HEADLINES

Newsstand News & Rumors

Cowboys G Zack Martin Plans To Retire

February 20th, 2025 at 10:05pm CST by Sam Robinson

One of the greatest interior offensive line careers is set to end. Zack Martin will follow through on retirement, informing the Cowboys he plans to walk away after 11 seasons, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero reports.

The decorated blocker played out a six-year extension, one adjusted after a 2023 holdout, and was set to hit free agency for the first time. Barring a course change, Martin will pass on testing the market ahead of an age-35 season. This will both strip another O-line constant from Dallas’ roster and tag the team with significant dead money.

Tabbing Martin as a key piece on an offensive line featuring fellow first-rounders Tyron Smith and Travis Frederick, the Cowboys saw him become one of the greatest players in franchise history. He earned seven first-team All-Pro honors and received nine Pro Bowl invites, placing the Notre Dame alum among the very best in NFL history for any O-line position. He was a vital piece for the Cowboys during their Tony Romo– and Dak Prescott-centered periods.

Martin signed a six-year, $84MM contract in 2018, giving the Cowboys seven years of control. As that contract term waned, Martin successfully secured the final two years guaranteed. The Cowboys caved during their top lineman’s 2023 holdout, giving him $36.85MM guaranteed. That covered the 2023 and ’24 seasons. As a result of Martin’s retirement, the Cowboys will be hit with $26.46MM in dead money.

The Cowboys were able to avoid a void years-driven cap crunch with Prescott, giving him a record-smashing extension hours before their Week 1 game. Martin’s money was set to void had he not re-signed with the team before the start of the 2025 league year. This retirement will not help, as it still represents a departure. Although the many restructures the Cowboys performed with Martin’s contract will put them in a bit of a bind thanks to this exit, he rewarded the team for over a decade. Few clubs had comparable options during Martin’s tenure.

Martin’s seven first-team All-Pro nods match Hall of Famers John Hannah and Randall McDaniel for most in NFL history among guards. Among guards to begin their careers in the 21st century, the former Fighting Irish tackle is two above anyone else in this area. Only four offensive linemen (Jim Otto, Ron Mix, Anthony Munoz, Jim Parker) are ahead of Martin in terms of first-team All-Pro placements. Of that quartet, only Munoz began his career after the 1970 merger. One of the most distinguished players on the 2010s’ All-Decade team, Martin will be a safe bet to book a Canton invite in 2030.

Last season, Martin landed on IR due to an ankle injury. The seven missed games matched the most of his career. The only seasons that did not end with a first- or second-team Martin All-Pro distinction involved season-ending injuries (2020, ’24). Beyond that, the Cowboys could bank on him elevating their offense. One of the Jerry Jones–Will McClay era’s top finds, the former No. 16 overall pick helped the Cowboys to six playoff berths. Dallas also accomplished a historically rare feat by seeing DeMarco Murray and Ezekiel Elliott win rushing titles three years apart, with Elliott adding a second crown in 2018 as well. Tony Pollard and Rico Dowdle also produced 1,000-yard rushing seasons during Martin’s career, though the latter effort came partially while he was down with injury.

Last summer, Martin floated the possibility 2024 would be his last season. Although a rumor circulated earlier this month Martin was waiting for his injured ankle to heal before making a final decision, he will pass on testing the market. While Martin did quite well for himself ($111.6MM in career earnings), he joins Smith in seeing a lengthy contract prevent him from maximizing his value. Excepting Prescott and CeeDee Lamb, the Cowboys had done well to tie their standout performers to five- and six-year deals; Smith’s lasted eight years. But Martin is the last of the Cowboys’ Romo- and Prescott-era core blockers to depart. Frederick retired after the 2019 season, while Smith joined the Jets in free agency last year.

Dallas has identified another guard standout, installing Tyler Smith there after initially having planned for him to succeed Tyron Smith at LT. The team, which struggled to replace the elder Smith and center Tyler Biadasz last year, now must replace the most decorated O-lineman in its history.

Saints To Hire Doug Nussmeier As OC

February 20th, 2025 at 10:02pm CST by Adam La Rose

Doug Nussmeier is indeed set to continue working with Kellen Moore in 2025. The Saints are hiring Nussmeier as their offensive coordinator, as first reported by Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football.

Earlier this week, it became clear Moore and the Saints were aiming to hire Nussmeier. The two will continue working together in New Orleans as Moore takes on his first career head coaching gig. The Eagles, of course, have already filled their OC vacancy.

