Falcons Request OC Interview With Buccaneers’ Bryan McClendon
Following a productive two-year stint coaching wideouts in Tampa Bay, Bryan McClendon is now getting a look for offensive coordinator gigs. According to Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports, the Falcons have requested permission to interview McClendon for their OC job.
[RELATED: Falcons Interview Drew Terrell For OC Job]
Following a brief summer stint with the Bears, McClendon proceeded to spend more than a decade in college football. He worked his way up the ranks at Georgia, including a brief stint as their interim head coach following Mark Richt‘s departure. He spent a few years as South Carolina’s offensive coordinator plus two years on Oregon’s staff (including a brief stint as their interim HC) before returning to Georgia in 2022.
After Brad Idzik left to become the Panthers offensive coordinator in 2024, the Buccaneers turned to McClendon for his first NFL gig. The coach entered an enticing situation in Tampa Bay, and despite a number of injuries in their WRs room, Buccaneers receivers still accounted for 28 of Baker Mayfield‘s 41 passing touchdowns.
The Buccaneers receiving corps once again dealt with injuries in 2025, with Mike Evans and Chris Godwin combining for only 63 combined catches in 17 total games. Still, the team got a standout performance from first-round rookie Emeka Egbuka, with seventh-round rookie Tez Johnson also chipping in 322 yards and five touchdowns.
McClendon would have the opportunity to take the next step of his career on Kevin Stefanski‘s new staff in Atlanta. Tommy Rees is the favorite for the Falcons OC job, but the Falcons have considered some outside names. Earlier tonight, we learned that the team interviewed Cardinals passing game coordinator/wide receivers coach Drew Terrell.
Brian Daboll “In The Mix” For Titans OC Job?
Robert Saleh could potentially turn to his former New York counterpart to fill his offensive coordinator role. NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo believes that Brian Daboll is in the mix for the Titans offensive coordinator job. Jonathan Jones of NFL on CBS also reported this connection earlier today.
Daboll interviewed for the Titans head coaching gig but ultimately lost out to Saleh, who reportedly came to an agreement with the franchise last night. Still, that factor may not dissuade the former Giants head coach from taking a job on Tennessee’s staff.
Per Garafolo, Daboll is one of several available OC candidates who “does like what he sees” with the Titans. Garafolo cites several factors that could be alluring to potential hires. Obviously, 2025 first-overall pick Cam Ward leads that list, but the reporter also points to the team’s abundance of cap space, high draft picks, and new NFL stadium. In fact, it was those factors that led the Titans to finish second in the John Harbaugh sweepstakes, according to Garafolo.
Thanks to the attractive situation in Tennessee, Saleh will have “some cards” that he can use when recruiting his new staff to the Titans. If the new head coach wants an experienced name to guide his offense, Daboll would certainly fit the bill. The 50-year-old has held several OC jobs throughout his NFL career, including stops with the Browns, Dolphins, Chiefs, and Bills. He didn’t see the same offensive success during his head coaching gig with the Giants, although he did have to start eight different QBs during his four years in New York.
With Mike McDaniel off the board after taking the Chargers OC job, Daboll would now be one of the hottest names left on the market. The coach is still in the running for the Eagles OC job, and he may emerge as a HC candidate in Buffalo. While he doesn’t have a true connection to the Titans, Garafolo notes that he formed a friendship with Saleh while the two were coaching in New York. Now, they could both land on the same staff in Tennessee.
Packers To Interview Jonathan Gannon For DC Job
After being fired as Cardinals head coach earlier this month, Jonathan Gannon continues to generate interest for defensive coordinator openings. The latest team to schedule an interview is the Packers, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network.
[RELATED: Cowboys Scheduling Second Interviews With DC Candidates]
Gannon spent years coaching defensive backs in Minnesota and Indianapolis before being hired as the Eagles defensive coordinator in 2021. Following an inconsistent first season at the helm, Philly’s defense took it to another level in 2022, finishing second in yards allowed and eighth in points allowed. That performance ended up earning him the Cardinals head coaching gig (although not without a bit of controversy).
The coach’s stint in Arizona proved to be forgettable, as he never guided the Cardinals to a winning record during his three seasons with the organization. His best showing was in 2024, when the team finished 8-9. However, they took a major step back in 2025, finishing with a 3-14 record. Gannon also struggled to get the most out of his defense during his time in Arizona; the Cardinals never finished better than 15th in points allowed and 21st in yards allowed.
Still, Gannon clearly has a reputation as a respected defensive mind. He’s garnered a second interview for the Cowboys defensive coordinator job, and he was a candidate for the Commanders gig. Gannon also interviewed for the Titans head coaching vacancy before the team opted for Robert Saleh.
