NFL Workout Updates: 1/4/18
Today’s NFL workout updates, with all links going to veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer’s Twitter account:
Arizona Cardinals
- G Greg Pyke (link)
Buffalo Bills
- RBs Cedric O’Neal, Jhurell Pressley (link)
Carolina Panthers
- CB Lorenzo Doss (link)
Cleveland Browns
- Ts Chauncey Briggs, Taylor Hart (link)
Indianapolis Colts
- DE Evan Panfil (link)
Jacksonville Jaguars
- TEs Gavin Escobar, Colin Jeter (link)
Kansas City Chiefs
- DE Sean Daniels; LB Shakeel Rashad; CBs Sheldon Price, Ezra Robinson; S Malik Golden (link)
Los Angeles Chargers
- QB Marcus McDade; TEs Steve Donatell, Patrick Towles; K Roberto Aguayo; LS Derek Hart (link)
Los Angeles Rams
- C Jon Toth; DT Toby Johnson; LB Reshard Cliett; S Bennett Jackson (link)
New Orleans Saints
New York Giants
- LS Anthony Kukwa (link)
Pittsburgh Steelers
- RB Joel Bouagnon; DE Darnell Leslie; LBs Kenneth Olugbode, Max Valles; DBs Lorenzo Jerome, Andrew Williamson (Twitter links)
San Francisco 49ers
- DE Ryan Delaire; DT Alameda Ta’amu (link)
Bengals To Interview Lions’ Teryl Austin
The Bengals will interview Lions defensive coordinator Teryl Austin for their open DC position on Friday, according to Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
Austin is also a contender for Detroit’s vacant head coaching job, and interviewed for the role earlier this week. Speculatively, the fact that’s taking a meeting with Cincinnati could mean that Austin has already been ruled out of the Lions’ search, but there have been no reports to that effect. Austin is one of seven candidates for the Lions’ top gig, a list that also includes Detroit offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter.
The Bengals may need a new defensive coordinator given that incumbent Paul Guenther‘s contract has expired. While head coach Marvin Lewis indicated Cincinnati would like to retain Guenther, the veteran DC is expected to interview for a position on Oakland’s Jon Gruden-led staff.
Austin has garnered a whopping 12 head coaching interviews over the past three seasons, but hasn’t yet been able to garner a job. Most recently, Austin met with the Rams and Chargers regarding their vacancies in 2017, but those positions went to Sean McVay and Anthony Lynn, respectively. Detroit’s defensive play-caller since 2014, Austin led the Lions to a No. 18 ranking in defensive DVOA a season ago.
Raiders Interview Bobby Johnson For HC
The Raiders have interviewed incumbent tight ends coach Bobby Johnson for their head coaching position, according to Adam Caplan of SiriusXM (Twitter link). Johnson is reportedly one of two minority candidates Oakland has met with in order to satisfy the NFL’s Rooney Rule, reports Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
Oakland, of course, is widely expected to hire ESPN commentator Jon Gruden as its next head coach. But the Rooney Rule stipulates that each team interview at least one minority candidate when going through a coaching search. Johnson fulfills that requirement, as does at least one other unnamed minority coach.
Johnson has been a coach since 1995, when he began his career as a graduate assistant at Akron, and entered the NFL in 2010. Since that time, he’s worked with offensive lines and tight ends during stops in Buffalo, Jacksonville, and Detroit. Per Caplan, Johnson “has command, is a good teacher, and players respond to him.”
North Notes: Bears, Packers, Ravens, Browns
The Bears have concluded their head coaching interview with Vikings defensive coordinator George Edwards, the club announced today. Chicago is able to interview Edwards given that Minnesota secured a first-round playoff bye, and he’s one of seven candidates to be linked to the Bears’ vacancy. Eagles quarterbacks coach John DeFilippo, Bears defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy, Vikings offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur, and Panthers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks are all being considered for the job alongside Edwards.
Here’s more from the NFL’s two North divisions:
- Incumbent cornerbacks coach Joe Whitt is considered the favorite to become the Packers‘ next defensive coordinator, reports Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com. Green Bay will start its DC search by interviewing three internal candidates: Whitt, safeties coach Darren Perry, and assistant head coach/linebackers Winston Moss. While all three coaches are currently under contract with the Packers, there’s no guarantee that any or all of them will return in 2018, as Demovsky writes in a separate piece. If Green Bay hires an outside candidate to replace Dom Capers, that new coach could aim to bring in his own assistants.
