Chargers Hire Renaldo Hill As DC
The Chargers will hire Broncos defensive backs coach Renaldo Hill for their defensive coordinator position, as Albert Breer of The MMQB tweets. Hill, a former NFL safety, has long been considered a “rising star” in the coaching ranks.
[RELATED: Chargers Hire Joe Lombardi As OC]
Hill has managed the Broncos’ defensive backs for the past two seasons, including the 2019 season when he overlapped with new Bolts head coach Brandon Staley. This new job marks Hill’s biggest role in his coaching career, which began at the University of Wyoming in 2012. His NFL coaching career, meanwhile, only began a few years ago with a job on the Dolphins’ staff.
Staley has been contacting former colleagues in recent weeks and recently tapped one-time Broncos assistant Frank Smith as his offensive line/run game manager. And, just over the weekend, Staley hired fellow Dayton alum Joe Lombardi to be his new offensive coordinator. There’s been a lot of talk about the weapons at Lombardi’s disposal, but Hill also has plenty to work with in safety Derwin James, defensive tackle Linval Joseph, corners Casey Hayward and Chris Harris, and edge rushers Melvin Ingram and Joey Bosa.
Eagles Hire Shane Steichen As OC
The Eagles will hire Shane Steichen as their new offensive coordinator (Twitter link via Ian Rapoport of NFL.com). The deal will likely become official sometime this week. 
[RELATED: Duce Staley Wants Out]
Steichen has history with new head coach Nick Sirianni – the two worked together with the Chargers from 2014 through 2017. Most recently, Steichen served as the offensive coordinator in Los Angeles, guiding Justin Herbert in his tremendous rookie season. Some believed that Steichen would be a candidate for the Seahawks opening, following Brian Schottenheimer‘s firing, but he’s heading out east instead.
The Bolts promoted Steichen from quarterbacks coach to OC in October 2019 after Ken Whisenhunt‘s offense tanked. Under Whisenhunt, the run game was downright pitiful: The Chargers went four straight games without achieving 40 yards rushing, leaving them in the bottom third of the league in points. With Steichen at the helm, things improved – the Chargers finished out that year ranked No. 12 in DVOA.
Now, the 35-year-old will be tasked with getting Carson Wentz back on track. He’ll also have to hire a new assistant to help with the run game with Duce Staley leaving.
Patrick Mahomes Clears Concussion Protocol
Jan. 22, 2:00pm: Mahomes has cleared the concussion protocol, as the star QB announced to reporters this afternoon. Players who are in the protocol don’t meet with the media, so the fact that Mahomes had press availability suggested that he had been given the all-clear, and that is indeed the case. With that, the much-anticipated showdown between Mahomes’ Chiefs and Josh Allen‘s Bills will have its headliners.
Jan. 20, 3:28pm: The Chiefs listed Mahomes as limited in today’s practice, though Mike Garafolo of NFL.com notes this was more of an estimation on his status since the team partook in a light workout overall (Twitter link). But had Kansas City gone through a full practice, its all-world quarterback would have been limited. Reid said Mahomes has yet to be cleared for full contact work, per the Washington Post’s Mark Maske (on Twitter). This points to Thursday being a pivotal day for Mahomes, who is in the final stages of the concussion protocol.
Jan. 20, 10:31am: Patrick Mahomes will practice on Wednesday, but he’ll be taking it easy, as NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets. The Chiefs quarterback remains in the NFL’s concussion protocol but plans to slowly ramp things up over the course of the week.
Fortunately, Mahomes is symptom-free after taking an ill-fated hard hit against the Browns. Mahomes was left dazed in the third quarter, forcing him out of the game in favor of Chad Henne. Henne had never thrown a postseason pass before — he went on to record his first ever playoff victory.
At this point, Mahomes is on track to be cleared in time for Sunday’s AFC Championship Game. Still, there are hurdles to clear. Per the league’s protocol, the QB must go through five steps; his light Wednesday workout is part of step No. 4. After going through a full practice, Mahomes will need the green light from team doctors and an independent neurologist.
