Darrell Bevell, Tommy Rees To Interview For Browns’ OC Job
Firing their offensive coordinator in back-to-back years, the Browns no longer seem committed to finding someone that will coax a Deshaun Watson bounce-back effort. The embattled quarterback has seen a setback in his Achilles rehab, and Browns brass had already stopped short of confirming the high-priced passer would start again.
With the prospect of a first-round quarterback firmly in play, the Browns are moving on their OC search. They have tight ends coach Tommy Rees in line to interview for Ken Dorsey‘s old job, cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot reports. Rees is expected to draw interest elsewhere, per The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, so the Browns will need to weigh outside interest with Rees’ qualifications to move up internally.
Two assistants bringing more experience will join Rees in interviewing for the position. Veteran Darrell Bevell will meet about the job, according to CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones. The former Seahawks OC is currently the Dolphins’ pass-game coordinator. Current Seahawks QBs coach Charles London will also meet with the Browns, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero tweets. Bevell will interview today, Cabot adds.
Rees also came up previously as someone who could follow Mike Vrabel, but Josh McDaniels — who has an extensive history with the HC candidate dating back to his linebacker days — is also in play there. Rees has more experience at the college level, having been the offensive coordinator at Notre Dame and Alabama. Rees, 32, landed the Fighting Irish gig at just 27. He would be the youngest active NFL OC if promoted. The ex-Nick Saban assistant joined the Browns’ staff last year.
Bevell, 55, has been in the NFL since 2000 and has held OC gigs with four teams (Vikings, Seahawks, Lions, Jaguars). At the controls when the Seahawks emerged as the NFL’s top team early in Russell Wilson‘s career, Bevell spent seven seasons as the play-caller under Pete Carroll. He later served as interim HC for both the Lions and Jaguars. Bevell has been at the helm under Mike McDaniel since 2022. With Tua Tagovailoa taking a substantial leap in that span, Bevell is again drawing interest.
London, 49, has also been a regular on the OC interview circuit in recent years. He met about the Titans and Commanders’ jobs in 2023, but no interviews took place last year. The Rams and Dolphins met with London in 2022. London has coached QBs with the Falcons, Titans and Seahawks since 2021.
Additionally, the Browns hired a new offensive line coach. Mike Bloomgren will come from the college ranks to take over for Andy Dickerson, whom the team fired along with Dorsey. Bloomgren, who spent the past seven seasons as Rice’s head coach, has been in the college game since 2011. He worked under David Shaw at Stanford for seven years. In the four years prior to that, however, Bloomgren was a Jets assistant. He did not rise beyond the quality control level at that point.
Raiders To Meet With Robert Saleh
Robert Saleh could have the 49ers’ defensive coordinator gig — what would be a second time in that role — in his back pocket, though time may be an issue for both parties. A second head coach interview request has since come Saleh’s way.
After the Jaguars requested a meeting, Saleh is set to meet with the Raiders, CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones reports. Saleh’s Jaguars interview is slated for Tuesday, and NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo adds Saleh’s Raiders meeting is scheduled for next week.
Las Vegas’ search party remains in the early stages. The team did secure a meeting with Lions OC Ben Johnson, who again resides as one of the top names on the market. Saleh joins Glenn and Chiefs DC Steve Spagnuolo as defense-oriented options to receive Raiders requests. This represents more momentum for Saleh, who has been working with the Packers in an advisory role for several weeks.
The Jets fired Saleh after the team started 2-3. No interim bounce occurred, as Jeff Ulbrich was unable to revive the team’s prospects in the way Woody Johnson hoped. The Jets’ first (and likely last) season with Aaron Rodgers as the full-time starter deteriorated following Saleh’s ouster. Saleh, 45, dealt with several Rodgers-generated hiccups — the minicamp absence among them — and saw his HC stint largely defined by Zach Wilson‘s struggles in the three years prior.
