Eagles To Interview Josh Grizzard For OC Job
Recently-fired Buccaneers offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard may not be on the market for long.
The Eagles are set to interview the 35-year-old for the same position in Philadelphia. He would replace Kevin Patullo, who was removed after the team’s wild card loss to the 49ers.
Grizzard came up in Miami under three different head coaches. He was first hired by Adam Gase as an offensive quality control coach in 2017. He was moved to a non-specific quality control role by Brian Flores in 2019 before a two-year stint leading the wide receiver room. Jaylen Waddle put up a then-record-setting rookie season under Grizzard in 2021, but he moved back to quality control in 2022 when Mike McDaniel brought in Wes Welker to coach the Dolphins’ WRs.
With little room to grow in Miami, Grizzard took the Buccaneers’ passing game coordinator job in 2024 under new offensive coordinator Liam Coen. The two quickly put together one of the best passing offenses in the NFL, earning them both promotions – Coen as the Jaguars’ head coach, and Grizzard as his replacement in Tampa Bay.
Coens’ 2025 season went as planned in Jacksonville, but Grizzard’s did not. His offense dealt with injuries to several key players, including but not limited to offensive linemen Tristan Wirfs, Luke Goedeke, and Cody Mauch; wide receivers Chris Godwin and Mike Evans; and running back Bucky Irving. Quarterback Baker Mayfield also played through multiple injuries.
But even when the unit was healthier, they were not playing up to their potential. The offense’s late-season struggles were a major reason they missed the playoffs, too. In their last six games, all facing defenses who were average at best, the Buccaneers only cleared 20 points once. They lost four of their six matchup and failed to qualify for the postseason for the first time in six years.
The Eagles may have reason to believe that Grizzard could succeed with a healthier roster in Philadelphia. The team arguably needs an infusion of offensive coaching from a coach that is not connected to the Eagles’ current tree. But he is still relatively inexperienced, which may not be the best fit for a team looking to quickly get back to Super Bowl contention.
Seahawks RB Zach Charbonnet Suffers ACL Tear
The Seahawks will be shorthanded in the backfield when they host the NFC title game this week. Zach Charbonnet suffered a knee injury in the divisional round which will sideline him the rest of the way. 
During an appearance on Seattle Sports radio Monday, head coach Mike Macdonald revealed the unwanted news concerning Charbonnet (h/t ESPN’s Brady Henderson). This is a “significant” injury, per Macdonald. Charbonnet is now set to undergo surgery and begin a lengthy rehab process. An ACL tear occurred in this case, as first reported by Henderson’s colleague Adam Schefter.
The injury limited Charbonnet to just five carries on Saturday night. After his final action of the game, the 25-year-old was evaluated in the medical tent before ultimately heading to the locker room. Kenneth Walker III saw a heavy workload once again afterwards. He will no doubt be counted on early and often in the conference title game and (if applicable) the Super Bowl.
Charbonnet was selected in the second round of the 2023 draft. His arrival came just one year after Walker was drafted in the same round. The two have been key figures on offense during their time together, although struggles in the run game were an issue in 2024. Improvements late in this year’s campaign have helped lead Seattle to its current position, however. As such, losing Charbonnet represents a notable blow for the NFC’s No. 1 seed.
From a financial standpoint, this news could prove to be impactful as well. Walker is set to see his rookie contract expire in March unless a deal allowing to remain in the Emerald City is worked out. Charbonnet, meanwhile, is eligible to sign an extension this offseason. Given the nature of his injury, though, it would come as little surprise if team and player paused any potential contract talks which otherwise would have taken place. As things stand, Charbonnet will enter the 2026 season as a pending free agent.
The UCLA product easily set a new career high this year in carries (184), rushing yards (730) and touchdowns (12). Charbonnet did not make a consistent impact in the passing game with only 20 receptions in 16 games, but he has shown an ability to do so previously. Walker has remained the starting back this season, but Seattle’s rushing attack included Charbonnet to a large extent just as it had in 2023 and ’24. How the team adjusts on Sunday could prove to be a key factor in determining the Rams-Seahawks matchup.
