Lions’ Derrick Barnes, Carlton Davis Out For Season; David Montgomery To Return
JANUARY 16: Montgomery is off the Lions’ injury report altogether for their Commanders matchup. The Lions will also have Arnold ready to go for the divisional round, as the cornerback has shaken off the injury sustained in Week 18.
JANUARY 7: The Lions’ injury activation puzzle continues to come into focus. Dan Campbell shed light on some of his players on IR and those rehabbing injuries while still on the active roster. Good and bad news has emerged.
Chiefly, David Montgomery‘s dodging of a season-ending injury — the feared scenario when Detroit’s starting running back went down in Week 15 — is close to producing a return. After Montgomery took part in a full workout before the Lions’ Week 18 game, Campbell said (via the Detroit Football Network’s Justin Rogers) he expects the recently extended RB to be ready for the team’s divisional-round matchup.
Generally, when “team fears”-driven headlines surface, bad news emerges. This represents a rare positive development from that place, and the Lions now have two more weeks to prepare Montgomery to reform his elite tandem with Jahmyr Gibbs, who thrived as the team’s starter in the veteran’s stead. Gibbs is coming off a four-touchdown performance in the Lions’ dismantling of the Vikings. As a result, Gibbs’ backfield mate has more time to recover.
While Gibbs took on a bigger role this season, Montgomery still totaled 775 rushing yards and 12 TDs in 14 games. Montomgery also became a far more significant part of Detroit’s passing attack, amassing 341 receiving yards after totaling just 117 in his first Lions season. The team gave him a two-year, $18.25MM extension weeks before his MCL injury.
Montgomery does not factor into the Lions’ IR-return puzzle, having been kept on the active roster. Otherwise, he would have needed to wait one more week to return. Linebacker Derrick Barnes does, but Campbell said neither he nor Carlton Davis will be expected to play again this season. Barnes has been on IR since September with a knee injury. The Lions had not ruled him out, pointing to a potential late-season reemergence. Like D-lineman John Cominsky, however, no comeback is likely.
This is a tough blow to a former Day 3 pick in a contract year, and Barnes had started 26 games for the Lions since being part of the first Campbell-Brad Holmes draft. That included three starts this year. While Barnes and Malcolm Rodriguez are done for the season, Alex Anzalone‘s return alongside Jack Campbell made a difference against Minnesota. Barnes’ injury activation place could be allocated to rookie DB Ennis Rakestraw. Campbell said the second-round pick is likely to be ready to go soon, Rogers adds. Rakestraw, a cornerback chosen 61st overall, suffered a hamstring injury during a late-November practice. The Missouri alum would represent some insurance, having only played 46 defensive snaps this season, for a position group battered by injuries.
Davis sustained a broken jaw in Week 15, and while the Lions did not place the trade pickup on IR as hope existed regarding a potential 11th-hour return, Campbell said (via the Detroit Free Press’ Dave Birkett) that is unlikely. Acquired in a package that brought a third-round pick to the Bucs, Davis started all 13 games he played for the Lions. He is heading toward free agency. Turning 28 just last week, the former Super Bowl LV starter should be expected to command extensive interest.
The Lions saw free agency addition Amik Robertson play quite well in relief Sunday night, operating primarily on Justin Jefferson and largely neutralizing the Vikings superstar. The former Raiders regular has started the past three games in place of Davis, playing alongside first-rounder Terrion Arnold. Being unable to put weight on his injured foot upon leaving the Lions’ Week 18 tilt, Arnold suffered a foot contusion. While Campbell stopped short of confirming Arnold would be back for Round 2, the fourth-year HC called the rookie’s prognosis “positive.”
Seahawks Schedule Second OC Interview With Klint Kubiak
With the Saints in transition, Klint Kubiak is taking meetings. While the Browns went in another direction by promoting Tommy Rees, Kubiak has impressed the Seahawks and is moving closer to that job.
The New Orleans OC met about the gig already and is set for a second interview for the Seattle OC post Friday, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo report. Kubiak is the first candidate to receive a second interview for this post.
Kubiak, 37, is once again in transition after one season as a team’s play-caller. The Vikings’ Mike Zimmer-for-Kevin O’Connell HC swap ended Kubiak’s Minnesota play-calling stint one year in (after the 2021 season), and the Saints’ Dennis Allen ouster has long threatened to cap the second-generation NFL coach’s New Orleans tenure at one season.
