Bills Staying With OC Joe Brady; Brian Daboll Reunion Not Under Consideration

Bills head coach Sean McDermott has worked with four different offensive coordinators since taking the reins in 2017. He’s not ready to move on to a fifth. McDermott said Monday that Joe Brady will remain the team’s offensive coordinator, per Andrew Siciliano.

Questions about Brady’s status came after one of McDermott’s former O-coordinators, Brian Daboll, lost his head coaching job with the Giants on Monday. That could make him a fit to return to Buffalo’s offensive staff in some capacity, but McDermott shot down the possibility.

“That’s not under any kind of consideration,” McDermott said when asked about a potential reunion with Daboll.

Daboll, who attended high school outside of Buffalo and went to college in nearby Rochester, was the Bills’ O-coordinator from 2018-21. He’s often credited with aiding in the development of quarterback Josh Allen, a high-risk first-round pick in 2018 who has evolved into an elite signal-caller.

The Allen era got off to a slow start, but the Bills’ Daboll-coached offense finished top five in both points and yards in 2020 and ’21. Daboll then left for the Giants, with whom he went 20-40-1 over three-plus seasons.

With Daboll on his way to the Giants, the Bills promoted passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach Ken Dorsey as his replacement. They rolled out a stellar offense again in Year 1 under Dorsey, but they fired him in November 2023. Although the Bills ranked a respectable eighth in points and yards at the time, they were coming off two straight losses and sporting a mediocre 5-5 record. In McDermott’s estimation, that was enough to ax Dorsey.

The Bills handed the offensive keys to Brady, then their QBs coach, on an interim basis. The move sparked a 6-1 finish and a third straight AFC East title, and the offense improved to fourth in yards and sixth in points. Brady earned a full-time promotion as a result. While the Bills fell to 10th in yards last year, the first season of the post-Stefon Diggs era, they scored the second-most points in the league. Allen took home MVP honors.

Brady’s performance in 2024 was enough for him to earn head coaching consideration last winter. New Orleans was among the interested teams, but with the Saints having the last opening remaining in late January, Brady bowed out of the race and stayed in Buffalo.

The 36-year-old Brady is again in control of an offense that has been a resounding statistical success this season. The Bills sit second in the league in yards and sixth in points, though inquiries about his job security come on the heels of a brutal loss to the Dolphins in Week 10.

The Bills dropped to 6-3 in a 30-13 romp in Miami on Sunday. A Dolphins defense depleted by injuries and the trade of Jaelan Phillips to the Eagles held the Bills scoreless over the first three quarters of the game. The Bills committed three costly turnovers on the Dolphins’ side of the field, including an end zone interception by Allen.

It was apparent yet again that the Bills are lacking at wide receiver. General manager Brandon Beane didn’t make a trade to address the issue before the Nov. 4 deadline, but he reportedly attempted to acquire Dolphins receiver Jaylen Waddle. He stayed put and wound up burning the Bills for five catches, 84 yards, and a touchdown on Sunday.

After a dismal all-around showing in Miami, the Bills will face a stiffer test at home against the NFC South-leading Buccaneers in Week 11. Brady will remain in charge of the offense as the Bills aim for a bounce-back effort.

Giants GM Joe Schoen To Lead HC Search

Giants general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll joined the organization together in 2022, but they’re not leaving as a package deal. After Daboll steered the Giants to a 20-40-1 record, including a 2-8 start this year, they fired him on Monday. Owners John Mara and Steve Tisch agreed it was time to move on from Daboll during a phone conversation on Monday morning, Paul Schwartz of the New York Post reports.

Mara and Tisch made the decision to choose offensive coordinator Mike Kafka as the Giants’ interim head coach, according to Schwartz. The team later announced that Schoen is staying on to lead the search for a full-time successor to Daboll.

“We feel like Joe has assembled a good young nucleus of talent, and we look forward to its development,” said Mara. Unfortunately, the results over the past three years have not been what any of us want. We take full responsibility for those results and look forward to the kind of success our fans expect.”

