Ravens To Add Joe Lombardi To Staff
Joe Lombardi was fired one week ago in a move which ended his tenure with the Broncos. That paved the way for in-demand quarterbacks coach Davis Webb to be promoted as Denver’s new offensive coordinator. 
Lombardi has not needed to wait long to line up a new opportunity, however. The Ravens are hiring him as a senior offensive assistant, Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic reports. This will allow for a reunion between Lombardi and new Baltimore OC Declan Doyle.
The pair worked together under Sean Payton in both New Orleans and Denver. In both cases, offensive coordinator gigs elsewhere in the NFL came about based on their work with Payton. Lombardi has been an OC with the Lions and Chargers during his career; both of those jobs were preceded by stints as the Saints’ quarterbacks coach. The 54-year-old reunited with Payton for 2023 and remained Denver’s offensive coordinator for three years.
Doyle’s first OC opportunity came about during last year’s hiring cycle. He was a member of Ben Johnson‘s Bears staff, but that role did not include play-calling responsibilities. The opportunity to call plays for the first time in his career was a key factor in Doyle, 29, deciding to leave Chicago and come to Baltimore. There is of course risk in having an inexperienced offensive coordinator paired with a rookie head coach in the form of Jesse Minter. Having Lombardi in place as a veteran presence on staff could be prove to be beneficial.
The Ravens posted strong offensive numbers during Todd Monken‘s first two years as the team’s offensive coordinator. Baltimore experienced a regression in 2025, a season in which quarterback Lamar Jackson spent much of the time sidelined through injury or playing through a series of nagging ailments. The Ravens will obviously look for better luck on the health front moving forward, but improved efficiency in the passing game in particular would go a long way in allowing for a return to the playoffs in 2026.
For Lombardi, a strong showing during his third stint partnering with Doyle would help his future coordinator stock. Minter, meanwhile, will continue the process of building his initial Baltimore staff with a number of key hires already taken care of.
Scott Tolzien, Chase Haslett To Remain On Saints’ Staff
Scott Tolzien and Chase Haslett have both received interest from the Steelers as Mike McCarthy pieces together his staff. In each case, though, a departure from the Saints will not be taking place. 
Tolzien has chosen to stay in New Orleans, NFL insider Jordan Schultz reports. Pittsburgh conducted an offensive coordinator interview with him yesterday, and Schultz notes Tolzien was considered a “top candidate” for the Pittsburgh job. Instead, Tolzien will carry on in his role as quarterbacks coach for New Orleans in 2026.
Schultz reported on Monday that Haslett interviewed with the Steelers for the role of pass-game coordinator and tight ends coach. A hire on that front would have allowed for a reunion with McCarthy. Haslett’s first coaching opportunity in the NFL came under McCarthy with the Cowboys. After five years on McCarthy’s Dallas staff, Haslett joined the Saints as their TEs coach. Per Schultz, the 33-year-old has joined Tolzien in deciding to remain in place for now.
New Orleans underwent a number of changes on the sidelines last offseason, something which is of course commonplace when new head coaches arrive. Kellen Moore took on HC duties for the first time, and he led the Saints to a 6-11 record. Momentum was built toward the end of the campaign with rookie quarterback Tyler Shough delivering a number of encouraging performances. Shough is now positioned for a full season atop the depth chart, and continued development on his part would boost Tolzien’s coaching stock.
Taysom Hill may have played his final game with the Saints, while Foster Moreau is a pending free agent. The tight end position could look much different in 2026 for New Orleans as a result. Haslett will play a key role on Moore’s staff regardless of how things shake out at the tight spot next year.
NFL Will Return To Mexico City In 2026
Early on Monday, league announcements stated the NFL reached an agreement to continue staging games in Madrid in 2026 and beyond. Next season will also see the league’s first ever contest played in Paris. 
At that point, there were eight overseas games slated to take place during the 2026 season. When speaking to reporters during Super Bowl media day, though, commissioner Roger Goodell announced a return to Mexico City will also take place next season. That confirms nine contests will be played outside the United States during the 2026 campaign as the league’s exploration and cultivation of foreign markets continues.
The Estadio Azteca has recently been undergoing renovations in preparation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. It last hosted an NFL game in 2022, but a return in December of this year will be taking place. An NFL statement later revealed the league will continue staging games in Mexico City during the 2027 and 2028 seasons as well as part of a new agreement which has been reached.