Now, he’s drawing interest from Green Bay to replace Jeff Hafley, who recently took the head coaching job in Miami. As Matt Schneidman of The Athletic notes, Matt LaFleur praised Gannon earlier this year, describing him as a “really good coach” and saying that he did a “hell of a job” in Arizona. Gannon is joining a group of candidates that currently features Vikings DBs coach Daronte Jones and Eagles DBs coach Christian Parker.
NFL Reserve/Futures Deals: 1/20/26
Today’s reserve/futures deals:
Chicago Bears
- WR Maurice Alexander, RB Brittain Brown, TE Stephen Carlson, LS Luke Elkin, DB Dallis Flowers, DL Jonathan Garvin, LB Dominique Hampton, OL Kyle Hergel, TE Nikola Kalinic, DB Dontae Manning, DL Jeremiah Martin, DB Gervarrius Owens, WR JP Richardson, LB Nephi Sewell
Green Bay Packers
- DL Jaden Crumedy, QB Kyle McCord
Houston Texans
- DE Solomon Byrd, C Eli Cox, WR Josh Kelly, TE Luke Lachey, S Kaevon Merriweather, G Sidy Sow, DT Junior Tafuna, LB Xavier Thomas, WR Jared Wayne
Philadelphia Eagles
- CB Ambry Thomas
Pittsburgh Steelers
- DB Doneiko Slaughter, OL Lorenzo Thompson
San Francisco 49ers
- OL Isaac Alarcon, DL Evan Anderson, CB Eli Apple, WR Junior Bergen, DL William Bradley-King, DB Derrick Canteen, LB Andrew Farmer, S Darrick Forrest, LB Jalen Graham, QB Adrian Martinez, OL Drake Nugent, OL Brandon Parker, WR Malik Turner, DL Sebastian Valdez
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 1/20/26
Today’s practice squad moves:
Denver Broncos
- Signed: WR Brandon Johnson
- Released: C Michael Deiter
With Broncos starting center Luke Wattenberg expected to return from IR for the AFC Championship Game, the team decided to move on from veteran center Michael Deiter. The 29-year-old got into 17 games for the Commanders last season and appeared in two games with them in 2025. He caught on with the Broncos practice squad earlier this month. Taking his place is Brandon Johnson, who is the son of former Colorado Rockies catcher Charles Johnson and cousin of former NFL standout Chad Johnson. The wideout has seen time in 23 career games, hauling in 26 catches for 335 yards and five touchdowns.
Falcons Interview Drew Terrell For OC Job
Drew Terrell‘s coordinator candidacy is starting to heat up. We learned yesterday that the Cardinals passing game coordinator/wide receivers coach interviewed for the Chargers OC job, and now NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that Terrell also interviewed for the Falcons job.
[RELATED: Chargers Interview Drew Terrell For OC]
Following his four-year collegiate career at Stanford (where he was recruited by Jim Harbaugh), Terrell kicked off his coaching career with a job at Virginia Tech. He quickly moved on to Michigan’s staff under his former college coach before taking his first NFL coaching gig with the Panthers in 2018.
Terrell joined the Commanders franchise in 2020 and quickly earned a promotion to WRs coach, where he guided the likes of Terry McLaurin and Curtis Samuel. He lost out on the Cardinals OC job in 2023 but still ended up joining their staff as the passing game coordinator/wide receivers coach. While Terrell struggled to get the most out of Marvin Harrison during his time in Arizona, he has played a key role in the development of Michael Wilson and (to a lesser extent) Trey McBride.
Terrell has turned into a relatively popular name during this year’s hiring cycle, as he’s scheduled interviews with the Commanders and Chargers. Now, he’ll have an opportunity to join Kevin Stefanski‘s new staff in Atlanta. While Tommy Rees is the favorite for the Falcons OC job, Terrell represents the team’s first official interview for the position.
Buccaneers Hire Danny Smith As ST Coordinator
The Buccaneers are turning to a veteran coach to guide their special teams. According to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, Tampa Bay is hiring Danny Smith as their new special teams coordinator.
Smith’s coaching career dates back to the 1970s, when he served as a graduate assistant at Edinboro. After spending more than a decade in college football, he got his first NFL job with the Eagles in 1995. Since then, he’s had stints with Detroit, Buffalo, Washington, and Pittsburgh.
He most recently served as the Steelers special teams coordinator, a job he held since 2013. During his time with the organization, Smith was credited with the development of kicker Chris Boswell, who currently ranks second on the franchise’s all-time scoring list.
