Jets, Falcons, Lions To Interview Eric Bieniemy
It’s shaping up to be a busy week for Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy. He’ll conduct virtual interviews with the Lions and Falcons on Monday afternoon, as Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. Meanwhile, the Jets have officially requested an interview of their own. 
Head coaching candidates whose teams are in the playoffs aren’t allowed to interview until after wild-card weekend. But, for Bieniemy, there’s a loophole, thanks to the Chiefs’ first-round bye. The same goes for 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, who is also slated to meet with the Lions. The Lions’ latest round of interview requests also includes Saints AHC/TE coach Dan Campbell and Titans offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, as NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets.
Saleh, a Dearborn, Michigan native, may be poised for a homecoming. Still, the Lions have a candidates list in the double digits, so he’ll have lots of competition. Bieniemy, of course, is one of the hottest coaches on the block, and he has the offensive acumen the Lions need to get the most out of their talent.
Panthers To Meet With Ex-Giants GM Jerry Reese
The Panthers are interviewing former Giants GM Jerry Reese for their vacancy, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Meanwhile, they’ve also requested an interview with Colts assistant GM Ed Dodds, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero (on Twitter) hears. 
Reese was fired by the Giants towards the end of the 2017 season, leaving the Meadowlands with a pair of Super Bowl rings. On the flipside, the Giants went just 91-85 in Reese’s decade-long tenure as GM.
His recent meeting with the Jaguars marked his first interview since then, but he’s been on the GM radar over the last few years. Reese declined to interview for the Raiders’ GM job in 2018, and last year there was “heavy support” for him to return to the NFL. The Lions may also give him consideration in their current search.
Reese and Dodds join a growing list of GM candidates in Carolina. The Panthers are also seeking interviews with Patriots director of player personnel Nick Caserio (if they can keep him away from the Texans), Saints assistant GM Jeff Ireland, 49ers vice president of player personnel Adam Peters, Bills assistant GM Joe Schoen, and Browns VP of football ops Kwesi Adofo-Mensah.
Texans Request Scott Cohen, Trent Kirchner Interviews
The Texans’ GM search is heating up. On Monday, the team requested interviews with Ravens director of football research Scott Cohen and Seahawks vice president of player personnel Trent Kirchner, as NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo tweets.
[RELATED: Texans To Interview Matt Eberflus]
Kirchner started out as the Seahawks’ assistant director of pro personnel in 2010. After a series of promotions, he was elevated to Vice President of Player Personnel in September. Along with co-lieutenant Scott Fitterer, he’s been a hot candidate for GM jobs for a long time. He’s viewed as an integral part of the Seahawks’ success, and a valuable asset for Seahawks GM John Schneider. In 2017, the Panthers, Colts, and 49ers were all connected to the longtime Seattle exec. This time around, the Texans are exploring multiple candidates from the Seahawks, though Garafolo notes that search firm Korn Ferry is strongly pushing Kirchner.
Cohen, meanwhile, has been with the Ravens since 2015. Before that, he spent time with the Buccaneers, Jets, Eagles, and Jaguars. His first 23 years were spent in player personnel. Over the last six years, he’s worked with the team’s coaching staff on week-to-week scouting.
Texans To Interview Nick Caserio (Again)
They can’t seem to let him go. The Texans have requested an interview with Patriots Director of Player Personnel Nick Caserio for their GM job, as Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. 
[RELATED: Panthers Request Nick Caserio Interview]
The Texans tried to hire Caserio as their GM in 2019, but the Pats blocked the move. Drama ensued as the Patriots threatened to file tampering charges. We could see a similar situation unfold in 2021 — Caserio was just extended by the Pats back in February.
Caserio has been with the Patriots since 2001, drawing more and more GM interest over time. The Panthers requested an interview with Caserio over the weekend, so the Texans aren’t alone in their pursuit.
In addition to Caserio, the Texans have also been connected to Seahawks VP of player personnel Trent Kirchner, ESPN broadcaster/ex-Eagles exec Louis Riddick, Ravens director of football research Scott Cohen, and Bills director of pro personnel Malik Boyd.
Jets, Texans To Interview Matt Eberflus
The Jets and Texans requested interviews with Colts defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (on Twitter). There will likely be more on the way for Eberflus, who is considered one of the hottest coaching candidates in this year’s cycle. 
After sacking Adam Gase over the weekend, the Jets are expected to cast a wide net in their search for his replacement. In addition to Eberflus, assistants Eric Bieniemy (Chiefs OC), Matt Eberflus (Colts DC), Don Martindale (Ravens DC), Arthur Smith (Titans OC) and Brandon Staley (Rams DC) are on the radar. Ditto for college coaches Jim Harbaugh (Michigan), Matt Campbell (Iowa State), and Dan Mullen (Florida).
Eberflus is in his third year as the Colts’ defensive coordinator, following seven seasons as the Cowboys linebackers coach. With the dysfunctional Jets, he’d have a chance to groom one of this year’s top draft picks and snap the team’s lengthy playoff drought. And, after going with an offensive “guru” last time around, no one would be surprised to see the Jets go back to a defensive specialist.