Though, Saleh improved the Jets’ defense significantly in that span. After New York ranked last across the board defensively in 2021, Saleh and Ulbrich vaulted the unit to fourth in 2022. It remained a top-five total defense in both 2023 and ’24. Ulbrich remains in play for the Jets’ full-time HC post, though he is not considered the favorite for a team starting over in the front office as well. In the meantime, Saleh will be set to tell some interesting stories to two AFC suitors. More DC interest stands to emerge if he does not land either top job.
Via PFR’s Head Coaching Search Tracker, here is how the Raiders’ hunt looks on Day 2 post-Antonio Pierce:
- Bill Belichick, head coach (North Carolina): Contacted about job
- Brian Flores, defensive coordinator (Vikings): Mentioned as candidate
- Aaron Glenn, defensive coordinator (Lions): Interview requested
- Ben Johnson, offensive coordinator (Lions): To interview 1/10
- Todd Monken, offensive coordinator (Ravens): Interview requested
- Robert Saleh, former head coach (Jets): To interview
- Steve Spagnuolo, defensive coordinator (Chiefs): Interview requested
- Mike Vrabel, former head coach (Titans): Rumored candidate
Seahawks To Meet With Thomas Brown, Hank Fraley For OC Job
A year ago, the Seahawks gave Shane Waldron permission to pursue other jobs. This led to Waldron beating out Thomas Brown for the Bears’ OC job. But Brown was left standing by season’s end, moving up two rungs on the ladder after Waldron’s OC ouster.
With the Bears likely moving away from their interim HC, Brown is now in play for the Seahawks’ job. The two-time OC will interview for the Seahawks’ play-calling post, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero reports. Hank Fraley, the Lions’ offensive line coach, will as well, per Pelissero.
The Seahawks moved on from Ryan Grubb after one year. Mike Macdonald had gone off the board with Grubb, who had been set to become Alabama’s OC, but backtracked quickly. The Seattle HC has labeled this a prime job, citing the team’s young talent. The Seahawks are also tentatively expected to bring back Geno Smith for a fourth season as the starting QB, though the team’s long-term plan at the game’s premier position is unsettled. Smith is going into a contract year.
Fraley’s interview is on tap for Friday, and he should have some momentum. Although O-line coaches do not make a habit of climbs to OC roles, Fraley is coaching what has been one of the NFL’s best position groups for a while. He has overseen Detroit’s O-line since 2020, guiding the likes of Penei Sewell and Frank Ragnow to Pro Bowls and helping Graham Glasgow rebound from an inconsistent Broncos tenure to reclaim his place as a starter. Fraley’s unit has been a primary driver of Jared Goff‘s resurgence. A former NFL O-lineman, Fraley has been in Detroit since the 2018 season, beginning as assistant O-line coach before being elevated.
As this is Fraley’s first OC interview, Brown has been on the circuit for a bit — to the point he has received HC meetings. The Panthers hired Brown as their OC in 2023, and he finished out a woeful season as the team’s OC. Amid a collapse that initially stemmed from a defensive gaffe in Washington, the Bears won just one of their final 11 games. Although this can partially be pinned on Brown after he replaced Matt Eberflus, the team acknowledges the tough spot its interim HC/play-caller handled. The Bears began the season with Brown as their pass-game coordinator, but Waldron’s firing led to two bumps during a 5-12 season.
Brown, 38, and Macdonald were both on the Georgia staff in 2011, as ESPN.com’s Brady Henderson notes. Brown will meet with the Seahawks on Saturday, SI.com’s Albert Breer tweets. A Bears separation would mean a fourth team in four years for Brown, who jumped from Los Angeles to Charlotte to Chicago from 2022-24.
Considering he is a long shot to be retained in Chicago, this Seattle meeting will be pivotal for the former Sean McVay assistant’s path. Brown’s past with Waldron — in both Los Angeles and Chicago — is rather interesting as well, as it could mean a return to a familiar scheme for Smith.
