NFL Reserve/Futures Deals: 1/19/26
Today’s reserve/futures contracts:
Buffalo Bills
- DT Tommy Akingbesote, LB Jimmy Ciarlo, OL Travis Clayton, DB Te’Cory Couch, CB M.J. Devonshire, RB Frank Gore Jr., WR Stephen Gosnell, WR Mecole Hardman, LB Keonta Jenkins, DE Andre Jones Jr., DT Zion Logue, DB Daryl Porter Jr.
Carolina Panthers
- CB Michael Reid
Pittsburgh Steelers
Bengals Extend TE Tanner Hudson
The Bengals are keeping Tanner Hudson around for at least another year. The team announced that they’ve signed the tight end to a one-year extension.
Following stints with the Buccaneers, 49ers, and Giants to begin his career, Hudson joined the Bengals practice squad late in the 2022 campaign. He stuck around Cincinnati for the following three seasons, getting into 38 games with the organization.
His best season came in 2023, when he hauled in 39 catches for 352 yards. He’s followed that up with 19-catch showings in both 2024 and 2025. This past season, Hudson got into a career-high 15 games, although he was limited to only 148 offensive snaps. He found himself fourth on the depth chart to begin the season, but he was mostly splitting reps with Noah Fant and Mike Gesicki behind Drew Sample by the time the season ended.
After inking a one-year, $1.255MM deal to stick with the Bengals last offseason, Hudson was set to hit unrestricted free agency this offseason. Instead, he’ll be sticking with Cincy through the offseason and likely through the 2026 campaign. Fant is also an impending free agent, so perhaps Hudson could find himself higher on the depth chart next season.
Giants Request DC Interview With Daronte Jones
We heard this past weekend that Daronte Jones was set for a second interview for the Cowboys defensive coordinator job. Now, a division rival has entered the fray. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Giants have requested permission to interview the Vikings passing game coordinator for their own defensive coordinator vacancy.
Jones had a long stint coaching college football before taking his first NFL gig with the Dolphins in 2016. Since then, he’s quickly climbed the ranks, serving as a cornerbacks/DBs coach with the Bengals and later the Vikings. This is actually his second stint in Minnesota, with Jones briefly leaving the organization to serve as LSU’s defensive coordinator in 2021.
After returning as the Vikings defensive backs coach in 2022, he earned a promotion to defensive pass game coordinator in 2023. He emerged as a popular defensive coordinator target during last year’s hiring cycle, interviewing for the Bears, Jaguars, and Saints gigs. He also interviewed for the Giants opening in 2024.
He ended up sticking in Minnesota for the 2025 campaign and is once again a candidate for multiple openings. The Jets interviewed him for their defensive coordinator vacancy, and the Cowboys moved him on to the second round of their search. There have also been rumblings that Jones could just earn a promotion to the role in Minnesota if Brian Flores ends up leaving.
John Harbaugh is now in the process of building out his staff with the Giants. He’s likely going to hire old friend Todd Monken to serve as his offensive coordinator, and we’ve heard that former assistant Anthony Weaver could be a candidate for the DC role. However, it seems like Harbaugh is willing to at least consider outside names as he looks to fill his staff.
Cardinals Scheduled In-Person Interview With Robert Saleh
The Titans have identified Robert Saleh as a finalist for their head coaching vacancy, and they’re apparently not the only organization to move the 49ers DC to the second-round of their interview process. According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, Saleh is scheduled for an in-person interview with the Cardinals on Tuesday.
[RELATED: Titans To Conduct In-Person Robert Saleh HC Interview]
Saleh emerged as a target for Arizona’s head coaching gig earlier this month. He had his first interview with the Cardinals last Thursday. Since then, the 49ers have been eliminated from the postseason, including an ugly performance this past weekend when the Seahawks offense found the end zone on four occasions. Of course, that singular performance wouldn’t be enough to dissuade teams from considering the former Jets head coach.
While his New York stint didn’t go as planned, Saleh has rehabilitated his image during his first season back in San Francisco. Despite the 49ers missing top defenders like Fred Warner and Nick Bosa for much of the campaign, San Francisco still finished the regular season with a 12-5 record. The defense wasn’t unbeatable; they ranked just 20th in total defense and 13th in points allowed. However, Saleh reinforced his reputation of getting the most out of his defensive personnel.
