Rams, Titans To Meet With Ravens’ Dennard Wilson; Second Giants DC Interview Scheduled
One of several Ravens staffers who has generated interest around the league, Dennard Wilson remains a popular defensive coordinator candidate. Baltimore’s defensive backs coach is set to interview with the Rams and Titans for the first time, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. In addition, Wilson will meet for the second time with the Giants.
[RELATED: Offensive/Defensive Coordinator Search Tracker]
Wilson was New York’s first known interview for the team’s DC vacancy, and that initial summit appears to have gone well. No other second interviews have been lined up for now as the Giants look for a Don Martindale replacement. Wilson had received an interview request from the Titans, but today’s update marks the first interest shown by the Rams.
Martindale initially appeared to be on track to remain with the Giants through 2024 despite reports of a rift between he and head coach Brian Daboll. In the end, though, the former parted ways with the team, creating a significant vacancy on Daboll’s staff. The Titans still have DC Shane Bowen on staff as things currently stand, but he will likely be headed elsewhere once new head coach Brian Callahan brings in staffers of his choosing. The Rams, meanwhile, recently saw Raheem Morris return to the Falcons to take on their HC gig, adding them to the list of teams in the market for a new coordinator.
Wilson has not served as a DC at the NFL level before, but he was a highly-regarded DBs coach during his time with the Eagles. He was a logical internal candidate to replace Jonathan Gannon last offseason, but Philadelphia elected to go outside the organization to fill the role. As a result, Wilson departed for Baltimore in a lateral move. He helped the Ravens post a number of strong statistical showings in 2023; the team ranked sixth against the pass during the regular season allowing 192 yards per game, and finished third in interceptions with 18.
Wilson is the only candidate to be connected to Tennessee’s vacancy for now, and he is the second to have a Los Angeles interview lined up. Having become a finalist with the Giants, though, the Titans and Rams will have competition for his services if they are impressed following their respective first meetings with him.
Ravens Activate TE Mark Andrews From IR
As expected, the Ravens will have Mark Andrews available for this weekend’s AFC title game. The All-Pro tight end was activated from injured reserve on Friday, per a team announcement. 
Andrews returned to practice two weeks ago, leaving open the possibility that he could suit up for Baltimore’s divisional round contest. To little surprise, however, he was unable to recover in time for that game. With the Ravens having advanced to the conference championship, though, he will now be able to see game action for the first time since November.
The three-time Pro Bowler suffered a leg fracture and ligament damage in his ankle, and the requisite surgery appeared to mark an end to his campaign. The team has been optimistic about a postseason return, though, and Andrews’ ongoing progress has now made that possible. Today’s move was foreshadowed yesterday when Jeremiah Moon was waived, creating a roster spot for Andrews to take.
The latter was in the midst of another strong season before suffering the injury, posting 544 yards and six touchdowns in 10 games. Andrews has drawn at least eight targets in a game three times this season, demonstrating his continued presence as a focal point of the Ravens’ passing game. The team’s re-vamped WR room has helped alleviate Andrews’ absence, but the 28-year-old can still be considered quarterback Lamar Jackson‘s favorite target.
Of course, Andrews’ injury paved the way for fellow tight end Isaiah Likely to take on a starting role late in the regular season and into the playoffs. The 2022 fourth-rounder flashed potential as a complementary option as a rookie, but he was not a signficant factor in the passing game before Andrews went down. With an uptick in usage, however, Likely has posted 40 or more yards five times as a starter; he has also racked up five touchdowns. It will be interesting to see how he and Andrews are used now that both are healthy again.
Today’s move will use up one of the Ravens’ two remaining IR activations. The team will thus have a degree of roster flexibility ahead of the Super Bowl if Baltimore manages to win against Kansas City on Sunday. Having Andrews back in the fold will no doubt help in that regard.
Buccaneers Arranging OC Interviews With Kellen Moore, Zac Robinson, Ken Dorsey, Brian Johnson
Tampa Bay experienced a batter-than-expected season on offense with first-year coordinator Dave Canales in charge of the unit. He has departed to become head coach of the Panthers, however, leaving the Buccaneers in need of a new OC for the second straight year. 
A list of targets has begun to emerge. Tampa will speak with Chargers OC Kellen Moore on Monday, NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reports. Colleague Ian Rapoport adds that Rams QBs coach Zac Robinson has received a Bucs interview request. The team also plans to speak with ex-Bills offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, who notes his Tampa interview will take place next week. Lastly, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports ousted Eagles OC Brian Johnson has a Buccaneers interview lined up.
