Liam Coen ‘Pushing Hard’ For Mike Greenberg To Become Jaguars GM?
Already losing one of their assistant GMs, via John Spytek‘s Raiders agreement, the Buccaneers may have one more search to sweat out. Considering the only team still looking is the one that poached Liam Coen to complete an awkward Bucs breakup, it might not be a smooth process.
The Bucs are not expected to allow any contracted assistants to make lateral moves and join Coen in Jacksonville, but they would not be able to block a coordinator interview or a GM meeting involving a promotion. This may bring popular GM candidate Mike Greenberg back into the picture soon. Coen is believed to be eyeing his short-lived Tampa coworker.
[RELATED: Trent Baalke’s Presence Impacted Jags’ Ben Johnson Pursuit]
The new Jaguars HC is “pushing hard” to bring Greenberg over from Tampa, Sportskeeda.com’s Tony Pauline notes. The matter of Greenberg wanting this job, per Pauline, may be a potential issue. Thus far, no interview requests have gone out. But with Coen hired, the Jags need a front office boss to replace Baalke. Of course, Coen is expected to have a significant say in this process; that could then make this a less powerful GM job once the dust settles.
Coen having the opportunity to drive a GM search despite having only been an NFL coordinator for two seasons, on-and-off stints with the two nonconsecutive Kentucky OC seasons sandwiched in, is unusual. First-time HCs are not regularly given this opportunity, but with the Jags making a major change — the belated Baalke firing — in order to convince Coen to take a second interview and thus sign on, the 2024 Bucs OC pounced on an opportunity to exert leverage.
Greenberg was believed to be one of the Bucs power brokers who attempted to reach Coen during the play-caller’s off-grid stretch on his way out of Tampa. After agreeing to an extension to stay with the Bucs, Coen backtracked once the Jags fired Baalke. The Jags wanted Coen to keep his interview schedule private, allowing the team to interview Patrick Graham and comply with the Rooney Rule, and this led to him dodging calls from Greenberg and Bucs GM Jason Licht. Although Coen is believed to have eventually told Todd Bowles what he was up to, this was far from a smooth exit. On that note, it would be interesting if Greenberg — a 15-year Bucs staffer — would consider jumping ship given the way Coen left town.
Greenberg met with the Jets during their recent search and met about the Panthers’ vacancy last year. Instrumental in helping the Bucs maneuver to land Tom Brady and then rearm for a Super Bowl LV title defense by ensuring the entire starting lineup returned, Greenberg helped the Bucs pay the likes of Mike Evans, Baker Mayfield, Antoine Winfield Jr. and Tristan Wirfs this past offseason. Losing Spytek and Greenberg in the same offseason would deal a blow to the Bucs, but it is far from certain if the latter would follow Coen after one year together. GMs rarely receive second chances, so identifying the right fit is paramount for rising execs.
NFC Coaching Rumors: Bucs, Bowles, Kafka, Martindale, Lions, Falcons, Cardinals
Liam Coen‘s Buccaneers divorce has become one of the most memorable staff separations in recent years. In addition to the Bucs’ OC search, multiple additional fallout items have emerged from Coen backtracking on an extension agreement to accept the Jaguars’ HC offer. Some around the league are now wondering how willing coordinator candidates will be to join up with Todd Bowles, CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones writes. Bowles has evaded firing rumors for multiple seasons, though it was quieter on that front in 2024. While it is a bit odd that he continues to win division titles (3-for-3 in that regard), the rumors about the veteran HC’s murky status in Tampa persist.
On that note, Jones adds the Bucs should not be expected to let any coaches out of their contracts to follow Coen to Jacksonville. Bowles, Jason Licht and assistant GM Mike Greenberg attempted to reach Coen on Thursday, when he was supposed to sign his Bucs extension. Coen had already delayed the signing. The one-and-done Tampa Bay OC had even fibbed about a personal matter to continue his Jags negotiations, with ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter indicated during a Pat McAfee Show appearance the Bucs were plenty irked about his exit process.
Here is the latest from the NFC side of the coaching carousel:
- The Bucs have completed four interviews with outside candidates, but an internal Coen replacement option has surfaced as well. Pass-game coordinator Josh Grizzard is on the radar to be promoted, NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo notes. Grizzard, 34, has been in the NFL since 2017 and joined Bowles’ staff to work under Coen. The Bucs thought they had avoided a scenario in which they use a fourth OC in four seasons, via the Coen agreement, and Mayfield will now have a sixth play-caller since the 2021 campaign. An internal promotion would help ensure some familiarity.
- Mike Kafka is still in the running for the Saints‘ HC job, though Kellen Moore and Mike McCarthy may be more likely to land the job. If the Giants’ OC were to pull an upset and jump from a 3-14 team to another club’s top coaching job, ESPN.com’s Jordan Raanan notes he would be expected to bring Wink Martindale with him as DC. Kafka and Martindale worked together in New York for two seasons, before the latter’s explosive 2024 exit. Martindale, who spent the 2024 season as Michigan’s DC, interviewed for the Colts and Falcons’ DC jobs this month.