Chiefs Request OC Interview With Eric Bieniemy
The Chiefs have requested to interview Bears running backs coach Eric Bieniemy for their offensive coordinator vacancy, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Bienemy, 56, previously held that position from 2018 to 2022 and is expected to retake it in the coming weeks, according to Dianna Russini of The Athletic.
Kansas City made a few offensive staff changes at the end of their disappointing 2025 season. Wide receivers coach Connor Embree and running backs coach Todd Pinkston were both relieved of their duties, while the contract of offensive coordinator Matt Nagy was not renewed. That may have been the plan all along, as Nagy has attracted head coaching interest from the Cardinals, Ravens, Raiders, and Titans. He seems to be a finalist for the job in Tennessee.
Bienemy, who was the Chiefs’ running backs coach for the five years before he was promoted to offensive coordinator, took a dual assistant head coach/offensive coordinator role with the Commanders in 2023 and UCLA in 2024. Neither team’s offense excelled with Bienemy in Charger. The Commanders ranked among the NFL’s bottom-10 offenses in 2023, while UCLA averaged just 18.4 points in 2024, the third-fewest in the Big Ten.
Bienemy’s next stop was Chicago, where he was hired by new head coach Ben Johnson to lead the running back room. Bienemy has excelled in that role. Six-year veteran D’Andre Swift has put up career-best numbers in the volume and efficiency, while seventh-round rookie Kyle Monangai has the most rushing yards by a No. 2 running back in the league.
The Chiefs’ offense in general has regressed since Bienemy’s departure, but their run game has especially struggled. After ranking seventh and eight in yards per carry during the final two years of Bienemy’s first OC stint, the Chiefs have ranked 13th, 29th, and 20th in the following three. Bringing Bienemy back could help re-establish the ground game in Kansas City, which may take some pressure off of the air attack and lead to more efficiency there, too.
Raiders To Conduct Second HC Interviews With Jesse Minter, Jeff Hafley
The coming days will be critical in shaping the Raiders‘ head coaching search. The list of candidates to line up a second interview with the team has grown. 
Mike McDaniel is set to conduct an in-person interview with Vegas today. The same will be true tomorrow for Ejiro Evero. As ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports, both Jesse Minter and Jeff Hafley have arranged a Raiders follow-up. Minter’s interview will take place tomorrow, while Hafley’s is set for Wednesday.
Throughout the hiring cycle, both defensive coordinators have loomed as strong HC candidates. Minter has been with the Chargers for the past two years, while Hafley has led the Packers’ defense for the same duration. Their respective stocks have risen over that span.
Minter had experience as a defensive coordinator at three different college programs before he followed Jim Harbaugh from Michigan to Los Angeles. His success at the NFL level produced an interview request from each of the first nine teams around the NFL to have a HC opening. Minter, 42, is set to line up a second interview with the Browns and further interest could be coming soon.
Prior to his Packers stint, Hafley spent four years as the head coach at Boston College. He has worked as a position coach and D-coordinator at both the college and NFL levels, so taking charge of a team in the pros would represent a logical next step. The 46-year-old led Green Bay to a strong finish in total and scoring defense in 2024, and his unit enjoyed a productive start to the 2025 campaign before it was hit hard by injuries. In recent days, Hafley has been mentioned as a potential frontrunner for the Dolphins’ vacancy.
Questions have been raised about how attractive the Raiders’ opening is compared to others around the league. Indeed, it was learned over the weekend that Kevin Stefanski withdrew from Vegas’ search not long after conducting an initial interview with the team. Buffalo’s decision to fire Sean McDermott means there are eight vacancies at the moment. It will be interesting to see if the Raiders manage to land one of the top candidates still on the market.