Lou Anarumo, Steve Wilks Expected To Interview For Colts’ DC Job
Highly regarded in his Bengals DC post heading into this season, Lou Anarumo saw his pieces unravel during a disastrous slate for the unit. As a result, a firing took place. But the veteran defensive leader might not be out of work long.
One of the other teams with an early DC vacancy has contacted him. The Colts want to meet with Anarumo to replace Gus Bradley, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero tweets. The Colts also have Steve Wilks on their radar. Both candidates will be among those expected to interview, with the meetings on tap for next week.
The Colts booted Bradley after three seasons; Anarumo lasted six in that chair with the Bengals. The former Dolphins assistant had interviewed for multiple HC jobs during his time in Cincinnati, meeting with the Cardinals in 2023 and Giants in 2022. Anarumo was not a popular HC candidate, however, as those were the only two known meetings to have taken place. But the veteran assistant proved valuable for the Bengals during their run of back-to-back AFC championship game appearances.
Anarumo, 58, devised a sound plan to cool off a then-elite Chiefs offense to help the Bengals complete a comeback that produced the franchise’s first Super Bowl berth in 33 years. The team could not stave off a gimpy Patrick Mahomes the following January, but that 2022 Cincy unit ranked sixth in scoring defense — by far the team’s best finish under Anarumo. Even though Anarumo’s unit sank to 25th this season, it would stand to reason other DC-needy teams — once they choose HCs — will be interested in meeting with the veteran coordinator.
Wilks did not coach in the NFL this season, but his 2023 work as the 49ers’ DC aged fairly well after San Francisco opted for another change on that side of the ball this week. San Francisco plummeted from third to 29th in scoring defense this season. While the team’s defense showed cracks late in the 2023 season — culminating in a walk-off Chiefs TD to seal Super Bowl LVIII — Wilks’ unit still allowed just one touchdown drive beyond 16 yards that night.
Wilks also impressed as the Panthers’ interim coach in 2022, rallying the team to a 6-6 finish after a 1-4 start. He still lost out to ex-Colts HC Frank Reich in 2023, with Carolina intent on hiring an offense-oriented candidate. That season went much better than his 2018 one-off as Cardinals HC, which produced a discrimination lawsuit — the Brian Flores-led measure — that is ongoing.
Kliff Kingsbury Receives HC Interview Requests From Bears, Saints
It seemed inevitable Kliff Kingsbury would move onto this year’s HC carousel. As Jayden Daniels appears weeks from an Offensive Rookie of the Year honor, the Commanders’ play-caller indeed will be summoned for interviews.
A Wednesday report pegged at least four teams as showing interest in Kingsbury for the position, and Bovada’s Josina Anderson reports the Bears and Saints have submitted official request to meet with him.
[RELATED: 2025 NFL Head Coaching Search Tracker]
A Bears meeting has been expected for a bit, and it will be rather interesting given the parties’ 2024 connection. The Bears met with Kingsbury about their OC job last year, only to hire Shane Waldron. The Kingsbury meeting also was interpreted as more fact-finding mission about Caleb Williams — whom Kingsbury coached during a 2023 stopover at USC — than true interview for the then-vacant coordinator post. Kingsbury’s stock has climbed since that meeting, and he will meet with Bears brass about their top coaching post.
The Saints have no ties to Kingsbury, which separates his candidacy from the likes of Aaron Glenn or Joe Brady, and they do not have a young quarterback like the HC-needy Bears or Jaguars do. The Saints’ perennially poor cap position also could be an issue for high-end HC candidates. Jacksonville has come up as a stealth Kingsbury suitor, and the AFC South team’s interest may become official soon. But New Orleans is hoping to speak with Kingsbury, 45, soon. Derek Carr is in line to come back for his age-34 season, and the team would be interested in hearing how the middling passer can launch a late-career surge.
