Eagles Interested In Kevin Stefanski, Kliff Kingsbury For OC
The Eagles are in the market for an offensive coordinator after removing Kevin Patullo from the position on Tuesday. Although the unit fell well short of expectations in 2025, there remains plenty of talent on hand. That could help head coach Nick Sirianni lure a high-profile name to replace Patullo.
Former head coaches Kevin Stefanski and Kliff Kingsbury are among the possibilities for Philadelphia. The team will give both Stefanski and Kingsbury “a real look” in its search for Patullo’s replacement, a league source told Josina Anderson of The Exhibit.
Stefanski lost his job as the Browns’ head coach after the season, but he stands a good chance of immediately landing a second HC opportunity. The 43-year-old is reportedly a Plan B option for the Giants and Falcons if they don’t hire John Harbaugh.
As PFR’s Head Coaching Search Tracker shows, Stefanski has also interviewed with the Ravens, Raiders, Titans and Dolphins. The AFC North veteran may have yet another option if the Steelers, who saw Mike Tomlin resign on Tuesday, come calling.
Although he’s a Philadelphia native, the widespread interest in Stefanski as a head coach may make him an unrealistic target for the Eagles. Kingsbury, meanwhile, has interviewed for the Ravens’ head coaching position. The Titans also requested a meeting, but it’s unknown if or when that will occur. It’s also unclear if anyone else will consider Kingsbury for their HC opening.
Like Stefanski, Kingsbury is seeking his second opportunity as a head coach. He led the Cardinals to a 28-37-1 record from 2019-22. While that’s an unimpressive mark, Kingsbury guided the Cardinals to their most recent playoff berth in 2021. He also meshed well with much-maligned quarterback Kyler Murray, who made the Pro Bowl twice under Kingsbury. Murray hasn’t regained that form since Kingsbury’s exit.
Kingsbury, who coached at Houston and Texas Tech from 2008-18, returned to the college level as a senior offensive analyst at USC in 2023. That was quarterback Caleb Williams‘ last season with the Trojans. He joined the Bears as the No. 1 pick in the 2024 draft. Kingsbury also went back to the pros that year as the Commanders’ offensive coordinator under head coach Dan Quinn.
Washington followed Chicago in selecting a QB with its top pick, choosing Jayden Daniels second overall. With Kingsbury at the controls, Daniels enjoyed a jaw-dropping introduction to the pros. The dual threat rolled to Offensive Rookie of the Year honors and helped the Commanders to an NFC Championship Game appearance. They suffered a lopsided defeat to Philadelphia, potentially Kingsbury’s next employer.
After the Commanders’ offense finished top seven in scoring and yardage a year ago, expectations were the unit would continue to thrive in 2025. Injuries, including to Daniels and No. 1 wide receiver Terry McLaurin (among others), played a significant role in preventing that.
With three different injuries holding Daniels to seven starts, Washington’s offense fell to 22nd overall in points and yards. The team and Kingsbury parted ways after a bitterly disappointing 5-12 campaign, sending him back to coaching free agency.
With Kingsbury now on the Eagles’ radar, it’s worth pointing out that there’s familiarity between the two sides. Before Kingsbury went to Washington in 2024, he interviewed to become the Eagles’ O-coordinator. They instead chose Kellen Moore, who went on to assist in a Super Bowl-winning campaign. Thanks in large part to an otherworldly season from running back Saquon Barkley, the Eagles boasted one of the league’s best offenses then.
Moore parlayed his success in his lone season with the Eagles into the Saints’ head coaching gig. His departure led Sirianni to bump Patullo up from his previous role as the team’s pass game coordinator. The promotion didn’t go as planned for Patullo, who looked in over his head. Despite an enviable collection of linemen and skill players such as Barkley, Jalen Hurts, A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith and Dallas Goedert, the Eagles were an underwhelming 19th in scoring and 24th in yards in 2025.
Facing a banged-up 49ers defense in the wild-card round, the Eagles mustered just 307 total yards in a 23-19 loss on Sunday. Two days later, they’re looking for a new offensive leader. Depending on how the HC hiring cycle unfolds, either Stefanski or Kingsbury could end up as Sirianni’s choice to revive a stagnant offense in 2026.
Vikings’ ‘No. 1 Priority’ Will Be Retaining DC Brian Flores
Brian Flores is a coaching free agent. While the Vikings have wanted to extend their three-year defensive coordinator, no deal has emerged. Minnesota has seen HC and DC interest come Flores’ way as this year’s coaching carousel starts.
