Falcons Hire Craig Aukerman As Special Teams Coordinator
The Falcons have made another notable hire as Kevin Stefanski fills out his initial staff. Atlanta has brought in Craig Aukerman as special teams coordinator, per a team announcement. 
Over the course of his coaching career, Aukerman has primarily worked on special teams. He spent 2025 as the Dolphins’ STC, but once head coach Mike McDaniel was fired it became likely a change of scenery would be likely. Indeed, new HC Jeff Hafley hired Chris Tabor to serve as Aukerman’s replacement last week.
An NFL staffer since 2010, Aukerman has previously worked as an assistant special teams coordinator with the Jaguars and Titans. He led the way in Tennessee from 2018-23, during his second stint with the team. The 49-year-old also worked as a special teams coordinator with the Chargers in 2016 in addition to his Dolphins stint in the same capacity this past season. The Buccaneers interviewed him as part of their STC search.
Aukerman and Stefanski have never worked together, but there will be several familiar faces in Atlanta for 2026. As expected, Tommy Rees followed Stefanski from the Browns to the Falcons to serve as the team’s offensive coordinator. Bob Quinn has also made the same move. The Falcons announced Monday that Cleveland’s former senior personnel/coaching executive has been hired; Quinn’s new title will be senior advisor to the head coach.
In other staff news, the Falcons have also brought back Robert Prince as their new wide receivers coach. Prince’s lengthy coaching career saw him spend three years (2004-06) in Atlanta. He coached the team’s running backs, tight ends and quarterbacks over that time. Since then, Prince has largely operated as a WRs coach, something he did with the Dolphins in 2025. This move comes shortly after Prince interviewed with the Giants for their offensive coordinator vacancy, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
While Stefanski has brought in a number of new staffers, there will be a degree of continuity as well. Defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich was retained earlier this month, and several position coaches will also remain in place. The Falcons announced on Monday that defensive line coach Nate Ollie, secondary coach Justin Hood and tight ends coach Kevin Koger are each staying with the team for 2026.
Grant Udinski Withdraws From Browns’ HC Search, Reaches New Jags OC Agreement
Another candidate has taken himself out of contention for the Browns‘ ongoing head coaching search. Grant Udinski is no longer in the running to be hired by Cleveland. 
Udinksi has withdrawn from the Browns’ search, as first reported by NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo. Notably, he adds Udinski and the Jaguars have reached a new agreement; a pay raise has been worked out, Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer adds. 2025 marked the first season for Udinski in Jacksonville, with him serving as the team’s offensive coordinator.
That position did not include play-calling duties, a responsibility head coach Liam Coen handled. Nevertheless, it represented another move up the ladder in Udinksi’s coaching career. The 30-year-old has only been an NFL staffer since 2020, spending two years with the Panthers and then three in Minnesota. Udinksi’s stock rose sharply during his Minnesota tenure, and it came as little surprise when he landed a coordinator opportunity last winter.
Jacksonville ranked sixth in scoring this season en route to a division title. Coen was of course a key figure in that success, but Udinkski helped his HC candidacy as well. A first opportunity to lead an NFL staff could still be coming. Per Garafolo, the Jags will allow Udinski to continue pursuing the Bills‘ HC opening. If a Buffalo hire does not take place, though, Jacksonville will have stability on the sidelines in 2026.
Mike McDaniel and Jesse Minter have also withdrawn from consideration in Cleveland’s case. McDaniel has an agreement in place with the Chargers to become their offensive coordinator, although he is not entirely out of the running for a head coaching gig at this point. Minter, meanwhile, was hired by the Ravens as their new HC last week. Udinski’s future is unclear at this point, but he will not be heading to Cleveland despite interviewing twice with the team.
The Browns have an internal candidate in the form of defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz. Cleveland has also met with Todd Monken and Anthony Lynn in person. The Browns could arrange interviews with one or both of Nate Scheelhaase and Chris Shula now that the Rams’ season has ended. Given today’s news, it is increasingly clear a member of that group will emerge as the Browns’ eventual hire.
