Eagles Conduct Second OC Interview With Jim Bob Cooter
The Eagles have cast perhaps the widest net in the NFL in their search for a new offensive coordinator, but it sounds like the organization is starting to settle on some final candidates for the job. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Eagles conducted an in-person interview today with Colts offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter.
We heard previously that the Eagles had requested an interview with the long-time offensive coach. According to Fowler, the two sides previously conducted a virtual interview. While the Philly job would represent a lateral move for Cooter, it appears as if Shane Steichen is willing to let one of his top lieutenants consider a new job.
Cooter has spent the past three seasons serving as the Colts offensive coordinator. Despite having to turn to six different starting QBs over that span, Indy’s offense has still ranked in the top-half of the NFL in yardage in each of the past three seasons. The offense has also had some success scoring the ball, culminating in an eighth-place finish in points scored this past season. While Steichen brings an offensive pedigree, Cooter also earned some praise for his ability to squeeze an impressive showing out of Daniel Jones in 2025.
The 41-year-old coordinator has been coaching in the NFL since 2009. He earned his first OC gig with the Lions in 2016, and he had stints as the Jets running backs coach and the Jaguars passing game coordinator before he got his current job with the Colts in 2023.
Cooter also has some connection to the Eagles. He worked alongside Nick Sirianni when the two were on the Chiefs coaching staff, and he later served as an independent consultant in Philly during the 2021 campaign. When Sirianni announced that move, he noted that he thinks “very highly” of Cooter while describing him as a “great football mind.”
If Cooter ends up back in Philly, he’ll be tasked with guiding an offense that took a significant step back in 2025. After ranking in the top-10 in points scored and yards each season between 2022 and 2024, the team finished 19th in points and 24th in yards in 2025. That performance led to the team parting ways with OC Kevin Patullo after the season.
Since then, the Eagles have looked high and low for a replacement. Cooter joins a long list of candidates that also includes:
- Josh Grizzard, former offensive coordinator (Buccaneers): To interview
- Jerrod Johnson, quarterbacks coach (Texans): To interview
- Sean Mannion, quarterbacks coach (Packers): To conduct second interview
- Matt Nagy, former offensive coordinator (Chiefs): Interviewed 1/21
- Bobby Slowik, senior pass-game coordinator (Dolphins): Interviewed 1/23
- Frank Smith, former offensive coordinator (Dolphins): Interviewed
- Davis Webb, quarterbacks coach (Broncos): Interview requested
Rams, Steelers Request Interviews With Browns ST Coordinator Bubba Ventrone
With the Browns welcoming in a new head coach, some key assistants may be on the move. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports that the Rams have requested an interview with Browns special teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone for the same role. Meanwhile, Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com reports that the Steelers have also requested an interview with Ventrone. Cabot adds that the Rams are the likelier landing spot for the coach.
[RELATED: Browns Hire Todd Monken As HC]
Following a playing career that saw him appear in 708 special teams snaps vs. only 16 defensive snaps, Ventrone transitioned to coaching. He got his first gig with a former team, the Patriots, where he served as an assistant special teams coordinator between 2015 and 2017. He took a promotion to special teams coordinator with the Colts in 2018 and proceeded to spend five seasons in Indy. He joined the Browns in 2023 for the same gig, but he added the title of assistant head coach.
The Browns weren’t the most efficient special teams squad in 2025. The team lost primary returner DeAndre Carter in late September, and the Browns ended up finishing 31st in kick returns and 26th in punt returns. However, Ventrone did squeeze an impressive showing out of first-time starting kicker Andre Szmyt, who converted 24 of his 27 field goal attempts and 25 of his 26 XP tries.
The Rams fired special teams coordinator Chase Blackburn in late December, but the move didn’t do much to improve the squad’s special teams woes. These issues popped up during the NFC Championship Game, when Xavier Smith muffed a punt that ultimately led to a Seahawks score. So, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that the Rams are also moving on from interim ST coordinator Ben Kotwica (along with assistants Mike Harris and Matthew Harper), per Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston. Meanwhile, Mike McCarthy will be searching for a new coordinator for his staff in Pittsburgh, as long-time ST leader Danny Smith left for the same role in Tampa Bay.
New Browns coach Todd Monken will have some work to do to fill out his staff. Offensive coordinator Tommy Rees left for the same job with the Falcons (alongside former Browns HC Kevin Stefanski), while intended defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz is likely out of the equation after he lost out on Cleveland’s head coaching gig. Assuming Ventrone is also gone, Monken will be tasked with hiring three new coordinators this offseason.
