Matt Patricia Expected To Become Lions’ HC
This sounds familiar. Although Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia was said to prefer the Giants’ head coaching job to the Lions’, ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter tweets that Patricia is expected to become the Lions’ next head coach, as we heard last week.
Patricia, whose defense was quite impressive in New England’s win over the Titans last night, has been a hot head coaching candidate for several years now thanks to his overall body of work with the Pats. Even before the Lions parted ways with former head coach Jim Caldwell, there were plenty of reports linking Patricia to Detroit, as he has a preexisting relationship with Lions GM Bob Quinn stemming from Quinn’s tenure with the Patriots.
And on January 6, it was reported that the Lions would indeed hire Patricia. Just several days later, however, Peter King of TheMMQB.com indicated that Patricia preferred the Giants to the Lions, which threw something of a wrench into this season’s coaching carousel. But Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets that his understanding all along has been that Patricia would accept the Lions’ job. Indeed, as Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press writes, Detroit would have moved on to other candidates if it did not believe Patricia was coming to the Motor City.
Of course, as New England’s season is not yet over, the Lions and Patricia will have to wait to make things official. Birkett adds (via Twitter) that Patricia is likely to retain Detroit’s incumbent offensive coordinator, Jim Bob Cooter.
Matt Patricia Won't Decide Until Pats' Season Ends
Although finalists have emerged in the Giants and Colts’ HC searches, the Cardinals may be taking a more methodical approach. And despite Brian Flores lacking the coordinator experience others in the mix for the Arizona job do, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets the Patriots’ linebackers coach is very much a live candidate for the job. The Cardinals have interviewed Flores, incumbent DC James Bettcher, Pats DC Matt Patricia, Eagles DC Jim Schwartz, Vikings OC Pat Shurmur, Panthers DC Steve Wilks, Eagles quarterbacks coach John DeFilippo, Steelers offensive line coach Mike Munchak and Falcons ST coordinator Keith Armstrong. This franchise has cast the widest net yet in this year’s coaching carousel, so determining frontrunner status is a bit more complicated here than it is in the three other searches. Patricia’s name has been linked as a finalist with the Lions and Giants, however.
- Patricia doesn’t plan on letting it slip which way he’s leaning until after the Patriots‘ season concludes, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets (video link). The Patriots returning to the Super Bowl could put the Giants and Lions to difficult decisions, if Patricia indeed does not decide until season’s end. Rapoport speculates the Lions as perhaps a slight favorite here. The Lions may be going all-in on Patricia, Florio writes, to the point it’s unclear whom Detroit would tab if Patricia chose the Giants.
Patriots Don’t Activate Malcolm Mitchell For Divisional Round
While the Patriots have been without second-year wide receiver Malcolm Mitchell for the entire season, the 2016 fourth round pick has been inching closer to a return in recent weeks. However, the team chose not to activate him for this weekend’s playoff matchup vs. the Titans, according to Mike Reiss of ESPN.com.
Mitchell, 25, had a productive rookie campaign, collecting 32 catches for 401 yards and four touchdowns. He was set to become even more impactful for this past regular season, but was forced to the injured reserve during the preseason because of a nagging knee injury.
Since Mitchell returned to practice on December 27, that means he has until next week for the team to make a decision on his availability should they move onto the AFC Championship next Sunday. The team can place him on the active roster as a player designated to return from injured reserve.
Even without Mitchell, the Patriots are now mostly healthy in terms of playmakers entering Saturday’s contest. While the team is missing Mitchell and Julian Edelman, Tom Brady will have the likes of Brandin Cooks, Rob Gronkowski, Danny Amendola, Kenny Britt, Dwayne Allen and Chris Hogan, who will be returning from a shoulder injury that sidelined him for seven of the team’s final eight games.
Matt Patricia Prefers Giants To Lions
The Patriots are bracing for Matt Patricia to leave, but it might not be for the Lions’ head coaching job. The defensive guru is also up for the Giants’ job and he prefers the G-Men to the Lions, Peter King of The MMQB hears. 
