Raheem Morris Gets Second Vikings Interview
Raheem Morris is a finalist for the Vikings head coaching gig. According to ESPN’s Courtney Cronin (via Twitter), the Vikings conducted a second interview with the Rams defensive coordinator. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler (on Twitter), that second interview took place this evening.
[RELATED: Vikings To Conduct Second Interviews With DeMeco Ryans, Kevin O’Connell]
Morris, 45, has an NFL coaching background dating back to 2002. He has spent time primarily as a defensive backs coach, serving in that role in Tampa Bay (on two different occasions, including the Super Bowl XXXVII-winning squad) and Washington. However, he also took over as the Bucs’ head coach after the firing of Jon Gruden in January of 2009. He had an encouraging year in 2010, posting a 10-6 record, but the one preceding and following that campaign saw the team put up a combined record of 7-25.
After a three year stint in Washington, Morris got his next prominent coaching positions in Atlanta. He served as an assistant head coach and pass game coordinator from his arrival in 2015 to 2019. Then, in 2020, he became the team’s DC until taking over as interim HC following Dan Quinn’s firing. This past offseason, Morris was hired by the Rams to take over for now-Chargers HC Brandon Staley as the team’s defensive coordinator.
49ers defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans and Rams offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell also got second interviews for the Vikings gig.
Kevin O’Connell Gets Second Texans Interview
Kevin O’Connell‘s focus over the next two weeks will be on the Cincinnati Bengals, but the Rams offensive coordinator carved out some time for an interview today. According to Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com, O’Connell had his second interview with the Texans on Monday.
We heard earlier this month that Houston had requested permission to speak with O’Connell, but as Wilson notes, the Texans never publicly confirmed the first interview. That first interview presumably took place over the past few weeks.
O’Connell, who spent the 2019 season as Washington’s OC before joining the Rams in that capacity in 2020, oversaw an offense that finished in the top-10 in terms of both points per game and yards per game in 2021. A member of the popular Sean McVay coaching tree, O’Connell was a finalist for the Broncos’ HC job that ultimately went to Nathaniel Hackett, and the Jaguars also want to sit down with O’Connell.
The current list of candidates for the Texans HC vacancy includes:
- Brian Flores, former head coach (Dolphins): Conducted second interview 1/31
- Jonathan Gannon, defensive coordinator (Eagles): Conducted second interview 1/29
- Joe Lombardi, offensive coordinator (Chargers): Interviewed 1/15
- Jerod Mayo, linebackers coach (Patriots): Mentioned as candidate
- Josh McCown, longtime NFL QB: Conducted second interview 1/28
- Kevin O’Connell, offensive coordinator (Rams): Interviewed 1/31
- Hines Ward, wide receivers coach (Florida Atlantic): Interviewed 1/15
Latest On Jaguars’ Head Coaching Search
The search for a new head coach in Jacksonville has taken a bizarre turn, but also added a new name. ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets that the team is not currently able to interview Rams offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell due to a timing issue; in a follow-up, he then tweeted that the Jags will be interviewing former Raiders interim HC Rich Bisaccia. 
O’Connell was thought to be the new favorite for the job in Jacksonville. However, as Schefter reports, the Jags “didn’t request an interview in the initial interview period”. That, along with the fact that the Rams won the NFC championship yesterday, means he can’t meet with Jacksonville until after the Super Bowl. Since O’Connell is also a finalist for the Vikings’ HC role, the Jags’ opportunity to get him may have already ended before it began.
This news comes after the initial report of the team hiring Byron Leftwich as HC and Adrian Wilson as a replacement for Trent Baalke as general manager was refuted. The current Bucs’ offensive coordinator, it is believed, would only accept the HC job if Baalke were to be let go. Baalke being retained, then, would seem to also take Leftwich out of the running.
Meanwhile, Bisaccia represents another late addition to the list of coaching candidates. He finished this season, of course, as the interim HC in Vegas after the resignation of Jon Gruden. While he interviewed to stay on full-time, that was always seen as an uphill battle; the Raiders made it official he won’t be coming back when they hired Josh McDaniels yesterday. He has also been named the favorite for the special teams coordinator role in Chicago, as newly-hired Matt Eberflus begins building his staff.
Given all of that, here’s the latest look at the HC search in Jacksonville:
- Rich Bisaccia, former interim head coach (Raiders): Interviewed 1/31
- Todd Bowles, defensive coordinator (Buccaneers): Interviewed 1/3
- Jim Caldwell, former head coach (Lions): Interviewed 1/4
- Matt Eberflus, defensive coordinator (Colts): Completed second interview 1/20; hired by Bears
- Nathaniel Hackett, offensive coordinator (Packers): Conducted second interview 1/27; hired by Broncos
- Byron Leftwich, offensive coordinator (Buccaneers): Conducted second interview 1/25; moving toward job?; no longer frontrunner?
