Steelers Request HC Interview With Packers DC Jeff Hafley
The Steelers requested to interview Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley for their head coaching vacancy, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Hafley, 46, has become one of the most popular head coaching candidates in this year’s hiring cycle. He came up as a defensive backs coach with multiple college programs before making the jump to the NFL in 2012. After seven seasons with three different teams, he returned to college as Ohio State’s defensive coordinator, which he quickly parlayed into a four-year stint as Boston College’s head coach.
In 2024, the Packers made a bold move to fire defensive coordinator Joe Barry, despite his solid results in his three years in charge. They installed Hafley as his replacement in the hopes that he could turn a good unit into a great one.
He succeeded. In Hafley’s debut year, the Packers finished sixth in points allowed and fifth in yards allowed, both significant improvements from their 2023 rankings. They took a step back to 11th and 12th this year, though losing Micah Parsons – arguably the best defensive player in the NFL – to a torn ACL certainly contribute to some of their struggles down the stretch.
Hafley’s players have generally given him rave reviews, specifically regarding his ability to build relationships with his players. That was a hallmark of Mike Tomlin‘s 19 years in Pittsburgh and something the franchise will likely look for in his successor. He has also worked with both Matt LaFleur and Kyle Shanahan, giving him some connections he can call on when building his staff. His recent history at Boston College may also give him a stronger chance of bringing some college coaching talent to the NFL.
Hafley has also received head coaching interest from the Cardinals, Falcons, Raiders, Dolphins, Titans, and Giants, though that last job no longer seems to be available. Here’s a full overview of the Steelers’ current candidates:
- Ejiro Evero, defensive coordinator (Panthers): Interview requested
- Brian Flores, defensive coordinator (Vikings): Interview requested
- Marcus Freeman, head coach (Notre Dame): Rumored candidate; staying at Notre Dame
- Jeff Hafley, defensive coordinator (Packers): Interview requested
- Jesse Minter, defensive coordinator (Chargers): Interview requested
- Nate Scheelhaase, pass game coordinator (Rams): Interview requested
- Chris Shula, defensive coordinator (Rams): Interview requested
- Anthony Weaver, defensive coordinator (Dolphins): Interview requested
Browns Request HC Interview With Rams DC Chris Shula
The Browns are expected to request an interview with Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula for their head coaching vacancy.
Shula, 39, has become one of the most popular candidates in this offseason’s hiring cycle. He has received interview requests from every team except the Falcons and seems to be headed for a top job in the next few years.
He has spent the last eight years under Sean McVay in Los Angeles, starting as an assistant linebackers coach and eventually rising to defensive coordinator in 2024. The Rams defense has not been statistically elite under Shula, but the unit made clear improvements from 2024 to 2025. He has also been instrumental in developing the team’s core four pass rushers: outside linebackers Byron Young and Jared Verse and defensive tackles Kobie Turner and Braden Fiske. That experience aligns with the Browns’ current roster, and a team that seems to be headed for another full reset may want an exciting young coach to lead that effort.
Shula’s time in Los Angeles has given him an up-close look at one of the league’s most popular offenses, giving him unique insight on how to stop McVay-style systems. Shula also has relationships with other McVay lieutenants, which will help him build his staff, especially on the offensive side of the ball.
In addition to working with one of the most successful modern coaches in McVay, Shula is also connected to one of the greatest coaches in league history. He is the grandson of legendary coach Don Shula, who led the Dolphins to an undefeated season in 1972. While that name will not be a deciding factor in any hiring decision, it will still be appreciated by owners and executives who crossed paths with the elder Shula during his career.
Ravens Want To Finalize Lamar Jackson Extension Before Free Agency
The Ravens are interviewing head coaching candidates to replace John Harbaugh, but they also have their eyes on the second-biggest part of their offseason: negotiating another extension with Lamar Jackson.
Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti said on Tuesday that he wanted to hammer out another deal with his star quarterback before the start of free agency.
“The urgency of that matters to me because we’ve got free agents and I don’t want to go into free agency with that hanging over our head,” Bisciotti said (via ESPN’s Jamison Hensley). “It’s very hard for [general manager Eric DeCosta] to build a roster when that thing is not settled.” DeCosta concurred, saying that an extension would allow the Ravens to re-sign more of their pending free agents and “potentially go after a couple of big-ticket items.”