Considering the personnel the Saints trotted out by season’s end, Kubiak drawing this much interest for an OC job is impressive. New Orleans finished the season without Derek Carr, Alvin Kamara, Chris Olave, Taysom Hill and Rashid Shaheed. Olave and Shaheed missed more than half the season, with Carr only playing 10 games. New Orleans ranked 24th in scoring offense and 21st in yardage nonetheless.
This was by no means an upper-crust offense, despite the Saints’ dominance over the first two weeks, but Kubiak would represent an experience upgrade on Ryan Grubb, who had only coached in college prior to his Seahawks one-and-done. Kubiak is only being tied to the Seattle OC post right now, but with six teams still needing to hire HCs and the Patriots not naming a play-caller yet, it would stand to reason the Seahawks might not be his only option. It is, however, possible the NFC West team will attempt to keep Kubiak from meeting for future OC positions during the parties’ second interview.
The Seahawks have also met with Vikings assistant QBs coach Grant Udinski, Lions O-line coach Hank Fraley and Bears interim HC Thomas Brown about the job. Thus far, Kubiak appears a clear frontrunner.
Cowboys To Interview Kellen Moore For HC
10:30am: Moore is expected to interview virtually for the position Friday, ESPN.com’s Todd Archer tweets. The Cowboys will join the Jaguars and Saints in speaking with the experienced play-caller before the Eagles’ divisional-round Rams matchup.
9:56am: Now coaching a 14-3 Eagles team preparing for the divisional round, Kellen Moore has improved his stock from where it was after his one-and-done as Chargers OC. As could be expected, the veteran OC’s other former NFL employer has circled back to him.
In need of a head coach for the first time in five years, the Cowboys are interested in a potential Moore reunion. They have sent the Philadelphia play-caller an interview request, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo report. Moore previously spent four seasons as the Cowboys’ OC.
[RELATED: 2025 NFL Head Coaching Search Tracker]
Moore, 36, has an extensive history in Dallas. The former Tony Romo and Dak Prescott backup transitioned to quarterbacks coach immediately upon retiring, landing that job while still in his 20s. The Cowboys thought so highly of Moore they bumped him to OC during Jason Garrett‘s final year and kept him aboard despite changing coaching staffs. Mike McCarthy turned to Moore as his play-caller for the first three years of his HC tenure, before the sides separated in 2023. Moore is now in play to replace his former boss.
Joining Leslie Frazier and Robert Saleh as confirmed candidates (along with Deion Sanders, who is lurking here), Moore brings six years of OC experience despite not yet being in his late 30s. He has been at the controls for Saquon Barkley‘s dominant season — one that likely would have produced the single-season rushing record had Nick Sirianni opted to play the All-Pro in Week 18 — and is one of the catalysts for the Eagles motoring to the NFC’s No. 2 seed after a 2023 collapse. The Eagles rank seventh in scoring offense.
The Saints and Jaguars have met with Moore during this year’s cycle. The Colts interviewed him in 2023. After the Cowboys’ 12-5 2021 campaign, four teams — the Broncos, Dolphins, Jags and Vikings — spoke with Moore, who came up as a name to watch for this Dallas vacancy hours after the team’s McCarthy dismissal. The Chargers also hired Moore as OC within hours of his 2023 split with McCarthy.
While Jalen Hurts has not progressed this season and Moore’s year-long Justin Herbert mentorship did not lead to substantial growth, he did plenty to elevate Prescott during his time in Dallas. Prescott broke through as a passer in 2019, throwing 30 touchdown passes and thus upping his extension price, and then compiled a 37-10 TD-INT ratio in his first season back from a fractured ankle. The 2019 Cowboys led the NFL in total offense, while the 2021 unit paced the league in scoring. It is fair to place Prescott’s 2022 regression (league-high 15 INTs) on Moore as well, but several teams have sought HC interviews with the former Boise State QB during his coaching run. This may be the most important one yet.
Moore’s Cowboys interview must be virtual, if it is to occur this week, and the Cowboys’ delayed decision on McCarthy will present a time crunch. Moore will meet with the Jags and Saints by Saturday, SI.com’s Albert Breer notes. If the Cowboys do not squeeze in a meeting before the Eagles’ divisional-round game, they would need to wait until the team is eliminated (or hold off until the Super Bowl bye week in the event Philly books another berth).
Broncos To Pursue RB, LB Upgrades
Having reached extension agreements to keep a few key players away from free agency, the Broncos do not have too many starters close to hitting the market. A few are, however, and the 31-7 wild-card loss to the Bills revealed a sizable gap between the Broncos’ current standing and the AFC’s formidable top tier.
