Seahawks To Bring In Mike Macdonald For Second HC Interview
Mike Macdonald‘s itinerary will now include two Seahawks meetings in a two-day span. After waiting until Tuesday to meet with the popular candidate, the NFC West team will squeeze in a second meeting.
The second Macdonald-Seahawks summit will take place today, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero tweets. Macdonald-to-Seattle buzz has intensified over the past 24 hours; news of a second meeting will further drive speculation about the two-year Ravens DC being a frontrunner for this job.
A report Tuesday indicated Macdonald and Giants OC Mike Kafka were candidates to watch for the Seattle job. The Seahawks skipped the virtual interview opportunity with the young defensive coordinator, but the team had him on its radar during the process. Tuesday’s meeting took place in Baltimore, per Pelissero. This one will occur in Seattle, per the Seattle Times’ Bob Condotta.
The Seahawks went through a second interview with Ben Johnson on Monday, but the two-year Lions OC informed both HC-needy clubs — Seattle and Washington — he no longer wishes to be considered. Hours after Johnson bowed out of a second HC carousel, Texans OC Bobby Slowik followed suit. Slowik, however, had not been connected to a second Seahawks interview. He had met with the Commanders twice.
Johnson removing himself from consideration keeps the door wide open for Macdonald to land one of the two remaining jobs. Though, the Commanders have not met with Macdonald a second time yet. His first interview with the NFC East team took place Monday. The Ravens’ AFC championship game loss clears Macdonald’s interview schedule.
Despite the Chiefs and 49ers advancing to Super Bowl LVIII, it is the Ravens and Lions’ coordinators who have drawn attention during this year’s hiring period. None of the three San Francisco or Kansas City coordinators (Steve Wilks, Matt Nagy, Steve Spagnuolo; the 49ers do not employ a traditional OC) are candidates for the Seattle or Washington positions. Here is how the Seahawks’ search looks as January winds down:
- Ejiro Evero, defensive coordinator (Panthers): Conducted second interview 1/27
- Patrick Graham, defensive coordinator (Raiders): Conducted second interview 1/23
- Ben Johnson, offensive coordinator (Lions): Conducted second interview 1/29
- Mike Kafka, offensive coordinator (Giants): Conducted second interview 1/24
- Mike Macdonald, defensive coordinator (Ravens): To conduct second interview 1/31
- Raheem Morris, defensive coordinator (Rams): To conduct second interview 1/26
- Dan Quinn, defensive coordinator (Cowboys): Conducted second interview 1/25
- Bobby Slowik, offensive coordinator (Texans): Interviewed 1/21
- Frank Smith, offensive coordinator (Dolphins): Interviewed 1/18
- Mike Vrabel, former head coach (Titans): Mentioned as candidate
Panthers Hire Harold Goodwin, Three Other Assistants
Already committed to bringing Buccaneers wide receivers coach Brad Idzik with him to Carolina, Dave Canales is adding another veteran Bucs staffer.
The new Panthers HC will bring Harold Goodwin with him to work as the team’s run-game coordinator. The Cardinals’ offensive coordinator under Bruce Arians from 2013-17, Goodwin will bring some experience to an offensive staff that lacks it — in the top positions, at least. Goodwin, 50, spent the past five seasons as the Bucs’ run-game coordinator.
This is an interesting pickup for Canales, as Goodwin was an Arians assistant for much of the past 20 years. Following Arians from Pittsburgh to Indianapolis to Tampa, Goodwin will make his first non-Arians-driven move since he began his NFL career on Lovie Smith‘s Bears staffs in the mid-2000s.
Todd Bowles is in the process of finding a new offensive coordinator; he will need to replace two key offensive assistants as well. This includes O-line coach Joe Gilbert, who is following Canales and Goodwin to Charlotte.
The Panthers sent out an interview request to Raiders assistant offensive line coach Cameron Clemmons about their O-line coach position, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets. The Raiders already lost their O-line coach from last season, Carmen Bricillo, to the Giants. It is unclear if Clemmons remains in the Antonio Pierce-run team’s plans. But Canales will bring another Bucs assistant with him.
