Dolphins Likely To Start Tyler Huntley In Week 18; Tua Tagovailoa’s Status For Playoffs Uncertain
JANUARY 5: Offering further context on Tagovailoa’s injury, Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network reports that the passer’s hip muscle could tear further if he continues playing, which is why he has not been medically cleared (video link). As such, even if the Dolphins secure the AFC’s final playoff spot today, it is uncertain whether their QB1 would be under center in the wildcard round.
JANUARY 3: Mike McDaniel poured cold water on any Dolphins hopes of having Tua Tagovailoa available for Week 18. Miami’s starting quarterback is unlikely to play against the Jets on Sunday.
A second straight Tyler Huntley start is now expected, ESPN.com’s Marcell Louis-Jacques tweets. This will deal a blow to the Dolphins’ chances of making a third consecutive playoff berth, though the team would need both a win and a Broncos loss to a Chiefs team resting starters to qualify. Sunday will be Huntley’s fifth start this season; the Dolphins are 2-2 with their backup at the wheel.
Tagovailoa is battling a hip injury, one that kept him out of Miami’s Week 17 game in Cleveland. The fifth-year QB is in line to miss his sixth game of the season, with the first four coming because of the concussion the talented passer suffered in Week 2. The Dolphins enter their regular-season finale at 8-8, with their quarterback’s injury trouble heavily factoring into that .500 record. This would mark the second time in three seasons Tagovailoa will have failed to finish a season; the former No. 5 overall pick’s 2022 concussion issues sidelined him to close out that campaign.
McDaniel described Tua’s injury as a “unique muscle issue,” rather than a bruise, via the South Florida Sun Sentinel’s David Furones. Surgery is not in play, McDaniel added (via the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson), as this is rather a rest-and-rehab situation. Even so, it is still notable the former No. 5 overall pick could be shut down before season’s end. Tagovailoa dealt with injuries prior to his concussion-marred 2022 season, missing time in 2020 and ’21 — after he came into the league with a hip injury.
The dislocated hip Tagovailoa sustained in November 2019 affected the two-year Alabama starter’s draft stock, though Joe Burrow‘s dominant 2019 had plenty to do with where the 2020 draft’s QB prospects went. McDaniel has said this issue is unrelated to the college setback, which also involved a posterior wall fracture. That said, the Dolphins committed to Tagovailoa — via a four-year, $212.4MM extension — this summer. That preceded another concerning season on the injury front.
Between another concussion and another hip injury, Tagovailoa will enter the offseason with more doubts about his long-term stability. The southpaw QB has played well when healthy, leading the NFL in QBR in 2022 and pacing the league in passing yards (4,624) last season. Injuries have unfortunately been a significant part of Tua’s NFL career, and until he can show sustained health, questions in this area will persist.
Signed off the Ravens’ practice squad following Tagovailoa’s September concussion, Huntley has also needed an IR stint this season. The former Lamar Jackson Baltimore backup is a free agent at season’s end, but Miami wants to keep him around beyond that point. If the Broncos slip up against Chiefs backups Sunday, it will be Huntley playing the lead role in determining who the Bills’ first-round opponent will be. A Dolphins-Bills wild-card encounter would bring familiar territory, as a Tua-less Miami squad trekked to Buffalo with Skylar Thompson at the helm two years ago. Based on the information we have, Tagovailoa would be far from certain to play against the Bills if the Dolphins were to qualify this time around.
Cowboys Not Looking At Other HC Candidates; Mike McCarthy In Play To Stay
JANUARY 5: Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports hears form “Dallas sources” that McCarthy will receive a new contract — perhaps a four-year pact as opposed to a five-year accord — to remain with the Cowboys. To be clear, no one is willing to confirm as much because no contract talks have taken place at this point. Still, with McCarthy reportedly a viable candidate for other jobs, Dallas brass may not want to let him get away, and McCarthy himself loves the Dallas area and prizes his relationship with Prescott.
JANUARY 3: McCarthy’s contract will expire Jan. 14, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero note. This would mean the Cowboys could block McCarthy from interviewing elsewhere between season’s end and that date. Reminding of the Cowboys’ two offseasons in which Garrett was on an expiring deal, the team will have barely week between season’s end and that expiration date to negotiate an extension without the threat of other teams looming.
