Chargers Interview Brian Callahan For OC
Brian Callahan now appears on two teams’ offensive coordinator radars. The recently fired Titans coach discussed the Buccaneers’ play-calling position this week, and the Chargers came next.
The Bolts announced Callahan’s interview Friday. Callahan spent five years as the Bengals’ OC, a period that will help his cause more than the Titans HC tenure — one that ended after just 23 games.
This marks the first known external candidate for the Bolts’ OC post. The team previously interviewed pass-game coordinator Marcus Brady and QBs coach Shane Day for the role Greg Roman‘s firing vacated. Callahan, 41, has been an NFL staffer since 2010. He worked for the Broncos, Lions and Raiders before receiving the chance to work under Zac Taylor as Cincinnati’s OC.
Neither of Taylor’s top coordinators received too much HC consideration for years, which represented a bit of a surprise considering Cincinnati’s Super Bowl LVI appearance and berth in the following year’s AFC championship game. While Lou Anarumo called the shots on defense, Callahan served as a non-play-calling OC. Issues with play-calling and game management doomed him in Tennessee.
Prior to being canned 23 games into his tenure, Callahan handed the play sheet to QBs coach Bo Hardegree. When Callahan was fired, the Titans’ offense ranked 31st in the NFL. Granted, Tennessee only improved to 30th after Mike McCoy‘s interim stay. And the Chargers will gauge Callahan’s readiness. In Los Angeles, Jim Harbaugh serves as a CEO head coach. His Roman successor would call plays for a Justin Herbert-quarterbacked offense. That presents a strong draw, and bigger-name candidates — particularly as the HC carousel sorts itself out — figure to emerge soon.
Harbaugh employed Roman throughout his time in San Francisco and for two years in L.A., but the Chargers’ increasingly run-centric offense lost both its starting tackles — Joe Alt, Rashawn Slater — and then sputtered in a wild-card loss to the Patriots. Callahan impressed in his Bucs interview, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. It will be interesting to see if he advances far in this search and/or comes up in other OC searches yet to form.
Buccaneers Interview Steelers’ Danny Smith For ST Coordinator
The end of the Mike Tomlin era may lead to the end of the Danny Smith era in Pittsburgh. Tomlin resigned after a 19-year head coaching run on Tuesday, leaving Smith’s future as the Steelers’ special teams coordinator up in the air.
If Smith leaves Pittsburgh, he could land on his feet in Tampa Bay. The Buccaneers held a virtual interview with Smith for their open ST coordinator position on Friday. He joins Craig Aukerman, Anthony Levine Sr., Michael Clay and Jett Modkins as known candidates for the job.
Tampa Bay is looking for a replacement for Thomas McGaughey, whom head coach Todd Bowles fired last week. McGaughey lasted just two seasons in Tampa Bay, whereas Smith has been a fixture in Pittsburgh. The gum-chewing 72-year-old has worked in the same role since 2013.
Previously with Buffalo for three years and Washington for nine, Smith has been an NFL special teams coordinator for 25 straight seasons. Adding in a four-year stint with Philadelphia from 1995-98, Smith has 29 years’ experience as an ST coordinator in the league.
Should he join the Buccaneers, Smith may end up on the same coaching staff as Mike McDaniel in 2026. The Bucs interviewed McDaniel in person for their offensive coordinator gig on Friday, Jenna Laine of ESPN reports. As PFR’s Nikhil Mehta noted on Wednesday, the former head coach has been popular across the league since the Dolphins fired him on Jan. 8. As is the case with the Buccaneers, the Lions and Eagles are considering McDaniel for the OC role. Meanwhile, the Falcons, Ravens, Browns and Titans are interested in hiring him as a head coach.
Lions Notes: Branch, Campbell, Gibbs, LaPorta, Decker, Glasgow, Anzalone
Although the Lions went 9-8 and missed the playoffs, they have a champagne problem approaching on their roster. The 2023 draft produced four impact starters, delivering Jahmyr Gibbs, Jack Campbell, Sam LaPorta and Brian Branch. All are now extension-eligible, with Gibbs and Campbell having fifth-year options that could move their contracts through 2027. Brad Holmes views all four as priorities.
