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Titans Part Ways With Bill Callahan; Bo Hardegree To Remain Play-Caller

By | at October 14, 2025 1:31 pm

Expected to resign after the Titans fired Brian Callahan, offensive line coach Bill Callahan — Brian’s father — is indeed out in Tennessee. The Titans and the elder Callahan are going their separate ways, interim HC Mike McCoy announced Tuesday.

The Titans will split O-line coaching duties between Scott Fuchs and Matt Jones. Fuchs had been Bill Callahan’s assistant O-line coach, while Jones resides as an offensive assistant on the Titans’ staff. The Bill Callahan split was certainly anticipated given his son’s exit after just 23 games, and other teams are expected to pursue the well-regarded O-line coach.

[RELATED: The NFL’s Interim Head Coaches Since 2000]

Although Mike McCoy has an extensive history calling plays and is now in a position to reinstall himself in that role, the veteran coach will keep quarterbacks coach Bo Hardegree as the play-caller, McCoy said (via Titans.com’s Jim Wyatt). Brian Callahan gave Hardegree — the Raiders’ interim OC in 2023 — the call sheet ahead of Week 4.

McCoy served as the Chargers’ play-caller during his four-year run in San Diego, landing that job after calling plays for an explosive 2012 Broncos attack (in Peyton Manning‘s first year with the team). McCoy was also at the controls when the Broncos pivoted to a more Tim Tebow-friendly offense midseason in 2011, but the experienced staffer will work as a CEO HC to start his interim Titans run.

Bill Callahan, 69, has been in coaching since 1978. While his highest-profile jobs have come as the head coach of the Raiders (2002-03) and Nebraska (2004-07), he has settled in as one of this era’s top offensive line coaches. Helming a top-tier O-line in Cleveland earlier this decade, Callahan also worked with the Cowboys when Tyron Smith, Travis Frederick and Zack Martin helped DeMarco Murray to the 2014 rushing title. He was on Jay Gruden‘s Washington staff from 2015-19, eventually taking over as interim HC when Gruden was fired early in te 2019 season.

The Titans reunited the Callahans, marking their first run as coaches on the same staff. It did not go well. A bizarre Cardinals collapse gave the Titans their only win this season, and the team ranks 31st in scoring and 32nd in yardage through six games. Pro Football Focus ranks Tennessee’s O-line — one housing three former first-round picks (Peter Skoronski, Kevin Zeitler, JC Latham) to go with high-priced free agents Dan Moore Jr. and Lloyd Cushenberry) — 26th in Bill Callahan’s second season. Fuchs, who joined the Titans last year after three seasons at Kansas, will join Jones — a Mike Vrabel holdover who previously spent four seasons as Tennessee-Martin’s O-line coach — in attempting to improve the unit.

McCoy did not mention other staff changes. The Titans plan to give their new interim HC “every opportunity,” per president of football ops Chad Brinker (via ESPN.com’s Turron Davenport) to stick as head coach. This has become an extraordinarily rare route for teams to take. Only the Raiders have made this move over the past seven years, and their decision to elevate Antonio Pierce to full-time HC backfired. Prior to Pierce’s ascent, Doug Marrone (Jaguars) was the most recent staffer to move from interim coach to the full-time leader. He did so in 2017.

McCoy, 53, went 27-37 as Chargers HC. The team made the playoffs in his 2013 debut, which featured a Philip Rivers Comeback Player of the Year season despite the QB not being injured previously, but did not return over his final three seasons. McCoy returned to Denver for an OC one-off (2017) and was a Cardinals OC one-and-done during Steve Wilks‘ short stint leading the way. After spending three years out of the NFL, McCoy resurfaced with the 2022 Jags under Doug Pederson. Brian Callahan hired him in March.

7 comments Tennessee Titans

Ravens Release S C.J. Gardner-Johnson

By | at October 14, 2025 1:17 pm

C.J. Gardner-Johnson is beginning to take a Diontae Johnson-like journey around the NFL, right down to joining and then leaving the Ravens. Baltimore is releasing the veteran safety from its practice squad.

