Steelers OC Arthur Smith Not Interested In North Carolina HC Job, Expected To Receive NFL HC Interest
North Carolina recently fired head coach Mack Brown, and the school’s process of finding his replacement is underway. Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith received a call about the vacant position. 
“Reality is [UNC] reached out on [a] preliminary call,” Smith said (via ESPN’s Brooke Pryor). “I appreciate it, love that place. But that’s not my focus. I mean I’ve got one of the best jobs in football right now. There’s a lot to be said too about [how you] can’t put a price on personal and professional happiness, which I have here.”
Smith spent his college career at UNC as a player (2001-05) and worked as a graduate assistant there to begin his coaching tenure. His experience leading a staff at the NFL level – with the Falcons between 2021 and ’23 – coupled with his connections to the school make him a logical candidate to replace Brown. As Smith noted, however, his focus is not currently on taking whatever head coaching gig presents itself.
“I’ve got an awesome job here,” the 42-year-old added. “[I] probably [have] a different mindset than I had five, four years ago where any head job, I probably would’ve walked there to take it. Now my perspective’s different, and when you got something good like I got here in Pittsburgh right now, family loves it here. I like the working environment, love being a Steeler.”
In a rare move given their organizational history, the Steelers made an in-season offensive coordinator change last year with Matt Canada being dismissed. Smith was brought in as his full-time replacement after drawing interest from the Jets. New York’s offer came with an uncertain role working alongside then-OC Nathaniel Hackett, though, and his preference was to take the Steelers gig. So far, that position has included time with both Justin Fields and Russell Wilson at quarterback.
Once Wilson recovered from his calf injury, he took over QB1 duties. That move has not led to a major uptick in passing efficiency of red zone success, but Pittsburgh leads the league in time of possession. The team also has the eighth-ranked rushing attack, something which comes as no surprise given Smith’s background and his success in that regard during his Titans OC stint.
Smith’s future beyond the current season is of course in the air given the opportunities which may present themselves to him during the winter. Indeed, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com hears that Smith is likely to receive consideration for NFL head coaching opportunities during the upcoming cycle as a result of the winning efforts he has been able to coax out of Wilson.
Bears Fire Matt Eberflus
Matt Eberflus offered the public remarks often made by head coaches on the hot seat in the wake of the Bears’ most recent loss. The franchise is nevertheless making an unprecedented in-season change on the sidelines. 
Eberflus has been fired, as first reported by Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer. His tenure in Chicago comes to an end after two-plus years at the helm of the team. He compiled a 14-32 record along the way, and the latest contribution to the team’s current six-game losing streak has marked the end of his first NFL head coaching gig. Recently-promoted offensive coordinator Thomas Brown will serve as interim head coach, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network adds.
[RELATED: Fallout From Bears’ Eberflus Firing]
Eberflus had a strong four-year run as the Colts’ defensive coordinator before being hired by the Bears to replace Matt Nagy. The 54-year-old was unable to guide the team to a run of success in two seasons with Justin Fields at quarterback, although during the second half of last year in particular the defense did show signs of improvement. A number of moves made this past offseason added new faces on offense, highlighted by the decision to move on from Fields and select Caleb Williams with the first overall pick. The latter’s rookie season has been marred by a string of close losses in recent weeks, several of which have increased the speculation Eberflus would not last the year.
Chicago had a 4-2 record heading into the bye week, an indication the team would at least be competitive in what has proven to be a very strong NFC North. The Bears lost to the Commanders on a Hail Mary (during which cornerback Tyrique Stevenson joined Eberflus in receiving considerable blame) in Week 8, however, and that marked the beginning of the current streak. Low-scoring defeats against the Cardinals and Patriots led to a play-calling change on offense, with Brown taking over from Shane Waldron as OC.