While Bo Nix‘s strong season had threatened Daniels’ grip on the Offensive Rookie of the Year award for a stretch, the No. 2 overall pick closed the show in a manner that left little doubt about the outcome. The 2023 Heisman winner powered a rebuilding Commanders team to a 12-5 record, combining 3,568 passing yards with 891 on the ground. Daniels finished with 31 total touchdowns (six rushing) and placed fourth in regular-season QBR.
Daniels’ rapid ascent will give Kingsbury tremendous momentum, to the point the former Cardinals HC — fired months after signing an Arizona extension — could potentially be patient in Ben Johnson fashion. But Kingsbury’s Williams tie could prove important re: the Chicago job soon.
Raiders Interested In Bill Belichick; North Carolina HC Not Planning NFL Return
11:27pm: This newfound interest notwithstanding, Belichick is prepared to pass. The North Carolina leader is not interested in coming back to the NFL, The Athletic’s Diann Russini reports. Belichick is attempting to focus on recruiting presently, with Russini adding the HC icon’s “sole focus” is building the Tar Heels’ program. This may still be a coaching subplot to follow, but as of now, it does not look like Belichick will be aggressively pursuing a quick Chapel Hill exit.
11:10am: While it looked like Bill Belichick made a preemptive move to pass on the 2025 HC carousel, teams are interested in seeing if he would hop back on for what would be a second straight year. Belichick took the North Carolina top job last month, but he is now being connected to NFL vacancies once again.
The Raiders are among them, according to NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero, who reports Tom Brady — who is playing a central role in the Las Vegas HC search — recently contacted his former coach to see about a reunion. A notable buyout number exists in Belichick’s Tar Heels contract, but it would not be a dealbreaker for an NFL team considering what Belichick was earning with the Patriots. At least one other team has inquired as well.
Before June 1, it would cost an NFL team $10MM in a buyout scenario with the ACC school. After that date, the buyout drops to $1MM. The $10MM payment would be due within 180 days, The Athletic’s Tashan Reed adds. This was essentially designed to ensure a Belichick commitment this year, and at his age (73 in April), it is unrealistic to expect too many more connections to NFL jobs beyond this year. That made his Tar Heels decision so surprising, considering the eight-time Super Bowl winner (counting two DC rings) has only coached in the NFL prior to the December decision.
Some at North Carolina are concerned about the buyout scenario, per CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones, who indicates that $10MM figure has not bothered NFL folk. Belichick was earning more than $20MM per year with the Patriots. The North Carolina gig now gives Belichick a true safety school, so to speak, as it would stand to reason he would be interested in an NFL opportunity — were it to come along after a befuddling 2024.
The Raiders fired Antonio Pierce on Tuesday, and veteran NFL insider Josina Anderson reported part of the reason for the delay pertained to two unnamed candidates’ availability. It is possible a feeler to Belichick indicated intrigue, though no interview is scheduled as of yet. The Raiders have thus far sent invites to Aaron Glenn and Ben Johnson, with ex-Belichick assistant Brian Flores also on the radar. Considering Belichick’s past with Josh McDaniels, this would certainly be an interesting pursuit.
Indeed, Pelissero adds Brady spoke with Belichick while the Raiders were determining Pierce’s future. It would stand to reason the quarterback-turned-announcer/minority owner’s former boss gave an indication he was interested. Mark Davis turning back to the Patriot Way would be strange given how quickly the McDaniels-Dave Ziegler regime unraveled. But Davis has given Brady considerable authority, certainly signaling he is fine with certain members of the former dynasty.
The college game has changed substantially this decade, with the NIL landscape and transfer portal reshaping all sports — football chief among them. Belichick signing on during this time always made for a strange fit, even with his extensive background running an NFL team. Belichick, however, was believed to be studying the college game as he determined potential NFL fits — notably doing so with McDaniels. No major interest was believed to have come the legendary coach’s way from the league, after the Falcons interviewed him twice last year — being the only team to meet with him about a top job — only to pass on him for Raheem Morris. Belichick was then reported to be “disgusted” with the NFL, setting his sights on the college game.