The Texans have already interviewed Jim Caldwell and Marvin Lewis. Now, they’ll have the opportunity to chat with coaches from all 31 clubs, though they’ll need permission in some cases. It’s believed that the Texans are focused on hiring a coach with pro experience, rather than plucking a candidate straight from the NCAA ranks.
Jaguars Fire Doug Marrone
The Jaguars and Doug Marrone have parted ways. On Monday morning, the Jaguars fired their head coach to join the Jets, Lions, Falcons, and Texans on the vacancy list. 
[RELATED: Jets Fire Adam Gase]
This was the long expected move, though the Jags did not make it official until after the season finale. Marrone narrowly avoided an ouster after the 2019 season and stayed on board after the dismissal of GM Dave Caldwell. Marrone had fans in the front office, but it would have been a surprise to see him stay after a 16-game losing streak.
“I am committed and determined to deliver winning football to the City of Jacksonville,” Jaguars owner Shad Khan said. “Realizing that goal requires a fresh start throughout our football operations, and with that in mind I spoke this morning with Doug Marrone to express my gratitude for his hard work over the past four seasons as the head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars.”
“I’ll always appreciate Doug’s passion, grit and class, and I’m confident he will enjoy success in the next chapter of his career. As the search for our new general manager continues, now the quest begins to find a head coach who shares my ambition for the Jacksonville Jaguars and our fans, whose loyalty and faith are overdue to be rewarded.”
From here, the Jaguars may focus their attention on Urban Meyer. The former Florida and Ohio State coach has reportedly made inquiries about future Jacksonville staff members, though Meyer counts at least one other NFL team as a suitor. And, of course, Meyer has a history of cold feet, so the Jaguars will be doing their due diligence with other candidates. Despite their struggles, the Jaguars shouldn’t have trouble attracting big-name coaches. With the No. 1 overall pick and $100MM+ in cap space, they arguably offer the best situation of any coachless club.
NFL TV Networks Eyeing Philip Rivers
Colts quarterback Philip Rivers has acknowledged that Sunday’s game against the Jaguars could be his last. The 39-year-old may have some extra incentive to retire, because multiple TV networks are already eyeing him for the broadcast booth, Michael McCarthy of Front Office Sports hears. 
[RELATED: Latest On Contract Talks Between Colts, T.Y. Hilton]
Rivers, who is rounding out a one-year, $25MM deal, is seen by some network execs as the next Tony Romo. ESPN and CBS both showed interest in Rivers around this time last year, before he ultimately decided to continue playing. This time around, there could be new suitors in the mix. If Apple or Amazon wind up airing games, they could turn to Rivers for name value and high-level analysis.
With Rivers under center, the Colts have won three of their last four to keep their playoff hopes alive. After falling short against the Steelers, the Colts will look to punch their ticket with a win over the Jaguars. They’ll need a Titans loss to go along with that, in order to seal the division, or three favorable outcomes to make it as a Wild Card team.
Texans To Interview Malik Boyd For GM Job
The Texans are set to interview Bills pro scouting director Malik Boyd for their GM vacancy, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle. There’s been significant buzz around Boyd in this cycle and the Houston native could be on the verge of a homecoming.
Boyd began his scouting career with the Colts before joining up with the Cardinals in 2005. After 12 years in Arizona, he moved on to Buffalo in 2017. The Texans have been eyeing a GM who could help them get the best of both worlds — analytics and game film — and Boyd would fit the bill. Before his exec career, Boyd spent some time as a defensive back for the Vikings and Saints.
The Texans have already interviewed ESPN analyst/ex-Eagles exec Louis Riddick and their own director of player personnel Matt Bazirgan for the job. They’re also in the midst of their head coaching search, though they’re expected to make the GM decision first.
Falcons Interview Raheem Morris
The Falcons are giving Raheem Morris a chance to take off his coat and stay a ‘while. On Friday, Atlanta’s interim head coach interviewed for the full-time position, as Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. 
[RELATED: Falcons Impressed With Morris]
Morris began the year as the Falcons’ defensive coordinator before taking over for Dan Quinn in the fall. The Falcons have been fared better since then, even if the record doesn’t exactly show it. The Falcons, on track for a top-five draft pick, will at least consider Morris for the job in 2021.
Morris may not the clubhouse leader for the job, but he definitely has fans in the building. The Falcons have been impressed with his work, and his strong ties with team president Rich McKay are a definite plus. Morris has been with the Falcons in a number of different roles since 2015. He was also one of the youngest head coaches in NFL history when he led the Buccaneers from 2007-09.
Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy may be the Falcons’ top choice and other candidates may get priority over the 44-year-old Morris. But, even if things don’t work out in Atlanta, Morris could easily wind up as a head coach elsewhere.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 1/1/21
We’ll keep track of today’s practice squad moves here:
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: WR J.J. Nelson, CB Duke Thomas
- Activated from practice squad reserve/COVID-19 list: S Josh Thomas, RB Christian Wade
- Released: OL Marquel Harrell, LB Deon Lacey, CB Lafayette Pitts
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: OT Jordan Mills
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: QB Josh Johnson, K Tristan Vizcaino, WR Kevin White
Washington Football Team
- Signed: RB Jonathan Williams
- Released: RB Javon Leake