Saleh’s candidacy in Arizona would likely be dependent on the status of his active interview in Tennessee. The coach is currently interviewing for the Titans job, and there’s a chance the organization doesn’t let him out of the building without a deal. In that scenario, the Cardinals would be forced to pivot to another candidate.
Among those names is Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph, who is considered a “strong candidate” for the job. The other definitive and rumored candidates include:
- Thomas Brown, tight ends coach (Patriots): Interview requested
- Matt Burke, defensive coordinator (Texans): Interview requested
- Jeff Hafley, defensive coordinator (Packers): Interviewed 1/14
- John Harbaugh, former head coach (Ravens): Contacted
- Klint Kubiak, offensive coordinator (Seahawks): Interviewed 1/10
- Mike LaFleur, offensive coordinator (Rams): Interviewed 1/16
- Jesse Minter, defensive coordinator (Chargers): Interviewed 1/13
- Raheem Morris, former head coach (Falcons): To interview
- Matt Nagy, offensive coordinator (Chiefs): Interviewed 1/9
- Chris Shula, defensive coordinator (Rams): Interviewed 1/16
- Arthur Smith, offensive coordinator (Steelers): Interview requested
- Anthony Weaver, defensive coordinator (Dolphins): Interviewed 1/9
Latest On John Harbaugh: Giants, Contract, Manning, Staff, Titans, Falcons
John Harbaugh‘s impending deal with the Giants will make him one of the highest-paid coaches in the league. According to Jordan Schultz, the contract is expected to be worth nearly $100MM over five years.
[RELATED: John Harbaugh Expected To Become Giants’ Next HC, Pending Finalized Agreement]
It’s not a surprise that Harbaugh will earn such a lucrative payday; there were rumblings that the Giants were basically willing to pay him whatever he wanted. The nearly $20MM average annual salary would top the rumored $17MM annual salary he was earning in Baltimore, and it would rival the lucrative contracts signed by Andy Reid ($20MM/year) and Sean Payton ($18MM/year).
Of course, money wasn’t the only reason that Harbaugh committed to the Giants, as it sounds like other suitors were willing to open the check books for the former Super Bowl-winning coach. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Titans had an offer ready for Harbaugh and were willing to do whatever it took to get him in Tennessee. Harbaugh had a meeting scheduled with the Titans for this morning, and Rapoport notes that Titans leadership was indeed planning to fly to the coach’s Maryland home today. However, the organization was informed last night that Harbaugh was finalizing his deal with the Giants.
Harbaugh did his research prior to his handshake deal with the Giants, reaching out to coaches, executives, and even former players. According to Russini, Harbaugh talked with Giants GM Joe Schoen everyday after he was let go by the Ravens. The coach also reached out to a number of the positional coaches from Brian Daboll’s staff to “pick their brains on the state of the roster,” per Connor Hughes of SNYtv. To top it all off, Harbaugh even spoke with Eli Manning about the opportunity, according to veteran reporter Gary Myers.
Now, Harbaugh will be tasked with turning around a franchise that’s only made two postseason appearances since their Super Bowl XLVI victory. Some pundits initially wondered if Harbaugh may avoid a relatively tough NFC East. However, Ian O’Connor of The Athletic notes that when he pointed out that the Falcons and the NFC South would represent the easiest playoff path for the coach, Harbaugh’s camp indicated that he wasn’t afraid of the NFC East competition.
To help him top the division and return to relevance, Harbaugh will have to fill out his coaching staff. We heard earlier today that Ravens OC Todd Monken was likely to join his former boss in the same role in New York, and a number of other coaches are expected to follow. According to Ralph Vacchiano of Fox Sports, Harbaugh will likely “bring a lot of his Ravens staff” to New York, and the new head coach isn’t anticipating resistance from the Ravens. Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic echoes that sentiment, although the reporter warns that the Ravens may try to retain a handful of their preferred coaches.
Harbaugh may also be recruiting some members of previous staffs to New York. According to Hughes, Anthony Weaver is among the Giants targets for defensive coordinator. Weaver spent three years on Harbaugh’s staff in Baltimore, serving as the team’s defensive line coach. He was a candidate to replace Mike Macdonald as the Ravens defensive coordinator in 2022, but Harbaugh ended up opting for Zach Orr, opening the door for Weaver to leave for the DC role in Miami. Now, Harbaugh has a chance to reunite with the coach in his next stop.