While the Cowboys have not closed the door on McCarthy staying, Rapoport and Pelissero indicate no substantive extension talks have taken place. With teams not being able to meet in-person with candidates until after the divisional round, McCarthy would not run the risk of being frozen out of this coaching cycle by this contract timeline. He should be expected to draw HC interest elsewhere, Rapoport adds.
JANUARY 2: Coming off a 41-7 loss to an Eagles team missing Jalen Hurts, the Cowboys saw their late-season momentum blunted. Mike McCarthy‘s contract covers one more game, the team’s season-ender against Washington. Will that be it for him in Dallas?
The Cowboys took the highly unusual step of letting McCarthy coach out his contract, driving numerous headlines about his future and how the organization plans to replace him. But some buzz about McCarthy receiving a second Cowboys contract has surfaced in recent weeks. At least, no definitive indication the team will fire McCarthy has emerged.
[RELATED: Jones Does Not Believe McCarthy’s Contract Affected Season]
McCarthy and his assistants are on expiring deals, which would make for a cleaner transition. Waiting until season’s end to make a call, the Cowboys are not tipping their hand. They plan to meet with their fifth-year HC next week, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com notes. McCarthy’s contract makes this one of the stranger situations over the past several coaching carousels, however.
Because McCarthy will have coached throughout a five-year deal, he will be free to explore other opportunities. Teams could interview the former Super Bowl-winning leader immediately, as only coaches under contract would need to wait until divisional-round week. Some around the league believe McCarthy has a “small” chance to stay in Dallas, per Fowler. While that is not especially optimistic, it also represents an improvement based on where the embattled HC’s chances were when Dak Prescott sustained a season-ending injury. Prescott has since provided a strong endorsement for McCarthy.
Third-chance HCs are not too common anymore. No active coaches are on their third try, though we do not have to too far back to find leaders who match that description. Jon Gruden received two shots with the Raiders, with his Buccaneers stay sandwiched in between, while Pete Carroll wrapped a third NFL HC stint last season and John Fox did so within the past decade. The Jets also are interviewing Ron Rivera about what would be a third opportunity, while Rex Ryan may be in the mix for a third chance himself. McCarthy being an active coach would seemingly boost his chances here, even if he might not be the first choice anywhere.
A candidate pool not viewed as especially deep would work in McCarthy’s favor in Dallas and potentially elsewhere. The weak candidate crop will affect McCarthy’s future in Dallas, per Fowler, who adds the coach could look at Chicago soon. Some around the league view this the Bears’ opening as one that would appeal to McCarthy, who is now 61. This is not to definitively say the Bears would be interested, but a veteran offensive mind would stand to be intrigued by the Chicago opening due to Caleb Williams‘ presence.
While McCarthy is 7-9 this season, he is 49-34 in Dallas. Jerry Jones cited the wild-card letdown against the Packers last season as why McCarthy did not receive an extension on the back of his three straight 12-win seasons. That certainly could push McCarthy to explore other options, should any arise, but Jason Garrett‘s tenure also shows Jones has been willing to stick with an unpopular coach for an extended period. Garrett coached the Cowboys for 9 1/2 seasons. McCarthy will need another contract soon if Jones has designs on him staying for a sixth.
Jaguars Not Certain To Fire Doug Pederson, Trent Baalke?
JANUARY 4: It still remains to be seen if one or both members of the Pederson-Baalke pairing will be let go soon, but a change in the front office could be needed if Khan targets a notable coaching move. Schultz reports many around the league believe firing Baalke will be a requirement for the top HC candidates to consider the Jacksonville gig, provided it becomes available. The Jaguars will remain one of the teams worth watching closely once the regular season ends.
JANUARY 3: One of the NFL’s two active second-chance GMs has overseen one of the NFL’s most disappointing teams. After authorizing the three most lucrative extensions in Jaguars history (for Trevor Lawrence, Josh Hines-Allen and Tyson Campbell), Trent Baalke has seen the team tumble to a 4-12 record.
It would seem likely Doug Pederson is heading into his final game as Jags HC, based on the unraveling that has taken place since December 2023, but Shad Khan has not made any clear indications about which way he is leaning. Many around the NFL expect Pederson to be fired, per ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler, but the former Super Bowl-winning HC may have a sliver of hope to stay.