Agreeing to a new contract with Jackson would reduce his $72.5MM cap hits in 2026 and 2027, giving the Ravens more money with which they can retool their roster and gear up for another playoff run. The Ravens are willing to restructure Jackson’s contract and add void years to spread his cap hit into the future if the two sides could not strike a deal. Notably, Bisciotti, not DeCosta, laid that option on the table.
The longtime owner also indicated that he hopes for smoother negotiations relative to Jackson’s 2023 talks and even proposed a similar structure with a higher value. In 2023, it took until the week of the draft – long after the window to secure top free agents had closed – to get Jackson to sign at the dotted line. That year, he occupied about $32MM in cap space with his franchise tag, but his 2026 cap hit would be much more restrictive to the team’s other moves. An extension could clear up as much as $40MM, but those savings will be far less useful if the players worth signing have already found new teams.
During the same press conference, Bisciotti revealed (via The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec) that some college coaches have reached out to the Ravens regarding their job openings, though the team has not scheduled interviews with any. He indicated that he would be open to interviewing one, but ultimately left that decision up to DeCosta.
Mike McDaniel To Interview For Bucs’ OC Job
The Buccaneers will interview Mike McDaniel for their offensive coordinator vacancy on Friday, per FOX Sports’ Greg Auman.
McDaniel, 42, was fired by the Dolphins last week after a disappointing 2025 campaign. But as one of the league’s top offensive minds, he is expected to land a job in this year’s hiring cycle, whether that be as a head coach or offensive coordinator. Currently, he is a head coaching candidate for the Falcons, Ravens, Browns, and Titans with offensive coordinator interest from the Lions, Eagles, and now, the Buccaneers.
McDaniel would prefer a “great OC opportunity” to a “not-great head coaching vacancy,” per Auman, though, of course, those qualifiers are entirely up to the coach’s judgement. At first glance, the Browns and Titans do not seem to be as appealing due to their lack of offensive firepower, though McDaniel would have a chance to mold a young quarterback with either team. The Ravens, of course, have Lamar Jackson, while the Falcons have an exciting array of young offensive weapons.
The Buccaneers would appear to fall into the “great OC opportunity” category. They have an established veteran quarterback in Baker Mayfield, a strong offensive line, and several playmakers at different positions. The unit’s struggles in 2025 seemed to be more related to their injuries, and new offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard was not able to step into Liam Coen‘s shoes after he left for Jacksonville, especially as a play-caller.
McDaniel is proven as an architect and play-caller who could build on the foundation established by Coen and his predecessor, Dave Canales, while adding his own motion-heavy wrinkles into the playbook. He could use success in Tampa Bay to quickly springboard into another head coaching job, especially if he can help the Buccaneers overcome their playoff struggles under Todd Bowles.
Commanders Interview Brian Flores, Karl Scott For DC Job
The Commanders are continuing to interview potential replacements for defensive coordinator Joe Whitt, with Brian Flores and Karl Scott as the latest candidates on the list.
Flores, who just completed a three-year contract as the Vikings defensive coordinator, met with the team on Wednesday, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. He formed Minnesota’s defense into one of the best in the league with his signature blitz-heavy scheme frequently stifling opposing passing offenses. His ability to generate pressure could be especially appealing to a Commanders team that struggled to do so in 2025.
Flores also spent a decade as a defensive assistant in New England, which included multiple Super Bowl matchups with Commanders head coach Dan Quinn when he was with the Seahawks and the Falcons.
It is worth noting that Quinn took over calling the defense’s plays in 2025 after Whitt’s initial struggles and indicated that he could retain those duties moving forward. He would almost certainly hand that responsibility off to Flores if he came to Washington.
That may not be the case if Quinn goes with a less-experienced option like Scott, who has also interviewed with the team, according to ESPN’s John Keim and Brady Henderson. The 40-year-old only has five years of NFL experience with one years as the Vikings’ defensive backs coach and four years in the same role in Seattle, plus the title of passing game coordinator. The Seahawks’ pass defense saw some improvements after Scott’s arrival in 2022, and he was retained in 2024 after Mike Macdonald was brought in as the team’s new head coach.
While Macdonald rightfully gets much of the credit for turning Seattle’s defense into one of the best in the league, Scott has still played a key role in developing the team’s young secondary. Several defensive backs have taken huge strides under Scott’s coaching, including recent first-round picks Devon Witherspoon and Nick Emmanwori. Spending time under Macdonald, who is quickly becoming one of the league’s most respected defensive minds, further boosts Scott’s resume.
