Bills Hire Brian Daboll As OC
The Bills have hired Brian Daboll as their new offensive coordinator, the club announced today.
[RELATED: 2018 NFL Coordinator Tracker]
Daboll, fresh off a National Championship as the offensive play-caller for the University of Alabama, will replace longtime NFL coach Rick Dennison, who was fired on Friday after only one season in Buffalo. Multiple head coaching candidates had reportedly expressed interest in hiring Daboll as an offensive coordinator, so the Bills acted quickly to add him to their staff.
While the 42-year-old Daboll spent the 2017 campaign in the collegiate ranks, he does boast vast amounts of NFL coaching experience. He’s coordinated offenses for the Browns (2009-10), Dolphins (2011), and Chiefs (2012), and has also worked in a number of offensive roles for the Patriots, first from 2000-06 and again from 2013-16.
In Buffalo, Daboll will be tasked with heading an offensive unit which ranked 22nd in scoring, 26th in DVOA, and 29th in yards a season ago. Running back LeSean McCoy and wide receiver Zay Jones will be among the weapons at Daboll’s disposal, while Buffalo has decisions to make on quarterback Tyrod Taylor and wideout Kelvin Benjamin.
Josh McDaniels Expected To Become Colts’ HC
Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports (Twitter link) that Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels is expected to become the Colts’ next head coach. McDaniels has reportedly told his potential assistants to wait for him, and Rapoport’s sources believe McDaniels is Indianapolis-bound once New England’s season is over.
Just yesterday, we learned that McDaniels and former Patriots linebacker (and current Texans DC) Mike Vrabel were the finalists for the Colts’ head coaching job. But McDaniels has seemed like the favorite for awhile now, especially given ownership’s desire for something of a splashy hire.
McDaniels compiled an underwhelming 11-17 record during his two-year stint as head coach of the Broncos, but he has more than restored his viability as a head coach since returning to New England. The Patriots’ offense has ranked in the top-10 in points scored during each of his nine years as the Pats’ OC, and McDaniels’ unit put up yet another impressive showing in the team’s divisional round win over Tennessee last night.
McDaniels, of course, has had the privilege of working with Tom Brady during his New England career, and he will inherit another excellent signal-caller in Andrew Luck should he take the Colts’ job. Luck’s health, though, will continue to be a major topic of discussion this offseason, and it was rumored that his shoulder injury may scare off top head coaching candidates. Luckily for Indianapolis, that does not appear to be the case.
As we learned several days ago, Cowboys linebackers coach Matt Eberflus — who is currently a free agent — is McDaniels’ top choice for defensive coordinator, per Rapoport (via Twitter).
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.
Josh Freeman Signs With Montreal Alouettes
Johnny Manziel isn’t the only former first-round quarterback looking to make a move north of the border. While the former Browns signal-caller’s CFL future is still in limbo, former Buccaneers quarterback Josh Freeman is definitely headed to Canada after he signed a two-year deal with the Montreal Alouettes on Friday. 
Freeman has not played a snap in the NFL since 2015 and was last released by the Colts in the 2016 offseason. He formerly had a tryout with Montreal in 2016 but did not end up signing with the CFL side. After sitting out the 2016 and 2017 seasons, Freeman is set for a return and will presumably slot in as the team’s starter.
The No. 17 pick in the 2009 NFL Draft spent parts of four seasons as the Buccaneers starter, compiling a 24-35 mark with the team before enduring stints in Minnesota and Indianapolis. In his second season, the Kansas State product powered Tampa Bay to a 10-6 mark and the postseason while throwing 25 touchdowns with only six interceptions.
The promising career quickly began to trend downward. The Buccaneers went 4-12 the following season and Freeman threw only 16 touchdowns with 22 interceptions. After one more season in Tampa Bay, he made his way as a backup to Minnesota and Indianapolis.
Calvin Johnson Not Interested In Return To NFL
Former Lions receiver Calvin Johnson shocked the NFL when he retired following the 2015 season at the age of 30. The three-time First Team All-Pro selection announced last week that he has no intention of returning to the field, the Sporting News’ and SiriusXM’s Alex Marvez writes. 
During the 2017 season, there were reports of teams pursuing Johnson but he is happy to spend time with his family.
Don’t expect to see him coaching on the sidelines anytime soon either. The six-time Pro Bowl wideout said: “Coaching just takes up too much time,” Johnson said. “I got to the building pretty early when I was playing and coaches were already there and they leave after the players. As far as spending time with family, that’s what I was looking forward to.”