While the other NFL Belichick suitors are not known, Pelissero mentions the Jaguars as a potential fit. Belichick has a relationship with Tony Khan, the son of Jaguars owner Shad Khan, and was loosely tied to that job earlier this season. A Belichick-Trent Baalke partnership was believed to be a non-starter, but the Jags may well be open to an arrangement in which Baalke slides to a different role in the organization after a four-year run as GM. Jacksonville, however, is also highly interested in Johnson.
The Jets also came up just before Belichick’s Tar Heels commitment. Former Belichick Browns coworker Mike Tannenbaum attempted to set up a meeting between Belichick and ex-rival Woody Johnson. The meeting did not occur. While not much love has been lost between Belichick and his late-1990s employer, now that the coach may be back in play in the NFL a New York meeting would at least be on the radar.
Given how high Davis has been on Brady’s input since his official arrival as a part-owner, the new organizational voice stumping for Belichick would make this a situation to closely monitor. While it would put North Carolina in a bad spot, Belichick saw how other teams viewed him during the 2024 offseason, as the age issue proved significant. This could be his last chance at an NFL gig, so it would be logical if this Raiders avenue would generate appeal.
2025 NFL General Manager Search Tracker
The Titans and Raiders again became part of a GM carousel in the 2020s. Tennessee canned its front office boss after two seasons, while Las Vegas moved on after one. These two joined the Jets, and after two-plus offseason weeks, the Jaguars followed suit by firing Trent Baalke. With the Titans, Raiders and Jets landing on GMs, the Jags are the only team left searching. Here is how the GM market looks:
Updated 2-21-25 (4:00pm CT)
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Chad Alexander, assistant general manager (Chargers): Interviewed 2/13
- Brandon Brown, assistant general manager (Giants): Interviewed 2/13; strong contender?
- Trey Brown, senior personnel executive (Bengals): Interviewed 2/12
- Ian Cunningham, assistant general manager (Bears): Conducted second interview 2/19
- James Gladstone, scouting director (Rams): Hired
- Terrance Gray, vice president of player personnel (Bills): Interviewed 2/12
- Mike Greenberg, assistant general manager (Buccaneers): Declined interview
- Champ Kelly, assistant general manager (Raiders): Interviewed 2/14
- Jon Robinson, former general manager (Titans): One of top candidates?; Interviewed 2/13
- Jon-Eric Sullivan, vice president of player personnel (Packers): Conducted second interview 2/20
- Ethan Waugh, interim general manager (Jaguars): Strong candidate?; Interviewed 2/20
- Josh Williams, director of scouting and football operations (49ers): Conducted second interview 2/19
Las Vegas Raiders
- Chad Alexander, assistant general manager (Chargers): Interviewed; to conduct second interview 1/20
- Brandon Brown, assistant general manager (Giants): Interviewed; to conduct second interview 1/20
- Lance Newmark, assistant general manager (Commanders): Potential frontrunner?; interviewed 1/19
- John Spytek, assistant general manager (Buccaneers): To interview; hired
- Jon-Eric Sullivan, director of player personnel (Packers): Interview requested
- Sheldon White, director of pro scouting (Steelers): Interview requested
New York Jets
- Mike Borgonzi, assistant general manager (Chiefs): Interviewed 1/8; hired by Titans
- Trey Brown, senior personnel executive (Bengals): Conducted second interview 1/23
- Thomas Dimitroff, former general manager (Falcons): Interviewed 12/16
- Ray Farmer, senior personnel executive (Rams): Interviewed 1/9
- Brian Gaine, assistant general manager (Bills): Interviewed 1/14
- Mike Greenberg, assistant general manager (Buccaneers): Interviewed 1/10
- Ryan Grigson, senior vice president of player personnel (Vikings): Interviewed 1/11
- Alec Halaby, assistant general manager (Eagles): Interviewed 1/8
