Seahawks Meet With Byron Leftwich For OC Position; Second Interview With Vikings’ Grant Udinski Scheduled
The Seahawks continue to move forward in their search for an offensive coordinator. A new name has emerged as one of the team’s targets while the list of finalists grows. 
Byron Leftwich recently interviewed with Seattle for the OC spot, Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports reports. Leftwich made it clear earlier this season he intended to return to an NFL sideline in some capacity during the 2025 hiring cycle. He met with the Patriots for their head coaching position last week, but a deal allowing him to lead a staff would come as a surprise.
Another coordinator gig would be more realistic, especially considering his success in that capacity with the Buccaneers. Leftwich helped guide the team to a top-three finish in scoring each season from 2019-21. The 2022 campaign witnessed a notable regression with Todd Bowles taking over from Bruce Arians as head coach, but Leftwich could rebuild his stock with another opportunity this year.
While Leftwich has met with the team once, the Seahawks are into the finalist phase by taking part in second interviews. Saints OC Klint Kubiak will speak with Seattle today, having already done so last week. The Browns showed interest in Kubiak as well before promoting Tommy Rees to fill their offensive coordinator spot. Kubiak remains on New Orleans’ staff for now, but since the Saints are among the teams in need of a head coach he has been allowed to seek out other opportunities.
Kubiak is joined by Grant Udinski as a finalist for the Seahawks’ gig. The latter has a second, in-person interview lined up for today, per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo. Udinski is an assistant OC with the Vikings while also holding the title of QBs coach. The 28-year-old first joined an NFL staff when he followed Matt Rhule from Temple to Carolina in 2020. He took a role under Kevin O’Connell in his first year as Vikings head coach (2022), earning a promotion to his current role one year later.
After one season in place, Ryan Grubb was dismissed as Seattle’s offensive coordinator. Mike Macdonald will look to generate a rebound on that side of the ball for his second year at the helm, although before that can take place a decision on quarterback Geno Smith‘s future will need to be made. Whether it is Smith in place or another passer for 2025, the Seahawks’ next OC will be tasked with overseeing a step forward in the run game in particular.
Seattle has also interviewed Bears interim head coach Thomas Brown and Lions offensive line coach Hank Fraley for the OC vacancy. It will be interesting to see if either of them wind up joining Kubiak, Udinski (and potentially Leftwich) as finalists.
Jets Start Submitting HC Interview Requests
JANUARY 17: Griese declined the Jets’ interview request, Brian Costello of the New York Post writes. That makes him the first candidate to turn down the chance to meet with the team. New York has, of course, nevertheless compiled a long list of targets as the search process for a new full-time head coach continues.
JANUARY 6: The Jets have been free to interview coaching candidates not currently under contract to other teams. Now that the regular season is over, however, formal interview requests can be made to speak with staffers employed elsewhere. 
The Jets have been quite busy on that front, sending out requests to numerous staffers as they map out the next phase of their search process. New York has already interviewed former head coaches Ron Rivera and (after the expiration of his Browns consulting contract) Mike Vrabel. The same will also be true of former Jets coach Rex Ryan, who said on Monday he sees himself as the top candidate.
In addition to those three, a slew of coaches have received an interview request. That includes Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik, as noted by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. Slowik is in his second season leading Houston’s offense after he followed DeMeco Ryans from San Francisco. The Texans put up strong numbers during quarterback C.J. Stroud‘s rookie season, leading to head coaching interest in Slowik’s case. The 37-year-old’s unit regressed in 2024, but he has still landed at least one interview request this time around.
The Jets have also requested an interview with Arthur Smith, per Rapoport. That comes as little surprise given the interest New York showed in Smith this past offseason for a role on the team’s offensive staff. Smith instead took the Steelers’ OC gig, but a recent report noted he was likely to receive a look for head coach from the Jets. After three years at the helm of the Falcons (which consisted entirely of 7-10 seasons), Smith immediately moved on to his current role in Pittsburgh. He turned aside interest for North Carolina’s head coaching position, but it will be notable if he explores any HC vacancies at the NFL level this winter.
