Browns Hire Byron Storer As Special Teams Coordinator
New Browns head coach Todd Monken has found a special teams coordinator for his first staff. The Browns will hire Packers assistant ST coordinator Byron Storer, Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team first reported. Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com has since confirmed the news.
This will be Storer’s first time in charge of a special teams unit, though he has garnered extensive experience as an assistant. Before arriving in Green Bay in 2022, the former Buccaneers fullback helped coach ST groups with the Bucs (2010-11), Chargers (2012; he was also their assistant linebackers coach in ’13) and Raiders (2018-21).
Storer played for and worked for longtime ST coordinator Rich Bisaccia in Tampa Bay. After spending the past eight seasons assisting Bisaccia with the Raiders and Packers, Storer will take over in Cleveland for Bubba Ventrone. The Browns lost Ventrone to the Rams in late January.
In other staff news, the Browns are retaining running backs coach Duce Staley, per Tony Grossi of 850 ESPN. Assistant offensive line coach Sanders Davis will also return (via Cabot).
Staley’s known for his solid career as an Eagles and Steelers running back from 1997-2006, but the three-time 1,000-yard rusher has spent more time as a coach since he started as an assistant in Philadelphia in 2011. Next season will be Staley’s third with the Browns, while Davis will enter his second year with the team. Davis will work for new O-line coach George Warhop in 2026.
Commanders Extend P Tress Way
Commanders punter Tress Way entered Tuesday a month away from reaching free agency, but he’ll instead return to Washington for a 13th season. The Commanders announced an extension agreement with Way. It’s a one-year deal, Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic reports.
Way, a former Oklahoma Sooner, started his NFL career as an undrafted free agent with the Bears in 2013. His only regular-season experience has come with the Commanders, who plucked him off waivers from the Bears in August 2014. Twelve years later, Way is the Commanders’ longest-tenured player.
Way was an immediate success in Washington, where he led the league in average yards per punt in 2014 (47.5). He repeated that feat with an average of 49.6 in 2019, his first Pro Bowl campaign. Way has since earned two more Pro Bowl invitations, including in 2025.
At 47.3, the 35-year-old finished just 18th in gross average last season. However, Way led the league in percentage of punts inside the 20 (52.8%) and finished in a fourth-place tie in net average (43.9).
Over his 12-year run in Washington, Way has played in 196 games and recorded a 46.9 gross average and a 41.7 net on 832 punts. Way ranks fifth on Washington’s all-time games played list, and climbing all the way to second is a realistic possibility. Dave Butz (203), Art Monk (205) and Monte Coleman (215) are all within striking distance, though all-time leader Darrell Green (295) is out of reach.
Rams RT Rob Havenstein To Retire
After 11 years as a starting right tackle with the Rams, Rob Havenstein is calling it a career. Havenstein announced his retirement on Instagram on Tuesday (via Sarah Barshop of ESPN).
“Thank you to all my teammates, coaches, and fans who have supported me and helped me over these past 11 years,” Havenstein wrote. “I have had the time of my life with the Los Angeles Rams (formerly known as the St. Louis Rams) and can’t thank the whole organization enough for giving me a shot back in 2015. Although some in the organization weren’t totally convinced.”
Now 33 years old, Havenstein was the last St. Louis Ram remaining on his team’s roster. As a second-round selection in 2015, Havenstein spent his rookie year in St. Louis. The Rams relocated to Los Angeles the next season.
As Havenstein noted, “some” weren’t convinced the Rams were wise in using a high pick on him. He proved his doubters wrong, though, as the Rams nabbed a Day 1 starter and someone who topped the depth chart for his entire career.
The former Wisconsin Badger started in all 148 of his appearances with the Rams, though injuries were a consistent issue. He missed at least one game in 10 of his seasons and sat out three or more on five occasions.