Pederson has been “projecting confidence,” according to some in the NFL, Fowler adds. With the Jags following back-to-back 9-8 seasons with a campaign that can max out at just five wins, it would be difficult to overstate how hot Pederson’s seat would be if Khan gave him another chance.
Then again, Khan kept Gus Bradley on for a fourth season after he had strung together three straight years with at least 11 losses. Doug Marrone also coached four full seasons, having finished with double-digit losses in three of those. By that standard, firing Pederson would represent a quick hook. Then again, more was expected from Lawrence-centered Pederson teams — especially over the past two seasons.
The longtime Jags owner said before the season this year’s team carried the most talented roster in franchise history. Even in the moment, that appeared to significantly underrate the franchise’s late-1990s rosters, but Khan making that comment only to see what has transpired points to Pederson being days away from an ouster. Baalke is undoubtedly on thin ice, too, though he has survived after being at risk of an in-season dismissal. Khan had projected confidence in his power duo, doing so around the same time John Mara professed support for his. Both the Jags and Giants have moved toward the No. 1 overall pick in the weeks since.
Promoted to GM during Urban Meyer‘s disastrous year in charge, Baalke was given the green light to hire Pederson in 2022. In mid-December, Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz predicted the Jags would stay the course with Baalke. Considering Baalke has been in Jacksonville for both the franchise’s recent No. 1 overall picks — which featured a Travon Walker-over-Aidan Hutchinson call — it would be somewhat surprising if Khan did not clear the decks in hopes of hiring a new regime to better maximize his roster.
Most around the NFL expect Baalke to be canned, but Fowler adds some league personnel are pointing to the former 49ers GM’s resiliency in reminding not to assume this is a lock. Baalke memorably won a power struggle with Jim Harbaugh, leading the latter to Michigan after the 2014 season. The 49ers’ fortunes significantly worsened in the two years Baalke operated without Harbaugh, and the GM was fired after the ’16 campaign. This Jags effort has not provided the kind of bounce-back offering Khan hoped for when appointing Baalke to the GM post.
The relationship between Baalke and Pederson was believed to be strained as early as September, and a subsequent report had Baalke urging Pederson to fire OC Press Taylor — a Pederson lieutenant in Philadelphia and Jacksonville — after last season. Pederson kept Taylor on and continued with him calling plays. That decision has played a role in the Jags’ descent, though other factors — Lawrence’s injuries among them — have been part of this tumble as well. Will Sunday be it for Pederson and Baalke in Jacksonville or will one of them continue on without the other?
Jets Interview Mike Vrabel For HC Job
Rumored to have Mike Vrabel high on their list of prospective head coaches, the Jets have an important meeting set up for today. They will meet with the former Titans HC at their facility, The Athletic’s Zack Rosenblatt reports.
Vrabel’s consulting contract with the Browns expired this week, giving him the ability to meet with teams at any point moving forward. Candidates who are still tied to teams are not yet permitted to conduct interviews — either virtually or onsite. Vrabel can as a coaching free agent, and he will take advantage of that status.
[RELATED: Jeff Ulbrich Set For Full-Time HC Interview]
Vrabel, 49, has become expectedly popular on what is considered to be a thinner coaching carousel. A mid-December report tabbed him as the Jets’ preferred candidate. Since, he has been tied to the Patriots, Raiders and Saints. While the New England job is believed to be one he would strongly consider, the Pats are not committed to making Jerod Mayo a one-and-done. The Raiders have also not committed to firing Antonio Pierce, but Vrabel’s past with Tom Brady — the broadcaster/minority owner who is expected to play a lead role in the AFC West team’s offseason — has tripped alarms across the league regarding a potential fit.
The Browns recruited Vrabel to help out this season, as both sides learned from the other party’s differing style. Vrabel aided the analytically geared organization both in practice and on gamedays, with Rosenblatt indicating the former Titans HC began traveling to Browns road games around the midseason point. Vrabel worked with both Cleveland’s tight ends and offensive line, transitioning to the latter area during the year. Browns brass also picked Vrabel’s brain regarding personnel.
Rumors about the Jets needing to overpay to obtain a high-end HC candidate have surfaced. Woody Johnson‘s meddling became perhaps their defining 2024 story. The owner made his voice known in personnel matters regularly, from firing Robert Saleh without consulting GM Joe Douglas, to interceding on trades and free agency matters. Madden-based decisions involving his teenage sons became the most memorable component of an eventful year for the Jets owner, who is part of an HC hiring process for the first time since 2015, having previously served in Donald Trump’s presidential administration.
