Steve Sarkisian Agrees To Texas Extension
One of the college coaches who has been listed as a name to watch for the 2025 NFL hiring cycle is Steve Sarkisian. He will not be making the jump to the pro game at this time, however. 
Sarkisian has agreed to an extension at Texas, Brett McMurphy of Action Network and ESPN’s Pete Thamel report. One year has been added to his existing pact, meaning he is now set to remain with the school through 2031. That could of course change with renewed interest from the NFL, but for at least one more campaign he will carry on at the helm of the Longhorns.
Interestingly, McMurphy’s report notes Sarkisian turned down a pair of interview requests from NFL teams seeking a head coach. Six vacancies are currently in place around the league (Bears, Cowboys, Jaguars, Raiders, Saints, Jets), although Dallas was not among the teams to reach out as an expression of interest as of earlier this week. David Moore of the Dallas Morning News confirms the Cowboys were not one of the two clubs to request an interview.
Presuming the Patriots did not reach out prior to making the anticipated move of hiring Mike Vrabel, that leaves Chicago, Jacksonville, Las Vegas, New Orleans and New York as the group which produced a pair of interview requests. Prior to the conclusion of the regular season, a report noted interest in Sarkisian was expected for this year’s hiring cycle. That proved to be the case, something which obviously helped his leverage in negotiating an extension. As Thamel notes, Sarkisian secured a “significant raise” with this new deal.
The 50-year-old has been at Texas since 2021, amassing a 38-17 record during that span. Sarkisian has guided the Longhorns to the CFP seminals each of the past two seasons, and expectations will remain high for the program moving forward. Also a previous head coach at Washington and USC, Sarkisian’s coaching resume includes a two-year run as the Falcons’ offensive coordinator (2017-18). A return to the NFL could be in the cards down the road, but that will not be the case next season.
Aaron Glenn A HC Candidate In Dallas?
Compared to the other open head coaching positions, we have heard relatively little about the possibilities in Dallas. So far, the names connected to the Cowboys are few and far between as the team has interviewed just two candidates and only has one other interview on the schedule. That makes it noteworthy to see Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports reporting Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn as “a name to watch closely” in connection to the job. 
Like his coworker on the offensive side of the ball in Detroit, Glenn’s name has been an extremely popular one in multiple searches for a new head coach around the league. He has been mentioned as a candidate for every other open position, already having interviewed with the Jets (1/9), Raiders (1/10), Saints (1/10), Bears (1/11), and Jaguars (1/11) and declining an interview with the Patriots. While New York has reportedly been extremely interested in adding the 52-year-old to lead their staff, so far, the Saints have been heavily linked as a favorite to land Glenn.
Dallas, on the other hand, has been fairly inactive in their search after they got a late start on the process. They’ve interviewed their former quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator and current Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore (1/17) and former Jets head coach Robert Saleh (1/18), and they have an interview scheduled with former Vikings head coach and current Seahawks assistant head coach Leslie Frazier for Monday. They’ve shown interest in two collegiate head coaches, but North Carolina’s Bill Belichick remains committed to the Tar Heels, and the interest in Colorado’s Deion Sanders has not resulted in anything substantial as of yet.
A Houston native, Glenn played for four of the teams with open jobs (Jets, Cowboys, Jaguars, and Saints) as a cornerback in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The proximity of Dallas and New Orleans to his hometown could be factors in their relevance during his job search, as well. He also spent time on the coaching staff in New Orleans for five seasons as defensive backs coach before landing the coordinator job in Detroit.
Glenn is perhaps the most sought-after coach in this coaching cycle, as evidenced by his connection to every open job so far. The Cowboys will need to make up some ground on a number of teams that have over a week’s head start on courting Glenn in order to contend for his services. Team owner/president/general manager Jerry Jones, though, reportedly holds Glenn in “especially high regard,” so their pursuit may be starting soon.
NFL Coaching Rumors: Johnson, Orlovsky, Sanders
There has been a bit of criticism in recent days over the interview process for head coaching candidates on playoff teams as coordinators for the Lions, Bills, Chiefs, Eagles, and Ravens have all been participating in interviews during their free time throughout the week. Many of the teams looking to fill head coaching jobs will be watching the Lions’ game against the Commanders tonight, as the results could be a big catalyst for things to come.