Williams’ play has generally improved since that move was made, but narrow losses to the Packers (on a blocked field goal), Vikings (in overtime) and Lions (during which the Bears mismanaged the situation at the end of the game and did not generate at least an attempt at a game-tying field goal) have now left Eberflus out of opportunities to rebound this season. Chicago sits at 4-8 on the year with the postseason no longer a realistic possibility. He defended the manner in which the Thanksgiving game ended yesterday before a brief media availability this morning. Shortly after multiple public appearances – during which, in both cases, he expressed a belief he would be retained – Eberflus is now out of the organization.
Three head coaching vacancies are now present in the NFL. The Jets moved on from Robert Saleh while Dennis Allen was dismissed by the Saints. Eberflus now joins them as a head coach with a defensive background on the lookout for a new opportunity. No shortage of candidates (particularly on the offensive side of the ball) will be involved in the 2025 hiring cycle, likely the earliest point at which Eberflus will join a new staff.
Brown made his NFL coaching debut in 2020 with the Rams. He was a member of Sean McVay‘s staff for three years before taking the Panthers’ OC gig last offseason. The 2023 campaign saw head coach Frank Reich fired amidst changes in play-calling duties with Brown. The latter spent much of the year at the helm, though, and the lack of development shown by quarterback Bryce Young helped lead to his departure. In a very short period of time, Brown has now ascended from passing game coordinator to OC and now, at least for a short-term spell, head coach.
From a big-picture perspective, today’s move represents the continuation of an unwelcomed trend regarding the HC-QB combination in Chicago. Mitch Trubisky spent one season with John Fox before a change on the sidelines was made. Nagy, in turn, spent one year with Fields in place before being dismissed at the end of the 2021 campaign. Now, Eberflus has received less than one full campaign following the Williams selection. The young passer’s development is of course the organization’s top priority, and finding a long-term coach to pair him with for 2025 and beyond will be critical in that process.
In all, Eberflus becomes the fifth Bears head coach to be fired since George McCaskey took over as chairman in 2011. Over that span, Chicago has posted a winning record only twice while cycling through three general managers and another three offensive coordinators. Finding stability will be key moving forward, but the latest attempt on that front will include a new voice on the sidelines.
Chiefs Discussed Marshon Lattimore Trade With Saints
Shortly before the Saints traded Marshon Lattimore to the Commanders, a shortlist of other suitors known to be interested was in place. That included the Chiefs, a team which negotiated with New Orleans in an effort to work out a deal. 
“We understood a [2025 third-round pick] might be involved, but we had to retain some [future picks],” Chiefs general manager Brett Veach said, via The Athletic’s Nate Taylor (subscription required). “We approached New Orleans and wanted to do some different pick-swap ideas.”
In the end, the Saints sent the four-time Pro Bowler and a 2025 fifth-round selection to the Commanders for third-, fourth- and sixth-rounders in the upcoming draft. Kansas City represented a logical suitor for Lattimore given the season-ending injury suffered by Jaylen Watson. That ailment, coupled with the offseason trade of fellow corner L’Jarius Sneed, has left the defending champions short on established cover men aside from Trent McDuffie. As was the case with the Ravens, though, the Chiefs were outbid.
“If that was last year, we wouldn’t have made that call,” Veach added. “But there was a sense of, ‘Hey, if we can do this and not mortgage our future completely, then let’s try it.’”
Since Watson suffered a fractured ankle, Kansas City’s secondary has faced struggles and the team currently ranks 18th against the pass. The AFC’s No. 1 seed has exceled in one-score games this year in large part due to the team’s strength against the run, but adding Lattimore would have provided a notable boost to the CB room. Instead, he is set to debut for the Commanders soon; since he is on the books for two more years, Washington’s trade acquisition of Lattimore is not strictly a rental like many in-season swaps.
The Chiefs were active on that front, adding receiver DeAndre Hopkins and edge rusher Josh Uche ahead of the deadline. Both players are pending free agents, so they are in position to help Kansas City’s efforts at a three-peat on a short-term basis. Lattimore would have represented a lengthier commitment had a deal been worked out, but the Chiefs will instead move forward with their incumbent cornerback options.
Giants TE Theo Johnson Could Miss Remainder Of Season
The Giants exited their Thanksgiving loss with several injuries along the defensive line, including an elbow dislocation which might keep Dexter Lawrence on the sidelines for the rest of the year. The team’s offense could also be shorthanded the rest of the way. 
