2017 Offensive/Defensive Coordinator Tracker
While at least six NFL teams are making head coaching changes this offseason, the number of clubs replacing offensive and/or defensive coordinators figures to be much higher than that. In addition to all those teams hiring new head coaches, who may want to bring in their own assistants, several clubs also figure to make changes on one side of the ball or the other after getting disappointing results in 2016. And, of course, the teams whose coordinators landed head coaching jobs will need to replace them.
With reports circulating on potential candidates, interview requests, and actual meetings, we’ll use the space below to keep tabs on all the latest updates on teams hiring new offensive and/or defensive coordinators. This post, which will be updated daily, can be found under the “PFR Features” menu on the right-hand side of the site.
Updated 2-13-17 (2:30pm CT)
Offensive Coordinators
Atlanta Falcons (Out: Kyle Shanahan)
- Steve Sarkisian, offensive assistant coach (Alabama): Hired
- Chip Kelly, former head coach (49ers): Falcons have expressed interest
- Matt LaFleur, quarterbacks coach (Falcons): Viewed as candidate
- Mike McDaniel, offensive assistant (Falcons): Viewed as candidate
Buffalo Bills (Out: Anthony Lynn)
- Rick Dennison, former offensive coordinator (Broncos): Hired
- Brad Childress, co-offensive coordinator (Chiefs): Viewed as a top candidate; out of running?
- Ken Dorsey, quarterbacks coach (Panthers): Interviewed
- Greg Olson, former offensive coordinator (Jaguars): Interviewed
- Mike McCoy, former head coach (Chargers): Viewed as likely choice
Denver Broncos (Out: Rick Dennison)
- Mike McCoy, former head coach (Chargers): Hired
- Bill Musgrave, former offensive coordinator (Raiders): Interviewed; named QBs coach
Houston Texans (HC Bill O’Brien will call plays, replacing George Godsey)
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Nathaniel Hackett, interim offensive coordinator (Jaguars): Hired
- Chip Kelly, former head coach (49ers): Interviewed
Los Angeles Rams (Out: Rob Boras)
- Matt LaFleur, quarterbacks coach (Falcons): Hired
- Bill Callahan, offensive line coach (Redskins): Mentioned as possible candidate
- Chris Foerster, offensive line coach (Dolphins): Interview requested, permission denied
New York Jets (Out: Chan Gailey)
- John Morton, wide receivers coach (Saints): Hired
- George Godsey, former offensive coordinator (Texans): Could interview
- Matt Nagy, co-offensive coordinator (Chiefs): Mentioned as possible candidate
- John DeFilippo, quarterbacks coach (Eagles): Interview requested, permission denied
- Mike McCoy, former head coach (Chargers): Mentioned as possible candidate
- Eric Studesville, Running backs coach (Broncos): Interviewed, withdrew from consideration
Oakland Raiders (Hired/Promoted: Todd Downing, replacing Bill Musgrave)
Washington Redskins (Hired/Promoted: Matt Cavanaugh, replacing Sean McVay)
Defensive Coordinators
Atlanta Falcons (Out: Richard Smith)
- Marquand Manuel, secondary coach (Falcons): Hired
- Jerome Henderson, pass game coordinator (Falcons): Mentioned as candidate
- Raheem Morris, wide receivers coach (Falcons): Mentioned as candidate
- Jeff Ulbrich, linebackers coach (Falcons): Mentioned as candidate
Buffalo Bills
- Leslie Frazier, defensive backs coach (Ravens): Hired
- Al Holcomb, linebackers coach (Panthers): Viewed as frontrunner
Carolina Panthers (Hired/Promoted Steve Wilks, replacing Sean McDermott)
Cleveland Browns (Hired: Gregg Williams, replacing Ray Horton)
- Wade Phillips, defensive coordinator (Broncos): Contacted about job
Denver Broncos (Out: Wade Phillips)
- Joe Woods, defensive backs coach (Broncos): Hired
- Reggie Herring, linebackers coach (Broncos): To be interviewed
Houston Texans (Hired/Promoted Mike Vrabel, replacing Romeo Crennel, who was named assistant head coach)
Los Angeles Chargers (Out: John Pagano)
- Gus Bradley, former head coach (Jaguars): Hired
- Ron Milus, defensive backs coach (Chargers): Would have been hired if Bradley went elsewhere
Los Angeles Rams (Out: Gregg Williams)
- Wade Phillips, defensive coordinator (Broncos): Hired
Miami Dolphins (Hired/Promoted: Matt Burke, replacing Vance Joseph)
San Francisco 49ers (Hired: Robert Saleh, Out: Jim O’Neil)
- Robert Saleh, former linebackers coach (Jaguars): Hired