Packers To Hire Jonathan Gannon As DC
The Packers recently lost defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley when he took the Dolphins’ head coaching position. The search for his replacement has come to an end.
Green Bay is hiring Jonathan Gannon to fill the DC position, as first reported by NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. The former Cardinals head coach has thus managed to find a new opportunity not long after his Arizona firing. Gannon was one of three candidates known to have interviewed with the Packers. 
Interest in multiple D-coordinator openings was present in Gannon’s case. The Commanders interviewed him once, while the Cowboys conducted a follow-up with him last week. Gannon was also among the candidates who spoke with the Titans about their head coaching position, but a return to the DC ranks has long been expected in this case. Both the Chargers and Giants were interested in Gannon, ESPN’s Rob Demovsky reports. Green Bay moving quickly with this hire may have been a reaction to the threat of other DC offers being made shortly.
Gannon spent three seasons leading the Cardinals. Hired alongside general manager Monti Ossenfort to oversee a rebuilding effort, Arizona went 4-13 during his first year on the sidelines. The team’s win total doubled in 2024; that encouraging campaign saw the Cardinals in contention for a playoff berth for much of the season. A poor showing after the bye produced only a pair of wins down the stretch, however.
Expectations were high for Gannon’s team to at least match its success from the prior year entering 2025. Things did not go according to plan, however. Following a 2-0 start, the Cardinals lost five consecutive one-score games. A win coming out of the bye seemed to offer the potential for a turnaround, but as injuries across the roster piled up Arizona ended the year on a nine-game losing streak. Leading up to ‘Black Monday,’ it increasingly appeared as though Ossenfort would be safe while Gannon would be dismissed. That was indeed the path ownership took.
Prior to his Cardinals tenure, Gannon coordinated the Eagles’ defense for two years. Philadelphia ranked top 10 in yards allowed during the 2021 and ’22 seasons; the team improved from 18th to eighth in scoring defense under Gannon. With the Eagles reaching the Super Bowl during Gannon’s final year in Philadelphia, it came as little surprise when he received a head coaching opportunity. Expectations will no doubt be tempered if Gannon, 42, is to get another HC look in the future.
Upon returning to coordinator duties, however, Gannon could once again see quick success. Green Bay largely thrived on defense during Hafley’s two-year run leading the unit. Injuries midway through the 2025 campaign – highlighted of course by Micah Parsons‘ ACL tear – proved to be impactful, and the Packers struggled on defense through the end of the season and in the wild-card round. That did not stop Hafley from being among the top HC candidates during this year’s hiring cycle, and few were surprised when he followed Green Bay colleague Jon-Eric Sullivan to Miami.
Gannon had a lengthy track record of NFL coaching gigs prior to his Eagles coordinator opportunity. Much of that time was spent as a position coach working with defensive backs, and the secondary looms as a unit which could see considerable attention from the Packers this offseason. Gannon will be tasked with overseeing improvement on the back end in particular for Green Bay in 2026 as he takes charge of a defense for the second time in his career.
Giants To Hire Dennard Wilson As DC
John Harbaugh‘s Giants staff had a number of vacancies entering the weekend. One of the most important positions is now being filled, though. 
Dennard Wilson is set to join New York as the team’s new defensive coordinator, as first reported by Mike Garafolo, Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. Wilson has worked with Harbaugh in the past. It thus came as no surprise when he was confirmed earlier today as a finalist for the gig.
The Athletic’s Ian O’Connor named Wilson as a finalist for the Giants on Sunday afternoon. The was also true of Broncos defensive backs coach Jim Leonhard and Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver. In the end, Wilson has lined up a new opportunity shortly after it was confirmed he would not return to the Titans in 2026.
Tennessee’s head coaching search resulted in Robert Saleh being hired. Neither Wilson nor Nick Holz was retained, leaving both coordinators on the lookout for a new opportunity. Wilson interviewed with the Chargers and Commanders for their DC vacancies. Interestingly, he had not yet taken part in an interview with the Giants entering Sunday. Nevertheless, Wilson represents a familiar face for Harbaugh given their previous time together.