“So listen, I just leave that with [team trainer] Rick [Burkholder] and the docs,” head coach Andy Reid said earlier this week. “Because of the protocol, it’s a no-brainer from the coach’s standpoint. You don’t have to think about it, you just have to make sure you go forward and have an answer if he’s there and an answer if he’s not there. I can’t tell you from a medical standpoint where he’s at. I mean, I don’t know that. That’s their decision and I just follow it.”
San Antonio Hopes To Land NFL Team
Texas is big enough for three NFL teams, according to the mayor of San Antonio. Mayor Ron Nirenberg is confident that SA will land an NFL team between now and 2030 (via KSAT).
“If there’s not that corporate base, pro sports franchises look elsewhere. And one of the things that has hindered that corporate base for decades in San Antonio is the fact that we didn’t have enough workers to fill the positions that they would want to move here,” said Nirenberg. “That’s why we’re investing in our own people and access to education, access to skills training and workforce development. So when we want to take those jobs that are available, we have the people to do it. And that’s improving our economic trajectory. That’s also improving the prospects for pro sports here.”
San Antonio is the seventh most populous city in the U.S., though it trails other large cities in per capita income. Currently, the Spurs stand as their only major league sports team, though the city does have minor league baseball, basketball, and soccer clubs.
The NFL may come to San Antonio someday, but it’s unlikely to happen anytime soon, given the current economic climate. The NFL has not introduced an expansion team in nearly 20 years since the Texans launched in Houston.
Texans Deny Tim Kelly Interview Requests
The Texans have denied interview requests from teams interested in offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Tim Kelly (via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle). The Texans have yet to hire their next head coach, but they seem intent on keeping Kelly as a part of their staff. 
Kelly, who will turn 35 this offseason, has spent the last two years as the Texans’ offensive coordinator. Bill O’Brien called the plays in Kelly’s first year with Houston. Last year, he ceded the headset to Kelly.
Deshaun Watson, who has lobbied for more control over the team’s hiring decisions, has been one of Kelly’s biggest advocates.
“Tim over the past two years has really taken my game to a whole another level as far as just knowledge, reading defenses, understanding run points and run schemes, understanding the way of different concepts and different situations,” said Watson. “His knowledge of just the game of football is very, very bright and he really helped me take my game, especially this year, the best football I’ve played in my career.”
With Kelly in command, Watson threw for a league-high 4,823 yards with 33 touchdown passes against seven interceptions. It sounds like Kelly will continue to serve as Watson’s guru in 2021.
Steelers’ Vance McDonald Retires From NFL
Vance McDonald announced his retirement on Friday morning. The longtime Steelers tight end says that he will focus on faith and family in the next chapter of his life. 
“My family and I are so grateful for everything NFL football has provided us in our life—all the memories both good and the difficult, the relationships and friends we’ve made along the way, the life lessons the game provided both me and my loved ones,” McDonald said in a statement. “It’s always been our dream and mission to leverage the platform given us through the NFL to help serve and uplift others along the way, and we will continue to find ways to serve others as we begin this next chapter of our lives. I am proud to retire a Steeler.”
McDonald first entered the league as a second round pick of the 49ers in 2013. In 2017, the Niners shipped him to the Steelers where he would turn in some of his best performances. McDonald’s signature season came in 2018, when he tallied 50 catches for 610 yards and four touchdowns.
“I am appreciative of Vance’s contributions during the last four years of his career that he spent in Pittsburgh,” said head coach Mike Tomlin. “He was a class act on and off the field, leading many of our efforts in the community while also being a voice for our social justice efforts and the community work during the pandemic.”
McDonald leaves with 181 catches, 2,036 receiving yards, and 15 touchdowns for his career. We here at PFR wish him the best in retirement.