The Giants’ official statement will be the last time they address the Daboll firing for now, Dan Duggan of The Athletic reports. They’re not planning to make ownership or Schoen available for interviews this week.

This isn’t the ending the Giants envisioned when the Schoen/Daboll reign began in promising fashion in 2022. The Giants went 9-7-1 and won a wild-card playoff game over the Vikings before losing to the Eagles in the divisional round. Daboll earned Coach of the Year honors.

New York has posted horrid results over the past two-plus years, but Mara and Tisch continue to hold Schoen in high regard, per Ralph Vacchiano of FOX Sports. Giants ownership is of the belief that Schoen has been a significant upgrade over predecessor Dave Gettleman, who was at the helm from 2018-21. The Giants stumbled to a 19-46 mark under Gettleman and failed to earn a playoff berth.

Although the team Schoen has assembled will miss the playoffs for the third year in a row, the Giants have enough talent to make their head coaching job a “coveted” opening, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com says. A new head coach stands to inherit first-round quarterback Jaxson Dart, No. 1 wide receiver Malik Nabers, co-NFL sacks leader Brian Burns, Abdul Carter, and Dexter Lawrence, among other enticing pieces.

While it could be a couple of months before the Giants name their next head coach, Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, former Raiders HC Antonio Pierce, and Colts DC Lou Anarumo are among names to watch, Rapoport relays.

Spagnuolo has won four Super Bowls as a coordinator, including one with the Giants under Tom Coughlin, but he finished an ugly 10-38 as the St. Louis Rams’ head coach from 2009-11. Spagnuolo then went 1-3 as the Giants’ interim head coach in 2017, briefly taking over after the firing of Ben McAdoo.

Pierce had a great run as a Giants linebacker from 2005-09, winning a title as part of a Spagnuolo-coached defense. Like Spagnuolo, though, Pierce’s initial experience as an NFL head coach didn’t go well. The Raiders dismissed Pierce last January after going 9-17 under him in parts of two seasons.

Anarumo is a Staten Island native who worked as the Giants’ defensive backs coach in 2018. His son currently serves as a pro scout in the organization, Vacchiano notes. Anarumo, then the Bengals’ D-coordinator, interviewed for the Giants’ head coaching job before it went to Daboll. The longtime assistant “left a strong impression” during that meeting, sources told Vacchiano. With Anarumo an important part of the Colts’ unexpected turnaround this year, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Giants or other teams in the market for a head coach speak with him in the coming months.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/10/25

Here are Monday’s practice squad moves from around the NFL:

Buffalo Bills

Cincinnati Bengals

  • Signed: LB Antwaun Powell-Ryland

Detroit Lions

  • Signed: DE Ahmed Hassanein

Tennessee Titans

In search of a wide receiver before the Nov. 4 trade deadline, the Bills reportedly made a substantial offer to the AFC East rival Dolphins for Jaylen Waddle. The Dolphins ended up keeping Waddle, though, and the Bills were unable to acquire any other receivers ahead of the deadline.

Still desperate for help at the position after a 30-13 loss to Waddle and the Dolphins in Week 10, the Bills are bringing in Hardman to join Gabe Davis as experienced options on their practice squad. Hardman had gone without a team since the Packers released him from their practice squad on Sept. 23.

Aside from a five-game run with the Jets in 2023, all of Hardman’s regular-season work in the NFL has come with the Chiefs. The 2019 second-round pick from Georgia has amassed 178 catches, 2,302 yards, and 16 touchdowns in 80 games. He made 12 appearances with the AFC champions last year and caught 12 of 14 targets for 90 yards.

Steelers Cut S Juan Thornhill

Continuing to make noteworthy changes at the safety position, the Steelers have cut Juan Thornhill, according to Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL.com. Thornhill will go through waivers. If no team claims him, he’ll become a free agent.