“When me and Dan (Campbell} first started we said we’re going to take the path of draft, develop and sign our own, and I do think that, that has worked so far in terms of getting us to this point,” the sixth-year GM said (via the Detroit Free Press’ Dave Birkett), specifying Branch and LaPorta’s injuries do not affect their long-term statuses. “So yeah, those guys are priorities because they’re really good players. They represent everything that we’re about. So yeah, I would say that those are all priorities.”
Our Adam La Rose tackled this issue in a recent mailbag, and while it might be unrealistic for the Lions to retain all four, Holmes voicing support for it is interesting given the commitments the team has already made to core performers. The Lions have extended Amon-Ra St. Brown, Penei Sewell, Jared Goff, Taylor Decker, Alim McNeill, Jameson Williams and Aidan Hutchinson since April 2024. Gibbs has come up as a 2026 extension candidate, while Branch is unlikely to be paid in the offseason due to his December Achilles tear. Jack Campbell’s case is trickier due to no off-ball LB’s option being exercised since the Buccaneers’ Devin White move in 2022, but Campbell being a first-team All-Pro may change the equation. Otherwise, he would join Branch and LaPorta as contract-year players in 2026.
Here is the latest out of Detroit:
- Taylor Decker is planning to take multiple months to consider playing an 11th season. We heard in December Decker was considering retirement. The 10-year Lions left tackle played through a shoulder injury all season. “I need to make informed decisions,” Decker said, via Birkett. “I need to get second opinions. There’s a lot that I have to do, because I want to make this decision moving forward informed. And I don’t want to make it emotionally because if I make it emotionally, I already know what the answer is going to be.” Decker, who missed three games this season, is signed through 2027 via the three-year, $60MM deal he inked in 2024. The 32-year-old blocker has started 140 games, being part of a few top-tier Lions O-lines.
- Graham Glasgow and Dan Skipper are also considering walking away, according to Birkett. A back injury has prompted Skipper, 31, to consider retiring after nine NFL seasons. Sixty-six of the backup tackle’s 69 career games have come with Detroit. Glasgow could retire, per Birkett, if the Lions ditch his contract. Glasgow, who returned to Detroit in 2023 and succeeded Frank Ragnow at center this season, is due a nonguaranteed $6.5MM in the final year of his three-year, $20MM contract.
- Ragnow returned to the news cycle briefly in preparing to unretire, but a failed physical nixed that. The Lions did not go into last year’s draft knowing their All-Pro center would walk away, Holmes said (via ESPN.com’s Eric Woodyard). While Holmes acknowledged the team knew a Ragnow retirement was in play, he did not let the team know until May. Ragnow, 29, is expected to remain retired.
- LaPorta’s third season ended after Week 10 due to back surgery, but the extension candidate said (via Woodyard) he is aiming to be ready for OTAs. While Dan Campbell yanked the play sheet from OC John Morton before eventually firing him, LaPorta was on pace for his best season during the one-and-done OC’s time calling the shots. LaPorta averaged a career-best 54.3 yards per game in 2025.
- The Lions want to re-sign Alex Anzalone, according to ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler, but the veteran linebacker returning is being pegged as a 50-50 proposition. With a Campbell extension perhaps in the offing and the Lions having given Derrick Barnes a three-year, $24MM deal (which calls for $8MM guaranteed in 2026), money might be too tight to give Anzalone another deal. The ex-Saints draftee has been with the Lions throughout Campbell and Holmes’ five-year stays. An extension for Anzalone, 32, did not come up for the Lions last year.
Seahawks’ Sam Darnold Battling Oblique Injury, Expected To Play In Divisional Round
Playing the first season of a three-year, $100.5MM contract, quarterback Sam Darnold helped guide the Seahawks to a 14-3 record and the No. 1 seed in the NFC. The Seahawks are preparing for a rubber match against the NFC West rival 49ers on Saturday, but Darnold unexpectedly popped up on the injury report Thursday. He’s questionable with an oblique issue, per Brady Henderson of ESPN.com.