Via PFR’s HC Search Tracker, here is an updated look at where things stand for Vegas:
- Joe Brady, offensive coordinator (Bills): Interviewed 1/18
- Ejiro Evero, defensive coordinator (Panthers): To conduct second interview 1/20
- Brian Flores, defensive coordinator (Vikings): Mentioned as candidate
- Jeff Hafley, defensive coordinator (Packers): Interviewed 1/15; to conduct second interview 1/21
- John Harbaugh, former head coach (Ravens): Contacted
- Vance Joseph, defensive coordinator (Broncos): Interviewed 1/8
- Klay Kubiak, offensive coordinator (49ers): Interviewed 1/18
- Klint Kubiak, offensive coordinator (Seahawks): Interviewed 1/9
- Mike LaFleur, offensive coordinator (Rams): To interview 1/16
- Mike McDaniel, former head coach (Dolphins): To interview 1/19
- Jesse Minter, defensive coordinator (Chargers): Interviewed 1/14; to conduct second interview 1/20
- Matt Nagy, offensive coordinator (Chiefs): Interviewed 1/8
- Nate Scheelhaase, pass game coordinator (Rams): Interviewed 1/16
- Chris Shula, defensive coordinator (Rams): Interviewed 1/16
- Kevin Stefanski, former head coach (Browns): Interviewed 1/8; withdrew from search
- Davis Webb, quarterbacks coach (Broncos): Interviewed 1/7
Steelers Expected To Conduct Second HC Interview With Anthony Weaver
With an uptick in in-person interviews set to take place over the coming days, plenty of movement could be imminent on the coaching front. The Steelers are among the eight teams in need of a head coach. 
Pittsburgh has spoken with a number of candidates already, and that includes Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver. A follow-up is now being arranged. Weaver is expected to interview in person with Miami this week, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
In addition to his first meeting with Pittsburgh, Weaver interviewed with the Cardinals, Falcons and Ravens as part of the initial round of their respective searches. The 45-year-old has never been a head coach at the college or NFL levels, but he did hold the title of associate head coach during the final two seasons of his three-year Ravens tenure. This will mark the first in-person interview for Weaver during the 2026 cycle.
A number of similarities existed with respect to each of the Steelers’ past three HC hires. Chuck Noll, Bill Cowher and Mike Tomlin were each 30-something staffers with a defensive background and a lack of prior head coaching experience when they arrived in Pittsburgh. Replicating the success from all members of that trio is the goal as the Steelers move forward following Tomlin’s resignation. Weaver’s background is on the defensive side of the ball, and he has worked as a D-coordinator on two occasions (Texans in 2020, Dolphins in 2024-25).
Miami’s coaching staff is set to undergo a number of changes once Mike McDaniel‘s replacement is brought in. Weaver’s fate remains uncertain at this time, with the Steelers looking into other HC options as well this week. It will be interesting to see if he emerges as a finalist for the position or if Pittsburgh heads elsewhere in the process of hiring Tomlin’s successor.
Here is an updated look at where things stand for the Steelers:
- Ejiro Evero, defensive coordinator (Panthers): Interview requested
- Brian Flores, defensive coordinator (Vikings): To conduct in-person interview
- Marcus Freeman, head coach (Notre Dame): Rumored candidate; staying at Notre Dame
- Jeff Hafley, defensive coordinator (Packers): Interviewed 1/17
- Klay Kubiak, offensive coordinator (49ers): Interviewed 1/18
- Mike McCarthy, former head coach (Cowboys): To interview
- Jesse Minter, defensive coordinator (Chargers): Interviewed 1/17
- Nate Scheelhaase, pass game coordinator (Rams): Interviewed 1/16
- Chris Shula, defensive coordinator (Rams): Interviewed 1/16
- Anthony Weaver, defensive coordinator (Dolphins): Interviewed; second interview expected
Falcons Retain DC Jeff Ulbrich
The Falcons have a new head coach in place, and they are among the teams set to bring in a new offensive coordinator. A full housecleaning on the sidelines will not be taking place, though. 
Defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich is being retained, Atlanta announced on Monday. This news comes about thanks to a three-year contract agreement, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports. Ulbrich arrived last offseason to take over the Falcons’ defense, and his success in that regard did not go unnoticed.
The Falcons blocked an attempt from the Cowboys to interview Ulbrich for their DC opening. That suggested retention was a strong possibility in his case. Indeed, when Kevin Stefanski was officially hired as the team’s new head coach, signs pointed further to Ulbrich remaining in place. Today’s confirmation thus comes as little surprise. According to ESPN’s John Keim, the Commanders were also interested in this case regarding their D-coordinator opening, but that is now a moot point.
