Antwaan Randle El

2024 Offensive/Defensive Coordinator Search Tracker

After a crowded carousel previously stopped, the 49ers opened their defensive coordinator position. Here is how the NFC champions’ search looks:

Updated 3-2-24 (10:00am CT)

Offensive Coordinators

Atlanta Falcons (Out: Dave Ragone)

Buffalo Bills (Out: Ken Dorsey)

  • Joe Brady, interim offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach (Bills): Hired
  • Thad Lewis, quarterbacks coach (Buccaneers): Interviewed

Carolina Panthers (Out: Thomas Brown)

  • Marcus Brady, senior offensive assistant (Eagles): Interview requested
  • Brad Idzik, wide receivers coach (Buccaneers): Hired

Chicago Bears (Out: Luke Getsy)

Cincinnati Bengals (Out: Brian Callahan)

  • Andy Dickerson, offensive line coach (Seahawks): To interview
  • Dan Pitcher, quarterbacks coach (Bengals): Promoted

Cleveland Browns (Out: Alex Van Pelt)

Las Vegas Raiders (Out: Mick Lombardi)

Los Angeles Chargers (Out: Kellen Moore)

New England Patriots (Out: Bill O’Brien)

New Orleans Saints (Out: Pete Carmichael)

Philadelphia Eagles (Out: Brian Johnson)

  • Jerrod Johnson, quarterbacks coach (Texans): Interviewed
  • Kliff Kingsbury, senior offensive analyst (USC): Interviewed 1/23
  • Kellen Moore, offensive coordinator (Chargers): Hired

Pittsburgh Steelers (Out: Matt Canada)

Seattle Seahawks (Out: Shane Waldron)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Out: Dave Canales)

Tennessee Titans (Out: Tim Kelly)

  • Nick Holz, passing game coordinator (Jaguars): Hired
  • Thad Lewis, quarterbacks coach (Buccaneers): Interviewed
  • Eric Studesville, associate head coach/running backs coach (Dolphins): Interview requested

Washington Commanders (Out: Eric Bieniemy)

  • Chip Kelly, former head coach (Eagles/49ers): On team’s radar
  • Kliff Kingsbury, senior offensive analyst (USC): Hired

Defensive Coordinators

Atlanta Falcons (Out: Ryan Nielsen)

Baltimore Ravens (Out: Mike Macdonald)

  • Zach Orr, inside linebackers coach (Ravens): Promoted

Buffalo Bills

  • Bobby Babich, linebackers coach (Bills): Promoted
  • Mike Caldwell, former defensive coordinator (Jaguars): Interviewed
  • Sean Desai, former defensive coordinator (Eagles): To interview

Chicago Bears (Out: Alan Williams)

  • Joe Barry, former defensive coordinator (Packers): To interview 1/27
  • Chris Harris, secondary coach (Titans): To interview
  • Eric Washington, assistant head coach/defensive line coach (Bills): Hired
  • Terrell Williams, assistant head coach/defensive line coach (Titans): To interview

Dallas Cowboys (Out: Dan Quinn)

Green Bay Packers (Out: Joe Barry)

Jacksonville Jaguars (Out: Mike Caldwell)

Los Angeles Chargers (Out: Derrick Ansley)

  • Jesse Minter, defensive coordinator (Michigan): Hired

Los Angeles Rams (Out: Raheem Morris)

Miami Dolphins (Out: Vic Fangio)

New England Patriots

  • DeMarcus Covington, defensive line coach (Patriots): Promoted
  • Michael Hodges, linebackers coach (Saints): To interview
  • Tem Lukabu, outside linebackers coach (Panthers): To interview
  • Christian Parker, defensive backs coach (Broncos): Interviewed

New York Giants (Out: Don Martindale)

Philadelphia Eagles (Out: Sean Desai)

  • Mike Caldwell, former defensive coordinator (Jaguars): Interviewed
  • Vic Fangio, former defensive coordinator (Dolphins): Hired
  • Ron Rivera, former head coach (Commanders): Interviewed 1/22

San Francisco 49ers (Out: Steve Wilks)

  • Gerald Alexander, safeties coach (Raiders): Interviewed 3/1
  • Daniel Bullocks, defensive backs coach (49ers): Interviewed 2/28
  • David Merritt, defensive backs coach (Chiefs): To interview
  • Nick Sorensen, defensive passing game specialist (49ers): Promoted
  • Brandon Staley, former head coach (Chargers): Interviewed

