Lions OL Dan Skipper Announces Retirement
Lions offensive lineman Dan Skipper announced his retirement via Instagram on Thursday.
The 31-year-old spent time with seven different teams in his seven-year career, though he is best known for his time in Detroit. He signed with the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent out of Arkansas in 2017, but eventually made his way to Detroit for his NFL debut later that year. Skipper spent time with the Broncos and Patriots over the next two seasons before seeing his next regular-season action with the Texans in 2019.
Skipper returned to Detroit in 2019 where he would spend the rest of his career aside from brief stints with the Raiders and Colts. In 2022, he made his first start at left guard; he would go on to start five games that year, all at guard, a position he had not played in the NFL. Skipper then served as the Lions’ swing tackle from 2023 to 2025 with 10 starts at left tackle in the last two years.
The Lions also introduced Skipper’s now-signature role as the Lions’ sixth offensive linemen in 2022. Then-offensive coordinator Ben Johnson would frequently roll out ‘jumbo’ packages which would typically feature Skipper as an extra blocker. He would occasionally run a route and caught two passes, including a touchdown in 2023. The strategy often confused the defense and sometimes the referees. It also made Skipper beloved among Lions fans.
Injuries were a factor in Skipper’s decision, according to Justin Rogers of the Detroit Football Network. He will now move into coaching and already has his first gig set up as the offensive line and tight ends coach for the East/West Shrine Bowl next week.
At 6-foot-10, Skipper was also the NFL’s tallest active player. That title is now passed to a number of players who all stand at 6-foot-8.
Pats WR Mack Hollins Returns To Practice
Mack Hollins could be available to the Patriots in time for this week’s AFC title game. The veteran receiver has returned to practice, as noted by Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald. 
An abdomen injury suffered in December landed Hollins on injured reserve late in the regular season. That ensured an absence of at least four games stretching into the start of the playoffs. With New England managing to win at home in the wild-card and divisional rounds, though, a return to action is now in play.
Hollins has played for six teams (including three in the AFC East) over the course of his career. He landed a two-year deal in free agency last offseason to join the Patriots, a move which has proved worthwhile. In 15 games during his first New England season, Hollins posted 550 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 46 catches.
Those totals fall short of his career-best Raiders output from 2022, but they demonstrate Hollins’ importance to New England’s passing attack. Having the 32-year-old back in the fold in time Sunday’s game against a strong Broncos defense could prove to be critical. Overall, the Patriots have 21 days to activate Hollins so a win this week would still leave the door open to a Super Bowl return.
New England has Stefon Diggs and Kayshon Boutte – who ranked first and second in regular season receiving yards by wideouts on the team – in place. Diggs topped 1,000 yards during his debut Patriots campaign, while Boutte’s one-handed touchdown against the Texans played a key role in ensuring the team would advance to this week’s AFC championship. Receiving a secondary contribution from Hollins would of course be welcomed.
The former fourth-rounder is one of three players whose practice windows are currently open. The Patriots have six IR activations available with no more than two games remaining in their season.
Dolphins Request OC Interview With Texans QBs Coach Jerrod Johnson
The Dolphins have requested to interview Texans quarterbacks coach Jerrod Johnson for their offensive coordinator vacancy, per The Athletic’s Dianna Russini.
This is the first official interview request for Johnson, though he is drawing from other teams as well, per KRPC2’s Aaron Wilson. The 37-year-old is a former quarterback who spent time with seven NFL teams, though he never appeared in a regular-season game.
After ending his playing career in 2016, Johnson took coaching fellowships with the 49ers (2017) and the Colts (2019). The latter opportunity turned into a full-time job as an offensive quality control coach. Johnson then took over as the assistant quarterbacks coach in Minnesota in 2022 before moving to Houston to develop first-round pick C.J. Stroud in 2023.
Stroud’s rookie season is certainly a feather in Johnson’s cap, but his regression over the last two years offers some reason for concern. Stroud has taken a step back in nearly every statistical category from his rookie season, though he only took 23 sacks in 2025 after 90 in his first two seasons.