Another offensive staffer who has received an interview request is Joe Brady. Rapoport reports the Bills’ play-caller has received a slip from the Jets, one which could very well be followed by others shortly. Brady had a forgettable tenure under Matt Rhule with the Panthers, but he has been in Buffalo since 2022. The 35-year-old took over as interim OC midway through last season, and that move sparked improvement in the team’s run game in particular. Brady remained in place on a full-time basis for 2024, and he again guided Buffalo to a strong showing on offense.
Remaining on the offensive side of the ball, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports New York is interested in speaking with Matt Nagy. The former Bears head coach would meet the Jets’ desire to add an experienced leader on the sidelines, although Nagy’s Chicago tenure did not yield much in the way of success after 2018. Following his Chicago firing after the 2021 campaign, Nagy returned to the Chiefs to serve as their QBs coach. The 46-year-old was then promoted to offensive coordinator (in a non play-calling capacity) last offseason following Eric Bieniemy‘s departure. Nagy’s work in that role has put him on the HC radar, with the Saints also being a team believed to have interest.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports Brian Griese has also received an interview request. The longtime quarterback had a stretch working as an ESPN analyst from 2009-22, but since then he has worked as a member of the 49ers’ coaching staff. This season marked his third as San Francisco’s quarterbacks coach, and as such Griese has played a large role in developing Brock Purdy into a candidate for the NFL’s next mega-extension at the position. Given his lack of coaching experience, a jump to HC would come as a surprise at this point, but Griese could receive some consideration from the Jets.
Vikings QBs coach Josh McCown is another staffer with an offensive background whom the Jets are looking into. Schefter reports the 45-year-old has received an interview request. McCown’s playing career ended in 2020, and it did not take long for him to transition to coaching. He coached the Panthers’ quarterbacks last season before taking on the same role with the Vikings for 2024. Head coach Kevin O’Connell has understandably received praise for Sam Darnold‘s strong play this year, but McCown’s role has no doubt helped his stock as well.
Having moved on from Robert Saleh midseason and struggled under interim HC (and former defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich), it would come as no surprise if an offensive staffer were to be targeted by the Jets. Not all candidates have that background, though. Schefter reports Vance Joseph has received an interview request, one which may well be followed by others this cycle. His work leading the Broncos’ defense (No. 7 in yards allowed, No. 3 in scoring) has not gone unnoticed, and a second head coaching opportunity could come about as a result. Joseph, 52, coached the Broncos in 2017 and ’18. 
Another popular candidate is Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, and NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports the Jets have submitted a request. Glenn has been in his current role since 2021, and after receiving confidence from head coach Dan Campbell in the wake of previous poor outings his unit has shown improvement this year. Despite dealing with several injuries, the Lions ranked seventh in scoring defense en route to the top seed in the NFC. Glenn has not worked as a head coach in the NFL before, but the 2025 cycle could present his first opportunity to do so.
Rounding out defensive candidates, Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated reports Brian Flores is on the list of staffers New York wishes to speak with. His success as Vikings defensive coordinator has boosted his stock, and the former Dolphins coach made it clear earlier this season he would welcome another opportunity to lead a staff. Other suitors could be in play as well, and Flores’ interview process will be worth watching closely.
Other candidates will no doubt emerge soon, but for now the Jets have a long list of targets as they seek out Saleh’s long-term replacement. It will be interesting to see where Ulbrich fits into this equation; in any event, though, he figures to have considerable competition for the gig.
Tom Brady Will Fulfill Broadcasting Contract
The 2024 season marks Year 1 of Tom Brady‘s broadcasting career. The Raiders minority owner has drawn attention over conflict of interest concerns, but no change to his situation is expected any time soon. 