- Brian Flores, linebackers coach (Patriots): Mentioned as candidate
- Jerome Henderson, pass game coordinator (Falcons): Interviewed
- Vic Fangio, defensive coordinator (Bears): Expressed interest, move blocked by Bears
- Gus Bradley, former head coach (Jaguars): Mentioned as candidate
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Signed Mike Smith to extension; Smith withdrew name from Chargers’ HC search)
Washington Redskins (Out: Joe Barry)
- Greg Manusky, outside linebackers coach (Redskins): Hired
- John Pagano, defensive coordinator (Chargers): To be interviewed
- Mike Pettine, former head coach (Browns): Interviewed
- Rob Ryan, former assistant head coach/defense (Bills): Interviewed
- Jason Tarver, linebackers coach (49ers): To be interviewed
- Dennis Thurman, former defensive coordinator (Bills): To be interviewed
- Gus Bradley, former head coach (Jaguars): Hired by Chargers
- Romeo Crennel, assistant head coach (Texans): Denied permission to interview
- Paul Guenther, defensive coordinator (Bengals): Denied permission to interveiew
- Steve Wilks, AHC/DB coach (Panthers): Interview requested, promoted by Panthers
Pep Hamilton Leaving Browns, Joining Michigan
The Browns now have another vacancy on their coaching staff. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports (via Twitter) that associate head coach Pep Hamilton has accepted a job with Michigan to become their assistant head coach/passing coordinator. Reports from this weekend indicated that Hamilton was considering the role, although head coach Hue Jackson expressed optimism that Hamilton would be sticking around Cleveland.
NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports (via Twitter) that Michigan was actually eying Greg Roman for the vacancy. Ironically, Rapoport notes that the coach now may be a contender for the vacancy on the Browns staff. Roman started the season as the Bills offensive coordinator, but he was fired in late September following a loss to the Jets.
Hamilton joined the Browns last offseason following a three-year stint with the Colts. Despite the presence of quarterback Andrew Luck, the Colts offense only had one top-10 season during Hamilton’s tenure. The 42-year-old’s offense predictably struggled during his first season in Cleveland, as the team was forced to rely on five different quarterbacks. Besides his duties as associate head coach, Hamilton also served as the Browns quarterbacks coach.
This will be a reunion of sorts for Hamilton and Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh. Hamilton previously served as Harbaugh’s wide receivers coach while the duo was at Stanford. As Nate Ulrich of Ohio.com writes, the Michigan coaching staff had an opening after passing game coordinator Jedd Fisch left to become UCLA’s offensive coordinator. While there are no reports regarding the length or value of Hamilton’s new contract, Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com notes that Michigan defensive coordinator Don Brown recently earned a five-year contract worth $1.4MM annually.
The Browns filled one hole on their coaching staff yesterday, as the team hired Gregg Williams as their new defensive coordinator.
Hue Jackson Pushing Browns To Hire New GM
The Browns have a new defensive coordinator and there could be more major changes coming down the pike. Coach Hue Jackson has “told numerous associates in and out of the Browns organization” that he would campaign for the team to add a new general manager this offseason, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com. La Canfora adds that Jackson has already compiled a list of candidates that he would like to be considered for the position. 
[RELATED: Browns Sign Eight To Reserve/Futures Contracts]
The Browns do not currently have a GM but Sashi Brown – the team’s “Executive Vice President of Football Operations” – acts as the team’s top decision maker for the roster. Reading between the lines, it sounds like Jackson isn’t thrilled with Brown’s work in the first year of their partnership.
No one expected Cleveland to do much in 2016, but everything has to be evaluated after a dismal 1-15 season. Under Brown, Cleveland amassed an impressive pile of draft picks, but Carson Wentz‘s strong rookie year has led many fans to question the decision to trade away the No. 2 overall pick.
