Dolphins To Hire Nathaniel Hackett
Nathaniel Hackett‘s stock took a tumble for a few years, as his disastrous Broncos HC season preceded a Jets OC tenure that brought a demotion. But the second-generation NFL staffer is moving back up the ladder.
After a season back in Green Bay in an analyst role, Hackett will be called upon as a quarterbacks coach. The Dolphins are expected to hire him in this capacity, ESPN.com’s Dan Graziano tweets. Hackett worked with new Dolphins HC Jeff Hafley for a season in Green Bay.
Hackett’s arrival may not go over too well in Miami, as few coaches have seen their standing drop more this decade. The former Packers OC was fired 15 games into his Broncos HC tenure, and after landing the Jets’ OC job (due in no small part to the Jets’ interest in bringing Aaron Rodgers to New York), Hackett did not complete that stay as the team’s play-caller. New York demoted Hackett from that role during the 2024 season. Hackett will now work under Dolphins play-caller Bobby Slowik, either coaching Tua Tagovailoa or a to-be-determined QB1 replacement.
The Broncos’ Hackett hire preceded a trade for Russell Wilson. The partnership sputtered, with a host of clunky outings leading to Hackett demoting himself as play-caller. Hackett gave the play sheet to QBs coach Klint Kubiak, but as Wilson exerted tremendous influence in terms of preparation and the nature of the Broncos’ offense, the team fired its coach after 15 games. The Broncos finished last in scoring offense despite authorizing Wilson’s $49MM-per-year extension, but the Jets hired Hackett soon after. Although Hackett delivered on Rodgers becoming receptive to joining the Jets, his stock tanked in the Big Apple.
Hackett’s first season featured mostly Zach Wilson at the controls, and it went bad enough Robert Saleh conducted a stealth search for a veteran staffer who would oversee his OC in 2024. No hire commenced, and Hackett entered the ’24 season as the Jets’ play-caller. Not long after the Jets’ Saleh firing, they removed Hackett from play-calling duties. Wilson is technically still under contract with the Dolphins, but the backup QB’s deal expires in March.
While Hackett was also OC in Buffalo and Jacksonville, his most successful NFL period came as Matt LaFleur‘s non-play-calling OC from 2019-21. The Packers earned three straight playoff byes, and Rodgers won MVP honors in 2020 and ’21. Rodgers has long endorsed Hackett, to the point he is believed to have interceded when Woody Johnson wanted him gone after one Jets OC season. The Dolphins will now entrust Hackett to coach their QBs. Perhaps with no play-calling duties, the Dolphins believe they will see a better version of Hackett than what the Broncos and Jets received.
Miami is also hiring former Green Bay quality control staffer Wendel Davis, per KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson. The team is also adding Jahmile Addae as cornerbacks coach, according to ESPN.com’s Pete Thamel. Addae was most recently the Bills’ CBs coach.
49ers Interview Gus Bradley, Raheem Morris, Joe Woods For DC Job
Robert Saleh‘s second exit as 49ers defensive coordinator will lead to the team’s fourth DC search in four years. The NFC West club has begun its interview process.
Gus Bradley, Raheem Morris and Joe Woods are the first interviewees, according to NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco. Bradley spent last season on the 49ers’ staff, and Kyle Shanahan called him an obvious candidate. Woods was on the Raiders’ staff in 2025, while Morris — fired as Falcons HC after two seasons — has come up in connection with multiple DC posts.
Morris remains a candidate to become the next Cardinals HC. Arizona lost one of its frontrunners — Anthony Campanile — this week, when the Jaguars’ DC opted to stay with his current team. But Mike LaFleur and Klint Kubiak also booked second HC interviews with the Cards. This does not necessarily mean Morris is out of the running, but like Saleh last year, the veteran staffer is in the mix for jobs on multiple tiers of the coaching spectrum.
Saleh was believed to be the Jags’ second choice behind Liam Coen, but he resided as the 49ers’ DC-in-waiting in the event that fell through. The 49ers had Saleh positioned as one of the NFL’s highest-paid coordinators, but he bolted after one season back in town to become the Titans’ head coach. Bradley, Morris and Woods are all veteran defensive play-callers. Each has been either a two-time HC (in Morris’ case) or had at least three runs as a DC.
A recent rumor indicated Morris may move to TV if he did not land another HC job, but it seems the former Buccaneers and Falcons sideline boss is indeed surveying options if he does not land the Arizona job. The Falcons fired Morris after two 8-9 seasons, overhauling their football operation around Matt Ryan. Morris was a successful DC en route to that Atlanta job, serving as the Rams’ defensive play-caller for three seasons and collecting a Super Bowl LVI ring during that time. This creates considerable familiarity for Shanahan, though Bradley may still be the candidate to beat.