Moore’s future with the Chargers has not yet been determined, but with Jim Harbaugh now in place, he is likely to bring his own assistants aboard. That could lead to a number of opportunities for Moore, who joined L.A.’s staff last offseason after a successful run with the Cowboys. The 34-year-old has also been connected to the Browns and Eagles during this year’s hiring cycle, so he could have a few options to choose from in the event he does wind up in a new home for the second offseason in a row.
Robinson has been one of the hottest coordinator candidates in 2024. He has interviewed three times so far, and he has received a request from an additional three teams including today’s slip from Tampa Bay. Robinson, 37, has been with the Rams since 2019, spending much of his time working with the team’s quarterbacks. For each of the past two seasons, he has held the additional title of passing game coordinator. Staffers often make the jump from that combination of roles to a coordinator gig, and Robinson doing the same would leave a signficant vacancy for Sean McVay to fill.
Dorsey saw his run with the Bills come to an end midway through the 2023 season. Buffalo’s offense went in a different direction under interim OC Joe Brady, whose success down the stretch has him in consideration for the full-time position. Still, Dorsey is on the radar for a new coordinator opportunity right away, having interviewed with the Browns. The 42-year-old’s Buffalo stint was his only NFL coordinator position to date, but he has extensive experience as a QBs coach.
Johnson was promoted to OC of the Eagles last year, and his familiarity with Jalen Hurts and the team’s offense led to signficant expectations despite Shane Steichen‘s departure. Earlier in the year, Philadelphia performed well in a number of areas, and the team put up solid overall numbers in several offensive categories. As was the case on defense, however, things took a turn for the worse late in the year through the wild-card round of the postseason. Johnson was dismissed as part of the Eagles’ staff overhaul, but he took head coaching interviews before that, and he is also on the OC radar.
Quarterback Baker Mayfield enjoyed a productive campaign under Canales, and keeping the former in place will be a key offseason priority for Tampa Bay. One of the most important factors in replicating Mayfield’s success will of course be the latter’s replacement, and the Bucs could have competition for some of the most in-demand candidates. Their search will start to take shape in the coming days.
Browns, Saints To Interview Brian Johnson For OC
JANUARY 26: Johnson has met with the Browns, but he has generated further interest. The Saints will speak with him on Monday, per Dianna Russini of The Athletic. New Orleans has cast a wide net in searching for a Pete Carmichael replacement. The longtime OC held play-calling responsibilities after Sean Payton‘s departure, making the Saints’ vacancy an important one as the team looks for more consistency on offense compared to 2023.
JANUARY 25: Cleveland’s ongoing search for a new offensive coordinator will include interest in ex-Eagles OC Brian Johnson. The Browns will interview Johnson today, Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com reports. 
The Eagles, as expected, have moved on from Sean Desai as well as Johnson as part of their staff overhaul. The latter was in place as Philadelphia’s quarterbacks coach for two years before ex-OC Shane Steichen departed to take the Colts’ head coaching position. To fill the vacancy, Johnson was promoted in a move which came as little surprise.
After a strong start, the Eagles suffered a notable regression down the stretch and into the postseason. While struggles on defense were more prevalent, Philadelphia’s offense also took a step back and reports of a rift on that side of the ball emerged before the team’s wild-card loss. After only one season at the helm – during which the Eagles ranked seventh in scoring and eighth in yards – Johnson was let go.
Before that move became official, the 36-year-old interviewed with both the Falcons and Titans for their respective head coaching vacancies. Indeed, a recent report pointed to Johnson being a candidate to land in a new posting relatively soon, although questions remained about what position he could take on. Today’s meeting with Cleveland will be his first interview since his Eagles tenure came to an end.
The Browns dismissed OC Alex Van Pelt among other staffers in a bid to improve on offense in 2024 and beyond. Cleveland finished mid-pack in both passing and rushing yards per game this season, one in which the team’s offense was ravaged by injuries. The new OC’s ability to work with quarterback Deshaun Watson will be a critical factor for the Browns, given Watson’s status as the starter through at least the remainder of his fully-guaranteed contract. Cleveland has exclusively looked outside the organization to date with respect to OC candidates.