According to Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports, if Detroit were to fall to the Commanders tonight, a chain reaction could result for coaching jobs as a mad dash would be incoming to complete in-person interviews with both offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn. If the Lions continue to win, though, it could continue to stall the hiring process until both coaches become available for in-person interviews.
In anticipation for this expected interest, Johnson has hired a new agent, Rick Smith of Priority Sports, per Ryan Glasspiegel of Front Office Sports. Smith will likely be apprised of what Johnson’s preferences are and will be fielding phones calls for second interviews as soon as he becomes available.
Johnson has interviewed for the Bears’, Jaguars’, and Raiders’ open positions, as well as the Patriots’ job that was filled by Mike Vrabel. He has not been mentioned as a candidate in New Orleans or New York, and ESPN’s Adam Schefter doesn’t believe he’s in play for the Cowboys’ job.
Here are some other coaching rumors from around the league:
- One media name has been floating around coaching rumors as former NFL quarterback and ESPN personality Dan Orlovsky has expressed interest in entering the coaching world. Orlovsky claimed on the Pat McAfee Show that he’s “had conversations with places about stuff in the coaching world.” While he’s very happy with his place on television, ESPN jobs are pretty unstable, as we’ve seen in recent years, and Orlovsky admits that if the right situation presented itself, he would be open to exploring it. Later in the week on the show, Schefter confirmed that Orlovsky has been communicating with teams in search of any positions that may fit the bill and interest him. Orlovsky’s interest would be more in the realm of a quarterbacks coach or perhaps even an offensive coordinator gig, but nothing substantial seems to be forming as of yet.
- There’s been a lot of momentum lately on Colorado head coach Deion Sanders as a candidate for the Cowboys‘ open position. One hurdle mentioned has been a roughly $10MM buyout that could certainly be a deterrent in landing his services. NFL Insider Josina Anderson recently pointed out another hurdle in the process. In order to formally interview Sanders, the Cowboys would need to obtain approval from the school’s athletic director, Rick George, and inform the league office.
Kellen Moore, Jason Witten Viewed As Strong Contenders For Cowboys’ HC Position?
Much of the discourse around the Cowboys’ head coaching vacancy has been dominated by Deion Sanders. While it remains to be seen how willing the Colorado coach and owner Jerry Jones will be to move forward with such a hire, other names are worth watching. 
Former Cowboys offensive coordinator Kellen Moore is on Dallas’ interview list. He will speak with the team today before ultimately turning his attention back to the Eagles’ upcoming divisional round game. Moore vastly outranks longtime Cowboys tight end Jason Witten in terms of time spent on the sidelines, but his name has also been floated with respect to the HC gig or at least another spot on Dallas’ staff.
Taking things one step further, Tony Pauline of Sportskeeda reports both Moore and Witten are considered to have a strong chance at being hired by Jones. The former quickly transitioned from his quarterback career to the sidelines, serving as the Cowboys’ QBs coach in 2018. He was promoted to offensive coordinator one year later and held that title for four seasons. With then-head coach Mike McCarthy taking on play-calling duties in 2023, Moore moved on to the Chargers for one year before winding up in his current Eagles posting.
Philadelphia’s passing efficiency has been a talking point for much of the season, but the team’s strong rushing attack played a big role in the current run to Round 2 of the playoffs. Moore, 35, also has an interview lined up with the Jaguars today and another with the Saints tomorrow for their respective HC positions.
Witten’s “realistic shot” (as Pauline terms it) to succeed McCarthy is notable given his inexperience as a coach. The 11-time Pro Bowler retired in 2018 but wound up returning to play two more seasons before hanging up his cleats for good. Since then, his four years leading Liberty Christian School in Texas (which includes a pair of state championships) represent the extent of his coaching tenure. As NFL Network’s Jane Slater notes, Witten has been in contact with Jones recently and was set to be part of Dallas’ 2025 coaching staff in the event McCarthy had remained in place (video link).
