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Dolphins Request HC Interview With Rams DC Chris Shula

By | at January 10, 2026 12:48 pm

While Don Shula is arguably the greatest head coach in NFL history, he’s unquestionably the best coach the Dolphins have ever had. During a legendary run with the Dolphins from 1970-1995, Shula led them to an undefeated season and two Super Bowl wins, among many other accomplishments. With 347 career victories, including 19 in the postseason, Shula remains atop the all-time list.

Three decades after he retired, Shula’s grandson has emerged as a candidate to become the Dolphins’ next head coach. The team has requested an interview with Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

Shula will coach the Rams against the Panthers in a wild-card round meeting on Saturday. He’ll be eligible to discuss head coaching jobs next week.

The Miami-born Shula, 39, began his coaching career assisting with linebackers at Ball State in 2010. After working with Indiana and John Carroll for the next few years, he jumped to the NFL as the Chargers’ defensive quality control coach in 2015.

Shula left the Chargers after two years to join then-rookie head coach Sean McVay‘s Rams staff as an assistant LBs coach in 2017. He held a handful of other positions – OLBs coach, LBs coach, pass game coordinator, pass rush coordinator and defensive backs coach – before earning a promotion to D-coordinator in 2024.

The Rams ranked 17th in points and 26th in yardage in 2024, their defense’s first post-Aaron Donald campaign, but improved in those categories in 2025. They finished the regular season 10th in scoring and 17th in total defense. The unit placed a much more impressive fifth in takeaways and seventh in sacks. The Rams and Shula will hope that playmaking ability carries into the postseason.

As the Dolphins search for a replacement for the fired Mike McDaniel, they’re not prioritizing one side of the ball, a source told insider Jordan Schultz. The mix of offensive- and defensive-minded candidates who have come up in connection to the job so far is evidence of that:

3 comments Los Angeles Rams Miami Dolphins

Minor NFL Transactions: 1/9/26

By | at January 9, 2026 8:18 pm

Here are Friday’s minor moves as we head into the first weekend of the 2025-26 postseason:

Los Angeles Rams

Pittsburgh Steelers

The Rams calling up practice squad elevations in anticipation of the NFL’s opening playoff games tomorrow, while the Steelers are looking to add some defensive line depth for their own attempt at a playoff run.

0 comments Los Angeles Rams Pittsburgh Steelers Transactions

Titans Submit HC Interview Requests For Jesse Minter, Chris Shula

By | at January 9, 2026 10:26 am

The Titans‘ list of interview targets regarding their head coaching vacancy has continued to grow. Two of the top defensive candidates in this year’s cycle have received a slip from Tennessee.

The team has issued an interview request with Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter along with Rams DC Chris Shula, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. In both cases, Tennessee loomed as one of the teams mentioned as a potential suitor during the early portion of the hiring cycle. Today’s update thus comes as little surprise.

Minter is currently preparing for the Chargers’ wild-card game against the Patriots. Likewise, the Rams will play the Panthers during the opening round of the playoffs. By rule, neither staffer is allowed to conduct an interview until next week. All first-round interviews (which will be virtual) must be completed before the start of the divisional round.

A defensive coordinator with various college programs, Minter’s first NFL opportunity came with the Ravens in 2017. After a four-year run in Baltimore, he returned to the college ranks. Minter, 42, spent a pair of years as Michigan’s defensive coordinator under Jim Harbaugh, then jointly departed two years ago to join the Chargers. Los Angeles has posted a top-10 finish in points allowed during both of Minter’s seasons in his current role.

Shula has also spent the past two seasons handling an NFL coordinator role for the first time. Don Shula‘s grandson has been with the Rams dating back to Sean McVay‘s arrival in 2017, however. Shula has worked his way through the ranks on Los Angeles’ staff, serving as a position coach and defensive pass-game coordinator prior to taking on the DC gig. The 39-year-old is younger than most candidates in this year’s pool, but he is a name to watch as the next McVay assistant with a strong chance of landing a head coaching gig. Shula has also been linked to the Giants, but this represents his first interview request.