Gilbert joined Goodwin, 59, as an Arians hire back in 2019, and the veteran assistant spent the past five seasons as the Bucs’ O-line coach. This will be Gilbert’s third run as an NFL O-line coach; he initially held that position for the Colts under Chuck Pagano. While Canales and Idzik will run the Panthers’ offense, Goodwin and Gilbert will provide considerable experience. Gilbert replaces James Campen, a Matt Rhule hire who was not retained.
Additionally, the Panthers are adding Rob Moore as wide receivers coach and Bernie Parmalee as running backs coach. A former Jets and Cardinals standout receiver, Moore spent the past six seasons as the Titans’ wideouts coach. He held the same roles with the Bills and Raiders previously. A former running back, Parmalee spent the past three years as the Jaguars’ RBs coach. He has also coached special teams and tight ends during a 14-year NFL coaching career.
NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 1/30/24
Here are Tuesday’s reserve/futures deals:
Arizona Cardinals
Baltimore Ravens
- CB Tre Swilling
Detroit Lions
- DL Mitchell Agude, WR Maurice Alexander, OL Matt Farniok, RB Jake Funk, T Connor Galvin, CB Craig James, RB Jermar Jefferson, S Brandon Joseph, WR Tom Kennedy, DT Chris Smith
Philadelphia Eagles
- TE Noah Togiai
Titans Interview Brandon Lynch For DC; Team Retaining Shane Bowen During Search
After the Browns put together a quality defensive season, one of their assistants is on the coordinator radar. Brandon Lynch is the first of Jim Schwartz‘s assistants to land such a meeting.
The four-year Browns assistant met with the Titans on Tuesday, Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz tweets. Brown spent the 2023 season as Cleveland’s cornerbacks coach. The 41-year-old assistant spent most of the 2010s in the college ranks, but new Tennessee HC Brian Callahan certainly has observed Lynch’s work in recent years.
[RELATED: Offensive/Defensive Coordinator Search Tracker]
Callahan’s Bengals wideouts tussled with the Browns’ corners twice a year. The Browns initially hired Lynch to be their assistant DBs coach under Joe Woods in 2020; despite the DC changeover last year, the team retained Lynch. Denzel Ward earned his second Pro Bowl nod, and the Browns ranked first in pass defense. The Browns hired Lynch after he spent time coaching DBs at Northern Iowa and East Carolina during the 2010s.
Lynch and Ravens assistant Dennard Wilson are the only candidates for the Titans’ DC job so far. While it would certainly appear incumbent Shane Bowen is on his way out, veteran Titans reporter Paul Kuharsky notes the team is retaining its current DC while it assesses outside options. Bowen, 37, worked as Tennessee’s DC for the past three seasons. He has interviewed with the Giants and Jaguars this far. The New York job remains open, but the Jacksonville position went to Ryan Nielsen.
It would surprise if the Titans retained Bowen, who was with the team throughout Mike Vrabel‘s tenure. Bowen began his Titans run as their outside linebackers coach under Dean Pees from 2018-20. The Titans ranked in the top half throughout Bowen’s tenure, checking in 16th in scoring defense this season. As Bowen waits, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport adds pass-game analyst Pat O’Hara will not be retained. O’Hara joined Bowen in being on all six Vrabel-led staffs. O’Hara, 55, also coached with Vrabel in Houston.
Bears To Add Thomas Brown To Staff
Two of recent NFC offensive coordinators will be part of the Bears’ 2024 staff, which will have a major Sean McVay imprint. Thomas Brown will follow Shane Waldron to Chicago.
With it being clear for weeks Brown was done in Charlotte, the Chicago Tribune’s Brad Biggs notes he will join the Bears as passing game coordinator. While Brown spent last season as the Panthers’ OC, he worked on McVay’s Rams staff from 2020-22. Brown and Waldron worked together for the 2020 Rams. Prior to joining the Panthers last year, Brown worked as a tight ends and running backs coach in Los Angeles.
Other teams interviewed Brown, 37, for their OC jobs, but he will head for Illinois. The Bears brought in Brown for an OC interview earlier this month but hired Waldron soon after. As the Bears prepare for a monumental decision on offense — one that almost definitely comes down to a future with Justin Fields or Caleb Williams — they will have two former McVay staffers running the show whenever that call is made.