A report Monday indicated the Vikings were confident they can retain their DC, and Kevin O’Connell has since called doing so the team’s “No. 1 priority.” Flores’ contract officially expires Wednesday, per ESPN’s Kevin Seifert. Once it does, the Vikings cannot block him from DC interviews.
“I think he’s more than deserving, everything he’s brought to our organization over these last three years,” O’Connell said, via the Minneapolis Star-Tribune’s Emily Leiker. “Not surprised people are wanting to talk to him about that role. Excited for him to do so, all while knowing our No. 1 priority — really before the season even ended — our No. 1 priority has been to get that thing done with him.”
Thus far, Flores has received one HC interview; he met with the Ravens today. The Commanders have made it known they want to meet with him about their DC vacancy. Other teams surely have him on their radar as well.
Flores coached linebackers with the Steelers in 2022, with Pittsburgh becoming a fallback option after the former Dolphins HC sued the NFL and three teams (now four) for discrimination. That lawsuit is ongoing, complicating Flores’ road back to a head coaching opportunity, though Mike Tomlin vacating the Steelers’ HC chair could lead to an interview. Eight other teams are filling their HC posts, and the coordinator carousel will ignite as those top jobs are filled. That will undoubtedly lead to more Flores buzz.
Flores, 44, has indicated an openness to working another deal out with the Vikings. But he has fared well enough as their DC big offers — perhaps on the Vic Fangio level — could emerge soon. If Flores does leave, Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah said (via Leiker) he would not expect much scheme change. This could point to DBs coach Daronte Jones — a rumored successor option — being promoted. Jones is, however, in play for the Cowboys and Jets’ DC jobs.
Browns Schedule HC Interview With Jesse Minter
JANUARY 13: Minter will interview with the Browns on Friday, according to Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com.
JANUARY 9: Jesse Minter‘s list of suitors continues to grow. The Chargers’ defensive coordinator has received a head coaching interview request from the Browns, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports. 
Earlier today, Minter received a slip from the Titans. The 42-year-old has also been mentioned as a potential candidate for the Ravens. No known interview request has been made by Baltimore as of yet, but that could still change over the coming days in the case of that team and others in the market for a head coach.
Minter has defensive coordinator experience at the college and NFL levels. He has worked under Jim Harbaugh for each of the past four years. The pair won a national championship at Michigan in 2023 before joining the Chargers. Los Angeles has enjoyed a defensive turnaround under Minter, finishing first in the NFL in points allowed last year before ranking ninth in 2025.
The Chargers are set to play in the wild-card round for the second year in a row. As a result, Minter cannot be interviewed until next week. His initial set of meetings with interested teams will be virtual, and it must conclude before the end of the divisional round. By that point, the full list of suitors in this case will be known.
The Browns began their search for Kevin Stefanski‘s replacement by looking internally. Offensive coordinator Tommy Rees and DC Jim Schwartz have already interviewed for the head coaching position. Earlier today, the first pair of outside targets emerged. More will no doubt become linked to Cleveland over the coming days, but few candidates on the market will have as strong of a resume as Minter.
Via PFR’s HC Search Tracker, here is an updated look at where things stand for the Browns:
- Aden Durde, defensive coordinator (Seahawks): To interview 1/9
- John Harbaugh, former head coach (Ravens): Rumored mutual interest
- Mike McDaniel, former head coach (Dolphins): Rumored candidate
- Jeese Minter, defensive coordinator (Chargers): To interview 1/16
- Todd Monken, offensive coordinator (Ravens): Interview requested
- Dan Pitcher, offensive coordinator (Bengals): To interview 1/9
- Tommy Rees, offensive coordinator (Browns): Interviewed 1/8
- Jim Schwartz, defensive coordinator (Browns): Interviewed 1/8
Dolphins Arrange HC Meetings With Kevin Stefanski, Patrick Graham
9:09pm: Graham will interview in Miami on Jan. 19, per Josina Anderson of The Exhibit.
3:52pm: An interview between Kevin Stefanski and the Dolphins regarding their HC vacancy has been expected. One will indeed take place.
Miami will interview Stefanski today, Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network report. The meeting will be in person, which comes as no surprise. As a coach who is currently not under contract with another team. Stefanski is free to speak with suitors at any time.