Especially after Mike McCarthy was out of the running for the Saints’ head coaching gig, Moore became the top name to watch. New Orleans arranged to speak with him after the Super Bowl, and at that point Nussmeier’s name was mentioned as a strong contender to join Moore in New Orleans. The two have worked alongside each other with the Cowboys, Chargers and Eagles (Moore’s previous OC destinations) and that will continue next season.

Nussmeier’s coaching career dates back to 2001, and on five occasions he operated as an offensive coordinator at the college level. This will be the 54-year-old’s first OC opportunity in the NFL, albeit with a familiar face alongside him. Moore has already confirmed, to no surprise, that he will call plays as head coach.

The Saints’ offense features a number of questions at the moment, and the future of quarterback Derek Carr is uncertain as things stand. Even if the veteran remains in place for 2025, strong play up front will be needed in addition to increased efficiency through the air. During Klint Kubiak‘s one-and-done campaign at the helm, New Orleans ranked 23rd in passing yards. A healthy season from Carr (presuming he is not cut or traded) will help in that department, but in any event Nussmeier’s background as a quarterbacks coach will make him a key figure on Moore’s staff for whichever passer the team uses in 2025.

Other moves have been made in recent days as part of Moore’s efforts to quickly build a staff after taking on head coaching duties in the wake of the Eagles’ Super Bowl win. The Saints’ defensive coordinator position has not been filled yet, but attention can now turn in that direction with Nussmeier in the fold.

Eagles Promote Kevin Patullo To OC

February 19th, 2025 at 9:42pm CST by Sam Robinson

As the Saints showed interest in multiple Eagles staffers for Kellen Moore‘s new OC, Philadelphia will protect one via promotion. Kevin Patullo will replace Moore as OC, NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo reports. The Super Bowl champions have since announced the move.

A true Eagles OC search does not look to have transpired, pointing to the team’s confidence in Patullo. While the Eagles’ last internal promotion at OC (replacing Shane Steichen with Brian Johnson) failed, Patullo — rumored as a Saints OC option early in that search — will be called upon to step in for Moore.

One of Nick Sirianni‘s hires when he arrived in Philly in 2021, Patullo has been the team’s pass-game coordinator for four seasons. Although he did not leapfrog Johnson to become OC once Steichen took the Colts’ HC job in 2023, he will make the move up after an Eagles job search that never appeared to take shape. Patullo also came up during the Jets and Ravens’ OC searches in 2023 but was not on the carousel in 2024, as a collapse defined the Eagles’ 2023 season.

The Eagles needed to have conducted an interview with at least one external minority to comply with the Rooney Rule, but they are not the only NFC power to move quickly on a candidate without having performed a thorough search. The Lions hired John Morton soon after losing Ben Johnson. Patullo will replace Moore, who rebuilt his stock after a down Chargers season. While Moore will walk into a Saints situation that features plenty of questions, Patullo will take the keys to an offense that just stampeded past the Chiefs to win Super Bowl LIX.

Philly is expected to lose QBs coach Doug Nussmeier to the Saints, as Moore’s new OC, but they will not see both offensive staffers leave. Nussmeier also has much closer ties to Moore than the team, having worked with the ex-Cowboys QB in Dallas and Los Angeles. Patullo, 43, has come up through the coaching ranks under Sirianni and Frank Reich.

Reich hired Patullo as his wide receivers coach to start his Colts tenure in 2018, and he held that role for two years before transitioning to a pass-game specialist in 2020. Sirianni brought Patullo with him to Philly in 2021, immediately installing him as pass-game coordinator. Patullo worked under Steichen for two years, as the Eagles transitioned to a run-oriented attack midway through the 2021 season before seeing Jalen Hurts display tremendous growth as a passer during an MVP-caliber 2022 season. After the Eagles took a step back in 2023, Moore, Patullo and Co. retooled the offense once again this past season.

The Eagles did not ask Hurts to operate as a passer on the level he had in 2022 and ’23, with the Saquon Barkley signing transforming Philly’s ground attack. The team ran roughshod over the Commanders in the NFC championship game, and although the Chiefs did well to minimize Barkley, the Eagles received a sharp game from Hurts in an MVP performance that included TD passes to A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith and a Super Bowl QB record 72 rushing yards.