The Dolphins also submitted a request to interview Cowboys assistant special teams coach Carlos Polk for their special teams coordinator vacancy, according to ESPN’s Todd Archer. Polk has held his current title with five different NFL teams dating back to 2010. This is his second stint in Dallas; he worked under Jason Garrett in 2019 before joining Brian Schottenheimer‘s staff last offseason.
Titans Seeking Experienced OC
Almost every head coaching candidate the Titans spoke to had experience in the position at the NFL level. Robert Saleh‘s staff will unsurprisingly target a veteran play-caller on offense as well. 
So far, the Titans have been connected to former head coaches Mike McDaniel and Brian Daboll with respect to their offensive coordinator position. Daboll’s top OC destination appears to be Tennessee, although he is also interested in returning to the Bills as their head coach. The list of Titans targets is set to expand shortly.
According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, Tennessee’s options include former Commanders OC Kliff Kingsbury, Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, Packers OC Adam Stenavich and Dolphins pass-game coordinator Bobby Slowik. Each have them has been a coordinator at the pro level before, and all but Stenavich have called plays during at least one NFL stint.
Kingsbury has conducted multiple head coaching interviews recently, and he was among the staffers linked to Tennessee in that regard. The former Cardinals HC also met with the Ravens about their offensive coordinator position. Without a hire taking place on either front, Kingsbury remains on the market at this point. His NFL stints have included time overseeing the development of quarterbacks Kyler Murray and Jayden Daniels, and working closely with Cam Ward during his second year and beyond will be a top priority for any OC hire.
Smith also met with the Titans early in their head coaching search. The 43-year-old was then linked to OC vacancies in Detroit and Los Angeles. The Lions and Chargers (provided Mike McDaniel does not land a head coaching position) have filled them, however. Smith thus looms as another offensive coordinator option with experience not only as a play-caller but as a head coach as well.
Slowik, 39, followed DeMeco Ryans from San Francisco to Houston in 2023. During his two seasons as the Texans’ offensive coordinator, Slowik’s unit ranked 13th and then 19th in scoring. He received an interview request from the Eagles, but one could also be coming shortly from the Titans. Stenavich has been with the Packers since Matt LaFleur‘s arrival in 2019. For the past four seasons, he has operated as Green Bay’s offensive coordinator (albeit without calling plays).
The Titans ranked 30th in total and scoring offense in 2025. Improving on the team’s showing under former head coach Brian Callahan and interim replacement Mike McCoy will be a major priority for next season, and a veteran OC will likely be leaned on to lead the way.
Jesse Minter Cancels Browns HC Interview
Jesse Minter was scheduled to interview with the Browns for a second time today. Instead, that will no longer be the case. 
Minter has canceled his follow-up, as first reported by Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com. This news comes as the Chargers defensive coordinator “likely” feels other HC options are more certain at this time, she adds. According to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, Minter’s second interview with the Ravens yesterday went “very well.”
The Raiders are also in the running at this point, Schultz confirms. Minter met with Vegas for a second time on Tuesday. That makes him one of only two finalists still on the market as things stand in the Raiders’ case. Today’s Browns update certainly points in the direction of Minter winding up with either the Ravens or the Raiders relatively soon.
Minter is now the second candidate to withdraw from Cleveland’s ongoing search. Mike McDaniel recently did the same, and he is now positioned to become the Chargers’ next offensive coordinator. The Browns will once again turn their attention elsewhere with Minter no longer in the running as well. Internal and external finalists remain in contention.
The possibility of defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz being promoted to head coach has long been a talking point during the 2026 hiring cycle. Keeping Schwartz within the organization in one capacity or another is seen as a high priority, and he was recently reported to be the favorite for the HC gig. Todd Monken has interviewed twice with the Browns, meaning he is a candidate to return to Cleveland instead of his expected move of following John Harbaugh to the Giants as their offensive coordinator.