A stalwart when healthy, Havenstein earned two extensions during his career. He inked a four-year, $32.5MM contract in 2018 and then landed a three-year, $34.5MM pact in 2022. His second deal came together several months after he won the lone Super Bowl title of his career.
Had Havenstein continued in 2026, he’d have been on track to reach free agency for the first time in March. The 6-foot-8, 322-pounder would have had to seek a new contract on the heels of an injury-ruined 2025.
In his final season, Havenstein played in just seven games – none past Week 11 – as a result of ankle and knee issues. He went on injured reserve in mid-November, and though the Rams opened his practice window ahead of the NFC title game, he wasn’t healthy enough to play in their season-ending loss to the Seahawks.
Havenstein will walk away tied for eighth on the Rams’ all-time games played list for offensive linemen. He’s third among their tackles in starts, trailing Pro Football Hall of Famers Jackie Slater and Orlando Pace.
With Havenstein moving on, the Rams are expected to hand the keys at right tackle to Warren McClendon. After McClendon impressed filling in for Havenstein in 2025, the Rams could pursue an extension with the three-year veteran this offseason.
Wes Welker To Remain On Commanders’ Staff In 2026
Commanders head coach Dan Quinn addressed the media on Tuesday. During the press conference, he made a number of announcements regarding the team’s coaching staff for next year.
Among those was the confirmation that Wes Welker will remain with the Commanders for 2026. Welker joined Washington’s staff last April, holding the title of personnel analyst.
While Welker’s exact role for next season has not yet been clarified, he will work on the Commanders’ offensive staff (h/t JP Finlay of NBC Sports Washington). Quinn said Welker helped out on special teams last season while Commanders assistant ST coordinator Brian Schneider battled cancer (via Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic).
As an NFL wide receiver from 2004-15, Welker’s expertise is on the offensive side of the ball. With 903 catches, 50 receiving touchdowns and five Pro Bowl nods, Welker enjoyed an especially impressive playing career. He began as a coach in 2017 with the Texans as an offensive/special teams assistant, a position he held for two seasons.
After his Houston tenure concluded, Welker went on to coach receivers for the next six seasons. He divided his time between San Francisco (2019-21) and Miami (2022-24), working alongside Mike McDaniel in both stops. Welker’s partnership with McDaniel ended when Quinn hired him.
Elsewhere on Washington’s staff, Quinn announced new defensive coordinator Daronte Jones will have the authority to implement his own system (via Finlay). Jones, a first-time NFL DC, spent the past four years coaching the Vikings’ defensive backs. He’s replacing the fired Joe Whitt, who lost his job after a season in which Quinn stripped him of play-calling duties. Jones will take over for Quinn as the play-caller in 2026.
Washington’s Jones-led defensive staff will include William Gay as the cornerbacks coach and Darryl Tapp as an assistant D-line coach, per John Keim of ESPN. Gay, a longtime NFL corner, was the Commanders’ assistant DBs coach from 2024-25. Tapp was the Commanders’ line coach for the past two years, but the former defensive end will take a step back next season. He’ll work under new DL coach Eric Henderson.
Adam La Rose contributed to this post.
Adam Gase To Join Chargers’ Staff
FEBRUARY 9: Gase is indeed being hired by the Chargers, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network confirms. He will work as an assistant “focusing on the passing game,” as expected.
FEBRUARY 7, 4:16pm: According to OutKick’s Armando Salguero, Gase will be flying to Los Angeles early next week to discuss the potential of him assuming the pass game coordinator position for the Chargers. As Zenitz suggested in his initial report, it’s considered a strong possibility that the trip will end Gase’s six-year hiatus from the NFL.
FEBRUARY 7, 10:28am: Adam Gase hasn’t coached in the NFL since the Jets fired him in 2020, but the 47-year-old could resurface on the Chargers’ staff next season. Head coach Jim Harbaugh is “strongly considering” Gase for the Chargers’ passing game coordinator role, Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports reports.
