Titans Request GM Interviews With Ed Dodds, Reggie McKenzie, John Spytek
JANUARY 10: McKenzie is likely to receive considerable support for the GM role, Dianna Russini of The Athletic notes. He may be the favorite at this point in the process, although things could of course change over the coming days as interviews take place.
JANUARY 8: The Titans are casting their net far and wide in search of their next general manager, adding three more interviews to their list on Wednesday.
The latest candidates are Colts assistant GM Ed Dodds (per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero), Dolphins senior personnel executive Reggie McKenzie (per ESPN’s Turron Davenport), and Buccaneers assistant GM John Spytek (per Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times).
[RELATED: Titans Begin GM Search With Three Requests]
Dodds has worked under Colts GM Chris Ballard since 2017. He began his NFL front office career as a scouting intern for the then-Oakland Raiders in 2003. That led to a scouting gig in Seattle, where Dodds finished as a senior personnel executive after nearly a decade. He then started as vice president of player personnel in Indianapolis before receiving a promotion to assistant GM in 2018. The Colts have hit on a number of first- and second-round picks in Dodds’ tenure, including Quenton Nelson and Shaquille Leonard in 2018 and Michael Pittman Jr. and Jonathan Taylor in 2020, but they have struggled to consistently find talent in the later rounds.
McKenzie is a former NFL linebacker who retired from playing in 1992. He briefly coached at the University of Tennessee before landing a scouting job with the Packers. McKenzie stayed in Green Bay for almost 20 years, eventually rising to director of football operations in 2008. The Packers won two Super Bowls in McKenzie’s tenure, which also included the 2005 draft selection of Aaron Rodgers.
McKenzie was then hired to turn around an expensive, underperforming Raiders roster as GM. He hit on Derek Carr, Khalil Mack, and Amari Cooper in back-to-back drafts but struggled to find and retain talent in subsequent years amid interference from new owner Mark Davis and his handpicked head coach, Jon Gruden. McKenzie was fired during the 2018 season and joined the Dolphins a few months later. Miami’s next three drafts all yielded several future starters, including Tua Tagovailoa and Jaylen Waddle, though the team is still chasing their first AFC East title since 2008.
Spytek spent time with the Lions, Eagles, Browns, and Broncos – primarily as a scout – before arriving in Tampa Bay in 2016. The Buccaneers have been one of the most successful front offices in the last decade under GM Jason Licht, who has consistently hit on draft picks and free agent signings. Tampa Bay won Super Bowl LV after successfully engineering the acquisition of Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski during the 2020 offseason and has won four straight division titles since. The Buccaneers’ drafts under Spytek have been littered with success, particularly at offensive line.
The Titans’ search is being overseen by president of football operations Chad Brinker, whose football experience stands in contrast to some of Tennessee’s other business-focused executives. He has ties to Chiefs assistant GM Mike Borgonzi, Packers VP of player personnel Jon-Eric Sullivan, and Bears assistant GM Ian Cunningham, per Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, all of whom could be candidates for the Titans’ GM job.
Brinker may also look for familiarity with head coach Brian Callahan, in which case a Bengals executive like Mike Potts, Trey Brown, or Steve Radicevic could be considered, according to Breer.
Tyreek Hill Committed To Dolphins?
Missing the playoffs for the first time in his career, Tyreek Hill generated a wave of headlines after checking out of the Dolphins-Jets game and then indicating postgame he was done playing in Miami. Days away from that incident, the parties are circling back to one another.
After Chris Grier said Hill had not issued a trade request, Hill’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, indicated during a Pat McAfee Show appearance his client is “committed” to the Dolphins. This comes after Hill had a productive meeting with Grier and Mike McDaniel. While Hill has displayed some erratic behavior over the course of his career, this situation appears to have settled for the time being.
Hill, 30, checked out of the game without permission — an act McDaniel said would not be tolerated again — and after his postgame stance about leaving the Dolphins both thanked Miami fans regarding his time with the team and changed his Twitter profile picture to Antonio Brown‘s infamous 2021 walk-off sequence at MetLife Stadium. As this went well beyond the wide receiver performing an elaborate bit, Dolphins management needed to step in to defuse the situation.
Until this season, Hill had justified his high-maintenance status. The future Hall of Famer is one of the best deep threats in NFL history, and he cinched up eventual Canton entry with back-to-back first-team All-Pro nods following 1,700-plus-yard Dolphins seasons. Hill’s move from Kansas City to Miami correlated with Tua Tagovailoa‘s upswing after two rocky years. The quarterback’s development played into the Dolphins’ decision to adjust Hill’s contract, despite three years remaining on the 2022 agreement, via a significant guarantee update.