Acquiring more help for Bo Nix will be on the team’s radar. It would stand to reason wide receiver will be considered, as Courtland Sutton will turn 30 during a 2025 contract year, and tight end improvements will be on the radar after Greg Dulcich disappointed to the point he was waived in-season. A clear-cut upgrade area on offense looks to be running back, however.
[RELATED: Nik Bonitto On Broncos’ Extension Radar]
Sean Payton said the Broncos need help at the position, via the Denver Gazette’s Chris Tomasson. Although free agent-to-be Javonte Williams is interested in staying, Denver has not seen the 2021 second-round pick come too close to resembling his rookie-year version — before ACL and LCL tears sidetracked his career. The team also has change-of-pace back Jaleel McLaughlin and fifth-round rookie Audric Estime set to return, but it should be expected another starter-caliber back will be added in free agency and/or the draft.
While Payton indicated (via Underdog Fantasy’s James Palmer) the team will still use a two-RB approach, Williams leading the 2024 Denver edition with 513 yards represented an underwhelming effort that impacted the team’s offense. Nix’s 430 yards played a key role in the Broncos’ somewhat deceiving 16th-place rushing ranking. The RB market will not be as fruitful as it was in 2024, however, with the likes of Chuba Hubbard, Rhamondre Stevenson and James Conner signing extensions.
Payton’s Saints offenses regularly featured multipurpose threats — Reggie Bush, Darren Sproles and Alvin Kamara being the most notable examples — and Aaron Jones would fit the bill as a potential option, though the 2024 Vikings starter turned 30 last month. Najee Harris profiles as a more traditional back and may be the top UFA option due to the aforementioned extensions. Rico Dowdle broke through for a 1,079-yard rushing season in Dallas and should have a much better market compared to his 2024 status.
Heisman runner-up Ashton Jeanty, who nearly broke Barry Sanders‘ Division I-FBS rushing yardage record (with 2,601) will be the top RB available in the draft after declaring last week. ESPN’s Scouts Inc. ranks Jeanty as the 2025 class’ fourth-best prospect, while assigning Omarion Hampton (North Carolina) and Kaleb Johnson (Iowa) second-round grades in what is viewed as a better class compared to 2024. Jeanty might be out of the Broncos’ reach, pointing to a potential Day 2 selection being in play to boost this position group.
Elsewhere on the Broncos’ roster, three-down linebacker Cody Barton is a looming free agent who has shown interest in coming back. But the the team is expected to target an upgrade at that position as well, 9News’ Mike Klis adds. Entering a contract year, Alex Singleton suffered an ACL tear in Week 2 and is now 31. The team also has replacement Justin Strnad — a player who went from 2022-23 without playing a snap on defense — due for free agency. Denver lost Josey Jewell to Carolina last year, but with Russell Wilson‘s contract still set to bring $30MM-plus in 2025 dead money, the team might continue to be cautious in spending at this position.
GM George Paton (via Tomasson) alluded to a measured approach in free agency, though he pointed to a projected $52MM in cap space as a reminder the team can chase some roster augmentations after a cautious 2024 free agency period — thanks to Wilson’s whopping $53MM cap penalty. Paton said (via Tomasson) the Broncos’ intent to use more young players in 2024 led to the team taking on the larger portion of Wilson’s record-shattering dead money bill in 2024. The contract will be off the books in 2026.
Ben Johnson ‘Seriously Considering’ Raiders; Latest On Tom Brady’s Impact
The NFL has placed significant restrictions on Tom Brady during his time as a broadcaster. Since the future Hall of Fame quarterback is now part-owner of the Raiders, he is prohibited from speaking attending practices, traveling to clubs’ facilities or doing onsite interview prep with coaches ahead of broadcast assignments.But a loophole may influence the Raiders’ coaching search.
Brady will be in Detroit for FOX’s divisional-round game (Commanders-Lions), and he would have a chance to both closely evaluate Ben Johnson (and Lions DC Aaron Glenn) and continue speaking with a coach who looks to be — at this juncture, at least — the Raiders’ early favorite.
Raiders-Johnson momentum is building, per the Las Vegas Review-Journal’s Vincent Bonsignore. Clearly residing as a frontrunner here, Johnson is “seriously considering” the Raiders, The Athletic’s Vic Tafur notes. In predicting fits, Yahoo.com’s Charles Robinson placed Johnson in Vegas.
