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Giants Block Seahawks From Interviewing Mike Kafka For OC

By | at February 3, 2024 7:56 pm

The Seahawks have found their new head coach in Mike Macdonald as well as a key assistant in Leslie Frazer. The team still has an offensive coordinator vacancy, however, and that position will be worth watching as the 2024 hiring cycle winds down.

Seattle lost Shane Waldron this offseason when he departed for Chicago. That resulted in the team’s ongoing search for a replacement, which has included connections to a shortlist of outside candidates. Another name to monitor would have been Mike Kafka. The current Giants OC drew interest from the Seahawks, Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports reports. He adds, however, that New York has blocked him from interviewing for a lateral move.

Kafka was among the candidates who conducted a second head coaching interview with Seattle, but to no surprise he did not land a HC gig this offseason. The Giants took a step back on offense in 2023, hurting the 36-year-old’s stock. Kafka had not previously been connected to any OC openings this year, but Jones notes he interviewed well during the Seahawks’ head coaching search. Teams are prohibited from blocking coaches’ efforts to take promotions with new clubs, but they are allowed to prevent moves under an equal title such as a New York-to-Seattle trek in Kafka’s case.

The Giants appeared poised to move on from Kafka at one point (as they since have with DC Don Martindale and special teams coordinator Thomas McGaughey), but today’s news certainly suggests he will remain in place for 2024. Head coach Brian Daboll took over play-calling duties at times this season, so his relationship with Kafka will be a key storyline should the pair continue working together moving forward.

Seattle has sent out an interview request to Detroit’s Tanner Engstrand, and the team has also been linked to Alabama’s Ryan Grubb. Those two names will be among the top targets for the Seahawks’ OC vacancy, but their continued desire to at least consider Kafka points to their search expanding. With no other known coordinator interest at the moment (and every HC opening now filled), meanwhile, the latter appears set to take part in a third season overseeing the Giants’ offense.

7 comments New York Giants Seattle Seahawks

Giants To Meet With Saquon Barkley’s Camp At Combine

By | at February 2, 2024 9:56 pm

Following all the drama of last year’s offseason, not much has changed in New York concerning the contract of veteran running back Saquon Barkley. The Giants were able to avoid too much trouble with a one-year, $10.10MM band-aid, but with that year now come and gone, the two parties find themselves at quite a similar standoff.

When many of the league’s running backs grew more and more concerned about their value as a position group, a coalition was formed to explore solutions last year. With Barkley and the Giants one of many RB-team pairings dealing with this issue of valuation, chatter rose of trade demands and threats of a holdout. Those rumors were seemingly put to bed in the team’s short-term resolution, but it’s tough to act like the situation never got that bad.

Still, late into the year, Barkley maintained that he wanted to remain with the Giants past this season. Despite multiple trade inquiries amidst a 2-8 start to the year, the Giants stood pat, committing to at least trying to patch things up with Barkley for the long term. Both Barkley and New York were saying all the right things, insinuating that both were interested in finding terms for an extension.

A couple months later, though, Barkley admitted that, despite his repeated assertions that New York was where he wanted to be, he really wouldn’t mind getting to make a fresh start somewhere new. Perhaps, it’s the constant stalemate the two sides seem to keep finding themselves in despite seeing the Colts and Jonathan Taylor reach a new three-year, $42MM deal in much rockier waters. A new deal may be even more difficult to come to after all four running backs headlining the valuation issue in the offseason (Barkley, Taylor, Josh Jacobs, and Austin Ekeler) missed time this season due to injury, further muddying the waters of their bargaining position.

Regardless, the Giants and Barkley will continue to strive for a resolution. General manager Joe Schoen claims to have met briefly with Barkley after the season concluded, and according to Connor Hughes of SNY, he plans to meet with Barkley’s representation at the NFL Scouting Combine at the turn of the month, as well. It will be interesting to see how things will be different in this offseason.