Commanders To Hire Daronte Jones As Defensive Coordinator
The Commanders have found their new defensive coordinator. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Commanders are finalizing a deal to hire Daronte Jones as their new DC.
We learned just yesterday that Jones was set to interview for the job, marking his fifth DC interview during this year’s hiring cycle. Jones first emerged as a coordinator candidate during the 2024 offseason when he interviewed for the Giants DC job. His candidacy took another bump last year, as he interviewed for the Bears, Jaguars, and Saints gigs.
That interest seemed to culminate this offseason, as Jones was viewed as a DC in waiting. He was a candidate for the Cowboys, Packers, Giants, and Jets jobs before he ultimately landed the gig on Dan Quinn‘s Washington staff. He was also a candidate to take over as the Vikings DC if Brian Flores ended up leaving for a head coaching job. This will represent a bit of a homecoming for the coach, who grew up just outside of Washington and played college football at Morgan State in Baltimore.
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. He’s actually completing his second stint in Minnesota, as Jones briefly left 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.
The Commanders’ need for a new DC wasn’t unexpected. Joe Whitt was stripped of play-calling duties midway through the 2025 season, and he was ultimately dismissed earlier this month. Quinn had a long list of candidates, including Flores before the Vikings DC ended up re-upping with Minnesota, per Dianna Russini of The Athletic. Instead, the Commanders ended up pivoting and snagging someone from Flores’ staff.
In Washington, Jones will be tasked with turning around a defense that took significant steps back in 2025. While the Commanders were a respectable 12th in sacks, they finished 27th in points, 31st in takeaways and dead last in yards. Quinn took play-calling duties from Whitt after Week 10, though there’s a chance the head coach passes those responsibilities to his new DC. While Jones doesn’t have extensive experience, he did call defensive plays during his lone season at LSU.
While more changes are surely coming to Washington’s coaching staff, Jones will represent the most significant addition this offseason. With David Blough taking over for Kliff Kingsbury as the offensive coordinator, the Commanders will enter the 2026 campaign with first-time coordinators on both sides of the ball.
Chargers Interview Adam Fuller, Steve Clinkscale For DC Job
The Chargers were busy today interviewing defensive coordinator candidates. The team announced that they completed interviews with two internal candidates: Adam Fuller and Steve Clinkscale.
Fuller is a new addition to the growing list of options. The long-time college coach had stints as head coach (at Assumption) and defensive coordinator (at Wagner, Chattanooga, Marshall, Memphis, and Florida State) before finally taking his first NFL job on Jim Harbaugh‘s Chargers staff ahead of the 2025 campaign.
As the team’s new safeties coach, Fuller was tasked with guiding a unit led by All-Pro Derwin James, who once again graded out as a top-10 safety on Pro Football Focus’ positional rankings in 2025. Fuller mixed and matched with the other safety spot, turning to the likes of Elijah Molden, Tony Jefferson, RJ Mickens, and Alohi Gilman. Each of those four players ended up getting into more than 250 defensive snaps this past season.
Clinkscale was mentioned as a major candidate for the Chargers defensive coordinator job once former defensive coordinator Jesse Minter started generating interest for head coaching gigs. He’s got plenty of familiarity with Harbaugh; he worked as Michigan’s DBs coach in 2021 before being the Wolverines’ co-DC alongside Minter from 2022-23. Minter was the one to earn the DC opportunity in Los Angeles, but Clinkscale still came along with Harbaugh in 2024. He’s worked as the team’s defensive backs coach for the past two seasons.
While Harbaugh seems intent to promote from within (he also interviewed OLBs coach Dylan Roney for the job), he’s also eyed some outside names for the position. Ravens DC Zach Orr, Rams pass-game coordinator Aubrey Pleasant, and former Titans DC Dennard Wilson have also interview for the gig.
NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 1/26/26
Today’s reserve/futures deals:
Denver Broncos
- LB Levelle Bailey, TE Caleb Lohner, DT Jordan Miller, RB Cody Schrader, G Calvin Throckmorton, RB Deuce Vaughn
Kansas City Chiefs
Los Angeles Rams
- OT AJ Arcuri, WR Tru Edwards, DB Tanner Ingle, DB Cam Lampkin, OT Dylan McMahon, LB Eli Neal, DT Bill Norton, WR Brennan Presley, TE Mark Redman, WR Tyler Scott
Texans Interested In Retaining OL Ed Ingram
The Texans are expected to make offensive line a priority this offseason, and their efforts could start with re-signing one of their own. GM Nick Caserio told reporters (including Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston) that he expects to have talks with impending free agent lineman Ed Ingram.
