Chargers Request OC Interview With Marcus Brady
With Kellen Moore set to take over as offensive coordinator of the Eagles, the Chargers officially have a vacancy at that spot on Jim Harbaugh‘s initial staff. The process of finding Moore’s replacement has begun.
The Chargers have requested an interview with Eagles senior offensive assistant Marcus Brady, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports. Brady’s Indianapolis OC tenure came about after he was let go by the Colts midway through the 2022 campaign as part of Frank Reich‘s staff. He has been connected to other coordinator opportunities during this year’s hiring cycle, however.
Brady has received interview requests from the Bears (who have since hired Shane Waldron for their OC spot) and the Panthers (who are likely to pair new head coach Dave Canales with fellow Buccaneers staffer Brad Idzik). The Chargers therefore represent Brady’s best potential option at the moment, though plenty could of course change in the coming days and weeks with respect to the coordinator carousel.
The 44-year-old had a six-year run as a coordinator in the CFL before taking his first NFL position with the Colts in 2018. Brady worked his way up to OC in 2021 with Indianapolis before his time in that role was cut short soon after. He had a hand in an Eagles offense which delivered strong overall numbers in 2023, but fell short of expectations down the stretch and in the postseason, meaning he could be elsewhere in the near future.
When signs continued to point to Harbaugh being hired, Greg Roman was listed as a name to watch regarding the Chargers’ OC spot. The pair worked together during their time with the 49ers, so a reunion would come as little surprise. Roman was away from coaching this year after his tenure at the helm of the Ravens’ offense came to an end. Also an interviewee with the Bears, he is still in the running to wind up alongside Harbaugh in L.A. Roman is now joined, however, by Brady in being connected to the position.
Buccaneers To Interview Alex Van Pelt For OC Position
The Buccaneers’ search for a new offensive coordinator will include a meeting with a familiar face for quarterback Baker Mayfield. Alex Van Pelt is set to interview with Tampa Bay today, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. 
[RELATED: Raiders Conduct OC Interview With Van Pelt]
Van Pelt worked alongside Mayfield during their time together with the Browns. The former’s time after Deshaun Watson was acquired was not sufficient for him to remain in place, however, and he was fired after the Browns’ season came to an end. A return to the Buccaneers’ coaching staff could now be in play.
From 2010-11, Van Pelt served as Tampa Bay’s quarterbacks coach. That tenure came after his stint as OC of the Bills, and preceded his time with the Packers and Bengals before he took on his next coordinator opportunity with the Browns. During Van Pelt’s first season in Cleveland, Mayfield posted a career-high passer rating of 95.9 while helping guide the team to an 11-5 record. A strong run game played a major part in that success, but Mayfield’s performances took a turn for the worse after that season.
The former No. 1 pick bounced around to the Panthers and Rams after the end to his Browns tenure, but he impressed during his debut Buccaneers campaign. Mayfield may have played his way into a new deal with Tampa Bay, but an extended tenure with the team would not come with Dave Canales at the helm. The latter parlayed his one-year OC run into the head coaching job with the Panthers.
The Buccaneers put up middling numbers in several categories this season, but the team’s struggles on the ground continued. Tampa Bay finished last in the league in rushing, and the team’s new OC will be tasked with guiding a turnaround in that department. A reunion with Van Pelt (who did not call plays during his overlapping time alongside head coach Kevin Stefanski in Cleveland) in Tampa Bay could help produce a better balance on offense while giving Mayfield a familiar face on the sidelines.
Here is an updated look at the Buccaneers’ ongoing search:
- Ken Dorsey, former offensive coordinator (Bills): To interview
- Brian Johnson, former offensive coordinator (Eagles): To interview
- Jerrod Johnson, quarterbacks coach (Texans): Interview requested
- Thad Lewis, quarterbacks coach (Buccaneers): Mentioned as candidate
- Kellen Moore, offensive coordinator (Chargers): To interview 1/29; hired as Eagles OC
- Jake Peetz, pass-game specialist (Rams): To interview
- Antwaan Randle El, wide receivers coach (Lions): Interview requested
- Zac Robinson, quarterbacks coach (Rams): Interview requested; hired as Falcons OC
- Alex Van Pelt, former offensive coordinator (Browns): To interview 1/29
Browns Hire Ken Dorsey As OC
Coordinator dominoes continue to fall around the league. The Browns are set to hire Ken Dorsey as their new OC, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. 
Dorsey began his pro coaching career with the Panthers in 2013, but his first coordinator gig came about during his four-plus years on the Bills’ staff. From 2019-21, he served as Buffalo’s quarterbacks coach, taking over from Brian Daboll as offensive coordinator ahead of last season. Things did not go according to plan during the 2023 campaign, however.