In joining the Chargers, Gase would take over for soon-to-be Ravens assistant Marcus Brady and team with two-time Pro Bowl quarterback Justin Herbert. Harbaugh and new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel would be landing a seasoned staffer in Gase, who carries 16 years’ experience in the pros.
Gase has held high-level assistant jobs with the Lions (QBs coach, 2007), Broncos (QBs coach from 2011-12, offensive coordinator from 2013-14) and Bears (O-coordinator, 2015). However, he’s better known for his ill-fated head coaching tenures with the Dolphins and Jets.
Gase took the reins in 2016 in Miami, which won 10 games and earned a playoff berth that year. Things went downhill from there, though. After the Dolphins combined to go 13-19 over the next two seasons, they fired Gase.
It didn’t take long for Gase to land with the Jets, who hired him under two weeks after the Dolphins canned him. Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning, whom Gase coached in Denver from 2012-14, recommended him to Jets owner Woody Johnson. Despite Manning’s endorsement, Gase’s run as the Jets’ sideline leader was a disaster. They went 7-9 in 2019 and then spiraled to a 2-14 mark the next season, leading Johnson to hand Gase his walking papers.
Gase, owner of an ugly 32-48 record in a half-decade as a head coach, has stayed connected to the game despite not officially working for any teams since 2020. When Antonio Pierce was the Raiders’ interim head coach in 2023, he invited Gase and fellow former HCs Tom Coughlin and Marvin Lewis to participate in meetings. Gase, the son-in-law of Denver senior defensive assistant Joe Vitt, also spent time around the Broncos and offensive coordinator (then their QBs coach) Davis Webb last summer, per Jon Heath of Broncos Wire.
Along with Gase, Dolphins offensive assistant Max McCaffrey is a candidate to join the Chargers’ staff, according to Zenitz. There’s a “strong possibility” the Chargers will hire McCaffrey, possibly as their running backs coach, after he worked for McDaniel in Miami from 2023-25. Kiel McDonald, the Chargers’ RBs coach from 2024-25, will not return next season, per Daniel Popper of The Athletic. That could open the door for McCaffrey.
An NFL receiver from 2016-18, the 31-year-old McCaffrey is the brother of superstar 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey and Commanders wideout Luke McCaffrey. He began his coaching career assisting with Northern Colorado’s WRs in 2020.
Bears Promote Press Taylor To OC
FEBRUARY 8: The Bears have indeed named Taylor their new offensive coordinator, per Rapoport (as relayed by Bobby Kownack of NFL.com). Of course, Johnson will continue to serve as the offensive play-caller, but Taylor — who is still considered a talented young coach — will receive a promotion and will take on a larger role in assisting Johnson and installing Chicago’s offense.
FEBRUARY 4: A successful first season as Chicago’s passing game coordinator may lead to a promotion for Press Taylor. The Bears will consider Taylor for their offensive coordinator job, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.
Head coach Ben Johnson is on the hunt for a new O-coordinator after losing Declan Doyle to the Ravens last week. Doyle left to work as a play-caller, which is a responsibility Johnson handles in Chicago. Taylor and Cardinals passing game coordinator Connor Senger are the first known candidates to replace Doyle.
Unlike Senger, the 38-year-old Taylor has previous OC experience, having held the position in Jacksonville from 2022-24. Head coach Doug Pederson called the plays in the first of those seasons, but he passed those responsibilities to Taylor over the next two years.
While the Jaguars finished a respectable 13th in total offense and scoring in 2023, they plummeted to 25th and 26th in those categories during a four-win 2024. That led to a coaching change in Jacksonville and Taylor’s departure.
With Taylor assisting their aerial attack in 2025, the Bears climbed from 31st in passing to 10th. Quarterback Caleb Williams made obvious strides in the second year of his career, helping the Bears to 11 wins and an NFC North title. While wide receiver D.J. Moore‘s production declined significantly, and fellow wideout Rome Odunze missed five games because of a foot injury, tight end Colston Loveland helped pick up the slack during an outstanding rookie campaign.