Here is an updated look at the Browns’ search:
- Andy Dickerson, offensive line coach (Seahawks): To interview
- Ken Dorsey, former offensive coordinator (Bills): Interviewed
- Brian Johnson, former offensive coordinator (Eagles): To interview 1/25
- Jerrod Johnson, quarterbacks coach (Texans): Interviewed 1/23
Bears To Interview Joe Barry For DC Role; Team Hires Kerry Joseph As QBs Coach
The Bears have already filled one of their coordinator vacancies by tapping Shane Waldron for the OC position. The team still needs a defensive coordinator, however, and Chicago will look at a familiar option in its ongoing search. 
[RELATED: Offensive/Defensive Coordinator Search Tracker]
The Bears are set to interview Joe Barry for their DC position tomorrow, NFL Network’s Jane Slater reports. Barry’s three-year run in charge of the Packers’ defense came to an end on Wednesday, in a move which many had been calling for. Green Bay struggled to live up to expectations on defense during Barry’s time there, and his future had been a matter of speculation well before his dismissal. Slater adds that Barry will also speak with the Eagles about their LBs coach vacancy today.
The 53-year-old is no stranger to the NFC North, however, with his first coordinator gig having taken place with the Lions from 2007-08. Since then, Barry has held a number of positions, including linebackers coach with the Chargers. During that time, he worked alongside Nick Sirianni, who will remain in place as head coach of the Eagles for at least the 2024 campaign.
Barry has also served as a defensive coordinator in Washington, and his Green Bay tenure was preceded by an assistant head coach title with the Rams. He thus has signficant experience in a number of systems, though his stock has no doubt taken a hit after an underwhelming period with the Packers. He marks the fourth candidate to arrange an interview with the Bears for their DC position, as the team looks to build off its late-season success on that side of the ball from 2023.
Additionally, Chicago has found its next QBs coach. The Bears are hiring Kerry Joseph for that role, per Slater’s colleague Tom Pelissero. Joseph played safety for the Seahawks before enjoying a successful CFL career as a quarterback, winning a Grey Cup and earning Most Outstanding Player honors in 2007. His pro coaching career began as an assistant in Seattle, and he took on the role of assistant quarterbacks coach in 2022. He is thus a familiar staffer to pair with Waldron as Chicago prepares to continue working with Justin Fields under center or a replacement added in this year’s draft.
While Joseph will join Waldron in making the move from Seattle to Chicago, at least one Seahawks staffer will not do the same. Passing game coordinator Sanjay Lal interviewed with the Bears recently, but he has now withdrawn his name from consideration on Matt Eberflus‘ staff, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports. Lal will explore other opportunities as teams continue to make alterations to their coaching lineups.
Steelers To Interview Jerrod Johnson For OC Position
Jerrod Johnson remains a top candidate for an offensive coordinator gig. The Texans QBs coach is set to meet with the Steelers today to discuss their OC vacancy, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.
Pittsburgh replaced Matt Canada midseason, handing the reins of the offense to Eddie Faulkner and Mike Sullivan. That move (accompanied down the stretch by a switch to Mason Rudolph under center) produced an uptick in production for the unit, but it came as no surprise when head coach Mike Tomlin confirmed the team would look outside the organization for its next offensive coordinator.
Johnson (whose playing career included time in Pittsburgh in the 2012 offseason) represents a logical candidate for a replacement. The 35-year-old has only spent one season in his current post – having previously worked as an assistant QBs coach with the Vikings – but his work with C.J. Stroud has helped his stock dramatically. Stroud and the Texans shattered expectations in his rookie season, and that has generated plenty of outside interest for Johnson. The Saints and Browns have met with him already, and the same is true of the Eagles.
Johnson’s lack of experience relative to other candidates available could hinder his chances of landing an OC position, but the chance still remains that he could be promoted to the coordinator role in Houston. Texans OC Bobby Slowik has received head coaching interest in this year’s cycle, and his departure would create a notable vacancy on Houston’s staff. Johnson could be an internal option to take over from Slowik in the event he were to leave.
The Steelers’ list of OC candidates is relatively small for now, and the team’s only other interview to date has been with Panthers offensive coordinator Thomas Brown. Pittsburgh also has a meeting lined up with Rams QBs coach Zac Robinson. Johnson will join that pair in discussing a key role on Tomlin’s staff, as the Steelers look to find certainty at the quarterback position and on the sidelines for 2024.