[RELATED: PFR’s 2018 Head Coaching Search Tracker]
If Patricia is offered the Giants’ head coaching position and accepts, it will have a domino effect reaching Detroit and beyond. If Patricia goes to the Giants, the Lions may pivot to Houston defensive coordinator Mike Vrabel, King hears. If that happens, Vrabel would be out of the running for the Colts’ HC job.
The Giants were abysmal in 2017, but they have lots of talent to work with on defense including cornerback Janoris Jenkins and defensive ends Jason Pierre-Paul and Olivier Vernon. If Patricia can get underperforming youngsters like Eli Apple on the right track, the Giants could return to having one of the better defensive units in the NFL. The Giants also have the No. 2 overall pick at their disposal, so Patricia’s preference towards New York is understandable.
Browns Were Willing To Offer Texans’ First-Rounder For Jimmy Garoppolo?
Jimmy Garoppolo‘s been a key figure in NFL news cycles over the past year, and his status in New England may or may not have caused a rift between the franchise’s power structure.
But the 49ers now have him likely set for the franchise tag after surrendering merely a second-round pick. However, the Browns were the team most connected with the promising quarterback this past offseason, and Terry Pluto of cleveland.com reports they were willing to make a better offer to the Patriots for their then-backup.
The then-Sashi Brown-led front office was ready to offer the Patriots the Texans’ 2018 first-round pick (now No. 4 overall) they acquired in the Deshaun Watson trade, per Pluto, who adds the Browns would have been willing to throw in other trade chips if necessary to acquire Garoppolo.
Pluto notes the Browns tried to call the Patriots on Oct. 28 — two days before they shipped Garoppolo to San Francisco — and said more than once, “If you are open to trading him, please call.”
The Browns did not get another chance to make a Garoppolo push, Pluto writes, and this baffled the front office because of the previous deals — for Barkevious Mingo and Jamie Collins — they made with the Pats in 2016.
Seth Wickersham’s ESPN.com piece detailed how Belichick contacted Kyle Shanahan about Garoppolo in late October, making this a two-team negotiation rather than the bidding war the Browns were apparently willing to win since that Texans first-round pick ended up being a top-five choice. (Of course, Houston’s pick didn’t look like it was destined for this lofty of a slot at the trade deadline.) However, Yahoo.com’s Charles Robinson tweets Belichick — once fired by the Browns, as they were already transitioning to becoming the Ravens, after the 1995 season — was never going to trade Garoppolo to Cleveland.
The Browns checked in on Garoppolo’s availability during the draft, but the Patriots did not bite. Adam Schefter of ESPN indicated the Patriots never considered dealing Garoppolo this offseason. Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com reported Hue Jackson was the driving force behind the Browns’ Garoppolo interest, and that it would have taken “at least” one first-round pick to pry him from the Patriots. Cabot added the Browns’ draft-weekend offer was a second-round pick for Garoppolo, however. John Lynch said the 49ers tried to trade for Garoppolo in the offseason as well but couldn’t agree on terms in this now-complicated saga.
Robert Kraft denied he gave Belichick a mandate to trade Garoppolo, as was reported by ESPN last week, and said Belichick came to him about the 49ers’ Garoppolo offer in October. The Browns ended up botching a trade for A.J. McCarron, whom Jackson also coveted but possibly as a backup plan after the Garoppolo talks fizzled, and are expected to draft a quarterback with their No. 1 overall pick.
Plenty of stories have emerged about Garoppolo’s availability in what could prove to be one of this decade’s seminal NFL transactions. But the Browns are still in search of a long-elusive franchise quarterback, and reportedly weren’t given the 11th-hour opportunity the 49ers were in the Garoppolo pursuit.
Bill Belichick “Absolutely” Will Stay With Patriots
Bad news for those of you who were hoping that the Patriots dynasty would be coming to an end this year. Bill Belichick told reporters on Monday morning that he “absolutely” plans to continue as the Patriots’ head coach into the 2018 regular season. 