Goodell also confirmed (via Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated) the NFL’s intention is to play 16 international games per year in the future. In the likely event the regular season is expanded from 17 games to 18 relatively soon, an arrangement which sees every team play one contest outside the United States annually is expected to be made. For now, the 2026 campaign is set to include an increase in overseas games compared to the seven which took place this past season.
London will once again host three regular season games next year, while Munich and Rio de Janeiro will each serve as the location of one contest. In addition to a Madrid return and a Paris debut, the league will also stage a game in Melbourne for the first time in 2026. It is already known the Rams will be involved in the inaugural Australia contest, while the Saints be making the trip to Paris. It has yet to be announced which teams will participate in the NFL’s return to Mexico City.
Rams Extend Sean McVay, Les Snead
The Rams will move forward with their Sean McVay-Les Snead partnership for the foreseeable future. Los Angeles announced on Monday the team’s head coach and general manager have each signed an extension. 
McVay’s future has been a talking point during recent years with the possibility of a pause from coaching being floated on multiple occasions. Despite recently during 40, he is already a veteran of nine years as an NFL head coach. That stretch has brought about plenty of success for the Rams, and expectations will remain high moving forward.
Snead has been in place since 2012. Each of his first five years in the role of GM produced a losing record, but the McVay hire proved to be a turning point. The Rams have finished above .500 all but once since 2017. During that stretch, they have also reached a pair of Super Bowls, winning one. The highly effective tandem will, to no surprise, remain intact for years to come.
Details on both deals were not disclosed. Nevertheless, Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic reports the joint extensions have the same length. Given the success both McVay and Snead have enjoyed, their respective job securities are certainly not in doubt. Both can be expected to remain in place until they wish to depart the organization.
“As we enter their 10th season together, it is only fitting to reflect on the tremendous success Sean and Les have brought to this franchise, and the indelible impact they have made on Los Angeles and the NFL,” a statement from owner Stan Kroenke reads in part. “They continue to embody the standard of this franchise to compete for championships, consistently delivering a product that our fans and city can be proud of… We are thrilled they will be leading the Los Angeles Rams for years to come.”
Snead’s most recent extension came in September 2022. The 55-year-old worked his way through the scouting ranks early in his NFL career before leading the Falcons’ player personnel department from 2009-11. Snead was then hired as the Rams’ GM, and he is now the league’s sixth-longest tenured staffer in that position. He is in line to continue climbing the list in that regard.
McVay has cemented his status as one of the league’s top offensive minds over the course of his HC tenure. The Rams have posted double digit wins seven times under McVay, who has helped develop several members of his staff on their way to head coaching gigs of their own. The latest example in that regard is Mike LaFleur, who parlayed his OC tenure in Los Angeles into the Cardinals’ head coaching position. With his latest contract now worked out, McVay’s attention will turn to finding a LaFleur replacement.
The Rams were seen by many as a serious Super Bowl contender throughout the 2025 campaign, one which yielded a 12-5 record. Los Angeles edged Carolina on the road in the wild-card round before winning in overtime in Chicago one week later. That set up a rematch with the division rival Seahawks in the NFC title game. Seattle secured a 31-27 victory, ending the Rams’ season. The team has not waited long to make a new commitment to its HC-GM pair.
McVay and Snead have combined to win 102 regular season and playoff games during their time together. That total is second to only Andy Reid and Brett Veach (Chiefs) for active head coach-general manager tandems. Adding further to that total will be the expectation for all involved moving forward.
For now, the future of quarterback Matthew Stafford is unclear. The MVP finalist has not yet decided if he will continue playing in 2026, and losing him to retirement would of course deal a blow to Los Angeles’ offense. In any case, McVay will continue operating on the sidelines with Snead remaining in place in the front office as the Rams look to go one step further next season.
Broncos Promote Davis Webb To OC
The Broncos have taken the expected route regarding their offensive coordinator position. Davis Webb has been promoted to the role, per a team announcement. 
Denver also announced on Monday that offensive quality control coach Logan Kilgore has been promoted to quarterbacks coach. Webb previously held that role, and his success resulted in widespread head coaching and coordinator interest around the league. To prevent a departure, the Broncos created an OC opening recently by firing Joe Lombardi.