Despite the Eagles’ step back under Johnson in 2023, the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane indicates the team wanted continuity for Hurts, who has trained in four offensive schemes over his first five seasons. Also transferring in college, Hurts has seen significant change on his coaching staffs in that span. Sirianni had Patullo pegged as his preferred Moore successor once he found out the Saints hire was imminent, McLane adds, lending to the non-search here.

The 2025 season will mark Patullo’s first crack as a play-caller at any level, but McLane adds he was involved with that process under Moore. Still, this will be a notable storyline to follow in Philadelphia, as Moore carried five seasons of play-calling experience into last season. Sirianni gave up play-calling duties midway through the ’21 season and will not be expected to reclaim them, as this formula has now produced two Eagles Super Bowl berths and a runaway title.

Beyond the Patullo move, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero adds the Eagles are planning to hire Parks Frazier to fill Patullo’s old job. Philly’s new pass-game coordinator is best known for the half-season he spent as Jeff Saturday‘s Colts play-caller, as others turning the job down led to Indianapolis’ assistant QBs coach to take the role. Frazier, 33, worked for the 2-15 Panthers in 2023 (as pass-game coordinator) as for the Dolphins as an offensive assistant last season.

While Frazier will step back into a prominent role, the Eagles have ensured continuity under Sirianni in the form of Patullo moving up and acclaimed O-line coach Jeff Stoutland remaining in place as run-game coordinator. Frazier worked with Sirianni under Reich for three seasons in Indianapolis, though he topped out on the quality control level during that time.

Bengals “Likely” To Hit Tee Higgins With Franchise Tag

February 17th, 2025 at 9:43pm CST by Ben Levine

Tee Higgins is generally considered the top offensive free agent, but the Bengals WR might not even make it to the open market. According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero (via NFL.com’s Bobby Kownack), the Bengals are considered “likely” to hit Higgins with the franchise tag if the two sides can’t work out a long-term deal.

According to Pelissero, the Bengals front office is currently focused on signing the star wideout to a long-term pact, and there’s “hope” they won’t have to opt for the franchise tag for the second-straight year. If the organization does ultimately turn to the tag, they’ll effectively be committing to Higgins for yet another season (barring a trade), and they’d still have until the middle of July to work out an extension with the receiver.

The former second-round pick saw his rookie contract expire last offseason, but the Bengals held on to Higgins via the franchise tag. A second-straight franchise tag would be valued at 120% of Higgins’ 2024 earnings, which would come in at $26.2MM. The Bengals would presumably hope that number is a placeholder as they pursue a long-term deal, but it could also represent a slight discount as Higgins pursues a deal worth more than $30MM per year.

Joe Burrow has made it clear that he wants the Bengals to retain one of his top targets, but the organization’s upcoming financial commitments would make a Higgins deal difficult to navigate. Burrow himself is playing on a once-record-breaking extension, and the Bengals have yet to work out a long-term deal with fellow WR Ja’Marr Chase. The organization could theoretically commit a significant chunk of their cap to their three offensive stars, but there’s also a chance the team will just be keeping the trio together for one last run.

The 2024 campaign was one of Higgins’ most productive showings of his career, as he compiled 911 receiving yards and a career-high 10 touchdowns in just 12 games. His recent injury woes only slightly clouded his free agency outlook, as the WR was still expected to have plenty of suitors this offseason. If Higgins is ultimately slapped with the franchise tag, it will bode well for the rest of the free agent class, a group that includes veterans coming off injuries (like Chris Godwin and Stefon Diggs) and veterans who underwhelmed in new spots (like DeAndre Hopkins and Amari Cooper).

Jets To Move On From Aaron Rodgers

February 13th, 2025 at 10:12am CST by Adam La Rose

FEBRUARY 13: The Jets have announced that Rodgers will not return in 2025. A parting of ways with Adams can also be expected, but at a minimum it is now confirmed that team will have new starter under center next season. How strong of a market Rodgers generates – if he continues playing – will become a interesting storyline in advance of free agency.

FEBRUARY 9: As most anticipated, the Jets appear ready to move on from quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Per FOX Sports’ Jay Glazer, the 41-year-old passer flew to New Jersey last week to talk with the club, only to be told that Gang Green will be parting ways with him.

In the wake of the Jets’ decision to fire head coach Robert Saleh and then general manager Joe Douglas midway through the campaign, it became clear a parting of ways was likely in this situation. Uncertainty loomed as a new regime was brought in, but the organization will indeed start over at the quarterback spot in 2025. Rodgers’ New York tenure will thus end after only two years.