This may be more of a fit-related transaction, however, with ESPN’s Adam Schefter indicating Gardner-Johnson’s agent viewed the team’s addition of Alohi Gilman as an impediment for his client. Gardner-Johnson’s agent said the well-traveled defender is looking for a “clearer path to play.”

The Ravens have struggled mightily on defense this season, but the team does have some safety options. Gilman joins All-Pro Kyle Hamilton and first-round pick Malaki Starks. While the rookie has struggled to open his debut season, the Ravens have plenty invested at safety between the fully guaranteed first-round contract and Hamilton’s market-shifting extension.

Gilman has also been a regular starter for years, and he played 83% of Baltimore’s defensive snaps in the team’s Week 6 matchup; this included a starting assignment less than a week after being acquired.

The Gilman-for-Odafe Oweh trade came on the same day the Ravens signed Gardner-Johnson to their practice squad. The latter transaction marked a bounce-back opportunity for Gardner-Johnson, who had been jettisoned by two teams since March. Like Johnson last year, Gardner-Johnson joined the Ravens after two teams moved on. Less than a year after the Ravens suspended the increasingly mercurial wideout and then waived him, they will wrap Gardner-Johnson’s tenure at a week.

Being traded from Philadelphia to Houston as part of a trade that sent Kenyon Green to the Eagles, Gardner-Johnson received his Texans walking papers three games into the season. The Texans used Gardner-Johnson as a three-game starter. Like Johnson in 2024, the trash-talking DB requested a trade out of his second stop of the year. The Texans instead cut him, as they did Johnson shortly after claiming him. Green is also gone from Philly, making the March swap a lose-lose trade. The former first-round guard is on the Ravens’ practice squad, representing an interesting fallout from the Eagles-Texans trade.

Gardner-Johnson, 27, has been traded twice and been part of four teams. The Saints dealt him to the Eagles in a contract year, and after some confusion about a return to Philly, CJGJ ended up in Detroit as a 2023 free agent. The Eagles re-signed the former fourth-round pick and deployed him as a starter, leading to a second six-interception season in three years as the team mounted a championship run. Gardner-Johnson is a 64-game starter; he will look for a path that allows him to add to that total.

8 comments Baltimore Ravens Transactions

Steelers To Explore WR Trade Addition

By | at October 14, 2025 10:32 am

OCTOBER 14: During his latest appearance on the Pat McAfee Show, ESPN’s Adam Schefter confirmed (video link) the Steelers are in the market for a wideout. With three weeks remaining until the deadline, it will be interesting to see if Khan swings another in-season addition at that spot.

OCTOBER 9: The receiver position has been a major talking point for the Steelers dating back to well before the start of the current campaign. D.K. Metcalf has performed well to date, but the matter of depth could prove to be an issue as the season progresses.

Pittsburgh was heavily linked to Brandon Aiyuk last summer before he ultimately inked a 49ers extension. The Steelers were then close to a Christian Kirk acquisition before the 2024 trade deadline, but his season-ending injury made that a moot point. Once again, it appears the team will be one to watch on the trade front at the receiver position.

Mark Kaboly of the Pat McAfee Show “fully anticipates” the Steelers engaging in conversations about all available wideouts between now and the November 4 trade deadline. Metcalf is under contract for the foreseeable future, but Calvin Austin is attached to the final year of his rookie deal and no new commitment on the team’s part is expected at this point. Austin is expected to miss time coming off the bye, although Kaboly adds his injury is not believed to be serious.

That should open the door for Roman Wilson to take on an expanded role in the passing game. The 2024 third-rounder was limited to just one game as a rookie, though, and he has recorded only one catch so far in 2025. Per Kaboly, the underlying cause behind Wilson’s ineffective performances and low usage rate is unclear at this point. Barring an uptick in his role, the Michigan product could remain a minor figure on offense moving forward; that will especially be true if a trade acquisition is to be made in the near future.

