Latest On Redskins’ Offensive Staff
Redskins offensive line coach Bill Callahan has come up as a possibility to fill the vacant O-coordinator positions with both Washington and the Rams, but he’s uninterested in leaving his current role.
“It’s not that he’s dismissive of an opportunity to, at some point in time, become a coordinator,” agent Bob LaMonte told Liz Clarke of the Washington Post. “But at this time, he’s not interested because he’s enjoying the players he works with and enjoying working for Jay (Gruden).”
Callahan, 60, has already been a coordinator with the Raiders (1998-2001) and the Cowboys (2012-14). After leaving Dallas, he took over the Redskins’ offensive line and is now coming off a season in which the unit allow the fourth-fewest sacks in the NFL (23) and sent two players – left tackle Trent Williams and right guard Brandon Scherff – to the Pro Bowl. Callahan’s line also finished the season as Football Outsiders’ sixth-ranked front five and Pro Football Focus’ seventh-best group.
With Callahan not open to taking the place of ex-Redskins O-coordinator and now-Rams head coach Sean McVay, it’s now even likelier than before that quarterbacks coach Matt Cavanaugh will become Gruden’s top offensive assistant, according to Clarke. Tight ends coach Wes Phillips is also in the mix, but he could join his father, defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, on McVay’s staff in Los Angeles.
Cavanaugh has been in charge of the Redskins’ signal-callers since 2015, Kirk Cousins‘ breakout year. He was formerly a coordinator with the Bears and Ravens.
Texans To Promote Mike Vrabel To DC
The Texans are promoting linebackers coach Mike Vrabel to defensive coordinator, reports Albert Breer of TheMMQB.com (Twitter link). Predecessor Romeo Crennel will stay on the Texans’ staff and become their assistant head coach.
This is seemingly a boon for Houston, which potentially could have dealt with the departures of both Vrabel and Crennel this offseason. Vrabel drew head coaching interest from the Rams, who instead hired Sean McVay, and both the Chargers and Redskins were eyeing him for their D-coordinator vacancies, according to Breer (Twitter link).
Meanwhile, the soon-to-be 70-year-old Crennel was on an expiring contract prior to Wednesday. Head coach Bill O’Brien made it clear earlier this week that the team didn’t want to lose Crennel.
“Romeo’s done a great job,” O’Brien said Monday. “I know we’d love to have him back. I haven’t sat down with any coaches yet, but I can tell you Romeo’s a great coach. He means a lot to me personally, and we’d love to have Romeo back.”
Crennel had served as the Texans’ defensive coordinator since 2014, and the unit ranked between sixth and eighth in DVOA in each season under his stewardship. Houston also led the NFL in yardage allowed in 2016, which was especially impressive given that superstar end J.J. Watt only played in three games and went on injured reserve in late September. The Crennel-led, Watt-less Texans had other stars emerge, including end Jadeveon Clowney and cornerback A.J. Bouye, while linebacker Whitney Mercilus‘ standout play continued.
Mercilus has worked directly with Vrabel, who was a terrific NFL linebacker in his own right from 1997-2010. Vrabel played under Crennel in both New England and Kansas City during that time, and he then joined him on Houston’s coaching staff in 2014. The two will remain together in 2017, though it’ll be Vrabel manning Crennel’s longtime position. Crennel has been a D-coordinator with four different teams since 2000.
Kyle Shanahan Likely To Become 49ers’ HC
As of Tuesday evening, Falcons offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan wasn’t a lock to accept the 49ers’ forthcoming offer to become their head coach. However, Shanahan’s now “almost certain” to take the job, reports Mike Silver of NFL.com.
With Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and Seahawks offensive line coach Tom Cable having withdrawn from the race this week, Shanahan is the last man standing among the eight candidates the 49ers have interviewed. The rest have accepted head coaching positions elsewhere. Thus, in the unlikely event Shanahan turns San Francisco down, it would send CEO Jed York and executive vice president of football operations Paraag Marathe scrambling to hit the reset button on their search to replace Chip Kelly.