Such a setup could very well have set Witten up as a potential successor to McCarthy, but now that the team will be going in another direction it remains to be seen what will happen on that front. Slater notes Jones’ affinity for Witten, 42, could still land him a position of some kind on the team’s coaching staff. Jumping from his current situation all the way to an NFL HC position would remain surprising regardless of how Jones views his other options.
Pauline’s sources note that Sanders is not viewed as being a true contender to land the position at this point. The Hall of Famer corner is not considered ready to handle a head coaching gig in any market, they add. If Jones agrees with that assessment, Moore and Witten’s respective candidacies will increasingly become worth monitoring.
Courtesy of PFR’s head coaching search tracker, here is an updated breakdown of where things stand with the Cowboys:
- Bill Belichick, head coach (North Carolina): Mutual interest would have existed
- Leslie Frazier, assistant head coach (Seahawks): To interview 1/20
- Kellen Moore, offensive coordinator (Eagles): To interview 1/17; strong contender?
- Robert Saleh, former head coach (Jets): To interview
- Deion Sanders, head coach (Colorado): Discussions commenced; no deal expected
- Jason Witten, head coach (Liberty Christian School): Strong contender?
OL Notes: Thuney, Packers, Cowboys, Bears
Joe Thuney landed on the All-Pro first team at his natural left guard position, but as the Chiefs have struggled to find a left tackle solution this season, they had kicked their standout LG to that post. Although in-season free agency addition D.J. Humphries is healthy, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler notes Kansas City will leave Thuney at LT. This arrangement has featured Mike Caliendo at left guard. Humphries, who rehabbed an ACL tear for most of 2024 as a free agent, suffered a hamstring injury during his Chiefs debut. Thuney has fared much better than Wanya Morris or second-round rookie Kingsley Suamataia, the latter having won the job out of training camp. While the two-time reigning champions will have work to do at this spot soon, it appears their threepeat push will feature Thuney at LT the rest of the way.
Here is the latest from the O-line ranks:
- The Packers have both their primary tackle starters (Rasheed Walker, Zach Tom) under contract for 2025, and Elgton Jenkins is tied to a lucrative extension. With Jordan Morgan‘s rookie deal going through 2027, Green Bay only has one key UFA-to-be on its offensive front. Four-year center starter Josh Myers is out of contract, but GM Brian Gutekunst labeled (via the Green Bay Press-Gazette’s Ryan Wood) the blocker as having “his best year.” Perhaps more importantly, Gutekunst praised how Myers and Jordan Love work as a combo on offense. Although Ryan Kelly is the biggest name among available centers, Myers’ age (26) and experience (56 starts) will help him become one of the top interior O-linemen on the market. The Packers last faced a decision on a center in 2021, when they let Corey Linsley walk before drafting Myers. It will be interesting to see how they address the situation with Myers.
- Also in Green Bay, Gutekunst noted that there could be some shuffling in the offensive line starters’ positions. Notably, he mentioned that Tom, who has started every game at right tackle for the past two years, could potentially shift over to the blind side, per Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Back in 2022, Tom’s rookie season, the Wake Forest alum started games at both left tackle and left guard, and Gutekunst believes Tom could play any of the five positions, though he lauds that the 25-year-old has established himself at tackle and could end up starting on the left side.
- In the recent past Jerry Jones and the Cowboys have been extremely fortunate when forced to start rookie offensive linemen. Players like Tyler Smith, Tyler Biadasz, Connor Williams, and Zack Martin have all been players who immediately (or almost immediately) stepped in to great success on the offensive line in Dallas. This year, Jones hoped he’d be able to count to two rookies drafted in the first three rounds once again, starting first-round Oklahoma tackle Tyler Guyton and third-round Kansas State center Cooper Beebe for a combined 27 games. Guyton was drafted to replace departed veteran Tyron Smith, but the rookie was in a bit over his head this season. Out of 81 players graded at the position by Pro Football Focus (subscription required), Guyton graded out as the 73rd-best tackle, getting benched near the end of the season. Beebe faired a bit better in 16 starts but only ranked as the 16th-best center in the league, per PFF. According to Jon Machota of The Athletic, Jones admitted on a radio interview with 105.3 The FAN that he “probably got a little out over (his) skis thinking, ‘just plug those guys in.'”