The Bears selected Loveland 10th overall last year and then grabbed another promising target, receiver Luther Burden, in the second round. After he helped Loveland and Burden combine for 105 catches, 1,365 yards and eight touchdowns in 2025, the Bears are considering a bigger role for Taylor.
Browns DC Jim Schwartz Resigns
FEBRUARY 7: Monken contacted Schwartz three days after his hire, attempting to arrange a partnership between the two. As The Athletic’s Dianna Russini notes (subscription required), Schwartz “was not enthused” with the timing of the communication, something which further explains his resignation decision. ESPN’s Dan Graziano confirms Schwartz is likely to spend the 2026 season out of coaching before resurfacing elsewhere.
FEBRUARY 6: Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz was a finalist to become their head coach, but the job ultimately went to Todd Monken on Jan. 28. Schwartz made it clear afterward that he wanted to leave Cleveland, and he’ll do just that a little over a week later. Schwartz has resigned, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network was among those to report.
In announcing Schwartz’s departure, the Browns stated: “Yesterday, Jim Schwartz submitted his letter of resignation as defensive coordinator of the Cleveland Browns. We’d like to thank Jim for his contributions to our organization over the last three seasons. Our search for a new defensive coordinator will begin immediately.”
The Browns tried to retain Schwartz as their defensive leader for a fourth season, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Although they were unable to do it, they continue to hold his rights, Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com notes. The 59-year-old is not expected to coach anywhere in 2026, per Garafolo. He stepped down with two years left on his contract.
Schwartz was the Lions’ head coach from 2009-13, but he hasn’t gotten another shot since he guided the team to a 29-51 record and one playoff berth in five seasons. While his time in Detroit didn’t go well, Schwartz was a top-tier defensive coordinator with the Titans from 2001-08. He has thrived in that role with the Bills (2014), Eagles (2016-20) and Browns (2023-25) since the Lions let him go. Schwartz won Super Bowl LII in Philadelphia.
After returning to Tennesee as a senior defensive assistant from 2021-22, now-former Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski brought him in to replace Joe Woods as their D-coordinator. The Browns earned their most recent playoff berth in Schwartz’s first season, and his defense was a major contributor. The unit topped the league in total defense and ranked 13th in points allowed. Schwartz subsequently picked up AP Assistant Coach of the Year honors.
The Browns’ win total plummeted from 11 to three in 2024, during which their defense submitted below-average marks in yards (19th) and points (27th). Although the Browns struggled again during a 12-loss campaign this past season, Schwartz’s group did its best to make up for a bottom-of-the-barrel offense.
Cleveland’s defense rebounded to finish fourth in yards and 14th in scoring in 2025. End Myles Garrett set the all-time single-season sack record (23) en route to unanimous Defensive Player of the Year honors. Linebacker Carson Schwesinger also took home hardware on Thursday, the day Schwartz tendered his resignation. Schwesinger was voted the unanimous Defensive Rookie of the Year after piling up 156 tackles, 2.5 sacks and two interceptions in 16 games.
Despite the success Garrett, Schwesinger and the rest of the Browns’ defense enjoyed under Schwartz, it wasn’t enough to earn a promotion. The Browns are higher on the offensive-minded Monken after his terrific three-year run as the Ravens’ play-caller. Monken, who emerged as the “strong No. 1 choice” in the Browns’ HC search, now faces the unenviable task of replacing Schwartz.
During his introductory press conference on Tuesday, Monken expressed a desire to continue with the same defensive system in the event of Schwartz’s exit. With that in mind, Texans defensive backs coach Dino Vasso and defensive pass game coordinator Cory Undlin are names to watch for the Browns, Rapoport relays.