The 49ers are also on the hunt for a new general manager, of course, and lost one candidate when Cable’s Seattle colleague, co-director of player personnel Trent Kirchner, took himself out of consideration Tuesday. Of the GM possibilities the Niners have considered, Kirchner, fellow Seahawks executive Scott Fitterer and Chiefs director of player personnel Chris Ballard would have preferred to work with Cable, according to Silver. The Chiefs prevented Ballard from talking to the 49ers, though, and awarded him a pay raise as compensation, Silver writes.
Cable has another fan in defensive coordinator-to-be Gus Bradley, who would have gone to San Francisco had it hired Cable. Instead, after Cable dropped out of contention Tuesday, Bradley spurned the 49ers when they asked if he’d be interested in teaming with Shanahan. It appears, then, that Bradley will become the Chargers’ D-coordinator.
Shanahan is currently preparing for Sunday’s NFC championship game between the Falcons and Packers. If Atlanta advances to Super Bowl LI, the 49ers wouldn’t be able to hire him until after Feb. 5. Regardless, he’ll have a second interview with the Niners next week and will discuss GM choices with team brass. Packers director of player personnel Brian Gutekunst remains the favorite, relays Silver, who adds that Green Bay director of football operations Eliot Wolf and Vikings assistant GM George Paton are also strong contenders.
Kyle Shanahan In Lead For 49ers’ HC Job
After Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels bowed out of the race to become the 49ers’ next head coach Monday, Falcons O-coordinator Kyle Shanahan and Seahawks offensive line coach Tom Cable became the finalists for the position. But it appears Cable’s chances are fading, as it’s now Shanahan’s “job to take,” according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). San Francisco plans to offer the role to Shanahan when Atlanta’s season ends, tweets Adam Schefter of ESPN.com.
The news that Cable has essentially lost all momentum comes on the heels of Seahawks co-director of player personnel Trent Kirchner withdrawing his candidacy for the Niners’ GM vacancy. While he and Seattle front office cohort Scott Fitterer have each been in the running for the role, it’s likely to go to Packers director of player personnel Brian Gutekunst. It seems that he and Shanahan could end up working together with the Niners, though it’s not a lock Shanahan will accept the club’s offer, reports Mike Silver of NFL.com (Twitter link).
For now, the 37-year-old Shanahan is preparing his top-ranked Atlanta offense for an NFC title game showdown with the Packers on Sunday. If the Falcons knock off Green Bay to advance to Super Bowl LI, their season won’t end until Feb. 5. Given that they’re the only team left without a head coach, the 49ers are content to wait a few more weeks for an answer from Shanahan. An Atlanta win this weekend would lead to the Niners meeting with Shanahan to vet GM candidates next week, per Rapoport (Twitter link). Should the Falcons lose, the 49ers would perhaps be in line to fill both positions immediately.
Bills Name Rob Boras Tight Ends Coach
The Bills have hired ex-Rams offensive coordinator Rob Boras to serve as their tight ends coach, Mike Rodak of ESPN.com was among those to report.
Boras, 46, was atop the Rams’ offense the past two seasons. The unit was woeful in each of those years, ranking 29th in DVOA in 2015 and dead last in 2016. The Rams also finished this season 32nd in both yardage (262.7 per game – nearly 50 fewer than the 31st-place offense) and scoring (14.0 PPG). As a result, Boras’ career as a coordinator is over for at least the time being. He previously worked as a tight ends coach with the Bears, Jaguars and Rams, and will now return to that role.
It’s not yet known whose offensive staff Boras will be a member of in Buffalo. New head coach Sean McDermott hasn’t named a coordinator, but signs are pointing to Greg Olson landing the job. He’s also a previous Rams and Jags assistant, though his stints with those teams did not coincide with Boras’.
Kirchner Withdraws From 49ers’ GM Search
A day after Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels took himself out of the running for the 49ers’ head coaching vacancy, Seahawks co-director of player personnel Trent Kirchner has withdrawn from their general manager search, reports Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (Twitter link). Kirchner interviewed with the Niners on Monday, but he’s content to remain with NFC West rival Seattle and continue working under GM John Schneider.