Once Pittsburgh had Aaron Rodgers in place, Allen Lazard was named as a potential trade target. No deal was made, but Lazard is a pending free agent attached to a base salary of just $1.75MM thanks to the pay cut agreement he reached with the Jets this offseason. New York sits at 0-5 on the year, and a seller’s approach ahead of the deadline is expected. It will be interesting to see if that includes a willingness to move Lazard to a contender.

The Steelers’ Dublin win moved them to 3-1 heading into their bye week. Things could change quickly, but wins against the team’s next two opponents (the Browns and Bengals) would solidify Pittsburgh’s status as a buyer. General manager Omar Khan has shown a willingness to be aggressive ahead of this season, which is believed to the final one of Rodgers’ career. It would come as little surprise if – at a minimum – a repeat of last year’s Mike Williams acquisition were to take place.

43 comments Pittsburgh Steelers

Cowboys Endorse DC Matt Eberflus

By | at October 14, 2025 9:43 am

Especially in the wake of the Micah Parsons trade taking place one week before the start of the season, the Cowboys entered 2025 with questions on defense. That side of the ball has indeed been a sore spot so far.

Through Week 6, Dallas sits at the bottom of the league in total defense and 31st in points allowed. As such, defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus has increasingly drawn criticism for his performance to date. The former Bears head coach is in his second Cowboys stint, and it is not in danger of ending any time soon.

“Matt Eberflus is a damn good football coach,” head coach Brian Schottenheimer said when asked about potential staffing changes (via Jon Machota of The Athletic). “We have to perform better. But I’ve been him, so part of me being in [the defensive meeting room] is to help as an asset, to tell him, ‘I believe in him. I understand what he’s going through…’ We’re gonna ride this thing out. And we’ll play better. We really will.”

After his first Cowboys stint – as the team’s linebackers coach – Eberflus spent four years as defensive coordinator of the Colts. Indianapolis posted a top-10 finish in points allowed three times under Eberflus, and he parlayed that strong coordinator showing into a head coaching gig. Things did not go according to plan in Chicago, though, and the 55-year-old was fired before his third season in charge was complete. Improvement will be needed if Eberflus is to rebuild his stock during his current Cowboys tenure.

“He’s had tremendous experience,” owner Jerry Jones said on today’s 105.3 The Fan appearance when offering an additional endorsement of Eberflus (h/t Machota). “He’s dealt with adversity. He’s had some great successes… I jumped at it when we had the chance to get him. I still feel as strongly [about him as the day we hired him].”

The Cowboys currently lead the league in total offense and rank third in the NFL in scoring. That has only resulted in a 2-3-1 record, however, in large part due to the shortcomings of Eberflus’ unit. It will be interesting to see if trades and/or free agent pickups are sought out to bolster the defense over the coming weeks. In any case, Eberflus’ job security early in his return to Dallas should not be regarded as uncertain at this point.

28 comments Dallas Cowboys

Commanders To Sign Drake Jackson

By | at October 14, 2025 8:54 am

Drake Jackson‘s in-season free agent tour has resulted in a deal. The former second-round defensive end is signing with the Commanders, per agent Drew Rosenhaus (via ESPN’s Adam Schefter).

Jackson is being added to the active roster, a slight deviation from standard practice regarding mid-week signings. Players in that position often join a taxi squad before being elevated to the roster. Jackson will look to make an immediate impact with Washington as he attempts to avoid any further injury troubles.

The 24-year-old played 15 games as a rookie, but a torn patellar tear limited him to eight games the following season. Jackson then missed all of the 2024 campaign while continuing to recover. The 49ers elected to move on this spring, but Jackson is now healthy. Visits with the Commanders, Jets and Ravens were lined up recently as a result. An agreement has been worked out in short order.

It comes as little surprise Jackson has elected to head to the nation’s capital. Commanders general manager Adam Peters was in the 49ers’ front office when the USC product was drafted, making him a familiar face. Jackson notched three sacks in each of his first two campaigns, recording more pressures (eight) in his shortened 2023 season than he did in 15 contests (seven) as a rookie. Continued development in terms of production and efficiency as a pass rusher would provide Washington with an inexpensive option along the edge to close out the season.