- Offensive guard Matt Pryor has bounced around quite a bit over his first six years in the NFL, getting traded halfway through his rookie deal from Philadelphia to Indianapolis before spending a year each in San Francisco and Chicago. In his sixth NFL season, Pryor, who had only filled in as a starter over his first five years, found himself starting 15 games this season for the Bears. According to Adam Jahns of The Athletic, Pryor wouldn’t mind putting down some roots, saying “he’d like to return” after the one-year deal he played on this season. He graded out decently (21st of 77) per PFF, so he could fetch some money on the free agent market, but it sounds like he’s interested in staying in Chicago.
Ely Allen contributed to this post.
Deion Sanders Still In Play For Cowboys?
Deion Sanders has repeatedly said he is not interested in coaching in the NFL, but the Hall of Fame cornerback also admitted speaking with Jerry Jones about the Cowboys’ job brought intrigue. Despite Sanders attempting to reaffirm his commitment to Colorado shortly after the Jones conversation became public, rumblings about an NFL path persist.
Sanders’ Monday comments pointed to the Big 12 leader staying at the college level, but WFAA’s Ed Werder cautions this might not be a done deal yet. If Jones were to offer Sanders the Dallas job, Werder adds the popular HC would almost definitely accept. Some Sanders associates are also believed to be backing a push from the coach to land this job, and Jones is believed to be “enamored” with the idea of what would be an unorthodox hire.
Arguably the best cornerback in NFL history, Sanders played five seasons with Dallas. After swinging the NFL’s power balance to San Francisco upon signing there in 1994, Sanders’ pivot to Dallas restored Jones’ franchise as the NFL’s premier team via a Super Bowl XXX win. Sanders has maintained a good relationship with the owner and certainly understands the team’s culture. Though, Colorado contract talks are also a central component here.
Sanders is two seasons into a five-year Buffaloes deal, and NFL.com’s Jane Slater reports an extension is potentially on the table. Denver7’s Troy Renck also alludes to a Colorado extension being key in Sanders’ offseason. It would cost roughly $10MM for the Cowboys to get Sanders out of his current Buffaloes contract, per Slater, with that number reducing in future years. Skepticism about Jones paying a buyout also emerged earlier this week, pertaining to Bill Belichick‘s $10MM North Carolina buyout.
This would be a way to create leverage, and the 57-year-old coach certainly has a past maximizing such opportunities — as the 1995 free agency sweepstakes remind. Deion will also see son Shedeur leave his program for the NFL this year. No realistic opportunity to coach his son in the pros, a prospect the former Jackson State HC has said would appeal to him, would exist in Dallas, with Dak Prescott signing the NFL’s most lucrative deal back in September.
The Cowboys’ interest in Sanders is “absolutely real,” according to Slater, and while this is one of the country’s highest-profile coaching jobs, it also features steady Jones influence since the owner doubles as the team’s GM. Jones regularly addresses the media, which other GMs do not do, and has played an omnipresent role during McCarthy and past Dallas HCs’ tenures. Sanders would seemingly enjoy a greater level of autonomy in Boulder.
Jones also asked McCarthy to reduce his staff previously, Slater notes, offering another potential complication. As Sanders does not call plays and has only coached in major college football for two seasons, a high-profile assistant crop may be necessary were Jones to sign off on this. Jones is not known for high payments to coaches.
Steve Sarkisian has come up as a potential NFL option, despite his struggles as Falcons OC in the late 2010s, but Slater adds Jones has not contacted the Texas HC yet. The Cowboys have reached out to their former OC, Kellen Moore, with an official interview request. Moore would be a more conventional hire than Sanders, but the latter obviously would generate considerably more interest in the team. And it does not appear the Sanders-to-Dallas path is closed just yet.
Cowboys To Interview Kellen Moore For HC
10:30am: Moore is expected to interview virtually for the position Friday, ESPN.com’s Todd Archer tweets. The Cowboys will join the Jaguars and Saints in speaking with the experienced play-caller before the Eagles’ divisional-round Rams matchup.
9:56am: Now coaching a 14-3 Eagles team preparing for the divisional round, Kellen Moore has improved his stock from where it was after his one-and-done as Chargers OC. As could be expected, the veteran OC’s other former NFL employer has circled back to him.
