Bears To Hire Eric Bieniemy
Eric Bieniemy is set to return to the NFL. The Bears are hiring him as their running backs coach, as first reported by CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones. 
Bieniemy was out of the NFL in 2024, working as UCLA’s offensive coordinator. He and the team parted ways after a single season (in which the team’s offense did not produce as expected), however, opening the door for another opportunity in the pro ranks. Indeed, it became clear in December Bieniemy was aiming for an NFL gig during the 2025 hiring cycle.
Since then, it has been learned the 55-year-old interviewed with the Patriots for their offensive coordinator gig. Interest from other teams was expected, and now the Bears are set to proceed with a hire. This will be Bieniemy’s first position other than OC since 2017, dating back to his time with the Chiefs.
After a five-year stint in that role, Bieniemy took on offensive coordinator duties in Kansas City. Although he did not call plays during that time, his work as OC drew praise with the team ranking between first and sixth in scoring each of the five seasons he was in that role. In 2023, Bieniemy took the Commanders’ coordinator gig (one which included play-calling duties) but his Sam Howell-led unit did not post strong numbers. Only one year removed from that showing, though, he has rebounded with a notable role on Ben Johnson‘s staff.
Johnson and Bieniemy have not worked together in the past, but the latter represents another experienced addition to the former’s initial Chicago staff. Former Jaguars OC Press Taylor will work as the Bears’ pass-game coordinator, giving them another veteran coach who has called plays in the past. First-time offensive coordinator Declan Doyle, along with Johnson (who will call plays) will have another experienced staffer to lean on in 2025.
In other Bears coaching news, Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times reports tight ends coach Jim Dray will be retained. As expected, several members of the previous staff – including interim head coach and defensive coordinator Eric Washington – were not kept in place upon Johnson’s arrival as head coach. With Dray sticking around, however, he will spent at least one season as part of Chicago’s new-look staff. The 38-year-old has been with the Bears since 2022.
Raiders Interview Jerrod Johnson; Darrell Bevell Seen As OC Frontrunner
This week has seen many coordinator dominoes fall around the NFL. The Raiders are among the teams still in need of an OC hire, though, and their search on that front continues. 
[RELATED: Raiders Retain Patrick Graham As DC]
Vegas has interviewed Jerrod Johnson for the offensive coordinator vacancy, Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports reports. That marks the third opening Houston’s quarterbacks coach has been connected to for this year’s hiring cycle. The meeting represents the fourth time a candidate has been linked to the Raiders’ opening, although only the second to take part in a known interview.
Johnson has been a full-time NFL coach since 2020, having previously spent time with the Colts and Vikings. He was part of DeMeco Ryans’ initial Texans staff, and he continued in his role as QBs coach this past season. The 35-year-old has a relationship with C.J. Stroud predating their time together in Houston, a factor which helps make him a logical internal replacement candidate for the Texans. Johnson recently interviewed for Bobby Slowik’s former position, while the Jets were also named as a potential landing spot (although they have since hired Tanner Engstrand as their OC).
While Johnson has received consideration for the Vegas gig, he does not appear to be in pole position. Darrell Bevell is expected to be the eventual Raiders hire in this case, per KRPC2’s Aaron Wilson. That update comes as no surprise considering Bevell’s history with head coach Pete Carroll. The two worked together from 2011-17 with the Seahawks, the second of four NFL teams Bevell has served as an OC for. The 55-year-old has spent the past three seasons as the Dolphins’ QBs coach and pass-game coordinator.
Shortly after Bevell’s name surfaced as a strong contender, the Raiders interviewed him. A fifth OC opportunity could soon await him as a result, although as Wilson notes the team’s search is still active. It will be interesting to see if Johnson draws strong interest from Vegas with a Houston promotion still possible as things stand. In any case, the Raiders could still expand their list of candidates during the waning stages of the hiring cycle.
Via PFR’s OC/DC Tracker, here is an updated look at where things stand with the Raiders:
- Darrell Bevell, quarterbacks coach (Dolphins): Interviewed 1/28; frontrunner
- Bo Hardegree, quarterbacks coach (Titans): Mentioned as candidate
- Jerrod Johnson, quarterbacks coach (Texans): Interviewed
- David Shaw, senior personnel executive (Broncos): Mentioned as candidate; hired by Lions
Cowboys To Hire Klayton Adams As OC
Klayton Adams is indeed set to receive his first coordinator opportunity. The Cardinals’ offensive line coach is being hired by the Cowboys, Ian Rapoport, Mike Garafolo and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network report. 