The Commanders have posted 18 sacks through six games, good for sixth in the NFL in that regard. Jackson will join a group lead by Dorance Armstrong, Von Miller and hybrid linebacker/edge rusher Frankie Luvu. If he manages to provide the 3-3 team with part-time production down the stretch, a notable free agent market could be in store during the spring.

0 comments Transactions Washington Commanders

Titans Fire HC Brian Callahan

By | at October 13, 2025 11:08 pm

The first head coaching change of the 2025 season has been made. Brian Callahan is out as the Titans’ coach, the team announced on Monday.

“After extended conversations with our owner and general manager, we met with Brian Callahan this morning to tell him we are making a change at head coach,” a statement from president of football operations Chad Brinker reads in part. “We are grateful for Brian’s investment in the Titans and Tennessee community during his tenure as head coach. We thank him and his family for being exemplary ambassadors of the Tennessee Titans.”

[RELATED: Titans Name Mike McCoy Interim Head Coach]

Hired in 2024 after a highly-regarded run as the Bengals’ offensive coordinator, Callahan was tasked with overseeing an offensive turnaround in Tennessee. That did not take place during his first season at the helm, but the decision to select Cam Ward gave the Titans a new signal-caller to build around. Six games in to the No. 1 pick’s career, a change is now taking place on the sidelines. NFL insider Jordan Schultz reports Tennessee’s preference was to avoid an in-season firing, but that stance shifted over the past few weeks.

Today’s announcement comes after talk about a Callahan dismissal increased over the early portion of the campaign. The 41-year-old handled offensive play-calling duties through his first season at the helm and the opening three games of the 2025 slate. Following a winless start, though, Callahan handed the reins to QBs coach Bo Hardegree. Moves such as those are often made in an attempt to increase a head coach’s job security.

Indeed, it was reported earlier this month Callahan and the coaching staff felt the front office was quickly losing patience. After Sunday’s game – a 20-10 loss against the Raiders – Callahan’s record fell to 1-5 on the year and 4-19 overall. Tennessee ranks 31st in the NFL in scoring and 26th in points allowed. After also struggling in both of those capacities last season, Callahan will not receive any further opportunities to improve.

In general, this dismissal adds further to the long list of organizational changes made in recent years by the Titans. Owner Amy Adams Strunk has overseen a slew of hirings and firings in short order dating back to the closing stages of Mike Vrabel‘s head coaching tenure. Not long before Vrabel was fired, general manager Jon Robinson had been dismissed. Robinson was replaced during the 2023 hiring cycle but Ran Carthon, but he too was let go this past offseason.

Tennessee hired Mike Borgonzi as Carthon’s replacement in January at a time when Brinker took on an elevated role in the organization. He and Borgonzi will look to provide stability with the Titans on track for their fourth consecutive losing season. It is unclear at this point who will take over on an interim basis, but senior offensive assistant Mike McCoy has head coaching experience. Defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson and special teams coordinator John Fassel are other internal candidates.

Regardless of what happens in the near term, the Titans’ search for a new full-time head coach will be critical. A top priority for Callahan’s replacement will of course be maximizing Ward’s potential and helping the offense take needed steps forward. The search on that front will begin early, and it will be interesting to see which candidates the team looks to speak with first.

Working closely alongside Bengals head coach Zac Taylor, Callahan spent five years in Cincinnati as the team’s offensive coordinator (albeit without calling plays). Another coordinator opportunity could await him in the future, but given the nature of his first head coaching spell a second chance in that capacity may not be coming any time soon. In the meantime, the Titans will prepare for their Week 7 game at home against Vrabel’s Patriots.

74 comments Newsstand Tennessee Titans

QB Tyrod Taylor Has Support In Jets’ Building

By | at October 13, 2025 11:07 pm

In the wake of the Jets’ latest loss and their highly ineffective performance on offense, head coach Aaron Glenn was asked about the possibility of a quarterback change. Justin Fields remains atop the depth chart for now, but there is not a consensus in the organization that is the right move.