Johnson is not expected to return to the Trump administration, calling his role with the Jets into question. Vrabel clashed with Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk during the final stretch of his Titans tenure and may have multiple offers, giving the Jets a potential uphill battle to fight given Johnson’s involvement. They are, however, not committed to building their next power structure around a GM or a head coach. Given Vrabel’s stock, he may need a notable voice in personnel matters to take a job.
Roster control loomed as one of Vrabel’s issues with Adams Strunk, and Rosenblatt adds HC interviews last year involved teams questioning if he could effectively collaborate with a GM. The Jets having yet to hire a GM would stand to work in Vrabel’s favor.
“There’s got to be clear communication with ownership, so that we understand as coaches what the expectations are,” Vrabel said, via Rosenblatt. “That’s so we can explain to them what’s reasonable, what we can do, what we probably can do and what we’re going to try to do — or die trying. I want to have a structure in place that people see the game the same way I do from an X’s-and-O’s standpoint, from a personnel standpoint, with team-building. We would hopefully have that alignment, which is critical.
“And I would like to be able to say that there’s a quarterback that you feel like you can win with — or that there’s a path to find the one that you can win with.”
Vrabel will follow Ron Rivera in interviewing with the Jets, who have regularly hired defensive-minded HCs (Saleh, Todd Bowles, Rex Ryan and Eric Mangini among them) during Johnson’s ownership tenure. Arthur Smith is also believed to be in play for the job, but unattached names will have the first shot at speaking with the team, which must eventually meet with two external minority candidates to satisfy the Rooney Rule.
Looking At Pro Bowl Rosters’ Impact On Fifth-Year Option Statuses
The NFL unveiled the Pro Bowl rosters Thursday. While superstars and veterans tied to big-ticket contracts headline the AFC and NFC squads, rookie-contract players are part of both sides for an event no longer featuring an actual all-star game.
While the Pro Bowl’s prestige peak occurred decades ago, the 2020 CBA still ties invites to players’ value. Players selected to the Pro Bowl on the original ballot (non-alternates) will see their fifth-year option prices change. The 2025 offseason will be the fifth year in which players will see their option values determined partially by Pro Bowl recognition, but Thursday’s results will impact the 2026 and 2027 fifth-year option outcomes as well.
Players who receive two Pro Bowl invites during their first three seasons skyrocket to the top of the four-tiered fifth-year option hierarchy, which will feature a value that matches the amount of that year’s franchise tag at each position. Players who draw one original-ballot invite during their first three seasons will be tied to the second option tier, which matches the transition tag value at that position.
This only applies to former first-round picks, as no other rookie contracts include a fifth-year option. With that in mind, here are the players from the 2022, ’23 and ’24 first rounds to be invited to the Pro Bowl. Here are the ex-first-rounders who changed their option statuses this week:
2022 draft:
- S Kyle Hamilton, Baltimore Ravens
- C Tyler Linderbaum, Baltimore Ravens
- G Tyler Smith, Dallas Cowboys
- CB Derek Stingley, Houston Texans
Baltimore’s two-first-rounder 2022 draft, made possible thanks to the Marquise Brown trade, produced two Pro Bowlers. This marks the second Pro Bowl for both Hamilton and Linderbaum, bringing both players to the top fifth-year option tier. For Linderbaum, that will inflate his price to that of the offensive line franchise tag number, since all O-lineman are grouped together under this formula. That will make a fifth-year option call trickier for the Ravens, who will certainly pick up Hamilton’s by the May deadline.
This is Stingley’s first Pro Bowl, which will push the former No. 3 overall pick’s 2026 option price into the second tier among corners. Patrick Surtain‘s four-year, $96MM extension raised the bar at the position this summer, and the Texans will be able to negotiate with their top corner beginning later this month. This is Smith’s first Pro Bowl nod as well; he was named an alternate to the 2023 event.
2023 draft:
- DT Jalen Carter, Philadelphia Eagles
- WR Zay Flowers, Baltimore Ravens
- RB Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions
- CB Devon Witherspoon, Seattle Seahawks
While Thursday’s announcement crystalized the value of the 2022 first-rounders with regards to the fifth-year option, the ’23 Round 1 crop still has more time. Witherspoon has landed in the Pro Bowl a second time, locking the former No. 5 overall pick into the top echelon of the CB option structure.