Seattle Seahawks (Out: Clint Hurtt)

Tennessee Titans (Out: Shane Bowen)

  • Brandon Lynch, cornerbacks coach (Browns): Interviewed 1/30
  • Dennard Wilson, defensive backs coach (Ravens): Hired

Washington Commanders (Out: Jack Del Rio)

  • Joe Cullen, defensive line coach (Chiefs): Considered a candidate
  • Joe Whitt, defensive backs coach (Cowboys): Hired

Bucs Interested In Jerrod Johnson, Antwaan Randle El For OC

We can add two more names to the Buccaneers’ list of candidates to replace offensive coordinator Dave Canales, who parlayed a strong showing in his one year as Tampa Bay’s OC into a head coaching gig with the division-rival Panthers. Per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, the Bucs either have interviewed, or have requested an interview with, Texans quarterbacks coach Jerrod Johnson, and they have requested an interview with Lions wide receivers coach Antwaan Randle El.

Johnson, 35, is a popular name in this year’s hiring cycle and has already interviewed with the Browns, Saints, Eagles, and Steelers for their vacant OC positions (Philadelphia went in a different direction, however, as they hired Kellen Moore yesterday). An offensive quality control coach for the Colts from 2020-21, Johnson joined the Vikings as assistant quarterbacks coach in 2022 and took his current position with Houston when DeMeco Ryans was named the Texans’ HC last year.

Of course, Johnson’s work with C.J. Stroud is driving the interest from rival clubs. As a rookie, Stroud led the league in passing yards per game and interception rate while finishing sixth in quarterback rating. That production, along with Stroud’s excellent performance in a wild-card round victory over the Browns earlier this month, raised Johnson’s stock considerably. He took a second interview with New Orleans yesterday, so if Tampa Bay wants him, it may need to act quickly.

Meanwhile, it appears that this is the first time we are hearing Randle El’s name in connection with an OC post. The former college quarterback entered the NFL as a wide receiver and served as an auxiliary target and return man for Pittsburgh and Washington over his nine-year playing career (he earned a Super Bowl ring as a member of the Steelers in 2005 and caught 12 passes for 119 yards and a touchdown during the team’s four-game run in that postseason).

Now 44, Randle El began his coaching career with the Bucs as an offensive assistant in 2019 and accepted his current post with the Lions in 2021. While Detroit offensive coordinator Ben Johnson has understandably drawn rave reviews for his work in the Motor City — which is likely to earn him an HC job of his own in the very near future — Randle El has coaxed strong production out of the Lions’ complementary wideouts and has overseen the evolution of 2021 fourth-rounder Amon-Ra St. Brown. St. Brown earned a Pro Bowl nod in 2022 and firmly established himself as one of the league’s top receivers in 2023, piling up 119 receptions for 1,515 yards and 10 TDs en route to a First Team All-Pro selection.

The Bucs will have to wait to interview Randle El until the Lions’ season is over. Detroit takes on the 49ers in today’s NFC Championship game, and assuming Ben Johnson lands one of the remaining HC posts — the Seahawks and Commanders are now the only two clubs with vacancies — Randle El would be an obvious candidate to fill his shoes with the Lions.

Lions To Add Antwaan Randle El To Staff

Antwaan Randle El made his initial foray into NFL coaching with the Buccaneers, and the former wide receiver will collect a Super Bowl ring for his role on Bruce Arians‘ staff. He will also land another opportunity.

The former Steelers and Washington wideout will join Dan Campbell‘s staff as Lions receivers coach, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets. Randle El, 41, spent two seasons as a Bucs offensive assistant after previously coaching high school basketball in Virginia.

Randle El will join a Lions staff that houses longtime NFLers Campbell, OC Anthony Lynn, DC Aaron Glenn, QBs coach Mark Brunell and running backs coach Duce Staley. This will be Randle El’s first NFL position coaching gig.

A standout quarterback at Indiana, Randle El spent his first four NFL seasons with the Steelers. His signature NFL moment took place in Detroit. Randle El threw a pinpoint 43-yard touchdown pass to Hines Ward in the Steelers’ victory over the Seahawks in Super Bowl XL. After four seasons in Washington, Randle El returned to Pittsburgh and closed out his career on a Steelers team that journeyed to Super Bowl XLV.