Darnold, who said he “felt a little something” on his left side, practiced on a limited basis Thursday. The two-time Pro Bowler is fully confident he’ll play Saturday. If not, the Seahawks will turn to veteran backup Drew Lock. Considering Darnold hasn’t missed a game since 2023, it would be a major surprise to see Lock under center versus San Francisco.
Between his time with the Vikings last year and his work with the Seahawks this season, Darnold has helped his teams to an incredible 28-6 record since 2024.
Once considered a bust, the former No. 3 overall pick of the Jets surpassed 4,000 yards for the second straight year in 2025. He ranked third in yards per attempt (8.5), threw 25 touchdowns and posted a 99.1 passer rating, though he did toss the third-most interceptions in the league (14).
Darnold didn’t throw a pick in either of the Seahawks-49ers regular-season matchups, which the teams split, but his production was unspectacular. He combined to go 36 of 49 for 348 yards and no touchdowns. Darnold will aim for better numbers in the teams’ third and final showdown of the season while attempting to rebound from an ugly playoff loss with the Vikings last January. The Rams sacked Darnold nine times in a 27-9 blowout in the wild-card round. He went 25 of 40 for 245 yards, a TD and a pick.
Darnold’s rough showing against the Rams ended his tenure with Minnesota, which allowed him to depart in free agency. Darnold’s Seahawks contract includes incentives that he has already collected, as Henderson details. Seattle’s offense finished eighth in the league, which earned Darnold $500K. He racked up another $500K in incentives for passing yards, completion rate and a playoff berth. Postseason win incentives are still on the table for Darnold, who will make his second career playoff start Saturday. That’s assuming his oblique injury doesn’t stand in the way.
Eagles Arrange Zac Robinson OC Interview
Zac Robinson drew extensive OC interest during the 2024 hiring period, but the Falcons are overhauling their football operation after firing Raheem Morris. Robinson is likely headed elsewhere, and he remains an interesting candidate.
After Buccaneers and Lions meetings, Robinson is set to speak with the Eagles about their OC vacancy, ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets. Robinson will meet with Philadelphia today.
The Eagles have been connected to four former HCs for this job — Mike McDaniel, Kliff Kingsbury, Brian Daboll, Kevin Stefanski — but it is unclear if any will interview. Philly has also been mentioned as doing work on new LSU OC Charlie Weis Jr. Robinson, however, marks the first known meeting for this job.
Although Nick Sirianni is an offense-oriented coach, he has not called plays in Philly since midway through the 2021 season. The Eagles are planning to keep this setup, giving their OC hire autonomy over a talented offense — albeit one that has been known for odd-year underachievement. The Eagles fired (or perhaps demoted) Kevin Patullo this week, doing so two years after ousting Brian Johnson following his first season in the role.
Tasked with preparing Kirk Cousins to take over in 2024 while developing an entirely different passer in Michael Penix Jr., Robinson was seen as a firing candidate had Morris retained the Atlanta HC position. The Falcons ranked 24th offensively this season, one that featured Penix struggles before a season-ending injury. Though, Robinson coaxed a quality contract year from Kyle Pitts and had Bijan Robinson over 2,000 scrimmage yards — an NFL-leading 2,298 — for the first time. It would not appear Robinson will be asked back in Atlanta, but it also seems like there is enough early interest to allow for a second-chance OC post — rather than dropping back to a position coaching role.
Robinson, 39, also carries additional appeal from his background on Sean McVay‘s staff. Robinson spent five years on the Rams’ staff before following Morris to Atlanta. The Eagles have not used any ex-McVay or Kyle Shanahan staffers in their OC role just yet. Looking for their fifth OC in five years, the Eagles must interview at least one external minority candidate to comply with the Rooney Rule.