Conversely, this is the first original-ballot Pro Bowl for Carter, Flowers and Gibbs. The Lions running back was an alternate last season. The trio’s 2025 showings will determine if they can join Witherspoon on the highest level of the 2026 option hierarchy.
2024 draft:
- TE Brock Bowers, Las Vegas Raiders
- QB Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders
- OLB Jared Verse, Los Angeles Rams
The NFL’s top rookies have begun to raise their values. Although the Commanders, Raiders and Rams do not have to make option calls on this trio until May 2027, each player has already secured at least second-tier status for when that time comes. They are unlikely to stay on that level. Daniels is on track to claim Offensive Rookie of the Year honors, while Bowers has already broken Mike Ditka‘s longstanding record for tight end yardage by a rookie. Verse, the first Rams first-round pick since Jared Goff, is on track for Defensive Rookie of the Year acclaim.
Keenan Allen Only Open To Playing In Chicago, Los Angeles In 2025
Keenan Allen changed agents this offseason; his new representation will have an interesting task ahead. One of the biggest names on track for free agency at wide receiver, Allen does not sound interested in a true open market. Ahead of what would be his age-33 season, the decorated wideout is only open to landing in two cities.
Allen only wants to continue his career with the Bears or in Los Angeles, according to the Chicago Sun-Times’ Patrick Finley. The perennial Pro Bowler joined the Bears in a contract year, and the team is set for a transition. It is interesting that Allen will keep the door open to a Chicago signing, as the GM who acquired him (Ryan Poles) will be back. Allen said early last month he wanted to re-sign with the Bears, but family reasons have kept the L.A. door open.
Clarifying Allen’s L.A. stance, Finley notes the 12-year veteran would be open to returning to the Chargers or joining the Rams. Allen’s family still lives in Southern California; they would relocate if he re-signed with the Bears. It would be interesting to see if another team could change the veteran’s mind, as sticking to this three-teams-or-bust route would significantly limit his options. As it stands, however, Allen is not preparing to be a true free agent — even though he has never been on the open market previously.
The Chargers and Allen experienced a memorable fallout, with the team attempting to reduce the wideout’s pay early during the Jim Harbaugh-Joe Hortiz run. An extension offer made would have led to a reduction on Allen’s $20MM-per-year deal; he is instead playing out the contract with the Bears. Prior to being traded, Allen had expressed hope of finishing his career with the Bolts.
Allen experienced steady success with Justin Herbert targeting him and trails only Antonio Gates in receiving yards with the now-L.A.-based franchise. The former San Diego draftee is one of the best players in team history, though based on what transpired this past offseason, expecting a big-ticket contract offer from the Bolts may be unrealistic.
The Cal alum made it clear he has not decided on playing a 13th NFL season. This Bears campaign has brought a step back, as the team has made major changes while breaking in a rookie quarterback. Allen has topped 100 yards just once this season, entering Week 18 with 719 during Caleb Williams‘ rookie year. The Bears had acquired Allen to help the No. 1 overall pick develop, but the team fired OC Shane Waldron weeks into his first season — as criticism from Allen and D.J. Moore surfaced — and has used pass-game coordinator-turned-OC-turned-interim HC Thomas Brown as its play-caller since. The Bears have not won a game since giving up a Hail Mary touchdown to the Commanders in Week 7.
Allen’s age already stood to limit his 2025 market, as a short-term deal would be likely — in the event the six-time Pro Bowler did not choose to retire. Tee Higgins is set to headline the 2025 WR class — if the Bengals do not reapply the franchise tag — while the likes of Chris Godwin, Marquise Brown, Stefon Diggs, Amari Cooper, Diontae Johnson, DeAndre Hopkins and Brandin Cooks in a mostly veteran-heavy crop that also includes ex-Allen sidekick Mike Williams, who has not made much of an impact in his first post-Chargers season.
The Bears gave Moore a long-term deal this summer and used a top-10 pick on Rome Odunze, likely limiting where they would go for Allen. The Chargers have centered their receiving corps around second-round sensation Ladd McConkey, who became the first Chargers wideout since Allen to post 1,000 receiving yards as a rookie. Harbaugh’s team needs help here, however, especially with Josh Palmer headed to free agency.