Vasso and Undlin serve under Texans DC Matt Burke, a Schwartz disciple who worked with him in Detroit and Philadelphia. Schwartz also had Vasso and Undlin on his staff with the Eagles, and now either could end up replacing him in Cleveland in the coming days. Undlin is familiar with the organization, having worked as a Browns assistant from 2005-08.
Tyrod Taylor Open To Re-Signing With Jets
After spending the past two seasons with the Jets, well-traveled quarterback Tyrod Taylor is a few weeks away from returning to free agency on March 11. Regardless of whether he hits the open market, Taylor is open to re-signing with the Jets, Brian Costello of the New York Post reports.
Taylor revealed that the Jets expressed interest in re-signing him at the end of the season, though the 36-year-old acknowledged “conversations in January are different than conversations in March.”
The Jets have since moved on from offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand, who lasted just one year on the job. They replaced Engstrand with the experienced Frank Reich on Wednesday and then hired Seth Ryan as their passing game coordinator on Saturday.
While Taylor believes “[Engstrand] has a promising career” ahead of him, he’s excited about the possibility of working with Reich.
“I think going out and getting coach Frank Reich was a good move,” he said. “I know he’s had a ton of success throughout this league. If I do go back to the Jets, I’m looking forward to seeing what that looks like and what are the next steps.”
It’s unclear which QBs Reich and Ryan will coach in 2026, but it’s fair to say the Jets don’t have any obvious solutions in the fold. The team took a fairly expensive gamble on former first-round pick Justin Fields in free agency last March, but the two-year, $40MM pact with $30MM in guarantees hasn’t worked out at all. Head coach Aaron Glenn benched Fields for the rest of the season in mid-November, and the Jets are expected to release the soon-to-be 27-year-old in the near future.
Fields and Brady Cook, who struggled mightily as an undrafted rookie, combined for 13 starts in 2025. The other four went to Taylor, but he also offered lackluster production. In parts of six games, Taylor completed just 59.7% of passes and posted a paltry 5.8 yards per attempt with five touchdowns, five interceptions and a 72.9 passer rating. Taylor suffered a groin injury in a Week 14 loss to the Dolphins and didn’t play again for the rest of the year.
Now a veteran of seven teams and 15 seasons, Taylor joined the Jets on a two-year, $12MM contract in 2024. Whether it’s with the Jets or another club, it’s doubtful he’ll do as well on his next deal. Taylor would be at the lower end of a veteran free agent class that’s currently set to include Daniel Jones, Malik Willis, former Jets teammate Aaron Rodgers, ex-Ravens teammate Joe Flacco, Marcus Mariota and Russell Wilson, among others.
Jets Hire Seth Ryan As Passing Game Coordinator
After a year as the Lions’ assistant tight ends coach, Seth Ryan is taking over as the Jets’ passing game coordinator, Rich Cimini of ESPN reports. Ryan is the son of ex-Jets head coach Rex Ryan and the grandson of former Jets defensive line coach Buddy Ryan.
Set to turn 32 in March, Seth Ryan is a former Clemson wide receiver whose coaching career began with the Chargers in 2019. He spent two years on Anthony Lynn‘s staff, but the Chargers fired Lynn after 2020. With Lynn then becoming the Lions’ offensive coordinator, Ryan followed him to the Motor City. Although Lynn only held his job for a year, Ryan wound up lasting a half-decade on Dan Campbell‘s staff.
Ryan was the Lions’ assistant wide receivers coach from 2021-24, a period in which he mostly worked with Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Kalif Raymond and Josh Reynolds. Unfortunately for Ryan, in his lone season with the Lions’ tight ends, starter Sam LaPorta missed eight games with a back injury.
Ryan will now take on a much bigger role in New York, where he’ll assist new offensive coordinator Frank Reich. The two will aim for massive improvements to a Jets passing game that easily ranked last in the NFL in 2025. The team will head into the heart of the offseason without an answer at quarterback after big-money pickup Justin Fields flopped this past season.
