NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 1/26/26
Today’s reserve/futures deals:
Denver Broncos
- LB Levelle Bailey, TE Caleb Lohner, DT Jordan Miller, RB Cody Schrader, G Calvin Throckmorton, RB Deuce Vaughn
Kansas City Chiefs
Los Angeles Rams
- OT A.J. Arcuri, WR Tru Edwards, DB Tanner Ingle, DB Cam Lampkin, OT Dylan McMahon, LB Eli Neal, DT Bill Norton, WR Brennan Presley, TE Mark Redman, WR Tyler Scott
Raheem Morris, Anthony Campanile, Mike LaFleur Leading Candidates For Cardinals’ HC Position?
The Cardinals are one of four teams which still have a head coaching vacancy. A hire could be coming soon, though, with a trio of top candidates in place. 
According to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, Arizona considers Raheem Morris, Anthony Campanile and Mike LaFleur to be the “leading” options at this point. All three have interviewed at least once with the Cardinals as part of their ongoing search. Campanile met with the team for a second time on Thursday, something other candidates are also set to do shortly.
The current Jaguars defensive coordinator has been a popular head coaching candidate during this year’s cycle. Campanile interviewed with the Ravens and Dolphins, but both teams have since gone in a different direction to fill their HC positions. 2025 marked the 43-year-old’s first season as a coordinator at the NFL level, so taking on a head coaching gig would represent another major career move.
LaFleur has a more extensive history as an NFL coordinator, having served as an OC with the Jets from 2021-22 and with the Rams for the past three seasons. He has not handled play-calling duties in Los Angeles while working under Sean McVay, but the 38-year-old has helped his stock over the course of his Rams stint. A follow-up interview was not possible in LaFleur’s case this past week with the Rams advancing to the NFC title game. One could be arranged in the near future, however.
Morris is the only member of the trio who has worked as a head coach at the NFL or college levels. He was at the helm of the Buccaneers from 2009-11; Morris also served as the Falcons’ coach for a total of 45 games across two different stints. Over that span, his teams posted a winning record just once. Morris, 49, is regarded as one of the game’s top defensive minds but his head coaching winning percentage sits at .398. Interest in multiple D-coordinator positions could be coming in this case in the even Morris does not land the Cardinals gig, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
Plenty remains to be seen over the coming days, but SNY’s Connor Hughes reports LaFleur is “believed to be the frontrunner” for the Arizona HC position at this time. For now, his attention will be focused on the Rams’ game against the Seahawks with a Super Bowl berth on the line. Nevertheless, a deal bringing with it a first head coaching opportunity allowing LaFleur to remain in the NFC West could be coming soon.
Here is an updated look at where Arizona’s search stands:
- Joe Brady, offensive coordinator (Bills): To conduct in-person interview
- Thomas Brown, tight ends coach (Patriots): Interview requested
- Matt Burke, defensive coordinator (Texans): Interviewed
- Anthony Campanile, defensive coordinator (Jaguars): Conducted second interview 1/22; leading candidate?
- Jeff Hafley, defensive coordinator (Packers): Interviewed 1/14
- John Harbaugh, former head coach (Ravens): Contacted
- Vance Joseph, defensive coordinator (Broncos): Interviewed 1/10, considered “strong candidate”
- Klint Kubiak, offensive coordinator (Seahawks): Interviewed 1/10
- Mike LaFleur, offensive coordinator (Rams): Interviewed 1/16; leading candidate?
- Jesse Minter, defensive coordinator (Chargers): Interviewed 1/13
- Raheem Morris, former head coach (Falcons): Interviewed; leading candidate?
- Matt Nagy, offensive coordinator (Chiefs): Interviewed 1/9
- Robert Saleh, defensive coordinator (49ers): Interviewed 1/15
- Chris Shula, defensive coordinator (Rams): Interviewed 1/16
- Arthur Smith, offensive coordinator (Steelers): Interview requested
- Anthony Weaver, defensive coordinator (Dolphins): To conduct second interview 1/25
Browns Arrange Second HC Interview With Nate Scheelhaase
Nate Scheelhaase was recently named as a leading candidate for the Browns‘ head coaching position. To no surprise, a second interview with the Rams pass-game coordinator has been arranged. 
