Vikings-Rams Wild-Card Game Moved To Arizona
As the California wildfires continue, the NFL has moved the upcoming Wild Card Round game between the Rams and Vikings. The NFL announced that Monday’s game, which was intended to be played at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, has been relocated to State Farm Stadium, the home of the Arizona Cardinals. The game is scheduled for the same start time.
In the statement, the NFL said the move was made “in the interest of public safety.” The statement also said the decision was made “in consultation with public officials, the participating clubs and the NFLPA.”
As NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero passes along, this will mark only the second time in league history that the NFL has had to change the location of a playoff game (excluding Super Bowls). The other instance happened in 1936, when the NFL had to move the Championship Game matchup between the Boston Redskins and Green Bay Packers from Fenway Park in Boston to the Polo Grounds in New York. This was due to owner George Preston Marshall’s dissatisfaction with local fan support, and it preceded the team’s move to Washington in 1937.
The NFL revealed their contingency plan earlier this week, with State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona representing the league’s targeted venue.
“The NFL’s priority is the safety of the Los Angeles community,” that previous statement read. “We are grateful for the tireless efforts of the first responders. Our hearts are with Los Angeles and everyone affected by the fires.”
According to ESPN’s Lindsey Thiry, the Rams canceled their post-practice locker room scrum today so players could tend to their families and homes. Several players and coaches live in the area of the active Kenneth fire.
Seahawks Request OC Interview With Saints’ Klint Kubiak
The Seahawks quickly kicked off their search for a new offensive coordinator, as the team has already set up interviews with Thomas Brown and Hank Fraley. We’ve got another candidate for the job, as ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports that the Seahawks have requested permission to interview Saints offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak for the same role.
Kubiak joined New Orleans’ staff last offseason and had to endure a season where the Saints turned to three different starting QBs. Derek Carr went 5-5 as a starter and tossed 15 touchdowns vs. five interceptions, but the team was otherwise winless with Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener under center. Further, Alvin Kamara was the only player to top 600 yards from scrimmage (the RB finished with 1,493). Still, the Saints offense was more middle-of-the-road than bottom-of-the-pack, solidifying Kubiak’s place as one of the more intriguing offensive minds in the game. Fowler notes that beyond Seattle, Kubiak could be an option for the Browns offensive coordinator vacancy.
The son of Gary Kubiak, Klint got his NFL coaching start working under his father in Denver. When Gary was named assistant head coach in Minnesota, Klint caught on as the team’s QBs coach, and he succeeded his dad as offensive coordinator in 2021. The Vikings cleared house following Mike Zimmer‘s firing, and Klint landed back in Denver, where he spent a year as the passing game coordinator/quarterbacks coach. Following that one-year stop, he worked as Kyle Shanahan‘s passing game coordinator in San Francisco.
While this would represent a lateral move for Kubiak, Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald believes the Seattle gig is plenty enticing. Macdonald recently touted the opening, highlighting the team’s list of young offensive players. While the organization doesn’t currently have a long-term plan at QB, they’re positioned to bring back a steady veteran in Geno Smith.
The Seahawks made Ryan Grubb a one-and-done OC, with the team’s drop in rushing efficiency reportedly playing a role in his demise. After poaching Grubb from Alabama’s staff, it’s been thought that Macdonald may pivot to a more experienced option to help guide the offense in 2025.
Raiders To Interview Pete Carroll For HC Job
After failing in their (potential) Hail Mary attempt to lure Bill Belichick to Las Vegas, the Raiders will now take a look at another long-time NFL coach. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Raiders are set to interview Pete Carroll for their coaching vacancy next week.
Carroll spent this past year out of the NFL following his divorce with the Seahawks last offseason. It didn’t take long for the former Super Bowl winner to reemerge in this year’s hiring cycle. The 73-year-old met with the Bears about their head coaching vacancy earlier today.
The long-time coach would bring 18 years of HC experience to Las Vegas. He most recently spent more than a decade in Seattle, where he helped guide the Seahawks to 10 playoff berths, including two Super Bowl appearances. However, the organization decided to move on after Carroll and the Seahawks went 25-26 with a single one-and-done playoff appearance between 2021 and 2023.