Ulbrich was with the Falcons from 2015-20. During much of that span, he worked as the team’s linebackers coach; the 2020 campaign saw him take over interim D-coordinator duties. The following year, Ulbrich was hired by the Jets as their new defensive coordinator. The 48-year-old held that role for three years before becoming New York’s interim head coach in 2024 following Robert Saleh‘s firing.
Ulbrich returned to a familiar setting last offseason by taking on the Falcons’ DC gig. In 2025, Atlanta set a new franchise record with 57 sacks, good for second in the league. Pass rush production had been a major issue for years in the Falcons’ case, but a foundation in that regard led by first-round selections Jalon Walker and James Pearce is now in place. Ulbrich will look to continue overseeing their development while guiding a unit which also ranked in the top half of the NFL against the pass this season.
The offensive coordinator spot is likely to officially open soon, as Zac Robinson continues to weigh his options around the NFL and Stefanski prepares to arrange his staff. A number of new faces will no doubt be in place shortly, but Ulbrich will continue during his second Atlanta stint.
Bills Fire HC Sean McDermott
In the wake of another disappointing playoff exit, the Bills are making a change on the sidelines. Sean McDermott is out, as first reported by Tom Pelissero, Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL Network. 
General manager Brandon Beane will remain in place, Rapoport adds. He will help lead the search for McDermott’s replacement. Buffalo has now become the 10th team in the NFL to make a head coaching change during the 2026 offseason. The rest of the Bills’ staff was being informed of the news when it broke, per The Exhibit’s Josina Anderson.
McDermott arrived in Buffalo in 2017. His tenure has been defined in large part by sustained success in the regular season, with the Bills reaching the playoffs all but once and posting double-digit wins in each of the past seven years. Despite the availability and high level of play produced by quarterback Josh Allen, however, McDermott’s teams have yet to break through in the postseason. The franchise will look to do so with a new voice on the sidelines.
Allen and McDermott have won a total of eight playoff games together. That is the most in NFL history by a HC-QB tandem which has failed to reach a Super Bowl (h/t WFAA’s Ed Werder). A path to ending that streak of shortcomings appeared to exist during this year’s playoffs in particular, with Patrick Mahomes‘ Chiefs, Lamar Jackson‘s Ravens and Joe Burrow‘s Bengals all missing the tournament. Nevertheless, an overtime loss in Denver on Saturday marked another loss in the divisional round for the Bills.
A turnover-filled performance on Allen’s part was a major factor in this year’s Buffalo exit. Overall, though, underwhelming showings on defense were seen on multiple postseason occasions over the years during McDermott’s Buffalo tenure. Given his background as a defensive coordinator, that increasingly became a talking point with respect to McDermott’s job security. A firing in this case adds further to the noteworthy changing of the guard when it comes to multiple AFC teams known for stability.
Today’s McDermott news does not entirely come as a surprise, however. Entering the wild-card round, the Bills and Packers were named as potential John Harbaugh suitors. Green Bay wound up reaching an extension agreement with Matt LaFleur recently, but Buffalo has elected to take the alternative route. Harbaugh has already made his decision, officially taking on the Giants’ HC gig this past weekend. Kevin Stefanski is also off the board, since he is now with the Falcons.
Buffalo now joins the list of destinations for HC candidates. With Allen and a core of players attached to long-term extensions (signed, in many cases, last offseason), the Bills will no doubt be seen as one of the more attractive landing spots for staffers. Once a hire is made, Allen will begin the process of adapting to a new head coach for the first time in his career.
After their run of four straight Super Bowl losses under Marv Levy, sustained success proved difficult to attain for the Bills. Seven different full-time head coaches were in place until McDermott’s hire. His arrival helped spark a run which included five consecutive AFC East titles. Overall, McDermott posted a record of 98-50 in the regular season and 8-8 in the playoffs.
Beane, like McDermott, worked with the Panthers before coming to the Bills nine years ago. His tenure has overlapped with many of the team’s best accomplishments in recent memory, sparked of course by the decision to draft Allen in 2018. Beane has drawn criticism for elements of his roster-building approach, though, and in 2025 in particular his actions (or lack thereof) at the receiver position were a main talking point. Nonetheless, Buffalo has opted for stability in the front office moving forward.