The Seahawks, Chargers, Raiders and Colts have employed Bradley as DC since 2012. Although Bradley’s Jaguars HC tenure featured a historically low win percentage (.226 — fourth-worst all time), teams have continued to pursue him as a defensive play-caller. Shanahan calling Bradley the “obvious” choice — as the team may not cast a wide net here — bodes well for the current 49ers assistant HC. But Morris and Woods bring comparable experience, representing interesting external challengers.
Earning a Super Bowl ring as a Broncos DBs coach, Woods succeeded Wade Phillips as Denver’s DC in 2017. Woods later moved to the DC role in Cleveland and New Orleans, serving as Browns DC for three seasons and Saints DC for two. Woods served under defense-minded HCs in Denver and New Orleans, however, making his Cleveland stop the only time he was a team’s top defensive voice. The Browns did not rank lower than 21st on defense under Woods, rising to 13th in 2021, but the team fired him after an inconsistent 2022 season. Woods spent last season as the Raiders’ DBs coach/pass-game coordinator.
All three of these coaches have worked Shanahan. The current 49ers HC was in place as Falcons OC from 2015-16. The rare modern coach to serve as an assistant on both sides of the ball, Morris was a Falcons defensive assistant in 2015 and wideouts coach during Atlanta’s NFC championship 2016 slate. Woods served as the 49ers’ pass-game coordinator under Saleh in 2019, using the team’s Super Bowl LIV season as a springboard back to the DC level.
Giants Schedule Jim Bob Cooter OC Meeting, Send Alex Tanney Interview Request
Davis Webb is not the only former Giants quarterback on the team’s offensive coordinator radar. Alex Tanney is in this race as well. Multiple Colts staffers who coached Daniel Jones last season have received interview slips from the Giants.
The Giants sent Tanney an OC meeting request Thursday, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler tweets. The team also has scheduled an interview with Colts OC Jim Bob Cooter about the job, per ESPN.com’s Peter Schrager.
[RELATED: Cooter Completes Second Eagles OC Interview]
With the Giants from 2018-20, Tanney was one of Jones’ backups. Hired by the Colts as their pass-game coordinator in 2024, Tanney spent last season coaching his former teammate. Cooter has been the Colts’ OC since 2023, but because the Giants’ OC post would involve play-calling duties, Indianapolis cannot block him from this lateral move.
Considering Jones’ mostly disappointing Giants tenure, it is interesting the Giants have two of his Indianapolis mentors on their OC radar. Tanney served as one of Jones’ backups for two seasons, spending time on the practice squad and active roster. Tanney, 38, only played in one game with the team (during the 2019 season). But he has resurfaced as a promising assistant coach.
The Eagles employed Tanney as their QBs coach in 2023, promoting him after he spent two prior years on Nick Sirianni’s staff. Sirianni hired Tanney two days after he retired. While Tanney only made his way into two career games, he bounced around as a backup/P-squad option from 2012-20 before calling it quits in 2021. Tanney and Webb overlapped briefly as teammates, both going to Giants training camp in 2018 — Eli Manning‘s final starter season.
The Colts hired Tanney in 2024, reuniting him with former Eagles boss Shane Steichen. Now, two of Steichen’s top assistants are in the mix to work under John Harbaugh in New York. Tanney was with nine NFL teams, but the Ravens were not among that group.
Weeks after the Giants cut Jones to wrap a six-year partnership, he drew free agent offers from the Colts and Vikings. Jones chose Indianapolis due to the better chance it presented for a starting role, and Cooter was a key part of his bounce-back season.
After never eclipsing seven yards per attempt in New York, Jones closed his injury-shortened Indy slate with an 8.1-yard average. The Colts were soaring on offense during the season’s first half, sitting at 8-2. Jones led the NFL in success rate and completed a career-high 68% of his passes to go with 3,101 yards despite finishing only 12 games.
Cooter and Tanney also were part of the crew that helped Philip Rivers resemble a viable option despite nearly five years away from the game. Rivers unretired and started three games. His effort against the Seahawks — which required a 56-yard Jason Myers game-winner to down the visitors — has aged rather well considering Seattle’s defense-powered Super Bowl charge. Rivers then tallied 277 yards and two touchdown passes in a Monday-night outing against the 49ers, reflecting well on Steichen and his assistants.