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NFC Coaching Notes: Martindale, Macdonald, Gruden, Saints, Canales, Bucs, Bears, Eagles

By | at February 1, 2024 2:16 pm

The Packers went off the board with their defensive coordinator hire, bringing in Boston College HC Jeff Hafley. Matt LaFleur has looked to the college ranks during each of his DC searches, wanting to hire then-Wisconsin staffer Jim Leonhard in 2021. Hafley’s hire comes after the Packers squeezed in another interview with a seasoned NFL coordinator. Don Martindale met with the Pack about the gig, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Tom Silverstein tweets.

Martindale resigned his two-year post as Giants DC after a turbulent second season with Brian Daboll; he has since interviewed with the Jaguars for a job that went to Ryan Nielsen. Martindale has been accused of going rogue at points in New York, with the New York Post’s Paul Schwartz adding another footnote here. Ahead of the Giants’ Christmas game against the Eagles, Martindale is believed to have requested the equipment staff change linebacker Tomon Fox‘s number from 49 to 94 due to the DC’s plans of having him bumped up from the practice squad. That change was made without Daboll or GM Joe Schoen‘s approval.

As the Giants’ DC search continues, here is the latest from the coaching ranks:

  • The Saints–Jon Gruden connection persists. Although Gruden is not on the radar — at least, as far as we know — for the Saints’ OC job, a GM informed the Washington Post’s Jason La Canfora the former Raiders and Buccaneers HC should be expected to have a bigger role with New Orleans in 2024. Gruden worked as a consultant last summer and met with Saints officials recently. The GM suggested the possibility Gruden could eventually replace Dennis Allen, which would be quite the development considering the circumstances surrounding Gruden’s Las Vegas exit. For now, Gruden, who is still suing the NFL, remains without an NFL job.
  • Unsurprisingly, Mike Macdonald confirmed he will start his Seahawks tenure as the team’s defensive play-caller. Though, the new Seattle HC said (via SI.com’s Albert Breer) he is open to that changing at some point. Michigan’s 2021 DC, Macdonald called plays for the Ravens over the past two years and became one of this year’s most popular HC candidates as a result. Although Pete Carroll carried a defensive background, he did not serve as the Seahawks’ defensive play-caller.
  • The Buccaneers have lost much of their offensive staff to Carolina, seeing one-and-done OC Dave Canales take three staffers (receivers coach Brad Idzik, run-game coordinator Harold Goodwin, O-line coach Joe Gilbert). Tom Moore, however, will be staying in Tampa, per Fox Sports’ Peter Schrager. Moore, 85, has been with the Bucs since Bruce Arians‘ 2019 arrival. The former Colts OC, who is now 85, has served as a consultant for the NFC South team. This will be Moore’s 47th NFL season.
  • Baker Mayfield finished last in QBR in 2022, seeing his Panthers stay responsible for that dismal result. Canales helping the inconsistent QB recover from what happened in Carolina represents a key reason for his HC hire, ESPN.com’s David Newton notes. A Canales selling point hinged on the Bucs’ downfield passing, with Newton adding Tampa Bay went from 24th in that area (6.9 air yards per attempt) in Tom Brady‘s final season to third in 2023 (8.4).
  • The Eagles have permitted quarterbacks coach Alex Tanney to explore opportunities elsewhere, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. During the period between Brian Johnson‘s exit and the Kellen Moore OC hire, Tanney asked the team for the opportunity. The Eagles are moving on, per the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane. Tanney received interest from the Colts last year, and McLane points to Indianapolis under ex-Eagles OC Shane Steichen as a potential landing spot.
  • The Bears have hired three more assistants. Chad Morton is signing on as running backs coach, according to the Chicago Sun-Times’ Jason Lieser, while ESPN.com’s Courtney Cronin adds Chris Beatty is coming in as wide receivers coach. Most recently with the Chargers, Beatty coached D.J. Moore at Maryland. A former NFL return man, Morton is following OC Shane Waldron from Seattle. Morton was the Seahawks’ RBs coach from 2017-23. Chicago also hired Jason Houghtaling as assistant O-line coach, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero adds; Houghtaling was Tennessee’s O-line coach in 2023.
6 comments Carolina Panthers Chicago Bears Green Bay Packers Indianapolis Colts New Orleans Saints New York Giants Philadelphia Eagles Seattle Seahawks Tampa Bay Buccaneers

2024 NFL Head Coaching Search Tracker

By | at February 1, 2024 9:55 am

The Commanders’ hire has wrapped this year’s cycle. Barring a team making an 11th-hour change, the 2024 HC carousel has come to a stop. The final breakdown produced five defensive coaches being hired compared to three with backgrounds on offense. Many teams are still searching for offensive and defensive coordinators, however.