Last week, an explosive piece from ESPN.com detailed a major rift within the Patriots organization. Belichick reportedly was forced to trade Jimmy Garoppolo during the season at the behest of owner Robert Kraft, perhaps with some urging by Tom Brady. Meanwhile, Brady and Belichick were said to be at odds over the constant presence of Brady’s trainer and his meddling with the recovery methods of other players on the roster. The events of the past year have led some within the building to wonder if this is Belichick’s final year on the New England sideline, according to the report.
For now, Belichick is putting such talk to rest. The Patriots begin their bid for yet another championship on Saturday when they take on the Titans.
Patriots To Promote Flores If Patricia Leaves?
- A Josh McDaniels/Giants union is at least a possibility, with Dave Gettleman and Co. interviewing the Patriots’ OC this week. But ESPN.com’s Dan Graziano does not foresee this hire happening, viewing McDaniels as likely to end up elsewhere and noting both he and the Giants might not be each other’s first choices (Twitter links). McDaniels has met with the Giants, Colts and Bears. Graziano speculates (via Twitter) the Colts are the likely frontrunners.
- Should Matt Patricia be hired as Lions HC as expected, the Patriots will likely promote linebackers coach Brian Flores to defensive coordinator, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com writes. Flores drew interest as a DC candidate last year, per Reiss, and was mentioned in a 49ers search that ended with Robert Saleh getting the job. The 36-year-old Flores, who interviewed for the Cardinals’ HC job on Saturday, has been with the Patriots since 2004 and has been a position coach since 2012.
2018 Offensive/Defensive Coordinator Tracker
While at least six NFL teams are making head coaching changes this offseason, the number of clubs replacing offensive and/or defensive coordinators figures to be much higher than that. In addition to all those teams hiring new head coaches, who may want to bring in their own assistants, several clubs also figure to make changes on one side of the ball or the other after getting disappointing results in 2017. And, of course, the teams whose coordinators landed head coaching jobs will need to replace them.
With reports circulating on potential candidates, interview requests, and actual meetings, we’ll use the space below to keep tabs on all the latest updates on teams hiring new offensive and/or defensive coordinators. This post, which will be updated daily, can be found under the “PFR Features” menu on the right-hand side of the site.
Updated 3-6-18 (5:53pm CT)
Offensive Coordinators
Arizona Cardinals (Out: Harold Goodwin)
- Mike McCoy, former head coach (Chargers): Hired
- Darrell Bevell, offensive coordinator (Seahawks): Interviewed on 1/22
- John DeFilippo, quarterbacks coach (Eagles): Mentioned as candidate
Buffalo Bills (Out: Rick Dennison)
- Brian Daboll, offensive coordinator (Alabama): Hired
- Rob Chudzinski, offensive coordinator (Colts): Mentioned as candidate
- Mike McCoy, former offensive coordinator (Broncos): Won’t be considered
Carolina Panthers (Out: Mike Shula)
- Norv Turner, former offensive coordinator (Vikings): Hired
Chicago Bears (Out: Dowell Loggains)
- Mark Helfrich, former head coach (Oregon): Hired
Cincinnati Bengals
- Bill Lazor, interim offensive coordinator (Bengals): Retained
Cleveland Browns (vacant)
- Todd Haley, former offensive coordinator (Steelers): Hired
- Ben McAdoo, former head coach (Giants): Interviewed on 1/16
- Mike Mularkey, former head coach (Titans): Mentioned as candidate
- Sean Ryan, quarterbacks coach (Texans): Interviewed on 1/10
- Ken Zampese, former offensive coordinator (Bengals): To be interviewed?; hired as QBs coach
Denver Broncos
- Bill Musgrave, interim offensive coordinator (Broncos): Retained
Detroit Lions
- Jim Bob Cooter, offensive coordinator (Lions): Retained
Green Bay Packers (Out: Edgar Bennett)
- Joe Philbin, assistant head coach/offensive line (Colts): Hired
