Falcons Add James Liipfert, Ian Cunningham, Josh Williams To GM Interview List
With the Falcons’ search for a new president of football operations and head coach complete, the team is now looking for their next general manager.
Three names have been added to the list: Texans assistant GM James Liipfert (via The Athletic’s Dianna Russini), Bears assitant GM Ian Cunningham (via Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer), and 49ers director of scouting and football operations Josh Williams (via ESPN’s Adam Schefter). That trio joins Steelers assistant GM Andy Weidl as Atlanta’s first four candidates.
Liipfert got his NFL start with the Patriots. He spent nine years in New England in various scouting roles before joining the Texans as their new director of college scouting in 2019. Liipfert began to move up the chain after Nick Caserio, a former Patriots colleague, was installed as the Texans’ general manager. Liipfert became the assistant director of player personnel in 2022, replaced ‘assistant’ with ‘executive’ in his title the following year, and moved up to assistant GM last June. His job, however, has largely stayed the same. He manages the Texans’ college scouting operations and has therefore played a huge role in building their current roster, which is powered by homegrown players.
Cunningham interviewed for the Falcons’ football operations job that went to Matt Ryan. It never seemed like anyone but Ryan would secure that position, but Cunningham did enough in his first meeting with the team that he is now under consideration for general manager. He interviewed for several jobs over the last few years, including the Jaguars’ and Titans’ GM jobs last offseason. He was thought to be a finalist for those jobs, as well as the Commanders’ vacancy in 2024. Like Liipfert, he has spent his career largely focused on scouting.
Williams also interviewed for what is now Ryan’s job and was a finalist for the Jaguars’ opening last year. He was also a finalist in the Dolphins’ search for a new GM this year, though Miami went with Jon-Eric Sullivan instead. In San Francisco, Williams oversees pro and college scouting and also assists in contract negotiations.
It is clear that the Falcons are looking to draft a general manager with a background in scouting. There are a number of young stars in Atlanta, but almost all of them were secured with first- or second-round picks. In the third round and beyond, former GM Terry Fontenot struggled to find players who could become starters while still on their rookie contract. His successor would look to correct that pattern to add more depth and build around players like Drake London and Bijan Robinson.
Texans Likely To Retain OC Nick Caley
JANUARY 21: GM Nick Caserio said Wednesday (via Wilson) he anticipates Caley returning for a second season as OC. Wilson indicates Caley will indeed be back, but staff changes will be in play as well. Offensive line coach Cole Popovich appears likely to stay, with Caserio indicating (via Wilson) he did a “phenomenal job.”
It would appear Caley will enter 2026 on the hot seat, with Caserio adding his unit “didn’t execute well enough,” citing a turnover problem that included five giveaways in the team’s season-ending loss in Foxborough.
JANUARY 20: Last offseason, the Texans moved on from Bobby Slowik following his two-year run as offensive coordinator. Nick Caley was hired as his replacement. 
Things did not go according to plan on offense early in the season for Houston. The team started 0-3 despite strong play from a defense which proved to be among the league’s best throughout the campaign. By late October, questions had been raised about Caley’s job status. Head coach DeMeco Ryans offered an endorsement at that time, however.
When speaking to the media following Houston’s divisional round loss, Ryans said every aspect of his coaching staff will be subject to evaluation over the coming days. Caley is therefore a candidate to be let go as things stand. Nevertheless, Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 reports a firing is not expected at this point. The 2025 season was Caley’s first as a coordinator at the college or NFL levels.
The Texans finished 18th in total offense and 13th in scoring under Caley. Production in both of the team’s playoff games proved challenging due in large part to a pair of turnover-laden performances from quarterback C.J. Stroud. The absence of Joe Mixon also hindered Houston’s effectiveness in the ground game, while No. 1 receiver Nico Collins was sorely missed during the Texans’ loss in the divisional round. Those factors will no doubt receive consideration as Ryans evaluates his next steps.
During the three years in which Houston has had Ryans on the sidelines and Stroud under center, the team has advanced to the divisional round of the postseason. The Texans’ ability to get over the hump in 2026 and beyond will depend of course on their ability to remain elite on defense. Needed improvements on offense will also be a target for this offseason, though.
