Coaching Rumors: Saints, Texans, McDaniel, Giants, Broncos
The Saints began their cycle of head coaching interviews this week, conducting meetings with the following candidates: former Eagles’ head coach Doug Pederson (1/30; hired by Jaguars), former Dolphins’ head coach Brian Flores (2/1), Lions’ defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn (2/2), their current special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi (2/3), their current defensive coordinator Dennis Allen (2/4), and Chiefs’ offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy (2/6).
New Orleans also requested permission to interview Tampa Bay offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich. There were some early reports that permission had been granted, but that hasn’t been confirmed and nothing has been scheduled, as of yet. ESPN’s Saints’ reporter Mike Triplett also mentioned that current offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael was offered an opportunity to interview for the position, but Carmichael declined. Despite being a part of Sean Payton‘s staff since Payton’s tenure in New Orleans began back in 2006, it appears Carmichael has no interest in running the show in the Big Easy. Whether he has retirement or another destination in mind or he is just comfortable in his role, Carmichael will not be the Saints’ next head coach.
Here are a few more notes from the ongoing coaching searches and staff changes throughout the NFL, starting with the other head coaching vacancy:
- Houston recently narrowed their list of head coaching candidates down to three: Brian Flores, former quarterback Josh McCown, and Eagles’ defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon. Well, according to USA Today’s Josina Anderson, the Texans are now down to two candidates, with Gannon being informed Saturday that he will not be receiving the head coaching position, leaving Flores and McCown as the two remaining names.
- New Dolphins’ head coach Mike McDaniel reportedly has interest in holding on to some of the defensive assistants currently under contract in Miami, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. This includes current defensive coordinator Josh Boyer, who followed Flores to Miami from New England. The lack of staff turnover would be a positive for a defensive unit that played well during the team’s seven-game win-streak in the back half of the season.
- The Giants were able to add a piece to Brian Daboll‘s new staff while missing out on another today. ESPN’s Jordan Raanan tweeted out that Andy Bischoff will become the Giants’ new tight ends coach. Bischoff followed David Culley from Baltimore to Houston and will make the lateral move over from the Texans with their head coaching position still in the air. Unfortunately, the Giants did not get their running backs coach, as Bruce Feldman of The Athletic tweeted out that Deland McCullough has turned down Daboll’s offer, choosing instead to remain the running backs coach at Notre Dame, believing it gives him the best opportunity to eventually become a head coach.
- New Broncos’ head coach Nathaniel Hackett is also looking to fill out his staff. The Broncos are planning to interview Jon Embree who most recently held the position of tight ends coach/assistant head coach in San Francisco. Embree parted ways with the Niners after being asked to take a 60 percent pay cut after San Francisco’s NFC Championship loss. The man who has coached George Kittle since he was drafted in 2017 would be a nice addition to Hackett’s system.
NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 2/5/22
Here are Friday and Saturday’s reserve/futures deals:
Dallas Cowboys
Kansas City Chiefs
AFC Coaching Notes: Broncos, Jaguars, Chiefs
As Nathaniel Hackett continues to build his staff with the Broncos, the new head coach interviewed many of the team’s holdover position coaches this week, reports Mike Klis of 9News in Denver (via Twitter). The majority of these coaches are “pretty much on hold,” but a handful of coaches are starting to get clarity on their job security.
As Klis notes, defensive backs coach Christian Parker is one of the coaches who will return next season. The 30-year-old has had a rapid rise through the coaching ranks. Prior to getting hired as the Broncos DBs coach in 2021, he spent time as the defensive quality control coach with the Packers. Of course, Hackett was on that Green Bay staff, so there’s already familiarity between the two.
Meanwhile, long-time coach Reggie Herring won’t be retained (per Klis on Twitter). The linebackers coach had been with the organization since their Super Bowl-winning 2015 campaign. He previously spent time as the linebackers coach with the Bears, Texans (two stints), and Cowboys.
More coaching notes out of the AFC:
- The Jaguars won’t be retaining special teams coordinator Nick Sorensen, reports Aaron Wilson (via Twitter). The former player was added to Urban Meyer’s staff last offseason. The 43-year-old previously spent time with the Seahawks, serving as assistant ST coach, assistant defensive backs coach, and secondary coach.
- SiriusXM’s Adam Caplan tweets that Andrew Breiner could be a candidate for Doug Pederson’s new Jaguars staff, potentially as quarterbacks coach. Breiner was last in the NFL in 2020 when he was the passing game analyst for the Eagles, and he spent the 2021 campaign in the college ranks as the offensive coordinator at FIU.
- The Chiefs have hired Joe Cullen as their new defensive line coach, with former DL coach Brendan Daly moving to linebackers coach (per a team announcement on Twitter). Cullen spent last season as the Jaguars defensive coordinator, and he had talks with the Ravens and Colts about their DC vacancies. He was a DL coach for more than a decade during stints with the Lions, Jaguars, Browns, Buccaneers, and Ravens. Daley had spent the past three seasons as the Chiefs DL coach.