Brady’s agent Don Yee made it clear in an interview with Ben Fischer of the Sports Business Journal that his client plans to fulfill the remainder of his contract. Brady is attached to a 10-year, $375MM pact with FOX, but the fact his first year in the broadcast booth coincides with his first as an official member of the Raiders’ ownership group led to notable restrictions being placed on him. NFL owners raised issues on the conflict of interest front before approving his purchase of a 5% stake in the franchise, but since it became official no developments have taken place on that front.
“Tom has had a tremendous amount of fun working with FOX this year, and he’s really excited about the future with FOX and his growth on their team,” Yee said. “And this year was the first year of a long relationship.”
Brady’s next game in the booth will be this weekend’s Commanders-Lions contest. That matchup will provide him with the opportunity to speak with Lions coordinator Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn, two of the top remaining head coaching candidates in this year’s hiring cycle and and members of the list of Raiders targets. Johnson in particular has emerged as a name to watch closely, with a mutual interest appearing to exist and a substantial offer believed to be on tap. Brady played a central role in the decisions to fire both Antonio Pierce and Tom Telesco, moves which gave the Raiders the opportunity to once again reset as an organization.
While Brady carries on in his efforts on that front, he will continue his broadcasting responsibilities (which will include calling Super Bowl LIX). His actions will no doubt continue to be monitored by the league and its owners, although a source from one NFL team informed Mark Maske of the Washington Post no complaints have been made yet with respect to any unfair advantages being gained. The opportunity for that to change may arise down the road, but for the foreseeable future Brady is set to wear both hats.
As noted in a detailed piece on the matter from The Athletic (subscription required), Brady cannot serve a role in the Raiders’ front office aside from his current title of minority owner. Leaving his broadcasting career behind could not lead him to a different position formally leading football operations or another aspect of the organization since he is not directly related to controlling owner Mark Davis. As a result, no changes to Brady’s current setup should be considered likely.
Broncos Fire ST Coordinator Ben Kotwica
The Broncos are the latest team to make a coordinator change. After two seasons in Denver, Ben Kotwica has been fired, Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL Network report.
Kotwica was among the first hires made by head coach Sean Payton once he took the Broncos’ head coaching position. The move added to Kotwica’s lengthy NFL coaching resume; he has served as a special teams coordinator with the Jets in addition to time in Washington and Atlanta in that capacity. Despite a lack of previous experience working with Payton, Kotwica took charge of the third phase units in Denver after one season as an assistant ST coach with the Vikings.
The 50-year-old oversaw a unit which included Marvin Mims earning first-team All-Pro acclaim as a punt returner this year. In the Broncos’ wild-card loss to the Bills this weekend, the team successfully converted a fourth-and-eight by means of a fake punt. Those individual successes were weighed against shortcomings like Denver’s Week 10 loss to Kansas City, during which a would-be game-winning field goal attempt was blocked.
Given Kotwica’s experience, it would not come as a surprise if he were to land another opportunity in the near future. In the meantime, it will be interesting to see how Payton proceeds with filling this vacancy. As Underdog Fantasy’s James Palmer notes, the timing of this dismissal could be an indication Payton already has a specific target in mind with respect to a replacement.
Of course, the former Saints Super Bowl winner has brought in a number of familiar faces on the field and the sidelines since his arrival in Denver. For that reason, Darren Rizzi‘s name has been mentioned as one to watch. Rizzi took over as New Orleans’ interim head coach midway through the season after Dennis Allen was fired. He hopes to land the full-time gig with the Saints and has interviewed with the team. Rizzi has also met with the Jets about their vacancy, and it remains to be seen if he will receive the opportunity to lead a staff in 2025. If not, taking charge of Denver’s special teams could be on the table.
Vikings To Discuss Extensions With Kevin O’Connell, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah
JANUARY 16: O’Connell confirmed he engaged in discussions with Vikings ownership this week, via The Athletic’s Alec Lewis. Exiting his third season at the helm, the Minnesota HC confirmed he is seeking a second contract. A leaguewide expectation points to an O’Connell extension coming this offseason, CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones adds. Adofo-Mensah confirmed (via ESPN.com’s Kevin Seifert) he also has met with ownership.
