Bengals To Hire Al Golden As DC
Al Golden is indeed set to return to the NFL in 2025. Notre Dame’s defensive coordinator is finalizing an agreement to take that same role with the Bengals, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports. Golden has informed the school of his decision, ESPN’s Pete Thamel adds.
Cincinnati moved on from Lou Anarumo after the season, one in which the team’s defensive shortcomings played a key role in a 9-8 record and a failure to reach the playoffs. Anarumo has since moved on to the Colts as their new DC, with the Bengals being connected to a handful of replacement candidates. Golden recently emerged as the favorite, though.
The 55-year-old had been in place at Notre Dame since 2022, serving as the program’s defensive coordinator for each of the past three years. The Fighting Irish advanced to the CFP national title game, so it was not until Monday’s loss that Golden was able to work out an agreement for an NFL gig. Reports from yesterday confirmed the Bengals were expected to hire him to take charge of their defense, with an interview set to take place later in the week. Even without that transpiring, Golden is set to make a return to Cincinnati.
Prior to his stint at Notre Dame, Golden had a two-year span as the Bengals’ linebackers coach. Having thus worked under Zac Taylor previously, this deal marks a reunion between the two. Golden also has experience in that same role with the Lions in addition to other college coaching positions, including head coaching jobs at Temple and Miami.
The Bengals are also set to bring in Jerry Montgomery as their new defensive line coach, Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic reports. Montgomery, 45, has considerable experience at the college and pro levels coaching D-linemen. He worked with the Patriots in 2024, but with Mike Vrabel coming to New England the team has made a number of staff chances. Now, Montgomery will join Golden in Cincinnati for the coming campaign.
Dealing with notable injuries at the cornerback spot in particular, the Bengals finished the year ranked 25th in both points and yards allowed in 2024. Room for improvement exists in several departments on that side of the ball as Cincinnati looks to replicate its offensive production from this past season. The latter effort may be a challenge, but taking a step forward on defense would make the Golden hire an effective one and help steer the team back toward the postseason.
Via PFR’s coordinator search tracker, here is a final look at how things shook out for the Bengals:
- DeMarcus Covington, defensive coordinator (Patriots): Interviewed
- Matt Eberflus, former head coach (Bears): Mentioned as candidate
- Al Golden, defensive coordinator (Notre Dame): To be hired
- Patrick Graham, defensive coordinator (Raiders): Interviewed
- Wink Martindale, defensive coordinator (Michigan): Rumored candidate
Jets Moving Toward Aaron Glenn, Lance Newmark Hires
11:12pm: It doesn’t sound like any deals will come together tonight. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, both Glenn and Newmark have left the Jets facility without deals. Connor Hughes of SNY.tv cautions that all sides will continue to talk, so there’s no huge cause for concern within the Jets front office.
4:45pm: The clear favorites for the Jets are known regarding both the head coach and general manager vacancies. Lions DC Aaron Glenn and Commanders AGM Lance Newmark are meeting in person with the team today, paving the way for a potential hire in both cases. 
New York’s reported intention is to work out an agreement with Glenn before he leaves the facility; especially if that proves to be the case, Newmark could soon agree to take on GM duties. The two have worked together in Detroit, and Newmark is the only candidate so far who has met with the Jets for a second time regarding the general manager vacancy. This situation could produce a pair of hires very soon.
Bovada’s Josina Anderson reports optimism is building with respect to both Glenn and Newmark being brought onboard. An agreement has yet to be finalized in either case, but that could of course change at any time. Considering Glenn has already been in contact with potential coordinator hires, it would come as no surprise if he were to agree to a New York deal. If that does not take place today, however, the Saints will continue to loom as an alternative destination.
Newmark’s Commanders are one of the four teams still playing, but as the Titans’ hiring of former Chiefs exec Mike Borgonzi demonstrated, front office personnel are free to join new teams at any time. Coaches whose seasons have ended cannot do the same, but the Lions’ upset loss this weekend left Glenn (along with Ben Johnson) on the market earlier than expected.
The Jets have leaned heavily on The 33rd Team’s Mike Tannenbaum and Rick Spielman to lead the search for both the HC and GM roles. Both processes have been wide-ranging, but further signs indicate they have come to an end. SNY’s Connor Hughes reports other candidates are being contacted and told they are out of the running, all-but confirming a Glenn-Newmark tandem will soon officially be in place.
Patriots Hire Josh McDaniels As OC
Josh McDaniels is indeed returning to New England. The 2025 season will mark his third stint as offensive coordinator of the Patriots, as first reported by Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. The team has since announced the move.