If he does make a return to the game in either capacity, don’t expect it to be with the Lions. The relationship between the team and Johnson is still fractured after the team demanded $1MM be returned from a 2012 signing bonus. Johnson ultimately gave the money back but the gesture severed ties between the two parties. Though Detroit has reportedly made attempts to salvage the relationship, Johnson has denied any contact has been made.
Since retiring in 2015, Johnson has served as a consultant around the league and has worked with receivers in Oakland and Miami. In nine NFL seasons, Johnson recorded 731 receptions for 11,619 yards and led the league in receiving yards in back-to-back seasons in 2011-12.
Seahawks To Name Brian Schottenheimer OC
It doesn’t look like the Seahawks will not be waiting for the divisional round to conclude to identify their next offensive coordinator.
The Seahawks intend to hire Colts quarterbacks coach Brian Schottenheimer for the role, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. This coming to fruition would represent the third coordinator role for Schottenheimer, who spent nine seasons (2006-14) guiding the Jets’ and Rams’ offenses.
Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports (on Twitter) Pete Carroll called Schottenheimer and the parties are working on a deal, noting the Seahawks identified the veteran OC as the leader for this job and wanted to pounce before other teams jumped into the mix.
Schottenheimer was mentioned as a candidate along with Eagles quarterbacks coach John DeFilippo. The 44-year-old Schottenheimer was part of Chuck Pagano‘s final two staffs in Indianapolis, and in 2015 served as Georgia’s OC.
Seattle would have needed to wait for Philadelphia to lose in order to interview DeFilippo for this job. The team expressed interest in Schottenheimer, but no interview was reported. Schottenheimer will succeed Darrell Bevell, who was fired after seven seasons at the helm.
Three of Schottenheimer’s teams made the playoffs — the 2006, ’09 and ’10 Jets — but just one (the ’08 Jets) ranked in the top 10 in total or scoring offense. None of Schottenheimer’s Rams attacks ranked in the top 20 in either category during his three seasons running the St. Louis offense. The Seahawks ranked 15th in total offense in 2017.
Andrew Luck did complete a career-high 63.5 percent of his passes under Schottenheimer in 2016, however, and Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times tweets some in the Seahawks organization were impressed with how he tailored an offense around Jacoby Brissett‘s mobility.
Seahawks GM John Schneider has a connection with the Schottenheimer family. He was with the Chiefs and Redskins during the end of Marty Schottenheimer‘s run in Kansas City and during his short stay in Washington in the early 2000s. Brian Schottenheimer worked with the ’98 Chiefs and ’01 Redskins. The latter position — as Redskins QBs coach — represented the second-generation coach’s first NFL coaching gig.
Vikings Activate QB Sam Bradford From IR
Sam Bradford is back. Chris Tomasson of St. Paul Pioneer Press reports (via Twitter) that the Vikings have activated the quarterback from the injured reserve. To make room, the team has waived tight end Kyle Carter.
Bradford, who had been shelved since Week 5, returned to practice in early January. Bradford hasn’t played in a full game since the first week of the season, as he’s battled knee injuries for much of the campaign. Backup Case Keenum has been a revelation as the team’s starting quarterback, completing 67.6-percent of his passes for 3,547 yards, 22 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. For comparison’s sake, in 2016, Bradford completed 71.6-percent of his passes for 3,877 yards, 20 touchdowns, and five interceptions. Keenum will still be under center for the Vikings’ playoff matchup against the Saints tomorrow.
While the top of the depth chart may not be in question, the presence of Teddy Bridgewater complicates the backup role. Vikings coach Mike Zimmer acknowledged that Bradford is healthy enough to play, but he wouldn’t reveal if the quarterback would unseat Bridgewater as the top reserve. Bridgewater missed the entire 2016 season after having suffered a torn ACL, and he was activated off the PUP in November of this season.
Bridgewater was actually the last Vikings quarterback to start a playoff game, but he acknowledged that he doesn’t care about who ends up taking the reps.
“I just want us to win,” he told Tomasson (via Twitter). “At this time of the year, it doesn’t matter if it’s pretty, if it’s ugly, it’s all about winning and how you get it done.”
Carter, a 2016 undrafted free agent out of Penn State, had spent the past two seasons with the Vikings organization. He appeared in three games this season without recording a reception.