If the Browns do pursue a GM, they might have some overlap with the Niners’ search.
Browns Hire Gregg Williams As DC
SUNDAY, 12:12pm: The Browns have made the hire official, and as Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal tweets, Jackson will allow Williams to bring his own assistants. Therefore, there will be changes on the defensive staff, and Ulrich adds (via Twitter) that Jackson is “not done” evaluating the staff as a whole, so other changes could be on the way. Jackson will, however, retain play-calling duties, as Ulrich tweets.
SATURDAY, 08:22pm: Gregg Williams will replace Ray Horton as the Browns’ defensive coordinator, Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com reports (on Twitter). The team recently extended an offer for the veteran DC to come in, and as a result, “wholesale changes” are coming to the Browns’ defense, per La Canfora.
The 58-year-old DC will transition from a Rams defense he helped elevate into one of the more formidable units in the game over the past three years to one that ranked as the No. 31 DVOA group during a horrendous Browns campaign.
Williams was reportedly open to staying in Los Angeles but understood that was unlikely after Jeff Fisher‘s departure. We heard earlier today Williams could bring some Rams assistants to northeast Ohio with him. He also might be bringing a new defense along. The Rams operated as a 4-3 defense during Williams’ years, and the Browns use a 3-4. Although, Cleveland isn’t exactly at the rebuilding stage where it couldn’t retool.
La Canfora confirms Williams plans to bring three or four coaches to with him to Cleveland, adding that Hue Jackson signed off on this change despite being close to Horton. The reporter adds Horton became unpopular on the personnel side of the organization.
Rebounding after the Bountygate scandal forced him off the sidelines for a year, Williams helped the Rams elevate into an upper-echelon defense this season despite one of the league’s worst offenses. The Browns boasted the league’s No. 27 defense in 2015 and 31st-ranked outfit this season, the latter coming after the organization made a change to go with a grass-roots rebuilding operation. That came after several recent rebuilds failed, but the Browns will have a proven DC around which to construct a stoppage corps in the near future.
This will be Williams’ seventh DC gig, with a three-year HC tenure with the Bills coming in between that lengthy run that dates back to running the Tennessee Oilers’ defense in 1997.
Browns AHC Pep Hamilton Considering Michigan Gig?
SUNDAY, 11:44am: Rapoport tweets that Harbaugh has been telling recruits for several days that Hamilton will be joining his staff at Michigan, but Browns head coach Hue Jackson stated earlier today that he believes Hamilton is staying in Cleveland (Twitter link via Jeff Schudel of the News-Herald).
SATURDAY, 08:49am: A day after the organization fired defensive coordinator Ray Horton, the Browns may be seeing some additional changes to their coaching staff. According to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (via Twitter), associate head coach (and de facto quarterbacks coach) Pep Hamilton may also be on his way out. The long-time coach is considering taking a gig on Jim Harbaugh‘s staff at Michigan. Rapoport is clear that Hamilton wouldn’t be fired, as the Browns are more than willing to keep him on in his current role.
Hamilton joined the Browns last offseason following a three-year stint with the Colts. Despite the presence of talented quarterback Andrew Luck, the Colts offense only finished in the top-10 for points once during his tenure in Indy. Hamilton’s offense predictably struggled during his first season in Cleveland, as the team was forced to rely on five different quarterbacks.
Prior to his Colts gig, Hamilton served as Harbaugh’s wide receivers coach while the duo was at Stanford. As Nate Ulrich of Ohio.com writes, the Michigan coaching staff now has an opening after passing game coordinator Jedd Fisch left to become UCLA’s offensive coordinator. This would presumably be the role that Hamilton would fill. Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com notes that Michigan defensive coordinator Don Brown recently earned a five-year contract worth $1.4MM annually. Considering the instability of the Browns organization, Hamilton would surely be enticed by the money and job security.
Browns Start DC Search
- After firing Ray Horton yesterday, the Browns have started searching for a new defensive coordinator. Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com tweets that the organization reached out to former Jaguars head coach Gus Bradley regarding the opening. ESPN’s Pat McManamon writes that the team also approached Broncos defensive coordinator Wade Phillips.