The Steelers have shaken things up at safety since starter DeShon Elliott suffered a serious knee injury in Week 8. Elliott is now on IR.

Shortly after losing Elliott, the Steelers acquired Kyle Dugger from the Patriots on Oct. 28. Dugger has since stepped into a starting role next to longtime cornerback Jalen Ramsey, who transitioned to free safety during a Week 9 win over the Colts.

With Dugger and Ramsey taking over at safety, Thornhill worked exclusively on special teams against Indianapolis and in Pittsburgh’s loss to the Chargers on Sunday. The 30-year-old started in one of nine games, logged a 48.5% snap share on defense, and totaled 38 tackles this season before the Steelers moved on from him.

After coming off the board in the second round of the 2019 draft, Thornhill divided his first six NFL seasons between Kansas City and Cleveland. He served as a full-time starter on two of the Chiefs’ Super Bowl-winning teams before spending two years with the Browns.

The Browns released Thornhill last offseason, leading him to the Steelers on a one-year, $3MM deal. Although his union with the Steelers didn’t work out, Thornhill – who has 75 career starts and eight interceptions – could be attractive to safety-needy clubs down the stretch. If a team claims him, it would take on the remainder of his league-minimum base salary.

With Thornhill on his way out, the Steelers claimed safety Sebastian Castro off waivers from the Buccaneers on Monday, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com relays. Castro signed with the Steelers as an undrafted rookie from Iowa in late April, but the Buccaneers plucked him off their practice squad on Sept. 30. He appeared in one game with the Bucs and totaled six snaps (all on special teams). Castro will join Chuck Clark and Jabrill Peppers among the Steelers’ depth options at safety.

Cardinals WR Zay Jones Suffers Torn Achilles

Cardinals wide receiver Zay Jones suffered a season-ending left Achilles tear in a 44-22 loss to the Seahawks on Sunday, head coach Jonathan Gannon announced (via Josh Weinfuss of ESPN). Jones, who’s expected to undergo surgery, will land on IR.

Jones sustained the injury during the second quarter of Sunday’s disastrous defeat to an NFC West rival. He finished the game with no catches and one target. The 30-year-old will wrap up the campaign with 12 receptions, 18 targets, and 183 yards. With Jones scheduled to hit the open market in the offseason, the timing and the severity of the injury are especially unfortunate.

Jones joined the Cardinals in free agency on a one-year, $2.25MM deal in May 2024. The agreement with Arizona came after the former East Carolina star and second-round pick divided his first seven NFL seasons among the Bills, Raiders, and Jaguars. During the best year of his career, 2022, he piled up 82 receptions for 823 yards and five touchdowns in Jacksonville.

Jones’ Cardinals tenure began inauspiciously last year with a five-game suspension for violating the league’s personal conduct policy. Although Jones caught a mere eight passes for 84 yards in 11 games after returning, the Cardinals brought him back on a one-year, $4.4MM contract last offseason. With Jones already done for the year in early November, the team will get little from that investment.

Jones currently ranks third among Cardinals WRs in catches, targets, and yards, trailing Marvin Harrison Jr. and Michael Wilson in those categories. Harrison, Wilson, and tight end Trey McBride will continue serving as quarterback Jacoby Brissett‘s top options as he fills in for injured starter Kyler Murray, who will miss at least three more games with a mid-foot sprain. Receivers Greg Dortch and Xavier Weaver could get more work as the Cardinals look to replace Jones’ output.

Minor NFL Transactions: 11/10/25

Here’s a look at Monday’s minor moves from around the NFL…

Cincinnati Bengals

Green Bay Packers

Los Angeles Rams

Tennessee Titans

The Titans will have 21 days to activate Brown and Mullings after opening their practice windows. Brown worked exclusively on special teams over four games before going on IR with a knee injury on Oct. 4. Mullings, a sixth-round rookie from Michigan, appeared in two games but didn’t record any offensive snaps before an ankle injury sent him to IR on Sept. 26.