Adams was listed as a strong candidate for the position when he first interviewed with Dallas earlier this week. A second, in-person meeting took place today, another sign that a hire was imminent. Immediately after it was reported the Cowboys were aiming to bring Adams into the fold, a deal has in fact been reached.
Dallas had Brian Schottenheimer as offensive coordinator for each of the past two years, but in the wake of Mike McCarthy‘s departure he was promoted to head coach. Schottenheimer’s first HC opportunity will see him handle play-calling duties, but the Cowboys’ OC position will still be important with neither McCarthy nor former coordinator Kellen Moore at the helm.
Adams, 41, began his college coaching tenure in 2005. He spent considerable time as an O-line coach, but in 2018 he did serve as a co-offensive coordinator at Colorado. Immediately after that, Adams received his first NFL opportunity with the Colts. A four-year stretch in Indianapolis saw him work at first as an assistant offensive line coach before he handled tight ends coach responsibilities.
For the past two years, Adams has worked in his current role with Arizona. Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon has been complimentary of his work during that time, although Adams was not linked to any other coordinator openings for this year’s cycle. Now, he will head to Dallas in a bid to oversee a rebound on offense compared to last season.
Dallas ranked 17th in yards and 21st in points scored in 2024, a year in which a number of key injuries contributed to those figures. Having a healthy Dak Prescott will help the passing game in particular moving forward, but plenty of room for improvement exists on the ground. The Cowboys’ committee approach at running back did not go according to plan (even with Rico Dowdle enjoying a career year and surpassing 1,000 rushing yards). Finding better balance and efficiency will be a key goal for Adams upon arrival.
Schottenheimer has already brought in Matt Eberflus as defensive coordinator while tapping Nick Sorensen to lead Dallas’ special teams. Adams is now in place for the OC role, and as such each of the top roles on the Cowboys’ staff have now been filled. Schottenheimer’s attention will now turn to position coaches as Adams prepares to handle coordinator duties at the pro level.
Saints, Kellen Moore To Meet Again After Super Bowl
Signs continue to point to Kellen Moore becoming the Saints’ next head coach. The parties have already interviewed twice, but another meeting is being arranged. 
Since the Eagles are set to play in the upcoming Super Bowl, their offensive coordinator cannot agree to the New Orleans gig at this time. After the big game, though, he and the Saints plan to meet once again, per Tom Pelissero, Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL Network. Other candidates have been informed of this by general manager Mickey Loomis, per the report as well as Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football.
No final decision has been made, of course, but this latest update comes as no surprise. Moore was recently joined by former Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy as a top candidate, but the latter has since withdrawn from consideration. That leaves Moore firmly in the lead for the lone remaining HC opportunity in the NFL. Darren Rizzi, who finished the 2024 campaign as the Saints’ interim head coach, looms as an alternative at this stage of the search process.
Throughout the early stages of the 2025 hiring cycle, it became clear many of the top candidates on the market were not enthused about taking charge of the Saints. Aaron Glenn represented an exception in that regard, although he wound up being hired by the Jets before his second New Orleans interview took place. Follow-up meetings have been held with Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka as well as Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver, but they will need to wait more than one week to find out if Moore is officially hired.
Presuming that will take place when possible, the 35-year-old will begin his first NFL head coaching position in 2025. Shortly after his playing career ended, Moore worked with the Cowboys for five years (including four as OC). That was followed by a single campaign as the Chargers’ offensive coordinator and, for 2024, the same role with the Eagles. Philadelphia’s ground game has played a major role in the team’s success this year, and it could make him the latest staffer to parlay an Eagles OC gig into a first-time head coaching position.
The Saints’ roster is understandably not seen as one with a high ceiling as things stand, and the quarterback position is unsettled in the case of Derek Carr (especially beyond next year). New Orleans’ next head coach will have a say in shaping the team’ direction under center, and it continues to look as though that task will fall to Moore in the near future.
Jets Hire Tanner Engstrand As OC
As expected, the Jets’ next offensive coordinator will be Tanner Engstrand, New York’s hire on this front is being finalized, as first reported by KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson. The team has since announced the move is official.
Early today, it was learned Rams tight ends coach Nick Caley turned down the Jets’ interest in adding him as their OC. With the team’s top candidate off the market, Engstrand become the candidate to watch. Prior to the news of this hire, ESPN’s Rich Cimini confirmed Engstrand was departing the Lions’ staff after working there since 2020.