Scheelhaase will conduct an in-person interview with the Browns on Monday, Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated reports. Rams staffers were not able to speak with suitors this past week with the team preparing for the NFC championship game. By Monday, however, Los Angeles’ season will be over or the team will be on a bye week in advance of the Super Bowl.
This meeting will take place in California regardless of if the Rams win or lose tomorrow, Breer adds. Scheelhaase is one of several coaches involved in the NFC title game who have been drawn considerable HC interest. At the age of 35, Scheelhaase is much younger and less experienced than many other candidates in this year’s hiring cycle.
That has not stopped him from speaking with several HC-needy teams this month, however. Scheelhaase has interviewed with the Ravens, Raiders and Steelers in addition to his Browns ties. The openings in Baltimore and Pittsburgh have since been filled, but Vegas is still in need of a new head coach. Vegas has not yet attempted to set up a second Scheelhaase interview, and it will be interesting to see if the team does so given this sustained push from Cleveland.
The Browns fired Kevin Stefanski after his sixth season at the helm came to an end. Since then, a long list of replacement candidates has emerged, although two – Mike McDaniel and Jesse Minter – withdrew from consideration. An outside hire is of course still possible at this time, but defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz remains a contender to be promoted to the role of head coach. Retaining Schwartz in one capacity or another is high on the team’s priority list as its search plays out.
Scheelhaase’s college coaching tenure included one season as Iowa State’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. The following season saw him debut on an NFL sideline by serving as an offensive assistant on Sean McVay‘s staff. Scheelhaase was then promoted to his current role for the 2025 campaign. Los Angeles led the NFL in scoring this year and ranked second in passing yards.
The Rooney Rule requires teams to conduct at least two in-person interviews with minority candidates during a head coaching search. Once the Scheelhaase meeting takes place, at least one more will be required to satisfy the rule in Cleveland’s case. Here is an updated look at where things stand for the Browns:
- Aden Durde, defensive coordinator (Seahawks): Interviewed 1/9
- John Harbaugh, former head coach (Ravens): Rumored mutual interest; interview requested
- Mike McDaniel, former head coach (Dolphins): To conduct second interview 1/21; withdrew from search
- Jesse Minter, defensive coordinator (Chargers): To conduct second interview 1/22; withdrew from search
- Todd Monken, offensive coordinator (Ravens): Conducted second interview 1/20
- Dan Pitcher, offensive coordinator (Bengals): Interviewed 1/9
- Tommy Rees, offensive coordinator (Browns): Interviewed 1/8
- Nate Scheelhaase, pass game coordinator (Rams): To conduct second interview 1/26; considered serious candidate
- Jim Schwartz, defensive coordinator (Browns): Conducted second interview 1/19; seen as favorite?
- Chris Shula, defensive coordinator (Rams): Interview requested
- Grant Udinski, offensive coordinator (Jaguars): Conducted second interview 1/23
Minor NFL Transactions: 1/24/26
Here are today’s minor moves, including standard gameday practice squad elevations for the Conference Championship teams not covered in larger posts:
Los Angeles Rams
- Elevated: DE Larrell Murchison, LB Elias Neal
Seattle Seahawks
- Elevated: RB Cam Akers, RB Velus Jones Jr.
Following a season-ending ACL tear to RB2 Zach Charbonnet, the Seahawks are calling up Akers and Jones to assist recently activated running back George Holani in backing up Kenneth Walker for the NFC Championship game.
Tom Telesco Assisting In Browns’ HC Search; Rams’ Nate Scheelhaase A Serious Candidate
One year after the Raiders fired him as their general manager, Tom Telesco is working as a consultant in the Browns’ head coaching search, according to Jordan Schultz. Telesco has been in attendance for in-person meetings with candidates, Schultz adds.