Panthers Hire Dave Canales As HC
Dave Canales‘ one-year run in Tampa Bay has earned him another offseason move, this time to lead a coaching staff. The Panthers are nearing a deal to hire the Buccaneers OC as their new head coach, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
The deal is now official. The Panthers announced they’ve agreed to terms with their division rival’s offensive coordinator. Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that Canales will be on a six-year deal, dedicating a lot of money to the contract of their newest head coach. It’s a long-term commitment that has the potential to pay off for both parties if Canales thrives in his first head coaching role.
A report from earlier this week noted that Canales drew rave reviews from the Panthers’ front office during his first interview. A follow-up meeting was in place, and it has obviously gone well. Carolina was long connected to pursuing a coach with an offensive background, and the team has indeed followed through in that regard. 
Still, the move comes as a surprise given Canales’ lack of experience relative to a number of other candidates. The 42-year-old’s time with the Buccaneers in 2023 marked his first time as a coordinator at the NFL level. He came to Tampa Bay after a lengthy tenure in Seattle, during which he overlapped with Dan Morgan. The latter was promoted to general manager earlier this week.
Canales wore a number of hats with the Seahawks, working with the team from 2010-22. He worked with the team’s quarterbacks for much of his time in the Emerald City, and his ability to turn Geno Smith into a Comeback Player of the Year with a career-best performance in 2022 upped his stock considerably. Taking on the Tampa OC posting, he set himself up for another reclamation project of sorts with Baker Mayfield.
The former No. 1 pick outperformed expectations under Canales’ guidance, throwing a career-high 28 touchdown passes and posting a 94.6 passer rating, the second-highest mark of his career. Mayfield is therefore a candidate for a long-term Bucs agreement. If that materializes, however, Canales will not be in place to continue working with him, instead turning his attention to a division rival.
Carolina was interested in Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson during last year’s hiring cycle, and that remained the case in 2024. Johnson – who has received considerable interest from a number of other teams – was reported to be the Panthers’ top target. Johnson’s future remains uncertain as Detroit prepares for the NFC title game this weekend, but another potential landing spot for him has now been eliminated.
Of course, a central reason in the Panthers’ continued pursuit of Johnson was his work with Lions QB Jared Goff. Developing 2023 first overall pick Bryce Young will be the top priority for Canales after he endured a disappointing rookie campaign. Young’s struggles were not entirely of his own doing, but signficant strides will be required to justify Carolina’s acquisition of the No. 1 slot last spring. Major changes along the O-line and in the skill-position room should also be expected, and those can now happen with a new GM and head coach in place.
In the wake of Canales drawing serious interest from the Panthers, it was learned that Buccaneers QBs coach Thad Lewis was a prime candidate to take over as Tampa Bay’s OC. With the former having agreed to Carolina’s HC gig, it will be interesting to see if the latter does get tapped for the promotion. If not, the reigning NFC South winners will need to join the competition for outside additions at the coordinator spots.
Frank Reich entered last season with signficant expectations given his track record and the staff he assembled. Only 11 games into the campaign, however, Reich was let go, a sign of the reputation for impatience that owner David Tepper has generated in recent years in particular. Tepper’s personal involvement in a number of key personnel and roster decisions has also led many to assume top HC candidates would steer clear of Carolina. The team has nonetheless managed to find its next coach earlier than a number of others.
Once the Canales deal becomes official, the 2024 cycle will have seen five hires made. The Falcons, Seahawks and Commanders still have vacancies on their staffs, and their searches will now continue with one fewer candidate on the market.
Browns, Eagles Request OC Interviews With Chargers’ Kellen Moore
With Jim Harbaugh now in place as head coach of the Chargers, the team’s coordinator positions could soon be subject to changes. OC Kellen Moore faces an uncertain future, but he is drawing outside interest.
Both the Browns and Eagles have requested an interview with Moore for their respective OC openings, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports. It will be interesting to see how willing the Chargers are to let Moore depart in a lateral move given Harbaugh’s arrival. Greg Roman – who has a long-standing relationship with the latter – has already been floated as a name to watch for Los Angeles’ new staff.