While Mark Davis is technically atop the organization, it is widely believed Brady is running the team’s HC and GM pursuits. A report pointed to this search being “Tom’s show,” and Tafur offers more in that direction by adding that the minority owner was heavily involved in the decisions to fire Antonio Pierce and Tom Telesco last week. Telesco was ultimately canned because the Raiders wanted to start fresh rather than pair a new coach with a holdover GM.
It is abnormal for a part-owner to have this much influence in searches of this magnitude, but Brady’s stature in the game makes him a special case. The 47-year-old exec’s presence is believed to have driven Johnson to add the Raiders to his interview list. The Lions’ OC has been picky about jobs since first joining a coaching carousel in 2023, and he famously backed out as the Commanders’ frontrunner last year. For Johnson to then be open to taking a Raiders job despite the lack of a quarterback presence and considering Davis’ lack of patience with coaches in recent years, it would certainly say a lot about Brady’s ability to recruit.
Las Vegas may be eyeing a Detroit-centric plan, with Tafur adding Commanders assistant GM Lance Newmark is believed to have an early leg up on the competition for the GM job. This would be an interesting development, as Newmark has not received an interview request just yet. Packers exec Jon-Eric Sullivan, Steelers staffer Sheldon White and ex-Brady Michigan teammate John Spytek — a Buccaneers assistant GM — are the interviewees thus far. Spytek held early momentum as a candidate to watch; Newmark making up ground would be interesting due to his history.
Although Newmark left for Washington in 2024, he spent more than 20 years as a Detroit exec. That obviously covers the time Johnson has spent with the franchise, and Tafur adds the Raiders view Newmark as a staffer who could pair well with the 38-year-old play-caller.
Brady began vetting Johnson when he did a Week 9 Lions-Packers broadcast, Tafur offers. This would obviously be an unusual way for a franchise to gather intel on a candidate, and it obviously calls Brady’s FOX role into question as far as objectivity goes. Considering the steam Johnson has gained with the Raiders, the ongoing Brady conflict-of-interest subplot will continue Saturday.
Johnson is still in play for the Bears and Jaguars’ jobs, and while it is not known if the teams have him as a favorite, Mike Vrabel being off the carousel leaves Johnson as the hottest candidate based on history and the Lions’ dominant season on offense. The Jags are believed to be heavily interested. Johnson cannot conduct any second interviews until a Super Bowl bye week, or if the Lions are eliminated earlier.
For Johnson to back out of the Commanders’ search only to join the Raiders would represents a borderline coup for Brady, and it would add even more intrigue to a division that has seen tremendous coaching talent join Andy Reid in recent years. Johnson would join Sean Payton and Jim Harbaugh in the AFC West. The Raiders still have interviews to go through, and Johnson’s past should remind this is not a done deal. But this much noise about the situation is certainly interesting this early in the process.
Mike Vrabel To Control Patriots’ Roster?
Mike Vrabel became connected to each of the first six teams to carry a coaching vacancy this offseason, with only the Cowboys — whose official Mike McCarthy ouster came a day after Vrabel’s Patriots hire — not tied to the former Titans HC. This gave Vrabel considerable leverage in negotiations with the team he played for during most of the 2000s.
The Bears and Jets made late pushes, but the Patriots — who were connected to Vrabel before firing Jerod Mayo — were always viewed as the frontrunners. As of Sunday, it was not known if Vrabel’s leverage was enough to secure him final say on the 53-man roster in New England. De facto GM Eliot Wolf held that last year, but he might no longer wield that power.
Instead, NBC Sports Boston’s Tom Curran views Vrabel as the top decision-maker in New England now. Wolf and Vrabel met early this week, but the roles of Wolf and 2024 hire Alonzo Highsmith are being determined. The exec Vrabel wanted the Titans to name GM in 2023, Ryan Cowden, is also en route to Foxborough. Cowden may end up being the No. 2 man to Wolf in the Pats’ front office, but the Giants let him out of his contract for this opportunity. That points to a significant role for Cowden, who had been the Titans’ acting GM between the Jon Robinson firing and Ran Carthon hire.
Wolf has been with the Patriots since 2020, moving into a scouting director role in 2022. The Bill Belichick hire, once a popular GM candidate, would still stand to carry a major say in Pats personnel matters moving forward. But the arrivals of Vrabel and Cowden will undoubtedly curb his influence — perhaps by a significant degree. Wolf is believed to be tied to a four-year contract, the Boston Globe’s Ben Volin adds. How the organization proceeds with its current front office leader will be worth monitoring this offseason.