Telesco spent most of the season out of football before he (and ex-Dolphins GM Chris Grier) began talks with the Browns in late December. The Browns have since moved on from head coach Kevin Stefanski, but they retained Andrew Berry as their GM. Telesco and Berry worked together in Indianapolis from 2009-12.
Telesco left the Colts in 2013 to become the Chargers’ GM, a role he held for 11 seasons. His head coaching hires with the Chargers included Mike McCoy, Anthony Lynn and Brandon Staley. Those three led the Chargers to one playoff berth apiece. The team missed the postseason in all eight of Telesco’s other years in the organization.
Telesco became the Raiders’ GM a little over a month after the Chargers canned him, though he wasn’t in their front office for the promotion of Antonio Pierce from interim head coach to the full-time position. Owner Mark Davis made that call a few days before he brought in Telesco. Davis and influential part-owner Tom Brady wound up firing Telesco and Pierce after a 4-13 campaign.
Almost three weeks since the Browns fired Stefanski, they remain without a head coach. A hiring isn’t imminent, as Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports notes that the Browns still have not held any in-person interviews with external minority candidates. The Rooney Rule requires at least two.
One of those spots will go to Rams pass game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase, who is preparing for this Sunday’s NFC Championship Game against the Seahawks. The Browns will be able to interview Scheelhaase in person next week. They could also give another in-person interview to a minority candidate from the college ranks, per Jones, though he doesn’t name any specific possibilities.
The Browns “very much take seriously Nate Scheelhaase,” says Jones, who wouldn’t be surprised to see the team hire the 35-year-old. If the Rams advance to Super Bowl LX, which will take place Feb. 8, the Browns will have to continue waiting to make it official.
While Scheelhaase may be one of the favorites for the job, here’s a look at the other candidates the Browns have considered:
- Aden Durde, defensive coordinator (Seahawks): Interviewed 1/9
- John Harbaugh, former head coach (Ravens): Rumored mutual interest; interview requested; took Giants HC job
- Mike McDaniel, former head coach (Dolphins): To conduct second interview 1/21; withdrew from search
- Jesse Minter, defensive coordinator (Chargers): To conduct second interview 1/22; withdrew from search
- Todd Monken, offensive coordinator (Ravens): Conducted second interview 1/20
- Dan Pitcher, offensive coordinator (Bengals): Interviewed 1/9
- Tommy Rees, offensive coordinator (Browns): Interviewed 1/8
- Jim Schwartz, defensive coordinator (Browns): Conducted second interview 1/19; seen as favorite?
- Chris Shula, defensive coordinator (Rams): Interview requested
- Grant Udinski, offensive coordinator (Jaguars): To conduct second interview 1/23
Rams Designate RT Rob Havenstein For Return
JANUARY 23: The Rams will continue to go without Havenstein in the NFC Championship Game, Sarah Barshop of ESPN reports. He’ll miss his 10th straight game.
JANUARY 22: Although the coaching carousel has ignited PFR’s search trackers into high gear, our IR Return Tracker is still covering four teams. And a few are making moves ahead of this weekend’s conference championship round.
The Broncos have designated both J.K. Dobbins and Luke Wattenberg for return, while the Patriots saw Mack Hollins return to practice Thursday. The Seahawks designated running back George Holani for return as well. The Rams are now on the board here, as their longest-tenured player — right tackle Rob Havenstein — is back at practice after several weeks off, per the AP’s Greg Beacham.
Havenstein has not played since Week 11, a win over the Seahawks, but could be back in time for the team’s rubber match. Havenstein, who has only played in seven games this season, has missed extensive time due to ankle and knee trouble. The Rams were without their 11th-year right tackle for a three-game stretch in October as well. Although he returned for some November work, he has been on the shelf since the Rams’ home win over the Hawks.