Josh McDaniels, Mike Vrabel Finalists For Colts’ HC Job
Nearly two weeks after firing coach Chuck Pagano, it sounds like the Colts are zeroing in on a pair of potential replacements. NFL.com’s Albert Breer reports (via Twitter) that Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and Texans defensive coordinator Mike Vrabel have “emerged as finalists” for the head coaching gig.
The Colts cast a relatively wide net during their search. In addition to Vrabel and McDaniels, our head coaching tracker shows that the organization also reached out to Seahawks defensive coordinator Kris Richard, former Chiefs offensive coordinator (and current Bears head coach) Matt Nagy, Panthers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks, and Baylor head coach Matt Rhule. Breer cautions that the Colts could add another name to their list of “finalists.”
McDaniels compiled an underwhelming 11-17 record during his two-year stint with the Broncos, but he’s had a lot more success serving as the offensive coordinator for the Patriots. New England’s offense has ranked in the top-10 for points scored during each of his nine years at the helm. Meanwhile, Vrabel’s first season as the Texans defensive coordinator didn’t lead to stellar results. However, the former Patriots linebacker previously displayed his coaching chops while serving as Houston’s linebackers coach between 2014 and 2016.
Texans Hire GM Brian Gaine, Extend HC Bill O’Brien
The Texans have locked up their head coach and general manager duo for the foreseeable future. ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter reports (via Twitter) that the organization has handed out “matching” contracts to coach Bill O’Brien and new GM Brian Gaine. The new GM received a five-year pact, while O’Brien signed a four-year deal. The new contracts will keep the pair in Houston through the 2022 season.
We learned earlier this week that the Texans were expected to hire Gaine as their new general manager. The former Bills vice president of player personnel is returning to Houston after only a single season in Buffalo. Gaine previously served as the Texans director of player personnel before moving on last offseason. The executive had garnered plenty of attention over the past several years, having interviewed for GM gigs in Philadelphia, San Francisco, New York, and Chicago.
Meanwhile, we also heard rumblings that the Texans were looking to extend O’Brien, whose contract was set to expire following the 2018 campaign. There were rumors throughout the season that O’Brien could be let go, as the coach was engaged in a constant power struggle with former general manager Rick Smith. However, O’Brien ultimately assisted in the team’s search for a new GM, an indication that he was apart of the team’s future plans. The 48-year-old has spent the past four seasons in Houston, compiling a 31-33 record and a pair of playoff appearances.
The Texans weren’t finished refining their front office. Mark Berman of Fox 26 in Houston tweets that the organization also promoted Chris Olsen from vice president/administration to senior vice president/administration. Olsen was responsible for negotiating the deals with Gaine and O’Brien, and he also manages the team’s salary cap.
With Gaine and O’Brien locked up, the Texans can now shift their focus to the offseason. It may be difficult to add young talent, as Houston will be operating without their first- and second-round picks. However, they’ll be armed with around $56MM in cap space, which could allow them to make a big splash in free agency.
Latest On Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald
Larry Fitzgerald still hasn’t decided whether to play in 2018. The Cardinals, meanwhile, are still searching for their next head coach. The latter decision, apparently, will weigh heavily on the former. 
“I don’t have a head coach right now so there’s a lot going on,” Fitzgerald told the Golf Channel (video link). “I’m going to take some time to figure it out. Our owner and president Michael Bidwill and General Manager Steve Keim are out right now interviewing head coaches. I’m interested to see what’s going to happen. I’ll make a decision shortly after I would imagine.”
As shown on PFR’s Head Coaching Tracker, the Cardinals have cast a wide net in their search:
- Keith Armstrong, special teams coordinator (Falcons): Interviewed on 1/8
- James Bettcher, defensive coordinator (Cardinals): Interviewed on 1/3
- John DeFilippo, quarterbacks coach (Eagles): Interviewed 1/5
- Brian Flores, linebackers coach (Patriots): Interviewed on 1/6
- Mike Munchak, offensive line coach (Steelers): Interviewed on 1/7
- Matt Patricia, defensive coordinator (Patriots): Interviewed on 1/6
- Jim Schwartz, defensive coordinator (Eagles): Interviewed on 1/5
- Pat Shurmur, offensive coordinator (Vikings): Interviewed on 1/5
- Steve Wilks, defensive coordinator (Panthers): Interviewed on 1/10
If the hire is not to Fitzgerald’s liking, he might opt to spend his time on the golf course rather than the gridiron in 2018. The wide receiver did not indicate which candidate is his favorite, but one has to assume that he would like to see Bettcher promoted to the top job.