Dirk Koetter Retires From Coaching
Dirk Koetter has retired from football. After 39 years in coaching, the former Falcons offensive coordinator announced that he will move back to Idaho instead of pursuing a new job in 2021. 
[RELATED: Falcons Hire Dave Ragone, Dean Pees]
“After 39 seasons of coaching football, it’s time to move on to the next phase of my life,” Koetter wrote on Facebook (Twitter link via Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times.) “From 1982 at Highland High through the 2020 season with the Atlanta Falcons it’s been nothing but football year round with not nearly enough time for anything else, especially family,”
Koetter served as the Falcons’ OC from 2012-14, then took on the same job in Tampa Bay. When the Bucs fired Lovie Smith in 2016, Koetter was promoted to head coach. After going 9-7 in his first HC year, Koetter’s Bucs posted back-to-back 5-11 campaigns. He returned to Atlanta in 2019 to serve as Dan Quinn‘s offensive coordinator and stayed on after his fall firing. However, new head coach Arthur Smith has hired his own OC in Dave Ragone.
Jets Hire Jeff Ulbrich As DC
The Jets have hired Jeff Ulbrich as their new defensive coordinator, per a club announcement. In addition, head coach Robert Saleh has appointed five new assistants to his staff.
Ulbrich started 2020 as the Falcons’ assistant head coach and linebackers coach. Then, when Dan Quinn was fired, he was promoted to defensive coordinator under interim HC Raheem Morris. The Falcons improved in the later months of the year, positioning Ulbrich for a step up.
Ulbrich was a third-round pick of the Niners back in 2000. He went on to enjoy a long career in SF, tallying 488 tackles through 2009. He’s been working as a coach ever since, including stops with the Seahawks and the UCLA Bruins. He’ll have his work cut out for him in New York, though the roster is something of a blank canvas. Armed with one of the top picks in this year’s draft, the Jets are prepared for a total reboot.
In addition to Ulbrich, the Jets have also appointed Aaron Whitecotton, Nate Ollie, Chip Vaughn, Ricky Manning Jr., and Hayes Pullard to jobs on Saleh’s staff.
Lions Hire Aaron Glenn As DC
After a false start, Detroit has sealed the deal. The Lions have agreed to hire Saints defensive backs coach Aaron Glenn as their defensive coordinator (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter). 
[RELATED: Lions Hire Dan Campbell]
Glenn’s stock has skyrocketed in recent years. The longtime NFL cornerback was even considered for the Jets’ head coaching vacancy, before Robert Saleh came away with the job. The Bengals also tried to interview him for their DC role back in 2019, before they were blocked by the Saints.
Glenn entered the league as a first-round pick of the Jets and went on to enjoy 15 years in the league. He stayed in the game after his retirement in 2008 with scouting role before launching his coaching career with the Browns in 2014.
Saints head coach Sean Payton has spoken highly of Glenn, so it’s no surprise to see him move up the ladder. With offensively-minded head coach Dan Campbell at the helm, Glenn figures to have ample control over the other side of the ball.
Steelers To Sign Dwayne Haskins
Dwayne Haskins has a new home. On Thursday, the Steelers agreed to sign the quarterback to a one-year deal, as Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. 
[RELATED: Steelers Interviewed Hue Jackson For OC Job]
The Steelers met with the former first-round in the morning and quickly decided to bring him on board. It’s likely a minimum-salary deal for Haskins — or something close to it — so this is about as low-risk as it gets. Haskins was horrendous in Washington, but he was the No. 15 overall pick less than two years ago.
Haskins dazzled evaluators with his arm strength coming out of Ohio State. The cannon is still there, though his decision making — both on and off the field — was questioned in Washington. Head coach Ron Rivera released Haskins after a terrible Week 16 showing. Just one week prior to that, Haskins was photographed maskless at a birthday party.
Now, Haskins has a chance at NFL redemption. He won’t be starting, but he will have an opportunity to learn from one of the best in Ben Roethlisberger.