The two-time Coach of the Year was seen by many as the top candidate on the market when his Browns tenure ended last Monday. The Ravens have since fired John Harbaugh, though, and he now represents the No. 1 target for several teams. Recent reports have pointed to the Giants and Falcons as the frontrunners in Harbaugh’s case. The coaching market may not see much movement until the Super Bowl winner makes his decision.
Stefanski’s fate may be closely tied to Harbaugh’s. Both Atlanta and New York are perceived to have Stefanski classified as Plan B in the event they are unable to land Harbaugh. Interest from other teams remains, of course, which leaves plenty of unanswered questions at this point in the hiring cycle. The Dolphins are among the teams which have been in contact with Harbaugh,
New GM Jon-Eric Sullivan is now on the interview committee that also includes Stephen Ross, Dan Marino, Troy Aikman, president Tom Garfinkel, senior VP of football administration Brandon Shore and Ross son-in-law Daniel Sillman, the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson tweets. Aikman was onboard for the GM search, but the Hall of Fame quarterback-turned-announcing mainstay is helping the team find a head coach as well.
Stefanski has also interviewed with the Ravens, Raiders and Titans, making Miami his sixth meeting. The ex-Browns HC seems likely, even with Harbaugh and now Mike Tomlin unemployed, to land a second-chance job this offseason. Stefanski piloted a moribund Browns franchise to its second and third playoff berths since respawning back in 1999, taking Cleveland to the postseason in 2020 and ’23. The latter qualification was particularly impressive considering the Deshaun Watson albatross contract was on the books then; Stefanski earned his second Coach of the Year honor for reaching the playoffs behind in-season free agent signing Joe Flacco. The Browns winning just eight games over the past two seasons doomed the acclaimed leader, however.
In addition to the Stefanski meeting, the Dolphins have requested to interview Raiders DC Patrick Graham. The four-year Las Vegas staffer received an interview slip, per Pelissero. This would give Graham a chance at a Miami return. Graham spent the 2019 season as the Dolphins’ DC, serving in that capacity in Brian Flores‘ first HC season. Graham called Dolphins defensive plays in 2019, but the team allowed him to leave and become the Giants’ DC in 2020.
Graham managed to retain his Raiders DC role under three HCs, being retained by Antonio Pierce and Pete Carroll. The Commanders are also hoping to meet with Graham about their DC gig.
Sam Robinson contributed to this post.
NFL Reserve/Futures Deals: 1/13/26
The NFL’s latest reserve/futures deals…
Buffalo Bills
- OL Nick Broeker
Indianapolis Colts
- LB Devin Veresuk
Los Angeles Chargers
- LS Peter Bowden, WR Dalevon Campbell, DL TeRah Edwards, WR Luke Grimm, WR JaQuae Jackson, RB Amar Johnson, LB Emany Johnson, C Josh Kaltenberger, TE Tanner McLachlan, OLB Garmon Randolph, G Branson Taylor, QB DJ Uiagalelei, CB Isas Waxter, TE Thomas Yassmin
New York Giants
- DL Marlon Tuipulota
Pittsburgh Steelers
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 1/13/26
Here are Tuesday’s practice squad moves from around the NFL:
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: WR Kristian Wilkerson
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: DB Alex Johnson
New England Patriots
- Signed: CB Miles Battle, RB D’Ernest Johnson, OT Lorenz Metz, WR Trent Sherfield
- Released: DL Fabien Lovett, WR Brandon Smith
The Patriots are the third team of the season for Sherfield, who spent time with the Broncos and Cardinals. Sherfield has never been much of a receiving threat (he combined for three catches in 12 games with Denver and Arizona), but he has been a solid special teamer since his career began in 2018. The 29-year-old posted a 51% special teams snap share in 10 games with the Broncos. After they cut him in mid-November, he played 63% of ST snaps in two contests with the Cardinals.
Minor NFL Transactions: 1/13/26
Four playoff teams made minor moves on Tuesday. Here’s a look:
Denver Broncos
- Designated for return from IR: TE Lucas Krull
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed from practice squad: OLB Nick Hampton
San Francisco 49ers
- Placed on IR: TE George Kittle (story)
- Signed from practice squad: TE Brayden Willis
Seattle Seahawks
- Designated for return from IR: ILB Chazz Surratt
In the wake of Kittle’s season-ending Achilles tear, the 49ers are calling on Willis to serve as depth behind Jake Tonges and Luke Farrell. Willis, a 2023 seventh-round pick from Oklahoma, has appeared in 23 games with the 49ers in three seasons. He played in six of the 49ers’ regular-season contests in 2025 and logged 98 of his 111 snaps on special teams.