Efforts in that regard will no doubt lead to a number of roster changes on offense over the coming months. It does not appear, however, as though another major shake-up on the sidelines is forthcoming.
Texans RB Joe Mixon’s Future Remains Uncertain
It remains uncertain if Joe Mixon will ever take an NFL field again. As Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston writes, the running back’s NFL future still “lacks definitive clarity.” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans acknowledged as much during his season-ending press conference, admitting that he doesn’t “know that answer right now” when asked about Mixon’s status for the 2026 campaign.
The veteran running back ended up missing the entire 2025 season thanks to a “complicated” foot and ankle injury. While Mixon denied midseason reports that he wouldn’t suit up during the 2025 campaign, that ended up coming to fruition.
The former Bengals standout was traded to the Texans ahead of the 2024 season, and he quickly signed a three-year, $27MM extension. He had a productive first season with his new squad, finishing with 1,325 yards from scrimmage and 12 touchdowns in 14 games. Mixon suffered a foot injury while working out in the offseason, and while the veteran sought several outside remedies, he never made enough progress to return to game action. The Texans remained relatively quiet about his status throughout the 2025 season, with Wilson noting that they were honoring the player’s wish for privacy.
“When you have your best players, you’re going to be a better team,” Ryans said (via Wilson). “Joe, he’s a really great running back for us and not having him, yes, of course, it affected our running game. Joe is one of the top running backs in this league. That affected us.”
Since Mixon spent the 2025 season on the non-football injury, the Texans weren’t obligated to pay his $7MM salary. It’s uncertain if the franchise ended up paying out that money. While the RB still has a year remaining on his contract, he’s only due a non-guaranteed $8MM in 2026. As Wilson notes, the Texans are expected to cut him loose this offseason.
The team signed Nick Chubb to replace Mixon in the lineup, although the former Pro Bowler was limited to only 573 offensive yards. Chubb is set to hit free agency this offseason, where he’ll be joined by fellow Texans RB Dare Ogunbowale. That would effectively leave fourth-round rookie Woody Marks as the only healthy RB on the roster entering the offseason.
NFL Reserve/Futures Deals: 1/20/26
Today’s reserve/futures deals:
Chicago Bears
- WR Maurice Alexander, RB Brittain Brown, TE Stephen Carlson, LS Luke Elkin, DB Dallis Flowers, DL Jonathan Garvin, LB Dominique Hampton, OL Kyle Hergel, TE Nikola Kalinic, DB Dontae Manning, DL Jeremiah Martin, DB Gervarrius Owens, WR JP Richardson, LB Nephi Sewell
Green Bay Packers
- DL Jaden Crumedy, QB Kyle McCord
Houston Texans
- DE Solomon Byrd, C Eli Cox, WR Josh Kelly, TE Luke Lachey, S Kaevon Merriweather, G Sidy Sow, DT Junior Tafuna, LB Xavier Thomas, WR Jared Wayne
Philadelphia Eagles
- CB Ambry Thomas
Pittsburgh Steelers
- DB Doneiko Slaughter, OL Lorenzo Thompson
San Francisco 49ers
- OL Isaac Alarcon, DL Evan Anderson, CB Eli Apple, WR Junior Bergen, DL William Bradley-King, DB Derrick Canteen, LB Andrew Farmer, S Darrick Forrest, LB Jalen Graham, QB Adrian Martinez, OL Drake Nugent, OL Brandon Parker, WR Malik Turner, DL Sebastian Valdez
Texans Will Pick Up QB C.J. Stroud’s Fifth-Year Option; Team To Discuss Offseason Extension
JANUARY 19: When speaking to the media on Monday, Anderson stated he hopes to spend his entire career in Houston. Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 confirms talks on a mega-extension are expected, and it would come as no surprise if one were to be finalized during the spring.
JANUARY 12: For now, the Texans’ attention is focused on their upcoming wild-card game and any further playoff contests which follow. Once the season is over, a number of notable contract decisions will need to be made. 
This offseason will mark the first point at which 2023 draftees can sign extensions. That means quarterback C.J. Stroud and defensive end Will Anderson could land new contracts relatively soon. At a minimum, a choice on the fifth-year option for both players will need to be made by the spring. Neither case should prove to be particularly difficult on that front.
