Packers Won’t Stop Eliot Wolf From Leaving
Eliot Wolf missed out on the Packers’ GM job, but it sounds like the team won’t stop him from going elsewhere. During his introductory news conference on Monday, newly appointed GM Brian Gutekunst hinted that he will allow Wolf to pursue other jobs in the NFL, though he would prefer to keep him in Green Bay. 
“I would envision him kind of being a right-hand man to me,” Gutekunst said. “We have a great relationship. I’m very fond of the person, and the scout is excellent. I’ve told him that. I really want him to be here. But I also know he has other opportunities, and I wouldn’t hold him back from that because I care about him. But if he was here, I’d like to get him more involved in the college side of stuff and have a broader approach to what he’s been doing.”
The Browns, led by former Packers exec John Dorsey, are reportedly interested in adding Wolf to the front office. At the same time, the Packers appear to be offering him an improved title.
Coaching Rumors: Chiefs, Packers, Bengals
The Chiefs could promote running backs coach Eric Bieniemy to offensive coordinator, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com hears (on Twitter). Rapoport adds that he has “the inside track.” The vacancy opened up this weekend when Matt Nagy agreed to become the next head coach of the Bears.
Here’s the latest coaching news from around the NFL:
- Packers secondary coach Darren Perry interviewed for the team’s defensive coordinator position on Monday, according to Alex Marvez of The Sporting News (on Twitter). The interview was originally scheduled for Saturday, but was delayed due to the team’s front office reorganization.
- Contrary to a previous report, former Bengals offensive coordinator Ken Zampese was not interviewed by the Browns on Monday, Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com tweets. When he does interview with the team, it will be for an offensive assistant job and not necessarily for the OC position.
- The Raiders will officially ink contracts with offensive coordinator Greg Olson and defensive coordinator Paul Guenther before the big Jon Gruden press conference, sources tell Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter).
- The Bengals announced the signing of Bob Bicknell as the team’s new wide receivers coach. Bicknell, who has 25 years of professional and collegiate coaching experience, was Baylor University’s WRs coach in 2017. Meanwhile, defensive line coach Jacob Burney has been retained with a new two-year contract extension (Twitter link via Alex Marvez of The Sporting News).
John Fox Plans To Continue Coaching
John Fox was ousted from his job in Chicago, but he’s hoping to stay in the NFL. Fox says that he is waiting for the dust to settle on various head coaching jobs to see if he can join someone’s staff (Twitter link via Mike Klis of 9NEWS). 
Fox was a defensive assistant for many years before he became the head coach of the Panthers in 2002. All in all, he has spent the last 16 seasons as an NFL HC, but it’s unlikely that he will get another crack at running his own show this offseason. His connections and defensive acumen could get him a DC job, however.
As shown on PFR’s Defensive Coordinator Tracker, the Ravens and Packers are the only team with active searches at this time. More spots may open up for Fox once the Cardinals, Lions, and other teams decide on a head coach.
NFL Reserve/Future Contracts: 1/8/18
Here are the latest reserve/futures contract signings from around the NFL. These deals will go into effect on the first day of the 2018 league year, with players joining their respective clubs’ offseason 90-man rosters:
Buffalo Bills
- RB Aaron Green
- WR Quan Bray
- TE Jason Croom
- OT De’Ondre Wesley
- OT Josh James
- C Adam Redmond
- DT Marquavius Lewis
- S Dean Marlowe
- P Cory Carter
Carolina Panthers
- WR Rasheed Bailey
Detroit Lions
- DE Cam Johnson
Los Angeles Rams
- WR Fred Brown
- DT Omarius Bryant
- C Jake Eldrenkamp
- CB Dominique Hatfield
- TE Henry Krieger-Coble
- TE Johnny Mundt
- CB Taurean Nixon
- OLB Ejuan Price
- FB Sam Rogers
- CB Marcus Sayles
49ers Hire Ken Norton Jr.
The 49ers announced they have hired Ken Norton Jr. to the coaching staff. He’ll carry the title of Assistant Head Coach – Defense as well as inside linebackers coach. 
Norton was a popular figure in the Raiders’ locker room over the last three years, but poor on-field results led to his firing in November. At the time of his dismissal, the Raiders ranked 32nd in defensive DVOA. Of course, head coach Jack Del Rio was the one calling plays on defense, so it’s not necessarily fair to pin everything on Norton.
