Mike McDaniel Withdraws From Bills’ HC Search
Mike McDaniel was scheduled to interview for the Bills’ head coaching vacancy on Friday, but he decided to withdraw from consideration before the two sides met, according to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini.
McDaniel, 42, has interviewed for several head coach and offensive coordinator jobs in the last few weeks. In backing out of his interview with the Bills, he has narrowed his options down to the Chargers and the Raiders. The Chargers are planning to hire McDaniel as their next offensive coordinator, unless the Raiders do not offer their head coaching job to him. McDaniel has only met with Las Vegas’ top brass once, but the interview did take place in person.
Early in the hiring cycle, McDaniel reportedly preferred an offensive coordinator opportunity with a stronger team rather than a head coaching job with a weaker one. After the Bills fired Sean McDermott, Buffalo immediately became one of the top destinations for potential head coaches, making it somewhat of a surprise that McDaniel backed out of the running. Perhaps he believed that the job would ultimately go to another candidate and preferred to focus his attention on his remaining suitors.
The Raiders, however, do not seem like a particularly desirable destination unless McDaniel is committed to a major rebuild of a roster that lacks many long-term pieces. Working with projected No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza – along with the rest of the team’s significant draft capital and future cap space – could be enticing, but the Raiders have been stuck in the mud for years. If McDaniel is looking to make his next head coaching opportunity stick, he might continue to wait out the market until the right job comes along in the next few offseason.
In the meantime, the Chargers’ OC gig is a solid opportunity for McDaniel to work with Justin Herbert, who has played under a revolving door of suboptimal offensive architects and play-callers in his career. McDaniel could finally allow Herbert to thrive within the Chargers’ offense rather than in spite of it.
Wink Martindale Set For Second Interview For Jets’ DC Job
Former Ravens and Giants defensive coordinator Don ‘Wink’ Martindale is in New York for a second, in-person interview for the Jets’ defensive coordinator vacancy, per SNY’s Connor Hughes.
Martindale, 62, is entering his 30th year as a coach. He spent the last two years as Michigan’s defensive coordinator but did not uphold the standard by his predecessors, Mike Macdonald and Jesse Minter, two of his former assistants in Baltimore who are now head coaches for the Seahawks and the Ravens, respectively. Martindale was not retained by new Wolverines head coach Kyle Whittingham for the 2026 season, making him a free agent and positioning him for a move back to the NFL.
With a second interview, Martindale is emerging as a top candidate for the Jets’ DC job, if not an outright frontrunner. He has been in contact with head coach Aaron Glenn “throughout the process, going back a few weeks,” according to ESPN’s Rich Cimini. The two coaches have not overlapped with the same team during their time in the NFL – including Glenn’s playing career – but they no doubt are familiar with each other given their time in the NFL.
Martindale’s blitz-heavy system could help the Jets get more out of a pass rush that only produced 26 sacks in 2025, the second-fewest in the NFL. Sending Quinnen Williams to the Cowboys at the trade deadline certainly did not help, but he only produced one sack in his first eight games. Jermaine Johnson only recorded three sacks, though he was only a year removed from a torn Achilles. But Glenn’s credentials as the Lions’ defensive coordinator got him the job in New York, so the team is likely expecting him to find ways to generate pressure regardless of his personnel.
Martindale, who had a heavy hand in creating the systems now run by Macdonald, Minters, and other NFL DCs, may not have the best recent history, but he is still a respected defensive mind with a knack for pressuring opposing quarterbacks.
Here is an overview of the Jets’ search for a new defensive coordinator:
- Mathieu Araujo, cornerbacks coach (Dolphins): Interviewed
- Ephraim Banda, safeties coach (Browns): Interviewed
- DeMarcus Covington, defensive line coach (Packers): Interviewed
- Chris Harris, interim defensive coordinator (Jets): Interviewed 1/18
- Daronte Jones, defensive backs coach (Vikings): Interviewed
- Jim Leonhard, defensive backs coach (Broncos): Interviewed
- Don Martindale, defensive coordinator (Michigan): Conducting second interview 1/24
- Jim O’Neil, defensive assistant/safeties (Lions): Interviewed
Cowboys Hire Christian Parker As DC
The Cowboys are hiring Eagles secondary coach and passing game coordinator Christian Parker as their next defensive coordinator, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. The two sides agreed to a deal on Thursday afternoon, per ESPN’s Todd Archer.