Following Mike Tomlin‘s departure, Smith considered new opportunities. The 72-year-old now lands with the Buccaneers, who have been seeking a replacement for the ousted Thomas McGaughey. Smith interviewed for the job on Friday, and Todd Bowles didn’t take long to make a hire. The gum-chewing coordinator beat out the likes of Craig Aukerman, Anthony Levine Sr., Michael Clay, and Jett Modkins for the job.
Mike McDaniel Withdrawing From Browns’ HC Search
One of the biggest names on this year’s HC and OC carousels, Mike McDaniel has options. And he will not be going to Cleveland. The former Dolphins HC informed the Browns he is not taking their second interview, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero reports.
McDaniel is out of this Browns race, but he has met with the Raiders and Ravens. Multiple OC offers have also come in, per Pelissero, who adds McDaniels’ Chargers OC meeting is today. McDaniel was slated to meet with the Browns in-person Wednesday.
The Browns have been connected to McDaniel since before firing Kevin Stefanski, but since the former’s Dolphins ouster, he has been the most popular non-John Harbaugh name available. The Browns, Falcons, Ravens, Raiders and Titans have interviewed him for HC jobs. The Bolts, Eagles, Ravens, Lions and Buccaneers scheduled OC interviews. New Titans HC Robert Saleh is also believed to have interest in bringing his ex-49ers coworker to Tennessee as his play-caller.
Cleveland had a second McDaniel interview booked. The AFC North team is believed to be strongly considering promoting DC Jim Schwartz, though it has requested a second meeting with Rams pass-game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase. Jaguars OC Grant Udinski landed a second interview as well. The Rams remaining in the playoffs has Scheelhaase’s second meeting on hold. Ravens OC Todd Monken, who seems to have a landing spot in place with the Giants as OC, is going through a second Browns HC interview today.
Although Stefanski led Cleveland to playoff berths in 2020 and 2023, the Browns have slipped back to their regular place — well, since their 1999 relaunch — in the NFL hierarchy after combining for just eight wins over the past two seasons. This job is rarely seen as a coveted position, with Jimmy Haslam known for meddling. This is the first time, however, the Browns have searched for a head coach since authorizing the disastrous Deshaun Watson extension. That contract is expected to remain on the payroll this year, and a historic dead money bill — from void years created through restructures — is on tap for 2027. That will affect this search, with the Browns being hamstrung by that 2022 mistake for at least two more years.
It is interesting that McDaniel would back out of a head coaching search when he is not assured to stay on the HC radar. But working with a solid quarterback as an OC would naturally appeal to the four-year Dolphins coach. The Bills’ HC job is also open, though McDaniel has yet to be connected to that appealing position. But he could have the opportunity to work with Justin Herbert in L.A., Baker Mayfield in Tampa or even Lamar Jackson in Baltimore — after being mentioned as an option for the Ravens’ HC or OC role.
McDaniel’s destination should be known soon. He is also not the only candidate to withdraw from a search during this year’s cycle. Stefanski exited the Raiders’ HC search, soon becoming the next Falcons leader.
Coaching Rumors: Bucs, McDaniel, Morris, Bolts, Eagles, Vikings, Jags, Commanders
Mike McDaniel is still on the HC carousel, meeting with the Raiders on Monday and set for a second Browns interview Wednesday. He has landed on a few teams’ OC radars, including the Lions, Chargers, Eagles, Titans and Buccaneers. The Tampa gig could appeal given Todd Bowles‘ hot-seat status. The prospect of McDaniel joining the Bucs with an arrow toward succeeding Bowles is on the radar, per SI.com’s Albert Breer. The Bucs have promoted from within twice in the Jason Licht GM era, elevating OC Dirk Koetter and then giving Bowles the job after Bruce Arians‘ mid-offseason retirement in 2022. Bowles survived a collapse this season, firing OC Josh Grizzard. It would be interesting to see if he would hire an OC who could be in line to replace him down the line.
Here is the latest from the coaching ranks:
- If the Chargers lose Jesse Minter to one of the remaining HC jobs, Jim Harbaugh may well look to promote from within. Defensive backs coach Steve Clinkscale has a “very good chance” of being Minter’s DC successor, The Athletic’s Daniel Popper notes. Harbaugh confirmed internal staffers would be considered if Minter leaves. This would add up considering Clinkscale’s past. He worked as Michigan’s DBs coach in 2021 before being the Wolverines’ co-DC alongside Minter from 2022-23. While Minter received the DC opportunity in Los Angeles, Clinkscale came along with Harbaugh in 2024. The Chargers would need to comply with the Rooney Rule, of course, meaning one external minority would need to be interviewed before this rumored promotion becomes final.