To no surprise, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network confirms the Texans will exercise Stroud’s option (video link). That comes as no surprise given the 24-year-old’s success early in his career. Houston advanced to the divisional round of the playoffs in each of Stroud’s first two seasons, and a win tonight will extend that streak to three years. Exercising the option will set Stroud up for $26.53MM in 2027.
A long-term pact will of course cost much more than that. Per Rapoport, the Texans will weigh the possibility of working out a second contract this offseason against waiting until after the 2026 campaign is over. The market currently contains 11 passers attached to an average annual value of $51MM or more. Stroud can be expected to join that group whenever his next Texans contract is in place. The status of negotiations will make for a central Texans offseason storyline.
Stroud was selected second overall in the 2023 draft. Houston traded up to the No. 3 spot to add Anderson. Expectations were high in his case as a result, but the former Defensive Rookie of the Year has developed into a major factor in his team’s success. Anderson reached double-digit sacks for the first time in 2024, and he set a new career high in that department this season with 12. That production helped land him a first-team All-Pro nod along with the second Pro Bowl invitation of his career.
Houston will also look into an Anderson extension this offseason, Rapoport adds. In November, it was reported the Texans were expected to explore an early agreement on this front. Picking up Anderson’s fifth-year option will tie him to a 2027 salary of $15.28MM. An extension could move the Alabama product near the top of the pass rush market, one which is currently paced by Micah Parsons at $46.5MM per year.
Working out an agreement with either Stroud or Anderson will of course significantly alter the Texans’ cap outlook for years to come. A strong core is in place, but maintaining it will become more challenging as their respective costs increase. Massive new deals being finalized in either case will come as no surprise, but the timing on both fronts will be interesting to monitor.
Minor NFL Transactions: 1/17/26
Here are today’s minor moves, including standard gameday practice squad elevations for the rest of the divisional round of the playoffs:
Chicago Bears
- Elevated: TE Nikola Kalinic
Houston Texans
- Elevated: DT Leki Fotu
Los Angeles Rams
- Elevated: S Tanner Ingle, LB Elias Neal
New England Patriots
- Activated from IR: CB Alex Austin
- Elevated: RB D’Ernest Johnson, DT Leonard Taylor III
San Francisco 49ers
- Elevated: T Brandon Parker, DL Sebastian Valdez
Seattle Seahawks
- Elevated: RB Velus Jones Jr.
Texans WR Nico Collins Remains In Concussion Protocol, Will Miss Divisional Round
If the Texans upend the Patriots on Sunday, they’ll advance to the AFC title game for the first time in franchise history. The Texans will have to do it without their best offensive weapon. Wide receiver Nico Collins will miss the divisional round with a concussion, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 relays.
Collins suffered his injury in a 30-6 drubbing of the Steelers in a wild-card round matchup on Monday. After seeing Collins carted off the field in Pittsburgh, it’s unsurprising he hasn’t cleared concussion protocol on a short week. The 26-year-old hasn’t practiced at all this week.
Collins may have a better chance to return next week, but it’ll be a moot point if fifth-seeded Houston doesn’t go on the road to defeat second-seeded New England. While Collins has thrived on the offensive side, an elite defense that ranked first in yards and second in points during the regular season has carried the Texans this far.
Houston’s defensive dominance continued against the Steelers, who managed just 175 yards of offense. The Texans scored two defensive touchdowns and sacked Aaron Rodgers four times. Another stellar defensive performance may be needed in a meeting with the Patriots and MVP-contending quarterback Drake Maye.
Collins earned his second straight Pro Bowl nod this year after hauling in 71 receptions for 1,117 yards and six touchdowns in 15 games. Tight end Dalton Schultz caught more passes (82), but Collins either led or co-led the Texans in the other two categories. With Collins out of commission, the Texans’ C.J. Stroud-led passing game will likely rely more on Schultz, Jayden Higgins, Christian Kirk, and Xavier Hutchinson.