Panthers Will Pick Up QB Bryce Young’s 5th-Year Option
Panthers general manager Dan Morgan said on Tuesday (via The Athletic’s Joseph Person) that the team would pick up Bryce Young‘s fifth-year option for the 2027 season.
Young, 24, was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 draft. He has met the playtime requirements to be in the second tier of fifth-year options, currently projected by OverTheCap to be $26.53MM for quarterbacks. After a rough first two years in the NFL, he took some strides in 2025, enough for the Panthers to affirm their belief in him.
“I think Bryce has shown flashes of greatness this year against high-level competition,” Morgan said. “As a team, we weren’t as consistent as we wanted to be on a game-to-game basis.”
Young was not especially consistent, either, with only marginal improvements over his 2024 stats. The “flashes” to which Morgan is referring are likely Young’s four fourth-quarter comebacks and six game-winning drives in 2025, which matched his total from his first two seasons.
“I just felt like he had a lot more command out there this year, and really just coming into his own and getting better every week and just attacking every day,” Morgan added. “And that’s really all you can ask for from any player, let alone your quarterback.”
Despite his effusive praise of his young QB, Morgan was non-committal on potential extension negotiations this offseason, per Person, saying only that “it’s still up in the air.” That is a sensible position considering that Young has yet to prove that he is worth a multi-year extension in a pricey quarterback market.
Young will be much more expensive in 2027, and an extension would likely raise his pay further. The Panthers have leaned on veteran backups for the last three years, but Morgan indicated (via Person) the team was open to bringing in a younger passer this offseason. That will make it easier to build a roster in 2027 and potentially beyond, as Carolina would not have to pay for a premium backup. Adding a young quarterback now also gives the Panthers more options for the future. He would have two seasons to develop behind Young; by then, the team would have an idea of his potential as a starter. If Young has not made more progress, the Panthers could opt to part ways with him and move onto a younger, cheaper quarterback.
Such a decision is a long ways away, and Young’s performance in 2026 and 2027 could pre-empt it entirely. For now, Carolina has made its next decision regarding Young and can now turn their offseason attention to the rest of the team.
Commanders Want To Interview Brian Flores For DC Job
The Commanders have already hired a new offensive coordinator and are now turning to fill their rest of their coaching vacancies.
Their defensive coordinator job is their next crucial hire. The team is looking to bring in Brian Flores to interview for the gig, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. He just completed his three-year contract with the Vikings in the same position. Though he has been seeking another shot as a head coach, his ongoing lawsuit against the league and three teams could be an insurmountable obstacle until it is resolved.
Washington’s defense took a notable step back in 2025 relative to their first year under head coach Dan Quinn and DC Joe Whitt. Quinn took over play-calling duties during the season, which made Whitt’s dismissal after the season no surprise. Flores should be an upgrade. After adjusting to a new team in his debut year in Minnesota, he led a solid defense in 2024 and a great one this past season across the board. The Vikings ranked seventh in points allowed and third in yards allowed in 2025 with Flores’ diverse blitz packages wreaking havoc on opposing offenses. The Commanders, meanwhile, ranked 27th in yards and dead-last in points. Their 19.6% pressure rate was the seventh-lowest mark in the NFL, while the Vikings finished third with a 28.1% pressure rate.
But Flores has already interviewed with the Ravens regarding their head coaching position, and he could draw additional interest as a defensive coordinator now that his contract in Minnesota is up. The Vikings still believe they can retain him, but proving himself with another franchise may strengthen his case for another head coaching job, though it still might have to wait until the lawsuit concludes.
The Commanders are also filling David Blough‘s offensive staff, starting with a quarterbacks coach to work with Jayden Daniels. Panthers assistant quarterbacks coach Mike Bercovici was one of their first candidates, and Falcons quarterbacks coach D.J. Williams has joined the list. Washington submitted a request to interview Williams, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. He is the son of franchise legend Doug Williams, who was named MVP when the team won the Super Bowl at the end of the 1987 season.
D.J. Williams worked as an offensive assistant in New Orleans from 2019 to 2023. In 2024, he joined the Falcons as assistant quarterbacks coach and took over the lead role after T.J. Yates was promoted to pass game coordinator. Michael Penix has shown flashes as a starter in the last two years, but he has lacked consistency. Williams’ family connection with Washington will certainly help his chances, but it will ultimately come down to the team’s belief to get the most out of Daniels.
Chargers OLB Khalil Mack Undecided On Future
After the end of the 2024 season, Chargers outside linebacker Khalil Mack said that he was contemplating retirement. He opted to play another year and re-signed in Los Angeles on a one-year deal, hoping to make another playoff run.