- The Bills are expected to hire Vikings offensive line coach Phil Rauscher in the same role, reports ESPN’s Courtney Cronin (via Twitter). Rauscher was one of several Vikings coaches who were given permission to seek other coaching opportunities. The 36-year-old had previous NFL coaching gigs with the Broncos and Washington.
- Former Texans offensive coordinator Tim Kelly is in talks to join the Titans staff, reports ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler (via Twitter). Only 35, Kelly had a quick rise through the Texans organization. After starting as an offensive quality control coach in 2014, Kelly was eventually promoted to assistant offensive line coach, tight ends coach, and (ultimately) OC. He was fired by the organization after the season. Kelly has ties to Titans coach Mike Vrabel stemming from their stints in Houston.
Saints Request Interview With Eric Bieniemy
SATURDAY, 8:10am: Bieniemy’s interview with the Saints will be on Sunday, reports ESPN’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter).
THURSDAY, 6:02pm: As the Saints continue to expand their HC search, a familiar name has come up. The team wants to speak with Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com tweets.
This is old hat by now for Bieniemy, who has been on the interview circuit for a while. The four-year Kansas City OC’s inability to land a top coaching job has become a lightning rod of sorts in recent coaching carousels. A Saints interview could take place Saturday, per Fowler. Bieniemy, 52, is a New Orleans native, though he attended high school in California.
Not as much interest has come Bieniemy’s way during this cycle. Prior to this Saints request, only the Broncos were connected to the AFC West staffer. Bieniemy was not a finalist for the Denver job. Despite being the Chiefs’ OC throughout Patrick Mahomes‘ tenure as a starter, the former NFL running back has seen several non-play-calling OCs — including Nathaniel Hackett and Kevin O’Connell in this cycle — bypass him en route to HC opportunities.
The Saints have interviewed DC Dennis Allen and former staffer Aaron Glenn. Familiarity may be critical in New Orleans’ first HC search in 16 years, but outside candidates Bieniemy, Byron Leftwich, Doug Pederson and Brian Flores are also on the radar. Both Pederson and Flores have also interviewed, the latter doing so just before his class-action lawsuit against the NFL surfaced.
Chiefs Sign Justin Watson, Audition Shane Ray
Despite his first-round pedigree, Shane Ray has not played in a regular-season game since his Broncos rookie contract expired after the 2018 season. The Chiefs are checking on the former Broncos edge rusher, however.
Ray worked out for the Chiefs on Friday, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. The former University of Missouri pass rusher is a Kansas City native. The Chiefs also met with former Buccaneers wide receiver Justin Watson and tight end Josh Pederson, the son of new Jaguars HC Doug Pederson. Watson has since signed with the Chiefs, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.
The Toronto Argonauts signed Ray last year, and he played five games with the CFL team. Ray, 28, worked as a starter opposite Von Miller in 15 games from 2016-17. Both Ray and Shaquil Barrett were rotational backups on Denver’s dominant Super Bowl-winning defense in 2015, but the duo’s paths diverged in the years that followed. Beyond Ray’s eight-sack 2016, he could not come especially close to justifying Denver’s 2015 first-round investment.
A fifth-round Bucs pick in 2018, Watson caught two touchdown passes during the 2019 season but did not see the field much during the franchise’s Tom Brady seasons. He suited up for 11 games during the 2020 season, playing in the NFC championship game that Antonio Brown missed, but only played in one this season.
Latest On Chiefs’ Tyrann Mathieu, Orlando Brown Jr.
The 2021 season ended just short of a third consecutive trip to the Super Bowl for the Chiefs, beginning an offseason filled with important roster decisions. General manager Brett Veach‘s comments in a recent press conference highlighted the team’s likely priorities, which will be shaped to a large extent by a pair of pending free agents: safety Tyrann Mathieu and left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. 
One day after the Chiefs’ overtime loss in the AFC title game, Mathieu posted a tweet which certainly points to him signing elsewhere in the offseason. “Lot to be proud of over the past 3 years”, it states. “I’m thankful and grateful. I leave with a grateful heart having got the chance to play for all you good people”.
Veach, however, was quick to downplay the high potential of the three-time All Pro departing. When asked if Mathieu’s stay in KC is over, he responded, “I wouldn’t say that’s necessarily true. That’s Tyrann just being his genuine self” (Twitter link via ESPN’s Adam Teicher). The 29-year-old recorded 13 interceptions in three seasons in Kansas City. His contract, which averages $14MM per year, expires in March.
When asked about Brown Jr., Veach stated that he expects the 25-year-old to be the team’s starting LT, tweets NFL Network’s James Palmer. He was traded from the Ravens last April, in a move that accommodated his request to play on the blindside – something that his late father always wanted for him. 2021 was the final year of his rookie contract, which carried a salary of just under $3.4MM. His 75.2 PFF grade this year didn’t live up to the potential he showed in Baltimore, but it should still be enough to command an extension making him one of the league’s highest paid tackles.