Updated 2-1-24 (10:37am CT)

Atlanta Falcons

Carolina Panthers

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Chargers

New England Patriots

  • Jerod Mayo, linebackers coach (Patriots): Hired

Seattle Seahawks

Tennessee Titans

Washington Commanders

30 comments Cincinnati Bengals Dallas Cowboys Detroit Lions Houston Texans Las Vegas Raiders Los Angeles Chargers Los Angeles Rams Miami Dolphins New England Patriots New York Giants PFR Originals Philadelphia Eagles San Francisco 49ers Seattle Seahawks Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tennessee Titans Washington Commanders

Latest On Pete Carroll’s Seahawks Exit, Team’s HC Search

By | at January 30, 2024 6:32 pm

Hours after the Seahawks closed the regular season with a win over the Cardinals, Pete Carroll said he was ready to return for a 15th season in charge. Two days later, the Seahawks officially announced other plans, moving on from the Super Bowl-winning HC.

Carroll may not have been resolute on returning, however. During the season, the longtime Seattle HC informed some team decision-makers he was moving toward retirement and was interested in staying with the team in a different capacity, Sportskeeda’s Tony Pauline notes. That path came to fruition, though it is not known what role Carroll will play going forward. He is not part of the committee searching for his own replacement.

The apparent Carroll backtracking did not sway Seahawks management, per Pauline, as team higher-ups were ready to move in a different direction. Carroll, 72, said he lobbied to keep his job and expressed frustration he was forced to convince non-football staffers. That said, GM John Schneider — effectively Carroll’s right-hand man for 14 years — has since assumed full control of the Seahawks. The veteran GM is leading the HC search.

This proved to be a disappointing season for the Seahawks, who faced higher expectations after a 9-8 2022 slate and a busy offseason. Seattle used two first-round picks, gave Dre’Mont Jones a $17MM-per-year deal and brought back Bobby Wagner. The team also traded for Leonard Williams, sending the Giants second- and fifth-round picks at the deadline. The Carroll- and Clint Hurtt-run defense struggled, finishing 30th in points allowed and 28th in DVOA. The team rallied back from its 6-7 place, but the mini-surge was not enough to qualify for the playoffs — even in a weak NFC wild-card chase. Hurtt is now with the Eagles, having agreed to become their D-line coach.

With Ben Johnson off the board, the likelihood of Ravens DC Mike Macdonald landing one of the two remaining jobs increases. Macdonald remains in the thick of the Seattle derby, ESPN’s Dan Graziano relayed on NFL Live (via the Seattle Times’ Bob Condotta), but Giants OC Mike Kafka has also emerged as a name to watch here. Bobby Slowik has joined Johnson in bowing out and agreeing to keep his current job.

It would surprise if Kafka landed this job, if only because the Giants are coming off a rough follow-up to their surprising 2022 divisional-round run. The Giants tumbled to 30th in points scored and in offensive DVOA. Granted, Daniel Jones‘ injury changed the equation for the Giants, who have employed Kafka as their play-caller over the past two seasons. Jones, however, was not playing well before his ACL tear. And tension between Kafka and Brian Daboll ran high at points, leading to the head coach yanking play-calling duties during games. Rumblings about Kafka being out of the picture in New York surfaced, but he remains on staff. Kafka is not in contention for the Washington job.

Here is how the Seahawks’ HC search looks:

7 comments Baltimore Ravens New York Giants Seattle Seahawks

Panthers Block Giants, Dolphins Ejiro Evero DC Interview Requests

By | at January 28, 2024 6:32 pm

Ejiro Evero remains connected to a number of moves sending him out of Carolina, but such an agreement may not be possible. The Panthers defensive coordinator has had another pair of interview requests denied.