A former second-round pick by the Vikings, Ingram was dealt to the Texans for a sixth-round pick last offseason. After serving as a rotational lineman during his final season in Minnesota, he returned to a full-time starter role during the 2025 campaign. He graded out as a middling lineman throughout his tenure with the Vikings, but Ingram finished this season 12th among 80 qualifying guards on Pro Football Focus’ positional rankings.
Considering his lack of track record, Ingram may be behind the likes of guards Isaac Seumalo, David Edwards, Alijah Vera-Tucker in the free agent hierarchy. Still, considering the need for capable linemen, Ingram should expect a significant contract this offseason.
While the Texans may be preparing a run to retain Ingram, they could also look outside the organization for OL help. Tony Pauline of Essentially Sports writes that the team is expected to make a run at center Cade Mays. The former sixth-round pick has spent the majority of his career with the Panthers, starting 27 of his 52 appearances. PFF ranked him 24th among 37 qualifiers for his performance in 2025.
While the Texans offensive line struggled earlier in the 2025 campaign, they found their footing during the final chunk of the regular season. After taking 90 sacks through his first two NFL seasons, quarterback C.J. Stroud finished this past season with only 23 sacks in 14 games.
Kyle Pitts: It’d Be “Dope” To Play Under Kevin Stefanski
Kyle Pitts has an opportunity to parlay his career year into a lucrative contract, opening the door for him to play elsewhere in 2026. However, the impending free agent tight end is intrigued by the opportunity to continue his Falcons career playing under new leadership.
While speaking with Jordan Schultz and Draymond Green on the Why is Draymond Green Talking About Football? podcast, Pitts said it’d be “dope” to play for new Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski.
“That’d be dope in general as a room and just for morale as an offensive piece, [with] the tight end being one of the focal points in it,” Pitts said (via Schultz on X).
The tight end clarified that he had a significant role under Arthur Smith and Raheem Morris, but he expected an “enhanced role” if he sticks in Atlanta for the long haul. Pitts even said he’s talked with David Njoku about Stefanski’s willingness to showcase tight ends.
Inconsistent QB play prevented Njoku from reaching the top-tier of NFL tight ends, but the long-time Brown still had at least 60 touches per year between 2022 and 2024. Stefanski also got an unexpected performance from TE Harold Fannin in 2025, with the rookie finishing with 79 touches for 744 yards and seven touchdowns.
Pitts has struggled to live up to his fourth-overall-pick billing. While he topped 1,000 receiving yards as a rookie, he was limited to only 1,625 combined receiving yards over the following three years. The impending free agent showed signs of life in 2025, finishing with a career-high 88 catches for 928 yards and five scores. That performance should set him up for a payday, as he’s expected to lead a TE free agent class that also includes Travis Kelce, Dallas Goedert, Isaiah Likely, and Njoku.
There were rumblings that the Falcons could look to retain Pitts via the franchise tag. However, with the Falcons employing new leadership, it’s uncertain if the organization still has the former first-round pick in their plans.
Bills To Interview Nate Scheelhaase For HC
Nate Scheelhaase is considered a leading candidate for the Browns head coaching job, but that won’t stop the Rams pass-game coordinator from considering other opportunities. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Bills have requested a head coaching interview with Scheelhaase. The meeting is expected to take place tonight, per Schefter.
The 35-year-old conducted an in-person interview with the Browns today, his second meeting with the organization. The coach is also a candidate for the open Raiders gig, and he interviewed for the Ravens and Steelers jobs. While the Browns could have locked him into a contract, Scheelhaase’s next stop on the interview circuit will lead him to Buffalo.
The former Illinois QB got his first coaching gig at the school, and he later left for a promotion at Iowa State. While working for the Cyclones, Scheelhaase primarily worked with the skills positions, coaching the likes of David Montgomery, Breece Hall, Jayden Higgins, and Xavier Hutchinson. He eventually worked his way up to offensive coordinator in 2023.
Scheelhaase later got his first NFL job on Sean McVay‘s staff. He spent the 2024 campaign serving as the Rams passing game specialist before being named their pass game coordinator for the 2025 season. The organization proceeded to lead the NFL in scoring this year and ranked second in passing yards.