This season, Hill only totaled 959 yards in 17 games. The Dolphins’ quarterback shuffle, amid more Tagovailoa injury trouble, played a central role in this modest number. Rosenhaus also said a broken wrist caused the shaky season. Hill, per Rosenhaus, broke his wrist during a joint practice with the Commanders and opted to play through it rather than undergoing a recommended surgery. Hill said previously his wrist was impacted by the pregame arrest that took place before Week 1.
A December report classified the injury as a torn ligament. A November offering indicated no surgery was on tap. Either way, Hill was hampered by the balky wrist this season. He will look to rebound in 2025, and the Dolphins gave him plenty of incentive to do so via the reworked contract. Seeing other receivers sign contracts with better structures in the years since his $30MM-AAV accord, Hill lobbied for a new deal this past offseason. The Dolphins, as they did with Xavien Howard years ago, gave in and approved $54MM in additional guarantees. Hill’s deal still runs through 2026.
The Chiefs have won back-to-back Super Bowls since trading Hill, relying more on a defensive blueprint. Stats-wise, Hill has won out, with both Patrick Mahomes‘ production dipping and Kansas City not coming remotely close to replacing the two-time MVP’s former top weapon. Though, that was never expected. The Dolphins are also not on the same plane competitively as Hill’s former team, causing frustration for the one-time Super Bowl champ. Hill appears to have cooled down, but this situation will be worth monitoring during the months leading up to training camp.
Darrell Bevell, Tommy Rees To Interview For Browns’ OC Job
Firing their offensive coordinator in back-to-back years, the Browns no longer seem committed to finding someone that will coax a Deshaun Watson bounce-back effort. The embattled quarterback has seen a setback in his Achilles rehab, and Browns brass had already stopped short of confirming the high-priced passer would start again.
With the prospect of a first-round quarterback firmly in play, the Browns are moving on their OC search. They have tight ends coach Tommy Rees in line to interview for Ken Dorsey‘s old job, cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot reports. Rees is expected to draw interest elsewhere, per The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, so the Browns will need to weigh outside interest with Rees’ qualifications to move up internally.
Two assistants bringing more experience will join Rees in interviewing for the position. Veteran Darrell Bevell will meet about the job, according to CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones. The former Seahawks OC is currently the Dolphins’ pass-game coordinator. Current Seahawks QBs coach Charles London will also meet with the Browns, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero tweets. Bevell will interview today, Cabot adds.
Rees also came up previously as someone who could follow Mike Vrabel, but Josh McDaniels — who has an extensive history with the HC candidate dating back to his linebacker days — is also in play there. Rees has more experience at the college level, having been the offensive coordinator at Notre Dame and Alabama. Rees, 32, landed the Fighting Irish gig at just 27. He would be the youngest active NFL OC if promoted. The ex-Nick Saban assistant joined the Browns’ staff last year.
Bevell, 55, has been in the NFL since 2000 and has held OC gigs with four teams (Vikings, Seahawks, Lions, Jaguars). At the controls when the Seahawks emerged as the NFL’s top team early in Russell Wilson‘s career, Bevell spent seven seasons as the play-caller under Pete Carroll. He later served as interim HC for both the Lions and Jaguars. Bevell has been at the helm under Mike McDaniel since 2022. With Tua Tagovailoa taking a substantial leap in that span, Bevell is again drawing interest.
London, 49, has also been a regular on the OC interview circuit in recent years. He met about the Titans and Commanders’ jobs in 2023, but no interviews took place last year. The Rams and Dolphins met with London in 2022. London has coached QBs with the Falcons, Titans and Seahawks since 2021.
Additionally, the Browns hired a new offensive line coach. Mike Bloomgren will come from the college ranks to take over for Andy Dickerson, whom the team fired along with Dorsey. Bloomgren, who spent the past seven seasons as Rice’s head coach, has been in the college game since 2011. He worked under David Shaw at Stanford for seven years. In the four years prior to that, however, Bloomgren was a Jets assistant. He did not rise beyond the quality control level at that point.
CB Justin Bethel Retires
Justin Bethel‘s playing days have come to an end. The veteran corner/special teams ace announced his retirement via Instagram on Wednesday. 
“23 years. 12 years pro,” Bethel wrote. “That’s how long I’ve played the game of football! Been blessed more than I can imagine. Met a lot of great people thanks to football and been to a lot of cool places. But my greatest years are ahead of me.”