McDaniels emerged as a candidate to watch in the aftermath of Mike Vrabel being hired as New England’s head coach. He has served as the team’s offensive coordinator for a combined total of 13 years across his first two stints. He interviewed for the role earlier today, per Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz.
Schultz adds McDaniels has continued to live in Foxborough since his last New England gig came to an end. Prior to the news of his hire coming out, ESPN’s Mike Reiss reported the 48-year-old was viewed as the favorite. Now, the six-time Super Bowl champ will again take charge of the team’s offense, although of course this time he will do so while working under Vrabel rather than Bill Belichick.
McDaniels’ first stint with the organization saw him quickly rise through the ranks. After starting as a personnel assistant in 2001, he made his way up to QBs coach in 2004 before taking over as OC in 2006. With Tom Brady leading the way, McDaniels oversaw an elite offense during his first three years as a coordinator, including a record-breaking unit in 2007.
McDaniels parlayed that performance into the head coaching job with the Broncos. An 11-17 record (along with a videotaping scandal) led to his ouster after only a year-plus, and he landed back in New England ahead of the 2012 season. That second stint lasted a decade, with McDaniels at the helm as the team transitioned from Brady to Cam Newton to Mac Jones. McDaniels got the most out of Jones during the QB’s rookie campaign, as the first-round pick tossed 22 touchdowns, went 10-7, and earned a Pro Bowl nod.
McDaniels then parlayed that performance into his second head coaching gig, this time with the Raiders. He had similar results in Las Vegas, as his squad went 9-16 before McDaniels was fired during the 2023 campaign. The coach has spent the past year-plus out of football, but Albert Breer of TheMMQB says the coach has been keeping busy. Per Breer, McDaniels used the past year to refine his own offensive approach. This meant studying offenses in both the NFL and college, and Breer believes McDaniels will be able to apply more “user-friendly” lessons to a “pretty complex offense.”
Even during his time off, the coach was continually connected to his long-time organization. There were rumblings he could join the staff in 2024 if Belichick stuck around; the team instead pivoted to Jerod Mayo, who brought in Alex Van Pelt to lead his offense. Of course, that coaching staff was cleared out following a dismal 2024 campaign, making way for Vrabel to take over operations (and for McDaniels to rejoin the familiar role).
McDaniels’ ugly head coaching stints have probably shut the door on any near-future opportunities, so Vrabel made have landed a long-term OC. Now, McDaniels will be tasked with guiding a offense that showed some offensive promise with rookie Drake Maye under center.
Ben Levine contributed to this post.
Vikings, Kevin O’Connell Agree To Extension
The Vikings have not waited long after the end of their season to work out an extension with Kevin O’Connell. Minnesota’s head coach has a new deal in place, the team announced on Tuesday.
“Kevin is exactly who we believed him to be when we named him as our head coach – an innovative play caller, an excellent communicator and a strong leader who motivates and connects with his players,” a statement from owner Mark Wilf reads. “He has helped establish a culture that positions us for sustained success, and he will continue to set the standard we need as we pursue a championship for Vikings fans.” 
O’Connell was previously set to enter the final year of his pact in 2025, but it became clear immediately after the team’s wild-card loss that the team would engage in extension talks. Those efforts carried the potential of an agreement being worked out in short order, and that has proven to be the case. No specifics are known with respect to term, but this new contract has been announced as a multi-year accord.
Hired in 2022, the 39-year-old had experience as an offensive coordinator prior to his arrival in Minnesota but none as a head coach. O’Connell made an immediate impact, though, leading the team to a 13-4 record in his debut season at the helm. Expectations were high last year as a result, particularly on the offensive side of the ball. Quarterback Kirk Cousins tore his Achilles midway through the campaign, however, and the team wound up 7-10 and out of the playoff picture.
Cousins’ free agency was a central offseason storyline for the Vikings last spring, and the team ultimately watched him depart on the open market by signing with the Falcons. J.J. McCarthy was selected as a long-term replacement under center, but (especially with the Michigan product being sidelined for the year with a meniscus tear) it was veteran free agent pickup Sam Darnold who handled QB1 duties in 2024.
Darnold delivered by far the most productive season of his career during his first campaign working with O’Connell. The latter’s reputation as one of the league’s top offensive minds has increased as a result, although it remains to be seen if Darnold will remain in Minnesota or take a lucrative deal with another team on the open market. In any case, Year 2 with the former top-three pick or a fresh start with McCarthy atop the depth chart will result in high expectations following a 14-3 campaign.