- Raheem Morris has interviewed for the Cardinals, Giants and Titans’ HC jobs. With New York and Tennessee moving in different directions, Morris is down to either Arizona or the coordinator level. The two-time HC not receiving a third opportunity at a top job could lead to a TV future, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport. Morris has come up as a possible Commanders DC option, and other teams would surely consider the former Rams coordinator. But he could be joining Mike Tomlin in the media soon.
- Although Nick Sirianni and GM Howie Roseman are the point men in the Eagles‘ offensive coordinator search, the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane notes both Jeffery Lurie and his son have been sitting in on interviews. Julian Lurie has recently been named to a position within the organization, being listed as a business and football strategy staffer. Via PFR’s Coordinator Search Tracker, Philly has some big names on its radar.
- The Vikings are moving on from offensive line coach Chris Kuper, with ESPN.com’s Kevin Seifert indicating the four-year Minnesota staffer’s contract expired. Minnesota will be looking for a new O-line coach for the first time in the Kevin O’Connell era. This was Kuper’s first crack as a top O-line coach, having been an assistant OL coach with the Broncos and Dolphins previously. Kuper, 43, was an eight-year Broncos O-lineman from 2006-13.
- Jaguars assistant O-line coach Keli’i Kekuewa is taking over as Stanford’s O-line coach, CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz tweets. Kekeuwa spent one season in Jacksonville; he will follow ex-Commanders staffer Tavita Pritchard to Palo Alto. Offensive assistant Trevor Mendleson should receive consideration to replace him, per the Florida Times-Union’s Ryan O’Halloran.
- Pritchard’s old job as Commanders QBs coach went to D.J. Williams; Washington has since named Danny Etling as its assistant QBs coach, Zenitz adds. A Patriots seventh-round pick in 2018, Etling bounced around the NFL before being cut by the Packers in August 2023. He spent the 2024 season with the UFL’s Michigan Panthers. This will be the ex-LSU QB’s first coaching job. Etling, 31, was a college teammate of new Commanders OC David Blough at Purdue before transferring.
Sean McDermott Intends To Coach In 2026
Sean McDermott just lost his longtime job in Buffalo, but he intends to quickly find a new gig and coach in 2026, per Mark Maske of the Washington Post.
McDermott, 51, has been in the NFL since 1999, but he has only worked for three teams. He will likely be seeking one of the league’s five remaining vacancies (not counting his former position in Buffalo). However, he has only been mentioned as a potential candidate for a few of those jobs with no official interviews scheduled or requested yet.
McDermott’s has a strong reputation around the league, as evidenced by the widespread confusion when he was fired. He consistently put together solid defenses in both Carolina and Buffalo and could receive consideration as a defensive coordinator candidate if a head coaching position does not work out. The Eagles and Panthers employed McDermott as a DC previously. He was at the helm for Carolina’s 15-1 2015 season that ended with a Super Bowl 50 loss.
This year’s HC cycle has featured two immediate bounce-back opportunities — John Harbaugh with the Giants, Kevin Stefanski with the Falcons — and Robert Saleh caught on as a retread (with the Titans). McDermott still joins a host of defensive-minded candidates on the market. The likes of Chris Shula, Jesse Minter and Vance Joseph have taken many interviews. Ditto Raheem Morris, who went two-and-done in Atlanta. The Dolphins also hired a defense-based leader, tabbing Jeff Hafley on Monday. McDermott should have a chance at interviews soon.
The Bills fielded four top-five scoring defenses during McDermott’s time at the helm. The longtime Buffalo leader vacillated between play-calling DC and a CEO head coach. While injuries regularly hurt McDermott’s defenses in the playoffs, with Tre’Davious White and Christian Benford‘s unavailability for Kansas City matchups in the past proving costly, his units ran into trouble in January. The Broncos put up 33 points on McDermott’s team Saturday. That came after the Chiefs scored 32 in the AFC championship game last year.
Still, McDermott went 98-50 as a head coach while reaching two AFC championship games. He won eight playoff games as Bills HC, capitalizing on Josh Allen‘s meteoric rise to the MVP tier. But the Bills fired him in large part for a failure to ride Allen’s top-level form to a Super Bowl. The Steelers and Ravens came up as potential suitors, though Pittsburgh’s famous three-coach/57-season run never included a hire of a head coach north of 40. The Browns, Cardinals and Raiders’ jobs also remain available.
McDermott will assuredly be taking a steep drop in QB quality with his next job — should he land one of the available positions. That represents an interesting component both for him and for hiring teams, considering how much Allen’s talent helped the HC during his nine Buffalo years.
Sam Robinson contributed to this post.