Surratt, who suffered an ankle injury in Week 12, missed the Seahawks’ last six games of the regular season. He got an extra week to recover after top-seeded Seattle earned a first-round bye in the playoffs. With the Seahawks preparing to host the 49ers in a divisional round matchup Saturday, Surratt could return to action. The 28-year-old wasn’t a factor on defense in the regular season, but he posted a 40% snap share on special teams. Surratt finished second among Seahawks special teamers in tackles (11).
Cardinals Request HC Interview With Texans DC Matt Burke
After overseeing another dominant performance on Monday, Texans defensive coordinator Matt Burke has landed on the Cardinals’ radar as a head coaching candidate. The Cardinals have requested an interview with Burke, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports.
The Cardinals are familiar with Burke, who worked as their defensive line coach in 2022. That was Kliff Kingsbury‘s last year as Arizona’s head coach. The team is now looking for a replacement for Kingsbury’s successor, Jonathan Gannon, who lost his job after going 15-36 in three seasons.
After his lone season in the desert, Burke joined DeMeco Ryans‘ staff as Houston’s defensive coordinator. Burke previously garnered experience in that role with the Dolphins from 2017-18.
Ryans called the defensive plays during Burke’s first two seasons, both AFC South-winning campaigns, and did so again to begin 2025. However, Ryans handed those duties to Burke after an 0-3 start. The Texans then rolled to a 26-0 shutout over the Titans in Week 4, which began a superb run for the Texans’ defense and the team as a whole.
Although the Texans didn’t win a third straight division title, Burke’s defense led them to a 12-5 record and another playoff berth. Houston finished the season first in total defense, second in scoring, third in takeaways and eighth in sacks. The team’s stop unit continued its tremendous play when it overwhelmed the Steelers in a 30-6 wild-card round win on Monday. In what proved to be Mike Tomlin‘s last game as Pittsburgh’s head coach, the Texans scored two defensive touchdowns (one on a fumble return, another on an interception return), picked up four sacks and held the Steelers to a measly 175 total yards.
Burke and the Cardinals are preparing to take on the Patriots in the divisional round on Sunday. In the meantime, he could speak with the Cardinals sometime this week. Here’s their current list of head coaching candidates, courtesy of PFR’s HC Search Tracker:
- Thomas Brown, tight ends coach (Patriots): Interview requested
- Matt Burke, defensive coordinator (Texans): Interview requested
- Jeff Hafley, defensive coordinator (Packers): Interview requested
- John Harbaugh, former head coach (Ravens): Contacted
- Vance Joseph, defensive coordinator (Broncos): Interviewed 1/10
- Klint Kubiak, offensive coordinator (Seahawks): Interviewed 1/10
- Mike LaFleur, offensive coordinator (Rams): To interview
- Jesse Minter, defensive coordinator (Chargers): To interview 1/13
- Raheem Morris, former head coach (Falcons): To interview
- Matt Nagy, offensive coordinator (Chiefs): Interviewed 1/9
- Robert Saleh, defensive coordinator (49ers): To interview
- Chris Shula, defensive coordinator (Rams): Interview requested
- Anthony Weaver, defensive coordinator (Dolphins): Interviewed 1/9
Bills WR Tyrell Shavers Suffers Torn ACL
The Bills’ already thin receiving corps has taken another hit. Tyrell Shavers will miss the rest of the postseason with a torn ACL, head coach Sean McDermott announced (via Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network).
Shavers suffered his injury in the second quarter of the Bills’ win over the Jaguars in the wild-card round last Sunday, though he still played in the second half. Fellow receiver Gabe Davis also tore his ACL in the same game. Regardless of how far the Bills advance in the playoffs, neither Shavers nor Davis will take the field again until sometime next season at the earliest.
While Shavers appeared in all 17 regular-season games after earning a roster spot over the summer, he wasn’t a significant part of the Bills’ passing attack in 2025. The third-year man from San Diego State hauled in 15 receptions for 245 yards and a touchdown.