General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah is in the same situation as O’Connell with respect to his current deal being set to expire after the 2025 season. It would come as little surprise if he too were to land an extension, though. Indeed, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network notes talks on a new deal for Adofo-Mensah are underway.
Ensuring the top organizational decision-makers remain in place for the foreseeable future is a logical goal for the Vikings. O’Connell’s situation has now been taken care of, while Adofo-Mensah is on track to be extended as well. That pairing has led Minnesota to a 34-17 record, and continued success in a highly competitive NFC North will remain the target for 2025 and beyond.
Buccaneers Preparing For Liam Coen To Land Jaguars’ HC Position?
The Jaguars were one of the three teams heavily linked to Ben Johnson. The in-demand staffer wound up being hired by the Bears, though, leaving Jacksonville in need of pivoting to a contingency plan. 
It appears a favorite amongst the remaining candidates has emerged. Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports the Buccaneers are bracing for offensive coordinator Liam Coen to be offered the Jaguars’ job. Coen is on Jacksonville’s list of finalists, having lined up a second interview for tomorrow.
The Jags are also slated to speak with former Jets head coach Robert Saleh as well as Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham, but Stroud notes there is an increasing sentiment that the Jacksonville HC posting is “Coen’s to lose.” It was reported last week (when Johnson was still on the market) that the 39-year-old was in contention for the position. As a result, this latest update comes as little surprise.
Dave Canales had a successful single season as the Buccaneers’ offensive play-caller in 2023. He parlayed that into the Panthers’ head coaching gig, leaving Tampa to bring in Coen for this past campaign. The former Rams and Kentucky OC enjoyed a very strong debut season with the Bucs. The team ranked top-four in the league in total and scoring offense in 2024, remaining efficient on the ground and through the air along the way. Tampa Bay finished fourth in the NFL in rushing yards per game after posting the worst figure in that category each of the two previous campaigns.
The Jaguars moved on from Doug Pederson after his third year with the team concluded. Several candidates with an offensive background were interviewed once as part of Jacksonville’s ongoing search process, though, and the continued interest in Coen is a sign the team is willing to make another hire from that side of the ball. Stroud confirms Coen’s first interview went well, noting his potential to help Trevor Lawrence as a key factor which could land him the job.
If Coen were to depart, the Buccaneers would need to find a new OC for the fourth consecutive offseason. It remains to be seen if that will be the case, but such a scenario is obviously one the team is preparing for.
Cowboys To Interview Brian Schottenheimer For HC
TODAY, 8:25pm: NFL Network’s Jane Slater reports that the Cowboys met with Schottenheimer for “well over” three and a half hours. The two sides “talked about everything,” and the team is notably considering Schottenheimer for the head coaching role or his current OC gig. Of course, Schottenheimer’s chances of retaining his coordinator title would be dependent on the next head coach wanting him on the staff.
TODAY, 11:00am: The list of candidates for the Cowboys’ head coaching position continues to grow. An in-house staffer will be the next to receive a look as Dallas’ search continues. 
Offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer has an interview lined up with the Cowboys, as first reported by Ian Rapoport and Jane Slater of NFL Network. Three interviews have taken place so far for the position, all with external candidates. Schottenheimer will represent a potential option for an internal promotion depending on how his meeting goes.
The son of longtime NFL coach Marty Schottenheimer, Brian has 14 years of coordinator experience. That includes the past two seasons where he has held the OC title in Dallas. Prior to that, Schottenheimer worked as a consultant for the team for the 2022 campaign. Then-head coach Mike McCarthy took over as play-caller when he moved on from Kellen Moore, so Schottenheimer’s responsibilities have not been the same in Dallas as they have in his other gigs.
Still, the fact he is familiar with the Cowboys’ offense in general and quarterback Dak Prescott in particular is a factor which could work in his favor. Forming (or having) a strong connection with the team’s franchise passer is a key element in Dallas’ ongoing search. Prescott was among the players to endorse a new deal for McCarthy, but talks on that front never produced serious traction before it was announced a new coach would be brought in.
As a result, the Cowboys are in the market for a McCarthy replacement. The team’s search has been expected to expand in the near future, so it will be interesting to see how many other candidates receive a look over the coming days. Schottenheimer’s candidacy for a first head coaching gig will be a notable storyline as the 2025 HC landscape continues to take shape.