In need of a head coach for the first time in five years, the Cowboys are interested in a potential Moore reunion. They have sent the Philadelphia play-caller an interview request, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo report. Moore previously spent four seasons as the Cowboys’ OC.
[RELATED: 2025 NFL Head Coaching Search Tracker]
Moore, 36, has an extensive history in Dallas. The former Tony Romo and Dak Prescott backup transitioned to quarterbacks coach immediately upon retiring, landing that job while still in his 20s. The Cowboys thought so highly of Moore they bumped him to OC during Jason Garrett‘s final year and kept him aboard despite changing coaching staffs. Mike McCarthy turned to Moore as his play-caller for the first three years of his HC tenure, before the sides separated in 2023. Moore is now in play to replace his former boss.
Joining Leslie Frazier and Robert Saleh as confirmed candidates (along with Deion Sanders, who is lurking here), Moore brings six years of OC experience despite not yet being in his late 30s. He has been at the controls for Saquon Barkley‘s dominant season — one that likely would have produced the single-season rushing record had Nick Sirianni opted to play the All-Pro in Week 18 — and is one of the catalysts for the Eagles motoring to the NFC’s No. 2 seed after a 2023 collapse. The Eagles rank seventh in scoring offense.
The Saints and Jaguars have met with Moore during this year’s cycle. The Colts interviewed him in 2023. After the Cowboys’ 12-5 2021 campaign, four teams — the Broncos, Dolphins, Jags and Vikings — spoke with Moore, who came up as a name to watch for this Dallas vacancy hours after the team’s McCarthy dismissal. The Chargers also hired Moore as OC within hours of his 2023 split with McCarthy.
While Jalen Hurts has not progressed this season and Moore’s year-long Justin Herbert mentorship did not lead to substantial growth, he did plenty to elevate Prescott during his time in Dallas. Prescott broke through as a passer in 2019, throwing 30 touchdown passes and thus upping his extension price, and then compiled a 37-10 TD-INT ratio in his first season back from a fractured ankle. The 2019 Cowboys led the NFL in total offense, while the 2021 unit paced the league in scoring. It is fair to place Prescott’s 2022 regression (league-high 15 INTs) on Moore as well, but several teams have sought HC interviews with the former Boise State QB during his coaching run. This may be the most important one yet.
Moore’s Cowboys interview must be virtual, if it is to occur this week, and the Cowboys’ delayed decision on McCarthy will present a time crunch. Moore will meet with the Jags and Saints by Saturday, SI.com’s Albert Breer notes. If the Cowboys do not squeeze in a meeting before the Eagles’ divisional-round game, they would need to wait until the team is eliminated (or hold off until the Super Bowl bye week in the event Philly books another berth).
2025 NFL Head Coaching Search Tracker
With the Cowboys and Mike McCarthy splitting up, seven teams have made coaching changes so far during this year’s cycle. Here are the candidates connected to each of the HC-needy franchises. If more teams make changes, they will be added to the list.
Updated 2-11-25 (11:40am CT)
Chicago Bears
- Bill Belichick, head coach (North Carolina): Candidate expressed interest
- Joe Brady, offensive coordinator (Bills): Interviewed 1/17
- Thomas Brown, interim head coach (Bears): Interviewed 1/13
- Matt Campbell, head coach (Iowa State): Interview expected
- Pete Carroll, former head coach (Seahawks): Interviewed 1/9; hired by Raiders
- Brian Flores, defensive coordinator (Vikings): Interviewed 1/18
- Marcus Freeman, head coach (Notre Dame): Team wants to interview
- Eddie George, head coach (Tennessee State): Interviewed 1/19
- Aaron Glenn, defensive coordinator (Lions): Interviewed 1/11
- Ben Johnson, offensive coordinator (Lions): Hired
- Mike Kafka, offensive coordinator (Giants): Interviewed 1/9
- Kliff Kingsbury, offensive coordinator (Commanders): Interview requested, won’t interview until after season
- Mike McCarthy, head coach (Cowboys): Interviewed 1/15
- Todd Monken, offensive coordinator (Ravens): Interviewed 1/17; to remain with Ravens
- Drew Petzing, offensive coordinator (Cardinals): Interviewed 1/8
- Ron Rivera, former head coach (Commanders): Interviewed 1/12
- David Shaw, senior personnel executive (Broncos): Interviewed 1/14
- Arthur Smith, offensive coordinator (Steelers): Interviewed 1/15
- Adam Stenavich, offensive coordinator (Packers): Interviewed 1/18
- Mike Tomlin, head coach (Steelers): Denied meeting
- Mike Vrabel, former head coach (Titans): Interviewed 1/8; hired by Patriots
- Anthony Weaver, defensive coordinator (Dolphins): Interviewed 1/9
Dallas Cowboys
- Bill Belichick, head coach (North Carolina): Mutual interest would have existed
- Pete Carroll, former head coach (Seahawks): Discussed position; hired by Raiders
- Leslie Frazier, assistant head coach (Seahawks): Interviewed 1/20
- Aaron Glenn, defensive coordinator (Lions): Mentioned as candidate; hired by Jets
- Kliff Kingsbury, offensive coordinator (Commanders): Mentioned as candidate; won’t interview until after season
- Anthony Lynn, run game coordinator/running backs coach (Commanders: Mutual interest expressed
- Kellen Moore, offensive coordinator (Eagles): Interviewed 1/17; frontrunner?