Even though he didn’t post gaudy numbers, the Bills regard Shavers as a reliable blocker and special teamer. He finished third among their receivers with a 39% offensive snap share. Shavers was also on the field for 55% of special teams snaps in the regular season.
Now preparing to face top-seeded Denver and its elite defense in the divisional round on Saturday, the Bills will scramble to cobble together a full group of receivers in the next few days. Along with Shavers and Davis, Josh Palmer is done for the year with an ankle injury. That leaves slot target Khalil Shakir, Keon Coleman and Brandin Cooks as the only healthy wideouts on Buffalo’s roster, though Curtis Samuel could come off IR to rejoin the fray soon. An elbow injury has held Samuel out since Nov. 16, but the Bills opened his practice window Monday.
Barring outside acquisitions, the Bills will have to dip into their practice squad to fill out their receiving corps against the Broncos. Mecole Hardman, Kristian Wilkerson and Stephen Gosnell are their in-house options. Hardman, a three-time Super Bowl winner with the Chiefs, is easily the most established member of the trio. Wilkerson has six NFL games under his belt (three with the Patriots in 2021, three with the Raiders in 2024). Gosnell, an undrafted rookie from Virginia Tech, hasn’t played since the preseason.
The receiver position has been a sore spot for the Bills throughout the season. Although general manager Brandon Beane made attempts to improve it before the Nov. 4 trade deadline, he was unable to complete any deals. The Bills are still standing over two months later, but a worsening receiver situation will add to the difficulty of knocking off the Broncos and earning a second straight trip to the AFC Championship Game.
Vikings Assistant Mike Pettine To Retire
Brian Flores or a Vikings DC successor will not have Mike Pettine around for experienced help in 2026, however. The veteran staffer is retiring, Kevin O’Connell announced Tuesday.
Pettine, 59, has coached in the NFL since 2002. He rose to a head coaching seat in 2014 (with the Browns) and has been a coordinator in a few cities. He had been on O’Connell’s Minnesota staff since 2022, working under Ed Donatell and then Flores as an assistant head coach.
Jumping from the high school level to a Ravens assistant in 2002, Pettine became a defensive coordinator in 2009. The Jets, Bills and Packers employed Pettine as a DC. He started out in that position with the Jets under Rex Ryan. Pettine played a key role in the Jets making back-to-back AFC championship game appearance, as Revis Island formed to bolster Gang Green’s defense-powered operation in Ryan’s early years. Pettine stayed on as New York’s DC for four seasons before moving to Buffalo under Doug Marrone. Following that season, the Browns concluded a slow-moving HC search by naming him their next leader.
Pettine’s first year in Cleveland (2014) brought some unexpected success. Despite Jimmy Haslam overreach leading to a Johnny Manziel first-round selection, Pettine had the Browns — who were without top receiver Josh Gordon for most of the 2014 season — at 7-4. Cleveland-area native Brian Hoyer had quarterbacked the Browns to that point, as Manziel needed extensive development before debuting. Pettine’s defense also ranked ninth that season. But Manziel received the call to start near the end of the year. The bottom fell out for the Browns, who finished 7-9, and Pettine’s 2015 season keyed a descent.
On- and off-field Manziel problems engulfed the Browns in 2015 — before the team cut the megabust. After letting Kyle Shanahan out of his OC contract following a 2014 one-off, Cleveland finished 3-13 in Pettine’s second season. The team used Manziel and free agent signing Josh McCown as their primary QBs, and ownership fired he and GM Ray Farmer. Pettine resurfaced with the Seahawks as a consultant in 2017 and with the Packers as their DC by 2018.
In charge of two Packers defenses that appeared in NFC championship games, Pettine lasted three seasons in Green Bay. Pettine’s 2019 and ’20 Green Bay defenses ranked ninth and 13th, respectively, in scoring, but NFC title game letdowns ensued. Raheem Mostert ran wild on the Packers in the 2019 conference championship round, producing the second-most playoff rushing yards in NFL history, and the Packers gave up 31 points to the Tom Brady-piloted Buccaneers a year later in a home loss.
Although the Pack intercepted three Brady passes in the second half of that game, the team did not renew his contract in 2021. He worked as a Bears assistant under Matt Nagy before trekking to Minnesota. Pettine served as outside linebackers coach with the Vikings, who had two Pro Bowl OLBs (Jonathan Greenard, Andrew Van Ginkel) in 2024, over the past two seasons.