It is unclear how interested the Rams would be, having passed on a Cooper Kupp trade and seeing Puka Nacua become one of the NFL’s best pass catchers. Sean McVay‘s team eyeing Allen as a complementary piece would be something to monitor, Allen Robinson‘s Chicago-to-L.A. faceplant notwithstanding, especially if the quality route runner sticks to his California-or-Illinois plan.
Sitting 18th on the all-time receptions list (971) and 41st in yards (11,249), Allen probably needs to submit more to build a viable Hall of Fame case. It will be interesting to see if he passes on potential offers from non-Chicago or Los Angeles-based teams to ensure he continues his career on his terms.
Latest On Tom Brady’s Raiders Path; Team Likely To Fire Antonio Pierce?
Antonio Pierce certainly has not enjoyed too much of a chance to impress as Raiders HC. Although the Raiders coach said (via The Athletic’s Vic Tafur) Aidan O’Connell can be an NFL starting quarterback, the team did not equip its inexperienced sideline leader with much at the game’s premier position. Unsurprisingly, the team hovers near the top of the 2025 draft order.
The past two offseasons also brought Sean Payton and Jim Harbaugh into the Raiders’ division, one that has been ruled by the Andy Reid–Patrick Mahomes tandem for man years. Without a quarterback or a proven coach, the Raiders are significantly lacking as the 2024 season winds down. A pivotal offseason looms, and Pierce has been under the microscope for a while now.
Despite players stumping for the team’s 2023 interim leader — to the point Maxx Crosby threatened a trade request — Pierce has the Raiders at 4-12. Even with the team having won its past two games, the general expectation around the league is for the Raiders to move on after Week 18, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler notes. The Raiders did not conduct a thorough coaching search before bumping Pierce up to the full-time post; it would stand to reason the team would be ready to do so if/when it fires the former Super Bowl-winning linebacker.
Pierce has not inspired too much confidence in his first season as a full-timer. He also took a historically unusual route to a full-time gig, having no experience as an NFL coordinator or college head coach. Concerns about how Pierce assembled his staff — which has already seen an OC change, with Luke Getsy being fired midseason — also came out during this disappointing season.
Minority owner Tom Brady is expected to play a key role in the Raiders’ quarterback search, and if Pierce is canned, the legendary QB-turned-announcer would be a central figure in the team’s effort to replace him. It is quite unusual for a minority owner to possess this much power, but Brady is certainly a special case due to his standing in the game. However, the new part-owner is not believed to be ready for a regular day-to-day role with the Raiders, Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer notes. He also will be on FOX’s Super Bowl broadcast as the lead analyst, complicating his part in a Raiders HC search — should one take shape.
A Brady-Mike Vrabel connection surfaced this week, and it would seem likely the former Titans HC takes a meeting with the franchise. Though, the Raiders having fired McDaniels — whom Vrabel has remained close with, to the point the unemployed coach has been mentioned as a potential Vrabel OC — may complicate matters for an in-demand candidate. Vrabel met with the Jets today and is believed to be interested in the Patriots’ job, should it become available.
Having gone 5-4 as an interim coach, Pierce drew interest from multiple teams last January. The Titans interviewed him, and the Falcons submitted a request. The 46-year-old HC’s stock has dipped a bit, but it would be rather interesting if Davis bailed on a coach one year in after firing McDaniels 1 1/2 seasons in. Pierce and McDaniels now have equal 9-16 records as Raiders HCs.
While Pierce is not a lock to be fired, it says plenty about his standing and the Raiders’ descent he is already being mentioned so frequently in firing rumors. This is a situation to monitor as Black Monday nears.
Front Office Notes: Jets, Colts, Grier, Bears
Given a mulligan for the Jets‘ Aaron Rodgers-less 2023 season, Robert Saleh and Joe Douglas did not make it too far into the 2024 campaign. The latter did not have a good working relationship during his final year in charge, seeing Woody Johnson (and, apparently, his sons) influence Jets personnel moves. Johnson had largely stripped power from Douglas during the GM’s final months in New York. As it turns out, Douglas’ frustration with Johnson predates 2024. The five-plus-year Jets GM had expressed dismay at one of Woody Johnson’s sons, Brick, scouring the internet and seeing those opinions (through Woody Johnson) make it back to Douglas, Sportskeeda.com’s Tony Pauline notes.