SNY’s Connor Hughes reports “several” people within the locker room have expressed a position that Tyrod Taylor would be a better option at the quarterback spot than Fields. This sentiment dates back to training camp, per Hughes. No competition for the QB1 spot took place during the summer, with Fields landing the QB1 gig upon signing a two-year free agent deal.

That $40MM pact contains $30MM fully guaranteed. Considering that level of commitment, it comes as little surprise Fields has received a vote of confidence on more than one occasion despite New York’s 0-6 start. When speaking to the media on Monday, Glenn said (via ESPN’s Rich Cimini) he did not give thought to replacing Fields with Taylor during the team’s loss to the Broncos yesterday. Doing so could have helped create a quarterback controversy, something Glenn seeks to avoid.

Moving forward, it will be interesting to monitor how the Jets’ quarterback setup is handled. A continuation of the team’s losing streak – especially if Fields is unable to bounce back from his 45-yard, nine-sack showing on Sunday – will no doubt lead to an increase in calls for Taylor to take over. Pressure on that front could come from within the organization given the contingent which would have preferred Taylor begin the year atop the depth chart.

Fields, 26, offers upside with his rushing ability and has posted 204 yards and three touchdowns on the ground so far in his debut Jets campaign. The former first-rounder has also set new personal bests in a number of passing categories, albeit in a way which has not lent itself to much in the way of overall production on offense. New York ranks last in the NFL with an average of 175 passing yards per game, and the team sits 25th in scoring.

While Fields is under contract through 2026, Taylor is a pending free agent. The 36-year-old has made just one start so far in his Jets career (filling in for an injured Fields in Week 3), which dates back to last season. If at least some in the organization had their way, though, that figure would increase.

46 comments New York Jets

The NFL’s Interim Coaches Since 2000

By | at October 13, 2025 11:05 pm

This century’s 25th season brought three head coach firings; its 26th now includes two, with the Titans canning Brian Callahan early in his second season and the Giants ending Brian Daboll’s fourth season early. This will increase the NFL’s count of head coaching Mikes to six, as Mike Kafka joins Mike McCoy on the interim HC level. Dozens of in-season firings have preceded these this century.

While interim coaches generally do not make it past partial seasons with their respective teams, a handful have done so in modern NFL history. Since 2000, 12 interim HCs have transitioned to a full-time role with their respective franchises. The Raiders ended a seven-year drought by elevating Antonio Pierce to the full-time HC post this year. Here are the league’s 21st-century interim coaches:

2000

  • Dick LeBeau, Cincinnati Bengals; replaced Bruce Coslet on Sept. 25, 2000
  • Dave McGinnis, Arizona Cardinals; replaced Vince Tobin on Oct. 23, 2000
  • Gary Moeller, Detroit Lions; replaced Bobby Ross on Nov. 6, 2000
  • Terry Robiskie, Washington; replaced Norv Turner on Dec. 4, 2000

LeBeau and McGinnis were promoted to head coaches. LeBeau coached the Bengals through the 2002 season; McGinnis was with the Cardinals through 2003.

2001

  • Mike Tice, Minnesota Vikings; replaced Dennis Green on Jan. 4, 2002

Minnesota named Tice, who took over with one game to play during the postponed 2001 season, its full-time head coach in 2002; he stayed in that post through the 2005 season.

2003

  • Wade Phillips, Atlanta Falcons; replaced Dan Reeves on Dec. 10, 2003

2004

  • Jim Bates, Miami Dolphins; replaced Dave Wannstedt on Nov. 9, 2004
  • Terry Robiskie, Cleveland Browns; replaced Butch Davis on Nov. 30, 2004

2005

  • Dick Jauron, Detroit Lions; replaced Steve Mariucci on Nov. 28, 2005

2007

  • Emmitt Thomas, Atlanta Falcons; replaced Bobby Petrino on Dec. 12, 2007

2008

  • Jim Haslett, St. Louis Rams; replaced Scott Linehan on Sept. 29, 2008
  • Tom Cable, Oakland Raiders; replaced Lane Kiffin on Sept. 30, 2008
  • Mike Singletary, San Francisco 49ers; replaced Mike Nolan on Oct. 20, 2008

The Raiders elevated Cable to full-time status; he coached the team through the 2010 season. Singletary rose to San Francisco’s full-time HC post and was in place through 2010, when he was fired in-season.