Since that time, many have expected Webb to be promoted as Lombardi’s replacement. A formal interview took place yesterday, paving the way for Monday’s news. Attention will now turn to the matter of play-calling duties. Head coach Sean Payton has called plays for each of his three years in Denver, but ceding those responsibilities to Webb may have been necessary to keep him in the building.
At the age of 31, Webb is less experienced than many of the staffers who received interviews during this year’s hiring cycle. The former NFL QB has nevertheless seen his stock rise sharply over the course of his Broncos tenure, which began in 2023 as part of Payton’s first Denver staff. Webb worked as the team’s quarterbacks coach since arriving, and in 2025 he had pass-game coordinator added to his title.
During the early portion of this year’s hiring cycle, the Ravens and Bills interviewed Webb for their head coaching vacancies. A follow-up with the Raiders also took place in his case, but he withdrew from consideration. Shortly thereafter, Vegas reached an agreement with Klint Kubiak to become the team’s new head coach.
On the coordinator front, Webb was the subject of interview requests from the Ravens, Giants and Eagles for their OC openings. The vacancies in Baltimore and Philadelphia have been filled, but New York is still in search of a new coordinator to pair with John Harbaugh. Webb represented a potential target with Todd Monken landing the Browns’ HC gig, but that is no longer the case.
Webb has played a leading role in Bo Nix‘s development. The 2024 Offensive Rookie of the Year finalist did not make a major jump in terms of statistical output in his second season, but he was of course a key reason why Denver secured the No. 1 seed in the AFC. Nix’s absence was certainly felt during the Broncos’ loss in the conference championship game. Provided his recovery from ankle surgery goes as planned, Nix will be fully healed in time for offseason work. That period will be critical, as it will mark the first series of spring and summer practices with Webb in place as OC.
Kilgore also joined the Broncos as part of Payton’s initial staff in 2023. He served as a quality control coach for three years, spending time in particular with Denver’s tight ends and returners along the way. Kilgore will now step into an elevated role as Webb’s successor, but Payton will have a number of familiar faces on his staff for next season.
Titans To Hire Gus Bradley As DC
Known to be an interested party with respect to Gus Bradley, the Titans are indeed bringing him aboard. Tennessee is hiring Bradley for the role of defensive coordinator, as first reported by NFL insider Jordan Schultz. 
The 49ers assistant saw Raheem Morris brought in as San Francisco’s new defensive coordinator yesterday. That move opened the door to a departure on Bradley’s part. The Titans and Cardinals emerged as potential destinations in short order. As such, today’s news come as little surprise.
Robert Saleh returned to the 49ers as their defensive coordinator last year. Following one season in that familiar role, the ex-Jets head coach managed to land a new HC gig with Tennessee. Bradley loomed as a candidate to be promoted as Saleh’s replacement in San Francisco. Instead, he will now follow Saleh to Nashville.
Saleh will call plays on defense, a departure from his approach during his time in New York. Bradley’s newest DC gig will still see him handle a key role on staff, though, and he will represent another experienced voice in Tennessee. Brian Daboll is in place as the Titans’ offensive coordinator, and Saleh’s staff also includes longtime special teams coordinator John Fassel. Tennessee prioritized veteran coaches in the team’s HC search, and several of them are now in the fold.
Bradley has worked as a defensive coordinator with the Seahawks, Chargers, Raiders and Colts over the course of his lengthy NFL career. The 59-year-old also served as the head coach in Jacksonville from 2013-16. His record on that front has not yielded a second HC opportunity, but Bradley remains a well-regarded defensive mind around the league. He spent 2025 with the title of assistant head coach/defense in San Francisco.
The Titans saw Dennard Wilson depart last month when he took the defensive coordinator position on John Harbaugh‘s staff. Tennessee ranked second in the NFL in total defense during Wilson’s first year in place, but the team regressed in 2025 in a number of areas. Improvement across the board will be sought out with Saleh and now Bradley in place.
Via PFR’s Coordinator Search Tracker, here is a final look at how Tennessee landed on Bradley for the defensive coordinator position:
- Gus Bradley, assistant head coach (49ers): Hired
- Aaron Whitecotton, defensive line coach (Cowboys): Interview requested; hired as DL coach
- Al Harris, defensive backs coach (Bears): Interviewed 1/24
- Mike Rutenberg, defensive pass-game coordinator (Falcons): Interview requested
- Dino Vasso, defensive backs coach (Texans): Interviewed 1/24
Ravens To Hire Anthony Weaver As DC
With Jeff Hafley bringing in a new defensive coordinator yesterday, Anthony Weaver found himself in need of a new opportunity. The latter will return to a familiar spot for the 2026 season. 