The Panthers hired Brown as their OC last year. While NFL history suggested it was safe for Brown to expect Frank Reich to be retained for at least two years, David Tepper bucked that by firing the longtime HC after 11 games. This came after Reich had yanked play-calling duties back from Brown following an initial three-week run. Brown finished the season as the Panthers’ play-caller, but as the team has made retaining DC Ejiro Evero a priority from Reich’s staff, it never stood in the way of Brown looking elsewhere.
An abysmal Panthers season led to the Reich firing and an eventual Dave Canales pickup. Canales has brought in Brad Idzik, who also worked under Waldron in Seattle, to be his non-play-calling OC. The Panthers ranked 31st on offense under Reich and Brown, but the latter interviewed for the Bears, Patriots and Steelers’ jobs. Although the New England position has not been filled, Brown may not have been the favorite. The Steelers hired Arthur Smith earlier today.
Brown will rejoin D.J. Moore in Chicago, though the two did not exactly overlap long in Carolina. The Panthers traded their top wide receiver to the Bears — in the Bryce Young swap — barely a month after hiring Brown. Moore represents a key piece as the Bears evaluate their quarterback situation, with Waldron and Brown input potentially on tap as the top offensive voices in the building.
Buccaneers Want To Re-Sign LB Lavonte David; No Baker Mayfield Talks Yet
The Buccaneers’ interest in retaining Mike Evans and Antoine Winfield Jr. has been fairly well documented at this point, but the organization wants to retain one of its other Super Bowl starters. Lavonte David remains in the team’s plans.
Wrapping his 12th year with the Bucs, David is still playing at a high level. The veteran defender led the team with 134 tackles — his most since 2015 — and produced 4.5 sacks (his most since 2016). While Devin White‘s propensity for freelancing has undercut his athleticism, David has offered the team much more consistency. And the Bucs are placing a priority on David finishing his career in Tampa, Jenna Laine of ESPN.com notes.
While White could well be on the move after a disappointing contract year in which he saw his role decrease, David still looks to have a great chance of playing another season in Tampa. David, 33, played out a one-year, $4.5MM contract. If the Bucs do not re-sign David before the start of the 2024 league year on March 13, they will be hit with a $2.67MM dead-money charge. That is unlikely to faze a team that spent a season with a $35.1MM in Tom Brady dead money on its books.
One of this era’s best off-ball linebackers, David’s Pro Bowl count is lacking (one) due to the NFL still grouping rush linebackers and non-rush ‘backers together. David, however, is a three-time All-Pro who is the team’s second-leading tackler. Only Derrick Brooks (1,713) has more than David (1,480) among Buccaneers. David played 15 games this season, rating as Pro Football Focus’ No. 28 overall linebacker.
After carrying more than $70MM in dead money this year, the Bucs are projected to hold more than $37MM in cap space. The statuses of Evans, Winfield and Baker Mayfield will likely cut into that figure and require more work. The franchise tag figures to come out, with Winfield the cheapest of Tampa Bay’s options (the safety tenure is projected to be $17.2MM). The Bucs, however, have done quite well in retaining their top free agents in recent years. They let Shaquil Barrett, Carlton Davis and Jamel Dean test free agency before re-signing each over the past three years.
Barrett acknowledged recently he is probably on the cap-casualty radar. If the Bucs designate the veteran sack artist as a post-June 1 cut, they would save $4.9MM. Void years and a restructure have Barrett’s through-2024 deal (four years, $68MM) sitting as a rather onerous figure on Tampa Bay’s payroll. Barrett is due a $15MM roster bonus if he is on the team as of the fifth day of the 2024 league year, Laine adds. The 31-year-old veteran’s situation will be one to monitor; coming back from an Achilles tear, Barrett tallied just 4.5 sacks in 16 games.
Both Mayfield and the Bucs want to extend this partnership, but the quarterback confirmed (via The Athletic’s Mike Jones) no talks have taken place yet. Mayfield put together a strong playoff outing to lead the Bucs to a Round 1 win over the Eagles. That brought the 2023 UFA signing an additional $250K, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
March 2023, which saw three midlevel veterans sign for between $25MM and $40MM per year, can be labeled a broad price range for Mayfield. Even eclipsing the Geno Smith AAV — on a three-year, $75MM deal — would be an achievement for Mayfield, who could only command a one-year deal worth $4MM. Then again, Smith’s contract represents the floor for established QBs. Mayfield could conceivably move toward the Daniel Jones price point, with ESPN.com’s Dan Graziano mentioning $40MM as a logical place for talks to end. That would put the Bucs to the test, seeing as Brady never topped $25MM per year (though, his money was fully guaranteed).