Via PFR’s search tracker, here is an updated look as the Cowboys’ situation:
- Bill Belichick, head coach (North Carolina): Mutual interest would have existed
- Leslie Frazier, assistant head coach (Seahawks): Interviewed 1/20
- Aaron Glenn, defensive coordinator (Lions): Mentioned as candidate
- Kliff Kingsbury, offensive coordinator (Commanders): Mentioned as candidate; won’t interview until after season
- Anthony Lynn, run game coordinator/running backs coach (Commanders: ‘Mutual interest’ expressed
- Kellen Moore, offensive coordinator (Eagles): Interviewed 1/17; frontrunner?
- Robert Saleh, former head coach (Jets): Interviewed 1/18
- Deion Sanders, head coach (Colorado): Discussions commenced; no deal expected
- Brian Schottenheimer, offensive coordinator (Cowboys): To interview
- Jason Witten, head coach (Liberty Christian School): Strong contender?
Bengals Expected To Hire Al Golden As DC
TODAY, 6:18pm: According to Albert Breer of TheMMQB, Golden is expected to interview with the Bengals at some point over the next 48 hours. Assuming all goes well, the team will then name Golden as their new defensive coordinator.
TODAY, 9:20am: With the college football season over, Al Golden is eligible to make a return to the pro coaching ranks. Notre Dame’s defensive coordinator appears to have his next NFL gig lined up.
Golden is the Bengals’ top target for defensive coordinator, Mike Garafolo and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network report. Head coach Zac Taylor has paused his search for other candidates in anticipation of pursuing a hire in this case. Golden previously worked under Taylor as Cincinnati’s linebackers coach for the 2020 and ’21 seasons.
Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic confirms Golden has long been considered the top DC option for the Bengals. Over the next few days, he is expected to finish his tenure with the Fighting Irish (which began in 2022) with a Cincinnati interview likely to take place on Wednesday. After that, Dehner notes, it appears to “inevitable” Golden will be hired to return to the Bengals.
When Taylor was hired as head coach in 2019, he brought in Lou Anarumo as his first defensive coordinator. The latter remained in place for six years, but after the 2024 campaign he was fired. Anarumo has since agreed to charge of the Colts’ defense while the Bengals have yet to replace him. If all goes according to plan with Golden, though, that vacancy will be filled very shortly.
Cincinnati ranked sixth in the NFL in scoring this year, with Joe Burrow topping the league in passing and wideout Ja’Marr Chase winning the ‘Triple Crown’ by finishing first in receptions, yards and touchdowns. In spite of that, the team finished 9-8 and out of the postseason in large part due to defensive shortcomings. After finishing 25th in points and yards allowed, there is considerable room for improvement on that side of the ball moving forward. Golden – who has previously been a DC at Virginia in addition to his time in that capacity with Notre Dame – could soon find himself as an NFL coordinator for the first time.
Via PFR’s coordinator search tracker, here is an updated look at where things stand for the Bengals:
- DeMarcus Covington, defensive coordinator (Patriots): Interviewed
- Matt Eberflus, former head coach (Bears): Mentioned as candidate
- Al Golden, defensive coordinator (Notre Dame): Hire expected
- Patrick Graham, defensive coordinator (Raiders): Interviewed
- Wink Martindale, defensive coordinator (Michigan): Rumored candidate
Steve Wilks, Nick Caley, Scott Turner, Klint Kubiak Among Potential Aaron Glenn Jets Targets
3:27pm: Saints OC Klint Kubiak is another name to watch on this front, Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic reports. Kubiak met with the Browns for their offensive coordinator position prior to the team’s decision to promote Tommy Rees. He does not have a history of working with Glenn, but the 37-year-old would make for an interesting addition to the Jets’ staff if he were to be brought in.
1:14pm: Aaron Glenn is set to take part in his second Jets head coaching interview today, and he represents the team’s top target. A deal could be reached at any time as a result, and a few interesting names have emerged with respect to coaches who could find themselves on a Glenn-led staff. 
On the defensive side of the ball, SNY’s Connor Hughes notes that Steve Wilks will be a name to watch. Wilks will be a potential defensive coordinator candidate for New York in the event Glenn is hired as head coach. The latter is currently the Lions’ DC, but there is of course no guarantee he would continue calling plays if he were to take on the Jets’ head coaching position.
Wilks has a coaching background dating back to 1995, and he has been on an NFL sideline for all but three seasons since 2005. The 55-year-old has been a full-time head coach on one occasion in addition to a pair of defensive coordinator gigs at the pro level. The most recent of those was in 2023 with the 49ers, a position Wilks took after he did not receive the Panthers’ full-time HC gig . San Francisco moved on from him after last year’s Super Bowl, and he was out of coaching for this season.