Via PFR’s Offensive/Defensive Coordinator Search Tracker, here is how the Giants’ process stands following would-be hire Todd Monken being named Browns head coach:
- Jim Bob Cooter, offensive coordinator (Colts): To interview
- Todd Monken, offensive coordinator (Ravens): Hire expected; accepted Browns’ HC offer
- Robert Prince, wide receivers coach (Dolphins): Interviewed 1/23
- Willie Taggart, running backs coach (Ravens): Joining staff in different capacity
- Alex Tanney, pass-game coordinator (Colts): Interview requested
- Davis Webb, quarterbacks coach (Broncos): Interview requested
- Charlie Weis Jr., offensive coordinator (LSU): Mentioned as candidate
Eagles Complete Second Josh Grizzard OC Interview
As the Cardinals and Raiders complete three-week-plus HC interview processes, the Eagles are nearing that point with their offensive coordinator search. But Philadelphia is circling back to second interviews at this point.
Following reports of Jim Bob Cooter and Sean Mannion‘s second meetings about this play-calling post, veteran insider Jordan Schultz notes Josh Grizzard completed a second interview as well. The one-year Buccaneers OC met with the Eagles again Wednesday.
[RELATED: NFL OC/DC Search Tracker]
The Eagles are not done reaching out to candidates for potential first meetings, though, as they sent Davis Webb an interview request Tuesday. The Denver quarterbacks coach, who is still up for the Raiders’ HC job, could throw a wrench in this process. But as it stands, Grizzard joins Cooter and Mannion as known finalists to replace Kevin Patullo.
Grizzard, 35, comes from a somewhat similar situation; like the Eagles, the Bucs will be on OC No. 5 in five years. Grizzard was No. 4, being promoted after both Dave Canales and Liam Coen took HC jobs elsewhere. The Bucs were not as happy with Grizzard’s work, firing him after one season — an injury-plagued effort. Tampa Bay played chunks of the season without Tristan Wirfs, Luke Goedeke, Cody Mauch, Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Bucky Irving and Jalen McMillan on offense. This certainly affected the team, though its late-season collapse involved key losses with most of this cadre on the field.
Tampa Bay plummeted from fourth to 18th in scoring offense between Coen’s OC season and Grizzard’s. The latter did play a role in the Bucs’ 2024 success, serving as the team’s pass-game coordinator. Though, he made the rare step down from wide receivers coach to the quality control level, being demoted in Miami after the Brian Flores-to-Mike McDaniel changeover. The Eagles are the only team to interview Grizzard since his Bucs OC firing.
Had the Titans not needed an OC, it is possible Brian Daboll would be preparing to coach Jalen Hurts and Co. The ex-Giants HC had support from key principals in the building, per the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane, who adds the Eagles are not believed to have made an offer to a candidate yet. The Daboll buzz did not result in one, Sal Paolantonio of ESPN confirmed during a Get Up appearance.
Rams To Hire Bubba Ventrone As Special Teams Coordinator
Late in the regular season, the Rams made a change at the special teams coordinator position. A hire for the 2026 campaign is now being made. 
Los Angeles is bringing in Bubba Ventrone as STC, Aaron Wilson of KRPC2 reports. He had previously held the same role with the Browns for the past three years. Cleveland has a new head coach in place in the form of Todd Monken, and his staff will include a change at that spot.
Chase Blackburn had been in charge of the Rams’ special teams since 2023. His unit’s struggles increasingly became an issue this season, though, leading to his dismissal. That made Los Angeles one of several teams in search of a new STC during the 2026 hiring cycle. Shortly after losing in the NFC title game, the Rams turned their attention toward finding Blackburn’s full-time replacement.
An interview request with Ventrone was issued yesterday. Interest was also showed by the Steelers on that front. Instead of exploring the possibility of joining his hometown team, however, the Pittsburgh native will head to the West Coast for his next NFL gig. Ventrone, 43, spent five years as the Colts’ special teams coordinator prior to joining the Browns’ staff.
The former UDFA played 102 combined regular season and playoff games in the NFL. Ventrone hung up his cleats after the 2014 season ended and he immediately began his coaching career. That included three years with the Patriots as an assistant special teams coach. Since then, Ventrone has become an experienced staffer at the pro level. The next chapter of his career will see him aim to provide stability on special teams as the Rams’ fifth STC under head coach Sean McVay.
Bills QB Josh Allen Undergoes Procedure On Foot
JANUARY 29: When speaking to the media today, Allen revealed (via Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic) his fifth metatarsal had been broken. Surgery did indeed take place on Monday of this week, Beane noted. A recovery timeline between eight and 10 weeks is now in store, per Wolfe’s colleague Ian Rapoport. As such, Allen should be fully recovered in time for all offseason activities.