The longtime Packers star had a rocky end to his tenure in Green Bay, with the Jets emerging as a destination he was interested in as part of his efforts to continue his career. A deal was ultimately worked out – with New York sending a package consisting of a pair of second-round picks in addition to the teams swapping Day 1 selections in 2023 – and expectations were therefore high for the Jets to find short-term stability under center. Rodgers’ debut campaign ended after only four snaps, though, with an Achilles tear leaving him sidelined the rest of the way.

Douglas, Saleh and former offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett received a mulligan from ownership this past offseason, and Rodgers did manage to play all 17 games in 2024. Still, the team fell well short of expectations and wound up outside the postseason. Retirement is still under consideration in Rodgers’ case, but in any event the Jets will move on. Remaining together was something new head coach Aaron Glenn was open to, but he and first-time general manager Darren Mougey stopped short of making a commitment one way or another when speaking about the team’s QB setup for 2025.

Earlier on Sunday, Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (the latter of whom has since confirmed the expectation is that the Jets and Rodgers will part ways) reported a decision on this front was likely this coming week. A formal announcement should thus be expected shortly, but nevertheless the Jets will now turn their attention to finding a new short- and/or long-term QB solution. The failure of the Sam Darnold and Zach Wilson selections drove the Rodgers acquisition, and it will be interesting to see if the draft is again pursued this April or if the new regime will take a different route.

Glazer’s colleague Jordan Schultz – who also reported on Sunday a Rodgers split was likely – adds this move was influenced more by the nature of his contract than his up-and-down level of play this past season. The four-time MVP is due $37.5MM in 2025, with none of his base salary guaranteed. Teams which view Rodgers as a viable option could look to swing a trade at a reduced price, but it would come as no surprise if the Jets proceeded with a release. Doing so with a post-June 1 designation will be required to avoid incurring a massive dead cap charge.

Tyrod Taylor is under contract for next year at a reasonable cap hit of $6.8MM, and he would welcome the chance to again operate as a starter. New York will be in the market for another passer this offseason, though, and ESPN’s Rich Cimini names Kirk Cousins as a potential option. The Falcons are likely to move on from Cousins, who is familiar to new front office exec Rick Speilman given their time together in Minnesota. In any case, how the Mougey-Glenn pairing operates at the quarterback spot will be critical moving forward.

Rodgers and Davante Adams reunited with the Jets ahead of the 2024 trade deadline, but the latter’s future was clouded by uncertainty based on the former’s tenuous hold on a New York roster spot for next season. Now that Rodgers is known to be on the way out, it would come as no surprise if Adams were to change teams once again; a return to the west coast could be in order. Another Rodgers-Adams pairing could be in store, but only if Rodgers elects to continue playing. If that proves to be the case, he will need to suit up for a third NFL team in the closing chapter of his decorated career.

Rory Parks contributed to this post. 

Bengals LB Germaine Pratt Requests Trade

February 12th, 2025 at 10:05pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Bengals linebacker and defensive captain Germaine Pratt has requested a trade, per Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL.com.

Pratt set a career-high with 143 total tackles in 2024, which led the Bengals and ranked 11th among all defenders. Cincinnati’s defense was less successful as a unit, finishing in the bottom 10 in points and yards allowed. Those struggles culminated in the firing of longtime defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, who was replaced by Al Golden.

With a new DC and two major wide receiver contracts to negotiate, the Bengals are expected to move on from several veteran players on the defensive side of the ball. That includes Pratt, according to The Athletic’s Paul Dehner, who is entering the final year of his contract with a $8.18MM cap hit, per OverTheCap. A trade would net the Bengals some draft compensation while clearing $5.85MM from their 2025 salary cap with $2.33M in dead money. An acquiring team would take on Pratt’s $5.25MM base salary along with $250k in per game roster bonus, a $100k workout bonus, and $250k in likely-to-be-earned incentives.

With an affordable contract for a starting linebacker, there may be a trade market for Pratt’s services. The Bengals did not give into trade requests from Tee Higgins and Trey Hendrickson last year. However, since they seem likely to release Pratt anyway, other teams may wait for him to hit free agency rather than giving up a draft pick. Linebacker trades over the last two years have only involved players on their rookie contracts, with compensation maxing out at a Day 3 pick.