- Darren Mougey, assistant general manager (Broncos): Hired
- Jim Nagy, Senior Bowl director: Interviewed 12/19
- Lance Newmark, assistant general manager (Commanders): Conducted second interview 1/21; hire expected; still a candidate
- Louis Riddick, former director of pro personnel (Eagles): Interviewed 1/2
- Jon Robinson, former general manager (Titans): Interviewed 12/17
- Phil Savage, interim general manager (Jets): Interviewed
- Chris Spielman, special assistant to president/CEO (Lions): Interviewed 1/11
- Jon-Eric Sullivan, director of player personnel (Packers): Interviewed 1/14
Tennessee Titans
- Matt Berry, senior director of player personnel (Seahawks): Interviewed 1/11
- Mike Borgonzi, assistant general manager (Chiefs): Hired
- Ian Cunningham, assistant general manager (Bears): Conducted second interview 1/15
- Thomas Dimitroff, former general manager (Falcons): Interviewed 1/10
- Ed Dodds, assistant general manager (Colts): Conducted second interview 1/14
- Terrance Gray, vice president of player personnel (Bills): Conducted second interview 1/14
- Catherine Hickman, assistant general manager (Browns): Interviewed 1/11
- Reggie McKenzie, senior personnel executive (Dolphins): Interviewed 1/10
- John Spytek, assistant general manager (Buccaneers): Conducted second interview 1/16
- Jon-Eric Sullivan, director of player personnel (Packers): Conducted second interview 1/16
Trent Baalke Caused Doug Pederson Hesitation In 2022; Jaguars GM To Deter HC Candidates?
JANUARY 8: At least one candidate for the Jaguars’ gig plans to propose a personnel addition as part of the interview process, CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones reports (video link). Jones adds another candidate doubts such a request will be possible given Baalke’s continued presence. Given Khan’s apparent willingness to make a notable addition in the front office (and as Jones notes, the owner’s plan to be heavily involved in this year’s HC search), it will be interesting to see how Baalke’s Jacksonville outlook plays out over the coming weeks.
JANUARY 7: Trent Baalke‘s pattern of perseverance may well continue in Jacksonville. Despite many expecting the Jaguars to clean house and rumors about a potential in-season firing coming out, their GM remains following Doug Pederson‘s Black Monday firing. This has been a rather surprising development, but the former 49ers front office boss has been able to outlast several HCs during his career.
Baalke climbed the ladder in San Francisco, eventually moving to GM alongside Jim Harbaugh in 2011. The Scot McCloughan successor was able to hire two more coaches — Jim Tomsula, Chip Kelly — before being let go after a 2-14 2016 season. The Jags brought in Baalke in 2020, with then-GM Dave Caldwell making him a chief lieutenant as director of player personnel. Baalke then rose to interim GM following Caldwell’s ouster, before being hired as full-time GM during the Urban Meyer year. Meyer and Pederson have come and gone, yet the GM remains.
While Shad Khan did not fully commit to Baalke staying, SI.com’s Albert Breer notes some coaching candidates will not entertain the notion of accepting a Jags HC offer if Baalke is attached (video link). This reminds of 2022, when we heard similar vibes out of Jacksonville. A strong candidate to return to Jacksonville as HC, Byron Leftwich did not want to work with Baalke and instead sought his own GM. Pederson later expressed hesitancy but agreed to work with the two-time GM, Breer adds.
Past Jags consideration toward adding an executive vice president-level exec to potentially oversee Baalke did not produce a hire, but Khan said Monday he would both be open to it and that the team needed more executive talent in its “thin” front office. This tenuous situation could lead to a third GM change during this year’s cycle, but for now, the resilient Jacksonville boss is still in power. He has been with the Jags through one- and two-win seasons and now a four-win campaign, albeit with two 9-8 slates in between.