- The Ravens will bring back offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinwheg in 2018, but it’s unclear if senior offensive assistant/tight ends coach Greg Roman will return given that his contract has expired, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). Roman, a former play-caller for the 49ers and Bills, could potentially draw interest as an offensive coordinator once head coaching vacancies are filled around the league. Meanwhile, Baltimore may potentially hire a quarterbacks coach to work on Joe Flacco‘s mechanics, head coach John Harbaugh told reporters today, including Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter link). Mornhinwheg currently holds the QBs coach title in addition to offensive coordinator.
- Reports earlier this week indicated the Browns are interested in former Bengals offensive coordinator Ken Zampese, and Cleveland will in fact interview him for their open offensive coordinator position, according to Rapoport (Twitter link). Browns head coach Hue Jackson, who calls his own offensive plays, had not employed an OC during his first two years in Cleveland. Zampese, the Bengals’ quarterbacks coach from 2003-16, lasted only two touchdown-less games as the club’s offensive play-caller in 2017. The Browns are also set to interview Texans quarterbacks coach Sean Ryan for offensive coordinator in the near future.
- Steelers offensive coordinator Todd Haley suffered a shattered pelvis during an incident at a bar on New Year’s Eve, but the injury is not expected to affect Haley’s ability to coach during the Divisional Round, reports Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. While there certainly could be more to the story, Haley was reportedly shoved while out to dinner with his wife in the Pittsburgh area.
NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 1/4/18
Here are the latest reserve/futures contract signings from around the NFL. These deals will go into effect on the first day of the 2018 league year, with players joining their respective clubs’ offseason 90-man rosters:
Baltimore Ravens
- DB Bennett Jackson
Green Bay Packers
- LB Ahmad Thomas
Kansas City Chiefs
- DT Josh Augusta
- CB Sheldon Price
Los Angeles Chargers
- LS Anthony Kulwa
Miami Dolphins
New Orleans Saints
Broncos Hire Ex-Giants OC Mike Sullivan
The Broncos have hired former Giants offensive coordinator Mike Sullivan as their new quarterbacks coach, reports Mike Klis of 9News (Twitter link). The club has also hired former Bears running backs coach Curtis Modkins to the same role in Denver, per Klis.
Sullivan is technically still under contract in New York, but given that Big Blue is overhauling its coaching staff, Giants assistants are free to explore other roles. Now hired in Denver, Sullivan would work under Bill Musgrave, who will return as the Broncos’ offensive play-caller after taking over for Mike McCoy at midseason.
Interim Broncos quarterbacks coach Klint Kubiak is expected to shift to a new position with the team, and head coach Vance Joseph & Co. also reportedly considered former Bengals OC Ken Zampese as a staff addition. Sullivan, 50, sandwiched a stint as the Buccaneers’ offensive coordinator from 2012-13 between two tenures with the Giants.
Modkins, meanwhile, has served as an NFL coach since 2008 and enjoyed offensive coordinator titles with the Bills (2010-12) and 49ers (2016). He’ll replace former assistant head coach/running backs Eric Studesville, who was fired earlier this week, but he wasn’t the only candidate for the position. The Broncos also interviewed Raiders running backs coach Bernie Parmalee, per Klis (Twitter link).
One other Broncos staff housekeeping note: assistant to to the head coach Phil Rauscher is interviewing to become the Redskins’ assistant offensive line coach, tweets Klis.
Russ Ball Favorite For Packers GM?
Packers vice president of football administration/player finance Russ Ball is considered the favorite to become Green Bay’s next general manager, according to Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, who reports there is a “preponderance of opinion” both inside the Packers organization and within the NFL as a whole that Green Bay president Mark Murphy is simply “going through the motions” in seeking a replacement for Ted Thompson.
Following Thompson’s reassignment within the Packers’ hierarchy, the club is hoping to hire its next general manager by next week. They’ve started the search process by interviewing director of football operations Eliot Wolf today, and will also meet with two other internal options: Ball, and director of player personnel Brian Gutekunst. Although Green Bay seems likely to promote from within, the team reportedly also has interest in former Bills general manager Doug Whaley.