[RELATED: Offensive/Defensive Coordinator Search Tracker]

Carolina has blocked DC interviews for Evero with the Giants and Dolphins, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network notes (video link). Teams are allowed to block coordinators from making lateral moves, as the Panthers have already demonstrated during this year’s hiring cycle. The team prevented the Jaguars from speaking with Evero for their DC vacancy.

As Pelissero adds, it is unknown at this point if Evero wishes to remain in Carolina if another DC position awaits him elsewhere. The 43-year-old interviewed with the Seahawks for their head coaching position for the second time on Saturday, meaning he remains in the running for that post. Evero has not served as a head coach before, and he has just a pair of seasons as a coordinator (one each with the Broncos and Panthers) to his name.

In spite of that, his success both in Denver and Carolina has landed him on the HC radar. Evero guided the Broncos to a seventh-place finish in total defense last year, and the Panthers ranked fourth in that category in 2023. The former Rams safeties coach has been linked to a potential L.A. return, and his name has also been floated with respect to the Packers’ DC vacancy.

Carolina’s staff was in a holding pattern to begin the hiring cycle, with it known a new head coach would be brought in. The Panthers have tapped Dave Canales as their hire, and his background as an offensive coordinator could give Evero a high degree of autonomy in charge of the team’s defense. With Canales in place, it will be interesting to see if the Panthers’ willingness to allow Evero to explore other options will change in the near future.

Miami saw Vic Fangio depart earlier this week after just one season in South Beach. The veteran staffer has moved quickly in taking on the DC role with the Eagles, leaving the Dolphins in search of not only better health on defense (compared to where things stood at the end of the campaign) but also another new voice to guide the unit. The Giants moved on from Don Martindale amidst reported tension with head coach Brian Daboll, putting an end to their two-year partnership. Both teams remain on the lookout for a new coordinator, but for now Evero will not be a part of that process.

3 comments Carolina Panthers Miami Dolphins New York Giants

Rams, Titans To Meet With Ravens’ Dennard Wilson; Second Giants DC Interview Scheduled

By | at January 27, 2024 6:43 pm

One of several Ravens staffers who has generated interest around the league, Dennard Wilson remains a popular defensive coordinator candidate. Baltimore’s defensive backs coach is set to interview with the Rams and Titans for the first time, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. In addition, Wilson will meet for the second time with the Giants.

[RELATED: Offensive/Defensive Coordinator Search Tracker]

Wilson was New York’s first known interview for the team’s DC vacancy, and that initial summit appears to have gone well. No other second interviews have been lined up for now as the Giants look for a Don Martindale replacement. Wilson had received an interview request from the Titans, but today’s update marks the first interest shown by the Rams.

Martindale initially appeared to be on track to remain with the Giants through 2024 despite reports of a rift between he and head coach Brian Daboll. In the end, though, the former parted ways with the team, creating a significant vacancy on Daboll’s staff. The Titans still have DC Shane Bowen on staff as things currently stand, but he will likely be headed elsewhere once new head coach Brian Callahan brings in staffers of his choosing. The Rams, meanwhile, recently saw Raheem Morris return to the Falcons to take on their HC gig, adding them to the list of teams in the market for a new coordinator.

Wilson has not served as a DC at the NFL level before, but he was a highly-regarded DBs coach during his time with the Eagles. He was a logical internal candidate to replace Jonathan Gannon last offseason, but Philadelphia elected to go outside the organization to fill the role. As a result, Wilson departed for Baltimore in a lateral move. He helped the Ravens post a number of strong statistical showings in 2023; the team ranked sixth against the pass during the regular season allowing 192 yards per game, and finished third in interceptions with 18.

Wilson is the only candidate to be connected to Tennessee’s vacancy for now, and he is the second to have a Los Angeles interview lined up. Having become a finalist with the Giants, though, the Titans and Rams will have competition for his services if they are impressed following their respective first meetings with him.