Lengthy HC tenures in Baltimore (Harbaugh) and Pittsburgh (Mike Tomlin) recently came to an end. With McDermott now out as well, the AFC will look far different on the sidelines when the 2026 season kicks off. Meanwhile, McDermott’s next move will become one of the top storylines around the league as the coaching landscape takes shape.
Browns Want To Keep Jim Schwartz In Some Capacity; Schwartz Favorite For HC Job?
Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz has made it to the next stage of the club’s head coaching search, as he will take a second interview with Cleveland on Monday. Albert Breer of SI.com believes Schwartz will ultimately land the position, and he says the preference within the organization is to keep a talented DC on the staff in some capacity.
That suggests that even if the Browns go in a different direction at HC, they still want to keep Schwartz aboard for what would be a fourth year as defensive coordinator. And given the success he has had in that role, the team’s wish makes plenty of sense.
[RELATED: 2026 HC Search Tracker]
Schwartz, 59, has further cemented his status as one of the league’s top defensive minds during his Browns tenure. His unit ranked first in the NFL in yards allowed in 2023 and fourth in that regard this past season (albeit with a 19th-place finish in 2024 sandwiched in-between). Schwartz has received a number of endorsements from his players, and though Cleveland limped to a 5-12 mark in 2025, the team’s offense was the primary culprit.
That offense – or, more accurately, the unappealing quarterback situation – is one of the reasons why the Browns’ HC post is not as well-regarded as some of the other openings around the league. On the other hand, the Ravens are the only other club that appears to be considering Schwartz for a head coaching role in this year’s cycle, so the Cleveland vacancy may represent his best chance to get back in the HC ranks.
Schwartz has not worked as a head coach since 2013, which marked the end of a five-season run as the Lions’ sideline general. His overall 29-51 record in Detroit is a poor one, though he did lead the then-moribund franchise to a playoff berth in 2011, which was the first time since 1999 the Lions had qualified for the postseason. Schwartz earned a Super Bowl ring as the Eagles’ DC in 2017.
Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken is also scheduled for a second HC interview with the Browns. That summit is due to take place on Tuesday, one day after Schwartz speaks with team brass for a second time. If he does not land the Cleveland post, Monken is expected to follow John Harbaugh to New York and become the Giants’ OC.
Other offensive-minded candidates are getting additional consideration from the Browns as well. Jaguars OC Grant Udinski has secured a second interview. The same is true of former Dolphins HC and highy-popular candidate Mike McDaniel, per Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network, who reports McDaniel’s second summit is scheduled for Wednesday. According to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, Rams pass game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase has also earned another interview request following his Friday meeting. Since LA is still in the playoffs, the date of his in-person sit-down is to be determined.
In light of his accomplishments, it stands to reason that another candidate who gets the Browns’ job would want to keep Schwartz as their DC. It remains to be seen if Schwartz would be amenable to that, or if he would seek a coordinator job elsewhere.
Kevin Stefanski Withdrew From Raiders’ HC Search
To no surprise, Kevin Stefanski became the second head coaching domino to fall last night. As many expected, he would up joining the Falcons. 
That decision came amidst considerable interest from other HC-needy teams around the league. Both the Ravens and Dolphins submitted requests for an in-person second interview in Stefanski’s case. Those wound up being moot, with a face-to-face Falcons meeting producing Saturday’s agreement.
Stefanski also found himself on the radar of the Raiders early in the hiring cycle. According to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, however, the two-time Coach of the Year withdrew from Vegas’ search process last week. That allowed him to turn his attention elsewhere, with Falcons connections emerging in short order.
The Giants’ top priority was landing John Harbaugh, and after initially agreeing to a hire his arrival was made official yesterday. Stefanski was viewed as the backup plan for both New York and Atlanta, so it came as no surprise when links to the Falcons were strengthened once it became clear Harbaugh would join the Giants. Stefanski secured a five-year deal in Atlanta not long after his run with the Browns came to an end.