- Acting swiftly to fill the void created when Kelvin Sheppard made the jump to replace Aaron Glenn, the Lions are elevating another recent NFL linebacker. Detroit will promote Shaun Dion Hamilton to its LBs coaching post, 247Sports.com’s Matt Zenitz tweets. Hamilton attempted to make the Lions’ active roster in 2022 but instead found a job on their coaching staff. Dan Campbell hired Hamilton, an ex-Washington defender, as an assistant. He moved up to assistant LBs coach in 2023, and at 29, is climbing the ladder again.
- The Falcons are making two hires for Jeff Ulbrich‘s defensive staff. They added Mike Rutenberg as pass-game coordinator and Nate Ollie as D-line coach. Rutenberg will follow Ulbrich from the Jets, having coached their linebackers for four seasons. The Robert Saleh hire oversaw the development of Quincy Williams from waiver claim to All-Pro, while Ollie was also on Saleh’s first Jets staff. The Colts hired him as D-line coach in 2022, and he landed with the Texans as assistant D-line coach last year.
- The Cardinals are losing their linebackers coach to a college coordinator role. Virginia Tech hired Sam Siefkes to be its next DC. Jonathan Gannon had hired Siefkes after two years as a Vikings assistant. Prior to that, he had served in the college ranks, heading up Wofford’s defense. Additionally in Arizona, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson notes the team is not bringing back D-line coach Derrick LeBlanc. On the Dolphins’ staff before heading to Arizona in 2023, LeBlanc had spent nearly two decades at the college level.
Bills Extend T Ryan Van Demark, Sign Seven To Reserve/Futures Deals
Although ill-timed secondary injuries again bit the Bills in a Chiefs playoff matchup, the team has enjoyed good health along its offensive line over the past two seasons. This has kept swing tackle Ryan Van Demark mostly on the bench.
But the Bills still have plans for the backup lineman. Van Demark signed an extension Monday, allowing him to bypass exclusive rights free agency. This is a formality, as the Bills could have tendered Van Demark as an ERFA and retained him without any outside competition. Nevertheless, the young blocker is under contract for 2025.
Van Demark beat out David Quessenberry for the Bills’ swing job in 2023 and held a key backup role again this season. The 26-year-old former UDFA made his first two starts this season. While one of those came in a Week 18 after the Bills had wrapped up the AFC’s No. 2 seed, Van Demark also filled in for Spencer Brown at right tackle against the Chiefs in Week 11. He played 199 offensive snaps this season.
The Bills initially added Van Demark on a practice squad deal in September 2022; the Colts had included the UConn alum in their UDFA class that year but did not carry him onto their 53-man roster. Buffalo is still in good shape at tackle, having extended both Brown and Dion Dawkins in 2024.
In addition to Van Demark, the Bills conducted standard postseason business by handing out reserve/futures contracts. Running back Frank Gore Jr., who joined one of his father’s former teams by signing as a UDFA last May, is among the seven sticking around with the team into the 2025 offseason. Here is that contingent:
- CB Te’Cory Couch
- OL Mike Edwards
- RB Frank Gore Jr.
- OL Richard Gouraige
- WR KJ Hamler
- CB Daequan Hardy
- DT Zion Logue
Buccaneers Interview Nick Caley For OC Job
A fourth candidate is confirmed to be on the Buccaneers’ post-Liam Coen radar. Nick Caley, who joins Coen in having worked on Sean McVay‘s staff, is in the mix to replace him.
Caley interviewed for the Bucs’ OC post Monday. Caley follows Nate Scheelhaase as Rams assistants to meet with the Bucs about this job. Caley, the Rams’ pass-game coordinator, met virtually with the Bucs about the position.
Although Caley and Coen both come from the McVay tree, the two did not work together in Los Angeles. Caley arrived in L.A. as tight ends coach weeks after Coen returned to be Kentucky’s OC. Most of Caley’s career steps came in New England.
He had interviewed to move up to the Patriots’ OC post in 2023, but the team chose Bill O’Brien. Caley, who had spent eight seasons on Bill Belichick‘s staff, relocated after that decision. The Pats circled back to Caley in 2024, interviewing him twice about the OC position. But Jerod Mayo went with Alex Van Pelt.
The Rams’ TEs coach position has been somewhat of a launching pad in recent years. Thomas Brown had served in that role before becoming the Panthers’ OC; Caley has been a tight ends coach in each of the past eight seasons. The Patriots named Caley as Rob Gronkowski‘s position coach in 2017, and he stayed in that role through the 2022 season. McVay’s orbit has been a good place to fly for aspiring coordinators and HCs, and Caley’s name has now come up for multiple teams once again.