It’s a great fit for Norton on multiple levels. For one, he doesn’t have to move from his Bay Area home. The deal also marks a homecoming for Norton since he spent seven seasons with the Niners and played on three consecutive Super Bowl-winning teams.
In related news, Johnny Holland is the team’s new run game specialist/outside linebackers coach.
Panthers Rumors: Hurney, Johnson, Davis
The Panthers’ offseason began on Sunday after a tough loss to the rival Saints. With an eye on the Panthers’ offseason, here’s the latest out of Carolina:
- Interim general manager Marty Hurney says he would like to stay on as the team’s permanent GM (via Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer). “I love what I’m doing,” Hurney said. Many in the Panthers organization are rooting for Hurney to get the post on a permanent basis. His one-year deal with the team will expire in June.
- Panthers defensive end Charles Johnson wants to return in 2018, Person writes. Johnson, 32 in July, has spent his entire 11-year career in Carolina. Last offseason, the Panthers re-upped him on a two-year, $8MM deal that is scheduled to take him through 2018. However, his recent PED suspension absolves the team of any remaining guarantees.
- Linebacker Thomas Davis knows he may have to accept a reduced role next season, but did not say he would just accept being a backup, Person writes. Davis has a one-year, $6.75MM deal for the 2018 season, but just $1MM of that sum is guaranteed.
Latest On Johnny Manziel
Will Johnny Manziel wind up north of the border? Not unless the Hamilton Tiger-Cats make with the money. 
Johnny Manziel’s agent Erik Burkhardt says that he is giving the Tiger-Cats until Jan 31 to work out a ”fair deal,” . Burkhardt adds that Manziel’s salary must be “on par with what Hamilton has paid their QB in recent years, despite not having much on-field success. If no deal is reached, Manziel will move on to “other professional options” (it appears that Manziel’s representation has a personality as bold as the quarterback himself).
Here is the statement, in full, courtesy of NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (Facebook link):
“Despite much speculation and several comments from the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and CFL, Johnny and I have remained silent and continued to focus on his training and preparation. Due to the tremendous support, Johnny wants to let Hamilton fans know where things stand and that he has been working hard in preparation for his comeback.
As context, the CFL maintains an archaic and restrictive rule, whereby their teams can claim an amateur players’ rights, and essentially hold those rights into perpetuity, without any consideration or compensation for the player. The Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the CFL claimed Johnny’s rights when he was a freshman at Texas A&M, and have continued to hold them for over 6 years.
Johnny and I have done our due diligence on the League and team, which has included visiting Hamilton, meeting with CEO Scott Mitchell, as well as multiple meetings and working out for Coach June Jones. All of these interactions have been very positive and served to reinforce Johnny’s excitement for coming out to play for the Tiger Cats. Johnny was pleased to have the opportunity to talk ball with Coach Jones, who has publicly shared his belief that Johnny would be a good fit for the team he’s trying to field.
As Hamilton has announced, and per the aforementioned restrictive rule requirements, they sent us a place-holder contract in order to maintain Johnny’s rights and allow us adequate time to negotiate a deal. During our diligence process and at my request, Hamilton also graciously gave me permission to discuss potential trade options with at least one other club. Johnny and I met with those executives in Texas to discuss their organization and thoughts on Johnny’s market and value around the CFL. However, due to Johnny’s strong relationship with Coach Jones and Hamilton executive Kent Austin, we’ve made the decision to deal exclusively with Hamilton and give them until January 31st to work out a fair deal to make him their Quarterback. So that there will not be any ambiguity in regards to financial expectations, and so the public understands how seriously Johnny is considering this move, I will tell you that we believe ‘fair deal’ means on par with what Hamilton has paid their QB in recent years, despite not having much on-field success. If we cannot reach a deal with Hamilton by this date, we will turn our focus to several other professional options readily available to us.”
Manziel, 25, years old, has not played in the NFL since the 2015 season. In eight career starts for the Browns, the former Heisman trophy winner completed 57% of his passes for 1,675 yards, seven touchdowns, and seven interceptions. There could still be untapped potential there, but the longer we go without seeing Manziel on the field, the harder it is to have faith.
Packers To Interview Mike Pettine For DC Job
Former Browns head coach Mike Pettine will interview for the Packers’ defensive coordinator job on Tuesday, a league source tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Pettine becomes one of five known candidates in the running for the gig, as shown on PFR’s Coordinator Tracker. 