The Browns are also among the teams which have shown considerable interest in Jaguars OC Grant Udinski. The sides will meet for a second interview tomorrow. Meanwhile, Cleveland has also requested a follow-up with Rams pass-game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase. One cannot be arranged until next week, since Los Angeles advanced to the NFC championship game.
Minter was among the finalists for the Falcons before they ultimately hired Kevin Stefanski. A two-year coordinator at the NFL level, Minter has loomed as one of the top defensive HC candidates in particular throughout the hiring cycle. The 42-year-old has previously worked with the Ravens, and his time in the AFC West has made him a familiar face to the Raiders. Signs point to Minter joining one of those teams as the coaching landscape comes further into focus.
Falcons Hire Tommy Rees As Offensive Coordinator
JANUARY 22: The Falcons announced on Thursday that Rees’ hire is official. He and Stefanski will now move forward in their new setting and fill out the remainder of the offensive staff.
JANUARY 21: Tommy Rees is set to follow Kevin Stefanski from Cleveland to Atlanta. The Falcons are expected to hire Rees as their offensive coordinator, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. The deal isn’t official, but Rees has accepted the job, according to Albert Breer of SI.com.
This was the likely outcome when the Falcons hired Stefanski, previously the Browns’ head coach, on Saturday. Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com reported then that the 33-year-old Rees was a candidate to rejoin Stefanski in Atlanta. The pair developed a strong working relationship in their two years together in Cleveland.
Rees interviewed to take over for Stefanski, but this move slams the door on that possibility. It’s obvious Cleveland will select a different head coaching candidate instead.
Formerly a Notre Dame quarterback, Rees got his start as a coach as a graduate assistant with Northwestern in 2015. He later returned to his alma mater to serve as Notre Dame’s offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach from 2020-22.
Rees worked in the same roles at Alabama in 2023, the last season of head coach Nick Saban‘s remarkable career. He oversaw a breakout campaign from then-sophomore quarterback Jalen Milroe, who’s now a backup with the Seahawks, and then left for the NFL.
After his only year on Saban’s staff, Rees joined the Browns as their tight ends coach and pass game specialist in 2024. Stefanski promoted Rees to offensive coordinator after firing Ken Dorsey last January, but the head coach opened 2025 as the Browns’ play caller. That changed when Stefanski handed the keys to Rees before a Week 10 loss to the Jets. It’s not known yet if they’ll continue with that arrangement in Atlanta.
The Browns’ offense ended the year a horrid 30th in yards and 31st in scoring, but the unit wasn’t exactly teeming with weapons. Although neither Stefanski nor Rees found an answer at quarterback among Joe Flacco, Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders, that wasn’t a major surprise.
The 41-year-old Flacco was brought in as a stopgap, and the Browns wound up trading him to the Bengals in early October. Gabriel, a third-round rookie, struggled mightily before suffering a concussion in Rees’ second game as a play caller. Sanders, a fifth-round rookie, held the reins for the rest of the year. While Sanders performed better than Gabriel, he’s hardly a slam dunk to establish himself as the Browns’ solution under center.
The Falcons have a far more talented offense than the Browns (running back Bijan Robinson and wide receiver Drake London are among the game’s best at their positions), but QB is also a concern in Atlanta. After the 2023 season, former general manager Terry Fontenot made a mammoth free agent investment in Kirk Cousins and then surprisingly used the eighth overall pick on Michael Penix Jr. a little over a month later. Those two remain in place for now, but they’ve offered lackluster production for the Falcons.
Despite inking a four-year, $180MM contract, Cousins didn’t play well enough in his first Falcons season to keep the starting job. Then-head coach Raheem Morris benched Cousins for Penix in Week 16. Penix stuck as the Falcons’ starter this season until he went down with a partially torn ACL in Week 11. That continued a long history of serious injuries dating back to a college career divided between Indiana and Washington.