- We learned yesterday that Rams defensive coordinator Gregg Williams is in “prime position” to get the Browns defensive coordinator gig, and Toni Grossi of ESPNCleveland.com tweets that Williams would bring at least three additional Rams coaches to Cleveland (assuming he gets the job).
- Fortunately for the Browns, it appears that at least one coach will be staying put. Cabot tweets that running backs coach Kirby Wilson isn’t expected to go elsewhere. The longtime coach is a “longtime friend” of Browns head coach Hue Jackson.
[SOURCE LINK]
Browns Give Gregg Williams Deadline To Take DC Job
The Browns’ firing of defensive coordinator Ray Horton is not yet official, but the team is leaning toward making a change, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com was among those to report (Twitter link). Should Horton get the ax, Rams defensive coordinator Gregg Williams would be in prime position to succeed him in Cleveland. The Browns have given Williams until Monday to accept the job, according to Sporting News’ Alex Marvez (Twitter link).
Browns To Fire DC Ray Horton
Ray Horton is out as defensive coordinator in Cleveland, according to Alex Marvez of The Sporting News (on Twitter). Already, the search is on for his replacement. Gregg Williams has been offered the job and Broncos defensive coordinator Wade Phillips has been contacted about the vacancy. 
The Browns were a dumpster fire on both sides of the ball this year, but head coach Hue Jackson apparently feels that the team will need a philosophical change on defense. This year, the Browns finished next-to-last in defensive DVOA and they would have been dead last if it weren’t for the Lions’ awful ratings.
Williams is currently in the midst of his second stint as the Rams’ defensive coordinator. After coach Jeff Fisher was canned, the Rams informed all assistants that they were free to seek other jobs. Williams, naturally, isn’t just waiting around to see if the next head coach in L.A. wants to keep him on board. However, the Cleveland job might not be the gig he has his eye on. There are better situations out there from a personnel standpoint, including the Redskins gig.
Phillips has enjoyed great success in Denver, but he is on an expiring contract and unlikely to return. Phillips would be a splashy hire for a Browns team desperately seeking advancement in 2017.
Browns Sign Eight To Reserve/Futures Contracts
Here are today’s reserve/futures contract signings from around the NFL. These deals will go into effect on the first day of the 2017 league year, with players joining their respective clubs’ offseason 90-man rosters.
Baltimore Ravens
- WR Kenny Bell
- OL Jarell Broxton
- RB Stephen Houston
- OL Jarrod Pughsley
- OL Matt Skura
- QB Dustin Vaughan
Carolina Panthers
- T Blaine Clausell
- DT Eric Crume
- WR Keyarris Garrett
- CB Tyler Patmon
- RB Jalen Simmons
- TE Scott Simonson
- T Pearce Slater
- T Tyrus Thompson
- TE Eric Wallace
2017 NFL Draft Order
The Browns almost blew it yesterday. In the regular season finale, the Browns took the Steelers to overtime before ultimately losing 27-24. Had they won, the Browns would have been picking at No. 2 instead of the top position. Meanwhile, the Jaguars nearly slipped to No. 5, but they held their ground in the draft order when they lost 24-20 to the Colts. Phew.
The playoffs will help determine the bottom 12 picks, but the draft order has now been set for most of the NFL. Here is the list, with ties being broken by strength of schedule:
1. Browns (1-15)
2. 49ers (2-14)
3. Bears (3-13)
4. Jaguars (3-13)
5. Titans (via the 4-12 Rams)
6. Jets (5-11)
7. Chargers (5-11)
8. Panthers (6-10)
9. Bengals (6-9-1)
10. Bills (7-9)
11. Saints (7-9)
12. Browns (via the 7-9 Eagles)
13. Cardinals (7-8-1)
T-14. Eagles (via the 8-8 Minnesota Vikings)
T-14. Colts (8-8) (Note: The Vikings and Colts have identical records and the same strength of schedule. The tie will be broke by coin flip with the winner getting pick No. 14 and the other team getting the No. 15 pick.)
16. Ravens (8-8)
17. Redskins (8-7-1)
18. Titans (9-7)
19. Buccaneers (9-7)
20. Broncos (9-7)