Vrabel’s power will not reach the level of Belichick’s, Curran cautions, and SI.com’s Albert Breer said (via NBC Sports Boston) the official workflow chart should feature both Vrabel and Wolf reporting to ownership. But Curran indicates Wolf will likely see less control over the Patriots’ roster compared to what he held in 2024. Considering the about-face the Patriots completed with Mayo, it is unsurprising they agreed to a Vrabel-friendly structure to help them save face after Robert Kraft had long anointed Mayo.
A desire for more control moved Vrabel onto thin ice in Tennessee, as clashes with ownership — one of which emerging after he sat with Kraft at his Patriots Hall of Fame induction during a Titans bye week in 2023 — developed during the veteran HC’s final weeks on the job. With Carthon eventually sticking around (for another year, at least), Vrabel received his walking papers after Amy Adams Strunk tired of his presence and the Titans’ downward spiral on the field. Of course, matters have worsened for the Titans — who had advanced to three straight playoff brackets from 2019-21 — since Vrabel’s Nashville departure.
This will be more of a fixer-upper than what Vrabel inherited in Tennessee. The Titans had fired Mike Mularkey after a 9-7 season that ended in the divisional round. The Patriots are coming off a 4-13 season, with win No. 4 coming only because of the Bills having secured the AFC’s No. 2 seed. In order for Vrabel to sign off on returning to New England, it certainly appears the Patriots had to provide assurances he will hold considerable say in how the roster is shaped. With a big lead in terms of projected cap space ($120MM-plus), the Pats will see that become a significant matter soon.
2025 NFL Head Coaching Search Tracker
With the Cowboys and Mike McCarthy splitting up, seven teams have made coaching changes so far during this year’s cycle. Here are the candidates connected to each of the HC-needy franchises. If more teams make changes, they will be added to the list.
Updated 2-11-25 (11:40am CT)
Chicago Bears
- Bill Belichick, head coach (North Carolina): Candidate expressed interest
- Joe Brady, offensive coordinator (Bills): Interviewed 1/17
- Thomas Brown, interim head coach (Bears): Interviewed 1/13
- Matt Campbell, head coach (Iowa State): Interview expected
- Pete Carroll, former head coach (Seahawks): Interviewed 1/9; hired by Raiders
- Brian Flores, defensive coordinator (Vikings): Interviewed 1/18
- Marcus Freeman, head coach (Notre Dame): Team wants to interview
- Eddie George, head coach (Tennessee State): Interviewed 1/19
- Aaron Glenn, defensive coordinator (Lions): Interviewed 1/11
- Ben Johnson, offensive coordinator (Lions): Hired
- Mike Kafka, offensive coordinator (Giants): Interviewed 1/9
- Kliff Kingsbury, offensive coordinator (Commanders): Interview requested, won’t interview until after season
- Mike McCarthy, head coach (Cowboys): Interviewed 1/15
- Todd Monken, offensive coordinator (Ravens): Interviewed 1/17; to remain with Ravens
- Drew Petzing, offensive coordinator (Cardinals): Interviewed 1/8
- Ron Rivera, former head coach (Commanders): Interviewed 1/12
- David Shaw, senior personnel executive (Broncos): Interviewed 1/14
- Arthur Smith, offensive coordinator (Steelers): Interviewed 1/15
- Adam Stenavich, offensive coordinator (Packers): Interviewed 1/18
- Mike Tomlin, head coach (Steelers): Denied meeting
- Mike Vrabel, former head coach (Titans): Interviewed 1/8; hired by Patriots
- Anthony Weaver, defensive coordinator (Dolphins): Interviewed 1/9
Dallas Cowboys
- Bill Belichick, head coach (North Carolina): Mutual interest would have existed
- Pete Carroll, former head coach (Seahawks): Discussed position; hired by Raiders
- Leslie Frazier, assistant head coach (Seahawks): Interviewed 1/20
- Aaron Glenn, defensive coordinator (Lions): Mentioned as candidate; hired by Jets
- Kliff Kingsbury, offensive coordinator (Commanders): Mentioned as candidate; won’t interview until after season
- Anthony Lynn, run game coordinator/running backs coach (Commanders: Mutual interest expressed
- Kellen Moore, offensive coordinator (Eagles): Interviewed 1/17; frontrunner?