The Raiders are one of seven teams which still have an opening at the head coaching position as things stand. The Pete Carroll era ended on ‘Black Monday,’ with his firing coming in the wake of a 3-14 campaign. Vegas owns the first overall pick in April’s draft, but otherwise the Raiders’ roster faces a number of questions. It will be interesting to see what the team’s list of finalists looks like as it takes shape over the coming days.
Several initial interviews took place last week, but so far the only candidate to arrange a follow-up meeting is Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero. Others will soon join him, but even in the absence of his Falcons hire Stefanski would not have been among the staffers to speak with Vegas for a second time.
Jeff Hafley Emerging As Dolphins’ HC Frontrunner
JANUARY 18: Jackson adds in a follow-up report that it is a real possibility Miami does not allow Hafley to leave the building without a contract in hand following his Monday interview. An agent for another candidate tells Jackson that Hafley is the team’s top choice.
In addition to Graham and Hafley, the ‘Fins will have an in-person meeting with Kelvin Sheppard on Monday. The Graham and Sheppard summmits would satisfy the Rooney Rule and thereby make the Dolphins eligible to hire Hafley.
JANUARY 17, 10:05pm: A representative for one of the other candidates connected to the Dolphins’ vacancy told Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald he believes the job is Hafley’s to lose at this point. With at least many of the seven remaining HC vacancies likely to be filled in the coming days, this situation will be worth watching closely.
2:08pm: Coming quick off the heels of news that he is being brought in for the second round of the Dolphins‘ interview process, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports that Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley has “emerged as a frontrunner” for the head coaching job in Miami. No decisions have been made on either side, but Hafley seems to have the early favor of the Dolphins’ search committee. 
Miami and Hafley are still moving forward with their interview processes, as usual, though. This isn’t John Harbaugh cancelling meetings after one in-person interview with the Giants just yet.
The Dolphins have first-round interviews still on the schedule for this weekend and are in the process of setting up more second-round interviews beyond Hafley. It seems, as they’re wrapping up the first round of interviews with Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady on Sunday and Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham on Monday, Hafley will be kicking off the first of multiple in-person, second interviews. Dianna Russini of The Athletic has noted that they’re attempting to get former Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski in for his in-person on Wednesday.
We also aren’t aware if the feelings are mutual for Hafley, though; Miami isn’t the only team to have moved him on to the next stage of the interview process, and according to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, Hafley is expected to be a finalist everywhere he’s interviewed. Pelissero notes that the Titans, Falcons, Raiders, and Cardinals have also requested second interviews for Hafley, and he’s in the process of completing another initial interview today with the Steelers.
In fact, Hafley is scheduled to come to Miami on Monday, and he already has his visit to Tennessee scheduled for the Tuesday, according to Matt Schneidman of The Athletic. The Dolphins are certainly trying to get out ahead of what appears to be a lot of interest in Hafley by scheduling him early and pronouncing their interest very publicly. We’ll see if that tactic earns them any points with Hafley or if it turns on the pressure in his pursuit.
For the other candidates set to interview with Miami, it’s certainly discouraging, assuming Hafley prefers the Dolphins. It’s hard enough to overcome Hafley’s Green Bay ties to Miami’s new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan but adding in his proclamation from the media as an early frontrunner makes it necessary to hope Hafley prefers to be elsewhere. In fact, strangely, the rumor of Hafley being the frontrunner first was leaked by Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald, whose source was an agent of one of the several other candidates for the job. After seeing the rumor confirmed by Pelissero this afternoon, seekers of the Miami job will be hoping the Dolphins don’t get their guy.
The only certainty anywhere comes out of Green Bay where Mike Garafolo reports the Packers have begun researching defensive coordinator candidates. While it’s still extremely up in the air where Hafley lands, it’s quite certain that he won’t be coming back to Green Bay. As Parker Gabriel of The Denver Post points out, Broncos defensive pass game coordinator/assistant head coach Jim Leonhard once turned down the Packers’ defensive coordinator position under Matt LaFleur thinking he’d be at Wisconsin long-term. Having since moved on from the Badgers, one would think Leonhard’s name would come up in Green Bay relatively soon.