Rookie tight end Theo Johnson is dealing with a foot injury. Head coach Brian Daboll said on Friday (via Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post) the ailment could end his campaign. If that turns out to be the case, his season will draw to a close after spending notable time as the team’s top pass-catching tight end.
Of course, that role was set to remain with Darren Waller heading into the 2024 season. Waller retired in June, however, creating a opening for Johnson to see a notable workload on offense right away. The 23-year-old Canadian competed for the top pass-catching role during training camp, and with a snap share of 84% he certainly carved out a notable spot on the Giants’ offense. Johnson received at least five targets in a game five times prior to getting injured, including each of the past four contests.
In all, the Penn State product has racked up 331 yards and one touchdown on 29 catches this year. The Giants have struggled on offense with and without Daniel Jones at quarterback, and losing Johnson would leave the team without an important skill position contributor over the final weeks of the campaign. Lawrence Cager was released from the practice squad with an injury settlement last month, leaving Daniel Bellinger in line to step into an increased workload on offense moving forward.
Five games remain in the Giants’ season, and the team has been eliminated from postseason contention. As a result, it would come as no surprise if Johnson were to be shut down for the rest of the season once further testing is done on his foot. In that event, his attention would turn to 2025 and the possibility of regaining a key role on offense through the remainder of his rookie contract.
Lions To Sign LB Kwon Alexander Off Broncos’ Practice Squad
In the wake of Malcolm Rodriguez‘s ACL tear, the Lions are in need of linebacker reinforcements. One is incoming by way of the Broncos’ practice squad. 
Kwon Alexander is set to head to Detroit, per his agents (via ESPN’s Adam Schefter). Alexander saw his 2023 season come to an end with an Achilles tear, the second of his career. Interest was still present once he was healthy, and in the end the 30-year-old took a deal with the Broncos in September after working out for other suitors.
Of course, that agreement allowed Alexander to reunite with Sean Payton as many former Saints have over the past two years. He has made three appearances so far in 2024, registering eight tackles and a fumble recovery. Rather than remaining in the Mile High City and awaiting the chance to sign to Denver’s active roster, though, Alexander has received the opportunity to do so with the Lions.
Detroit’s LB corps has been ravaged by injury this season, and Rodriguez will not return in 2024. Jalen Reeves-Maybin is on injured reserve, and the same is also true of Derrick Barnes; the latter will likely not be able to suit up unless a deep playoff run is made. Alex Anzalone, meanwhile, is recovering from a broken forearm and he will miss at least the next few games as the Lions look to remain atop the NFC.
Alexander has spent time with six teams in his career, logging 90 starts in 107 games. That experience will be welcomed on a Lions team lacking in healthy veterans in the front seven down the stretch. After playing only 65 defensive snaps during his time with the Broncos, the former Pro Bowler could be in line for a notable role relatively soon on his latest team.
Giants’ Dexter Lawrence Suffers Dislocated Elbow
11:20am: Head coach Brian Daboll expects Lawrence’s injury to be a long-term one. (h/t NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo). While a final call on his 2024 future has not yet been made, it would come as a surprise at this point of Lawrence were to suit up again this season.
8:59am: The Giants were eliminated from the postseason last night, and they suffered a number of injuries on the defensive line along the way. Dexter Lawrence exited the contest, and if he is to return in 2024 he will do so while dealing with a pain management situation. 
Lawrence suffered a dislocated elbow on Thanksgiving, as detailed by Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post. The two-time Pro Bowler said an X-ray on the injury came back negative, but an MRI is pending. If a lengthy recovery timetable winds up being in place, it would come as no surprise if Lawrence were to be shut down.
Five games remain in New York’s season, and a stint on injured reserve would leave the 27-year-old unavailable for at least the next four contests. With the Giants’ attention increasingly turning to the draft now that the playoffs are officially out of reach, playing Lawrence could incur an unnecessary risk of further injury. The Clemson product has only missed two games to date during his career.