As the Titans continue to seek out their full-time Brian Callahan replacement, here is an updated look at their search:

3 comments Los Angeles Chargers Los Angeles Rams Tennessee Titans

2026 NFL Head Coaching Search Tracker

By | at January 7, 2026 9:50 pm

The Browns, Cardinals, Falcons and Raiders followed the Giants and Titans in firing head coaches, making those calls between the Week 18 conclusion and Black Monday. The Ravens then moved on from John Harbaugh after 18 seasons; two days later, the Dolphins canned Mike McDaniel. Here are the candidates connected to all eight of the HC-needy franchises. If more teams make changes, they will be added to the list.

Updated 1-10-26 (9:30pm CT)

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Cleveland Browns

Las Vegas Raiders

Miami Dolphins

New York Giants

Tennessee Titans

10 comments Arizona Cardinals Atlanta Falcons Baltimore Ravens Buffalo Bills Cincinnati Bengals Cleveland Browns Denver Broncos Green Bay Packers Indianapolis Colts Jacksonville Jaguars Kansas City Chiefs Las Vegas Raiders Los Angeles Chargers Los Angeles Rams Miami Dolphins Minnesota Vikings New England Patriots New York Giants PFR Originals Pittsburgh Steelers San Francisco 49ers Seattle Seahawks Tennessee Titans

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 1/6/26

By | at January 6, 2026 10:48 pm

While many teams are making major decisions on head coaches, those remaining in the playoffs are still tweaking their practice squads before the wild-card round this weekend. Here are the latest updates:

Green Bay Packers

  •  Signed: WR Julian Hicks, WR Kisean Johnson, TE Messiah Swinson

Los Angeles Chargers

Los Angeles Rams

New England Patriots

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

0 comments Green Bay Packers Los Angeles Chargers Los Angeles Rams New England Patriots Philadelphia Eagles Pittsburgh Steelers Transactions

Rams Activate S Quentin Lake From IR

By | at January 6, 2026 4:03 pm

The Rams are getting one of their top defenders back ahead of a first-round playoff matchup in Carolina on Saturday. The team has activated safety Quentin Lake from injured reserve.

The Rams went a month and a half without Lake, who dislocated his left elbow in a Week 11 win over the Seahawks and had to undergo surgery. Los Angeles improved to 8-2 that day and looked like a strong contender for the NFC’s No. 1 spot, but a 4-3 mark without Lake led to a fifth-place finish in the conference.

A sixth-round pick from UCLA in 2022, Lake became a full-time starter in 2024 and continued in that role this year before landing on IR. Lake picked up 61 tackles, a sack, a personal-best 10 passes defensed and the first interception of his career over 10 games in 2025. He was on the field for 100% of defensive snaps during that span. Lake mostly played in the slot, but he also logged 80-plus snaps in the box and at free safety, and lined up along the edge at times.

Recognizing the versatile Lake’s importance to their defense, the Rams locked him up to a multiyear deal on Jan. 1. Lake had been on track to reach free agency in March before inking a three-year, $42MM deal with $25.7MM in guarantees. Healthy again, he’ll have a chance to make an impact during the postseason.

To make room for Lake’s return, the Rams placed linebacker Shaun Dolac on IR with a knee injury, ending his season. The undrafted rookie from Buffalo appeared in all 17 regular-season games and totaled 25 tackles. Dolac played 258 of his 300 snaps on special teams.

0 comments Los Angeles Rams Transactions

Minor NFL Transactions: 1/5/26

By | at January 5, 2026 5:49 pm

Today’s minor moves:

Cincinnati Bengals

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Indianapolis Colts

Los Angeles Rams

Pittsburgh Steelers

San Francisco 49ers

Each of the players who were extended today received deals that last through the 2026 campaign. These contracts differ from reserve/futures contracts, which don’t count towards the team’s active list until after the Super Bowl.

The Bengals were especially active with these extensions today, handing out deals to a handful of players who could be in line for larger roles next season. Journeyman Joe Giles-Harris got into a career-high 10 games for Cincinnati this season, compiling 27 tackles while serving as a key special teamer. Shaka Heyward (16 tackles) and PJ Jules (18 tackles) saw similar roles for the 2025 Bengals. Mitchell Tinsley got some run on the Cincy offense this season, hauling in eight catches for 116 yards in 17 games.

2 comments Cincinnati Bengals Denver Broncos Detroit Lions Indianapolis Colts Los Angeles Rams Pittsburgh Steelers San Francisco 49ers Tampa Bay Buccaneers Transactions

Rams’ Davante Adams Expected To Return In Wild-Card Round

By | at January 5, 2026 4:36 pm

Davante Adams missed the Rams’ final three regular-season games due to a hamstring injury; the free agent pickup still led the NFL with 14 touchdown receptions. It appears likely the former All-Pro will be back for the playoffs.