JANUARY 15: The Vikings’ season ended on a sour note regarding the final week of the regular season as well as the wild-card round. Losses in both of those contests have left the 14-win team out of Super Bowl contention, but expectations will likely be raised next season. 
The defining storyline of Minnesota’s offseason will of course be the status of quarterback Sam Darnold. He far exceeded the value of his one-year, $10MM pact in 2024 but poor outings to close out the campaign could hinder his earning power. Regardless of whether the franchise tag is used, a multi-year contract is worked out or if the Vikings move on to J.J. McCarthy under center, continuity should be expected on the sidelines and in the front office.
Owner and president Mark Wilf plans to discuss contract extensions with head coach Kevin O’Connell and general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, Ben Goessling of the Minnesota Star Tribune writes. Talks could begin as early as this week as the team prepares for a number of looming offseason decisions. O’Connell and Adofo-Mensah are both in their first stints in their current positions, and their success has been notable.
The Vikings went 13-4 in 2022, the first season both were in place for Minnesota. That was followed last year by a 7-10 campaign punctuated by quarterback Kirk Cousins‘ Achilles tear. Minnesota ultimately decided not to match the Falcons’ commitment to Cousins in free agency, electing to invest in McCarthy in the first round of the draft in addition to the Darnold signing. The latter’s career year has helped his market value considerably, and it has enhanced O’Connell’s reputation around the league as one of the NFL’s top offensive minds.
It was reported in December an extension for O’Connell was expected, although at that point no discussions had taken place. He and Adofo-Mensah are under contract through 2025, but their respective performances to date have certainly helped their leverage in securing a new commitment from ownership. A trade for O’Connell was raised as a possibility being entertained by other teams earlier this month; to no surprise, that has since been emphatically shut down.
The Vikings will be hard-pressed to duplicate this season’s success given the strength of the NFC North, but the team could be well positioned to contend moving forward by ensuring the current HC/GM combination remains intact beyond next year. It will be interesting to see how extension talks progress once they get underway.
Ravens Claim Diontae Johnson; WR Will Not Play In Postseason
The latest turn in Diontae Johnson‘s journeyman 2024 season took place yesterday when he was waived by the Texans. The veteran wideout’s future for the remainder of the campaign has now been settled. 
Johnson was claimed off waivers by the Ravens on Wednesday, per the transactions wire (h/t ESPN’s Adam Schefter). To be clear, this is merely a procedural move; he will not suit up for Baltimore over the remainder of the postseason. Like all waived players at this time of year, Johnson will not formally be awarded to the team until after the Super Bowl.
By virtue of being a Raven once the league year ends, Johnson departing on the open market could put Baltimore in line for a 2026 compensatory pick. More immediately, this move prevents the 28-year-old from becoming a free agent amongst the eight remaining playoff team. Had Johnson cleared waivers, an interested suitor could have brought him in as depth option on offense.
Considering how this campaign has played out, of course, it would have come as a surprise if any team had been particularly keen on bringing Johnson in for the stretch run. The former Steeler was traded to the Panthers this offseason, and his early production with Carolina was notable given the team’s offensive struggles. As the trade deadline approached, it became clear a deal sending the pending free agent elsewhere was likely, and he was sent to Baltimore.
That move resulted in sparse usage, however, something Johnson took issue with. After making only four appearances with the Ravens, he was waived and claimed by the Texans as part of their efforts to replace the injured Stefon Diggs and Tank Dell. Johnson played only one game during the regular season before taking part in last week’s wild-card contest, and his playing time (or lack thereof) was again an issue. The Toledo product’s latest departure came as no surprise, and it compounds what will already be a very poor free agent market this spring.
Now, Johnson will be able to turn his attention to free agency in March. Once his two-year, $36.71MM pact expires, it will be interesting to see how many teams are willing to entertain signing him.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 1/15/25
Wednesday’s taxi squad moves:
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: QB Anthony Brown
- Released: DT Eli Ankou
Houston Texans
- Signed: WR Alex Erickson
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: WR Jason Brownlee
- Released: TE Robert Tonyan
Falcons Interview Jeff Ulbrich For DC Gig
The Falcons recently moved on from defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake after one season with the team. Atlanta’s search for his replacement continues to expand. 