Lawrence posted a league-leading nine sacks during the first seven games of the campaign, setting a new career high and further cementing his status as an instrumental member of the Giants’ defense. The former first-rounder has been held without a sack over each of the past five contests, but he has remained an impactful contributor against the run amidst other injuries suffered along the D-line. D.J. Davidson and Rakeem Nunez-Roches also exited yesterday’s game, so being without Lawrence the rest of the way could leave the unit particularly shorthanded. Three more years remain on Lawrence’s $22.5MM-per-year extension, so taking a long-term approach with respect to his recovery would be feasible from the team’s perspective.
“I’m breathing, I’m smiling. As far as the game, I’ll be back,” Lawrence said. “Don’t really know a timeline right now, but I fight through a lot so no telling. My journey now is to be able to recover and come back.”
Lions’ Malcolm Rodriguez Suffers ACL Tear
The Lions earned a victory on Thanksgiving, but it came at the expense of another injury on defense. Linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez suffered an ACL tear, Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz reports. 
Rodriguez will be out for the remainder of the season as a result, and his absence represents yet another blow to Detroit’s defense in general and linebacking corps in particular. The 25-year-old had logged a 49% snap share on defense while still handling a notable role on special teams this season. That was set to continue given the ongoing absence of Derrick Barnes along with Alex Anzalone‘s broken forearm, but now the Lions will need to look elsewhere on the depth chart.
A sixth-round pick in 2022, Rodriguez immediately demonstrated his potential by logging 15 starts as a rookie. He racked up 87 tackles that year but was relegated to rotational/special teams duties last season. As the NFC’s top seed has navigated multiple injuries at the second level, though, Rodriguez has stepped back into a notable role. The Oklahoma State product racked up 43 tackles and a pair of sacks prior to going down yesterday. Head coach Dan Campbell expressed concern over the injury, and now the worst-case scenario has played out.
As Detroit (11-1) looks to remain in the top spot in the conference (not to mention the uber-competitive NFC North), depth options will be needed at the LB spot. Anzalone is currently on injured reserve, but he could return at some point before the start of the playoffs. Barnes, meanwhile, has not shut the door to playing again in 2024, but a deep postseason run will likely be needed for that to be possible. The Lions’ front seven will move forward without all three members of that trio for the time being, something exacerbated by the previous injuries suffered along the edge by Aidan Hutchinson and Marcus Davenport (among others).
As the Lions look to continue their success with a number of key defenders out of the picture, Rodriguez’s attention will turn to rehab. One year remains on his rookie contract, but he will be eligible for an extension this offseason. Needless to say, this injury will hurt his value on any long-term Detroit commitment.
Mike McDaniel Addresses Dolphins’ Shaq Barrett Decision
When Shaq Barrett retired in July, it appeared his playing days were over. That decision came not long after he had signed a one-year Dolphins deal, a pact he could have played out over the closing weeks of the campaign had he been reinstated before yesterday’s deadline. 
Instead, Miami elected to keep Barrett on the reserve/retired list, choosing to take that route rather than waiving him and therefore opening the door to finishing out the season on a different team. The situation developed quickly, with the two-time Super Bowl champion’s application for reinstatement only taking place on Tuesday. The Dolphins were caught off guard by the move and ultimately committed to their edge rush options already on the roster.
As detailed by Adam Beasley of Pro Football Network, Miami was unaware of Barrett’s desire to play in 2024 until his attempt to be reinstated was made. He adds that many around the league were of the belief the two-time Pro Bowler intended to be let go upon being activated and join another team, something the Dolphins prevented. When speaking about the matter, head coach Mike McDaniel said “the timing wasn’t necessarily ideal” to bring Barrett in, adding his preference that “the players who deserve to be here” remain on the active roster.
“It wasn’t any measured situation like that posturing one way or the other,” McDaniel added when speaking to the media about the Barrett situation. “Like I said we just found out on a day that I had a press conference… It wasn’t whether he wanted to play there or here. He knew we had his contractual rights, so it was more of where we are at, and let’s look at our roster.”