Coaching Departures: Bowman, Chiefs, Jaguars
As the Chargers seek a new offensive coordinator (and likely a new defensive coordinator), they’ll also be on the lookout for a new linebackers coach. GM Joe Hortiz announced today that coach NaVorro Bowman is stepping away from the team to spend more time with his family.
Bowman was a standout linebacker throughout the 2010s, earning four first-team All-Pro nods during his stint with the 49ers. A former third-round pick out of Penn State, Bowman finished his career with 798 tackles, 14 sacks, and nine forced fumbles. His 527 solo tackles in San Francisco ranks fifth on the franchise’s all-time leaderboard.
Following a one-year stop on the Maryland staff, Bowman joined former 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh in Los Angeles. During his time with the Chargers, Bowman oversaw the development of Daiyan Henley and Junior Colson, and he guided a LBs room that also featured veterans Denzel Perryman and Troy Dye.
The Chargers have started interviewing internal candidates to replace offensive coordinator Greg Roman, who was fired this week. The team will also be seeking a new defensive coordinator if Jesse Minter earns a head coaching job.
More coaching notes from around the NFL…
- Following news from earlier today that the Chiefs moved on from WR coach Connor Embree, Sam McDowell of the Kansas City Star reported that RBs coach Todd Pinkston has also been fired. The 48-year-old spent the past three seasons in the role, with Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt generally leading the depth chart during his tenure. The Chiefs rushing attack consistently ranked in the bottom-half of the league thanks to the Patrick Mahomes-led offense, but the Chiefs also bottomed out in yards-per-attempt in 2024 and 2025.
- The Jaguars are moving on from secondary coach Ron Milus, according to Josina Anderson. The veteran coach has served as a DBs or secondary coach throughout his 25-year coaching career, with his longest stint coming with the Chargers between 2013 and 2020. Following a three-year stint with the Colts, Milus joined Liam Coen‘s new Jacksonville staff last offseason. Jaguars defensive backs accounted for 15 interceptions this past season, including five from safety Antonio Johnson. On the flip side, the defense ranked 21st in yards allowed, and the coach didn’t necessarily maximize Travis Hunter‘s defensive ability.
NFL Reserve/Futures Deals: 1/15/26
Today’s reserve/futures contracts:
Los Angeles Rams
- OL Wyatt Bowles, WR Mario Williams
Philadelphia Eagles
- LB Jose Ramirez
Pittsburgh Steelers
- OL Doug Nester, WR Brandon Smith
Chargers Interview Shane Day For OC
The Chargers continue to eye internal candidates to replace Greg Roman. Following news that the team interviewed passing game coordinator Marcus Brady for their OC vacancy, the team announced tonight that they’ve also interviewed quarterbacks coach Shane Day.
[RELATED: Chargers Interview Marcus Brady For OC]
Day has had a long NFL coaching career, but he’s never had an opportunity to lead an offense. As a QBs coach, he’s guided the likes of Jay Cutler, Jimmy Garoppolo, and (of course) Justin Herbert to successful seasons. Throughout his two decades of coaching, Day has also served as an assistant offensive line coach (in Washington) and a tight ends coach (in Miami).
Day is actually in the midst of his second stint with the organization. He served as the team’s passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach between 2021 and 2022, but following a disastrous showing in that latter year’s AFC Wild Card game, he was fired alongside OC Joe Lombardi. Day spent one season on the Texans staff before returning to the Chargers under Jim Harbaugh in 2024.
Herbert had one of the best showings of his career that season, finishing with a career-low 0.6 percent interception rate while guiding the Chargers to a career-high 11 wins. Herbert earned another Pro Bowl nod this past season, although he also finished the campaign with a career-worst 2.5 percent interception rate. Of course, injuries and a depleted offensive line could be partly to blame for that performance.
Either way, Herbert is a big fan of Day (per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo), and that could go a long way in the coach’s coordinator candidacy. The Chargers have been seeking a replacement for Roman, who was fired following the team’s ugly playoff loss to the Patriots. The Chargers ranked 11th in scoring during Roman’s first year in charge and 20th in 2025, and we heard that the “tenor” regarding the coordinator’s future changed in the wake of their postseason loss. Still, it appears as if Harbaugh is looking to maintain some continuity on that side of the ball, as the only two candidates for the job were on the staff in 2025.