Under Dorsey, the Bills finished second in the league in both total and scoring offense in 2022. Expectations were thus high for the unit heading into this season, but a regression marked by inconsistency was experienced. Despite the fact the team sat in the top 10 in points and yards at the time, Dorsey was fired in November and replaced internally by Joe Brady. The latter has since taken on the full-time gig in Buffalo.
In spite of his recent ouster, Dorsey drew immediate interest as a coordinator candidate. He met with the Browns one week ago; an interview with the Buccaneers was also on the books. Instead of speaking with Tampa Bay, Dorsey has elected to join a Cleveland staff which underwent notable changes on the offensive side of the ball following the team’s wild-card elimination.
OC Alex Van Pelt was among the personnel let go in a bid by head coach Kevin Stefanski to spark improvement in production. Van Pelt had been in place for four years (in a non-play-calling capacity), and Stefanski will likely continue to orchestrate the unit on gamedays. Cleveland finished 10th in scoring this season despite a rash of injuries across the board, but an uptick in passing efficiency will be a target moving forward.
Of course, much will depend on the health and play of quarterback Deshaun Watson in 2024 and beyond. Three more years remain on his fully-guaranteed, $230MM deal, and a restructure will be needed to avoid him carrying a cap hit of nearly $64MM next season. Dorsey’s ability to work with Watson and Co. along with Stefanski will be a key factor in Cleveland’s ability to return to the postseason in 2024.
Several offensive coordinator openings remain around the league, but to no surprise this weekend has seen a number of developments on that front. Dorsey marks another candidate off the market for prospective employers, and the Buccaneers (along with any other teams which had him on their radar) will now need to move in a different direction. The Browns, meanwhile, have filled a signficant vacancy on their staff.
Mike Caldwell Conducts Bills DC Interview
The Bills have filled their OC vacancy, but the team still has to find a new defensive coordinator. That search has included a meeting with a familiar face for head coach Sean McDermott. 
The Bills interviewed Mike Caldwell for their defensive coordinator vacancy, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports. Caldwell was one of many defensive staffers let go by the Jaguars at the end of the campaign, one in which Jacksonville fell short of expectations on both sides of the ball en route to missing the postseason. He has nevertheless received coordinator interest in this year’s hiring cycle.
Caldwell interviewed with the Eagles for their DC posting, which has since gone to Vic Fangio. He has also met with the team over the linebackers coach position, however, so a deal sending him to Philadelphia could still be in the cards. Caldwell will have at least one alternative if his Bills meeting produces an offer. In that scenario, he would reunite with McDermott.
The pair were together during Caldwell’s playing days with the Eagles, and again when the latter was a member of Philadelphia’s coaching staff. Taking on Buffalo’s DC position would thus allow for another shared tenure with McDermott and give Caldwell, 52, the opportunity to work with a unit featuring signficant expectations.
The Bills’ perceived Super Bowl window has been in place in part due to the team’s high-profile defenders in recent years, though the unit has underperformed at times. Buffalo put up strong numbers in several defensive categories this season, one in which McDermott took on play-calling duties in response to Leslie Frazier stepping away from coaching. Roster changes will no doubt take place in the near future, but Buffalo will again enter the campaign with visions of a deep playoff run, something its defense will be significantly responsible for.
Caldwell joins ex-Eagles DC Sean Desai in interviewing with the Bills for their opening. The latter was also dismissed at the end of the campaign (although by that point he had already been replaced as Philadelphia’s play-caller). Several coordinator postings have already been filled, but a number of other candidates are still available to meet with the Bills as their search continues.
Latest On Bengals, WR Tee Higgins
The 2024 free agent receiver class has a number of intriguing names, including Tee Higgins. The Bengals should not be expected to let him reach the open market, but his future is nevertheless currently in the air. 
Higgins’ rookie contract will expire in March, and a long-term deal would come at a signficant cost given his age and production in Cincinnati. The Bengals are also in danger of losing veteran Tyler Boyd in free agency, and Ja’Marr Chase is now eligible for a second contract. The latter has lived up to expectations as one of the league’s top wideouts in his first three years, and ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler notes it is expected around the league that Chase will be a higher priority than Higgins from a financial perspective.
Chase is still under contract for 2024, and the Bengals will no doubt pick up his fifth-year option for the following season. Still, carrying both Chase and Higgins on lucrative second contracts (with quarterback Joe Burrow attached to his $55MM-per-year deal) for years to come would be a challenge. For that reason, many have pointed to Higgins as a franchise tag candidate; applying the one-year tender could open up a trade possibility allowing the Bengals to recoup at least some value for him.