Parker, 34, has spent the last two years in Philadelphia coaching a strong secondary featuring ascending cornerback duo Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean. In 2024, the Eagles were the NFL’s best passing defense, and though they were not quite as dominant this season, they ranked eighth in yards and seventh in yards per attempt while allowing the fewest touchdowns. The Cowboys, in contrast, ranked 32nd in the first two categories and 31st in the third, which was one of the primary factors in firing their last defensive coordinator, Matt Eberflus.
Parker’s arrival in Dallas completes an impressive ascension from Division II defensive assistant to NFL defensive coordinator. He began his coaching career in 2014 as a defensive backs coach at Virginia State and moved up to the same job at FCS Norfolk State in 2016. His first job with a major program came at Notre Dame as a defensive analyst in 2017; the following year, he took the same position at Texas A&M.
Having beefed up his college resume, Parker made the jump into the NFL as a defensive quality control coach under then-Packers defensive coordinator Mike Pettine. (A stunning amount of former Pettine assistants are landing head coach and coordinator jobs this cycle.) He then moved to Denver where he played a key role in the development of future Defensive Player of the Year Patrick Surtain.
In Dallas, Parker will be tasked with reforming one of the NFL’s worst defense from last season. Their stunning decision to trade Micah Parsons to the Packers did not just demolish the Cowboys’ pass rush, it severely hinder their run defense, too. Part of the return from that deal was Kenny Clark, who did not make a consistent impact. The same is true of Quinnen Williams after he arrived at the trade deadline. The team also parted ways with Trevon Diggs at the end of the season and needs to revamp their secondary, which was likely a major motivator in bringing in Parker.
Lions OL Dan Skipper Announces Retirement
Lions offensive lineman Dan Skipper announced his retirement via Instagram on Thursday.
The 31-year-old spent time with seven different teams in his seven-year career, though he is best known for his time in Detroit. He signed with the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent out of Arkansas in 2017, but eventually made his way to Detroit for his NFL debut later that year. Skipper spent time with the Broncos and Patriots over the next two seasons before seeing his next regular-season action with the Texans in 2019.
Skipper returned to Detroit in 2019 where he would spend the rest of his career aside from brief stints with the Raiders and Colts. In 2022, he made his first start at left guard; he would go on to start five games that year, all at guard, a position he had not played in the NFL. Skipper then served as the Lions’ swing tackle from 2023 to 2025 with 10 starts at left tackle in the last two years.
The Lions also introduced Skipper’s now-signature role as the Lions’ sixth offensive linemen in 2022. Then-offensive coordinator Ben Johnson would frequently roll out ‘jumbo’ packages which would typically feature Skipper as an extra blocker. He would occasionally run a route and caught two passes, including a touchdown in 2023. The strategy often confused the defense and sometimes the referees. It also made Skipper beloved among Lions fans.
Injuries were a factor in Skipper’s decision, according to Justin Rogers of the Detroit Football Network. He will now move into coaching and already has his first gig set up as the offensive line and tight ends coach for the East/West Shrine Bowl next week.
At 6-foot-10, Skipper was also the NFL’s tallest active player. That title is now passed to a number of players who all stand at 6-foot-8.
Dolphins Request OC Interview With Texans QBs Coach Jerrod Johnson
The Dolphins have requested to interview Texans quarterbacks coach Jerrod Johnson for their offensive coordinator vacancy, per The Athletic’s Dianna Russini.
This is the first official interview request for Johnson, though he is drawing from other teams as well, per KRPC2’s Aaron Wilson. The 37-year-old is a former quarterback who spent time with seven NFL teams, though he never appeared in a regular-season game.
After ending his playing career in 2016, Johnson took coaching fellowships with the 49ers (2017) and the Colts (2019). The latter opportunity turned into a full-time job as an offensive quality control coach. Johnson then took over as the assistant quarterbacks coach in Minnesota in 2022 before moving to Houston to develop first-round pick C.J. Stroud in 2023.
Stroud’s rookie season is certainly a feather in Johnson’s cap, but his regression over the last two years offers some reason for concern. Stroud has taken a step back in nearly every statistical category from his rookie season, though he only took 23 sacks in 2025 after 90 in his first two seasons.