Overall, Veach stated that the defensive side of the ball is likely to be the organization’s first priority this offseason (Twitter link via Herbie Tope of the Kansas City Star). With very limited cap space and a few massive deals already on the books, though, any commitment to Mathieu and/or Brown Jr. would greatly reduce the team’s remaining options with regards to maintaining an elite roster.
Giants To Hire Mike Kafka As OC
The search for Brian Daboll‘s first offensive coordinator seems to be over. According to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network, Chiefs quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator Mike Kafka is set to be the Giants’ OC (Twitter link). 
Kafka was named by Garafolo as one of three remaining finalists for the role after the Bills (as expected) promoted Ken Dorsey to OC, filling the vacancy left by Daboll going to New York. The other two were reported to be Pep Hamilton, QBs coach/passing game coordinator with the Texans, and Chad O’Shea, the WRs coach/pass game coordinator in Cleveland.
Kafka, 34, was drafted by the Eagles in 2010. After a short playing career, he followed Andy Reid to Kansas City, at first as an offensive quality control coach in 2017. One year later – the season in which Patrick Mahomes took over as the Chiefs’ starting QB – he assumed the role of QBs coach. The enormous success the pair have enjoyed since has generated interest for Kafka to go on to bigger and better things.
It came out two years ago that the Eagles were interested in hiring Kafka as their OC, but he remained in KC. That wasn’t the first time he stayed put, as Garafolo’s colleague James Palmer tweets that “Kafka has been blocked several times in the past”, though he adds that “there was a thought that this offseason that wouldn’t be the case”. Kafka will look to replicate his Chiefs success with Daniel Jones and an offense that struggled mightily in 2021. SiriusXM’s Adam Caplan reports (via Twitter) that Kafka is likely to handle play-calling duties in New York.
NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 2/2/22
Today’s reserve/futures deals from around the NFL:
Jacksonville Jaguars
Kansas City Chiefs
- WR Josh Gordon
San Francisco 49ers
- DL Alex Barrett, OL Alfredo Gutierrez, FB Josh Hokit, CB Ka’dar Hollman, TE Tanner Hudson, WR KeeSean Johnson, WR Austin Mack, TE Jordan Matthews, LB Curtis Robinson, DL Chris Slayton, WR Connor Wedington
Updated 2022 NFL Draft Order
Championship Sunday has come and gone, and with it, we now know the matchup for Super Bowl LVI. The Rams’ win on Sunday guarantees that the Lions’ other first round pick will be in the bottom two, slightly devaluing it relative to if they had lost. Still, it is one of the bargaining chips they hold if they were to attempt to move up into the top spot, from their current position of second. As one of four teams with multiple picks in the opening round, Detroit will certainly be a squad to keep an eye on in April.
For non-playoff teams, the draft order is determined by the inverted 2021 standings, plus a series of tiebreakers, starting with strength of schedule. For playoff teams, the order is determined by their postseason outcome and regular season record.
Here is the updated order after this weekend’s results:
- Jacksonville Jaguars: 3-14
- Detroit Lions: 3-13-1
- Houston Texans: 4-13
- New York Jets: 4-13
- New York Giants: 4-13
- Carolina Panthers: 5-12
- New York Giants(via Bears)
- Atlanta Falcons: 7-10
- Denver Broncos: 7-10
- New York Jets (via Seahawks)
- Washington Football Team: 7-10
- Minnesota Vikings: 8-9
- Cleveland Browns: 8-9
- Baltimore Ravens: 8-9
- Philadelphia Eagles (via Dolphins)
- Philadelphia Eagles (via Colts)
- Los Angeles Chargers: 9-8
- New Orleans Saints: 9-8
- Philadelphia Eagles: 9-8
- Pittsburgh Steelers: 9-7-1
- New England Patriots: 10-7
- Las Vegas Raiders: 10-7
- Arizona Cardinals: 11-6
- Dallas Cowboys: 12-5
- Buffalo Bills: 11-6
- Tennessee Titans: 12-5
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 13-4
- Green Bay Packers: 13-4
- Miami Dolphins (via 49ers)
- Kansas City Chiefs: 12-5
- Cincinnati Bengals: 10-7*
- Detroit Lions (via Rams)
* = Remaining playoff teams
Minor NFL Transactions: 1/29/22
Today’s minor moves before Championship Sunday:
Cincinnati Bengals
- Promoted: NT Damion Square, WR Trent Taylor
Kansas City Chiefs
- Promoted: WR Daurice Fountain
- Released: DB Damon Arnette (story)
Los Angeles Rams
- Activated from IR: LB Ernest Jones
- Promoted: DB Blake Countess, DB Eric Weddle
San Francisco 49ers
- Activated from IR: RB Trenton Cannon
- Promoted: LB Mark Nzeocha, QB Nate Sudfeld
- Waived: WR River Cracraft