Kirchner is one of nine candidates the 49ers have spoken with regarding their GM position. Scott Fitterer, Kirchner’s fellow director of player personnel with the Seahawks, has also met with San Francisco brass. Packers director of player personnel Brian Gutekunst is reportedly the front-runner for the position, however, so it appears Seattle will keep its front office intact. That could bode poorly for Seahawks offensive line coach Tom Cable‘s chances of landing the Niners’ head coaching job, for which he and Falcons offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan are the finalists.
Niners CEO Jed York and executive vice president of football operations Paraag Marathe have admitted during head coaching interviews that their roster is “in shambles,” but both that gig and the franchise’s GM role carry appeal. York and Marathe have promised to exercise patience and spend money to improve the roster, and the 49ers are set to enter the offseason with an NFC-high $77MM-plus in cap space. They’re also armed with the second overall pick in the draft. We now know that Kirchner won’t be the one making that selection.
AFC Notes: Bolts, Texans, Fins, Browns
Before the Chargers hired Anthony Lynn as their head coach, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reported that he would retain offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt if he got the job. That will indeed be the case, Lynn confirmed Tuesday at his introductory press conference. Whisenhunt, who’s in his second stint with the Chargers, will enter his third season atop the club’s offense. He has a “strong relationship” with quarterback Philip Rivers, notes CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora (Twitter link).
As for the Bolts’ defensive coordinator position, Lynn revealed that he’ll conduct a second interview with Gus Bradley on Tuesday, tweets John Keim of ESPN.com. Lynn and Bradley have been connected to one another over the past few weeks, and the ex-Jacksonville head coach is reportedly the front-runner to take over the Chargers’ defense. At the same time, though, Bradley’s waiting to see if San Francisco will vie for his services.
More from the AFC:
- The Texans are likely to re-sign pending free agent punter Shane Lechler to a one-year deal, reports John McClain of the Houston Chronicle. Lechler indicated Monday that he’d like to return for what would be his age-41 season in 2017. “Looking forward to next year,” he said. “Hopefully, they’ll have me back. I’m ready to go. I feel good. We’ll see how it goes.” After spending the first 13 years of his career in Oakland, where he earned seven Pro Bowl nods and six first-team All-Pro selections, Lechler joined the Texans in 2013. He’s coming off a season in which he finished sixth in the NFL in yards per punt, ninth in kicks inside the 20 and 16th in net yardage.
- The Dolphins held an “animated” December meeting in which they discussed moving linebacker Kiko Alonso from the middle to the weak side, but they opted against it so as not to “mess with Kiko’s head,” sources told Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald. Now that the Dolphins’ season is over, they’re again weighing whether to make the switch. If the Dolphins are confident Alonso can play either spot, it would give them flexibility in finding upgrades at the other two linebacker positions, writes Salguero. “We’ll see what other type of players we bring in through free agency and the draft and where Kiko fits in,” said new defensive coordinator Matt Burke. In his first year in Miami, Alonso rebounded from a torn ACL in 2014 with Buffalo and a disastrous 2015 as an Eagle to pile up a Dolphins-leading 115 tackles and two interceptions.
- The Browns have tabbed Clyde Simmons as their assistant defensive line coach, per Sporting News’ Alex Marvez. He’ll take over for Robert Nunn, whom the Browns fired Tuesday, according to Nate Ulrich of Ohio.com (Twitter links). Simmons, a former defensive end who amassed 121.5 sacks between 1986-2000, worked as the Rams’ assistant D-line coach over the past half-decade. Heading to Cleveland means he’ll remain under defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, who was also previously with the Rams.
Eagles Could Part With Jason Kelce
Center Jason Kelce‘s sixth season in Philadelphia might have been his last. Three years after the Eagles signed Kelce to a six-year, $37.5MM extension, they’re considering trading or releasing him, a source told Jimmy Kempski of PhillyVoice.com. Kelce has been with the Eagles since they selected him in the sixth round of the 2011 draft.
Parting with Kelce this offseason wouldn’t open up a windfall of cap space in 2017 for Philadelphia, which would save $3.8MM against $2.4MM in dead money. The Eagles would also lose a one-time Pro Bowler who’s coming off his fourth 16-start season and second in a row. Durability aside, Kelce’s performance wasn’t great in 2016, as he finished 27th among Pro Football Focus’ 38 qualified centers and led the position in penalties (eight).