Havenstein, 33, has been the Rams’ RT starter since Nick Foles‘ lone season at the controls. The former St. Louis second-round pick — the only Ram left from their Missouri years — has started 148 games for the team, having signed two extensions to stay in Los Angeles. That ranks seventh among O-linemen in the Rams’ near-90-year history as a franchise. If the two-time Super Bowl starter returns for the 2026 season, he could move past Orlando Pace and into the top five.
But the Rams have seen their once-durable blocker run into persistent injury trouble over the past two seasons. Havenstein missed six games last year, battling ankle trouble in 2024 as well. He also missed three games in 2023. The Wisconsin product was on the field for the Rams’ two playoff games last season, before undergoing surgery on both shoulders, and will have a chance to return for Sunday’s NFC decider. If the Rams do not activate Havenstein and win Sunday, they could activate him for Super Bowl LX.
L.A. has used Warren McClendon as its Havenstein replacement. McClendon, a 2023 fifth-round pick, has started 10 games this season. All 667 of his 2025 snaps have come at right tackle. Pro Football Focus has graded McClendon 15th among all qualified tackles, giving the Rams a potential option in 2026. Havenstein’s three-year, $34.5MM contract expires at season’s end.
Chargers Request DC Interview With Rams’ Aubrey Pleasant
Jim Harbaugh had Jesse Minter and Steve Clinkscale installed as co-defensive coordinators for two seasons at Michigan. That may be a tell about where the Chargers plan to go at DC now that Minter has been named John Harbaugh‘s Ravens HC replacement.
The Chargers must interview at least one external minority candidate before any Clinkscale promotion — a rumored Minter succession plan — can commence, and they are moving on their DC search hours after Minter’s pledge to return to Baltimore.
[RELATED: Chargers To Hire Mike McDaniel As OC]
Rams defensive pass-game coordinator Aubrey Pleasant has received a Chargers DC interview request, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets. Pleasant has received a few interview slips during his time in the NFL ranks; he is now on stint No. 2 with the Rams. The Bolts cannot interview Pleasant until at least next week, with Rams staffers on hold until their season is over or during their Super Bowl LX bye week.
Also a former Michigan assistant (but before Jim Harbaugh’s time as the program’s HC), Pleasant has been an NFL staffer since 2012. He served as Sean McVay‘s cornerbacks coach from 2017-20 and has been in charge of the Rams’ DBs since 2023. In between, Pleasant was on the Lions and Packers’ staffs. The Rams ranked 19th against the pass this season.
The Bears and Jaguars sent Pleasant interview slips last year. The Rams met with him about replacing Raheem Morris in 2024. The Saints and Vikings discussed their positions with him in 2022. Back in 2019, the Bengals began his time on the DC carousel with an interview. None of these meetings has produced a hire, and the Clinkscale rumor could point to the Chargers following this trend.
Clinkscale has coached under Jim Harbaugh longer than Minter, arriving in Ann Arbor in 2021. He has mentored a secondary that has featured modest investments at cornerback and one that coaxed rebound seasons from the likes of Kristian Fulton, Elijah Molden and Donte Jackson over the past two years. Clinkscale, who is also Black, would not count toward the Rooney Rule since he is already on the Chargers’ staff. It will be interesting to see if the Bolts move quickly to promote him or if this DC search includes a few names.
NFL Reserve/Futures Deals: 1/21/26
Today’s reserve/futures deals:
Atlanta Falcons
- TE Joshua Simon
Chicago Bears
- TE Qadir Ismail
Las Vegas Raiders
- LS Alex Ward
Los Angeles Rams
- S Nate Valcarcel
Miami Dolphins
- LB Seth Coleman
Philadelphia Eagles
- TE Jaheim Bell
San Francisco 49ers
Details On Titans’ Robert Saleh Hire
Although a report on Monday pegged Matt Nagy as the frontunner for the Titans’ head coaching position, the team instead hired Robert Saleh several hours later. Nagy and Saleh joined then-Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley as the Titans’ finalists, according to insider Jordan Schultz, who reveals the team never seriously considered Mike McCarthy despite interviewing him
Tennessee lost one of its finalists when the Dolphins hired Hafley as their head coach on Monday evening. Saleh, meanwhile, entered his Monday interview with the Titans needing to “win the job,” Albert Breer of SI.com writes.