- Robert Saleh, former head coach (Jets): Interviewed 1/18
- Deion Sanders, head coach (Colorado): Discussions commenced; no deal expected
- Brian Schottenheimer, offensive coordinator (Cowboys): Hired
- Jason Witten, head coach (Liberty Christian School): Strong contender?
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Joe Brady, offensive coordinator (Bills): Interviewed 1/18
- Liam Coen, offensive coordinator (Buccaneers): Hired
- Brian Flores, defensive coordinator (Vikings): Interviewed 1/17
- Aaron Glenn, defensive coordinator (Lions): Interviewed 1/11; hired by Jets
- Patrick Graham, defensive coordinator (Raiders): Conducted second interview 1/23
- Ben Johnson, offensive coordinator (Lions): Interviewed 1/11; hired by Bears
- Kliff Kingsbury, offensive coordinator (Commanders): Rumored candidate, won’t interview until after season
- Todd Monken, offensive coordinator (Ravens): Interviewed 1/16; to remain with Ravens
- Kellen Moore, offensive coordinator (Eagles): Interviewed 1/17
- Robert Saleh, former head coach (Jets): Second interview on hold
- Steve Spagnuolo, defensive coordinator (Chiefs): Interviewed 1/10
- Mike Vrabel, former head coach (Titans): Mentioned as candidate; hired by Patriots
Las Vegas Raiders
- Bill Belichick, head coach (North Carolina): Contacted about job
- Pete Carroll, former head coach (Seahawks): Hired
- Brian Flores, defensive coordinator (Vikings): Mentioned as candidate
- Aaron Glenn, defensive coordinator (Lions): Interviewed 1/10; hired by Jets
- Ben Johnson, offensive coordinator (Lions): Interviewed 1/10; hired by Bears
- Vance Joseph, defensive coordinator (Broncos): Interviewed 1/16
- Todd Monken, offensive coordinator (Ravens): Interview declined; to remain with Ravens
- Ron Rivera, former head coach (Commanders): Interviewed 1/17
- Robert Saleh, former head coach (Jets): Interviewed 1/16
- Deion Sanders, head coach (Colorado): Reportedly interested, but interest is not mutual
- Steve Spagnuolo, defensive coordinator (Chiefs): Interviewed 1/10
- Mike Vrabel, former head coach (Titans): Interview declined; hired by Patriots
New England Patriots
- Brian Flores, defensive coordinator (Vikings): Interested in position
- Aaron Glenn, defensive coordinator (Lions): Interview declined
- Pep Hamilton, former offensive coordinator (Texans): Interviewed 1/7
- Ben Johnson, offensive coordinator (Lions): Interviewed 1/10
- Byron Leftwich, former offensive coordinator (Buccaneers): Interviewed 1/7
- Mike Vrabel, former head coach (Titans): Hired
New Orleans Saints
- Joe Brady, offensive coordinator (Bills): Hope to schedule second interview; remaining with Bills
- Aaron Glenn, defensive coordinator (Lions): To conduct second interview; hired by Jets
- Mike Kafka, offensive coordinator (Giants): Conducted second interview 1/25
- Kliff Kingsbury, offensive coordinator (Commanders): To stay with Commanders
- Mike McCarthy, head coach (Cowboys): Withdrew from consideration
- Kellen Moore, offensive coordinator (Eagles): Hired
- Matt Nagy, offensive coordinator (Chiefs): Mentioned as candidate
- Darren Rizzi, interim head coach (Saints): Interviewed 1/17
- Mike Vrabel, former head coach (Titans): Interview being arranged; hired by Patriots
- Anthony Weaver, defensive coordinator (Dolphins): Conducted second interview 1/24
New York Jets
- Bill Belichick, head coach (North Carolina): Showed interest; meeting never scheduled
- Joe Brady, offensive coordinator (Bills): To interview
- Brian Flores, defensive coordinator (Vikings): Interviewed 1/17
- Aaron Glenn, defensive coordinator (Lions): Conducted second interview 1/21; Hired
- Brian Griese, quarterbacks coach (49ers): Interview declined
- Jeff Hafley, defensive coordinator (Packers): Interviewed 1/17
- Vance Joseph, defensive coordinator (Broncos): Interviewed 1/15
- Mike Locksley, head coach (Maryland): Interviewed 1/10
- Josh McCown, quarterbacks coach (Vikings): Interviewed 1/17
- Matt Nagy, offensive coordinator (Chiefs): Interviewed 1/8
- Ron Rivera, former head coach (Commanders): Interviewed
- Darren Rizzi, interim head coach (Saints): Interviewed 1/11
- Rex Ryan, former head coach (Bills): Interviewed 1/7
- Bobby Slowik, offensive coordinator (Texans): Interviewed 1/16
- Steve Spagnuolo, defensive coordinator (Chiefs): Interviewed 1/10
- Arthur Smith, offensive coordinator (Steelers): Interviewed 1/16
- Jeff Ulbrich, interim head coach (Jets): Interviewed 1/13; hired as Falcons’ defensive coordinator
- Mike Vrabel, former head coach (Titans): Interviewed 1/3; hired by Patriots
- Joe Whitt, defensive coordinator (Commanders): Interviewed 1/19
Broncos Interested In Nik Bonitto Extension
At this time last year, George Paton expressed interest in a Patrick Surtain extension. Although it took several months, the Broncos finalized a contract with their top player. They hammered out a few more extensions in the process, including one for soon-to-be first-team All-Pro Quinn Meinerz.
