here.”
Elliott had the fewest touches of his career in 2022, but it didn’t lead to better production. The veteran’s 3.8 yards per touch marked a career-low, and he failed to hit 1,000 yards from scrimmage for the first time in his career. The RB especially struggled as the season went on, as the 27-year-old averaged 2.6 yards per carry (82 carries, 213 yards) in the final six games of the regular season.
Rams Interviewed Marcus Brady, Brian Johnson
Mike LaFleur still appears to be the favorite for the Rams offensive coordinator job, but that hasn’t stopped the organization from considering other candidates. According to Albert Breer of SportsIllustrated.com, the Rams have interviewed Eagles QBs coach Brian Johnson and former Colts OC Marcus Brady for the job.
[RELATED: Mike LaFleur Expected To Join Rams’ Staff]
The Rams are now searching for their fourth offensive coordinator under Sean McVay, following Kevin O’Connell, Matt LaFleur, and the recently departed Liam Coen, who officially rejoined the University of Kentucky earlier this month. Coen’s departure lined up with LeFleur’s mutual parting with the Jets, and we heard immediately that New York’s now-former OC could be the favorite for Los Angeles’ open position. We also heard that Thomas Brown and Zac Robinson were internal candidates for the vacancy, and the Rams reportedly had interest in Frank Reich. Now, we’re getting wind of two outside candidates.
Johnson and Brady are both new additions to the list of known (and potential candidates). Johnson’s candidacy isn’t a huge surprise considering the progress of Jalen Hurts. Johnson has been Hurts’ quarterbacks coach for each of the past two seasons, and the QB took a clear step forward in 2022 with career-high passing marks (66.5 completion percentage, 3,701 passing yards, 22 passing touchdowns). The 35-year-old Johnson interviewed for the Jets offensive coordinator vacancy earlier this month.
Similar to Johnson, Brady is also a candidate for the Jets opening and spent the 2022 campaign with the Eagles (as an offensive consultant). The 43-year-old was the Colts QBs coach for two years before a year-plus stint as their offensive coordinator. He was fired by the Colts in November before quickly catching on with Philly.
Minor NFL Transactions: 1/23/23
Today’s minor moves:
Baltimore Ravens
- Claimed off waivers (from Cowboys): CB Trayvon Mullen
Kansas City Chiefs
- Waived: CB Chris Lammons
New York Jets
- Re-signed: S Will Parks
Mullen was a second-round pick by the Raiders back in 2019. Despite starting 31 of his 37 appearances through his first three seasons in the NFL, he was traded to the Cardinals for a seventh-round pick prior to the 2022 campaign. He got into eight games for Arizona before getting waived, and he caught on with the Cowboys in December. The 25-year-old won’t officially join Baltimore until the day after the Super Bowl (February 13).
NFL Reserve/Futures Deals: 1/23/23
Today’s reserve/futures deals, mostly featuring teams recently eliminated from the postseason:
Buffalo Bills
- OL Alec Anderson, DT Eli Ankou, QB Matt Barkley, DT Cortez Broughton, DT Brandin Bryant, TE Zach Davidson, CB Ja’Marcus Ingram, WR KeeSean Johnson, DE Kingsley Jonathan, OL Greg Mancz, CB Kyler McMichael, WR Dezmon Patmon, OL Ryan Van Demark
Dallas Cowboys
- WR Dontario Drummond, C Brock Hoffman, C Alec Lindstrom, DB Sheldrick Redwine, S Juanyeh Thomas
Jacksonville Jaguars
- WR Kevin Austin, OT Coy Cronk, K James McCourt, WR Jaylon Moore, C James Murray, DB Ayo Oyelola, QB E.J. Perry, TE Gerrit Prince, RB Mekhi Sargent, DE Nick Thurman, C Darryl Williams, WR Seth Williams
New York Giants
Pittsburgh Steelers
- WR Dan Chisena
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tennessee Titans