In successfully landing the role, the former 49ers defensive coordinator secured a five-year contract, per Schultz. Because Saleh’s second stint in San Francisco only lasted one year, the 49ers will not receive draft compensation for losing him, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area notes.
Saleh’s summit with the Titans included a three-hour meeting with general manager Mike Borgonzi, president of football operations Chad Brinker, and several other members of their front office, Breer relays. Borgonzi made the recommendation to hire Saleh after his successful pitch to team brass.
Saleh impressed the group with a “detailed plan” on working with quarterback Cam Ward, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 draft. That included ideas on putting together the right offensive staff to maximize Ward’s potential. Saleh’s looking for a “CEO-type” offensive coordinator, Schultz says.
We already know Saleh’s offensive staff will not include Mike McDaniel, who developed a strong bond with Saleh when they coached together in San Francisco from 2017-20. Although Saleh had been in contact with McDaniel (via Jeremy Fowler of ESPN), the latter is on the cusp of becoming the Chargers’ offensive coordinator.
Given Ward’s importance to the organization, the Titans wanted all of their head coaching candidates to present a plan for Ward, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports. With Saleh now in charge and McDaniel about to come off the board, former Giants head coach Brian Daboll is reportedly in the mix to take over as Ward’s next offensive coordinator.
The Titans interviewed Daboll for their head coaching job, but he may wind up taking on a key role as an assistant with the team. However, Daboll has another suitor in the Eagles, who are interested in him for their O-coordinator opening. He’s also a potential candidate for Buffalo’s head coaching job, which became available when the team unexpectedly fired Sean McDermott on Monday. Daboll spent 2018-21 as the Bills’ OC and aided in developing Josh Allen into an elite signal-caller. In bringing in Daboll to help Ward, the Titans would hope for similar results.
If Daboll doesn’t join Saleh’s staff, Breer identifies former Commanders OC Kliff Kingsbury, Rams OC Mike LaFleur and Steelers OC Arthur Smith as other possibilities.
Kingsbury helped guide 2024 second overall pick Jayden Daniels to stellar results as a rookie, but multiple injuries largely prevented the dual-threat QB from building on that success this season. After Daniels played in just seven games in 2025, Kingsbury and the Commanders parted ways. Kingsbury has since drawn the attention of teams looking for head coaches and offensive coordinators.
LaFleur also worked with Saleh in San Francisco, though Breer is skeptical he’ll leave Los Angeles this offseason. Interestingly, LaFleur’s brother, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur, played a role in the Titans’ decision to hire Saleh. After the Jets fired him as their head coach in October 2024, Saleh ended the season on LaFleur’s staff as an offensive consultant. LaFleur, one of Saleh’s closest friends, provided the Titans helpful feedback during their search.
Smith, a Nashville native, also interviewed for the Titans’ HC gig. Previously a Titans assistant from 2011-20, Smith held the OC role in his last two years with the organization before a three-season run as the Falcons’ head coach. While Smith is still on Pittsburgh’s staff, Mike Tomlin‘s resignation casts doubt on his future with the team.
Saleh will spend the coming weeks assembling his staff, a group he hopes will help produce better results than he generated in New York. The Jets canned Saleh after he posted an unsightly 20-36 record over three-plus seasons. While Saleh didn’t call the defensive plays with the Jets, that will change in his new home, which helps give the Titans confidence the 46-year-old will capitalize on his second chance as a head coach.
Saleh’s “energy and presence” helped win over owner Amy Adams Strunk, whose previous head coaching hire, Brian Callahan, contributed to the franchise’s recent slide. Now stuck in a four-year playoff drought, the Titans have gone a woeful 19-49 since 2022.
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.