Building a roster with Mayfield at $40MM per annum would be much more difficult, but the market the former No. 1 pick would command if he reached free agency — as a few teams will be looking for veteran options — will work against the Bucs this time around. Given his value fluctuation in recent years, Mayfield will be one of this year’s most interesting free agents.
Latest On Pete Carroll’s Seahawks Exit, Team’s HC Search
Hours after the Seahawks closed the regular season with a win over the Cardinals, Pete Carroll said he was ready to return for a 15th season in charge. Two days later, the Seahawks officially announced other plans, moving on from the Super Bowl-winning HC.
Carroll may not have been resolute on returning, however. During the season, the longtime Seattle HC informed some team decision-makers he was moving toward retirement and was interested in staying with the team in a different capacity, Sportskeeda’s Tony Pauline notes. That path came to fruition, though it is not known what role Carroll will play going forward. He is not part of the committee searching for his own replacement.
The apparent Carroll backtracking did not sway Seahawks management, per Pauline, as team higher-ups were ready to move in a different direction. Carroll, 72, said he lobbied to keep his job and expressed frustration he was forced to convince non-football staffers. That said, GM John Schneider — effectively Carroll’s right-hand man for 14 years — has since assumed full control of the Seahawks. The veteran GM is leading the HC search.
This proved to be a disappointing season for the Seahawks, who faced higher expectations after a 9-8 2022 slate and a busy offseason. Seattle used two first-round picks, gave Dre’Mont Jones a $17MM-per-year deal and brought back Bobby Wagner. The team also traded for Leonard Williams, sending the Giants second- and fifth-round picks at the deadline. The Carroll- and Clint Hurtt-run defense struggled, finishing 30th in points allowed and 28th in DVOA. The team rallied back from its 6-7 place, but the mini-surge was not enough to qualify for the playoffs — even in a weak NFC wild-card chase. Hurtt is now with the Eagles, having agreed to become their D-line coach.
With Ben Johnson off the board, the likelihood of Ravens DC Mike Macdonald landing one of the two remaining jobs increases. Macdonald remains in the thick of the Seattle derby, ESPN’s Dan Graziano relayed on NFL Live (via the Seattle Times’ Bob Condotta), but Giants OC Mike Kafka has also emerged as a name to watch here. Bobby Slowik has joined Johnson in bowing out and agreeing to keep his current job.
It would surprise if Kafka landed this job, if only because the Giants are coming off a rough follow-up to their surprising 2022 divisional-round run. The Giants tumbled to 30th in points scored and in offensive DVOA. Granted, Daniel Jones‘ injury changed the equation for the Giants, who have employed Kafka as their play-caller over the past two seasons. Jones, however, was not playing well before his ACL tear. And tension between Kafka and Brian Daboll ran high at points, leading to the head coach yanking play-calling duties during games. Rumblings about Kafka being out of the picture in New York surfaced, but he remains on staff. Kafka is not in contention for the Washington job.
Here is how the Seahawks’ HC search looks:
- Ejiro Evero, defensive coordinator (Panthers): Conducted second interview 1/27
- Patrick Graham, defensive coordinator (Raiders): Conducted second interview 1/23
- Ben Johnson, offensive coordinator (Lions): Conducted second interview 1/29
- Mike Kafka, offensive coordinator (Giants): Conducted second interview 1/24
- Mike Macdonald, defensive coordinator (Ravens): To interview 1/30
- Raheem Morris, defensive coordinator (Rams): To conduct second interview 1/26
- Dan Quinn, defensive coordinator (Cowboys): Conducted second interview 1/25
- Bobby Slowik, offensive coordinator (Texans): Interviewed 1/21
- Frank Smith, offensive coordinator (Dolphins): Interviewed 1/18
- Mike Vrabel, former head coach (Titans): Mentioned as candidate
Texans To Extend QBs Coach Jerrod Johnson
Make that two Texans assistants who are staying put. Minutes after reaching an agreement to retain Bobby Slowik, the Texans have a deal to keep Jerrod Johnson. The team’s quarterbacks coach is staying, CBS Sports Jonathan Jones reports.