At this time, however, a tag-and-trade does not appear likely. The Bengals received trade interest in the 2023 offseason and at the trade deadline, but they made it clear they were not looking to move Higgins. The 25-year-old has publicly stated an intention of remaining in Cincinnati, but outside interest remains strong. Fowler adds that multiple teams are prepared to pay Higgins as a No. 1 receiver.
The top of the WR market saw a substantial jump in value during the 2022 offseason, when Tyreek Hill became the position’s first member to reach $30MM in annual compensation. In all, 13 receivers are attached to deals averaging at least $20MM per season, and Higgins could likely do the same if he were to wind up on a team willing to pry him away from the Bengals. The Clemson product has averaged roughly 64 catches, 920 yards and six touchdowns per campaign in his career, figures brought down by his totals in an injury-marred 2023 campaign.
The stance the Bengals take with respect to their offseason priorities and where Higgins fits into them will be a key storyline to follow in the build-up to the franchise tag deadline (March 7) and the start of the new league year one week later. An outside market for his services still exists, but a mutual desire to keep him in Cincinnati could nevertheless produce a multi-year agreement. If talks on that front do not gain traction soon, though, questions about Higgins’ future for 2024 and beyond will remain.
49ers Eyeing Extension For WR Brandon Aiyuk
Wideout Brandon Aiyuk has established himself as a key member of the 49ers’ skill-position group over the past two years in particular. He will remain with the team for at least one more season, but an agreement keeping him in place over the long term could be on the horizon. 
[RELATED: Aiyuk Extension Higher 49ers Priority Than Chase Young?]
San Francisco made the easy call to pick up Aiyuk’s fifth-year option last offseason, a move which locked him into a 2024 salary of $14.12MM. The 25-year-old proved that decision to be wise, setting a new career high with 1,342 yards and an average of 17.9 yards per reception this year. San Francisco is, to little surprise, interested in an extension; Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports the team is making an Aiyuk second contract a priority for this offseason (video link).
Drafted 25th overall in 2020, Aiyuk entered the league with significant expectations. He endured a spell in head coach Kyle Shanahan‘s doghouse early in his career, but his production has increased with each passing season. 2023 marked the second straight year in which he received more than 100 targets, made over 70 catches and totaled at least 1,000 yards. The Arizona State product is thus a prime candidate for a multi-year contract, though reaching agreement on one will add to the 49ers’ expenses on offense.
Fellow wideout Deebo Samuel, tight end George Kittle and running back Christian McCaffrey are each on the books through the 2025 season. That, coupled with the remaining years on quarterback Brock Purdy‘s rookie contract, will allow the 49ers to keep their current nucleus for the time being. The latter will be eligible for an extension next offseason, though, and his play to date has put him in line for a sizeable raise.
The 49ers will also need to manage increasing cap hits on Nick Bosa‘s record-breaking contract over the coming years, figures which are scheduled to jump over $20MM in 2025 and over $42MM for three years after that. Any long-term deal for Aiyuk would carve into the team’s available funds down the road and, of course, limit resources available for additions along the offensive line and in the secondary.
Still, the Arizona State alum has proven himself to be one the top up-and-coming receivers in the league, putting him in line to benefit from the position’s surging market. A sharp spike in value was seen during the 2022 offseason, and 13 receivers are now earning at least $20MM per year on their current deals. Aiyuk could become another member of that club if talks with the 49ers go smoothly this spring.
Panthers Block Giants, Dolphins Ejiro Evero DC Interview Requests
Ejiro Evero remains connected to a number of moves sending him out of Carolina, but such an agreement may not be possible. The Panthers defensive coordinator has had another pair of interview requests denied. 
[RELATED: Offensive/Defensive Coordinator Search Tracker]
Carolina has blocked DC interviews for Evero with the Giants and Dolphins, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network notes (video link). Teams are allowed to block coordinators from making lateral moves, as the Panthers have already demonstrated during this year’s hiring cycle. The team prevented the Jaguars from speaking with Evero for their DC vacancy.
As Pelissero adds, it is unknown at this point if Evero wishes to remain in Carolina if another DC position awaits him elsewhere. The 43-year-old interviewed with the Seahawks for their head coaching position for the second time on Saturday, meaning he remains in the running for that post. Evero has not served as a head coach before, and he has just a pair of seasons as a coordinator (one each with the Broncos and Panthers) to his name.