The 42-year-old overlapped with new Jets head coach Aaron Glenn in Detroit. Engstrand represented one of the Lions’ top internal candidates to replace Ben Johnson, given his role as pass-game coordinator from 2022-24. Detroit made an external OC hire, however, opening the door for Engstrand to head elsewhere for his first offensive coordinator gig at the NFL level.
The Jets brought in Nathaniel Hackett as a familiar face to Aaron Rodgers in 2023. Things did not go according to plan that year, though, and then-head coach Robert Saleh attempted to bring in another voice on the offensive staff during the offseason. No such hire was made, and Saleh’s midseason firing coincided with Hackett being replaced as play-caller by Todd Downing. The latter had Rodgers available for the full season (unlike Hackett in 2023), but on the whole New York’s production did not match expectations.
The team’s poor showing resulted in a Glenn replacing Jeff Ulbrich as head coach, and Darren Mougey being tapped as Joe Douglas‘ general manager successor. Glenn has been busy filling out his staff since, including the expected move of hiring Steve Wilks as defensive coordinator. While the Jets will have an experienced staffer leading the way on defense as a result, Engtrand is by contrast a much less proven choice for OC.
The latter has, on the other hand, played a key role for a Lions passing attack which has seen major success over the past three years. Detroit has ranked no worse than eighth in production through the air each season during that span, and Engtrand will be counted on to improve the Jets’ efficiency in that department moving forward. It remains to be seen if Rodgers will still be New York’s QB1 in 2025, but regardless of what happens on that front the Jets will hope to find stability with this hire.
In addition to three other outside candidates, the Jets were also linked on the OC front to Lions quarterbacks coach Mark Brunell. He could be in line for a larger role on Detroit’s staff in the near future given the losses that unit has suffered recently, but if he too were to depart the Jets would represent a logical landing spot with Engstrand in place. In the meantime, Glenn’s efforts to build up his staff will now move to the matter of positional coaches.
Buccaneers Promote Josh Grizzard To OC
The Buccaneers are set to go internal for their Liam Coen replacement. Josh Grizzard is being promoted to the role of offensive coordinator, Mike Garafolo, Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network report. The move is now official, per a team announcement.
This news does not come as much of a surprise. Grizzard, Tampa Bay’s pass-game coordinator, was recently mentioned as one of the top candidates for the OC gig in the event the team elected to promote from within to replace Coen. He interviewed on Wednesday, and in short order that meeting has now produced an agreement.
Grizzard’s coaching career dates back to Yale, when he worked as an assistant at his alma mater. The 34-year-old also spent time at Duke before beginning his tenure at the pro level. He first joined the Dolphins’ staff in 2019, remaining there until 2023 and occupying several roles along the way. Grizzard joined Todd Bowles last offseason, a move which has now produced his first career coordinator opportunity at any level.
Coen had a strong first season with the Bucs, overseeing a unit which ranked top-four in both passing and rushing yards. That made him a strong head coaching target for the Jaguars in particular, although he appeared to be on track to remain in Tampa Bay for the 2025 season. A new OC deal had been agreed to, on the condition Coen stopped looking into his HC options. He ultimately took part in a secret second interview with the Jags, though, and – after the firing of general manager Trent Baalke – accepted Jacksonville’s offer to lead the team.
That left the Buccaneers in the coordinator market for the second offseason in a row. Dave Canales‘ success during his first (and only) campaign in Tampa Bay earned him the Panthers’ head coaching gig, something which added to the value of Coen being on track to remain in place for more than one year. Instead, the team will now rely on Grizzard to replicate the offense’s balanced production from 2024.
Much of Tampa Bay’s key offensive players are on the books for next season, so expectations will remain high for another NFC South title moving forward. Grizzard’s stock will continue to rise if the Bucs can have success on offense in 2025, although the team will of course wish to avoid needing to replace its OC for three straight years. In any case, it will be interesting to see how Grizzard fares while leading an offense he is already familiar with.
Bowles faced questions about how willing outside OC candidates (of which there were five in this case) would be to take on the position in the wake of the Coen departure. Bowles’ own job security has been a talking point in recent years, but he will remain in the fold for at least 2025. He will hope to enjoy as much success next year with Grizzard as he did with his previous coordinator pick.
Jaguars Meet With Grant Udinski; Team Requests OL Interview With Austin Gund
Three more of the league’s offensive coordinator vacancies were filled on Friday. The Jaguars are among the teams who have yet to fill their OC position, though, and their search process is ongoing. So far, their search has been less than exhaustive, with the team only interviewing two candidates, Commanders quarterbacks coach Tavita Pritchard and Rams pass game specialist Nate Scheelhaase, to replace Press Taylor.