Baalke and Harbaugh’s power struggle led the latter to Michigan, producing woeful seasons under Tomsula and Kelly, and the Baalke-Pederson fit eventually deteriorated. Breer describes the partnership falling apart at the end of its run; we heard in September friction had mounted between the Jags’ HC and GM. Baalke wanted more staff changes than Pederson was willing to greenlight, namely an OC change. As he did in Philadelphia, Pederson prevented Press Taylor from being fired. Taylor served as the Jags’ primary play-caller in 2023 and ’24.
The Jags are interested in two candidates that can be rather choosey, in Ben Johnson and Mike Vrabel. Johnson has stepped off two HC carousels since 2023 and may only be prepared to meet with the Bears and Patriots during this year’s cycle. Vrabel has been tied to wanting former Titans interim GM Ryan Cowden to join him, though it is far from certain if that would be mandatory. The Jaguars have not sent an interview request to Vrabel, but Johnson and a host of others received them.
Baalke greenlit the three most lucrative contracts in Jags history last year — for Trevor Lawrence, Josh Hines-Allen and Tyson Campbell — but saw the team struggle even when the QB was on the field. The Jags did lose 10 one-score games, and Lawrence’s presence stands to attract interest. Baalke’s, however, may have the opposite effect. This could still be a looming vacancy to monitor, should the Jaguars interview promising candidates that would want a new GM in place.
Coaching Rumors: Seahawks, Vrabel, Getsy, Saints, Slowik, Harbaugh
The Seahawks are not set to clean house on offense, but they are not considering anyone from Ryan Grubb‘s staff to be their next OC after making Grubb an one-and-done. Mike Macdonald confirmed as much (via the Seattle Times’ Bob Condotta), while praising the team’s young core in hyping up the job. Although the Seahawks are only preparing to look outside the organization for help, Macdonald added (via ESPN.com’s Brady Henderson) play-calling experience will not be required. This is not too uncommon, as teams regularly hire quarterbacks coaches or pass-game coordinators to be OCs. Those roles generally do not feature play-calling duties. The team has already put in interview requests, per Macdonald, though no names have surfaced yet. Additionally, Macdonald said (via Condotta) the new hire, as could be expected, will not be forced to retain all of Grubb’s staff. More changes should be expected.
Here is the latest from the coaching ranks:
- Mike Vrabel looks to have a much better chance of landing a job this year compared to 2024, though he did interview with a few teams following his surprising Titans ouster. One of those meetings came with the Panthers, who were coming off a 2-15 season. As Vrabel did not view himself as a strong candidate to land the Falcons’ job, The Athletic’s Zack Rosenblatt notes that the then-recently fired coach was not interested in the Carolina position (subscription required). David Tepper‘s presence had hurt the perception of the Panthers’ job at that point, as the owner had been accused of meddling in personnel matters — during a second straight season in which he fired a head coach — before throwing a drink on a fan during a late-season game in 2023. Dave Canales took over and is set to begin a second offseason in charge, while Vrabel is viewed as the Patriots’ lead candidate.
- The Saints do not have as many HC candidates compared to the Bears and Jets, but they do not appear interested in expanding right now. Aaron Glenn, Kellen Moore, Joe Brady, Anthony Weaver, Darren Rizzi, Mike Kafka and Vrabel comprise New Orleans’ current list, and ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler views this as the full group for the foreseeable future.
- Bobby Slowik appeared on interview lists last year, but the Texans OC’s second season has not gone as well. Only one team, the Jets, has contacted Slowik about an HC interview this year. As the Texans prepare for their playoff matchup with the Chargers, SI.com’s Albert Breer does not tab Slowik as automatic to return for a third season. The former 49ers assistant, after a C.J. Stroud sophomore slump, will likely need to present a plan to DeMeco Ryans to keep the gig — even after the team extended its play-caller last January. That deal came with a significant raise, but Houston’s offense dropped from 12th to 22nd in yardage and 13th to 19th in points.