In spite of that, his success both in Denver and Carolina has landed him on the HC radar. Evero guided the Broncos to a seventh-place finish in total defense last year, and the Panthers ranked fourth in that category in 2023. The former Rams safeties coach has been linked to a potential L.A. return, and his name has also been floated with respect to the Packers’ DC vacancy.
Carolina’s staff was in a holding pattern to begin the hiring cycle, with it known a new head coach would be brought in. The Panthers have tapped Dave Canales as their hire, and his background as an offensive coordinator could give Evero a high degree of autonomy in charge of the team’s defense. With Canales in place, it will be interesting to see if the Panthers’ willingness to allow Evero to explore other options will change in the near future.
Miami saw Vic Fangio depart earlier this week after just one season in South Beach. The veteran staffer has moved quickly in taking on the DC role with the Eagles, leaving the Dolphins in search of not only better health on defense (compared to where things stood at the end of the campaign) but also another new voice to guide the unit. The Giants moved on from Don Martindale amidst reported tension with head coach Brian Daboll, putting an end to their two-year partnership. Both teams remain on the lookout for a new coordinator, but for now Evero will not be a part of that process.
Eagles Hire Kellen Moore As OC
The Eagles moved quickly in tapping Vic Fangio as their DC, and the team’s other coordinator vacancy has now been filled as well. Philadelphia is set to hire Kellen Moore as offensive coordinator, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. Howard Eskin of 94 WIP was the first to note an agreement seemed imminent.
Moore had initially been blocked from taking part in outside interviews, but the arrival of Jim Harbaugh as head coach offered more clarity on his future (or lack thereof) with the Chargers. Moore had recently been linked to a number of OC posts, including that of the Eagles. Now, he will take over from Brian Johnson. 
The latter was promoted from QBs coach to offensive coordinator to replace Shane Steichen last offseason. That move was well-received at first, but things did not go according to plan during the latter part of the campaign in particular. A rift reportedly emerged amongst the team’s offense, and Johnson (like his counterpart Sean Desai) was let go at the end of the season.
Head coach Nick Sirianni faced an uncertain future with respect to his own job security in the wake of the Eagles’ nosedive, and it quickly became clear he would remain in place only if significant staff changes were made. When speaking about the team’s offense earlier this week, Sirianni conceded (via Jori Epstein of Yahoo! Sports) the Eagles “got stale” on that side of the ball. As a result, he added he would be stepping back to a degree in terms of his influence on the unit.
Notably, Sirianni also made it clear Philadelphia would seek out an option with whom he did not share overlapping experience. A candidate with a background from a different coaching tree and with at least an altered schematic approach was listed as a priority. Given that, Moore’s hire represents a logical one. He will aim to steer the Eagles back to their previous success highlighted by last year’s run to the Super Bowl.
Moore gained steam as one of the league’s most highly-acclaimed offensive play-callers during his time with the Cowboys. He had a four-year run in Dallas, and on two occasions during that span the team led the league in scoring. While the Cowboys remained productive in the passing game in particular in 2023 with head coach Mike McCarthy at the helm of the offense, Moore was nevertheless seen as an attractive coordinator candidate in this year’s cycle.
The 34-year-old entered the season with high expectations given his pairing with Chargers QB Justin Herbert. The latter missed the end of the campaign due to injury, but overall Los Angeles disappointed on both sides of the ball. Moore still wound up on the Eagles’ shortlist of candidates for their OC posting, though. He interviewed earlier this week, and that summit clearly went well.
Moore will take over a unit which ranked eighth in total offense in 2023 and seventh in scoring. A total renovation will thus likely not be necessary, especially if quarterback Jalen Hurts manages to return to his previous form in 2024. Like Herbert, Hurts landed a monster extension last offseason, and he is in place for the long term. Maximizing his skillset will be a top priority for Moore in his return to the NFC East.
With Fangio and Moore in place as coordinators, expectations will again be high for Sirianni entering the 2024 campaign. Further staffing changes could still take place, but the two most significant vacancies have now been filled, with a high-profile OC candidate being taken off the market as many other teams continue their respective searches. The Chargers will now, as expected, officially join the list of OC-needy franchises.
Seahawks Showing HC Interest In Ravens’ Mike Macdonald
The Seahawks are one of two teams still with a head coaching vacancy. They have generated a healthy list of candidates given the number of staffers they have already met with, but at least one other coach is on the team’s radar. 
Seattle is interested in Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler and Brady Henderson report. That is noteworthy since the Seahawks have not yet spoken to Macdonald as part of their ongoing search (although he was floated as a potential candidate earlier this month). In spite of that, Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times confirms the Seahawks plan to interview him as soon as possible.