In 2023, Wilson worked under Harbaugh as the Ravens’ defensive backs coach. He joined Baltimore’s staff after a two-year Eagles tenure which helped his coordinator stock. In 2024, Brian Callahan hired Wilson, 43, to take on DC duties with the Titans. Scoring totals were an issue during both of Wilson’s two Tennessee campaigns, although the team ranked No. 2 in yards allowed during his first year in place.
The Giants will obviously look for a repeat of that showing from Wilson. Shane Bowen was fired by Brian Daboll during the 2025 campaign shortly before his own dismissal. The defensive coordinator spot has faced uncertainty since, but once the team’s full-throttle efforts to hire Harbaugh succeeded it became clear several ex-Ravens staffers would receive consideration for numerous positions. Wilson fits the bill, although his work as an NFL coach dates back to 2012 and largely includes work outside of Baltimore.
The Giants struggled in several defensive categories despite their free agent investments in the secondary last spring and other moves such as the selection of edge rusher Abdul Carter third overall in the draft. Carter improved late in the year, but further development in his case and many others will be needed if New York is to meet Harbaugh’s stated goal of reaching the playoffs during his first season at the helm. Wilson will be tasked with overseeing the team’s defense for at least that initial campaign.
Sean McDermott Could Avoid Coaching In 2026
Four head coaching vacancies are still present around the NFL. Sean McDermott would no doubt be among the top candidates on the market, but he has not yet been linked to a hire during the waning stages of this year’s hiring cycle. 
That may remain the case for some time. The recently-fired Bills head coach “has not engaged” with any of the teams currently in need of a new HC, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network notes (video link). Buffalo has yet to hire his replacement, while the Cardinals, Browns and Raiders still have an opening on the sidelines.
Many of the other vacancies around the league have been viewed as more attractive than those in Arizona, Cleveland and Las Vegas. Certain candidates – such as Mike McDaniel and Jesse Minter (Browns) and Kevin Stefanski (Raiders) – have withdrawn from those teams’ searches. Klay Kubiak, meanwhile, recently took himself out of the running for all remaining HC positions.
Nothing is final at this point, but Rapoport names McDermott as a candidate to join those staffers by avoiding any of the gigs he could receive consideration for. A return to defensive coordinator duties could be possible, but Rapoport adds McDermott received positive reviews when speaking to others who spent one year out of coaching after a lengthy spell with one team came to an end.
As such, it is currently “likely” McDermott will be out of the league for 2026, per Rapoport (contrary to a recent report which stated he intended to immediately resume his career). The 51-year-old entered the NFL in 1999 with the Eagles; his first coaching role came about two years later. McDermott worked his way up to defensive coordinator as a longtime member of Andy Reid‘s staff. After two years in that role, he spent six leading the Panthers’ defense. McDermott then joined Brandon Beane in moving from Carolina to Buffalo.
The Bills made the postseason eight times in McDermott’s nine years coaching the team. Buffalo advanced to at least the divisional round of the postseason on each of those occasions, but an inability to reach the Super Bowl increasingly became an issue. Owner Terry Pegula opted to promote Beane while moving on from McDermott, who sports a .662 winning percentage in the regular season (something which will no doubt make him a coveted staffer when he chooses to return).
Once the conference title games wrap up, further clarity on the remaining HC vacancies will emerge. McDermott is free to speak with interested suitors at any time, but that may not take place barring a shift on his stance regarding the 2026 campaign.
Commanders To Conduct DC Interview With Daronte Jones
Daronte Jones has been among the the most sought-after defensive coordinator candidates in this year’s cycle. The current Vikings defensive pass-game coordinator is now on the radar of another DC-needy team. 
Jones will interview with the Commanders today for their D-coordinator position, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports. That makes Washington the fifth team to arrange an interview in this case. It also expands the list of Commanders candidates even further.
Joe Whitt was stripped of play-calling duties midway through the 2025 season. After head coach Dan Quinn made that decision, there was a widespread expectation a parting of ways would take place after the campaign ended. Whitt was indeed dismissed earlier this month.
The Commanders also elected to move from offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, and they looked internally by promoting David Blough to the position. An in-house move should not be expected regarding Whitt’s replacement, with only outside candidates receiving a look up to this point. Jones, 47, is the second Vikings staffer to interview with Washington, after Brian Flores met with the Commanders two weeks ago.