Bethel entered the league as a sixth-round pick of the Cardinals in 2012. He played all 16 games in his rookie year but hardly saw the field on defense. With respect to special teams, though, his 70% snap share showcased his immediate contributions. It was in the third phase that Bethel would go on to make his most notable impact in the NFL. That included three consecutive Pro Bowl nods from 2013-15.
Following a six-year run in Arizona (including the 2017 campaign, in which he logged his heaviest defensive workload), Bethel spent one year with the Falcons. That, in turn, was followed by time with the Ravens, Patriots and Dolphins. He logged a full season in 2023 with Miami but was out of the league this past campaign. Rather than attempting a return for the 2025 season, Bethel has elected to hang up his cleats.
In all, the 34-year-old played 200 combined regular and postseason games in the NFL, collecting five interceptions and 282 tackles along the way. Thanks in large part to his first Cardinals extension, Bethel amassed roughly $20MM in career earnings.
2025 NFL General Manager Search Tracker
The Titans and Raiders again became part of a GM carousel in the 2020s. Tennessee canned its front office boss after two seasons, while Las Vegas moved on after one. These two joined the Jets, and after two-plus offseason weeks, the Jaguars followed suit by firing Trent Baalke. With the Titans, Raiders and Jets landing on GMs, the Jags are the only team left searching. Here is how the GM market looks:
Updated 2-21-25 (4:00pm CT)
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Chad Alexander, assistant general manager (Chargers): Interviewed 2/13
- Brandon Brown, assistant general manager (Giants): Interviewed 2/13; strong contender?
- Trey Brown, senior personnel executive (Bengals): Interviewed 2/12
- Ian Cunningham, assistant general manager (Bears): Conducted second interview 2/19
- James Gladstone, scouting director (Rams): Hired
- Terrance Gray, vice president of player personnel (Bills): Interviewed 2/12
- Mike Greenberg, assistant general manager (Buccaneers): Declined interview
- Champ Kelly, assistant general manager (Raiders): Interviewed 2/14
- Jon Robinson, former general manager (Titans): One of top candidates?; Interviewed 2/13
- Jon-Eric Sullivan, vice president of player personnel (Packers): Conducted second interview 2/20
- Ethan Waugh, interim general manager (Jaguars): Strong candidate?; Interviewed 2/20
- Josh Williams, director of scouting and football operations (49ers): Conducted second interview 2/19
Las Vegas Raiders
- Chad Alexander, assistant general manager (Chargers): Interviewed; to conduct second interview 1/20
- Brandon Brown, assistant general manager (Giants): Interviewed; to conduct second interview 1/20
- Lance Newmark, assistant general manager (Commanders): Potential frontrunner?; interviewed 1/19
- John Spytek, assistant general manager (Buccaneers): To interview; hired
- Jon-Eric Sullivan, director of player personnel (Packers): Interview requested
- Sheldon White, director of pro scouting (Steelers): Interview requested
New York Jets
- Mike Borgonzi, assistant general manager (Chiefs): Interviewed 1/8; hired by Titans
- Trey Brown, senior personnel executive (Bengals): Conducted second interview 1/23
- Thomas Dimitroff, former general manager (Falcons): Interviewed 12/16
- Ray Farmer, senior personnel executive (Rams): Interviewed 1/9
- Brian Gaine, assistant general manager (Bills): Interviewed 1/14
- Mike Greenberg, assistant general manager (Buccaneers): Interviewed 1/10
- Ryan Grigson, senior vice president of player personnel (Vikings): Interviewed 1/11
- Alec Halaby, assistant general manager (Eagles): Interviewed 1/8
- Darren Mougey, assistant general manager (Broncos): Hired
- Jim Nagy, Senior Bowl director: Interviewed 12/19
- Lance Newmark, assistant general manager (Commanders): Conducted second interview 1/21; hire expected; still a candidate
- Louis Riddick, former director of pro personnel (Eagles): Interviewed 1/2
- Jon Robinson, former general manager (Titans): Interviewed 12/17
- Phil Savage, interim general manager (Jets): Interviewed
- Chris Spielman, special assistant to president/CEO (Lions): Interviewed 1/11
- Jon-Eric Sullivan, director of player personnel (Packers): Interviewed 1/14
Tennessee Titans
- Matt Berry, senior director of player personnel (Seahawks): Interviewed 1/11
- Mike Borgonzi, assistant general manager (Chiefs): Hired
- Ian Cunningham, assistant general manager (Bears): Conducted second interview 1/15
- Thomas Dimitroff, former general manager (Falcons): Interviewed 1/10
- Ed Dodds, assistant general manager (Colts): Conducted second interview 1/14
- Terrance Gray, vice president of player personnel (Bills): Conducted second interview 1/14
- Catherine Hickman, assistant general manager (Browns): Interviewed 1/11
- Reggie McKenzie, senior personnel executive (Dolphins): Interviewed 1/10
- John Spytek, assistant general manager (Buccaneers): Conducted second interview 1/16
- Jon-Eric Sullivan, director of player personnel (Packers): Conducted second interview 1/16
Dolphins To Prioritize Backup QB Job
Despite Tua Tagovailoa‘s history of concussions, the Dolphins did not upgrade at backup quarterback in 2024, sticking with Skylar Thompson and releasing Mike White before the start of the regular season.