JANUARY 22: The Bills’ press conference with owner Terry Pegula and general manager Brandon Beane drew a lot of headlines on Wednesday, but one piece of information seems to have slipped under the radar.
Beane revealed (via NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe) that star quarterback Josh Allen may undergo a procedure on his foot this offseason. It is not expected to affect his availability for OTAs.
Allen’s foot injury popped up in Week 17 and sidelined him for multiple practices in Week 18. The issue continued to hamper Allen for the rest of the season, though he did not appear to be playing with any limitations in the playoffs.
The 2024 MVP has not missed a game due to injury since his rookie year. His only absences have been games at the end of the season with the Bills’ playoff qualification and seeding already set.
Allen’s procedure should not alarm anyone in Buffalo. Even if he were to miss any offseason training time as he recovers, it seems extremely unlikely to affect his availability beyond mandatory minicamp.
LSU OC Charlie Weis Jr. On Giants’ Radar
After missing out on Todd Monken, John Harbaugh may consider dipping into the college coaching ranks to fill his offensive coordinator vacancy.
LSU offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr. is “garnering a lot of attention” for the job, per SNY’s Connor Hughes. The 32-year-old spent the last four seasons in the same role at Ole Miss and is currently set to follow Lane Kiffin to Baton Rouge for the 2026 season. Weis already turned down the Eagles’ interest in hiring him as their offensive coordinator, but the Giants may make a push of their own.
Weis is the son of former Notre Dame and Kansas coach Charlie Weis, who also held a number of assistant roles with the Giants, Patriots, Jets, and Chiefs. Weis worked under his father for the first four years of his coaching career before landing a job under Nick Saban in 2015. It was at Alabama that Weis began working under Kiffin, his longtime mentor. Weis spent the 2017 season with the Falcons before joining Kiffin as Florida Atlantic’s offensive coordinator. The duo continued to South Florida and Ole Miss before landing their latest jobs with LSU.
If Weis is willing to hear an offer from the Giants, they might want to make it a good one. Over the last four years, he has helped build the Rebels’ offense into one of the best in the country. In 2024, the unit ranked third in points and second in yards in the FBS, and despite losing quarterback Jaxson Dart it remained one of the NCAA’s best en route to a college Football Playoff appearance this past season.
Weis should not necessarily be considered a frontrunner at this point, Hughes notes. Nevertheless, his name continues to be mentioned as a logical fit with Dart and Co. in New York. It will be interesting to see if the Giants make a concerted effort in this case with Monken no longer on the market.
Via PFR’s Coordinator Search Tracker, here is an updated look at the team’s situation:
- Todd Monken, offensive coordinator (Ravens): Hire expected
- Robert Prince, wide receivers coach (Dolphins): Interviewed 1/23
- Willie Taggart, running backs coach (Ravens): Joining staff in different capacity
- Davis Webb, quarterbacks coach (Broncos): Interview requested
- Charlie Weis Jr., offensive coordinator (LSU): Mentioned as candidate
Adam La Rose contributed to this post.
Cowboys Nearing Zach Orr Hire
Zach Orr was not hired as the Cowboys‘ new defensive coordinator. He could nevertheless soon find himself on Dallas’ coaching staff. 
After two years as the defensive coordinator of the Ravens, Orr is a candidate to depart the team. Since head coach John Harbaugh was fired, he has received interest in other DC gigs. Orr interviewed with the Cowboys and Chargers for their respective openings.
Both teams ultimately went in a different direction, but Dallas remains interested. Orr is “in line” to join Brian Schottenheimer‘s staff, Clarence Hill Jr. of All City DLLS reports. An “elevated” linebackers coach role is expected in this case, per Hill. Orr played as a middle linebacker and coached that position for two years in Baltimore prior to being promoted to defensive coordinator.
Orr’s unit did not meet expectations during the 2025 season in particular, but he could add value as a position coach. The 33-year-old worked with Schottenheimer in Jacksonville for one season (2021), and Hill notes he has a relationship with new Cowboys DC Christian Parker as well. A Dallas hire would represent a homecoming for Orr, a native of DeSoto, Texas.
The Cowboys struggled in a number of areas during their one season with Matt Eberflus leading their defense. Dallas ranked 23rd against the run in 2025, and improvements at the linebacker position will no doubt be targeted this offseason. Presuming a hire is worked out, Orr will be tasked with playing a key role in Dallas’ efforts to rebound at the second level. A departure would also confirm Baltimore’s need for a new DC under first-time head coach Jesse Minter.
