Ken Dorsey To Be Considered For Bills, Giants OC Jobs
Following Brian Daboll‘s hiring in New York, another Bills coach will likely be getting a promotion. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter), Bills passing-game coordinator and QB coach Ken Dorsey will likely earn a promotion to OC.
As Schefter notes, that opportunity could come from two places. Dorsey could easily slide in to the OC vacancy with the Bills, and ESPN’s Dan Graziano tweets his believe that Dorsey will ultimately get the job in Buffalo. However, as Lindsay Jones of The Athletic tweets, the Rooney Rule will require the organization to interview at least one minority candidate for the job, so Dorsey won’t be a shoo-in.
Alternatively, the coach could join Daboll in New York and become the Giants new OC. Dorsey worked alongside Daboll for three seasons in Buffalo.
Dorsey has been an NFL QBs coach since 2013. He spent five years with the Panthers before following the pipeline up north, joining his former bosses in Buffalo. Dorsey was with Carolina during the franchise’s most recent Super Bowl season, when Cam Newton soared to MVP honors in 2015. Since then, he’s raised his stock even further, taking Josh Allen from an inaccurate prospect to an MVP candidate.
Eagles DC Jonathan Gannon Gets Second Texans Interview
Jonathan Gannon is getting another look in Houston. The Texans are hosting the Eagles defensive coordinator on his second visit today, reports NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (via Twitter).
This is the second finalist to emerge for the Texans HC vacancy, with QB Josh McCown also getting a second interview. Rapoport notes that other names could emerge as finalists. Meanwhile, Albert Breer of TheMMQB.com tweets that Gannon is a strong candidate for the gig, with the reporter citing the coach’s connections to Texans GM Nick Caserio.
Gannon has spent 15 years as a coach and scout. Following a three-year stint as the Colts defensive backs coach, he was hired as the Eagles defensive coordinator last offseason. During his first season in the role, the Eagles defense ranked top-10 in yards allowed, with Philly’s rush defense showing particular promise.
The 39-year-old has been a popular name on the coaching circuit this offseason. Gannon was also connected to jobs with the Broncos and Vikings.
Steelers Sign John Simon To Reserve/Futures Contract
The Steelers have added a veteran to their offseason roster. The team announced that they’ve inked linebaker John Simon to a reserve/futures contract.
Simon was a fourth-round pick by the Ravens back in 2013, and he’s had stints with six different organizations throughout his career. This included 2019 and 2020 campaigns with the Patriots where he started 30 games, 114 tackles, and eight sacks.
Simon joined the Titans way back in July, replacing fellow pass rusher Tuzar Skipper on the offseason roster. He ended up getting into two games with Tennessee before earning his walking papers. He later caught on with the Steelers practice squad, earning a promotion for one game.
In total, the 31-year-old has 283 tackles and 21 sacks in 100 games (52 starts). There’s a good chance the veteran will stick around through at least training camp.
Ravens Hire Mike Macdonald As Defensive Coordinator
Mike Macdonald is landing back in Baltimore after all. The Ravens announced that they’ve hired Macdonald as their new defensive coordinator.
We heard earlier this week that Macdonald was the favorite for the gig, but the team still went ahead and interviewed Joe Cullen and Mike Caldwell for the job. Ultimately, it sounds like the Ravens got their guy, and the 34-year-old will now return to Baltimore.
“Mike is one of us – a Raven through and through,” head coach John Harbaugh said in a statement. “During his initial seven seasons with us, it was evident that his leadership, intelligence and passion would earn him the opportunity to be a defensive coordinator in the NFL.
“Mike has continuously proven himself, including when he led one of the country’s best defenses at Michigan last year. He is a proven play-caller who knows our system well. He also fully understands the standard of playing defense in Baltimore.”
Prior to joining Jim Harbaugh‘s Wolverines staff last year, Macdonald was viewed as Don Martindale’s heir apparent in Baltimore. He had previously worked with the Ravens from 2014-20, moving up from the intern level to linebackers coach by the end of his first stint with the team. Also spending time working with Baltimore’s defensive backs, Macdonald gained extensive experience with the team ahead of his move to the college ranks.
Michigan’s performance certainly helped the young assistant’s cause. Sparked by potential No. 1 overall pick Aidan Hutchinson‘s Heisman Trophy bid, the Wolverines ranked as a top-10 defense in 2021 — a year after ranking 95th in points allowed. Should Macdonald, 34, land the job, he would become the youngest DC in Ravens history.
A number of names were connected to the vacancy. In addition to Macdonald, Cullen, and Caldwell, we heard D-line coach Anthony Weaver and external options like Kris Richard and Joe Whitt Jr. tossed around as candidates.
Panthers To Hire Chris Tabor As ST Coordinator
The Panthers have found their new special teams coordinator. According to ESPN’s David Newton (via Twitter), the Panthers have hired Chris Tabor to be their new ST coordinator. Per Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune (on Twitter), Tabor is inking a three-year deal.
The Panthers fired Chase Blackburn earlier this month, opening a spot on the coaching staff. The organization previously offered the job to current Giants ST coordinator Thomas McGaughey, “but the two sides could not agree on a contract”. The team has since conducted two interviews with Tabor.
The 51-year-old has been the Bears ST coordinator over the past four years. During his stint in Chicago, the Bears have had four-straight return specialists make the Pro Bowl (Tarik Cohen, Cordarrelle Patterson twice, and Jakeem Grant). Tabor previously served as the Browns ST coordinator for seven years.