The Rams expect Adams to be on the field when they begin this year’s playoff slate against the Panthers, Sean McVay said (via ESPN.com’s Sarah Barshop) Monday. Adams returned to practice Thursday and finished last week with two limited sessions.

A proponent of resting players when possible in the final week of the regular season, McVay held Adams out of the Rams’ Week 18 matchup against the Cardinals. The Rams won without him, though they only went 1-2 without their high-end No. 2 receiver. Losses to the Seahawks and Falcons dropped the Rams off the No. 1 seed line and into the No. 5 position. As a result, L.A.’s playoff docket will likely come entirely on the road.

No IR move commenced, giving the Rams flexibility with Adams. He has rewarded the team for its two-year, $46MM investment, catching 14 touchdown passes. Adams, 33, has done plenty to bolster Matthew Stafford‘s MVP campaign. After Cooper Kupp struggled to reprise his earlier form last season (before being released), Adams has brought a step up. The former Packers, Raiders and Jets standout is in the playoffs for the first time since he left Green Bay. He enters the game with 60 catches for 789 yards.

Puka Nacua led the NFL with 129 receptions, doing so despite missing a game. Adams’ return will help the star third-year pass catcher, who finished second in receiving yards (to Jaxon Smith-Njigba) with 1,715 this season while giving the Rams’ offense a significant boost. Adams playing well in the playoffs will increase his chances of seeing the Rams pay out his $6MM roster bonus, which is due on Day 3 of the 2026 league year.

McVay added Quentin Lake — who signed a three-year extension last week — and tight end Terrance Ferguson are expected to play Saturday in Charlotte. Lake will need to be activated off IR to return. The Rams joined the other 13 playoff teams in receiving two additional IR activations for the playoffs. L.A. is in good shape there, having seven remaining. Lake underwent elbow surgery in November.

3 comments Los Angeles Rams

Three 49ers Execs Among Dolphins’ Six GM Interview Requests

By | at January 5, 2026 12:10 pm

More than two months after letting Chris Grier go, the Dolphins are at work with GM interview requests. Six have gone out for an AFC East franchise that has not parted with HC Mike McDaniel.

While McDaniel is not a lock to stay, the next Dolphins GM may well begin a tenure working with the long-tenured leader. The Dolphins have sent requests to Tariq Ahmad (49ers), Alec Halaby (Eagles), Jon-Eric Sullivan (Packers), John McKay (Rams) and Josh Williams (49ers), according to NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport along with ESPN’s Adam Schefter. They have since submitted a request to meet with 49ers assistant GM R.J. Gillen, per Pelissero.

The three 49ers execs would be interesting here, as both were in San Francisco when McDaniel was working under Kyle Shanahan. Ahmed is in place as the 49ers’ VP of player personnel, being in his first year in that role. Ahmed has been with the team since 2014, coming up through the scouting ranks. The former 49ers college scouting director received a request from a Dolphins team eyeing a GM with a scouting background.

Williams has a similar background, serving as the 49ers’ current director of scouting and football operations. He has come up as a name to watch on this year’s carousel, and the Dolphins were connected to him recently. The 49ers have lost a few execs to GM roles, with John Lynch‘s staff seeing Martin Mayhew, Ran Carthon and Adam Peters take top front office jobs. Williams, who was a finalist for last year’s Jaguars GM gig, could be next.

Gillen climbed to the AGM level in San Francisco in 2025, coming up through the scouting ranks to become the team’s player personnel director in 2023. Gillen has been with the 49ers since before Lynch and Shanahan’s arrivals, being hired during Trent Baalke‘s GM tenure. Gillen being included in Miami’s list further points to McDaniel staying.

A 49ers exec being hired certainly could give the embattled HC a new lease on life in Miami, as persistent rumblings have emerged pointing to ownership being fond of the offense-based leader and ready to give him a fifth year. That is not a lock, however.

McKay’s time with the 49ers’ California rival has spanned 10 years now. He arrived a year before Sean McVay, joining Les Snead‘s front office as a scouting assistant. McKay has worked his way up to assistant general manager. This position certainly has been known to launch GM candidacies, with Halaby serving in this role for the Eagles. Halaby does not come from the scouting side, however, being a Harvard graduate who spent five-plus years as the Eagles’ director of football operations and strategy.