- Robert Saleh, former head coach (Jets): Interviewed 1/18
- Deion Sanders, head coach (Colorado): Discussions commenced; no deal expected
- Brian Schottenheimer, offensive coordinator (Cowboys): Hired
- Jason Witten, head coach (Liberty Christian School): Strong contender?
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Joe Brady, offensive coordinator (Bills): Interviewed 1/18
- Liam Coen, offensive coordinator (Buccaneers): Hired
- Brian Flores, defensive coordinator (Vikings): Interviewed 1/17
- Aaron Glenn, defensive coordinator (Lions): Interviewed 1/11; hired by Jets
- Patrick Graham, defensive coordinator (Raiders): Conducted second interview 1/23
- Ben Johnson, offensive coordinator (Lions): Interviewed 1/11; hired by Bears
- Kliff Kingsbury, offensive coordinator (Commanders): Rumored candidate, won’t interview until after season
- Todd Monken, offensive coordinator (Ravens): Interviewed 1/16; to remain with Ravens
- Kellen Moore, offensive coordinator (Eagles): Interviewed 1/17
- Robert Saleh, former head coach (Jets): Second interview on hold
- Steve Spagnuolo, defensive coordinator (Chiefs): Interviewed 1/10
- Mike Vrabel, former head coach (Titans): Mentioned as candidate; hired by Patriots
Las Vegas Raiders
- Bill Belichick, head coach (North Carolina): Contacted about job
- Pete Carroll, former head coach (Seahawks): Hired
- Brian Flores, defensive coordinator (Vikings): Mentioned as candidate
- Aaron Glenn, defensive coordinator (Lions): Interviewed 1/10; hired by Jets
- Ben Johnson, offensive coordinator (Lions): Interviewed 1/10; hired by Bears
- Vance Joseph, defensive coordinator (Broncos): Interviewed 1/16
- Todd Monken, offensive coordinator (Ravens): Interview declined; to remain with Ravens
- Ron Rivera, former head coach (Commanders): Interviewed 1/17
- Robert Saleh, former head coach (Jets): Interviewed 1/16
- Deion Sanders, head coach (Colorado): Reportedly interested, but interest is not mutual
- Steve Spagnuolo, defensive coordinator (Chiefs): Interviewed 1/10
- Mike Vrabel, former head coach (Titans): Interview declined; hired by Patriots
New England Patriots
- Brian Flores, defensive coordinator (Vikings): Interested in position
- Aaron Glenn, defensive coordinator (Lions): Interview declined
- Pep Hamilton, former offensive coordinator (Texans): Interviewed 1/7
- Ben Johnson, offensive coordinator (Lions): Interviewed 1/10
- Byron Leftwich, former offensive coordinator (Buccaneers): Interviewed 1/7
- Mike Vrabel, former head coach (Titans): Hired
New Orleans Saints
- Joe Brady, offensive coordinator (Bills): Hope to schedule second interview; remaining with Bills
- Aaron Glenn, defensive coordinator (Lions): To conduct second interview; hired by Jets
- Mike Kafka, offensive coordinator (Giants): Conducted second interview 1/25
- Kliff Kingsbury, offensive coordinator (Commanders): To stay with Commanders
- Mike McCarthy, head coach (Cowboys): Withdrew from consideration
- Kellen Moore, offensive coordinator (Eagles): Hired
- Matt Nagy, offensive coordinator (Chiefs): Mentioned as candidate
- Darren Rizzi, interim head coach (Saints): Interviewed 1/17
- Mike Vrabel, former head coach (Titans): Interview being arranged; hired by Patriots
- Anthony Weaver, defensive coordinator (Dolphins): Conducted second interview 1/24
New York Jets