Unlike Wolf and Gutekunst, Ball doesn’t offer personnel experience, as he’s spent his career on the financial side of operations. However, Murphy said earlier this week that a personnel background won’t be required for the Packers’ next general manager, an indication that Ball could be a serious candidate. If Ball is promoted, though, Green Bay could risk losing Wolf and Gutekunst to other clubs, defections that would weaken a front office that has already seen executive Alonzo Highsmith take a position with the Browns.
Ball, who originally began his NFL career as a strength and conditioning coach, has completed 10 seasons in his current role with the Packers. Prior to joining Green Bay, Ball spent time with the Chiefs, Vikings, Redskins, and Saints, all the while working in administrative roles.
2018 NFL Head Coaching Search Tracker
Several NFL teams are currently hunting for a new head coach, and amidst reports about interview requests and potential candidates, it’s easy to lose track of the latest updates in the shuffle. So we’ll use this space – which will be updated until every team has hired a new head coach – to keep track of the most recent news and rumors. It can be found on the right-hand sidebar under “PFR Features.”
Listed below are the head coaching candidates that have been linked to each of the teams with vacancies, along with their current status. If and when other teams decide to make head coaching changes, they’ll be added to this list. Here’s the current breakdown:
Updated 2-11-18 (2:35pm CT)
Arizona Cardinals
- Steve Wilks, defensive coordinator (Panthers): Hired
- Keith Armstrong, special teams coordinator (Falcons): Interviewed on 1/8; interviewed for a second time on 1/19
- James Bettcher, defensive coordinator (Cardinals): Interviewed on 1/3
- John DeFilippo, quarterbacks coach (Eagles): Interviewed 1/5; expected to receive second interview
- Brian Flores, linebackers coach (Patriots): Interviewed on 1/6; expected to receive second interview
- Matt Patricia, defensive coordinator (Patriots): Interviewed on 1/6
- Jim Schwartz, defensive coordinator (Eagles): Interviewed on 1/5
- Pat Shurmur, offensive coordinator (Vikings): Interviewed on 1/5
- Mike Munchak, offensive line coach (Steelers): Interviewed on 1/7; declined to take second interview
Chicago Bears
- Matt Nagy, offensive coordinator (Chiefs): Hired
- John DeFilippo, quarterbacks coach (Eagles): Interviewed on 1/6
- George Edwards, defensive coordinator (Vikings): Interviewed on 1/4
- Vic Fangio, defensive coordinator (Bears): Interviewed on 1/3
- Josh McDaniels, offensive coordinator (Patriots): Interviewed on 1/5
- Pat Shurmur, offensive coordinator (Vikings): Interviewed on 1/5
- Steve Wilks, defensive coordinator (Panthers): Requested interview
Detroit Lions
- Matt Patricia, defensive coordinator (Patriots): Hired
- Teryl Austin, defensive coordinator (Lions): Interviewed on 1/2
- Jim Bob Cooter, offensive coordinator (Lions): Interviewed on 1/2
- Winston Moss, assistant head coach/LBs (Packers): Interviewed on 1/4
- Pat Shurmur, offensive coordinator (Vikings): Interviewed on 1/4
- Mike Vrabel, defensive coordinator (Texans): Interviewed on 1/3
- Steve Wilks, defensive coordinator (Panthers): Declined to be interviewed
Indianapolis Colts
Second search
- Frank Reich, offensive coordinator (Eagles): Hired
- Dan Campbell, tight ends coach (Saints): Interviewed on 2/8
- Leslie Frazier, defensive coordinator (Bills): Interviewed on 2/10
- Dave Toub, special teams coordinator (Chiefs): Mentioned as candidate
Original search
- Josh McDaniels, offensive coordinator (Patriots): Announced as head coach; rejected position
- Kris Richard, defensive coordinator (Seahawks): Interviewed on 1/5
- Mike Vrabel, defensive coordinator (Texans): Interviewed on 1/6
- Matt Nagy, offensive coordinator (Chiefs): Interviewed on 1/7
- Matt Rhule, head coach (Baylor): Interviewed; withdrew from consideration
- Steve Wilks, defensive coordinator (Panthers): No longer scheduled to interview
New York Giants
- Pat Shurmur, offensive coordinator (Vikings): Hired
- Josh McDaniels, offensive coordinator (Patriots): Interviewed on 1/5
- Mike Munchak, offensive line coach (Steelers): Dark horse candidate?