Jones – who was born in Capitol Heights, Maryland – has been with the Vikings for a total of five seasons across two spells with the team. He has worked in his current capacity for each of the three years Flores has been with Minnesota. It appears as though Flores will continue his D-coordinator gig for at least one more season, and if that winds up being confirmed Jones would of course be a strong candidate to be retained. The door is clearly still open to Jones receiving a coordinator opportunity, though.
Here is an updated look at where things stand regarding the Commanders’ search:
- Teryl Austin, defensive coordinator (Steelers): Interviewed
- Joe Cullen, defensive line coach (Chiefs): Interviewed 1/9
- Brian Flores, former defensive coordinator (Vikings): Interviewed 1/14
- Jonathan Gannon, former head coach (Cardinals): Interviewed 1/15
- Patrick Graham, defensive coordinator (Raiders): Interview requested
- Al Harris, defensive backs coach (Bears): Interviewed 1/22
- Daronte Jones, defensive pass-game coordinator (Vikings): To interview 1/25
- Raheem Morris, former head coach (Falcons): Mentioned as candidate
- Karl Scott, defensive backs coach (Seahawks): Interviewed
- Jeff Ulbrich, defensive coordinator (Falcons): Mentioned as candidate; staying with Falcons
- Dennard Wilson, former defensive coordinator (Titans): Interviewed 1/10
Bills Conduct HC Interview With Philip Rivers
JANUARY 25: NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport notes (video link) Rivers’ interview went well. He adds a head coaching hire – unorthodox as it would be – is under “serious consideration” by the Bills at this time. Buffalo’s decision on this front will be among the league’s top storylines over the coming days.
JANUARY 23: The list of Bills targets for their head coaching vacancy continues to grow. One of the more interesting names on the market will now receive a look. 
Philip Rivers is set to interview with Buffalo today, as first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The eight-time Pro Bowler briefly resumed his playing career down the stretch, making three starts for the Colts after Daniel Jones was lost to an Achilles tear. Rivers later confirmed he would not play again.
[RELATED: Bills To Interview Mike McDaniel For HC Job]
The door is open to a coaching career, however. Prior to the 2026 head coaching hiring cycle beginning, Rivers was named as a wild-card candidate to watch. As of earlier this month, he had yet to receive an interest from around the NFL. With the Bills in the midst of their search, though, at least one interview will now take place.
Before he un-retired, Rivers had been coaching his eldest son’s high school team. The 44-year-old has stated a desire to return to that role for 2026 in the absence of an NFL opportunity. Rivers’ football acumen and leadership were sources of praise throughout his decorated career, making him a logical candidate for a coaching role of some kind.
On the other hand, Rivers has never worked as a head coach, coordinator or position coach at the pro or college levels. That lack of experience would make a jump directly to the HC ranks in the NFL a risky one to say the least. Nevertheless, it will be interesting to see if a mutual interest exists between the parties once this in-person interview concludes.
Sean McDermott was fired following Buffalo’s latest postseason loss. Owner Terry Pegula‘s actions and remarks since then have made it clear general manager Brandon Beane won out in a power struggle of sorts with respect to disagreements over roster construction; Beane was promoted to president of football operations earlier this week. Quarterback Josh Allen will be present for Buffalo’s upcoming interviews, and he is in position to have a “significant say” in the team’s eventual hire. It will be interesting to see how Allen feels about the possibility of Rivers (who played 17 full NFL seasons, including 16 with the Chargers) stepping into a head coaching role immediately after hanging up his cleats.