The Jets have shown interest in Caley, to the point he may be their top candidate, but no interview has taken place as of yet. Caley, 41, would be an interesting Bucs option due to his familiarity with McVay’s system. Coen came to Tampa after two stints under McVay, and Baker Mayfield doubled down on his 2023 rebound by throwing 41 touchdown passes and piloting the team back to the playoffs. With the Bucs feeling a bit burned by the way Coen left for Jacksonville, they can at least attempt to foster some continuity by poaching Caley from L.A. But they may be competing with the Jets, and perhaps other teams, to do so.
Bills S Micah Hyde To Retire
Micah Hyde flirted with retirement in 2024, eventually confirming he would only return to the Bills if he opted to continue his career. Buffalo kept the door open and eventually called on Hyde as insurance. Though, the team did not opt to turn to that insurance policy when a significant safety injury occurred.
The Bills did not elevate Hyde from their practice squad for the AFC championship game; Sean McDermott confirmed the team would not do so despite Taylor Rapp‘s hip injury in the divisional round. With Hyde spending his final season in Buffalo on the practice squad, he confirmed (via the Buffalo News’ Jay Skurski) he will retire.
Hyde said as much upon rejoining the Bills in early December. The Bills had split up one of the longest-tenured safety tandems of the free agency era in March, cutting Jordan Poyer and not re-signing Hyde. Poyer joined the Dolphins, but Hyde remained in Buffalo as a backup plan. Although the Bills centered their 2024 safety setup around Rapp and Damar Hamlin, they added Hyde to their P-squad for the stretch run. Hyde effectively replaced the seldom-used Mike Edwards — released midseason — but did not log any appearances in his 12th season.
This season obviously does not best encapsulate Hyde’s run in Buffalo. The former Packers draftee played a central role in the team’s McDermott-era rise. Signed to midlevel deals in McDermott’s first offseason in charge, weeks before Brandon Beane came aboard as GM, Hyde and Poyer started together for seven seasons (a 2022 Hyde injury did interfere during that stretch).
Each Buffalo safety earned at least one All-Pro honor, giving the Bills reliable back-line deterrence. The Bills made the playoffs six times during the Hyde-Poyer pair’s seasons together. Although the perennial AFC East champions have run into a rough trend of seeing their top cornerbacks unavailable for Chiefs matchups in the playoffs, the team was regularly able to count on its Hyde-Poyer duo for years.
Hyde, who turned 34 in December, made 95 starts with the Bills. Among Buffalo safeties, that ranks behind only Poyer (107), 1990s bastion Henry Jones (129) and all-time leader Steve Freeman (134). The Iowa alum earned two second-team All-Pro nods — in 2017 and 2021. Each season featured five Hyde interceptions. He added another pick in a 2021 wild-card rout of the Patriots.
A fifth-round Packers pick, Hyde yo-yoed as a starter in Green Bay. The Bills gave him a five-year, $30.5MM deal in March 2017 and later extended him in 2021 (two years, $19.25MM). While Hyde never became a top-market safety, he did well for himself as a pro by crossing the $50MM mark in career earnings during the 2023 season. Overall, Hyde has earned more than $53MM as a pro.
Hyde came back from a season-ending neck injury, one that gave Hamlin his first batch of starts before the latter’s terrifying injury in Cincinnati, to start alongside Poyer in the 2023 season. But the Bills drafted Cole Bishop in the 2024 second round; the Utah product became their No. 3 safety this season. Rapp’s new deal locks him down through the 2026 season, while Bishop could be in line to replace Hamlin as a starter — should the free agent-to-be leave Buffalo in March.
Packers To Retain Luke Getsy, Extend ST Coordinator Rich Bisaccia
JANUARY 27: Getsy is indeed set to remain with the Packers as a senior offensive assistant, Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports. It comes as no surprise he will return to his more familiar side of the ball in 2025.
Silverstein adds that special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia has received an extension. Green Bay’s assistant head coach was believed to have one year left on his deal, with Silverstein noting retirement may have been under consideration. Now, another year has been tacked onto his pact, so the 64-year-old is in position to remain in place through 2026.
JANUARY 24: Following Robert Saleh, Luke Getsy joined Matt LaFleur‘s Packers staff in an advisory capacity after an in-season firing. The short-lived Raiders OC worked remotely for a stretch helping out Green Bay’s defense, while the defense-oriented Saleh aided the offense.
Getsy has an extensive history with the Packers, and ESPN.com’s Rob Demovsky indicates the team is expected to retain the two-time OC on its 2025 staff. The Pack need a new quarterbacks coach, after veteran Tom Clements‘ latest retirement, and Getsy has experience in that role.