If Kelce were to hit free agency, he’d join a center market that’s also slated to include teammate Stefen Wisniewski, Joe Hawley, A.Q. Shipley and John Sullivan, among others. It seems doubtful the Eagles would turn to any of those names to replace Kelce, as they may have a successor on their roster in 2016 third-round pick Isaac Seumalo. With Kelce in the equation, Seumalo’s action as a rookie came at guard and right tackle. Seumalo previously garnered extensive center experience at Oregon State, however, and Eagles head coach Doug Pederson indicated during the season that he’s confident in the 23-year-old’s ability to handle the position.
“He’s been such a versatile offensive lineman for us, that I would have no issues if he had to play center,” Pederson said, per Kempski.
Coaching Notes: 49ers, Jaguars, Broncos
During their head coaching search, which is now down to Kyle Shanahan and Tom Cable, the 49ers have admitted to candidates that their “roster is in shambles,” writes Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com. As such, CEO Jed York and executive vice president of football operations Paraag Marathe have promised during interviews that they’ll exhibit patience and a willingness to expend resources. Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels bowed out of the race for San Francisco’s head coaching job Monday, but he did praise both York and Marathe. “I was really impressed with Jed York and Paraag and Brian (Hampton), and people that came for the 49ers organization,” McDaniels told reporters (via Maiocco). “They did a great job with their presentation.”
More coaching updates:
- Speaking of San Francisco, the Jaguars plan to interview Mike Nolan for their vacant linebackers coach position, reports Sporting News’ Alex Marvez (Twitter link). Nolan, 57, is best known for serving as San Fran’s head coach from 2005-08, during which the team went just 18-37. He also has extensive experience as an assistant, having worked as a defensive coordinator for seven different clubs. Now an analyst, Nolan last served as a linebackers coach with the Chargers in 2015.
- The Broncos are set to hire Marcus Robertson as their defensive backs coach, according to Mike Klis of 9News (Twitter link). He’ll take over for Joe Woods, whom new Broncos head coach Vance Joseph promoted to defensive coordinator. Robertson, who played in the NFL from 1991-2002, has coached secondaries in Tennessee, Detroit and Oakland since 2007. He was the Raiders’ DBs coach over the past two seasons.
- Panthers wide receivers coach Ricky Proehl is stepping down to spend more time with his family, tweets Jordan Rodrigue of ESPN.com. The former wideout was Carolina’s receivers coach for four years.
- The Jaguars will add Clemson assistant Marion Hobby to their staff, likely as the defensive line coach, per Marvez (Twitter link). Hobby has been the co-defensive coordinator and defensive ends coach at Clemson since 2011, and is coming off a national championship-winning season with the Tigers.
Bills Unlikely To Hire Brad Childress As OC
The Bills’ search for an offensive coordinator is seemingly down to one known candidate. While Greg Olson and Chiefs co-offensive coordinator Brad Childress were the reported front-runners for the job as of Sunday, it now appears the latter is no longer in contention, according to the Buffalo News’ Vic Carucci (Twitter link).
It’s unclear whether the Bills are honing in on Olson, thereby leading to a lack of interest in Childress, or if Childress declined any overtures from the club. Either way, Olson will interview with Buffalo on Thursday as it seeks a replacement for ex-offensive coordinator and now-Chargers head coach Anthony Lynn.
The Bills’ new sideline leader, Sean McDermott, has already tabbed Leslie Frazier as his defensive coordinator. Now, with Childress and newly minted Broncos assistant Mike McCoy out of the running, Olson looks to be in the lead to serve as McDermott’s offensive chief. Olson last worked as the O-coordinator in Jacksonville, which fired him in October.
Kansas City, meanwhile, now appears poised to keep the tandem of Childress and Matt Nagy intact. Nagy would have been in line to become the Chiefs’ sole offensive coordinator had Childress gone to the Bills. Along with head coach Andy Reid, Childress and Nagy guided KC’s offense to a 13th-place DVOA ranking in 2016.