With respect to potential offensive coordinators, Hughes reports Glenn has been in contact with at least two candidates. Nick Caley is one of them; the soon-to-be 42-year-old is currently in place on the Rams’ staff. Caley spent eight years with the Patriots, with much of that time coming as the team’s tight ends coach. He continued in that role last year upon arrival in Los Angeles, but this season he took on the additional title of pass game coordinator.
Caley does not have experience as an offensive coordinator, but Scott Turner does. The latter is the other name Glenn has been in contact with, per Hughes. Turner took over as interim OC for the Raiders after Luke Getsy‘s midseason firing, and he has not been connected to any NFL coordinator vacancies in the time following head coach Antonio Pierce‘s dismissal. Turner is, however, a candidate to join Bill Belichick‘s North Carolina staff.
It remains to be seen (for the time being, at least) if Glenn will indeed be hired by the Jets. If that does take place, though, it will be interesting to see if the candidates he has been in contact with will wind up following him to New York.
Patriots Conduct OC Interview With Vikings’ Grant Udinski
The Patriots are among the teams in need of a new offensive and defensive coordinator. The list of candidates to interview for the former position has expanded. 
New England met with Grant Udinski yesterday, Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated reports. That makes him the third candidate to interview for the OC vacancy. The Patriots are, of course not alone in showing interest in the Vikings’ assistant OC, though. Udinski is also among the finalists for Seattle’s offensive coordinator position.
The Patriots are starting over at a number of positions on their staff with Mike Vrabel in place as head coach. That is common practice in the NFL, but with a pair of coordinator spots to fill the team will look to move quickly. Udinski does not have a history with Vrabel, but he is held in high regard around the league and could take on his first career coordinator gig as early as this season as a result.
The 28-year-old worked as a graduate assistant in 2019 before following Matt Rhule from Temple to Carolina one year later. After two seasons with the Panthers, Udinski joined the Vikings’ staff under Kevin O’Connell. He took on the position of assistant quarterbacks coach last year, and had assistant OC added to his title for the 2024 campaign. After a season in which Sam Darnold exceeded expectations in Minnesota, Udinski’s stock has certainly risen in short order.
The Patriots have Drake Maye in place as their quarterback of the present and (at least short-term) future, but the rest of the offense faces plenty of questions. Upgrading along the O-line and adding at the receiver position will be key offseason priorities, something the team’s next OC will no doubt have a say in once a hire is made.
Via PFR’s OC/DC tracker, here is an updated look at the Patriots’ ongoing search:
- Marcus Brady, pass-game coordinator (Chargers): Interviewed 1/18
- Thomas Brown, interim head coach (Bears): Interviewed 1/14
- Josh McDaniels, former head coach (Raiders): Confirmed candidate
- Tommy Rees, tight ends coach (Browns): Rumored candidate; promoted by Browns
- Grant Udinski, assistant offensive coordinator (Vikings): Interviewed 1/20
Broncos, Other Teams Interested In Darren Rizzi For ST Coordinator
Darren Rizzi does not appear to be on track to land one of the remaining head coaching positions in this year’s hiring cycle. The Saints’ special teams coordinator is nevertheless an in-demand staffer at the moment. 
In the wake of the Bears reaching an agreement with Ben Johnson to become their next head coach, it was learned Rizzi is on the team’s radar. He is a candidate to serve as Chicago’s special teams coordinator moving forward, something which would displace incumbent Richard Hightower. The Bears could have competition for Rizzi’s services, though.
Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune notes the Broncos are attempting to hire Rizzi for their own special teams coordinator position. Denver moved on from Ben Kotwica last week after he spent two seasons in that role. Head coach Sean Payton has been in place with the Broncos since the start of the 2023 campaign, but in that time he has made several moves aimed to reuniting with players and coaches from his time with the Saints. As a result, Rizzi was named as a candidate to watch closely once Kotwica was dismissed.
Biggs adds that two other teams also “believed to be in the mix” for Rizzi. The 54-year-old took over as New Orleans’ interim head coach after Dennis Allen was fired. The two could reunite in Chicago (in the event Allen were to take over as defensive coordinator), but Rizzi is still in contention for the Saints’ head coaching position. Lions DC Aaron Glenn has a second HC interview lined up, although he appears to be on track to take charge of the Jets if things go according to plan. Provided that turns out to be the case, Rizzi will still be in the running for New Orleans as well as outside ST coordinator gigs.
According to Biggs, it is unclear at this point how likely it is that Rizzi could come to Chicago. For the time being, Hightower remains in place and Biggs notes he could be retained as part of Johnson’s initial Bears staff. The team showed improvement in the third phase down the stretch that year, and it will be interesting to see if Johnson opts for continuity for 2025.