The Bears hired Getsy off the Packers’ staff in 2022, as Matt Eberflus tasked him with elevating Justin Fields. Although steady criticism came Getsy’s way, Fields did take significant steps as a runner during Getsy’s tenure. A bid to break Lamar Jackson‘s single-season QB rushing record fell short, as the Bears rested Fields for a Week 18 game in which a loss would have given them a chance at the No. 1 overall pick. Fields did not ultimately progress where the Bears wanted as a passer, though had Chicago not obtained that top pick in 2023 and traded it to the freefalling Panthers (ahead of Carolina’s pick becoming No. 1 in 2024), there is a good chance Fields would have played out his rookie deal with the Bears.
Antonio Pierce also booted Getsy, doing so halfway into a miserable Raiders season. As Pierce voiced issues with the Raiders’ Gardner Minshew-centered quarterback plan, the team traded Davante Adams after having lost Josh Jacobs in free agency. Amid a losing streak, Getsy lost his job. LaFleur, who had rehired Getsy after he had initially caught on under Mike McCarthy, gave his former assistant a landing spot post-Las Vegas. Barring another OC interview coming up, Getsy may be prepared to settle in Green Bay once again.
Getsy, 40, worked with the Packers from 2014-17 and then again, after a year at Mississippi State, from 2019-21. He served as the team’s QBs coach during Aaron Rodgers‘ third and fourth MVP seasons (and Jordan Love‘s first two NFL years), launching him onto the OC carousel. The Pack could also be a team to watch involving recently dismissed OC Bobby Slowik, per Demovsky, as the second-generation NFL coach is a Green Bay native. But Slowik generating OC interest is more plausible compared to Getsy right now; it is far from certain he would be available as an assistant to work under/alongside OC Adam Stenavich.
2025 NFL Offensive/Defensive Coordinator Search Tracker
Last year, half the league changed up at offensive and defensive coordinator. As most HC-needy teams have now filled their open positions, the coordinator carousel has accelerated. Here is how the market looks now. When other teams make changes, they will be added to the list.
Updated 2-21-25 (1:59pm CT)
Offensive coordinators
Chicago Bears (Out: Chris Beatty)
- Declan Doyle, tight ends coach (Broncos): Hired
- Hank Fraley, offensive line coach (Lions): Rumored candidate; staying with Lions
- Bo Hardegree, quarterbacks coach (Titans): Interview requested
- David Shaw, senior personnel executive (Broncos): Interviewed 1/25
- Israel Woolfork, quarterbacks coach (Cardinals): Interview requested
Cleveland Browns (Out: Ken Dorsey)
- Darrell Bevell, quarterbacks coach (Dolphins): Interviewed 1/9
- Kevin Koger, tight ends coach (Falcons): Interviewed 1/10
- Klint Kubiak, offensive coordinator (Saints): Interviewed 1/13
- Charles London, quarterbacks coach (Falcons): Interviewed
- Tommy Rees, tight ends coach (Browns): Promoted
Dallas Cowboys (Out: Brian Schottenheimer)
- Klayton Adams, offensive line coach (Cardinals): To be hired
- Ken Dorsey, former offensive coordinator (Browns): Mentioned as candidate
- Kevin Koger, tight ends coach (Falcons): Interviewed
- Scottie Montgomery, running backs coach (Lions): Interviewed
Detroit Lions (Out: Ben Johnson)
- John Morton, pass-game coordinator (Broncos): Hired
Houston Texans (Out: Bobby Slowik)
- Nick Caley, tight ends coach (Rams): Hired
- Brian Johnson, pass game coordinator (Commanders): Interview requested
- Jerrod Johnson, quarterbacks coach (Texans): Interviewed 1/27
- Chip Kelly, offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach (Ohio State): Team has interest
- Klint Kubiak, offensive coordinator (Saints): Mentioned as candidate; hired by Seahawks
- Bill Lazor, senior offensive assistant (Texans): Interviewed 1/30
- Thad Lewis, quarterbacks coach (Buccaneers): Interviewed 1/28
- Ben McDaniels, wide receivers coach/pass-game coordinator (Texans): Mentioned as candidate
- Jeff Nixon, offensive coordinator (Syracuse): Interviewed 1/27
- Grant Udinski, assistant quarterbacks coach (Vikings): Interviewed 1/30
Jacksonville Jaguars (Out: Press Taylor)
- Chip Kelly, offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach (Ohio State): Team has interest
- Tavita Pritchard, quarterbacks coach (Commanders): Interviewed 1/29
- Nate Scheelhaase, pass game specialist (Rams): Interviewed 1/29; seen as favorite; staying with Rams
- Grant Udinski, assistant quarterbacks coach (Vikings): Hired
Las Vegas Raiders