Pratt is not the only Bengal to signal his openness to a trade in recent weeks. Hendrickson said before the Super Bowl that he would prefer to be extended or traded as soon as possible. Other trade/cut candidates include defensive end Sam Hubbard, defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins, and safety Geno Stone, who would combine for $25MM in cap savings and just $5.5MM in dead money in 2025. Those moves would free up enough money for the Bengals to retain Higgins and sign Ja’Marr Chase to a massive extension, though the front office would have to find enough talent in free agency and the draft to field a competitive defense in 2025.

Saints Hire Kellen Moore As HC

February 11th, 2025 at 10:21pm CST by Adam La Rose

As expected, the Kellen Moore hire is moving forward. He is finalizing a deal to become the next head coach of the Saints, as first reported by NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo. The agreement is now in place, per Rapoport.

Moore’s tenure as the Eagles’ offensive coordinator will wind up lasting only one year. The 35-year-old returned to Philadelphia after the team’s Super Bowl win (at the Superdome), but he will now fly back to New Orleans to sign a contract. This will mark Moore’s first head coaching opportunity at the college or NFL levels.

After his playing career came to an end, the former quarterback joined the Cowboys’ coaching staff. One season as Dallas’ QBs coach was followed by a four-year run as the team’s offensive coordinator. Moore’s success in that capacity helped his stock, although then-head coach Mike McCarthy elected to take over play-calling duties in the 2023 offseason. Moore found himself on the move for the first time in his brief coaching career as a result.

The Chargers brought Moore in as their OC for 2023, the only season in Justin Herbert‘s career in which he missed time due to injury. Overall, Los Angeles ranked just 18th in yards and 21st in scoring, and the arrival of new head coach Jim Harbaugh led to Moore changing teams once again. The Eagles – having replaced Shane Steichen with Brian Johnson at the offensive coordinator spot in 2023 – were again in the market for a hire at that position.

Moore helped lead the Eagles to a strong showing on the ground in particular, with the free agent signing of Saquon Barkley proving to be a sound offseason investment. Philadelphia’s passing attack was inconsistent during the campaign, but Moore’s unit was stellar in the postseason. The Eagles scored an NFL-record 145 playoff points en route to winning the Super Bowl, something which helped cement him as the favorite for the Saints’ HC position.

New Orleans was unable to attract serious interest from some of the top candidates in this year’s cycle, with Kliff Kingsbury withdrawing to remain with the Commanders. Aaron Glenn – who previously coached with the Saints – lined up a second interview, but his top choice on that front was the Jets and he ultimately landed the gig with New York. McCarthy was seen as a strong contender for a time, but once he elected to step away from coaching in 2025 Moore moved into pole position.

The latter has drawn head coaching interest in the past, and this deal is expected to come with a considerable raise compared to his Eagles earnings. Still, Moore will face a tall task in his new gig considering where the Saints find themselves. New Orleans has not managed to remain a Super Bowl contender in the wake of Drew Brees‘ retirement and Sean Payton‘s departure, and returning to that level will be challenging. Dennis Allen was promoted to head coach as Payton’s replacement, but he went 18-25 before being dismissed midway through the 2024 campaign.

Special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi took over from Allen on an interim basis, and he interviewed for the position on a full-time basis. Rizzi’s fate – along with that of Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka and Dolphins DC Anthony Weaver – remained undetermined leading up to the Super Bowl with Moore looming as a potential hire. By rule, teams cannot make a head coaching hire with a staffer taking part in the Super Bowl until after the game is played. Now, in Rizzi’s case, a reunion with Payton on the Broncos’ staff can be expected.

The Saints have Derek Carr atop the quarterback depth chart for the time being, but on the whole his two-year New Orleans tenure has not gone according to plan. General manager Mickey Loomis made it clear the team’s head coaching hire would have a role in deciding how to proceed with Carr, 33. The four-time Pro Bowler is set to have his base salary guaranteed at the start of the new league year in March, and he is not prepared to take a pay cut. If New Orleans elected to move on, a trade market would likely exist.

Moore and Co. could prefer to keep Carr in the fold for 2025, but in either case adding cost-effective talent and managing yet another case of salary cap gymnastics will be needed this offseason. Still, expectations will be high from a big-picture perspective for Moore to guide the team through a transition back to efficiency on offense given his track record as a coordinator. He will look to move quickly in filling out his staff while the Eagles prepare to use a fourth different OC in as many years.