Commanders DT Daron Payne Issued One-Game Suspension

5:47pm: Hearing officer Ramon Foster has upheld Payne’s suspension, according to NFL senior VP of football and international communications Michael Signora. Payne will not play in Week 11.

4:30pm: Payne will appeal his suspension, per ESPN’s John Keim. If he does not win the appeal, he will not be able to travel with the Commanders for their upcoming matchup in Madrid.

8:40am: During Sunday’s blowout loss, the Commanders experienced a lapse in discipline on a number of occasions. That included Daron Payne punching Lions wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown after a play.

Payne was ejected as a result, and further discipline has now been issued. The veteran defensive tackle has been issued a one-game suspension, as noted by NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. Payne will miss Washington’s Week 11 game against the Dolphins (pending a successful appeal) as a result.

The Commanders have dealt with a number of injuries on both sides of the ball during their ongoing five-game losing streak. Losing Payne will represent another blow on defense, as the eighth-year contributor has remained a full-time starter in 2025. Payne has spent his entire career in the nation’s capital, and he missed only one game during his first seven years in the NFL.

Due to this suspension – which, to no surprise falls under the unsportsmanlike conduct category – however, the 28-year-old will not be in place when the Commanders take on the Dolphins in Madrid. Washington’s bye will follow that contest, so Payne will not be in the lineup again until Week 13. A Commanders team which has lost each of its last four games by double digits will be thin along the defensive front until then.

Payne was retained in 2023 via the franchise tag before becoming one of several defensive tackles to sign a lucrative new deal. The former first-rounder is under contract through 2026 and he will be expected to remain a key figure during that campaign along with the closing stages of the current one when he returns. Payne earned his lone Pro Bowl nod in 2022 when he recorded 11.5 sacks. The Alabama product followed that up with back-to-back seasons of four sacks.

So far in 2025, Payne has only notched one sack but he is also responsible for a safety forced by Washington’s defense and has recorded five pass deflections. That production will be absent for one contest when the Commanders look to rebound on the scoreboard but also in terms of disciplined play.

Eagles Activate LB Nolan Smith From IR

The Eagles are getting a pass-rushing reinforcement back ahead of a Monday night showdown with the Packers. The team has activated edge rusher Nolan Smith from IR, per Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer. Smith is returning less than a week after Philadelphia opened his 21-day practice window.

The Eagles have gotten off to a 6-2 start despite limited contributions from Smith, who has been out since suffering a strained triceps in Week 3. Smith started in his first three appearances this year and logged 10 tackles.

After working in a reserve role as a rookie, the 2023 first-round pick from Georgia broke through last season with 42 tackles and 6.5 sacks in 16 games (10 starts). Smith performed even better during the Eagles’ four-game playoff run, notching 16 tackles and four sacks to help the team to a championship. However, he tore his triceps in the Eagles’ 40-22 Super Bowl LIX win over the Chiefs and had to undergo surgery.

Fortunately for Smith and the Eagles, the 24-year-old’s latest triceps injury wasn’t as severe as the one he suffered last February. He’ll now return to a pass-rushing group that has undergone a makeover during the past couple of weeks. The Eagles brought franchise icon Brandon Graham out of retirement in late October. Not content to stop there, general manager Howie Roseman acquired Jaelan Phillips from the Dolphins for a third-round pick before last Tuesday’s trade deadline.

The Smith-Graham-Phillips trio will play together for the first time Monday in a potential playoff preview against the 5-2-1 Packers. They’ll join Jalyx Hunt and Joshua Uche as the Eagles’ main edge options.

Along with activating Smith, the Eagles elevated outside linebacker Patrick Johnson from their practice squad on Monday. Johnson has played in seven games this year and picked up one sack. With 136 special teams snaps this season, he ranks fifth on the team.

Jets WR Garrett Wilson To Miss 3-4 Weeks With Knee Sprain

Jets receiver Garrett Wilson returned from a two-game absence on Sunday only go suffer an injury to the same knee that sidelined him for the team’s previous two games.