Sullivan, who serves as Green Bay’s VP of player personnel, was on last year’s GM carousel and emerged as a possible Dolphins candidate hours after Grier’s dismissal. Sullivan has only worked in Green Bay, being with the Packers since 2003. The former Ted Thompson lieutenant has climbed the ladder under Brian Gutekunst, climbing to his current post through the scouting ranks. Sullivan has been in the VP role since 2022.

1 comment Green Bay Packers Los Angeles Rams Miami Dolphins Philadelphia Eagles San Francisco 49ers

Updated 2026 NFL Draft Order

By | at January 4, 2026 10:45 pm

With the AFC North now settled (in rather dramatic fashion), the 2025 regular season is in the books. Following their decisions to shelve Brock Bowers and Maxx Crosby, the Raiders secured the No. 1 overall pick. After entering Week 17 in that slot, the Giants — as they did in 2024 — slipped out of the top two thanks to a late-season win.

Big Blue’s victories over the Raiders and Cowboys dropped them to No. 5, with today’s win allowing the Jets, Cardinals and Titans to leapfrog them. The Giants, who fell out of the No. 1 spot last year thanks to a Drew Lock-led win over the Colts in Week 17, will still hold a top-five pick — just not the one most expected two weeks ago. The Jets saw the Colts’ collapse, which dropped them from 8-2 to 8-9, give them two picks in the top 16.

The Cardinals started 2-0 but managed to close the season with 14 losses over their final 15 games. This will give Arizona a top-four pick for the third time in the Monti Ossenfort era. The GM traded out of that slot in 2023 before drafting Marvin Harrison Jr. in 2024; Ossenfort is expected to be retained for a fourth season, providing another opportunity. This will be the third straight year the Titans will hold a top-seven pick.

The Buccaneers beat the Panthers on Saturday, but thanks to a three-way NFC South tie, Tampa Bay’s draft slot will land out of the playoff positions for the first time since 2020. Because Atlanta defeated New Orleans today, Carolina’s first-round pick will slide into the bottom 14 despite its 8-9 finish — one that secured playoff entry for the first time since 2017.

Although the draft order is not fully set due to the upcoming playoffs, the first 18 picks are. Here is how the order looks after Week 18:

  1. Las Vegas Raiders (3-14)
  2. New York Jets (3-14)
  3. Arizona Cardinals (3-14)
  4. Tennessee Titans (3-14)
  5. New York Giants (4-13)
  6. Cleveland Browns (5-12)
  7. Washington Commanders (5-12)
  8. New Orleans Saints (6-11)
  9. Kansas City Chiefs (6-11)
  10. Cincinnati Bengals (6-11)
  11. Miami Dolphins (7-10)
  12. Dallas Cowboys (7-9-1)
  13. Los Angeles Rams (via Falcons)
  14. Baltimore Ravens (8-9)
  15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-9)
  16. New York Jets (via Colts)
  17. Detroit Lions (9-8)
  18. Minnesota Vikings (9-8)
  19. Carolina Panthers (8-9)
  20. Dallas Cowboys (from Packers)
  21. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7)
  22. Los Angeles Chargers (11-6)
  23. Philadelphia Eagles (11-6)
  24. Buffalo Bills (12-5)
  25. Chicago Bears (11-6)
  26. San Francisco 49ers (12-5)
  27. Houston Texans (12-5)
  28. Cleveland Browns (from Jaguars)
  29. Los Angeles Rams (12-5)
  30. New England Patriots (14-3)
  31. Denver Broncos (14-3)
  32. Seattle Seahawks (14-3)
27 comments 2026 NFL Draft Arizona Cardinals Atlanta Falcons Baltimore Ravens Buffalo Bills Carolina Panthers Chicago Bears Cincinnati Bengals Cleveland Browns Dallas Cowboys Denver Broncos Detroit Lions Green Bay Packers Houston Texans Indianapolis Colts Jacksonville Jaguars Kansas City Chiefs Las Vegas Raiders Los Angeles Chargers Los Angeles Rams Miami Dolphins Minnesota Vikings New England Patriots New Orleans Saints New York Giants New York Jets PFR Originals Philadelphia Eagles Pittsburgh Steelers San Francisco 49ers Seattle Seahawks Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tennessee Titans Washington Commanders
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