The Broncos paid their right guard before his true breakthrough; they will not have that advantage with Nik Bonitto, who turned the corner as a pass rusher before becoming extension-eligible. The 2022 second-round pick stormed to a second-team All-Pro honor, registering 13.5 sacks — the Broncos’ most since Von Miller‘s 2018 season — and scoring two defensive touchdowns. As we discussed in December, Bonitto’s extension price spiked after his 2024 performance.
As could be expected, the Broncos are interested in keeping their top edge rusher around beyond his 2025 contract year. Paton confirmed (via the Denver Gazette’s Chris Tomasson) the team wants to keep him around long term, but no talks have begun yet. The Oklahoma product has only been eligible for a new deal for a week. The Broncos will hold exclusive negotiating rights with Bonitto until March 2026.
Bonitto will be an interesting extension candidate, as the Broncos paid their other OLB starter — former seventh-round pick Jonathon Cooper — on a team-friendly deal that checked in at less than $14MM per year. In addition to the Surtain and Meinerz accords, Denver also re-upped left tackle Garett Bolles in what became a busy year for the franchise on the extension front.
The team is not free of the Russell Wilson dead money; $30MM-plus awaits on this year’s payroll, interfering with the advantage gained from Bo Nix‘s rookie contract. But a Bonitto deal would begin its extension years when the Wilson contract is off the books. Nix is tied to rookie terms through at least 2026, giving the Broncos a bit of a window to have another high-end defender payment on their cap sheet.
As for the 2025 offseason, the team is projected to carry more than $52MM in cap space. While the Broncos have some need to address — at the skill positions, linebacker and perhaps a replacement for free agent D-tackle D.J. Jones — the Bonitto matter will be important.
Denver would have a 2026 franchise tag at its disposal if Bonitto talks do not progress to the sides’ liking. Although that would be a pricey cap hold next year, the second-rounder (obtained via the Rams selection in the Miller trade) may have shown himself to be too valuable to lose in free agency. The Broncos will have some time on this front, as the team took care of several extension priorities — save for perhaps Courtland Sutton, who did lobby for a raise last year ahead of a 1,000-yard season, and Zach Allen — in 2024.
AFC East Rumors: Van Pelt, Jets, Dolphins
Both the Giants and Vikings submitted viable offers to the Patriots for the No. 3 overall pick last year, with each NFC franchise eyeing Drake Maye. Each would have netted the Pats an additional second-rounder in last year’s draft and a first this year. New York’s proposal would have given New England this year’s third overall choice, but Maye now serves as the Pats’ franchise centerpiece. Ultimately, then-acting GM Eliot Wolf and ownership stayed and picked Maye. Though, there appeared to be some supporters of accepting a trade-down offer. At the time, it is believed OC Alex Van Pelt was among those who viewed the Pats’ roster as too deficient to pass on moving down, the Boston Globe’s Ben Volin notes.
While it may not be certain Mike Vrabel moves on from Van Pelt, the OC effectively confirmed this by telling friends he had been fired following the team’s Week 18 game. This came despite the organization being pleased with how he had helped develop Maye. Vrabel’s next play-caller’s chief assignment will be elevating Maye to another level in 2025.