2009

  • Perry Fewell, Buffalo Bills; replaced Dick Jauron on Nov. 17, 2009

2010

  • Jason Garrett, Dallas Cowboys; replaced Wade Phillips on Nov. 8, 2010
  • Leslie Frazier, Minnesota Vikings; replaced Brad Childress on Nov. 22, 2010
  • Eric Studesville, Denver Broncos; replaced Josh McDaniels on Dec. 6, 2010
  • Jim Tomsula, San Francisco 49ers; replaced Mike Singletary on Dec. 26, 2010

Frazier landed the Vikings gig and held that role through the 2013 season. The Cowboys’ change marks the outlier on this list. Garrett remained Dallas’ head coach through the 2019 campaign. Tomsula technically counts toward the 12 interim HCs who became head coaches for that team, but he did not receive that opportunity for several years. Tomsula moved back to his 49ers D-line coach position and later took over as their head coach for one season in 2015.

2011

  • Mel Tucker, Jacksonville Jaguars; replaced Jack Del Rio on Nov. 29, 2011
  • Todd Bowles, Miami Dolphins; replaced Tony Sparano on Dec. 12, 2011
  • Romeo Crennel, Kansas City Chiefs; replaced Todd Haley on Dec. 12, 2011

Crennel received his second head coaching opportunity in 2012 but was fired following that season, a 2-14 Chiefs campaign.

2012

  • Aaron Kromer, Joe Vitt, New Orleans Saints

Each served as a Saints interim HC during Sean Payton‘s suspension.

2013

  • Wade Phillips, Houston Texans; replaced Gary Kubiak on Dec. 6, 2013

2014

2015

The Titans handed the reins to Mularkey in 2016. Despite a 2017 playoff berth, Mularkey was axed after his second full-time season.

2016

Marrone moved up to the Jags’ full-time HC position and remained in that role through the 2020 season.

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

The Raiders hired Pierce to be their full-time head coach.

2024

2025

10 comments PFR Originals

MetLife Turf Played Role In Jalen Carter’s Week 6 Absence

By | at October 13, 2025 11:04 pm

MetLife Stadium, home of the Giants and the Jets, has once again entered the spotlight due to injury concerns about its turf.

Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers suffered a season-ending knee injury during a Week 4 game at home after landing awkwardly on the field, re-igniting players’ objections to MetLife’s playing surface.

Then, this past week, Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter was a surprise inactive for a visit to MetLife Stadium on Thursday Night Football. The turf “played a part” in Carter’s decision to sit out, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. Carter is the first player known to specifically avoid playing a game at MetLife, though other players may have made similar choices in the past. Future game day inactives at MetLife may draw questions about the turf’s influence in their decision not to play.

Those events fueled a widespread belief among players that grass is safer to play on than turf. One team is “petrified” of playing at MetLife, with an executive noting that players may be less inclined to play through injury when visiting the New York teams. Leaguewide, more than 90% of players have said they prefer grass in the last two NFLPA surveys, according to The Athletic’s Diana Russini. Of particular confusion is the decision by several stadiums to switch from turf to grass for upcoming soccer tournaments with plans to switch back to turf for football.

However, injury data from the league tells a different story. Since installing a new FieldTurf Core system in 2023, injuries have at MetLife have decreased; last year, it had one of the lowest injury rates in the NFL, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Research from the Jets indicates that players have suffered more knee ligament or Achilles tears on grass compared to turf fields, and league data also shows that lower-extremity injuries are actually less common at MetLife.

NFLPA executive director David White mentioned players’ concern about MetLife’s turf to the Giants during a pre-planned visit that took place after Nabers’ injury, per CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones. Still, neither the NFL nor either of the home teams plan to make any changes to the playing surface at MetLife, though it seems to be a point of contention that players will continue to raise.

10 comments New York Giants New York Jets
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