Barrett’s contract will toll, meaning Miami will still control his rights next season. For now, the team will move forward with an edge rush group which lost Jaelan Phillips for the season and will be without Tyus Bowser for the foreseeable future. Bradley Chubb has yet to make his season debut, but that could happen before the campaign is over. Chubb continues to rehab his 2023 ACL tear, and if he returns to action he will take on a notable role alongside first-round rookie Chop Robinson. Regardless of if that happens or not, Barrett will not play a part down the stretch.
Dolphins Will Not Activate Shaq Barrett
Shaq Barrett‘s attempts to resume his career in 2024 have fallen short. The veteran edge rusher will remain on the reserve/retired list past today’s activation deadline, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. 
The move means Barrett will not be eligible to suit up for Miami this season. Rapoport adds the team also does not intend to place Barrett on waivers, something which would have allowed him to join a new team either via a claim or as a free agent. Any further efforts on his part to play again in the NFL will need to wait until 2025 as a result. Retired players cannot reach free agency, so the two-time Pro Bowler’s contract will toll.
Barrett joined the Dolphins on a one-year deal in free agency, a move which appeared to set him up to serve a notable edge rushing role during the early portion of the campaign in particular. Bradley Chubb has still yet to make his season debut, while Jaelan Phillips is out for the year due to a knee injury. Barrett applied for reinstatement on Tuesday, and he reportedly expressed a willingness to play for Miami over the closing weeks of the season.
It was uncertain whether or not the team would reciprocate the feeling, however, and today’s update confirms Barrett is not in the Dolphins’ plans. Chubb could still play at some point this season, and the decision not to activate Barrett might be a sign of optimism he will be suiting up soon. In any case, Miami will move forward with a pass-rushing contingent including first-round rookie Chop Robinson along with veterans Emmanuel Ogbah and Tyus Bowser until Chubb is activated.
Barrett’s decision to retire came as a surprise to the Dolphins at the time, although it was one he had been contemplating. The 32-year-old won a Super Bowl with both the Broncos and Buccaneers, racking up 59 sacks in 131 career games. He could still manage to add to those totals if he elects to resume his unretirement efforts during the offseason. Failing that, however, his playing days are over.
Dolphins Activate QB Tyler Huntley, Place OLB Tyus Bowser On IR
Tua Tagovailoa will handle starting duties for the Dolphins tonight, but a different backup quarterback option will be in place. Tyler Huntley has been activated from injured reserve, per a team announcement. 
[RELATED: Dolphins Decline To Activate Shaq Barrett]
A shoulder injury led Huntley onto IR in October, just as Tagovailoa returned from his concussion. The latter has remained healthy since, helping guide Miami to three straight wins as part of the team’s push for the postseason. He will of course continue operating as the Dolphins’ starter, but now Huntley will be available to serve as the backup.
The former UDFA began the season on the Ravens’ practice squad, but in the wake of Tagovailoa’s concussion he joined Miami’s roster. That move allowed Huntley to make three starts for the Dolphins prior to suffering his own injury, and in that span he did not put up notable production through the air or on the ground. Expectations will be tempered if the 26-year-old sees the field again in 2024, but he could take over from Skylar Thompson in the QB2 role. This move leaves Miami with three IR activations on the year.
In a corresponding move, edge rusher Tyus Bowser has been moved to injured reserve. Bowser made a pair of appearances with the Seahawks this season, his first regular season action since the 2022 campaign. The 29-year-old took a deal to join Miami’s active roster in October, though, reuniting with former Ravens staffer (and current Dolphins defensive coordinator) Anthony Weaver in the process.
Bowser has been a key figure at his position since arriving in Miami, logging a defensive snap share of 52%. He will now be sidelined for at least the next four games, and his absence will be felt given the team’s other injuries along the edge. Jaelan Phillips is out for the season, while Bradley Chubb has yet to suit up in 2024 as he continues rehabbing the ACL tear which ended his campaign last year. Chubb could suit up at some point this season, and with Bowser now out of the picture he could immediately step into a significant role.