The Dolphins also submitted a request to interview Cowboys assistant special teams coach Carlos Polk for their special teams coordinator vacancy, according to ESPN’s Todd Archer. Polk has held his current title with five different NFL teams dating back to 2010. This is his second stint in Dallas; he worked under Jason Garrett in 2019 before joining Brian Schottenheimer‘s staff last offseason.
Commanders Interviewing Bears DBs Coach Al Harris For DC Job
The Commanders are interviewing Al Harris, the Bears’ defensive backs coach and passing game coordinator, for their defensive coordinator vacancy, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
With Brian Flores and Jeff Ulbrich staying in their current DC jobs in Minnesota and Atlanta, the Commanders are adding more candidates to their list, per NBC4’s JP Finlay.
Harris, 51, spent 13 years as an NFL cornerback – primarily with the Eagles and the Packers – before joining the coaching ranks. After an internship with the Dolphins, he spent six years in Kansas City and one at Florida Atlantic University before landing in Dallas in 2020, where his reputation began to soar.
As the Cowboys’ defensive backs coach under head coach Mike McCarthy, Harris oversaw the development of ballhawking cornerbacks Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland, who led the league in interceptions, return yards, and return touchdowns in back-to-back years. The team’s passing defense as a whole ranked as a top-10 unit in 2022 and 2023, but regressed in 2024 in no small part due to injuries. Harris added assistant head coach to his title that year, his final in Dallas as McCarthy was fired at the end of the season.
Harris quickly found a new job in Chicago on Ben Johnson’s staff, but the Bears’ pass defense did not excel statistically this year. They led the league in interceptions, including an individual league-high by Kevin Byard. After earning Pro Bowls and first-team All-Pro nods with the Titans in 2017 and 2021, the veteran safety returned to those heights in his first year under Harris.
Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis Among Eagles’ Extension Priorities
The Eagles are heading into the 2026 offseason with a number of extension candidates, and defensive tackles Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter could be at the top of general manager Howie Roseman‘s list, per Zach Berman and Brooks Kubena of The Athletic.
The Georgia products were drafted by the Eagles in the first round of back-to-back drafts – Davis in 2022 and Carter in 2023. Davis had a quiet rookie year before emerging as a starter in his second year. Pre-draft concerns about his conditioning seemed to be validated as the team carefully managed his snap count in 2024, but he played 61% of the team’s snaps in 2025. That corresponded with career-highs across the board, giving Philadelphia plenty of reason to pursue an extension.
The Eagles picked up Davis’ fifth-year option – worth $12.94MM – so an extension would clear up some 2026 cap space. The same is not true for Carter, who is set for a $6.94MM cap hit that could go up depending on the size of his signing bonus. The team also has to make a decision on his fifth year option, which is currently projected to be $21.04MM, per OverTheCap. Given the rapidly-escalating price of interior pass rushers, that would be a bargain for an additional year of Carter’s services,
Carter has already become one of the most dominant defensive tackles in the game, while Davis’ expanded production proves he is more than just a massive run-stopper in the middle of the defense. That should push the combined price of the duo over $50MM per year and potentially as high as $60MM.
The Eagles also have Nolan Smith‘s fifth-year option to consider. He would cost $15MM in 2027, a good price for an edge rusher. However, Roseman may not be as motivated to pursue a long-term deal with Smith as he failed to even match his 2024 breakout season in 2025.
Bucs Set Second OC Interview With Brian Callahan
The Buccaneers are taking another step towards hiring a new offensive coordinator by kicking off their second round of interviews.
Former Titans head coach Brian Callahan is set for a second meeting with the team, per Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, which will take place tomorrow. The 41-year-old previously spent five years as the offensive coordinator on Zac Taylor’s staff, playing a major role in Joe Burrow‘s development and the overall development of Cincinnati’s offense into one of the best in the league.
However, balance often eluded Callahan’s units. He put together the Bengals’ high-flying passing attack, but could not budge their running game out of a bottom-10 ranking in his five years in Cincinnati. He also struggled to construct a consistent offensive line.
So, when Callahan arrived in Tennessee and downgraded from Burrow to Will Levis at quarterback, the cracks began to show. He no longer had one of the best QB-WR duos in the league, and he could not find a way to help Levis progress. A 3-14 record got the Titans the No. 1 pick, which they used on Cam Ward, but a 1-5 start to the 2025 season
The Buccaneers may be wondering if Callahan will be able to find more success with their talented offense. Tampa Bay already has an established quarterback, a strong offensive line, and several offensive weapons. That would allow Callahan to focus less on development and more on application of the team’s talent as they seek a return to the top of the NFC South.