Here is an updated look at where things stand for the Bills:
- Lou Anarumo, defensive coordinator (Colts): Interviewed 1/22
- Joe Brady, offensive coordinator (Bills): Interviewed 1/21
- Brian Daboll, former head coach (Giants): Interviewed 1/22; prefers Buffalo gig
- Klint Kubiak, offensive coordinator (Seahawks): Rumored candidate
- Anthony Lynn, run-game coordinator (Commanders): To interview 1/24
- Mike McDaniel, former head coach (Dolphins): To interview 1/23
- Philip Rivers, former NFL quarterback: To interview 1/23
- Grant Udinski, offensive coordinator (Jaguars): To interview 1/25
- Anthony Weaver, defensive coordinator (Dolphins): To interview 1/24
- Davis Webb, quarterbacks coach (Broncos): Rumored candidate
Raheem Morris, Anthony Campanile, Mike LaFleur Leading Candidates For Cardinals’ HC Position?
The Cardinals are one of four teams which still have a head coaching vacancy. A hire could be coming soon, though, with a trio of top candidates in place. 
According to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, Arizona considers Raheem Morris, Anthony Campanile and Mike LaFleur to be the “leading” options at this point. All three have interviewed at least once with the Cardinals as part of their ongoing search. Campanile met with the team for a second time on Thursday, something other candidates are also set to do shortly.
The current Jaguars defensive coordinator has been a popular head coaching candidate during this year’s cycle. Campanile interviewed with the Ravens and Dolphins, but both teams have since gone in a different direction to fill their HC positions. 2025 marked the 43-year-old’s first season as a coordinator at the NFL level, so taking on a head coaching gig would represent another major career move.
LaFleur has a more extensive history as an NFL coordinator, having served as an OC with the Jets from 2021-22 and with the Rams for the past three seasons. He has not handled play-calling duties in Los Angeles while working under Sean McVay, but the 38-year-old has helped his stock over the course of his Rams stint. A follow-up interview was not possible in LaFleur’s case this past week with the Rams advancing to the NFC title game. One could be arranged in the near future, however.
Morris is the only member of the trio who has worked as a head coach at the NFL or college levels. He was at the helm of the Buccaneers from 2009-11; Morris also served as the Falcons’ coach for a total of 45 games across two different stints. Over that span, his teams posted a winning record just once. Morris, 49, is regarded as one of the game’s top defensive minds but his head coaching winning percentage sits at .398. Interest in multiple D-coordinator positions could be coming in this case in the even Morris does not land the Cardinals gig, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
Plenty remains to be seen over the coming days, but SNY’s Connor Hughes reports LaFleur is “believed to be the frontrunner” for the Arizona HC position at this time. For now, his attention will be focused on the Rams’ game against the Seahawks with a Super Bowl berth on the line. Nevertheless, a deal bringing with it a first head coaching opportunity allowing LaFleur to remain in the NFC West could be coming soon.
Here is an updated look at where Arizona’s search stands:
- Joe Brady, offensive coordinator (Bills): To conduct in-person interview
- Thomas Brown, tight ends coach (Patriots): Interview requested
- Matt Burke, defensive coordinator (Texans): Interviewed
- Anthony Campanile, defensive coordinator (Jaguars): Conducted second interview 1/22; leading candidate?
- Jeff Hafley, defensive coordinator (Packers): Interviewed 1/14
- John Harbaugh, former head coach (Ravens): Contacted
- Vance Joseph, defensive coordinator (Broncos): Interviewed 1/10, considered “strong candidate”
- Klint Kubiak, offensive coordinator (Seahawks): Interviewed 1/10
- Mike LaFleur, offensive coordinator (Rams): Interviewed 1/16; leading candidate?
- Jesse Minter, defensive coordinator (Chargers): Interviewed 1/13
- Raheem Morris, former head coach (Falcons): Interviewed; leading candidate?
- Matt Nagy, offensive coordinator (Chiefs): Interviewed 1/9
- Robert Saleh, defensive coordinator (49ers): Interviewed 1/15
- Chris Shula, defensive coordinator (Rams): Interviewed 1/16
- Arthur Smith, offensive coordinator (Steelers): Interview requested
- Anthony Weaver, defensive coordinator (Dolphins): To conduct second interview 1/25
Browns Conduct HC Interview With Anthony Lynn
Relatively late in the interview process, a new name has emerged in the Browns‘ ongoing head coaching search. Anthony Lynn completed an interview on Saturday, Josina Anderson of The Exhibit reports. 