- Darrell Bevell, quarterbacks coach (Dolphins): Interviewed 1/28; frontrunner
- Bo Hardegree, quarterbacks coach (Titans): Mentioned as candidate
- Jerrod Johnson, quarterbacks coach (Texans): Interviewed
- Chip Kelly, offensive coordinator (Ohio State): Hired
- David Shaw, senior personnel executive (Broncos): Mentioned as candidate; hired by Lions
New England Patriots (Out: Alex Van Pelt)
- Eric Bieniemy, former offensive coordinator (UCLA): Interviewed
- Marcus Brady, pass-game coordinator (Chargers): Interviewed 1/18
- Thomas Brown, interim head coach (Bears): Interviewed 1/14
- Josh McDaniels, former head coach (Raiders): Hired
- Tommy Rees, tight ends coach (Browns): Rumored candidate; promoted by Browns
- Grant Udinski, assistant quarterbacks coach (Vikings): Interviewed 1/21
New Orleans Saints (Out: Klint Kubiak)
- Kevin Koger, tight ends coach (Falcons): Rejected interview request
- Doug Nussmeier, quarterbacks coach (Eagles): Hired
- Kevin Patullo, pass-game coordinator (Eagles): Mentioned as candidate
- Robert Prince, receivers coach (Dolphins): Interviewed 2/15
- Jemal Singleton, assistant head coach/running backs coach (Eagles): Interviewed 2/17
New York Jets (Out: Nathaniel Hackett)
- Mark Brunell, quarterbacks coach (Lions): Mentioned as candidate
- Nick Caley, tight ends coach (Rams): Turned down interest
- Tanner Engstrand, pass-game coordinator (Lions): Hired
- Jerrod Johnson, quarterbacks coach (Texans): Team to pursue interview
- Klint Kubiak, offensive coordinator (Saints): Mentioned as candidate; hired by Seahawks
- Scott Turner, interim offensive coordinator (Raiders): Mentioned as candidate
Philadelphia Eagles (Out: Kellen Moore)
- Kevin Patullo, pass-game coordinator (Eagles): Promoted
San Francisco 49ers
- Klay Kubiak, pass-game specialist (49ers): Promotion expected
- Noah Pauley, wide receivers coach (Iowa State): Interviewed 1/13
Seattle Seahawks (Out: Ryan Grubb)
- Thomas Brown, interim head coach (Bears): Interviewed
- Hank Fraley, offensive line coach (Lions): Conducted second interview 1/21; staying with Lions
- Klint Kubiak, offensive coordinator (Saints): Hired
- Byron Leftwich, former offensive coordinator (Buccaneers): Interviewed
- Adam Stenavich, offensive coordinator (Packers): Interviewed
- Travis Switzer, run-game coordinator (Ravens): Interviewed
- Grant Udinski, assistant quarterbacks coach (Vikings): Conducted second interview 1/17
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Out: Liam Coen)
- Marcus Brady, pass-game coordinator (Chargers): Interviewed 1/25
- Nick Caley, tight ends coach (Rams): Interviewed 1/27
- Josh Grizzard, pass-game coordinator (Buccaneers): Promoted
- Dave Ragone, quarterbacks coach (Rams): Interviewed 1/28
- Nate Scheelhaase, offensive assistant/passing game specialist (Rams): Interviewed 1/27
- Grant Udinski, assistant quarterbacks coach (Vikings): Interviewed 1/25
Defensive coordinators
Atlanta Falcons (Out: Jimmy Lake)
- Lou Anarumo, former defensive coordinator (Bengals): Interviewed 1/15
- Derrick Ansley, pass-game coordinator (Falcons): Interviewed 1/16
- Grady Brown, secondary coach (Steelers): Interviewed 1/17
- Matt Eberflus, former head coach (Bears): Interviewed 1/18
- Wink Martindale, defensive coordinator (Michigan): Interviewed 1/14
- Jeff Ulbrich, interim head coach (Jets): Hired
- Steve Wilks, former defensive coordinator (49ers): Interviewed 1/17
Chicago Bears (Out: Eric Washington)
- Dennis Allen, former head coach (Saints): Hired
- Lou Anarumo, former defensive coordinator (Bengals): Rumored candidate; hired by Colts
- Daronte Jones, defensive pass-game coordinator (Vikings): To interview
- Aubrey Pleasant, defensive pass-game coordinator (Rams): Interview requested
Cincinnati Bengals (Out: Lou Anarumo)
- DeMarcus Covington, defensive coordinator (Patriots): Interviewed
- Matt Eberflus, former head coach (Bears): Mentioned as candidate
- Al Golden, defensive coordinator (Notre Dame): Hired
- Patrick Graham, defensive coordinator (Raiders): Interviewed
- Wink Martindale, defensive coordinator (Michigan): Rumored candidate
Dallas Cowboys (Out: Mike Zimmer)
- Ryan Crow, outside linebackers coach (Dolphins): Interview requested
- Andre Curtis, safeties coach (Bears): Interviewed
- Matt Eberflus, former head coach (Bears): Hired
Detroit Lions (Out: Aaron Glenn)
- Larry Foote, inside linebackers coach (Buccaneers): Interviewed
- Kelvin Sheppard, linebackers coach (Lions): Promoted
Indianapolis Colts (Out: Gus Bradley)
- Dennis Allen, former head coach (Saints): Interviewed 1/17