The Bills continue to seek a replacement for Sean McDermott. Their wide-ranging search includes:
- Lou Anarumo, defensive coordinator (Colts): Interviewed 1/22
- Joe Brady, offensive coordinator (Bills): Interviewed 1/21
- Brian Daboll, former head coach (Giants): Interviewed 1/22; prefers Buffalo gig
- Klint Kubiak, offensive coordinator (Seahawks): Rumored candidate
- Anthony Lynn, run-game coordinator (Commanders): Interviewed 1/24
- Mike McDaniel, former head coach (Dolphins): To interview 1/23; withdrew from search
- Philip Rivers, former NFL quarterback: Interviewed 1/23; withdrew from search
- Grant Udinski, offensive coordinator (Jaguars): Interviewed 1/25
- Anthony Weaver, defensive coordinator (Dolphins): Interviewed 1/24
- Davis Webb, quarterbacks coach (Broncos): Interviewed 1/26
Texans RB Joe Mixon’s Future Remains Uncertain
It remains uncertain if Joe Mixon will ever take an NFL field again. As Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston writes, the running back’s NFL future still “lacks definitive clarity.” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans acknowledged as much during his season-ending press conference, admitting that he doesn’t “know that answer right now” when asked about Mixon’s status for the 2026 campaign.
The veteran running back ended up missing the entire 2025 season thanks to a “complicated” foot and ankle injury. While Mixon denied midseason reports that he wouldn’t suit up during the 2025 campaign, that ended up coming to fruition.
The former Bengals standout was traded to the Texans ahead of the 2024 season, and he quickly signed a three-year, $27MM extension. He had a productive first season with his new squad, finishing with 1,325 yards from scrimmage and 12 touchdowns in 14 games. Mixon suffered a foot injury while working out in the offseason, and while the veteran sought several outside remedies, he never made enough progress to return to game action. The Texans remained relatively quiet about his status throughout the 2025 season, with Wilson noting that they were honoring the player’s wish for privacy.
“When you have your best players, you’re going to be a better team,” Ryans said (via Wilson). “Joe, he’s a really great running back for us and not having him, yes, of course, it affected our running game. Joe is one of the top running backs in this league. That affected us.”
Since Mixon spent the 2025 season on the non-football injury, the Texans weren’t obligated to pay his $7MM salary. It’s uncertain if the franchise ended up paying out that money. While the RB still has a year remaining on his contract, he’s only due a non-guaranteed $8MM in 2026. As Wilson notes, the Texans are expected to cut him loose this offseason.
The team signed Nick Chubb to replace Mixon in the lineup, although the former Pro Bowler was limited to only 573 offensive yards. Chubb is set to hit free agency this offseason, where he’ll be joined by fellow Texans RB Dare Ogunbowale. That would effectively leave fourth-round rookie Woody Marks as the only healthy RB on the roster entering the offseason.
Falcons Request OC Interview With Buccaneers’ Bryan McClendon
Following a productive two-year stint coaching wideouts in Tampa Bay, Bryan McClendon is now getting a look for offensive coordinator gigs. According to Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports, the Falcons have requested permission to interview McClendon for their OC job.
[RELATED: Falcons Interview Drew Terrell For OC Job]
Following a brief summer stint with the Bears, McClendon proceeded to spend more than a decade in college football. He worked his way up the ranks at Georgia, including a brief stint as their interim head coach following Mark Richt‘s departure. He spent a few years as South Carolina’s offensive coordinator plus two years on Oregon’s staff (including a brief stint as their interim HC) before returning to Georgia in 2022.
After Brad Idzik left to become the Panthers offensive coordinator in 2024, the Buccaneers turned to McClendon for his first NFL gig. The coach entered an enticing situation in Tampa Bay, and despite a number of injuries in their WRs room, Buccaneers receivers still accounted for 28 of Baker Mayfield‘s 41 passing touchdowns.
The Buccaneers receiving corps once again dealt with injuries in 2025, with Mike Evans and Chris Godwin combining for only 63 combined catches in 17 total games. Still, the team got a standout performance from first-round rookie Emeka Egbuka, with seventh-round rookie Tez Johnson also chipping in 322 yards and five touchdowns.
McClendon would have the opportunity to take the next step of his career on Kevin Stefanski‘s new staff in Atlanta. Tommy Rees is the favorite for the Falcons OC job, but the Falcons have considered some outside names. Earlier tonight, we learned that the team interviewed Cardinals passing game coordinator/wide receivers coach Drew Terrell.