The meeting was in person, Anderson adds. As a result, the Browns have conducted one of their two mandatory in-person interviews with external minority candidates. Another will take place on Monday when Cleveland speaks with Rams pass-game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase.
Once the Browns satisfy the Rooney Rule, a hire could soon follow. They are one of four teams still in need of a head coach at this point in the hiring cycle, one which will see 10 of the NFL’s teams make a change at the HC spot when it is complete. Lynn also interviewed with the Bills today.
The 57-year-old was a running backs coach in Cleveland during the 2008 and ’09 seasons. Lynn had already held that role with two other teams at that point, and he has since done so with another four. In between, he was the Chargers’ head coach from 2017-20. The Bolts posted a winning record for Lynn’s first two years in charge, but that was followed by 5-11 and 7-9 campaigns.
Lynn followed up his debut HC stint with a single campaign as the Lions’ offensive coordinator. Head coach Dan Campbell took over play-calling duties midway through the season, and to no surprise a parting of ways took place at the end of the year. Lynn then spent a pair of seasons with the 49ers with his title including assistant head coach. Since 2024, he has worked as the Commanders‘ RBs coach and run-game coordinator.
Washington’s staff is undergoing a number of changes in the wake of a disappointing campaign. That could include Lynn departing, depending on how the Bills and Browns proceed over the coming days. Via PFR’s HC Search Tracker, here is an updated look at where things stand in Cleveland’s case:
- Aden Durde, defensive coordinator (Seahawks): Interviewed 1/9
- John Harbaugh, former head coach (Ravens): Rumored mutual interest; interview requested
- Anthony Lynn, run-game coordinator (Commanders): Interviewed 1/24
- Mike McDaniel, former head coach (Dolphins): To conduct second interview 1/21; withdrew from search
- Jesse Minter, defensive coordinator (Chargers): To conduct second interview 1/22; withdrew from search
- Todd Monken, offensive coordinator (Ravens): Conducted second interview 1/20
- Dan Pitcher, offensive coordinator (Bengals): Interviewed 1/9
- Tommy Rees, offensive coordinator (Browns): Interviewed 1/8
- Nate Scheelhaase, pass game coordinator (Rams): To conduct second interview 1/26; considered serious candidate
- Jim Schwartz, defensive coordinator (Browns): Conducted second interview 1/19; seen as favorite?
- Chris Shula, defensive coordinator (Rams): Interview requested
- Grant Udinski, offensive coordinator (Jaguars): Conducted second interview 1/23
Titans To Interview Dino Vasso For DC Job
A third name has emerged on the list of candidates for the Titans‘ defensive coordinator position. The team will look into a staffer from within the AFC South. 
Tennessee has lined up an interview with Texans defensive backs coach Dino Vasso, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. This marks the first sign of interest in Vasso’s case regarding a coordinator vacancy. He was not on the DC radar previously in the 2026 hiring cycle or any others.
After a brief start to his coaching career at the college level, Vasso received his first NFL opportunity with the Chiefs in 2013. Three years as an assistant in Kansas City was followed by a move to the Eagles. Vasso worked his way up to assistant defensive coordinator, a role he held in 2020. For the past five years, he has been on the Texans’ staff.
Vasso initially joined the Texans as a cornerbacks coach; he held that role for three years. The 38-year-old’s purview was expanded slightly in 2024 with his title shifting to defensive backs coach. The Texans’ defense has certainly benefited from strong play in the secondary during recent years, and Rapoport notes both Jim Schwartz and Matt Burke have offered endorsements for Vasso.
Those strong reviews will now result in at least one interview for a coordinator position. The Titans hired Robert Saleh as their new head coach earlier this week. Shortly thereafter, it was confirmed defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson was among the coaches who will not return as part of the new staff. Saleh’s defensive background could see him call plays on that side of the ball with his new team, but even in that event his DC hire will be key. It would be interesting if Saleh were to tap a first-time D-coordinator as part of his initial staff.
Of course, the Titans’ other candidates at this point – Aaron Whitecotton (Cowboys) and Al Harris (Bears) – have never been an NFL coordinator either. Vasso will join those two in seeking out an initial opportunity in Tennessee.