Wilson is dealing with a knee sprain that will keep him out for another three to four weeks, per ESPN’s Rich Cimini. He will not require surgery and will instead spend the time rehabbing in the hopes of a strong return for the last few weeks of the season. The Jets air attack that has run through Wilson this year, so the 25-year-old’s absence will be a major, if not fatal, blow to their already-struggling offense.

Despite missing two-and-a-half games, Wilson is the Jets’ leading receiver by a wide margin. He has commanded a 25% target share and produced 22.9% of the team’s receptions (59) and 25.9% of their receiving yards (395). The rest of the receiving room has combined for just 39 catches and 418 yards.

The Jets insisted that wide receiver Adonai Mitchell be part of the Sauce Gardner trade, and the former Colts wideout could quickly see a huge role in his new home after Wilson’s latest injury. He was inactive on Sunday, but the Jets will try to integrate him into the offense this week.

Rookie tight end Mason Taylor, the Jets’ second leading receiver with 30 receptions and 246 yards, will likely see an uptick in targets, too. Offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand will likely lean on a rushing attack that ranks fourth in the NFL with 5.0 yards per carry and 1,276 rushing yards on the season.

The Jets recorded their first two wins of the season in the last two weeks, but their 0-7 start will make it nearly impossible for them to make the playoffs. Wilson could return in Week 14 at the earliest, based on this initial timeline, but the Jets may consider shutting him down for the season. Even if they win their next three games without Wilson – which come against the Patriots, Ravens, and Falcons – they may still want to take a cautious approach with their star wideout. They signed him to a $130MM extension in July and made him untouchable at the trade deadline despite moving star players at other premium positions. He has hurt the same knee twice, raising the chance for re-injury before the end of the season, and a significant injury could have an impact on the 2026 season.

Broncos LB Alex Singleton Recovering From Testicular Cancer Surgery

Alex Singleton announced to his teammates today that he recently underwent surgery for testicular cancer. The veteran linebacker will be absent from the Broncos for the time being but offered an encouraging statement on his status.

“I shared with my teammates and coaches that I underwent successful surgery on Friday for testicular cancer after being diagnosed last week,” Singleton posted on X“Thankfully, we believe the cancer was caught early… While we are still awaiting some test results, I fully expect to return to the field in the coming weeks.”

Singleton was selected for random drug testing by the NFL recently. His results indicated the presence of the hormone hcG, which prompted the seventh-year veteran to consult a urologist. The diagnosis was confirmed shortly thereafter. Singleton still managed to play in the Broncos’ Week 10 game on Thursday night; his surgery took place the following day.

The 31-year-old confirmed (via Parker Gabriel of the Denver Post) he will miss at least this week’s matchup with the Chiefs. Singleton is hopeful he will be back in action relatively soon, though. Provided that takes place, his return will give the Broncos’ elite defense a boost.

Singleton has been a core part of a unit that ranks third in both points allowed and total defense. His 89 tackles lead the Broncos and rank fifth in the NFL, putting him on pace for similar production as his stellar 2022 and 2023 seasons. Those were his first two years in Denver; his third was cut short by a torn ACL in Week 3, though Singleton played the whole game despite suffering the injury in the first quarter.

Singleton’s professional career technically started in the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2015, but he never rose above the practice squad as a rookie. Instead, he made his name in the Canadian Football League with the Calgary Stampeders, earning a Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award in 2017, a Grey Cup championship in 2018, and a CFL All-Star nod in each year. That drew him plenty of NFL interest, and Singleton opted to join the Eagles in 2019. He played for three years in Philadelphia, starting out as a special teams contributor and quickly growing into their starting No. 2 linebacker.

Hopefully, Singleton can quickly put this health scare behind him and return to leading the Broncos defense as they look to continue their excellent start and make a deep playoff run.

Nikhil Mehta contributed to this story.