The Texans also won’t have depth receiver Justin Watson, who joins Collins in concussion protocol. Either Braxton Berrios or practice squad wideout Jared Wayne could take Watson’s roster spot, Wilson notes.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 1/14/26
Here’s are Wednesday’s practice squad transactions:
Houston Texans
- Signed: S Brandon Hill
- Released: T Jaylon Thomas
New England Patriots
- Signed: DE Darrell Taylor
- Released: RB Elijah Mitchell
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: S Darrick Forrest, TE Hayden Rucci
- Released: WR Javon Baker
The Patriots added an experienced pass rusher to their taxi squad today. Taylor, a second-round pick for the Seahawks in 2020, racked up 21.5 sacks in his first three seasons of NFL ball, but he didn’t see the same success in his fourth year after getting traded to the Bears. Injuries would limit him in Chicago and Houston, where he signed following the expiration of his rookie deal, as he only appeared in four games with the Texans this season. He now arrives in New England as Mike Vrabel and Co. are making a strong playoff push after a surprising one-year turnaround.
Minor NFL Transactions: 1/14/26
Here are today’s midweek minor moves:
Buffalo Bills
- Placed on IR: WR Tyrell Shavers (story)
Carolina Panthers
- Waived: S D’Anthony Bell
Houston Texans
- Reverted to season-ending IR: CB Ajani Carter
New England Patriots
- Designated for return from IR: RB Terrell Jennings
After tearing his ACL, further thinning out the Bills’ postseason wide receiving corps, Shavers has been placed on injured reserve. Buffalo has an experienced name or two on its practice squad that could end up filling in.
Carter wasn’t able to make it off IR within his 21-day practice window. He’ll revert back to IR without the ability to be activated again this season.
Cardinals Request HC Interview With Texans DC Matt Burke
After overseeing another dominant performance on Monday, Texans defensive coordinator Matt Burke has landed on the Cardinals’ radar as a head coaching candidate. The Cardinals have requested an interview with Burke, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports.
The Cardinals are familiar with Burke, who worked as their defensive line coach in 2022. That was Kliff Kingsbury‘s last year as Arizona’s head coach. The team is now looking for a replacement for Kingsbury’s successor, Jonathan Gannon, who lost his job after going 15-36 in three seasons.
After his lone season in the desert, Burke joined DeMeco Ryans‘ staff as Houston’s defensive coordinator. Burke previously garnered experience in that role with the Dolphins from 2017-18.
Ryans called the defensive plays during Burke’s first two seasons, both AFC South-winning campaigns, and did so again to begin 2025. However, Ryans handed those duties to Burke after an 0-3 start. The Texans then rolled to a 26-0 shutout over the Titans in Week 4, which began a superb run for the Texans’ defense and the team as a whole.
Although the Texans didn’t win a third straight division title, Burke’s defense led them to a 12-5 record and another playoff berth. Houston finished the season first in total defense, second in scoring, third in takeaways and eighth in sacks. The team’s stop unit continued its tremendous play when it overwhelmed the Steelers in a 30-6 wild-card round win on Monday. In what proved to be Mike Tomlin‘s last game as Pittsburgh’s head coach, the Texans scored two defensive touchdowns (one on a fumble return, another on an interception return), picked up four sacks and held the Steelers to a measly 175 total yards.
Burke and the Cardinals are preparing to take on the Patriots in the divisional round on Sunday. In the meantime, he could speak with the Cardinals sometime this week. Here’s their current list of head coaching candidates, courtesy of PFR’s HC Search Tracker:
- Thomas Brown, tight ends coach (Patriots): Interview requested
- Matt Burke, defensive coordinator (Texans): Interview requested
- Jeff Hafley, defensive coordinator (Packers): Interview requested
- John Harbaugh, former head coach (Ravens): Contacted
- Vance Joseph, defensive coordinator (Broncos): Interviewed 1/10
- Klint Kubiak, offensive coordinator (Seahawks): Interviewed 1/10
- Mike LaFleur, offensive coordinator (Rams): To interview
- Jesse Minter, defensive coordinator (Chargers): To interview 1/13
- Raheem Morris, former head coach (Falcons): To interview
- Matt Nagy, offensive coordinator (Chiefs): Interviewed 1/9
- Robert Saleh, defensive coordinator (49ers): To interview
- Chris Shula, defensive coordinator (Rams): Interview requested
- Anthony Weaver, defensive coordinator (Dolphins): Interviewed 1/9