Dolphins general manager Chris Grier said on Tuesday that the team was pursuing “a couple of top-flight backup QBs,” during last offseason, per Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, but couldn’t finalize any signings due to salary cap constraints. Instead, they had Thompson and White compete for the backup job in training camp.
White lost and joined the Bills’ practice squad, forcing the Dolphins to scramble in Week 2 when Tagovailoa went down. They signed Tyler Huntley off the Ravens’ practice squad and Tim Boyle off the street, though neither represented a serious improvement over Thompson.
Grier is determined to have more success finding a new backup after Huntley, Boyle, and Thompson went 2-4 as starters this season. The three combined for a 78.67 passer rating across their appearances, which would rank third-worst among qualified quarterbacks.
The annual quarterback carousel will give Grier plenty of options this offseason, though the Dolphins remain strapped for cap space. They’re already in the red for 2025 with just 37 players under contract, per OverTheCap. The usual array of cuts and restructures can free up some money, but Miami will still need to fill and upgrade their roster if they want to make the playoffs in 2025. Grier will have to balance his desire to shore up his quarterback room with his need to improve other areas of the team.
NFL Reserve/Futures Deals: 1/7/25
Many teams have started signing players to reserve/futures contracts, allowing the organization to retain (routinely) young, practice squad players through the offseason. Here are the latest reserve/futures contracts:
Arizona Cardinals
- DE Anthony Goodlow, OL Sincere Haynesworth, RB Zonovan Knight, NT P.J. Mustipher
Atlanta Falcons
- WR Makai Polk
Buffalo Bills
Chicago Bears
- TE Jordan Murray
Cincinnati Bengals
- CB Micah Abraham, RB Gary Brightwell, CB Nate Brooks, WR Cole Burgess, OT Andrew Coker, DE Raymond Johnson III, S PJ Jules, S Jaylen Key, G Tashawn Manning, WR Kendric Pryor, LB Craig Young
Indianapolis Colts
Las Vegas Raiders
- DL Tyler Manoa
Miami Dolphins
- WR Tarik Black, LB William Bradley-King, S Jordan Colbert, DT Neil Farrell, OT Ryan Hayes, OL Chasen Hines, LB Dequan Jackson, CB Isaiah Johnson, CB Jason Maitre, OT Bayron Matos, LB Derrick McLendon, TE Hayden Rucci
San Francisco 49ers
- OL Isaac Alarcon, WR Russell Gage, WR Isaiah Hodgins, OT Jalen McKenzie
Dolphins’ Chris Grier: Tyreek Hill Has Not Issued Trade Request
In the aftermath of the Dolphins’ Week 18 contest, Tyreek Hill caused a stir with his post-game remarks. The All-Pro wideout openly discussed moving on from Miami despite agreeing to a new contract with the team this past summer.
Speculation has increased since then that a trade will take place, although nothing is imminent on that front. On Tuesday, Dolphins general manager Chris Grier and head coach Mike McDaniel held a press conference and to no surprise, Hill’s decision to pull himself from the game (after it had become clear reaching the playoffs would not be possible for Miami) was a topic which came up early.
“It’s not acceptable to leave a game and won’t be tolerated in the future,” McDaniel said (via ESPN’s Marcel Louis-Jacques). “[Hill] embraced accountability… I don’t think there’s anything to fix.”
Even though Hill “opened the door” to a deal sending him out of Miami with his Sunday comments (and has not yet retracted them), Grier noted a trade request has not been made (h/t Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network). Grier added he and Hill had a “productive conversation” in the wake of the season coming to an end. Speculation will no doubt continue on this situation, but the lack of a desire on Hill’s part for a trade to be worked out is a sign he could remain in Miami moving forward.