That never materialized. The Chargers exited in the first round for a second season in a row, leaving the 34-year-old considering his future once again. Last year, he said (via team writer Omar Navarro) that he wanted to consult his family and avoid “a rash decision after a loss.”
He said something similar after Sunday’s loss to the Patriots: “Not trying to make that decision right now like I’ve almost done before. Trying to stay as present as possible, stay prayed up, make a decision based on how I’m feeling and how my family is feeling, the vibes.”
But another year of wear and tear in the NFL may lead Mack to a different conclusion this offseason. A dislocated elbow early in the season landed him on injured reserve for just the second time in his career. He said that the injury “took something off of the elements of what I am and who I am as a player.”
He was still able to occupy a similar snap share and better per-game production, both in terms of traditional stats like sacks and tackles for loss as well as advanced metrics from Pro Football Focus (subscription required) like pressures and stops. While older players are more liable for sudden drops in performance, Mack’s numbers indicate that he still has a good chance of contributing in 2026.
However, this year’s decision is not exactly the same as last year. After another year, Mack is trying to figure out what another year n the NFL would mean for him and his family. Obviously, coming off a playoff loss, his immediate reaction might be to run it back another year. Perhaps the Chargers would fare better after investing in their offensive line this offseason, or he could find another team with Super Bowl aspirations.
Last year, his comments on his future came on January 12 and ultimately made his decision less than two weeks later. His initial thoughts came on the same date this time around, suggesting that we will not have to wait too long for his answer about 2026.
Commanders Request Interview With Mike Bercovici For QBs Coach Job
The Commanders moved quickly to secure David Blough as their next offensive coordinator, and they are now in the process of filling his staff.
Panthers assistant quarterbacks coach Mike Bercovici is one of Washington’s early targets. The Commanders requested to interview him for their quarterbacks job, per NFL insider Jordan Schultz.
Bercovici, 32, is a former quarterback who played at Arizona State in college. After brief stints with the Chargers and the Cardinals, which featured no regular season playing time, he moved to the now-defunct American Alliance of Football. He retired from playing when the league folded in 2019 and went back to Arizona State to start his coaching career.
Bercovici quickly made the jump into the NFL’s coaching ranks when Kliff Kingsbury – the Commanders’ last offensive coordinator – hired him for a role on his Cardinals staff in 2020. When Kingsbury was fired after the 2022 season, Bercovici was hired by then-Panthers head coach Frank Reich as an assistant wide receivers coach. When Dave Canales arrived in Carolina in 2024, he moved Bercovici to his current role.
Panthers quarterback Bryce Young has made notable strides in the last two years, and Bercovici likely deserves some credit for his development. He would be tasked with taking Jayden Daniels to another level after the former LSU quarterback followed up his Offensive Rookie of the Year debut with a disappointing, injury-riddled sophomore campaign. The two overlapped for a year at Arizona State, with Bercovici serving as a graduate assistant while Daniels started at quarterback as a true freshman.
Cowboys To Interview Zach Orr, Aaron Whitecotton For DC Vacancy
The Cowboys’ search for their next defensive coordinator has expanded to include two new candidates.
The team requested an interview with Ravens defensive coordinator Zach Orr (via Clarence Hill of DLLS Sports). They will also interview their current defensive line coach, Aaron Whitecotton, per CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones.
Orr, 33, succeeded Mike Macdonald as the Ravens’ defensive coordinator in 2024. The unit regressed at the beginning of his debut season, but moving Kyle Hamilton back to a traditional safety role and inserting Ar’Darius Washington into the starting lineup stabilized the secondary. This past season, Baltimore’s defense had another rough start with an especially weak pass rush. Another round of midseason adjustments – including trades for Alohi Gilman and Dre’Mont Jones – yielded some results, but they did not last through the end of the season.
Despite his shaky results, Orr’s connection to Macdonald and John Harbaugh is one reason that other teams may be interested. He may also be a free agent in the coming weeks. The Ravens are currently looking for a new head coach after firing Harbaugh, and their eventual hire may not retain Orr in his current job.
Whitecotton has spent the last 13 years coaching in the NFL with the last eight as a defensive line coach for the Bills (assistant), 49ers (assistant), Jets, and Cowboys. Despite the additions of Kenny Clark and Quinnen Williams to Dallas’ defensive line, the unit (and the defense as a whole) still struggled in 2025. Whitecotton’s familiarity with those key players, however, could upgrade his candidacy in the eyes of the team.