- Ben McAdoo, former head coach (Giants): Mentioned as candidate
- James Campen, offensive line coach (Packers): Mentioned as candidate
Indianapolis Colts (Out: Rob Chudzinski)
- Nick Sirianni, wide receivers coach (Chargers): Hired
- Darrell Bevell, former offensive coordinator (Seahawks): Viewed as top target
- Jake Peetz, quarterbacks coach (Raiders): No longer expected to be hired
Kansas City Chiefs (Out: Matt Nagy)
- Eric Bieniemy, running backs coach (Chiefs): Promoted
Miami Dolphins (Out: Clyde Christensen)
- Dowell Loggains, former offensive coordinator (Bears): Hired
Minnesota Vikings (Out: Pat Shurmur)
- John DeFilippo, quarterbacks coach (Eagles): To be hired
- Darrell Bevell, former offensive coordinator (Seahawks): Interviewed on 1/26
- Dan Campbell, tight ends coach (Saints): Interviewed on 1/30
- Ben McAdoo, former head coach (Giants): Mentioned as candidate
- Mike McCoy, former offensive coordinator (Broncos): Mentioned as candidate
- Sean Ryan, quarterbacks coach (Texans): Interviewed on 1/29
- Kevin Stefanski, quarterbacks coach (Vikings): Iinterviewed on 1/27-1/28
New York Giants (Out: Mike Sullivan)
- Mike Shula, former offensive coordinator (Panthers): To be hired
- Darrell Bevell, former offensive coordinator (Seahawks): Mentioned as candidate
- John DeFilippo, quarterbacks coach (Eagles): Mentioned as candidate
- Harold Goodwin, former offensive coordinator (Cardinals): Mentioned as candidate
- Deuce Staley, running backs coach (Eagles): Mentioned as candidate
- Kevin Stefanski, quarterbacks coach (Vikings): Denied permission to interview
New York Jets (Out: John Morton)
- Jeremy Bates, quarterbacks coach (Jets): Promoted
- Todd Haley, former offensive coordinator (Steelers): Mentioned as candidate
Oakland Raiders (Out: Todd Downing)
- Greg Olson, quarterbacks coach (Rams): Hired
- John Morton, offensive coordinator (Jets): Mentioned as candidate
Philadelphia Eagles (Out: Frank Reich)
- Mike Groh, wide receivers coach (Eagles): To be hired
- Duce Staley, running backs coach (Eagles): Interviewed on 2/19
Pittsburgh Steelers (Out: Todd Haley)
- Randy Fichtner, quarterbacks coach (Steelers): Promoted
- Kirby Wilson, former running backs coach (Browns): Mentioned as candidate
Seattle Seahawks (Out: Darrell Bevell)
- Brian Schottenheimer, quarterbacks coach (Colts): Hired
- John DeFilippo, quarterbacks coach (Eagles): Seahawks had interest
- Steve Sarkisian, offensive coordinator (Falcons): Mentioned as candidate, Falcons won’t allow interview
Tennessee Titans (Out: Terry Robiskie)
- Matt LaFleur, offensive coordinator (Rams): Hired
- Brian Callahan, former quarterbacks coach (Lions): Interviewed on 1/24
- Ryan Day, co-offensive coordinator (Ohio State): Will not be hired
Defensive Coordinators
Arizona Cardinals (Out: James Bettcher)
- Al Holcomb, linebackers coach (Panthers): Hired
Baltimore Ravens (Out: Dean Pees)
- Don Martindale, linebackers coach (Ravens): Promoted
- Teryl Austin, defensive coordinator (Lions): Mentioned as candidate
- Chuck Pagano, former head coach (Colts): Ravens had interest
Carolina Panthers (Out: Steve Wilks)
- Eric Washington, defensive line coach (Panthers): Promoted
Chicago Bears
- Vic Fangio, defensive coordinator (Bears): Retained
Cincinnati Bengals (Out: Paul Guenther)
- Teryl Austin, defensive coordinator (Lions): Hired
- Vic Fangio, defensive coordinator (Bears): Bengals had interest
- Paul Guenther, defensive coordinator (Bengals): Bengals had hoped to retain
Detroit Lions
- Paul Pasqualoni, defensive line coach (Boston College): Hired
Green Bay Packers (Out: Dom Capers)
- Mike Pettine, former head coach (Browns): Hired
- Teryl Austin, defensive coordinator (Lions): Interview permission denied
- Gus Bradley, defensive coordinator (Chargers): Interview requested
- Vic Fangio, defensive coordinator (Bears): Viewed as top target
- Winston Moss, assistant head coach/linebackers (Packers): Interviewed
- Darren Perry, safeties coach (Packers): Interviewed on 1/8
- Joe Whitt, cornerbacks coach (Packers): Interviewed