Candidates on teams playing in tomorrow’s conference championship games were not allowed to take part in head coaching interviews this week per the modified league hiring rules. However, staffers who have spoken once with interested teams are allowed to conduct a second interview during the bye between the conference title games and the Super Bowl. Since Macdonald did not speak with the Seahawks at any point during the cycle, though, he would not be able to be interviewed or hired until after the Ravens’ season comes to an end.
Like Washington, Seattle is poised to wait out the upcoming games before progressing further in its HC search. The Seahawks established a five-man list of staffers to conduct a second interview with, including Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn. The former Seahawks DC was immediately named as a serious candidate to replace Pete Carroll, and Dallas’ decision to retain Mike McCarthy could leave a return to the Emerald City as Quinn’s best path to another head coaching opportunity.
The 53-year-old had a run of five-plus years with the Falcons, making him an experienced option receiving interest from Seattle. The same is true of Mike Vrabel, whose tenure with the Titans came to an end this offseason. Vrabel has been labeled a Seahawks candidate, but the parties have not met at this point. Macdonald contrasts with those options given his thinner resume, but he has seen his rising stock result in notable interest around the league.
The latter is in just his second season as an NFL coordinator, but the Ravens’ performance on defense in 2023 has made Macdonald one of the league’s rising defensive minds. The 36-year-old’s unit has been a central factor in Baltimore’s return to the AFC title game for the first time in 11 years, and he has been connected to six HC vacancies in this year’s cycle. Macdonald is also on the radar of the Commanders, though their search continues to point more firmly toward Lions OC Ben Johnson than anyone else.
If the Seahawks follow through on their interest in Macdonald, they may need to wait until after the Super Bowl to officially hire him, depending on how tomorrow’s action plays out. Seattle could thus run the risk of losing out on another top candidate in the meantime, though the team does only have one remaining competitor on the head coaching front. In any case, Macdonald’s future will be worth watching closely with respect to both vacancies.
Falcons Hire Zac Robinson As OC
With Raheem Morris set to make the move from Los Angeles to Atlanta, at least one Rams staffer will join him. The Falcons are hiring Rams QBs coach/passing game coordinator Zac Robinson as offensive coordinator, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. This agreement will include a three-year contract, SI’s Albert Breer adds.
As Rapoport unsurprisingly notes, Robinson represented Morris’ top choice for the position. The latter took the head coaching position in Atlanta in a reunion with his former team. Now, he will bring at least one familiar face along with him, bringing an end to Robinson’s busy involvement in this year’s coordinator hiring cycle.
The 37-year-old was connected to several OC openings around the league, making him a logical candidate to depart Sean McVay‘s staff. Robinson received at least an interview request from six teams looking for a new OC, despite the fact he has no experience at that role during his coaching career.
Robinson had a brief NFL playing career as a quarterback, but he has been with the Rams as a coach since 2019. He served as assistant quarterbacks coach in two different seasons, while working with the team’s wide receivers in between. Over the past two years, he held the title of QBs coach but also passing game coordinator, making him an integral part of the Rams’ offensive staff. Los Angeles in general and quarterback Matthew Stafford in particular experienced a rebound with respect to health and productivity in 2023. The team put up strong showings in total and scoring offense while ranking 10th in passing yards per game (239).
Robinson will take the place of Dave Ragone, who had served as the Falcons’ non-play-calling OC during Arthur Smith‘s head coaching tenure. The Falcons left plenty to be desired during their time at the helm, never finishing better than 17th in scoring while posting a 7-10 record each year. Ragone has not taken a position elsewhere, but he will be in line to do so now with Morris and Robinson in the fold.
Atlanta had requested an interview with LSU’s Cortez Hankton earlier today, but the team has instead moved quickly in tapping Robinson for the gig. The latter has drawn praise as another up-and-coming offensive mind under McVay, and he will face a significant challenge upon arrival with the Falcons. The team boasts recent top-10 picks at the tight end, receiver and running back positions, as well as a strong offensive line. As was made clear during the 2023 campaign, however, quarterback represents a significant roster hole.
The Falcons have both 2022 third-rounder Desmond Ridder and veteran Taylor Heinicke under contract for next year, but an addition should be expected after the team’s struggles under center in 2023. Regardless of who is in place at the position next year, Robinson will be tasked with overseeing an improvement in efficiency through the air in particular. Morris has experience on both sides of the ball, but the bulk of his NFL work has come on defense, meaning Robinson could have a notable degree of autonomy despite his inexperience.
Already in need of a new DC to replace Morris, the Rams will now need to conduct a search for an internal candidate or an outside hire to take on Robinson’s duties. While that process will be worth watching, the Falcons have immediately filled a significant vacancy on their staff.