Even before Carroll was ousted, there were rumblings that the coach was considering retirement or a transition to the front office. Shortly thereafter, we heard that Carroll always intended to stick around as Seattle’s HC for at least one more year, and his recent appearance in the interview circuit clearly indicates that he’s not ready to step away from the NFL.
While Carroll was tasked with guiding competitive teams in his time with Seattle and New England, he’ll be eyeing a rebuilding situation in Las Vegas. The Raiders are armed with the sixth-overall pick and will be one of the main suitors for the draft’s top QB prospects. Carroll once guided the Seahawks to contention with third-round pick Russell Wilson, and his defensive pedigree could help speed up the franchise’s turnaround.
The Raiders are now seeking their fourth full-time HC since the 2021 campaign. While Antonio Pierce avoided a Black Monday firing, he was handed his pink slip the following day. Carroll represents the sixth definitive candidate for the job. We heard earlier today that former Jets head coach Robert Saleh had joined the list with Lions coordinators Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn, Ravens OC Todd Monken, and Chiefs DC Steve Spagnuolo. Mike Vrabel and Brian Flores have also been mentioned as potential options for the organization, but neither candidate has scheduled a reported interview.
As for Belichick, we heard that Tom Brady — who is playing a central role in the Las Vegas HC search — recently contacted his former coach to see about a reunion. It was quickly reported that Belichick didn’t have any interest in reneging on his UNC commitment. Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal believes that Brady was merely picking his former coach’s brain as he prepares for a HC move, and Mark Maske The Washington Post says the Raiders haven’t given “serious consideration in recent days” to a Belichick pursuit.
It’s already been a busy day in Las Vegas. The Raiders kicked off a GM search after moving on from Tom Telesco.
NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 1/9/25
Many teams have started signing players to reserve/futures contracts, allowing the organization to retain (routinely) young, practice squad players through the offseason. Here are the latest reserve/futures contracts:
Dallas Cowboys
- RB Malik Davis
Kansas City Chiefs
- LB Shaun Bradley, DB Jason Taylor
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 1/9/25
Today’s practice squad moves:
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: QB Brett Rypien
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: QB Ian Book
- Released: DB Mekhi Garner
Minor NFL Transactions: 1/9/25
Today’s minor moves:
Detroit Lions
- Designated for return: CB Ennis Rakestraw
Los Angeles Chargers
- Waived: OL Jordan McFadden
Minnesota Vikings
- Designated for return: DL Taki Taimani
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Waived: WR Scotty Miller
Bengals WR Jermaine Burton Accused Of Assault
Bengals wide receiver Jermaine Burton is accused of assaulting a woman on December 30, according to police reports obtained by Sharon Coolidge, Cameron Knight, and Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnati Enquirer.
The woman, who Burton had been dating for several months, accused the player of chasing her inside her apartment, damaging her phone, and then assaulting her, including choking her. The woman also claimed that before Burton left the residence, he threatened to kill himself. The police report says the woman “suffered minor injuries but did not need medical attention.” The woman also initially intended to file charges before changing her mind.
According to Ben Baby of ESPN, the woman also told police that Burton had previously “pushed her down a set of stairs.” That incident hadn’t been reported to the police.
The incident took place days before the Bengals’ regular season finale. Burton didn’t travel with the team to Pittsburgh for that game, with the decision being described as a “coach’s decision.” The organization has since released a statement to the Enquirer:
“We are aware of information related to Jermaine Burton. We will continue to evaluate as we gather additional details and will have no further comment at this time.”
According to The Enquirer, the player is also facing eviction from his apartment, with those proceedings starting last month. ESPN adds that Burton’s “landlord filed an eviction notice and civil lawsuit against him” for lack of payment.
As both The Enquirer and ESPN note, Burton drew concern for his behavior during the pre-draft process. Specifically, the Alabama product was caught hitting a female fan who rushed the field following his team’s loss to the University of Tennessee. That instance (and other unreported anecdotes), led to teams passing on the wide receiver altogether.