- Bill Belichick, head coach (North Carolina): Showed interest; meeting never scheduled
- Joe Brady, offensive coordinator (Bills): To interview
- Brian Flores, defensive coordinator (Vikings): Interviewed 1/17
- Aaron Glenn, defensive coordinator (Lions): Conducted second interview 1/21; Hired
- Brian Griese, quarterbacks coach (49ers): Interview declined
- Jeff Hafley, defensive coordinator (Packers): Interviewed 1/17
- Vance Joseph, defensive coordinator (Broncos): Interviewed 1/15
- Mike Locksley, head coach (Maryland): Interviewed 1/10
- Josh McCown, quarterbacks coach (Vikings): Interviewed 1/17
- Matt Nagy, offensive coordinator (Chiefs): Interviewed 1/8
- Ron Rivera, former head coach (Commanders): Interviewed
- Darren Rizzi, interim head coach (Saints): Interviewed 1/11
- Rex Ryan, former head coach (Bills): Interviewed 1/7
- Bobby Slowik, offensive coordinator (Texans): Interviewed 1/16
- Steve Spagnuolo, defensive coordinator (Chiefs): Interviewed 1/10
- Arthur Smith, offensive coordinator (Steelers): Interviewed 1/16
- Jeff Ulbrich, interim head coach (Jets): Interviewed 1/13; hired as Falcons’ defensive coordinator
- Mike Vrabel, former head coach (Titans): Interviewed 1/3; hired by Patriots
- Joe Whitt, defensive coordinator (Commanders): Interviewed 1/19
Cowboys Request Interview With Leslie Frazier
Veteran coach Leslie Frazier‘s road back to a head coaching position continues this offseason. The former Vikings head coach has been requested to interview for the open head coach job in Dallas today, according to Todd Archer of ESPN. 
A disciple of the Andy Reid-coaching tree, Frazier got his NFL start as a defensive backs coach for the Eagles in 1999. It didn’t take long for Frazier to get his first defensive coordinator gig in 2003 for the Bengals. Despite making major improvements to the unit over two seasons, Frazier was dismissed. After two years as an assistant to Tony Dungy in Indianapolis, Frazier was hired as defensive coordinator in Minnesota in 2007. He added the assistant head coach title in 2008 and eventually had to step up as interim head coach when the team fired Brad Childress.
Frazier became one of the few examples of interim head coaches getting the permanent job the following year. Though he struggled through his first season with the team, going 3-13, his second season saw a 10-6 record take the Vikings to the playoffs, the biggest single-season turnaround in franchise history. The success wouldn’t last long, though. A 5-10-1 season in 2013 led to Frazier’s dismissal.
Frazier spent the next two years as defensive coordinator for Tampa Bay, thought the team did not pick up his option for another year. He worked for a year as the Ravens defensive backs coach before getting hired as the Bills defensive coordinator in 2017. Frazier found a home in Buffalo, staying in one place for over five years for only the second time in his coaching career.
Eventually, though, in 2023, Frazier made the choice to step away from the team in order to pursue another head coaching gig. After sitting out the 2023 NFL season, Frazier participated in head coaching interviews for the Raiders and Chargers and a defensive coordinator interview for the Dolphins. After failing to land another position, Frazier took a position on rookie head coach Mike Macdonald‘s staff in Seattle as assistant head coach.