This situation may or may not have influenced Douglas to decline a Jets extension proposed more than a year ago. While Pauline stops short of confirming that, the veteran draft-based reporter indicates many informed him that was the case. Douglas “did not like or respect” Woody Johnson for years during his Jets run, Pauline adds. As the Jets have begun their GM and HC searches, they may have considerable explaining to do about the owner and his family’s influence on the team.
Entering Week 18, here is the latest from around the NFL’s front offices:
- The Dolphins gave Mike McDaniel an extension this past summer, and no rumors have pointed to the young HC needing to be too concerned about his job security. Rumblings are emerging, however, pertaining to the status of GM Chris Grier. In his sixth season with full autonomy in Miami, Grier is in his ninth season as GM. Miami is a place to monitor regarding a potential GM change, SI.com’s Albert Breer notes. Grier essentially won a power struggle with Brian Flores three years ago and has overseen back-to-back playoff appearances since, which would make it rather surprising if ownership made a change this coming offseason.
- Chris Ballard was believed to be on solid ground going into Week 17, per ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler. That aligns with a Thursday report that pointed to Ballard being more likely than not to be retained. Though, the Colts losing to a two-win Giants team — in a game that reminded of the 2021 team’s undoing in a win-and-in opportunity in Jacksonville as two-touchdown favorites — did not exactly provide assurance the team is headed in a good direction. With Ballard set to be just 2-for-8 in playoff berths as Indianapolis honcho, this situation will also be one to monitor over the next few days.
- Tennessee’s post-Mike Vrabel season has gone quite poorly, with Ran Carthon‘s Titans operation sitting 3-13. But no major changes are expected this year. Brian Callahan is on track to stay for a second season as HC, and Fowler indicates a good energy — the 13 losses notwithstanding — is present around an organization run by Carthon, Callahan and VP of football operations Chad Brinker. Next season, then, figures to be Carthon’s regime can be truly evaluated. A clash with ownership drove Vrabel out of Nashville, and an improvement will almost definitely be required for Callahan in 2025. What remains to be seen is how much improvement will be necessary for Carthon.
- The Bears have used search firms in the past to help determine their coaching hires, but it appears the team will leave this year’s search to its front office. No consultant is on track to come in and shepherd Chicago’s HC search, Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune writes. The team did take that route in 2015 and 2022, respectively bringing in John Fox and Matt Eberflus. GM Ryan Poles was not in place when the Eberflus search started, signing on late in that process. With considerable input from president Kevin Warren on tap, Poles will lead this year’s Bears search.
Chiefs Designate Jaylen Watson For Return
The Chiefs have a rare opportunity at significant rest before the playoffs, earning the AFC’s No. 1 seed on Christmas Day. Andy Reid‘s team is taking advantage of that, being set to rest starters — to the point it is a double-digit underdog in Denver — in Week 18.
Kansas City is also starting to see some players lost early in the season return. Weeks after Isiah Pacheco and Marquise Brown‘s returns from IR, Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz notes cornerback Jaylen Watson is being designated for return. Watson has been out since late October with a broken leg.
[RELATED: Injured Reserve Return Tracker]
A 2022 seventh-round pick, Watson operated as the Chiefs’ initial L’Jarius Sneed replacement. Although the team was undecided on this job leading up to the season, Watson won it and played at least 93% of the team’s defensive snaps when healthy this season. The Chiefs will have three weeks to activate Watson. Considering they do not play a meaningful game for two weeks, the third-year defender has some time to complete his recovery.
Continuing a pattern of moving on from starting cornerbacks rather than paying them, the Chiefs dealt Sneed to the Titans for a 2025 third-round pick. After losing Williams, however, Kansas City has seen its usual blueprint fail to produce consistent coverage beyond standout Trent McDuffie.
In a small sample size this season, Pro Football Focus did have Watson rated 30th among corners. The boundary defender’s return stands to help a defense that already ranks second in points allowed heading into the playoffs. Watson replacement options Joshua Williams and Nazeeh Johnson have each struggled. After playing a part-time role during the Chiefs’ 2022 and ’23 playoff runs, Watson figures to see extensive work — provided he is sufficiently recovered — during the team’s threepeat attempt.