1 comment Baltimore Ravens Los Angeles Rams New York Giants Tennessee Titans

Giants Interview Chiefs LBs Coach Brendan Daly For DC Job

By | at January 27, 2024 5:05 pm

It’s taken long enough, but after 26 years of coaching at the college and NFL level, Chiefs linebackers coach Brendan Daly has finally gotten an interview for a coordinator position. According to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, Daly interviewed with the Giants to potentially replace Don “Wink” Martindale as defensive coordinator.

Despite only being 48 years old, it’s been a long road for Daly to get this opportunity. After taking his first coaching job for a Florida high school in 1997, Daly spent eight years coaching at Drake, Villanova, Maryland, Oklahoma State, and Illinois State, coaching tight ends and defensive line. He got his first NFL opportunity as an assistant defensive line coach for the Vikings in 2006. Over the next 16 years, Daly worked as a defensive line coach for the Vikings, Rams, Patriots, and Chiefs, earning the run game coordinator title with the Chiefs for three years.

As a linebackers coach for the past two years, Daly has coached a group of underrated linebackers to help anchor a defensive unit that finished second in the NFL for both points allowed and yards allowed. He joins this pool of five other candidates as he endeavors to earn his first coordinator job:

1 comment Kansas City Chiefs New York Giants

Giants Hire Michael Ghobrial As ST Coordinator

By | at January 25, 2024 10:29 am

The Giants have landed on a new special teams coordinator. The team announced on Thursday that Jets assistant Michael Ghobrial has been hired to take on the position.

New York moved on from Thomas McGaughey at the end of the season. That move had been expected, and it brought an end to his tenure in charge of the Giants’ special teams, which began in 2018. The team attempted to cast a wide net in searching for his replacement, but a number of teams blocked their attempts to speak with potential candidates.

In the end, though, the Giants managed to meet with a shortlist of staffers before arriving at a decision. The team spoke with Larry Izzo (Seahawks), Matt Harper (49ers) and Carlos Polk (Bears) in addition to Ghobrial. The latter is now set for an intra-city move and his first time working alongside Giants head coach Brian Daboll.

Ghobrial had a lengthy coaching career in the college ranks beginning in 2009. He worked as special teams coordinator with four different schools before taking on his first NFL gig with the Jets. A member of Robert Saleh‘s original group in 2021, Ghobrial was a key staffer working alongside Jets ST coordinator Brant Boyer during his time there.

The Jets ranked fifth in special teams DVOA this season, continuing the team’s strong run in that department during Boyer’s tenure. He remains in place, but his staff will be without a key contributor moving forward. The Giants, meanwhile, will aim to improve under Ghobrial after finishing 21st in third phase DVOA in 2023.

5 comments New York Giants New York Jets

Giants’ Brandon Brown Books Second Chargers GM Interview

By | at January 24, 2024 10:12 am

Seemingly close to hiring Jim Harbaugh as head coach, the Chargers look to be moving toward finalists for their GM position. Brandon Brown will be the first candidate given a second interview for the post.

The Giants’ assistant GM, Brown is in Los Angeles today for a second meeting, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero tweets. Brown, whom the Giants hired in 2022, also interviewed for the Panthers’ GM position. Carolina ended its search this week by promoting assistant GM Dan Morgan.

Although Harbaugh would undoubtedly need to be paired with a GM he would not object to, a recent report indicated the veteran HC would not force the Chargers into a GM hire of his choosing. Harbaugh famously feuded with then-49ers GM Trent Baalke during their time together in San Francisco, helping lead the former to Michigan after four years.

Other Chargers HC candidates are still in the mix, but Harbaugh is the first to be given a second interview. With that meeting believed to have produced an agreement on Harbaugh’s HC salary, it would not surprise if a hire followed soon. As of now, the Chargers still have openings for their HC and GM roles.

A rising young exec, Brown joined Joe Schoen‘s Giants front office after years in Philadelphia. Brown also interviewed for the Vikings’ GM job in 2022, but this offseason’s GM carousel has featured a more prominent place for Schoen’s right-hand man. As shown on PFR’s General Manager Search Tracker, here is how the Bolts’ search looks as of Wednesday morning:

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