Burton was ultimately selected by the Bengals in the third round. He failed to contribute in his 14 appearances, hauling in only four catches for 107 yards.
More On Jerod Mayo’s Firing: Succession Plan, Hiring Process, Stevenson Benching
The Patriots’ succession plan for Bill Belichick clearly didn’t go as planned, as Jerod Mayo was let go after only one ugly season at the helm. However, there were cracks in the organization’s overall plan before Robert Kraft even named Mayo as his head coach.
[RELATED: Patriots Fire Jerod Mayo]
According to Chad Graff of The Athletic, Kraft’s literal succession timeline intended for Mayo to take over in 2025. When Kraft instituted his plan in 2023, he planned to give Belichick two more seasons (allowing the coach to break the all-time wins record) before Mayo would take over the gig.
That obviously didn’t come to fruition, as Belichick’s fractured relationship with the Patriots led to his ouster after that 2023 campaign. Before that, Belichick failed to mentor his successor like the organization expected (Graff notes that Belichick cut off communication with a number of coaches during his final season in New England). So, when Mayo was suddenly thrust into the HC role, he didn’t have the prerequisite mentorship that ownership had hoped for.
That could partly explain Mayo’s unusual approach to his head coaching role. The newly-named head coach first struggled to fill his coaching staff, although he curiously avoided one solution by offering incumbent defensive play-caller Steve Belichick a demotion (which the younger Belichick refused, leading to him taking a DC job at Washington). Andrew Callahan and Doug Kyed of The Boston Herald report that some OC candidates were left unimpressed with Mayo’s approach during the interview process, leading to the team opting for their last interviewee in Alex Van Pelt.
Then, once the season began, Mayo reportedly struggled to discipline his players, and Graff passes along an anecdote where Mayo played cards with the players during a plane ride following a loss. Mayo also struggled with some of the seemingly simple tasks that are required from a head coach. For instance, The Boston Herald duo point to Rhamondre Stevenson‘s uncertain status in Week 17. Mayo intended to bench the RB for fumbling issues, and he communicated the lineup change to Van Pelt. The OC never relayed the message to running backs coach Taylor Embree, leading to Stevenson taking the field with the starting offense. Mayo later covered for his coordinator, but there were clear cracks in communication.
While Mayo has been the only Patriots leader to lose their job, executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf has also drawn his fair share of criticism. The front office leader took some accountability for the team’s disappointing 2024 showing while admitting that some of the Patriots’ younger players didn’t develop as expected (specifically WRs Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker).
“I would say that I guess personally, what I was expecting is maybe a little bit more internal development, which is a good lesson certainly heading into next year. And that you can’t always rely on that,” Wolf said (via The Herald). “The rookie receivers didn’t have it really that much for us.”
Nick Sorensen Won’t Return As 49ers Defensive Coordinator
The 49ers will be seeking their fourth defensive coordinator in four years. Nick Sorensen won’t return as the 49ers defensive coordinator in 2025, according to Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area.
However, Sorensen’s stint in San Francisco may not be over. Maiocco adds that the 49ers are hoping they can keep the coach on Kyle Shanahan’s staff for next season. One option could be special teams coordinator, as Matt Barrows of The Athletic notes. The 49ers fired ST coordinator Brian Schneider the other day, and Sorensen served in that role during his time with the Jaguars.
After ranking third in points allowed in 2023, the 49ers dropped to 29th during Sorenson’s first season at the helm. The defense also struggled to generate turnovers, with Cam Inman of the Mercury News noting that the team had zero interceptions over their final seven games and only one fumble recovery over their final 11 games.
There was hope that Sorenson would help guide the 49ers to a new level after the team fired Steve Wilks last offseason. The former NFL journeyman moved quickly through the coaching ranks in San Francisco, where he worked his way up from a defensive assistant to defensive pass game specialist to defensive coordinator in three seasons. In addition to his one-year stint as Jaguars ST coordinator, Sorenson also had experience coaching defense with the Seahawks, where he served as the team’s secondary coach during the final seasons of the Legion of Boom era.