In the wake of his latest injury, it’s unknown if Penix will be healthy enough to start Week 1 in 2026. That’s assuming the Falcons’ new leaders – president of football Matt Ryan, a to-be-determined general manager and Stefanski – decide to go forward with Penix as the No. 1 option. They’re likely to release Cousins either way.
Along with questions at the game’s most important position, the Falcons’ offense is facing uncertainty at tight end. Kyle Pitts is due to become a free agent on the heels of a second-team All-Pro campaign. After successfully working with tight ends David Njoku and Harold Fannin in Cleveland, Stefanski and Rees may prefer to keep Pitts in the fold.
With Robinson, London and Pitts posting terrific numbers, the Falcons finished a slightly above-average 14th in total offense under coordinator Zac Robinson in 2025. Only eight teams amassed fewer points, though, and Stefanski and Rees will aim for better results next season.
Commanders Interviewing Bears DBs Coach Al Harris For DC Job
The Commanders are interviewing Al Harris, the Bears’ defensive backs coach and passing game coordinator, for their defensive coordinator vacancy, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
With Brian Flores and Jeff Ulbrich staying in their current DC jobs in Minnesota and Atlanta, the Commanders are adding more candidates to their list, per NBC4’s JP Finlay.
Harris, 51, spent 13 years as an NFL cornerback – primarily with the Eagles and the Packers – before joining the coaching ranks. After an internship with the Dolphins, he spent six years in Kansas City and one at Florida Atlantic University before landing in Dallas in 2020, where his reputation began to soar.
As the Cowboys’ defensive backs coach under head coach Mike McCarthy, Harris oversaw the development of ballhawking cornerbacks Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland, who led the league in interceptions, return yards, and return touchdowns in back-to-back years. The team’s passing defense as a whole ranked as a top-10 unit in 2022 and 2023, but regressed in 2024 in no small part due to injuries. Harris added assistant head coach to his title that year, his final in Dallas as McCarthy was fired at the end of the season.
Harris quickly found a new job in Chicago on Ben Johnson’s staff, but the Bears’ pass defense did not excel statistically this year. They led the league in interceptions, including an individual league-high by Kevin Byard. After earning Pro Bowls and first-team All-Pro nods with the Titans in 2017 and 2021, the veteran safety returned to those heights in his first year under Harris.
Brian Daboll Prefers Bills’ HC Position
Brian Daboll is among the staffers still in contention for at least one head coaching opportunity but also an offensive coordinator gig. If he has his way, Daboll will once again be leading an NFL staff in 2026. 
The ex-Giants HC’s “top choice” would be to return to the Bills as their next head coach, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports. Daboll worked in Buffalo as the team’s offensive coordinator for four years prior to receiving his first head coaching opportunity. An in-person interview will take place with the Bills today.
In the wake of Sean McDermott‘s firing, Daboll quickly emerged as a strong candidate to replace him. A reunion would allow quarterback Josh Allen to once again work with the play-caller who was in place during the early stages of his NFL development. The Bills posted a top-five finish in both total and scoring offense during Daboll’s final two years with the team.
Duplicating that level of success would of course be welcomed by all parties, although Buffalo has managed strong offensive showings under current OC Joe Brady as well. Brady is a candidate to be promoted to head coach as he also draws outside head coaching interest. Daboll, meanwhile, has been connected to multiple offensive coordinator positions. Some of the vacancies in that respect remain unfilled at this time.
The Titans in particular are a team to watch as it pertains to Daboll. It was reported yesterday the 50-year-old’s preference in the absence of a HC agreement would be to handle offensive coordinator duties in Tennessee. Earlier this week, the Titans hired Robert Saleh as a veteran head coach but one with a defensive background. An experienced play-caller on offense would represent a logical pairing, and Daboll certainly fits the bill.
After a surprise run to the divisional round of the postseason during his first year with the Giants, things went downhill in Daboll’s case. He did not survive to the end of his fourth season with New York, and overall Daboll posted a record of 20-40-1 during his first head coaching opportunity. A second chance in a familiar setting will certainly be something to watch for as Buffalo’s ongoing search comes into focus over the coming days.