- Matt Patricia, defensive coordinator (Patriots): Interviewed on 1/5
- Jim Schwartz, defensive coordinator (Eagles): Interview put on hold
- Steve Spagnuolo, interim head coach/DC (Giants): Interviewed on 1/3
- Eric Studesville, former assistant head coach/RBs (Broncos): Interviewed on 1/10
- Steve Wilks, defensive coordinator (Panthers): Interviewed on 1/9
Oakland Raiders
- Jon Gruden, ESPN commentator: Hired
- Bobby Johnson, tight ends coach (Raiders): Interviewed
- Tee Martin, offensive coordinator (USC): Interviewed
Tennessee Titans
- Mike Vrabel, defensive coordinator (Texans): Hired
- Josh McDaniels, offensive coordinator (Patriots): Mentioned as candidate
- Frank Reich, offensive coordinator (Eagles): Mentioned as candidate
- Matt LaFleur, offensive coordinator (Rams): Interviewed on 1/19
- Steve Wilks, defensive coordinator (Panthers): Interviewed on 1/18
Coaching Rumors: Cardinals, Bears, Giants
Pat Shurmur will be a busy man this week. The Vikings offensive coordinator has four interviews lined up in the coming days, tweets Mike Garafolo of NFL.com: in addition to his previously reported Thursday meeting with the Lions, Shurmur will interview with the Cardinals (Thursday), Bears (Friday), and Giants (Saturday). Shurmur is currently linked to four vacancies in the NFL, tied with Panthers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks for tops among candidates. Given that Minnesota has secured a first-round playoff bye, Shurmur is free to interview as he chooses this week.
Here’s more from the 2018 hiring cycle:
- Although Redskins quarterbacks coach Kevin O’Connell was reportedly UCLA head coach Chip Kelly‘s “top target” to become the Bruins’ offensive coordinator, he won’t be going anywhere just yet. O’Connell has agreed to become Washington’s passing game coordinator, an elevated title that represents a promotion, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. O’Connell, who enjoyed a five-year playing career, has also coached for the Browns and 49ers.
- The Texans have fired special teams coordinator Larry Izzo, assistant special teams coordinator Doug Colman, and secondary coach John Butler, while running backs coach Charles London is leaving the club of his own volition, as Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle writes. Izzo’s departure shouldn’t come as a surprise, especially since Houston’s special teams have ranked in the bottom-seven of DVOA in each of Izzo’s two seasons in charge.
- ESPN analyst Jon Gruden appears set to become the next Raiders head coach, and he’s reportedly been contacting potential staff members for weeks. Two of those coaches may be Rams quarterbacks coach Greg Olson and Bears offensive line coach Jeremiah Washburn, per Alex Marvez of the Sporting News (Twitter links). Gruden is also reportedly interested in Jets OC John Morton and Bengals DC Paul Guenther.
NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 1/2/18
Here are the latest reserve/futures contract signings from around the NFL. These deals will go into effect on the first day of the 2018 league year, with players joining their respective clubs’ offseason 90-man rosters:
Arizona Cardinals
- WR Carlton Agudosi
- DT Peli Anau
- CB Jarell Carter
- OLB Vontarrius Dora
- CB Jonathan Moxey
- WR Rashad Ross
- DT Pasoni Tasini
- RB Darius Victor
- OL Josh Allen
- LS Drew Williams
Baltimore Ravens
Chicago Bears
- OL Travis Averill
- WR Demarcus Ayers
- DB Doran Grant
- WR Mekale McKay
- OL Will Pericak
- TE Colin Thompson
Cincinnati Bengals
Dallas Cowboys
- WR Brian Brown
- WR K.D. Cannon
- T Jarron James
- S Jameill Showers
- DT Joe Vellano
- CB Marquez White
- RB Trey Williams
Detroit Lions
Green Bay Packers
- WR Jake Kumerow
- WR Colby Pearson
- TE Robert Tonyan
- LS Zach Triner
- WR DeAngelo Yancey