Atlanta interviewed Jeff Ulbrich for the DC position on Wednesday, per a team announcement. The Jets’ interim head coach interviewed for the team’s full-time gig earlier this week, but he has not garnered attention this year for any of the other vacancies. Ulbrich’s experience at the coordinator level makes him an interesting candidate for this year’s hiring cycle, though.
The 47-year-old’s coaching tenure began in 2010, and after three seasons at UCLA he returned to the pro level. Ulbrich joined the Falcons’ staff in 2015 as their linebackers coach, continuing in that role for five years. In 2020, he had assistant head coach added to his title and also closed out the campaign as interim defensive coordinator. That was the year in which then-DC Raheem Morris was promoted to interim head coach following Dan Quinn‘s dismissal.
As a result, another Falcons opportunity would represent not only a reunion for Ulbrich but a chance to once again work under Morris. The latter’s first season as Atlanta’s head coach did not go according to plan, in no small part due to a stretch of underwhelming quarterback play from veteran QB Kirk Cousins. While Atlanta has a succession plan in the form of Michael Penix Jr., improvement on defense will be a goal for 2025. The Falcons ranked 23rd in points and yards allowed, a key factor in the team’s inability to reach the postseason. Ulbrich has overseen the Jets’ defense since 2021, a unit which posted mix results over that span (including poor outings once he took over from Robert Saleh midway through the past season).
Atlanta has an interview lined up with former Bengals DC Lou Anarumo, and yesterday the team met with ex-Ravens and Giants D-coordinator Don Martindale. Both staffers are on the Colts’ radar, but that is not the case (for now, at least) with respect to Steve Wilks. The veteran coach is also on Atlanta’s interview list, one which has another experienced name on it in the form of Ulbrich.
Jets Request HC Interview With Jeff Hafley
The Jets’ list of targets for their head coaching vacancy continues to grow. The team has requested an interview with Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, Albert Breer of Sports Ilustrated reports. 
[RELATED: Tracking Jets’ GM Search]
Breer notes the meeting will likely take place toward the end of this week. Once that interview is complete, the Jets will have spoken with (or still have an outstanding request for) 17 candidates as part of their wide-ranging search. This marks the first head coaching gig Hafley has been connected to for the 2025 hiring cycle.
The Montvale, New Jersey native has extensive coaching experience at the college and NFL levels. That includes his time leading Boston College, which spanned from 2020-23. Hafley led the program to a record at or above .500 in three of his four campaigns, and he made the jump back to the pro game last offseason. He took charge of the Packers’ defense after Joe Barry was dismissed.
Improving on that side of the ball was a key priority for Green Bay in 2024, and Hafley delivered in his first year. The Packers ranked fifth and sixth in total and scoring defense, respectively, during the regular season while also finishing third in interceptions and seventh in sacks. Playing much of the year without top corner Jaire Alexander, the team posted comparatively poor figures against the pass; still, it comes as little surprise Hafley’s work has garnered at least some head coaching consideration.
The 45-year-old is joined by many staffers with a defensive background in the Jets’ search. Robert Saleh was dismissed midseason and replaced by defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, but his unit underperformed down the stretch. New York has looked into options regarding offense-oriented staffers, although Lions DC (and former Jets Pro Bowl corner) Aaron Glenn remains a name to watch closely. In any case, Hafley will join the growing list of coaches taking part in at least a first interview with New York.