Meanwhile, Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports reports the Cowboys are expected to hire Ryan Smith. Smith spent the past three years coaching the Cardinals’ cornerbacks. He has previously done so at the collegiate level, so a similar title with Dallas would come as no surprise.
Ravens Submit Jim Leonhard DC Interview Request
Jim Leonhard remains a popular defensive coordinator candidate in the 2026 cycle. The Ravens are the latest team to seek an interview in his case. 
Baltimore has requested a defensive coordinator interview with Leonhard, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. That makes him the second staffer to receive a slip from the Ravens. Leonhard, who has been on the Broncos’ staff for the past two years, played for the Ravens in 2008.
Shortly after his playing career came to an end, Leonhard turned his attention to coaching. That began with eight years at the college level, including a lengthy run as Wisconsin’s defensive coordinator. The 43-year-old joined Sean Payton‘s staff in Denver in 2024 as a defensive backs coach and pass-game coordinator. This past season, Leonhard took on the role of assistant head coach.
A strong campaign in that capacity has resulted in widespread DC interest. Leonhard has already interviewed with the Cowboys, Chargers and Jets for their D-coordinator positions. All three have since been filled, but Baltimore could represent another opportunity on that front. The Ravens’ defense has been led by Zach Orr for the past two years, but since John Harbaugh‘s firing he has loomed as a candidate to depart. Baltimore has also requested an interview with Joe Cullen as a potential Orr replacement.
In other Ravens staffing news, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports longtime assistant Randy Brown will be staying in place. Brown arrived in Baltimore alongside Harbaugh in 2008 and has been a key figure on special teams ever since. Several staffers either have followed Harbaugh to the Giants or remain a candidate to do so. Brown’s lengthy tenure in Baltimore will nevertheless continue under new head coach Jesse Minter.
Top Picks: Best Sports Memorabilia Products for 2026! (Sponsored)
About Legends Memorabilia:
At Legends Memorabilia Collection, their mission is to honor the legacy of the game by preserving and showcasing iconic sports memorabilia—while giving back to the legends who made it all possible. They are committed to putting money back into the pockets of the players, ensuring they share in the value of the memories they helped create. By connecting fans with authentic, player-backed collectibles, they celebrate the past, empower the present, and invest in the future of sports history.
All items come with MLB Authentication. They are one of two companies that have access to MLB authentication, so everything is authentic from the signings.
Visit ShopLegends.com often or subscribe to their email list this offseason to stay up to date on all happenings.
Use “TR10” for 10% off any purchase sitewide!
1. Autographed Mystery Boxes – Premium Edition
Legends Memorabilia offers 5 different tiers of mystery boxes available on their site HERE.
Tiers include:
- Tier #1- $99
- Tier #2 – $199
- American or National League Tier – $750
- PREMIUM – $1,500
2. Autographed Baseballs
Legends Memorabilia offers a wide range of authentic autographed baseballs signed by current and legendary players. These range from game-specific commemorative balls to classic signature balls. Examples include high-profile autographs from stars such as Freddie Freeman and Mike Trout, among others — often with special inscriptions or commemorative logos tied to events like World Series games.
3. Autographed Jerseys
Collectors can find authentic autographed jerseys from notable players across baseball and sometimes other professional leagues. These jerseys are often presented with the player’s signature visible and may come with inscriptions or additional storytelling elements attached — making them prized display pieces for fans.
4. Autographed Bats and Bats with Player Inscriptions
Autographed bats are core pieces for any baseball memorabilia collector. Legends Memorabilia lists bats signed by both contemporary stars and up-and-coming players, often with inscriptions that denote a special achievement or designation. These are classic centerpiece items for any collector’s display.
5. Framed Photos with Signatures
Photographic prints featuring important moments or player portraits, signed directly by athletes, make great framed memorabilia. These pieces often capture iconic moments or specific milestones, adding narrative value to the signature.
6. Player’s Closet Project Items
This special category includes unique pieces from athletes’ personal closets, often one-of-a-kind or limited-quantity memorabilia, such as game-worn gear or personally curated items selected by the athlete. These items can be especially meaningful for serious collectors because of their uniqueness and direct player connection.
7. New Arrival Exclusive Autographed Gear
Legends frequently lists newly arrived items that include autographed balls, photos, helmets, and collectibles from recent signings or presale drops. This often includes signed World Series- related baseballs, position-specific items, or limited runs tied to current league events.
Again, make sure to use “TR10” for 10% off any purchase sitewide!
This is a sponsored post from Legends Memorabilia.