- Kellen Moore, offensive coordinator (Cowboys): Interviewed 1/7
- Bill O’Brien, former head coach (Texans): Interviewed 1/13
- Kevin O’Connell, offensive coordinator (Rams): Team wants to interview; possible frontrunner?; interview delayed
- Doug Pederson, former head coach (Eagles): Interviewed 1/6
- Dan Quinn, defensive coordinator (Cowboys): Declined early interview; remaining in Dallas
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
Latest On Rams’ TE Higbee
During the NFC Championship game tonight, the Rams saw starting tight end Tyler Higbee go down with a knee injury in the first quarter. They’ll be eager to determine the severity of Higbee’s injury this week, as they prepare to host Super Bowl LVI. 
The sixth-year tight end was second on the team this year in receptions and third on the team in receiving yards and touchdowns. Coming into tonight’s game, Higbee had 7 catches for 97 yards in the Rams’ first two playoff games. He had reeled in 2 receptions for 18 yards before leaving tonight.
With backup tight ends Brycen Hopkins, Johnny Mundt, and rookie Jacob Harris all injured, Los Angeles turned to Kendall Blanton. The former undrafted free agent showed up when his name was called, catching all five of his targets for 57 yards.
The Rams will likely look into Higbee’s injury early this week and determine their course of action from there. Whether they can return him to practice immediately, need to hold him out to rest, or need to prepare to play a Super Bowl with Blanton in the starting lineup, the Rams have two weeks to come up with a plan.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 1/29/22
Today’s practice squad moves:
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: K Ryan Santoso, LS Carson Tinker
- Waived: WR Warren Jackson, TE Kyle Markway
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
Latest on Niners’ Trent Williams
After injuring his ankle in the 49ers’ Divisional Round win over the Packers, offensive tackle Trent Williams is looking likely to start in the NFC Championship game tomorrow in Los Angeles, according to a tweet from ESPN’s Nick Wagoner. In the tweet, Wagoner relayed a message from head coach Kyle Shanahan that Williams is adamant that he will be able to play and that Shanahan would be surprised if he doesn’t. 
There was a bit of concern for Williams in Green Bay last Saturday night when he was seen on crutches after the game. The first-team All-Pro appeared to injure his ankle early in the third quarter, according to Sports Illustrated’s Grant Cohn, but finished the game with some ankle tape and some true grit. Williams was a question mark to play in the team’s Wild Card win over the Cowboys due to an elbow injury suffered in Week 17. He sat out the regular season finale – which would have ended San Francisco’s season if not for a come-from-behind victory over their next opponent, the Rams – but was able to start once again for both playoff games. The nine-time Pro Bowler has continued to play at an elite level in his second season with the 49ers, an encouraging sign given that he is under contract with the team for another five years after this season concludes.
Wagoner continued in a follow up tweet that running back Jeff Wilson is the only other player on the injury report, being the listed as questionable alongside Williams.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 1/25/22
Today’s taxi squad moves:
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: DT Damion Square
- Released: DT Doug Costin
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: WR Josh Gordon (story)
Los Angeles Rams
- Released: K Ryan Santoso and LS Carson Tinker
- Signed: WR Warren Jackson and TE Kyle Markway
Latest On Broncos’ HC Search
A bit more clarity has emerged with regards to the finalists for the Broncos’ head coaching position. In an update on Good Morning Football, NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport reported that the job will come down to three candidates: Dan Quinn, Kevin O’Connell and Nathaniel Hackett. 
[Related: Broncos Down To “A Few” HC Finalists]
Quinn was the only coach listed by name as a frontrunner when it was reported yesterday that the search was coming down to a small number of candidates. The current Cowboys defensive coordinator has been linked to six of the seven HC vacancies this year, which should presumably give him multiple options to consider.
O’Connell was among the first set of interview requests the Broncos made following Vic Fangio‘s dismissal. In two years as the offensive coordinator for the Rams, the 36-year-old has been impressive. The unit’s 2021 numbers are down slightly due injuries hampering the running game, but he has overseen Matt Stafford‘s first year in L.A., which included Cooper Kupp‘s incredible production. O’Connell has also been linked to the open positions in Houston and Minnesota.
Hackett represents another offensive-minded candidate, something which would differ from the defense-oriented Fangio and Quinn. He has been an offensive coordinator in Buffalo, Jacksonville and, most recently, Green Bay. In three seasons there, he has helped the team win 13 games each time, including a highly efficient year in 2020. The Bears, Jaguars and Vikings have also interviewed the 42-year-old.
According to 9News’ Mike Klis, Quinn is coming to the Broncos’ headquarters sometime this week (Twitter link). The other two are expected to also interview in person, although nothing has been officially scheduled yet. Be sure to check in on our HC Search Tracker for the latest updates.