Courtesy of PFR’s head coaching search tracker, here is an updated breakdown of the Jets’ process:
- Bill Belichick, head coach (North Carolina): Showed interest; meeting never scheduled
- Joe Brady, offensive coordinator (Bills): To interview
- Brian Flores, defensive coordinator (Vikings): To interview
- Aaron Glenn, defensive coordinator (Lions): Interviewed 1/9; team strongly interested
- Brian Griese, quarterbacks coach (49ers): Interview requested
- Jeff Hafley, defensive coordinator (Packers): Interview requested
- Vance Joseph, defensive coordinator (Broncos): Interviewed 1/15
- Mike Locksley, head coach (Maryland): Interviewed 1/10
- Josh McCown, quarterbacks coach (Vikings): To interview
- Matt Nagy, offensive coordinator (Chiefs): Interviewed 1/8
- Ron Rivera, former head coach (Commanders): Interviewed
- Darren Rizzi, interim head coach (Saints): Interviewed 1/11
- Rex Ryan, former head coach (Bills): Interviewed 1/7
- Bobby Slowik, offensive coordinator (Texans): Interview requested
- Steve Spagnuolo, defensive coordinator (Chiefs): Interviewed 1/10
- Arthur Smith, offensive coordinator (Steelers): To interview 1/16
- Jeff Ulbrich, interim head coach (Jets): Interviewed 1/13
- Mike Vrabel, former head coach (Titans): Interviewed 1/3; hired by Patriots
- Joe Whitt, defensive coordinator (Commanders): interview requested
Liam Coen In Contention To Land Jaguars’ HC Position?
The Jaguars are one of five teams currently seeking out a head coaching hire. A long list of candidates have been connected to the position, but an early contender may have emerged. 
Buccaneers offensive coordinator Liam Coen is meeting today with Jacksonville. No other team has requested an interview to this point, something which makes him stand out compared to more in-demand HC candidates. He will remain a candidate to monitor closely in this situation, however.
Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz reports Coen is “believed to be a top name to watch” regarding Jacksonville’s head coaching gig. To no surprise, Doug Pederson was dismissed after the 2024 campaign, his third in Duval County. The former Eagles Super Bowl winner comes from an offensive background, and teams often move in a different direction in that regard when replacing coaches. A number of candidates on the Jags’ radar are offensive coordinators, though, so Coen is one of many staffers whose success on that side of the ball could make him attractive as the team looks to maximize quarterback Trevor Lawrence‘s potential.
From 2018-23, Coen alternated between Sean McVay‘s Rams staff and time at Kentucky. That period gave him offensive coordinator experience at the college and NFL levels (although he did not call plays in Los Angeles). The 39-year-old took charge of the Buccaneers’ offense this season, and his success in that endeavor has not gone unnoticed. Tampa Bay ranked top-four in the NFL in passing and rushing yards per game in 2024, and it was reported in December Coen would likely be involved in this year’s head coaching carousel.
Jacksonville is one of the long list of suitors for Lions OC Ben Johnson, who is believed to be intrigued by the prospect of taking over the Jaguars. Johnson has several other potential landing spots, of course, and the Raiders have recently emerged as the top option in that regard. Especially if Johnson ends up being unavailable for the Jaguars (in spite of their predicted “aggressive pursuit,”), Coen could be a target for a second interview when the team narrows down its list of finalists. As Schultz notes, Jacksonville’s search process is far from finished at this point.
Via PFR’s head coaching search tracker, here is an updated look at where things stand with the Jaguars:
- Joe Brady, offensive coordinator (Bills): Interview requested
- Liam Coen, offensive coordinator (Buccaneers): To interview 1/15; early contender?
- Brian Flores, defensive coordinator (Vikings): To interview 1/17
- Aaron Glenn, defensive coordinator (Lions): Interviewed 1/11
- Patrick Graham, defensive coordinator (Raiders): Interviewed 1/11
- Ben Johnson, offensive coordinator (Lions): Interviewed 1/11
- Kliff Kingsbury, offensive coordinator (Commanders): Rumored candidate
- Todd Monken, offensive coordinator (Ravens): Interview requested
- Kellen Moore, offensive coordinator (Eagles): Interview requested
- Robert Saleh, former head coach (Jets): Interviewed 1/14
- Steve Spagnuolo, defensive coordinator (Chiefs): Interviewed 1/10
- Mike Vrabel, former head coach (Titans): Mentioned as candidate; hired by Patriots