Cleveland moved on from Alex Van Pelt, one of the league’s OCs who did not hold play-calling responsibilities. Head coach Kevin Stefanski has called plays since his arrival with the Browns, but he would likely need to hand the reins over to Moore if an agreement were to be struck. It is already known, on the other hand, that the Eagles’ next OC will call plays and hold a degree of independence from head coach Nick Sirianni. Moore will meet with Philadelphia today, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
Moore began his NFL coaching career in 2018 as QBs coach of the Cowboys. After just one season in that capacity, he was promoted to OC and had a four-year run in charge of Dallas’ offense. Over that span, the Cowboys led the league in scoring twice and ranked top-10 in both rushing and passing production three separate times. Head coach Mike McCarthy elected to move on last offseason, however, taking over play-calling duties himself.
As a result, Moore took on the OC position with the Chargers, something which came with substantial expectations given his stock and the presence of quarterback Justin Herbert. The latter missed the end of the season due to injury, but even when healthy he and the offense put up middling numbers. Moore interviewed once for L.A.’s head coaching vacancy, but it came as little surprise that he did not receive serious consideration for the position.
The 34-year-old’s time in Dallas generated a reputation for him as one of the league’s top offensive minds, and this year’s underwhelming performance will likely not do much to dissuade interested teams from at least speaking to him. Moore’s name will be worth watching closely on the coordinator market if Harbaugh follows through with bringing in his own staffers.
Giants Hire Michael Ghobrial As ST Coordinator
The Giants have landed on a new special teams coordinator. The team announced on Thursday that Jets assistant Michael Ghobrial has been hired to take on the position.
New York moved on from Thomas McGaughey at the end of the season. That move had been expected, and it brought an end to his tenure in charge of the Giants’ special teams, which began in 2018. The team attempted to cast a wide net in searching for his replacement, but a number of teams blocked their attempts to speak with potential candidates.
In the end, though, the Giants managed to meet with a shortlist of staffers before arriving at a decision. The team spoke with Larry Izzo (Seahawks), Matt Harper (49ers) and Carlos Polk (Bears) in addition to Ghobrial. The latter is now set for an intra-city move and his first time working alongside Giants head coach Brian Daboll.
Ghobrial had a lengthy coaching career in the college ranks beginning in 2009. He worked as special teams coordinator with four different schools before taking on his first NFL gig with the Jets. A member of Robert Saleh‘s original group in 2021, Ghobrial was a key staffer working alongside Jets ST coordinator Brant Boyer during his time there.
The Jets ranked fifth in special teams DVOA this season, continuing the team’s strong run in that department during Boyer’s tenure. He remains in place, but his staff will be without a key contributor moving forward. The Giants, meanwhile, will aim to improve under Ghobrial after finishing 21st in third phase DVOA in 2023.
Mutual Interest Between Texans, DE Jonathan Greenard For New Deal
After a successful first season with head coach DeMeco Ryans and quarterback C.J. Stroud, the Texans profile as an attractive destination for outside free agents. The team has a number of important decisions with respect to its own expiring deals, however. 
Chief among those is edge rusher Jonathan Greenard. The former third-rounder enjoyed a career year in 2023, posting 12.5 sacks, 52 pressures and 52 tackles (including 15 for loss). Those figures came about in part due to his ability to remain healthy through much of the campaign – his 15 regular season games played also marked a personal high – and his fit within Ryans’ scheme.
Having enjoyed a breakout campaign ahead of his first trip to free agency, Greenard would no doubt generate a considerable market if he were to depart Houston. The 26-year-old has made it clear, however, that his preference would be to remain with the Texans on a second contract. Likewise, the team wishes to retain him.
“I know I definitely want to come back, but as we know, that’s not up to me,” Greenard said, via Aaron Wilson of KPRC2. “At this point, I can’t do much more. I feel like I put my portfolio out there and closed that chapter and the rest will take care of itself. If they have me back, I’ll be 10 toes down, but if not, it’s just a game. I’ll definitely appreciate if this was the last time.”
Greenard’s remarks certainly suggest he is willing to explore other offers, but Wilson notes the Texans are “expected to try to retain” him. Doing so could be a pricey undertaking given the nature of the edge market; 18 pass rushers average at least $15MM per year on their current deals. Houston is set to be among the league leaders in cap space this offseason, however, so finding the funds to keep Greenard in the fold should be manageable.
The Florida product could partner with 2023 third overall pick Will Anderson as a foundational member of Houston’s defensive front for years to come if a long-term agreement can be worked out. If that does not turn out to be the case, however, the Texans could experience signficant upheaval along the edge since veterans Derek Barnett and Jerry Hughes are also pending free agents.