A third interview took place today, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, as the Jaguars hosted Vikings assistant offensive coordinator and assistant quarterbacks coach Grant Udinski. At only 29 years old, Udinski has been on a meteoric rise through the coaching ranks.
After going undrafted in 2019 as a defensive end out of Towson, Udinski traveled to Waco, TX, where he served for a year as a graduate assistant under then-Baylor head coach Matt Rhule. The next year, Udinski followed Rhule to Carolina as a coaching assistant for the Panthers, where he remained for two years.
Under the advice of Vikings passing game coordinator and tight ends coach Brian Angelichio, who had worked with Udinski for two years in Carolina, Minnesota hired Udinski on as assistant to the head coach/special projects in 2022. After a year in that role, Udinski was promoted to assistant quarterbacks coach, and this season, he added assistant offensive coordinator to his title, as well.
It’s not uncommon to see young coaches quickly rise through the ranks on offensive coaching staffs, but those phenoms are usually former quarterbacks with a high understanding of offensive schemes and philosophies. It’s strange to see so much offensive responsibility handed to a man who only seven years ago was playing defense at Towson as a walk-on. It probably doesn’t hurt that he was a CoSIDA academic first-team all-American with high marks at both the undergraduate and master’s levels of his education.
The Jaguars are not alone in their interest in Udinski, either. Today’s interview was Udinski’s fifth for an offensive coordinator role this offseason. A popular name, Udinski first interviewed twice with the Seahawks (a job that went to Klint Kubiak), then interviewed with the Patriots (a job that went to Josh McDaniels) before interviewing with the Buccaneers (a job that went to Josh Grizzard) and the Texans. While there’s a chance that the Houston and Jacksonville jobs may, too, fall out of his reach, it seems clear that Udinski’s trajectory is not slowing. The young coach is likely to find a home as a coordinator soon.
Despite having not hired an offensive coordinator yet, the Jaguars are reportedly actively looking to fill one of their position coaching jobs on the offensive side of the ball. Per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Jacksonville requested permission to interview Bills offensive/offensive line assistant Austin Gund for what he called “their open offensive line coaching position,” which seems to indicate that incumbent offensive line coach Phil Rauscher will not be returning to the role. Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports adds that the team has requested to interview 49ers assistant offensive line coach Cameron Clemmons for the job, as well.
Here’s a breakdown of the Jaguars’ search to fill the offensive coordinator position:
- Chip Kelly, offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach (Ohio State): Team has interest
- Tavita Pritchard, quarterbacks coach (Commanders): Interviewed 1/29
- Nate Scheelhaase, pass game specialist (Rams): Interviewed 1/29
- Grant Udinski, assistant quarterbacks coach (Vikings): Interviewed 1/31
Ely Allen contributed to this post.
Cowboys Aiming To Hire Klayton Adams?
4:07pm: While the list of known candidates for Dallas’ OC position has grown, Adams remains the name to watch closely. The Cowboys are “zeroing in on” Adams as their top choice, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports. As coordinator dominoes continue to fall, it will be interesting to see if Dallas moves quickly in the wake of today’s in-person interview.
10:41am: A favorite has emerged regarding the Cowboys’ offensive coordinator interview. After only two known virtual interviews for the position took place, an in-person meeting has been arranged.
Dallas will speak again with Klayton Adams for the OC gig, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports. This summit will take place today, he adds. If all goes well for the Cardinals’ offensive line coach, he may very well take over as the Cowboys’ new offensive coordinator.
Adams’ first interview took place earlier this week, and at that time he was labeled as a strong contender for the position. It thus comes as no surprise a follow-up has quickly been arranged. Former OC Brian Schottenheimer was promoted to head coach for the first time in his career, and he will call plays on offense in 2025. With Matt Eberflus back in the organization (this time as DC) and Nick Sorensen in place as special teams coordinator, most of the major moves for his first staff have already been made. That will be especially true once a new offensive coordinator is brought in.
Adams immediately transitioned to coaching after his playing career ended in 2004. He worked at his alma mater (Boise State) for two seasons before seeing time at four other college programs. That included six years at Colorado, the final one of which saw him handle co-offensive coordinator duties. The 41-year-old’s first NFL tenure came with the Colts (2019-22), where he worked with the team’s offensive linemen and tight ends.