These recoveries may well play a central role in the Chiefs’ chances at becoming the first team to win three consecutive Super Bowls. Kansas City will not have Rashee Rice back, but beyond the promising wideout, the two-time defending champs could be nearly at full strength when they suit up for their divisional-round game. Watson is attempting to follow Pacheco in returning from a fractured fibula. While Kansas City (15-1) has received steady criticism for its run of narrow victories regardless of opponent quality, the experienced team will certainly be a tough out during the postseason.
Jets To Consider Arthur Smith For HC; Rex Ryan Has Chance At Job?
During Robert Saleh‘s final offseason as Jets HC, he attempted a backchannel effort to curb Nathaniel Hackett‘s power by bringing in a veteran play-caller. This stealth mission failed, as the Jets did not have their offensive coordinator position to offer. Aaron Rodgers helped see to that, helping to drive a wedge between the quarterback and Woody Johnson.
Hackett will soon be on the move, as the Jets are looking for a new coaching staff. Arthur Smith was among the coaches Gang Green eyed during Saleh’s search to add a shadow OC this past offseason, and the New York Post’s Brian Costello points to the current Steelers OC being back on the team’s radar — this time as a head coaching candidate.
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While Smith was not interested in the Jets’ role in 2024, as the Steelers had an actual OC position to offer, it appears likely he will soon receive an interview request. Smith needing to wait a year before HC interest came was a debated point during this season, but ESPN.com’s Dan Graziano now notes it looks like the former Falcons leader will be back on the radar for a top job soon.
Smith, 42, went 7-10 in each of his three Falcons seasons. Those campaigns featured different primary QBs (Matt Ryan, Marcus Mariota, Desmond Ridder). Considering Mariota is a backup and Ridder changed teams twice during the offseason, Smith’s seven-win 2022 and ’23 seasons may have aged better than expected. The Steelers have also coaxed decent play from Russell Wilson, after they had started strong with the less polished Justin Fields at the controls. While Pittsburgh has lost three straight, it still appears the team’s play-caller will draw interest — even if this would be a rather quick turnaround for a coach who did not post an eight-win season during his first try.
Entrusted to lead the HC search, ex-Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum attempted to set up a meeting between Johnson and Bill Belichick. That did not come to fruition, and the ex-Jets DC-turned-adversary took the North Carolina job rather than take his chances on another NFL carousel. Mike Vrabel is also viewed as potentially the Jets’ top choice, but the Raiders are also interested. And the Patriots may hold greater appeal for the ex-New England linebacker, though that job is not certain to be available. Johnson’s eventful 2024 also stands to make working for him in 2025 a complicated ask, and Sportskeeda.com’s Tony Pauline writes a feeling around the league has created the sense the Jets may need to overpay to land a coveted coaching candidate.
Johnson meddled on many occasions during the 2024 offseason and into the season, and the subject of his teenage sons being involved in personnel decisions and being persistent presences around players continues to be reported. This component will make Johnson’s effort to staff his HC and GM posts rather interesting, but one potential candidate has let it be known this would not dissuade him.
Rex Ryan said he would be interested in coming back. Not exactly shy about expressing strong opinions, Ryan has lobbied for DC jobs recently — interviewing for the Broncos and Cowboys’ positions over the past two offseasons — and worked under Johnson for six seasons. Ryan has not coached in the NFL since the Bills let him go late in the 2016 season. That absence would make a return to a high-profile post somewhat difficult to envision, but Pauline adds many around the league believe the 62-year-old ESPN analyst has a legitimate shot at the gig. He expects to interview.
Thus far, the connections between Ryan and the Jets have come from the former HC. This marks new ground, then, as it would not surprise to see the team at least interview its former coach.
Ryan led the Jets to back-to-back AFC championship games, notching wins over the Peyton Manning-led Colts and Tom Brady-piloted Patriots in the 2010 playoffs. A semi-miraculous Ryan reemergence would lead to the brash leader inheriting a defense high on talent but one that regressed this season, especially after Saleh’s mid-October firing. Of course, the Jets will then need to find a quarterback, as Rodgers is widely expected to be out of the picture soon.
Before a QB plan comes to light, one of the more interesting HC searches in recent years will need to be conducted. It appears Smith and Ryan are set to be part of it.