Philadelphia quarterbacks coach Doug Nussmeier could be a strong internal candidate to replace Moore, but he is seen as a leading option to join Moore in New Orleans. Brandon Staley – who worked alongside Moore during their time together with the Chargers – is also a staffer to watch closely over the coming days as a potential defensive coordinator hire. In any case, the final head coaching vacancy of the 2025 hiring cycle has been filled and the Saints aim to have found a long-term answer on the sidelines.

Saints Expected To Name Kellen Moore As HC

February 11th, 2025 at 8:31am CST by Rory Parks

FEBRUARY 11: Ian Rapoport of NFL Network confirms the Moore hire should be finalized shortly (video link). He adds that Nussmeier is indeed the top name to watch regarding New Orleans’ offensive coordinator spot, while Staley is firmly in contention to handle defensive coordinator duties. In the wake of winning their second Super Bowl in franchise history, the Eagles will soon need to find a new OC.

FEBRUARY 9: Once Mike McCarthy withdrew his name from consideration for the Saints’ head coaching job – the only such vacancy that remains in this year’s cycle – Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore became the clear favorite for the post. As ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports, Moore is indeed expected to be named as New Orleans’ next HC.

Of course, Moore will first try to win a championship ring today as Philadelphia seeks to prevent a Chiefs three-peat and avenge its narrow loss to Kansas City in Super Bowl LVII. In Moore’s first (and likely only) year with the club, the Eagles finished seventh in points scored and eighth in total offense, a performance that bolstered his already strong head coaching stock.

In three of his four seasons as Cowboys offensive coordinator from 2019-22, Dallas ranked sixth or better in scoring, and Moore became a popular name on the head coaching circuit as a result. While he did not end up landing an HC gig, he never fell below the coordinator ranks, taking a job as the Chargers’ OC in 2023 before moving on to the Eagles in 2024. He was even rumored to be the frontrunner for the Dallas HC post that McCarthy (his former boss) just vacated, before Jerry Jones surprisingly pivoted to Brian Schottenheimer.

Given the Saints’ middling roster, uncertain quarterback situation, and familiar salary cap woes, the New Orleans opening is not considered an especially attractive one, so landing a sought-after candidate with strong credentials can reasonably be classified as a coup for GM Mickey Loomis & Co. One of Moore’s first tasks as the Saints’ sideline general will be to shape the club’s direction at quarterback, including how to proceed with incumbent Derek Carr .

Another clear indicator that Moore will remain in New Orleans after today’s Super Bowl in the Superdome is the fact that the 36-year-old was making calls to potential staffers prior to Super Bowl week (via FOX Sports’ Jordan Schultz). ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler (subscription required) names 49ers assistant coach Brandon Staley and Buccaneers outside linebackers coach George Edwards as potential defensive coordinator candidates.

Staley was Moore’s boss in 2023 when the former served as the Chargers’ head coach, though neither he nor Edwards received a defensive coordinator interview this year. Just as the Eagles’ playoff success delayed Moore’s eligibility to join another club and may have forced the Cowboys to go in a different direction at head coach, that delay also could have prevented Moore from landing some of his preferred assistants.

Klayton Adams and Matt Eberflus, who recently accepted Dallas’ offensive coordinator and defensive coordinator jobs, respectively, were also seen as strong candidates for Moore’s first staff, according to Fowler. Eagles quarterbacks coach Doug Nussmeier, who has worked with Moore in Dallas, Los Angeles, and now Philadelphia, is seen as a potential OC option for the Saints if they move forward with the Moore hire.

49ers Give WR Deebo Samuel Permission To Seek Trade; Parting Appears Likely

February 9th, 2025 at 8:55pm CST by Rory Parks

8:55pm: Samuel has been given permission to seek a trade, as ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. Schefter’s ESPN colleague, Nick Wagoner, does not expect much of a return given that the club would be selling low.

Samuel said today (via Schefter), “it was a hard conversation to have with [Shanahan] because of the relationship that we have. But I have to do what’s best. I’m more than thankful for the Niners giving me the opportunity of a lifetime, but now I think it’s best that we find another team.”

8:19am: Just like last offseason, 49ers WR Deebo Samuel may be the subject of trade rumors in the weeks and months ahead. Per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, San Francisco is expected to explore a trade involving the 2021 First Team All-Pro.

Samuel enjoyed a stunning breakout in that 2021 campaign, his third season in the NFL. He piled up 1,405 receiving yards on a league-best 18.2 yards-per-reception rate to go along with six receiving touchdowns, and he added 59 rushes for 365 yards (6.2 yards per carry) and eight more TDs. That performance earned him a three-year, $71.55MM extension in July 2022.