Eagles Submit OC Interview Request For Declan Doyle
Mike McDaniel is in position to become the Chargers’ new offensive coordinator. Zac Robinson, meanwhile, has reached an agreement to take on the OC gig with the Buccaneers.
Both of them were Eagles targets regarding their offensive coordinator vacancy. The team’s list of candidates to replace Kevin Patullo continues to grow, however. Philadelphia has submitted an interview request for Bears OC Declan Doyle, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.
This marks the first time Doyle has been linked to another team’s coordinator opening. A move to Philadelphia’s staff would technically not be a lateral one since Bears head coach Ben Johnson handled play-calling duties during his first season leading the team. The Eagles’ next OC will likely be tasked with calling plays, although head coach Nick Sirianni‘s level of involvement on offense in 2026 remains to be seen.
Doyle began his coaching career in 2016 as a student assistant at Iowa. After three years in that role, he made the jump to the NFL. Following a four-year Saints tenure, Doyle joined Sean Payton in Denver in 2023; he spent two seasons as the Broncos’ tight ends coach. Doyle’s first coordinator opportunity came during last year’s hiring cycle when he joined Johnson’s initial Bears staff.
The possibility of numerous Chicago departures was raised shortly before the coaching carousel began spinning in 2026. Eric Bieniemy is indeed set to reprise his role as the Chiefs’ offensive coordinator, and other changes could be coming soon as well. Doyle will also be a name to watch in the wake of Chicago’s highly successful campaign.
Via PFR’s Coordinator Search Tracker, here is an updated look at where things stand for the Eagles:
- Jim Bob Cooter, offensive coordinator (Colts): Interview requested
- Brian Daboll, former head coach (Giants): Interviewed 1/20
- Declan Doyle, offensive coordinator (Bears): Interview requested
- Josh Grizzard, former offensive coordinator (Buccaneers): To interview
- Mike Kafka, former interim head coach (Giants): Interviewed 1/17
- Mike McDaniel, former head coach (Dolphins): To interview
- Matt Nagy, former offensive coordinator (Chiefs): Interviewed 1/21
- Zac Robinson, offensive coordinator (Falcons): Interviewed 1/16
- Bobby Slowik, senior pass-game coordinator (Dolphins): Interview requested
Giants Request OC Interview With Willie Taggart
Todd Monken continues to loom as the Giants‘ expected offensive coordinator hire. Other staffers currently in place with the Ravens are receiving a look as well, though. 
New York has requested an interview with Willie Taggart, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports. He is one of several coaches with a history of working under Harbaugh who represents a logical target for the Giants. Taggart served as a college head coach with five different programs between 2010 and 2022.
[RELATED: Harbaugh Begins Sweeping Changes On Giants’ Staff]
After a lengthy run in the NCAA ranks, Taggart took his first NFL gig by joining Harbaugh’s Ravens staff. For 2023 and ’24, the 49-year-old held the role of Baltimore’s running backs coach. This past season, Taggart maintained that responsibility while also having assistant head coach added to his title.
The Ravens have consistently been among the NFL’s top rushing teams for several years, and Taggart has played a key role in that success. Over the past two seasons, he has coached a unit led by Derrick Henry, who has amassed over 3,500 rushing yards and scored 32 touchdowns upon transitioning from Tennessee to Baltimore. Other backs such as Justice Hill and Keaton Mitchell have found notable roles as well during Taggart’s Ravens tenure.
The Giants saw Cam Skattebo emerge as a productive figure on offense before his rookie campaign came to an abrupt end. New York also has wideout Malik Nabers in place as a productive young roster piece along with quarterback Jaxson Dart, whose presence was among the selling points for Harbaugh to become the team’s new head coach. That decision will soon see a number of Baltimore staffers receive the opportunity to come to New York in the case of interview requests which are not blocked. Taggart would not take on OC duties in the expected event of a Monken hire, but he still represents a candidate for another important role on Harbaugh’s 2026 staff.