Kevin Stefanski Likely To Take Second HC Interviews With Falcons, Ravens, Titans
The first major domino in the 2026 hiring cycle has (more or less) fallen. With John Harbaugh no longer on the market, attention will turn to Kevin Stefanski and his destination.
The two-time Coach of the Year has loomed as one of the top candidates since his Browns tenure came to an expected end. Stefanski is nearing a tour of interested teams for second interviews. According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the list of teams expected to arrange a follow-up includes the Falcons, Ravens and Titans.
Both Atlanta and Tennessee came up as aggressive Harbaugh suitors. The expected Giants HC is believed to have lined up a second Falcons meeting and a first Titans summit — both in-person meetings — for this week, but each ended up being canceled after Giants negotiations heated up with a deal being expected. The Titans had an offer ready.
Stefanski, 43, becomes an interesting consolation prize. The Falcons were mentioned as a team viewing Stefanski as a strong plan B, and with Harbaugh appearing Big Apple-bound, it looks like Atlanta will need to move on.
Despite being fired by the Browns, Stefanski booked six HC interviews. He also met with the Raiders, Dolphins and Giants. The six-year Browns leader won only eight games over the past two seasons, drawing Jimmy Haslam‘s ire and becoming an interesting fall guy as the Browns have struggled to stay afloat after authorizing the Deshaun Watson contract, but the two-time Coach of the Year appears on track to land a second chance immediately. Stefanski guided the Browns to their second and third playoff berths since the franchise’s 1999 relaunch, the second of which producing a Joe Flacco Comeback Player of the Year award.
The Falcons are prepared to hire a head coach before a GM. This could appeal to Stefanski, who was hired before the Browns added GM Andrew Berry back in 2020. Matt Ryan will have a significant say in personnel, stepping away from CBS to work with the team that drafted him. It remains to be seen how powerful the GM will be in this arrangement.
As for the Titans, they are prioritizing experience this time around. Of the 19 candidates Tennessee has interviewed or scheduled meetings with, 15 are former HCs. The Titans saw first-timer Brian Callahan wash out quickly; they are looking to another AFC North veteran in the wake of that firing. Despite Mike Borgonzi‘s ties to Matt Nagy, Stefanski appears an early frontrunner to land this job.
Baltimore’s search began several weeks after Tennessee’s, and having the chance to coach Lamar Jackson represents an advantage the Ravens hold over the other HC-seeking teams on this year’s market. Steve Bisciotti said this week the Ravens will consider second-chance candidates whose first tenures were rocky. Stefanski qualifies, going 45-56 in Cleveland. It would be fascinating to see Stefanski end up in Baltimore due to the history between these two franchises; it’s a scenario that appears in play.
Adam La Rose contributed to this post.
Kliff Kingsbury Interviewed For Ravens’ HC, OC Positions; Team Could Follow Same Pattern With Mike McDaniel
Baltimore’s offensive coordinator position is still technically filled by Todd Monken at this point. A departure in his case is widely expected, however. 
That reality has apparently played a factor in the Ravens’ ongoing head coaching search. Kliff Kingsbury met with the team earlier this week. That summit was one of many head coaching interviews Baltimore has conducted since the firing of John Harbaugh, but ESPN’s Peter Schrager noted during an appearance on the Pat McAfee Show (video link) that Kingsbury also interviewed for the offensive coordinator gig.
That represents a further sign Monken is set to coach elsewhere in 2026. Following John Harbaugh to the Giants is a distinct possibility, although the veteran OC is also in position to interview for a second time with the Browns for their HC gig. In any case, the Ravens are preparing to move on at the offensive coordinator spot. Kingsbury would certainly be one of the top candidates for that role, and Schrager noted to no surprise the former Cardinals coach would relish the chance to work with quarterback Lamar Jackson.
Kingsbury had a two-year run coaching another dual-threat QB in the form of Jayden Daniels. The 46-year-old turned down head coaching interest last year based on the success enjoyed during Daniels’ rookie season. Things played out much differently in 2025, though, and a decision was made by Kingsbury and head coach Dan Quinn to part ways. A second HC gig could be in store this cycle, but as Schrager notes – and as the nature of his Ravens meeting illustrates – a new offensive coordinator opportunity (perhaps with the Eagles) looms as a distinct possibility as well.