Since signing the contract, Samuel has remained a key cog in head coach Kyle Shanahan’s offense, though he has not come close to reaching the heights of his 2021 effort. And, in 2024, he set or tied career-lows in targets (81), catches (51), yards per carry (3.2), and rushing scores (one) (excluding the 2020 season, in which he played just seven games).

Last year, the 49ers engaged in lengthy extension talks with fellow WR Brandon Aiyuk – a period that included trade discussions with clubs interested in Aiyuk – and Samuel’s name also came up in trade conversations during the 2024 draft. The Bills, Patriots, and Steelers – all of whom are still in the WR market – showed interest at the time.

After San Francisco selected wideout Ricky Pearsall in last year’s first round and finally agreed to an extension with Aiyuk, it became clear that Samuel’s days with the club could be numbered. However, there were no substantive trade talks centered around Samuel in the run-up to last year’s deadline, perhaps because Aiyuk was lost for the season due to an ACL tear before such conversations would have taken place. And, just last month, GM John Lynch and Samuel indicated the 29-year-old playmaker would see out the 2025 season – the last year of his current deal – with the Niners.

Of course, even if Lynch does speak to clubs interested in Samuel, there is no guarantee he will make a move. If a trade is consummated, though – and Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle describes a parting as “likely” – Rapoport says both player and team will be at peace with it. 

Despite 2024’s downturn in production, Rapoport expects plenty of teams to be interested in acquiring Samuel’s services. The South Carolina product said in December that he was “a little frustrated for sure” by his reduced role in the 49ers’ offense, and in a since-deleted post on X that he made around the same time, he said he was not struggling, he just was not getting the ball. Perhaps rival clubs share that sentiment and believe they can help Samuel return to his All-Pro form.

From a cap perspective, a trade could be complicated by Samuel’s September restructure. Trading him prior to June 1 would create a negative cap charge of over $15MM, whereas a post-June 1 transaction would allow the team to at least spread out the dead money and save about $5MM against the 2025 cap. Every little bit will help as the Niners gear up for a lucrative Brock Purdy extension.

Jaguars Hire Grant Udinski As OC

February 5th, 2025 at 10:37pm CST by Ben Levine

The Jaguars have settled on their new offensive coordinator. The team announced that they’re hiring Vikings assistant quarterbacks coach Grant Udinski for the role.

“Grant will bring a wealth of knowledge, energy and a winning mindset to help lead our offense here in Jacksonville,” head coach Liam Coen said in a statement. “He is a rising star in this league that has been a pillar of success for the Vikings organization and we can’t wait to have him lead our offense.”

Udinski has only been coaching for six years, five of which have come in the NFL. Following a quick stint with the Panthers, Udinski joined the Vikings as an assistant in 2022. It didn’t take long for him to earn a promotion. He earned the title of assistant quarterbacks coach in 2023, and he added the role of assistant offensive coordinator in 2024.

The coach’s offensive prowess garnered some attention in 2024. Udinski was described as a mentor to injured rookie QB J.J. McCarthy, and he also helped guide Sam Darnold to the best season of his career. As teams looked to Kevin O’Connell‘s coaching tree to fill their offensive holes, Udinski became a popular name on the coordinator market, interviewing for gigs with the Seahawks and Jaguars.

While Coen is expected to have a heavy hand in Jacksonville’s offensive approach, the new head coach has led a limited search for a new OC. Rams pass game specialist Nate Scheelhaase was reportedly the favorite for the gig, but he ended up sticking in Los Angeles for the 2025 campaign. The team also showed interest in Chip Kelly and interviewed Commanders QBs coach Tavita Pritchard before ultimately landing on Udinski for the gig.

The new coordinator will have plenty to work with in Jacksonville. Trevor Lawrence hasn’t reached the pinnacle that was expected when he was the first-overall pick, but the organization will be counting on Udinski to get the most out of the franchise player. The team also seemed to hit on a WR1 in rookie Brian Thomas, and they’re rostering a pair of backfield options in Tank Bigsby and Travis Etienne (barring a trade).

In Minnesota, the Vikings will be losing a significant staff member, but the team should have some coaching continuity on offense. Offensive coordinator Wes Phillips is set to be back for a fourth season with the organization, and Josh McCown will be sticking around for another season as Minnesota’s quarterbacks coach.

Load More Posts