His pursuit for a second chance as a head coach will continue with this interview to replace Mike McCarthy in Dallas. He becomes just the fourth candidate mentioned for his position. Here’s the full list of candidates mentioned for the Cowboys:
- Bill Belichick, head coach (North Carolina): Mutual interest would have existed
- Leslie Frazier, assistant head coach (Seahawks): Interview requested
- Robert Saleh, former head coach (Jets): Interview expected
- Deion Sanders, head coach (Colorado): Discussions commenced; no deal expected
49ers Notes: Ward, Kittle, Juszczyk, OL
The 49ers are heading into a pivotal offseason, headlined by oncoming negotiations with Brock Purdy on a long-term extension.
Among the 49ers’ pending free agents is cornerback Charvarius Ward, who has started 46 of the team’s 51 games since joining on a three-year, $40.5MM contract during free agency in 2022. Only one of those absences was due to injury, though. The other four were personal: Ward stepped away from the team for three weeks after his daughter, Amani Joy, passed away in October, and later sat out in Week 17 to welcome a son, Charvarius Jr.
Ward acknowledged that the personal tragedy he endured this year may impact his decision to return to San Francisco in 2025.
“I’ve got a lot of trauma in California,” Ward said (via ESPN’s Nick Wagoner). “I had a lot of great times, but the worst thing that’s ever happened to me, that’s probably going to ever happen to me — knock on wood — happened in California.”
Ward’s free agency situation is a glimpse into how players’ personal lives – not just the desire for money or championships – can factor into their career decisions.
“It can just bring up bad memories,” continued Ward. “Every time I get on a plane and come back to California, Santa Clara, San Jose, and show up here, it just brings up bad memories.”
Ward’s girlfriend does not want to live in California after the tragedy, further pulling him away from San Francisco. The couple had their son in Dallas, where Ward began his NFL career as an undrafted free agent with the Cowboys. They are on his list of desired destinations in free agency, along with other teams in the south where he grew up and attended college.
The 28-year-old hasn’t ruled out a return to the 49ers, saying that general manager John Lynch has talked to him about re-signing, but he’s not sure they can afford him. San Francisco already signed Deommodore Lenoir to a five-year extension worth just under $90MM after using a second-round pick on Renardo Green in last April’s draft.
Ward should be able to match or beat Lenoir’s contract as an unrestricted free agent. He was excellent in 2023, earning Pro Bowl and second-team All-Pro selections, and his step back in 2024 is perfectly understandable considering his personal tragedy. Though the 49ers are projected to have $46.5MM in cap space this offseason, per OverTheCap, another top-15 cornerback deal might not be available with multiple other contract situations to figure out.
Here is the latest out of San Francisco:
- For example, the 49ers may be considering an extension for All-Pro tight end George Kittle, who set league records with his last extension. His $15MM per-year average set a new high for tight ends at the time of signing (2020), and his $75MM in total money remains the most in the position’s history. He is “all ears” to ideas from the 49ers front office and emphasized that he wants to stay in San Francisco for the rest of his career, per Wagoner.
- Fellow offensive chess piece Kyle Juszczyk also hopes to stay in San Francisco, according to Wagoner. The veteran fullback took a pay cut last offseason and will count for $6.5MM against the 49ers’ salary cap in 2025. He could be a cap casualty this offseason, but Kyle Shanahan will be hard-pressed to find another player who can fill Juszczyk’s diverse role in the offense. He’s earned eight straight Pro Bowls since signing with the 49ers and will likely remain a crucial part of their offensive attack.
- The 49ers also have a few offensive line spots to evaluate this offseason. Right guard Aaron Banks is expected to price himself out of San Francisco after last year’s explosion in the position’s free agency market. Ben Bartch is also a free agent, but he will be cheaper to retain and could take over for Banks in 2025. At center, meanwhile, the 49ers will likely stick with veteran Jake Brendel, but 2022 sixth-rounder Nick Zakelj could factor into the team’s future plans, per Matt Barrows of The Athletic.
- The 49ers almost added another cornerback last offseason, pursuing now-Lions defender Amik Robertson in free agency, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. Robertson opted for a two-year, $9.25MM deal in Detroit, where he managed to avoid the defense’s injury bug to appear in 17 games, including three starts to end the regular season. He is now set to play a major role in the Lions’ postseason push for a Super Bowl.