Here are the rest of the Buccaneers’ offensive coordinator candidates:
- Brian Callahan, former head coach (Titans): Second interview scheduled for 1/22
- Mike Kafka, former interim head coach (Giants): Interviewed
- Mike McDaniel, former head coach (Dolphins): Interviewed 1/16
- Todd Monken, offensive coordinator (Ravens): Interviewed
- Dan Pitcher, offensive coordinator (Bengals): Interviewed 1/21
- Zac Robinson, offensive coordinator (Falcons): Interviewed 1/10
- David Shaw, pass-game coordinator (Lions): Interviewed 1/10
- Israel Woolfork, quarterbacks coach (Cardinals): Interviewed 1/10
Falcons Add James Liipfert, Ian Cunningham, Josh Williams To GM Interview List
With the Falcons’ search for a new president of football operations and head coach complete, the team is now looking for their next general manager.
Three names have been added to the list: Texans assistant GM James Liipfert (via The Athletic’s Dianna Russini), Bears assitant GM Ian Cunningham (via Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer), and 49ers director of scouting and football operations Josh Williams (via ESPN’s Adam Schefter). That trio joins Steelers assistant GM Andy Weidl as Atlanta’s first four candidates.
Liipfert got his NFL start with the Patriots. He spent nine years in New England in various scouting roles before joining the Texans as their new director of college scouting in 2019. Liipfert began to move up the chain after Nick Caserio, a former Patriots colleague, was installed as the Texans’ general manager. Liipfert became the assistant director of player personnel in 2022, replaced ‘assistant’ with ‘executive’ in his title the following year, and moved up to assistant GM last June. His job, however, has largely stayed the same. He manages the Texans’ college scouting operations and has therefore played a huge role in building their current roster, which is powered by homegrown players.
Cunningham interviewed for the Falcons’ football operations job that went to Matt Ryan. It never seemed like anyone but Ryan would secure that position, but Cunningham did enough in his first meeting with the team that he is now under consideration for general manager. He interviewed for several jobs over the last few years, including the Jaguars’ and Titans’ GM jobs last offseason. He was thought to be a finalist for those jobs, as well as the Commanders’ vacancy in 2024. Like Liipfert, he has spent his career largely focused on scouting.
Williams also interviewed for what is now Ryan’s job and was a finalist for the Jaguars’ opening last year. He was also a finalist in the Dolphins’ search for a new GM this year, though Miami went with Jon-Eric Sullivan instead. In San Francisco, Williams oversees pro and college scouting and also assists in contract negotiations.
It is clear that the Falcons are looking to draft a general manager with a background in scouting. There are a number of young stars in Atlanta, but almost all of them were secured with first- or second-round picks. In the third round and beyond, former GM Terry Fontenot struggled to find players who could become starters while still on their rookie contract. His successor would look to correct that pattern to add more depth and build around players like Drake London and Bijan Robinson.
Ravens Blocking Several Giants Interview Requests
The Ravens may have fired John Harbaugh, but they have no intention of letting his top lieutenants follow him to New York.
Baltimore has blocked a lateral move for special teams coordinator Chris Horton, per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, preventing him from taking the same position on Harbaugh’s new staff. For the moment, the Ravens are holding onto assistant special teams coordinator Anthony Levine and senior special teams coach Randy Brown, though that could change once they land on a new head coach.
Harbaugh came up as a special teams coordinator, so it is no surprise he wants to bring his special teams assistants to New York. Brown worked with Harbaugh in Philadelphia and joined his original staff in Baltimore as a kicking consultant. Horton got his NFL start in Baltimore in 2014, while Levine was a Ravens special teams ace for a decade before retiring and joining their coaching staff. Levine currently has interest from the Buccaneers in their coordinator position, which would be a promotion that the Ravens cannot block.
The Giants, nonetheless, plan to continue undeterred with their pursuit of Ravens coaches, as well as employees in other roles. The team could submit 20 or more interview requests, per ESPN’s Jordan Raanan. Baltimore may not be able to block all of those requests, which could force individuals to choose between their loyalty to Harbaugh and their loyalty to the Ravens.
Of course, Baltimore’s new head coach may be more willing to let certain coaches go as he fills his staff. Like Harbaugh, he could draw from the ranks of his former team, which could put the Ravens in the same position that the Giants are in right now.