While the 49ers dealt with a long list of injuries, the team clearly wasn’t willing to tolerate the clear regression from the defense in 2024. Now, the organization will be seeking their fourth defensive coordinator in four seasons. Prior to Wilks one-year stint as defensive coordinator, DeMeco Ryans spent two years in the role before becoming head coach of the Texans.
Ryans’ predecessor, Robert Saleh, could be a candidate to take over for Sorenson, as Inman notes. Saleh spent four years as San Francisco’s defensive coach before leaving to become the Jets head coach in 2021. He was canned by the Jets earlier this season before catching on as a consultant in Green Bay, and he’s already emerged as a candidate for the Jaguars head coaching vacancy. It’s more likely that Saleh’s return to coaching will require a stop as coordinator, and a familiar spot in San Francisco could be his softest-possible landing.
Inman also points to Jeff Ulbrich and Gus Bradley as potential candidates for the 49ers new DC opening. Ulbrich most recently served as Saleh’s interim replacement in New York, and that was preceded by a three-plus-year stint as the Jets DC. The veteran coach crossed paths with Shanahan in Atlanta, and he spent his entire 10-year playing career in San Francisco.
Bradley and Shanahan have never worked alongside each other, but the veteran coach brings plenty of experience. Bradley most recently served as the Colts defensive coordinator, a role he held for three seasons before getting dismissed yesterday. Bradley also held DC roles with the Raiders, Chargers, and Seahawks, and he had a four-year stint as head coach with the Jaguars.
Bears Schedule Pete Carroll HC Interview
Pete Carroll expressed interest in the Bears’ head coaching job, but the longtime Seahawks HC’s name was not included in the initial wave of interview requests. It is now.
[RELATED: Pete Carroll Interested In Bears’ HC Job]
The Bears are planning to meet with the Super Bowl-winning coach Thursday, ESPN.com’s Dan Graziano and Jeremy Fowler report. Carroll attempted to land another job after his Seattle ouster last year but did not. The veteran leader’s age (73) stands to present issues, as it did for Bill Belichick, but the Bears are going to see what the experienced leader can bring to the table.
Reports about Carroll’s NFL future haven’t necessarily been consistent. Following his Seattle ouster, there were rumblings that the long-time coach was moving towards retirement, anyway. On the flip side, reports indicated that Carroll intended to remain in his post as head coach of the Seahawks in 2024, but efforts to convince the organization to allow that to take place were ultimately unsuccessful.
While Carroll didn’t push for a new gig during the 2024 campaign, he recently resurfaced in the HC carousel, as the former Super Bowl champ was connected to the Bears gig towards the end of the regular season. He’ll now have a chance to pitch himself to Chicago’s brass, although it remains to be seen if the organization is simply doing their due diligence. While the Bears have cast a wide net in their search for a Matt Eberflus replacement, there’s been a sentiment that they’re seeking an offensive mind who can help develop former No. 1 pick Caleb Williams. Carroll’s defensive pedigree wouldn’t necessarily match with that gameplan.
Of course, Carroll’s decades in the NFL means he has plenty of connections, so it shouldn’t be tough for the coach to find a worthy offensive lieutenant. Carroll also helped transform former third-round pick Russell Wilson into one of the best QBs in the NFL, so it’s not like the coach is completely incapable of guiding a young signal-caller.
While Carroll’s age could work against him, he also had an obvious experience advantage over his fellow candidates. The long-time coach has 18 years of head coaching experience in stops with the Jets, Patriots, and Seahawks. He’s only earned one Super Bowl ring, but he also earned a second NFC Championship, and he owns a career playoff record of 11-11. His final seasons in Seattle left a bit to be desired, as the Seahawks went 25-26 with a single one-and-done playoff appearance between 2021 and 2023.
Still, there’s no denying that Carroll represents one of the most respected names available on the market. Assuming the Bears are looking for an immediate return to legitimacy, Carroll would certainly add some credibility to the organization.