- Lou Anarumo, former defensive coordinator (Bengals): Hired
- Ephraim Banda, safeties coach (Browns): Interviewed 1/10
- Wink Martindale, defensive coordinator (Michigan): Interviewed 1/15
- Steve Wilks, former defensive coordinator (49ers): Interviewed
Jacksonville Jaguars (Out: Ryan Nielsen)
- Anthony Campanile, linebackers coach/running game coordinator (Packers): Hired
- Jonathan Cooley, pass-game coordinator (Panthers): Interview requested
- Patrick Graham, former defensive coordinator (Raiders): Interviewed 1/27
- Daronte Jones, defensive pass-game coordinator (Vikings): Interviewed 1/27
- Aubrey Pleasant, defensive pass-game coordinator (Rams): Interviewed 1/28
Las Vegas Raiders
- Patrick Graham, defensive coordinator (Raiders): Retained
- Rob Leonard, defensive line coach (Raiders): Interviewed 1/27
- Karl Scott, pass-game coordinator (Seahawks): Interview requested
New England Patriots (Out: DeMarcus Covington)
- Ryan Crow, outside linebackers coach (Dolphins): Interviewed 1/21
- Terrell Williams, defensive line coach (Lions): Hired
New Orleans Saints (Out: Joe Woods)
- George Edwards, outside linebackers coach (Buccaneers): Mentioned as candidate
- Daronte Jones, defensive pass-game coordinator (Vikings): To interview 2/15
- Robert Livingston, defensive coordinator (University of Colorado): Was under consideration
- Christian Parker, passing game coordinator/defensive backs coach (Eagles): Interviewed 2/16
- Brandon Staley, assistant head coach (49ers): Hired
New York Jets (Out: Jeff Ulbrich)
- Chris Harris, former defensive backs coach/passing game coordinator (Titans): Interviewed 1/29
- Steve Wilks, former defensive coordinator (49ers): To be hired
San Francisco 49ers (Out: Nick Sorensen)
- Gus Bradley, former defensive coordinator (Colts): Rumored candidate
- Robert Saleh, former head coach (Jets): Hired
- Brandon Staley, assistant head coach (49ers): Mentioned as candidate
- Deshea Townsend, defensive backs coach (Lions): Interviewed 1/9
- Jeff Ulbrich, interim head coach (Jets): Rumored candidate
Liam Coen Fallout: Jags, Bucs, Baalke, Bowles, Contract, Glazers, Rooney Rule
As the Buccaneers become the first team to lose their offensive coordinator in back-to-back years since the 2013-14 Ravens, that development came after it initially looked like the NFC South team had reached an agreement to retain Liam Coen. A Jaguars front office decision certainly looks to have changed Coen’s plans.
When the Jaguars fired Trent Baalke not long after Coen declined a second interview, the AFC South club contacted its top candidate and asked he would reconsider in light of the GM shakeup, according to ESPN.com. Baalke’s presence was believed to be a deterrent for certain coaching candidates this year, and while Coen was among them, ESPN’s Michael DiRocco indicates the GM was not the main reason Coen initially declined a Jags second meeting. That said, Coen’s Wednesday call “embarrassed” the Jaguars, who abruptly changed course as a result.
Upon firing Doug Pederson on Jan. 6, Shad Khan called a full-on overhaul — which a Baalke ouster would have meant — “suicide” for the organization. Yet, barely two weeks later, he was gone. The Jags had seen Ben Johnson express issues with their setup, as Baalke was running a search that could have ended with him out the door — depending on the hire. That undoubtedly would have influenced the four-year Jags GM to go in certain, safe directions. Instead, he is out and Coen will now have a major say in who replaces the embattled exec.
Coen told GM Jason Licht he sought a record-breaking OC sum to stay in charge on offense, SI.com’s Albert Breer notes, with Fox Sports’ Greg Auman indicating the Bucs were prepared to pay him would close to $4.5MM per year. We heard Wednesday the number would have been in the Vic Fangio neighborhood among top coordinator salaries. Coen will make much more with the Jags, who have been tied to authorizing “Johnson-level money.” Bucs ownership approved Coen’s raise but did not with to continue a negotiating battle with their one-year OC, Breer adds. Though, the sides were not done talking money.
The initial Tampa Bay offer emerged before Coen’s virtual interview with the Jaguars, which the Glazer family encouraged him to take. Bucs ownership, however, said its offer to Coen was contingent on him not taking a second Jaguars interview. (However, even had Coen signed a Bucs contract, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio adds NFL rules would have prevented the Bucs from blocking any further Jags meetings.)