Pettine spent last year as a defensive consultant for the Seahawks. In the fall, it was said that he would be one of Matt Nagy‘s top choices for defensive coordinator if he were to land a head coaching job. Now that Nagy is in Chicago, it’s possible that Pettine could wind up as a candidate for two different jobs in the same division.
Pettine first made a name for himself as a key defensive coach on the Ravens’ staff. When Rex Ryan left Baltimore for the Jets, he brought Pettine along as his DC. After a stint as Buffalo’s DC and Cleveland’s head coach, he’s once again a candidate for a coordinator job.
Bears Hire Matt Nagy As Head Coach
The Bears will hire Matt Nagy as their next head coach, according to Adam L. Jahns of the Chicago Sun-Times. Nagy, the offensive coordinator of the Chiefs, became available over the weekend when Kansas City was eliminated from the playoffs by the Titans.
The hire is now official. Nagy will replace John Fox and become the Bears’ latest offensively geared HC, following Marc Trestman in that regard. Nagy was also in the running for the Colts’ head coaching job, interviewing on Sunday, and the Bears did not want to risk losing him. The 39-year-old offensive coordinator will now be tasked with reigniting the dormant Bears offense and putting young quarterback Mitch Trubisky on the right track.
Nagy also interviewed with the Bears on Sunday, and the storied franchise selected the second-year Chiefs OC out of a six-interview process. The Bears also met with Josh McDaniels, Pat Shurmur, George Edwards, John DeFilippo and incumbent DC Vic Fangio. This marks the latest Andy Reid disciple to land a coaching opportunity, following three-year Chiefs OC Doug Pederson — whom Nagy succeeded.
The Chiefs turned to Nagy late in the season to call plays, and the AFC West champions re-routed their season upon doing so. Kansas City won its final four games after losing six of seven during a midseason swoon. Although the Chiefs stumbled yet again in a home playoff contest, Nagy helped coax breakout slates from Tyreek Hill and rushing champion Kareem Hunt.
Nagy will also serve as the Bears’ play-caller, Chris Mortensen of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter). However, his first big decision will be in addressing who oversees Chicago’s defense. Mortensn reports the franchise would like to retain Fangio, but his contract expires at midnight. The veteran DC also has received significant interest elsewhere and could depart for another opportunity.
This also narrows McDaniels’ options. The perennial HC candidate has interviewed in Indianapolis and New York. ESPN.com’s Dan Graziano and NBC Sports Boston’s Tom Curran (Twitter link) point McDaniels as being a likelier fit with the Colts than Giants.
Alex Smith also had a career-best season under Nagy’s guidance, and the Bears will team the young coach with Trubisky after centering their search around offensive-minded leaders. Nagy was a Trubisky fan when the North Carolina product declared for the draft, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter), and he’ll have the biggest say in attempting to take the raw passer to the next level in his development.
The Chiefs ranked fifth in total offense under Nagy. He’ll now helm a Bears attack that finished 30th. Affected by multiple injuries at wide receiver, the Bears relied on their ground game. Their new HC figures to attempt to augment the team’s aerial corps. Trubisky himself finished with seven touchdown passes and seven interceptions, completing 59 percent of his passes while going 4-8 as a starter.
The Bears have not produced a winning season since the 2012 campaign under Lovie Smith, and they’ll turn to Nagy to right the ship.
Sam Robinson contributed to this report.
Raiders Eyeing Teryl Austin
The Raiders are looking to soup up their staff. Head coach Jon Gruden has set his sights on Lions defensive coordinator Teryl Austin and hopes to hire him as the team’s assistant head coach/defensive backs coach, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). 
Austin is also being chased by the Bengals, who are hoping to have him replace Paul Guenther as their defensive coordinator. Instead, Austin could follow Guenther to Oakland and work alongside him. Austin would not have as much autonomy with the Raiders, but he would have the opportunity to work with a better defense on the whole. He might also be able to finagle a high-paying four-year deal like the ones given to Guenther, offensive coordinator Greg Olson, and special teams coach Rich Bisaccia.
Austin also interviewed for the Lions’ head coaching vacancy, but he is not expected to come away with the job. Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia is reportedly the favorite in Detroit and he’ll likely look to bring in his own people. It seems unlikely that Austin will not be back with the Lions in 2018, but he has plenty of options elsewhere in the NFL.