Tabor also got a shot at being a HC earlier this season when he filled in for Matt Nagy in Chicago. The Bears lost that late-October contest to the 49ers.
JuJu Smith-Schuster Interested In Joining Chiefs
After considering an offer from the Chiefs last offseason, wideout JuJu Smith-Schuster will give Kansas City another long look this time around. According to Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com, the Steelers wideout “is interested in potentially joining the Chiefs again.”
According to Wilson, the JuJu/Chiefs connection is “no secret in NFL circles,” and many league sources believe the impending FA is hoping to join Kansas City.
Smith-Schuster hasn’t come close to matching his Pro Bowl-worthy 2018 campaign. Following a forgettable 2019 campaign, JuJu somewhat bounced back in 2020, finishing with 97 catches and a career-high nine touchdowns. Still, the former second-round pick had to settle for a one-year, $8MM deal from Pittsburgh for the 2021 campaign.
The 25-year-old struggled to stay on the field in 2021 thanks to early-season shoulder surgery. He ultimately saw time in only five games, hauling in 15 receptions for 129 yards.
In Kansas City, Smith-Schuster would be joining a high-flying offense that’s led by Patrick Mahomes, Tyreek Hill, and Travis Kelce. Receivers Byron Pringle and Demarcus Robinson are set to hit free agency this offseason.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 1/26/22
Only one practice squad move to pass along:
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: S Jarrod Wilson
- Released: S Doug Middleton
Brian Daboll Favorite For Dolphins HC Job?
Brian Daboll is beginning to pull away from the pack in Miami. According to Adam H. Beasley of ProFootballNetwork.com, the Bills offensive coordinator “has emerged as a top target — and potentially the top target” for the Dolphins head coaching vacancy.
[RELATED: Giants To Conduct Second HC Interview With Brian Daboll]
While the Dolphins appear to be zeroing in on Daboll, the OC would still need to accept the job. That’s one of the “hurdles” that remains in the Dolphins’ search, per Beasley. Daboll is also a candidate for the Giants HC gig, a job that he’s interviewed for twice.
The potential hiring would reunite Daboll with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who played under Daboll when the two were at Alabama. A Daboll hiring would also be a bit of a homecoming for the coach after he served as Miami’s offensive coordinator in 2011. Dolphins GM Chris Grier worked alongside Daboll during the coach’s stint with the team.
Recently, Daboll has made a name for himself in Buffalo. Following an inconsistent first season in the role, the Bills offense has been among the top-10(ish) units over the past three years. That includes a passing offense that ranked second in points scored in 2020 and third in points scored in 2021.
Latest On Bears’ Head Coaching Search
TUESDAY: Quinn and Eberflus will travel to Chicago for their interviews, per ESPN.com’s Ed Werder (on Twitter). With new GM hire Ryan Poles now on board, the Bears will likely make their choice soon. Quinn will meet with Poles and Co. on Tuesday, Albert Breer of SI.com tweets. Additionally, Allen’s interview did not go on as scheduled Tuesday, Breer tweets. The longtime Sean Payton assistant stayed in New Orleans for the 16-year HC’s press conference, during which he announced he was leaving his post. Allen is now on the short list to succeed Payton in New Orleans.
MONDAY: The Bears are giving Dan Quinn and Jim Caldwell a second look. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (via Twitter), the Bears have requested second interviews with the two candidates.
[RELATED: 2022 NFL Head Coaching Search Tracker]
Quinn has been one of the most sought-after candidate of this year’s HC cycle. His work with Dallas’ defense in just one season – seventh in the league in points allowed per game, first in interceptions, to name a few statistics – has put him in line to get another HC gig one year after being fired by the Falcons. Quinn has already scheduled a second interview for the Broncos HC job.
Caldwell, 66, served as the Dolphins’ quarterbacks coach in 2019 before health issues forced him to step aside. Fortunately, he’s said to be back to full health now, and it sounds like he’s ready for his next job. Between his time with the Colts and Lions, Caldwell owns a career 62-50 record as a head coach with four playoff berths and one Super Bowl appearance. Caldwell’s last stop in Detroit saw him never finish with fewer than seven wins, but he was still canned following back-to-back 9-7 seasons.
Meanwhile, Rapoport notes that Matt Eberflus will have his second interview on Wednesday, while Saints defensive coordinator Dennis Allen will get his first crack at the gig tomorrow.
Steelers Request Permission To Interview Saints’ Kris Richard For DC Job
We’ve got another candidate for the Steelers defensive coordinator vacancy. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (via Twitter), the Steelers have requested permission to interview Saints defensive backs coach Kris Richard.
[RELATED: Steelers Request Interview With Giants DC Patrick Graham]
Richard served as the Seahawks’ defensive coordinator from 2015-17, and then he was the passing game coordinator and defensive play-caller with the Cowboys from 2018-19. He spent 2020 out of the league before landing on Sean Payton’s staff in New Orleans.
During his lone season with the Saints, Richard helped guide the secondary to a standout season. The Saints defensive backs allowed the third-fewest touchdowns in the league, and the Saints finished with the sixth-most interceptions.
Steelers DC Keith Butler recently retired, and it was believed that the organization would fill the vacancy internally. If the organization goes that route, then senior defensive assistant/secondary coach Teryl Austin, who had been in Pittsburgh for the past three seasons, would likely earn the promotion. However, he’s seen competition from Giants DC Patrick Graham and now Richard.