Certainly realizing he had a great chance at the Jags job, Coen again asked the Bucs for more money. Tampa Bay ownership responded, per Breer, by confirming no additional raise would come. Although the Bucs wanted a Coen answer on their initial proposal by Monday, he stalled until Wednesday. During that wait, a report indicated the Bucs were prepared to lose Coen. Though, this was all before the Jags’ Baalke decision. Baalke’s previous presence in Jacksonville looks to have kept Tampa Bay’s offer to Coen viable.
Coen, 39, informed the Bucs he was staying and would sign an extension. That did not deter the Jags, who were the only team believed to be seriously considering Coen. This would have stood to limit Coen’s leverage. After all, he has not stayed with the same employer since the 2018-20 seasons, his first stint with the Rams, and his Rams OC stay did not go well in 2022. The Cowboys, Raiders and Saints did not interview Coen. But the Bucs talks doubled as his other option, strengthening his stance in this Florida battle.
Reports Thursday indicated the Bucs were unable to reach Coen, who was to sign the deal Wednesday afternoon, but he asked Licht if he could instead do so Thursday. By Thursday morning, the Bucs had not heard from him. Assistant GM Mike Greenberg contacted Coen about the contract of another offensive assistant. That call went unanswered, as did Licht and Todd Bowles efforts to reach the 2024 Bucs OC, per Breer, who adds Coen’s agent then informed the Bucs his client was dealing with a personal matter. After more Bucs attempts to reach Coen failed, he told Bowles of the personal matter Thursday afternoon while also informing his boss he was still considering the Jacksonville job. A Jags source then tipped off the Bucs Coen was in Jacksonville.
This component does not exactly make Coen’s handling of the situation look great, though Breer indicates the Jags wanted Coen to keep his belated Duval County visit secret. But he has successfully moved up the coaching ladder — albeit in a roundabout manner — with the extraordinarily rare chance as a rookie HC to effectively choose his GM. Kyle Shanahan had this opportunity in 2017, but he had certainly climbed to a higher NFL perch by the time the 49ers gave him that power. Coen is a two-time NFL OC, though the ex-Sean McVay hire only has two years on the job (and two more in college, at Kentucky).
Coen’s delay also gave the Jaguars the chance to meet the Rooney Rule requirement. They had interviewed multiple minority candidates already, but only one of those meetings (Robert Saleh‘s) was in-person. While Coen was negotiating, the Jags met with Raiders DC Patrick Graham, who could have canceled his meeting had word of the Coen talks leaked.
This also does not shine a good light on Jacksonville’s search, but this is hardly the only team to use the Rooney Rule as a box to check rather than giving strong consideration to hiring a minority candidate. Saleh’s second interview never happened, as the Coen matter moved toward the goal line, and the former is now back with the 49ers as DC.
Despite Coen’s uneven resume, many within the Bucs organization viewed him as HC-ready, ESPN.com’s Jeff Darlington tweets. In fact, Darlington adds that a scenario in which the team fired Bowles and promoted Coen was believed to have been in play if Week 18 had ended without a playoff qualification. This would have reminded of the Bucs’ decision to fire Lovie Smith and promote his OC (Dirk Koetter) in 2017. The Bucs also promoted from within to fill their current HC job, with Bruce Arians‘ resignation elevating Bowles, who is now looking for a new play-caller yet again.
Bowles has dodged firing rumors for years now, having mounted charges to the NFC South title in each of the past two after hanging on to secure the Bucs a playoff home game in Tom Brady‘s final season. The Bowles part of this messy divorce makes his status worth monitoring next season, but for now, he will set his sights on another OC search.
Lions To Promote OL Coach Hank Fraley
Hank Fraley is out of the Seahawks’ OC search. As the Lions grapple with losing both their coordinators and their D-line coach, they will retain their O-line leader. It will take a promotion to ensure that happens.
The Lions will add a run-game coordinator bump to their O-line coach’s title, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero tweets. This will ensure Fraley stays in charge of one of the NFL’s top O-lines, and it takes a name out of consideration for the Seahawks. The Lions had lost Ben Johnson, Aaron Glenn and Terrell Williams this week.
Fraley’s wife, Danielle, initially broke the news her husband would be staying. Danielle Fraley mentioned Chicago as a rumored destination, which would have made sense given that Johnson is now running the show there. But Hank Fraley will continue for an eighth season in Detroit. He had joined Johnson in arriving under Matt Patricia, though Fraley has been in Detroit longer — since 2018. The Lions had hired him as their assistant O-line coach, before promoting him in 2020. Fraley has overseen one of the NFL’s top blocking groups since.
The Seahawks met with Fraley twice about potentially replacing Ryan Grubb; the second meeting took place in-person earlier this week. Seattle has Klint Kubiak and Vikings assistant Grant Udinski as its other present finalists. Both Kubiak and Udinski met about the job January 17. This Seahawks process is now dragging a bit, and it will be interesting to see whether the team chooses between the Saints and Vikings staffers soon or adds another finalist.