Weaver is being hired by the Ravens as their new defensive coordinator, as first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Weaver worked as the Dolphins’ DC for the past two seasons. That spell was preceded by a stint on Baltimore’s coaching staff.
From 2021-23, Weaver served as Baltimore’s defensive line coach. He also held the title of associate head coach during his final two years there, an indication of how well-regarded he is by the organization. The former defensive end also played his first four NFL seasons as a Raven, adding further to his familiarity in this case.
Weaver has previously worked as a D-coordinator with the Texans (2020). The 45-year-old has also drawn head coaching interest on a number of occasions during recent hiring cycles. The Ravens were among the teams to speak with Weaver twice before ultimately hiring Jesse Minter as their new HC. Minter has indicated he will call plays on defense in 2026, but this Weaver agreement marks a notable addition to his coaching staff nevertheless. Minter was previously a Baltimore staffer as well, but he and Weaver have never worked together.
The Dolphins ranked fourth in yards allowed and 10th in scoring defense during Weaver’s first season as defensive coordinator. Miami regressed in a number of areas in 2025, finishing near the bottom of the NFL in several categories. That did little to hurt Weaver’s stock in general or his value to the Ravens in particular, however. It comes as little surprise he has quickly lined up a Baltimore reunion late in the hiring cycle.
On Sunday, Hafley continued the Green Bay-to-Miami theme of the offseason by hiring Sean Duggan as defensive coordinator. That was an expected move given the many occasions on which both staffers have worked together. It confirmed, though, that Weaver would be headed elsewhere. In short order, a Ravens reunion has been arranged. Baltimore has a long track record of tapping familiar candidates for the D-coordinator gig, and this hire is no exception.
Internal promotions are commonplace in the case of the Ravens when it comes to this position. Weaver’s return is of course slightly different, but he fits the bill of a staffer highly familiar with the organization. Zach Orr was promoted in 2024 to serve as Mike Macdonald‘s replacement. His first season leading the team’s defense ended on a high note, but things did not go according to plan in 2025. Before the news of a new coordinator arriving, Orr was already heavily linked to the Cowboys; he is expected to be hired as Dallas’ linebackers coach. Weaver will look to help lead a defensive rebound compared to Orr’s showing from this past season.
Minter recently brought in Declan Doyle as Baltimore’s new offensive coordinator. A number of other staffing changes have taken place, and there is more work to be done on that front. Attention will now turn to the Ravens’ special teams coordinator vacancy.
Rams Expect To Retain WR Davante Adams For 2026
As part of the Rams’ roster moves at the receiver spot last offseason, Davante Adams was added via free agency. His two-year pact was structured in a way which left Los Angeles an out during the 2026 offseason. 
The Rams are currently set to have Adams carry a $28MM cap charge for next season. The team could create $20MM in savings with a trade, while a release carrying a post-June 1 designation would free up $18MM. Neither route should be expected, however. Head coach Sean McVay said on Monday (via ESPN’s Sarah Barshop) he has “no reason to believe” Adams will not be retained for 2026.
[RELATED: Rams Extend McVay, GM Les Snead]
The former Packer, Raider and Jet arrived with the Rams tasked with providing a veteran presence following the release of Cooper Kupp. Adams was limited to 14 games during the regular season due to a hamstring injury, but he was a key figure on the NFL’s No. 1 scoring offense. The 33-year-old totaled a league-leading 14 touchdowns while adding 789 yards on 60 catches. Adams managed to return to the lineup in time for the playoffs, posting a statline of 11-185-1.
Puka Nacua is eligible for an extension this offseason, and he will no doubt become one of the league’s highest-paid wideouts once his new deal is in place. That will need to be taken into consideration as the Rams contemplate the Adams situation. The six-time Pro Bowler is owed $24MM next season; $6MM of that figure will be paid out as a roster bonus in mid-March. Any efforts to work out a restructure or extension will take place before that point.
Tutu Atwell remained in place with the Rams by signing a one-year, $10MM deal last offseason. He once again faces the possibility of departing via free agency this spring, although there will not be a strong market in Atwell’s case after he made just six catches in 2025. Los Angeles is currently projected to be among the league leaders in cap space this offseason. That should help accommodate Adams’ jump in cap hit along with any potential Nacua raise if one is to be finalized this spring.