Entering Tuesday in contention for the Saints and Buccaneers’ jobs, Johnson will pass and commit to working with C.J. Stroud again. This has turned into an important day for the Texans, who have ensured their top two offensive assistants will stay. Johnson agreed to an extension that includes a raise, according to Jones and ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter.
[RELATED: Offensive/Defensive Coordinator Search Tracker]
Keeping the Slowik-Johnson-Stroud trio together for a second season, the Texans will attempt to build on their 13th-place offensive finish this season. DVOA slotted Houston’s offense 14th — a massive improvement from the past two seasons. The Texans finished the 2021 and ’22 slates 30th offensively, seeing their Stroud investment effectively transform a downtrodden team.
After bringing Slowik with him from San Francisco, DeMeco Ryans hired Johnson from Kevin O’Connell‘s Minnesota staff. Johnson was on the quality control level during the 2021 season, moving up the ladder twice in the past two years. The Vikings employed Johnson, 36, as their assistant QBs coach during a 13-4 season. That garnered the former quarterback interest on the 2023 OC carousel. Stroud’s performance naturally led to more Johnson OC meetings. In addition to speaking with the Bucs and Saints (twice), Johnson met with the Steelers, Eagles, Patriots and Browns.
Although Stroud ranked 15th in QBR, he led the NFL in INT rate. The Ohio State product threw 499 passes and just five INTs, sprinkling in 23 TD tosses for a Texans team that nearly matched its win total from 2020-22. The 10-7 team then won a playoff game, routing the Browns. Averaging 8.2 yards per attempt, Stroud’s 273.9 yards per game led the NFL.
New Orleans took the rare step of interviewing Johnson twice; the young assistant joins ex-Bears OC Luke Getsy in being summoned for a second meeting. Tampa Bay is conducting an expansive search to replace Dave Canales, who became a one-and-done after landing the Panthers’ HC job. Johnson interviewed for the Bucs job today. The Bucs have now seen four of their candidates exit the race. It is logical Johnson will regroup and look into OC interviews again in 2025.
Considering Stroud’s standing as one of the NFL’s best young talents, it makes sense for Johnson to join Slowik in staying put. Stroud playing well again in 2024 will undoubtedly generate more HC interest for Slowik and OC interest for Johnson. The latter would also seemingly be a coordinator candidate in Houston if Slowik booked a head coaching job elsewhere next year.
OC Bobby Slowik To Stay With Texans
Bobby Slowik entered Tuesday still in the mix for both remaining HC openings. The Texans’ offensive coordinator will pass on Seattle and Washington. Slowik will stay in Houston, according to SI.com’s Albert Breer.
A new deal, one that Breer mentions includes a significant raise, will keep Houston’s play-caller in town. This will ensure pivotal continuity for the ascending Texans, who saw C.J. Stroud become an impact rookie with Slowik calling the shots. This marked Slowik’s first season calling plays, but the former 49ers assistant was a fixture on this year’s HC carousel. He figures to be a big name during next year’s hiring period as well. This agreement also comes with an extension, ESPN.com’s Dan Graziano tweets.
The Seahawks interviewed Slowik, and the Commanders had met twice with the up-and-coming play-caller. Slowik, 36, also met with the Falcons, Panthers and Titans this month. The Falcons interviewed Slowik twice but went with Raheem Morris. Ben Johnson was rumored to be the favorite for the Washington job, but even with the two-year play-caller staying in Detroit, Slowik will no longer pursue the position. It is far from certain Slowik would have landed the job; he was not mentioned as a favorite like Johnson was. Still, this narrows the field for the Commanders.
Ravens DC Mike Macdonald, Ravens D-line coach Anthony Weaver, Cowboys DC Dan Quinn and Lions DC Aaron Glenn are the coaches remaining in the mix who have interviewed twice with the Commanders. Slowik met with Commanders brass in-person Jan. 23. Glenn is meeting with team reps today. Macdonald and Quinn are also in contention for the Seahawks’ job. Neither Seattle nor Washington has contacted Bill Belichick.