The two-time Super Bowl winner was dealt from the Chiefs to the Dolphins in 2022, and he received a four-year, $120MM upon arrival. That $30MM AAV was inflated by the non-guaranteed figures at the back end of the deal, and in August team and player agreed to a restructure which brought in new money (including $65MM in total guarantees) without adding any new years to the pact. Hill’s future seemed to be secure once that was in place, but his comments – provided they are to be taken at face value – certainly point to another change of scenery being something he would welcome.
Hill is under contract through 2026, and nearly all of his base compensation ($27.75MM total) for next year is already guaranteed. Jaylen Waddle is also on the books long term, and that receiver duo will remain the focal point of Miami’s offense if both of its members stay in place moving forward. In Hill’s case, it appears neither team nor player will spend the near future working to find a trade partner.
Minor NFL Transactions: 1/6/25
Today’s minor moves:
Chicago Bears
- Released: RB Royce Freeman
Dallas Cowboys
- Re-signed: QB Will Grier, LB Darius Harris
Indianapolis Colts
- Re-signed: RB Tyler Goodson, LB Segun Olubi
Miami Dolphins
- Re-signed (two years): CB Jason Maitre
New Orleans Saints
- Re-signed: K Charlie Smyth
A number of impending free agents quickly re-signed with their current organizations today. While these players aren’t shoo-ins for roster spots in 2025, they are attached to actual NFL contracts (vs. reserve/futures contracts, which would need to be converted into real contracts if a player makes a 53-man roster).
In addition to hanging on to kicker Charlie Smyth today, the Saints also had to deal with some notable details on a previously-agreed-upon contract. The NFL rejected the team’s contract to safety Travion Fluellen, per Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston. The organization later revised the agreement, bumping the contract from a two-year pact to a three-year pact. It’s uncertain why the league rejected the initial deal, although it could be due to Fluellen’s status as a former UFL player.
Saints Request HC Interviews With Kellen Moore, Anthony Weaver, Mike Kafka
We’ve got three more names to add to the growing list of Saints head coach candidates. The Saints have requested interviews with Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore (via NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport), Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver (via The Athletic’s Dianna Russini), and Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka (via Josina Anderson).
[RELATED: Saints Request HC Interviews With Joe Brady, Aaron Glenn]
This request represents Moore’s first of the current hiring cycle. The veteran coach just completed his first regular season as Philly’s offensive coordinator, with the Eagles failing to improve on their 2023 offensive rankings (seventh in points, eighth in yards). Still, he helped guide Saquon Barkley to a historic season, and he was previously lauded for his offensive approach in stops with the Chargers and Cowboys.
Moore isn’t a stranger to the head coaching interview circuit. He’s earned interviews in each of the past three offseasons, including meetings with the Chargers (2024), Panthers (2023), Broncos, Dolphins, Jaguars, and Vikings (2022).
Weaver was a popular name during last year’s hiring cycle, with the defensive-minded coach earning interviews with the Falcons and Commanders. He ultimately landed in Miami as the Dolphins’ new defensive coordinator. While the team’s defense struggled at times, Weaver still squeezed out a top-10 showing out of his unit, with the Dolphins ranking fourth in yards allowed and 10th in points allowed. The defensive coordinator also oversaw the development of some key defenders, including first-round edge rusher Chop Robinson.
A long-time defensive line coach, Weaver earned national attention following his three-year stint in Baltimore. He served as the Ravens defensive line coach/run game coordinator in 2021 before earning a promotion to assistant head coach in 2022. His current gig in Miami represented another promotion, so the next logical step of his coaching career would see him earning the head coach title. We learned earlier today that the Bears requested an interview with Weaver.
A former NFL journeyman, Kafka made a name for himself while coaching Patrick Mahomes in Kansas City. He parlayed his performance as Chiefs QBs coach into an OC gig with the Giants, where he’s spent the past three years. Brian Daboll wrestled away play-calling responsibilities from his OC this past offseason, and there have been rumblings that Kafka could be ousted since the head coach will be sticking around.
Kafka’s potentially ugly ending in New York clearly hasn’t hurt his head coaching chances, as we learned earlier today that the Bears requested an interview with the coordinator. Kafka interviewed for both the Seahawks and Titans gigs last offseason, and he garnered interviews for all five head coaching vacancies in 2023.
This trio joins Joe Brady and Aaron Glenn, who the Saints requested interviews with earlier today. The team has also been connected to the likes of Mike Vrabel and Matt Nagy, while interim head coach Darren Rizzi is also expected to push for a promotion to the full-time gig.