Although the Jets signed Fields for a guaranteed $30MM last March, head coach Aaron Glenn benched him for the rest of the year in mid-November. The Jets are expected to move on from Fields sometime soon. Journeyman backup Tyrod Taylor is slated to hit free agency, though the club is interested in re-signing him for what should be a fairly cheap deal. The Jets also have Brady Cook, but he was in over his head as an undrafted rookie.
Along with seeking a capable QB in either free agency or the draft, where they own two first-round picks (Nos. 2 and 16), the Jets will need to find more weapons in the passing game for Reich and Ryan. The Jets have a legitimate star in No. 1 wide receiver Garrett Wilson and a promising tight end in Mason Taylor. There’s little else in the cupboard, though receivers Adonai Mitchell and John Metchie did see their production increase after the Jets acquired them in trades before the Nov. 4 deadline.
As recent second-round picks (Metchie in 2022, Mitchell in 2024), the Jets may continue to hope at least one of them turns into a consistent contributor. Even if that happens, the Jets would benefit from adding more receiving talent this offseason. They have the cap space and the draft capital to make it happen.
Giants Hire Mike Bloomgren As OL Coach
The Giants will hire Mike Bloomgren as their offensive line coach, Bob Brookover of NJ Advance Media reports. Bloomgren held the same position with the Browns in 2025, his lone year on the job.
The 49-year-old Bloomgren, known as a disciple of renowned offensive line coach Bill Callahan, began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Alabama in 1999. Bloomgren’s first NFL opportunity came as an offensive quality control coach with the Jets in 2007. Callahan joined their staff a year later. The two spent three seasons together until Blomgren returned to the college level.
Bloomgren was Stanford’s O-line coach from 2011-17, a seven-year stint in which he also served as the run game coordinator for two seasons and the offensive coordinator for five. He then earned a promotion as Rice’s head coach. Although Bloomgren held the post for almost seven full seasons, the Owls went just 24-52 under him. Rice fired Bloomgren after a 2-6 start in 2024.
Bloomgren is now coming off a rough season in Cleveland, whose offensive line dealt with a rash of injuries. Guard Joel Bitonio appeared in all 17 games and played almost 100% of snaps, but fellow guard Wyatt Teller, tackles Dawand Jones and Jack Conklin, and center Ethan Pocic all missed significant time. The Browns’ banged-up line ended the season as Pro Football Focus’ 31st-ranked group.
Now on his way to the Giants, Bloomgren will work with head coach John Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Matt Nagy for the first time. Bloomgren will take over for Carmen Bricillo, whom the Titans hired last week, and inherit a better situation up front than he had in Cleveland.
With Bricillo’s help, PFF graded the Giants’ line as the ninth-best unit in the league in 2025. Cornerstone left tackle Andrew Thomas, left guard Jon Runyan Jr. and center John Michael Schmitz are all under contract for 2026. However, right-side starters Jermaine Eluemunor (tackle) and Greg Van Roten (guard) are on track to hit free agency in March. Harbaugh and general manager Joe Schoen will have offseason decisions to make at those spots.
Elsewhere on New York’s staff, Harbaugh is expected to bring in former Broncos cornerbacks coach Addison Lynch as the Giants’ defensive backs coach, per Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports. After two years as a defensive quality control coach, the Broncos elevated Lynch to a bigger role this past season. Although Ja’Quan McMillian enjoyed an especially strong 2025 campaign under Lynch, the Broncos fired the coach last week.
Also a former assistant with the Chargers, Raiders and Lions from 2018-22, Lynch doesn’t have any working experience with Harbaugh or new defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson. They’ll attempt to improve a pass defense that finished a middling 16th in 2025 after adding a pair of pricey free agents, cornerback Paulson Adebo and safety Jevon Holland, last offseason. The Giants are now facing the potential exits of corner Cordale Flott and safety Dane Belton in free agency this year.