This represents big news for the Texans, who have seen quarterbacks coach Jerrod Johnson interview for multiple OC positions. The Saints have interviewed Johnson twice, while he spent today in Tampa meeting with Buccaneers brass. Slowik staying would provide some protection in the event Johnson leaves, giving Stroud continuity going into his second season. The Slowik-Johnson partnership worked wonders for Stroud in 2023; the No. 2 overall pick is the favorite to win Offensive Rookie of the Year acclaim.
Effectively in a two-year holding pattern as they pondered how to replace Deshaun Watson, the Texans ranked 30th in each of the previous two seasons. DeMeco Ryans‘ Slowik hire helped vault the team (with a notable Stroud assist) to 13th in scoring this season. The Texans voyaged to the divisional round, doing so after winning just 11 games from 2020-22. Set to build around Stroud’s rookie contract, the team now has assurances Slowik will keep working with the prized prospect.
Slowik resides in a strong spot regarding future HC employment. He comes from a Kyle Shanahan tree that has already produced three HC hires since 2021 and is tied to one of the NFL’s best young quarterbacks. It is arguable this situation outflanks Johnson’s in Detroit, given Stroud’s trajectory. Higher-profile jobs could become available in 2025, with the Cowboys and Eagles deliberating on their HCs after disappointing playoff exits. The Bills have also hit a divisional-round wall under Sean McDermott, while the Jaguars are weeks removed from a collapse. Slowik will join Johnson in reassessing the landscape in 2025.
Dolphins To Conduct DC Interviews With Anthony Weaver, Chris Kiffin
Anthony Weaver is still in the running for a head coaching opportunity, but he has also drawn interest for a coordinator vacancy. The Ravens’ defensive line coach will interview with the Dolphins for their DC position, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports.
As Weaver toggles his status on the HC and DC carousels, the Dolphins are also preparing to interview Texans linebackers coach Chris Kiffin. That meeting will take place Friday, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero tweets.
Despite the Dolphins giving Vic Fangio a contract worth more than $4.5MM annually — a deal believed to have the veteran coach positioned as NFL’s highest-paid DC — the team is searching for a defensive play-caller for a second straight offseason. The Eagles have since brought Fangio back to Philly.
Weaver, 43, is the rare position coach to receive a second interview for a head coaching position. The former NFL D-lineman has coordinator experience, but just one year of it; and that came for a 4-12 Texans team. Weaver has been the Ravens’ D-line coach since leaving Houston, and interested teams now have Justin Madubuike‘s monster contract year to factor into their decisions.
Although Weaver interviewed for the Falcons’ HC job and remains in the running in a Commanders search that has since changed after Ben Johnson‘s surprising decision Tuesday morning, he has not interviewed for a defensive coordinator job during this cycle. The Dolphins are the only team to request an audience with the veteran assistant regarding a DC post. Weaver’s second Commanders HC interview occurred Monday.
This is new territory for Kiffin, who joined DeMeco Ryans‘ team during the 2023 offseason. The son of famed DC Monte Kiffin, Chris moved up from the college ranks in 2018 to join Kyle Shanahan‘s staff. He overlapped with Mike McDaniel in San Francisco from 2018-19, when the current Dolphins HC was the 49ers’ run-game coordinator. Kiffin, who assisted as a 49ers pass rush specialist, coached the Browns’ D-line for three seasons (2020-22).
As of Tuesday afternoon, here is how the Dolphins’ DC search looks:
- Bobby Babich, linebackers coach (Bills): Interview requested
- Anthony Campanile, inside linebackers coach (Dolphins): Interviewed
- Ejiro Evero, defensive coordinator (Panthers): Interview blocked
- Leslie Frazier, former defensive coordinator (Bills): To interview 1/30
- Chris Kiffin, linebackers coach (Texans): To interview 2/2
- Ryan Slowik, outside linebackers coach (Dolphins): Interview expected
- Brandon Staley, former head coach (Chargers): Interviewed
- Anthony Weaver, defensive line coach (Ravens): To interview
Adam La Rose contributed to this post.