- Weeks after Robert Saleh resurfaced with longtime friend Matt LaFleur‘s Packers, the NFC North team rehired one of its former assistants for a similar role. After being canned as Raiders OC, Luke Getsy is helping out the Packers as an advisor, per the Chicago Sun-Times’ Patrick Finley. Getsy had been working remotely for a few weeks. While Saleh has helped Green Bay’s offense with preparation, Getsy — a former Packers QBs coach before his two OC stints elsewhere — had been helping the defense.
- Jim Harbaugh signed a five-year deal worth $16MM per season last January, and his latest quick-turnaround effort brought additional compensation. The first-year Chargers HC collected a $1MM bonus for guiding the team to the playoffs, ESPN’s Adam Schefter notes.
Jaguars Preparing Aggressive Ben Johnson Pursuit; Kliff Kingsbury On Radar?
1:38pm: Johnson will take the Jaguars’ meeting, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reports. Also confirming Johnson will follow through with Bears and Patriots meetings, Russini adds Johnson’s Jags summit will occur during the Lions’ bye week. Johnson has since received a Raiders interview request, but no word has emerged he will take that interview. The Saints and Jets have not requested interviews.
9:05am: The Jaguars have sent out an interview request for Lions OC Ben Johnson. It is not yet known if the three-year Detroit play-caller will take the meeting; as of now, he has been tied to the Bears and Patriots’ HC openings. But the Jags do intend to make an aggressive play here.
Despite firing an offense-oriented HC (Doug Pederson) on Black Monday, Jacksonville is believed to be “all in” on Johnson, Sportskeeda.com’s Tony Pauline notes. Johnson has been notoriously selective, and that should be expected to continue. After all, the Lions’ 15-2 season will keep the 38-year-old OC in demand despite his having jumped off the 2023 and ’24 HC carousels early.
Joe Brady, Liam Coen, Kellen Moore and Todd Monken join Johnson among offense-oriented candidates on the Jags’ radar. Although no interview request has come out, Pauline adds Commanders OC Kliff Kingsbury is a name to monitor here. The former Cardinals HC said he is interested in returning to a top job, even though his first such chance ended badly. Jayden Daniels‘ presence would stand to allow Kingsbury to be choosey as well.
No Kingsbury interviews are on any team’s docket, and no team has requested one yet. That adds some mystery here, though the Bears — after meeting with Caleb Williams‘ 2023 QBs coach at USC for their OC position last year — are expected to huddle up with him once again at some point. Kingsbury elevating Trevor Lawrence would be the Jags’ hope here, as that will be perhaps the franchise’s chief aim after a 4-13 season.
One matter that could stand in the way of the Jags adding a hotshot offense-based candidate, Trent Baalke‘s status continues to be a talking point around the league. A Tuesday report indicated certain candidates would steer clear of the Jacksonville job because Baalke was retained, but Pauline indicates the fifth-year Jags GM might not be long for the position. Some around the NFL view Baalke’s retention as a way for Shad Khan to receive assistance in hiring the next HC and then see the embattled GM kick himself to another role within the organization.
GMs have transitioned to other jobs within buildings before, as Rich McKay and John Elway‘s transitions in the not-so-distant past remind. Baalke, 60, has also shown an ability to stick around when many expected an ouster. Baalke has been GM (of the 49ers and Jaguars) during the tenures of five HCs. That number reaching six should not be ruled out, but a scenario in which Baalke changes jobs while another GM is hired appears on the radar, at least.
That would stand to help the Jags with a Johnson pursuit, as a candidate with options certainly may express reservations about being tied to an in-house GM. For now, that would remain the case. But a Jags aggressive pursuit of the Lions’ OC probably includes flexibility in the GM role.