Fraley has been Detroit’s O-line coach throughout All-Pro Penei Sewell‘s career, and Frank Ragnow has been a regular Pro Bowler under Fraley. The Lions also saw Graham Glasgow rediscover his best form when back with Fraley, after he had struggled to justify a Broncos free agency deal. While Dan Campbell has plenty of work to do elsewhere on his staff, he will not need to worry about his O-line setup for the time being.
It is a bit interesting the Lions did not need to dangle the OC title for Fraley to stay, but with no known interviews commencing, the team would have needed to comply with the Rooney Rule to make that happen. That would mean one external minority is interviewed. Fraley will be set to be a top lieutenant under Detroit’s to-be-determined next play-caller.
Elsewhere on the Lions’ staff, Campbell has added a replacement for Williams. Kacy Rodgers, whose Buccaneers contract had expired, will take over as D-line coach, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler tweets. Rodgers had interviewed for the Packers’ job as well. Rodgers, 55, had worked under Todd Bowles for the past 10 seasons, moving from Jets DC to Bucs D-line coach. The 55-year-old assistant has been in the NFL since 2003. Notably, Rodgers’ first NFL gig — as Cowboys DTs coach from 2003-04 — overlapped with Campbell’s time as a Dallas tight end. Rodgers moved up to Cowboys D-line coach during Campbell’s final Dallas season (2005).
Cowboys Giving Serious Consideration To Brian Schottenheimer As HC?
The Cowboys cannot interview Kellen Moore again until at least next week, and if the Eagles reach Super Bowl LIX, no reunion can commence until February 10. That delay could contribute to one of the more shocking hires in recent NFL history.
As of now, Moore and Brian Schottenheimer may be the finalists for this job, WFAA’s Ed Werder notes. But Schottenheimer, who has not sat down for another known HC interview in the 2020s, appears a serious candidate after his two-day Cowboys meeting.
[RELATED: Jerry Jones, Pete Carroll Discuss Cowboys Job]
Working as Mike McCarthy‘s OC for the past two seasons, Schottenheimer met with the Cowboys for a lengthy interview that ended up lasting two days. Whether the second part of the meeting constituted a second interview or not, Jerry Jones appears to have another unorthodox hire on his radar. Going further here, All DLLS’ Clarence Hill indicates a Schottenheimer deal to be Dallas’ next HC should be done today or Friday.
The second day of Schottenheimer’s summit with Cowboys brass involved a five-plus-hour meeting, and although that pushed the sides’ total interview time past eight hours, NFL.com’s Jane Slater indicates nothing is imminent regarding a hire.
Jones has regularly zagged with his coaches. He has also promoted from within previously. Prior to giving interim HC Jason Garrett the full-time job in 2011, the longtime owner elevated Dave Campo to replace Chan Gailey in 2000. Schottenheimer, 51, has been in the NFL since 2001 — when he debuted as father Marty‘s QBs coach with Washington — and has been a three-time OC. The Jets employed Brian Schottenheimer in that role from 2006-11, and the Rams hired him in 2012. After that three-year stint, Schottenheimer did not receive another OC opportunity until the Seahawks hired him in 2018. Seattle fired the second-generation NFL coach in 2021, leading him to a pass-game coordinator post for the Urban Meyer-run Jaguars and then an analyst gig in Dallas.
With the Commanders securing a spot in the NFC championship game, the Cowboys now have the conference’s longest drought of reaching that round. The Bears, who last qualified for the NFC title game in 2010, are the closest team to the Cowboys, who famously have not played for a conference championship since their Super Bowl XXX-winning season in 1995. Jones, whose separation from Jimmy Johnson after the 1993 season provided a fairly clear line of demarcation for the franchise (its Barry Switzer-coached Super Bowl XXX title notwithstanding), has faced steady criticism over his decisions. This one coming to pass would undoubtedly crank up the heat on the scrutinized owner.
Jones’ head coaching processes have been unusual. Calls for Garrett’s ouster rang out for years, but the criticized HC lasted through the 2019 season. It took several days after that season wrapped for clarity to emerge, and Jones’ replacement search consisted of just two names — McCarthy and Marvin Lewis. After making McCarthy the rare lame-duck HC despite three straight 12-win seasons, Jones did not resolve the situation until a week after Black Monday, going so far as to block the Bears from meeting with McCarthy in that span. McCarthy remains in the mix for the Saints’ HC post.
The Cowboys join the Jaguars, Saints and Raiders in still pursuing a head coach. Schottenheimer has not been connected to any of those jobs, and while the Cowboys led the NFL in scoring during Dak Prescott‘s most recent full season (2023), McCarthy was the team’s primary play-caller following the Moore separation. Moore could regain some steam here, but he is still in the mix for the Jags and Saints’ positions.
Moore having played in Dallas and then begun his coaching career there — during a tenure highlighted by a four-year OC stint — may end up mattering, but the coach who succeeded him appears a genuine threat to score a massive upset and land this position.