Buccaneers Interview Three More Candidates For ST Coordinator Job
The Buccaneers are casting a relatively wide map as they search for a replacement for fired special teams coordinator Thomas McGaughey. Over the past two days, we’ve learned that the organization has added three more candidates to their interview list.
[RELATED: Buccaneers Fire ST Coordinator Thomas McGaughey]
The team announced yesterday that they completed an interview with Craig Aukerman. The long-time NFL coach has been a coordinator in multiple stops, including stints with the Chargers, Titans, and Dolphins. He’s coming off his first season as Miami’s special teams coordinator, but considering their search for a new head coach, there’s a good chance Aukerman will be seeking a new gig for 2026.
The Buccaneers then announced today that they interviewed Anthony Levine Sr. for the role. The long-time Ravens special teams ace got his coaching start in Baltimore, serving as a coaching assistant. He moved to the Titans in 2022 to serve as an assistant special teams coach, and he actually spent the 2023 campaign working under Aukerman. Levine moved back to the Ravens in 2025 to serve as an assistant ST coach.
Finally, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reported today that the Buccaneers interviewed Eagles ST coordinator Michael Clay. While the coach isn’t under contract for the 2026 season, his contract doesn’t technically expire until next month, so the Eagles had to grant permission for the chat. Clay has been Philly’s special teams coordinator since the 2021 campaign.
The trio will join Lions assistant special teams coordinator Jett Modkins, who interviewed for the job earlier this week. These coaches will be looking to improve a Tampa Bay special teams unit that earned the third-lowest Pro Football Focus grade this past season.
Steelers Request HC Interview With 49ers OC Klay Kubiak
Klint Kubiak is one of the most popular names in this year’s hiring cycle. Now, his brother is starting to generate some interest. According to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, the Steelers have requested an interview with 49ers offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak for their head coaching vacancy.
Kubiak started his NFL coaching career in 2021, when he joined Kyle Shanahan‘s 49ers staff as a defensive quality control coach. He quickly earned a promotion to assistant quarterbacks coach, and after two years in that role, he was named the team’s offensive passing game specialist.
The 49ers operated without an offensive coordinator after Mike McDaniel left for the Dolphins in 2022. But with Shanahan deciding to shake up his staff last offseason, Kubiak earned a promotion to offensive coordinator.
The 49ers offense improved their points total in 2025 despite dealing with a number of injuries on offense. The team had to turn to backup QB Mac Jones for nearly half their games, with the signal-caller guiding the squad to a 5-3 record. Former first-round receiver Ricky Pearsall found himself in and out of the lineup, and tight end George Kittle missed a handful of games. Plus, the 49ers navigated the entire season without one of their highest-paid offensive weapons in Brandon Aiyuk.
Thanks to the surprising showing from the depleted 49ers offense, Kubiak is now generating interest from the Steelers for their head coaching vacancy. His father, Gary Kubiak, had multiple stints as an NFL head coach, while his brother, Klint Kubiak, has been connected to nearly every vacancy after guiding the Seahawks offense to one of the league’s top performances in 2025.
Now, Klay will garner his first HC interview, and he joins a growing list of candidates to replace Mike Tomlin in Pittsburgh. While Kubiak doesn’t have the same resume as some of his competitors for the job, the Steelers haven’t been afraid of hiring inexperienced coaches in the past. Tomlin only served one season as a defensive coordinator before earning Pittsburgh’s HC job.
Kubiak is now the eighth coach to garner an interview request from the Steelers:
- Ejiro Evero, defensive coordinator (Panthers): Interview requested
- Brian Flores, defensive coordinator (Vikings): Interview requested
- Marcus Freeman, head coach (Notre Dame): Rumored candidate; staying at Notre Dame
- Jeff Hafley, defensive coordinator (Packers): Interview requested
- Jesse Minter, defensive coordinator (Chargers): To interview 1/17
- Nate Scheelhaase, pass game coordinator (Rams): To interview 1/16
- Chris Shula, defensive coordinator (Rams): Interview requested
- Anthony Weaver, defensive coordinator (Dolphins): Interview requested