For the past two years, Adams has worked with the Cardinals. Arizona has been strong in the running game over that time, something which has helped boost his stock regarding a potential coordinator gig. No other team has been connected to Adams during the 2025 hiring cycle, but a mutual interested clearly exists with the Cowboys. Dallas has also met with Falcons tight ends coach Kevin Koger in addition to being linked to Ken Dorsey. Other candidates could still emerge, but for now Adams appears to be in pole position.
Cowboys Interview Scottie Montgomery For OC Position
Brian Schottenheimer will call plays for the Cowboys in 2025, his debut season as a head coach. His choice of offensive coordinator will still be an important one, and the list of candidates for the position has grown. 
Lions running backs coach Scottie Montgomery has interviewed with the Cowboys, ESPN’s Todd Archer reports. He is the third staffer to speak with the team on the OC front as a result. This is the first coordinator gig Montgomery has been connected to in the 2025 hiring cycle.
The 46-year-old saw his playing career end in 2005, and he immediately took up coaching. Montgomery worked at his alma mater (Duke) from 2006-09 and again from 2013-15 as offensive coordinator and associate head coach. His college resume also includes time as East Carolina’s head coach as well as a two-year stint as OC at Maryland.
Montgomery first worked in the NFL with the Steelers (2010-12) and he returned to the pro game with the Colts in 2021. After a pair of seasons working with Jonathan Taylor and Co. as Indianapolis’ running backs coach, he joined Dan Campbell‘s staff as RBs coach. Montgomery has also held the title of assistant head coach during his time in Detroit, which has allowed him to oversee arguably the league’s top backfield tandem in Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery.
The Lions have already seen Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn depart their coordinator positions for head coaching gigs. Campbell expected to lose both during the 2025 cycle, and further changes on his staff could be coming with Tanner Engstrand seen as the frontrunner for the Jets’ OC job. Losing Montgomery would mark another blow to the Lions, although it would give the Cowboys a staffer with a strong background in the run game, an area in which Dallas certainly has considerable room for improvement.
Via PFR’s OC/DC Tracker, here is an updated look at the Cowboys’ search:
- Klayton Adams, offensive line coach (Cardinals): To conduct second interview 1/31
- Ken Dorsey, former offensive coordinator (Browns): Mentioned as candidate
- Kevin Koger, tight ends coach (Falcons): Interviewed
- Scottie Montgomery, running backs coach (Lions): Interviewed
Doug Pederson Drawing OC Interest
By the time Doug Pederson‘s Jaguars tenure came to an end after the regular season concluded, no one around the league was surprised. Another head coaching opportunity is not on the horizon at this point, but Pederson is still a name to watch during the waning stages of the hiring cycle. 
The former Eagles Super Bowl winner is drawing interest as a potential offensive coordinator, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports. He adds that it remains to be seen at this point if that feeling will wind up being mutual. Pederson was out of coaching in 2021 prior to taking the Jaguars’ HC gig, so he could opt to once again take a break before re-entering the coaching market.
The 57-year-old spent four years as a high school head coach before receiving his first NFL opportunity with the Eagles in 2009. Pederson worked his way up to quarterbacks coach before following Andy Reid to Kansas City as the Chiefs’ OC. That three-year spell was followed by a return to the Eagles as their head coach from 2016-20.
Pederson amassed a record of 42-31-1 in Philadelphia. His three winning campaigns with the Eagles and Super Bowl pedigree led to high expectations upon arrival in Jacksonville. During his first season in Duval County, the Jags managed a 9-8 record and a wild-card victory. Continued development from quarterback Trevor Lawrence and an elevation to the status of AFC contender was seen as feasible as a result.
Instead, much of the past two seasons did not go according to plan for Pederson’s team. Missed time from Lawrence was one of the factors influencing underwhelming showings on offense, while major changes to the coaching staff on the other side of the ball last offseason did not produce the desired effect. Amidst reported clashes with then-general manager Trent Baalke and a 2-9 start to the campaign, a bye week firing appeared to be on the table in 2024. Pederson survived the rest of the season, but he was dismissed on Black Monday.
The Jags have since (in rather unorthodox fashion) hired Liam Coen as their new head coach, and while their offensive coordinator position is unfilled, Pederson is obviously not a candidate. Several other OC vacancies are in place around the league, though, and he could have options if he elects to interview for one or more of them in the near future. It will be interesting to see if he does so or decides to wait for 2026 to continue his career.