Houston Texans (Out: Mike Vrabel)
- Romeo Crennel, assistant head coach (Texans): Hired
Indianapolis Colts (Out: Ted Monachino)
- Matt Eberflus, linebackers coach (Cowboys): Hired
Los Angeles Chargers
- Gus Bradley, defensive coordinator (Chargers): Retained
New England Patriots (Out: Matt Patricia)
- Brian Flores, linebackers coach (Patriots): Will call defenisve plays
- Aaron Glenn, secondary coach (Saints): Mentioned as candidate
New York Giants
- James Bettcher, former defensive coordinator (Cardinals): Hired
- Jack Del Rio, former head coach (Raiders): Viewed as frontrunner
- Steve Spagnuolo, defensive coordinator (Giants): Possible to remain in place
Oakland Raiders (Out: John Pagano)
- Paul Guenther, defensive coordinator (Bengals): Hired
Seattle Seahawks (Out: Kris Richard)
- Ken Norton Jr., former defensive coordinator (Raiders): Hired
Tennessee Titans (Out: Dick LeBeau)
- Dean Pees, former defensive coordinator (Ravens): Hired
- Darren Perry, cornerbacks coach (Packers): Mentioned as candidate
- James Bettcher, former defensive coordinator (Cardinals): Interviewed on 1/23
Patriots Deny Texans’ Request To Interview Nick Caserio, Monti Ossenfort
In their efforts to fill their GM vacancy, the Texans asked to interview top Patriots executives Nick Caserio (director of player personnel) and Monti Ossenfort (director of college scouting). However, as Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports, New England denied that request.
But, Schefter goes on to say that the Patriots’ refusal does not necessarily bring the matter to a close. The ESPN scribe writes that Caserio and Ossenfort still might be able to interview for the Texans job after the Patriots’ season ends, thanks to the league’s newly-relaxed rules that govern hiring executives from other clubs. In past years, teams could block their executives from interviewing elsewhere by saying that the individual had final say on the 53-man roster. Now, the league’s anti-tampering policy provides that final authority regarding the composition of the 53-man roster will not prevent someone from accepting a position with another team.
Interestingly, the Patriots did permit Caserio to interview with the 49ers for their GM job last offseason, and as Ben Volin of the Boston Globe observes (Twitter link), they allowed him to interview with the division-rival Dolphins two seasons ago, so their refusal represents a notable change in procedure. But given that New England is about to lose defensive coordinator Matt Patricia and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels to head coaching positions with other teams, perhaps the Pats are simply trying to maintain some degree of continuity.
If Houston is willing to wait, they could still get a crack at Caserio and Ossenfort. In the meantime, the Texans are looking at Packers director of player personnel Brian Gutekunst and Bills vice president of player personnel Brian Gaine.
Lions Likely To Hire Matt Patricia
It sounds like Matt Patricia is ready to leave the nest. The Patriots are bracing for their defensive coordinator to leave, most likely to become the next head coach of the Lions, a source with knowledge of the situation tells Mike Florio of PFT.
As shown in PFR’s Head Coaching Search Tracker, Patricia is up for three jobs with the Lions, Cardinals, and Giants all showing interest. If the Lions are indeed hiring him, they’ll have to wait until the Patriots’ season is officially over to put pen to paper. However, they could reach a handshake agreement with him before that point.
Patricia has been praised for his defensive acumen and his pre-existing relationship with GM Bob Quinn gives him an advantage over others who are up for the job. If Patricia is the hire in Detroit, it will have a ripple effect across the league and possibly displace incumbent coordinators Jim Bob Cooter (offense) and Teryl Austin (defense). Both Austin and Cooter met with the team about a potential promotion to HC.
The Patriots’ postseason gets underway next Saturday in the divisional round.