Here is the latest from the AFC East:
- In December, Davante Adams was noncommittal about his Jets future. After all, the player responsible for him being traded to New York — Aaron Rodgers — appears on his way out. After the season, Adams did not confirm (via ESPN.com’s Rich Cimini) he would be following Rodgers out the door, but he said staying with the team post-Rodgers would depend on a few factors. Adams’ Raiders-built contract runs through 2026. Allen Lazard was more enthusiastic about staying with the Jets. The lower-profile Rodgers come-with guy at receiver, Lazard went from being a healthy scratch at a point in 2023 to totaling 530 yards and six touchdowns this season. Lazard said (via Cimini) he wants to stay and later retire a Jet. Though, his four-year, $44MM contract would produce $11MM in savings if removed from the payroll via a post-June 1 release.
- Calais Campbell said before season’s end he was not closing the door on playing an 18th NFL season, and the accomplished defensive lineman noted after the Dolphins‘ year wrapped (via ESPN.com’s Marcel Louis-Jacques) that he will consider an age-39 slate. Campbell notched five sacks, and his 12 tackles for loss were his most since 2018. The Dolphins had him on their books for just $2MM this season, and after they nearly traded him back to the Ravens at the deadline, it stands to reason the Miami alum will look into landing with a contender soon.
- Elsewhere on the Dolphins’ roster, both Jaelan Phillips and Austin Jackson are expected to be fine for the 2025 opener, the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson tweets. Phillips, who suffered an Achilles tear in 2023 and a partially torn ACL this season, is going into his fifth-year option campaign. Jackson, who suffered a meniscus tear, is tied to a three-year, $36MM extension. Swing tackle Kendall Lamm is almost definitely set to depart in free agency, Jackson adds. The Dolphins’ Patrick Paul second-round draft choice had pointed the veteran elsewhere. That said, Grier said the Dolphins “are going to have to” invest in O-linemen this offseason. While the team has three higher-end tackle investments under contract, its interior situation is less solidified.
- Staying with O-lines, Vrabel confirmed (via the Boston Sports Journal’s Mike Giardi) the Patriots‘ front will be a priority this offseason. This echoes a recent report that suggested OL and WR would be New England’s top target areas. The Pats struggled up front, with the loss of David Andrews and the left tackle carousel being among the issues. Vrabel leaned on the ground game in Tennessee, largely because of Derrick Henry‘s presence, but the Pats have by far the most cap space exiting the season. With questions existing just about everywhere outside of Michael Onwenu‘s presence (and even his position has fluctuated), allocating considerable resources up front seems likely as the Pats attempt to protect Maye.
Cowboys Plan To Meet With Robert Saleh
As they have been known to do, the Cowboys went through with an unusual separation with their head coach. The team moved on from Mike McCarthy a week after Black Monday, thus delaying its entrance onto the coaching carousel.
Dallas is getting started on its candidates, however. The first known name will be Robert Saleh, with NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reporting the former Jets coach received an interview request. Saleh is already on the Jaguars and Raiders’ interview lists, and he has been closely tied to a potential return to the 49ers as defensive coordinator.
[RELATED: 49ers Expected To Offer Saleh DC Job?]
Saleh has completed his Jaguars meeting; his Raiders summit is set for Thursday. No date for Saleh’s Cowboys meeting has emerged, but the unattached coach should be expected to take the interview. Saleh spent four seasons working for an owner (Woody Johnson) who received criticism for meddling. That would be sufficient prep for Jerry Jones, who operates as the Cowboys’ owner and GM.
The Jets fired Saleh five games into this season; they went 3-9 without him after a 2-3 start. New York’s skid under Jeff Ulbrich made Saleh’s tenure look a bit better. The Broncos keeping Zach Wilson as their No. 3 quarterback all season did as well. Saleh went 7-10 in back-to-back seasons with Wilson as the primary triggerman, and the Jets boasted a No. 4 ranking in total defense in both years after beginning Saleh’s tenure ranking last. The Cowboys have not gone defense for a coaching hire since Wade Phillips in 2007, but they will surely be tied to a few candidates on both sides of the ball during this cycle.
The Cowboys’ 2020 coaching search was quite thin, however. The team only met with McCarthy and Marvin Lewis, satisfying the Rooney Rule — which has since been beefed up. Dallas must meet with two external minorities. It would be rather unusual to see Jones pass on a true search once again, but this franchise has operated differently when it comes to head coaches for several years now.
Deion Sanders has already discussed the job with Jones, and while the Colorado HC reaffirmed his commitment to the Big 12 program, he called the job “intriguing” in doing so. A Sanders extension at Colorado may be in the offing, as the Cowboys present potential leverage, but it does not appear the former Cowboys superstar is truly out of the running yet. More traditional candidates are coming, however, with Saleh being the first.