Adams has played 12 seasons in the NFL, with most of them seeing him play alongside Aaron Rodgers. Another reunion with the four-time MVP would come as a surprise at this point, but a second campaign partnered with Matthew Stafford would allow Adams to remain a productive contributor.
Cowboys, WR George Pickens Have Not Held Contract Talks
George Pickens enjoyed a highly productive debut season with the Cowboys. He is on track for free agency at the moment, although the franchise tag looms as an option for Dallas to prevent a departure. 
The alternative of a long-term contract remains one the team has shown interest in. As things currently stand, however, there is considerable progress still to be made on the negotiation front. Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News confirms no contract talks have taken place yet with Pickens’ camp.
Acquired via trade from the Steelers last offseason, Pickens quickly made it clear he was comfortable playing out the 2025 season without an extension in hand. As Watkins notes, a second contract averaging at least $30MM annually was the target before the start of the campaign. Pickens certainly helped his earning potential by setting new career highs in several categories.
The former second-rounder finished eighth in the NFL in receptions (93), third in yards (1,429) and tied for fourth in touchdowns (nine). Pickens will thus have a very strong case for joining the $30MM-per-year club at the WR position. There are currently nine receiver contracts with an average annual value at or above that figure; Ja’Marr Chase‘s Bengals extension tops the market at $40.25MM per season. He and Justin Jefferson (Vikings) are the only two wideouts whose contracts contained more guarantees at signing than the Cowboys’ CeeDee Lamb commitment.
The investment made in Lamb (four years, $136MM) in the summer of 2024 obviously represents a challenge for the Cowboys as they plan out future spending on offense. Having Lamb and quarterback Dak Prescott on the books for years to come is something which must be weighed by Dallas. The team enjoyed a strong showing from running back Javonte Williams, and to little surprise a new Cowboys pact will be sought out in his case prior to free agency. Talks with Williams have taken place.
Pickens is represented by Athletes First, the agency led by David Mulugheta which also has Micah Parsons as a client. Direct negotiations between Parsons and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones did not yield the desired results last offseason, but Jones expects to speak directly with Pickens this spring. It will be interesting to see how that plays out once negotiations begin.
The franchise tag for receivers is projected to cost roughly $28.82MM next season. Teams have until March 3 to apply the tag. That comes just before the onset of free agency and the start of the new league year. Before that point, updates on the Pickens situation will be worth watching for closely.
NFL To Continue Playing Games In Madrid; Paris Debut Coming In 2026
10:30am: Announcements from the league and the Saints have since confirmed the report. New Orleans will indeed play in the NFL’s first ever Paris game during the 2026 season.
9:02am: The NFL played its first ever game in Madrid this season. The league will continue to visit the Spanish capital in 2026 and beyond. 
A multi-year partnership has been reached which will see the NFL stage regular-season contests at the Bernabéu Stadium, per a league announcement on Monday. Games will continue to be played at the home stadium for Real Madrid, as this year’s Dolphins-Commanders matchup was in November. The iconic venue will host another game in 2026, adding further to the list of international markets confirmed for next year.
The NFL will once again play three games in London during the 2026 season. Munich and Rio de Janeiro will each be the site of one contest, and the league will also make its debut in Melbourne. Continued international expansion has long been known as a major goal for the NFL, with a growing list of markets serving as hosts for games and global investments being made in the development of flag football. Expansion to an 18-game regular season is expected to be accompanied by a setup which sees all 32 teams play overseas once per year.
The Dolphins are among the teams which hold international marketing rights in Spain, which made them a logical choice to take part in the debut Madrid contest. The Eagles and Bears also hold rights there, so it would come as no surprise if one of them were to make the trip to Spain in 2026. It is already known the Rams will be participating in the Melbourne game next season.
The NFL is regularly exploring new markets, and Paris has long been on the league’s radar. A regular-season game being played there as early as 2026 was raised as a possibility in November, and it appears as though that will indeed be the case. A weekend report from RMC Sport indicates the Saints and Browns are set to play against each other at the Stade de France in October of next season. Nothing has been confirmed by the NFL at this point, however.
New Orleans is the NFL’s only team which currently has marketing rights in France. That makes the Saints an obvious candidate to participate in the league’s Paris debut. An announcement confirming their inclusion in the 2026 international series will be something to watch for this offseason.