Mike McDaniel finds himself in a similar position to Kingsbury at the moment. The ex-Dolphins head coach is among the top offensive candidates on the market. A number of links to open OC positions have been made in his case, but McDaniel is also set to interview with the Ravens for their head coaching spot. Per Schrager, the 42-year-old could also speak with Baltimore about the team’s OC opening. It will be interesting to see if that takes place and if so whether or not Kingsbury or McDaniel will become finalists for either position.
Browns To Conduct Second HC Interviews With Jim Schwartz, Todd Monken
Attention around the NFL will soon turn to the matter of second head coaching interviews. In the case of the Browns, one internal candidate will receive another look.
Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz is set to interview with the team for a second time, Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com reports. The follow-up meeting will take place on Sunday, she adds. Offensive coordinator Tommy Rees also took part in an initial interview with Cleveland, but Cabot adds he is not expected to conduct a follow-up.
Schwartz has further cemented his status as one of the league’s top defensive minds during his Browns tenure. His unit ranked first in the NFL in yards allowed in 2023 and fourth in that capacity this past season. The 59-year-old has received a number of endorsements from Browns players, and given today’s update the possibility remains Schwartz – whose only other interview to date has been with the Ravens – will become Kevin Stefanski‘s successor.
Schwartz served as an NFL head coach from 2009-13. His Lions tenure produced a record of just 29-51, but subsequent success as a D-coordinator has opened the door to interest in a second HC gig. Expectations would no doubt remain high on defense in Cleveland’s case in the event Schwartz were to take over, but it would be interesting to see how his offensive staff would be filled out in such a scenario.
Another target for a second Browns interview has emerged. During an appearance on the Bill Simmons Podcast (video link), ESPN’s Peter Schrager reported that Todd Monken is expected to speak with Cleveland once again. The current Ravens offensive coordinator has long been mentioned as a strong candidate to follow John Harbaugh to his next destination. That means a Giants hire in Monken’s case is anticipated by many. According to Schrager, however, arrangements are being made for the Browns to conduct a follow-up interview on Tuesday in Monken’s case.
In 2019, Monken served as Cleveland’s OC. That one-year stint was followed by a successful run at Georgia and three seasons in Baltimore (the first two of which were highly productive). Monken, 59, is a candidate to return to the Buccaneers as their offensive coordinator, pending the status of talks with the Giants he is likely to take part in shortly. The possibility of a head coaching opportunity could of course complicate any potential deal with New York.
Via PFR’s HC Search Tracker, here is an updated look at where things stand for Cleveland:
- Aden Durde, defensive coordinator (Seahawks): Interviewed 1/9
- John Harbaugh, former head coach (Ravens): Rumored mutual interest; Interview requested
- Mike McDaniel, former head coach (Dolphins): Interviewed 1/12
- Jesse Minter, defensive coordinator (Chargers): To interview 1/16
- Todd Monken, offensive coordinator (Ravens): Interviewed 1/10; second interview targeted
- Dan Pitcher, offensive coordinator (Bengals): Interviewed 1/9
- Tommy Rees, offensive coordinator (Browns): Interviewed 1/8
- Nate Scheelhaase, pass game coordinator (Rams): To interview 1/16
- Jim Schwartz, defensive coordinator (Browns): Interviewed 1/8; to conduct second interview 1/18
- Chris Shula, defensive coordinator (Rams): Interview requested
- Grant Udinski, offensive coordinator (Jaguars): Interview requested
Chris Shula Arranges Ravens, Steelers, Dolphins HC Interviews
With preparation for the team’s divisional round game reaching its conclusion, a number of Rams staffers will spend Friday conducting initial interviews for head coaching positions. That includes Chris Shula. 
Los Angeles’ defensive coordinator is among the most popular candidates on the coaching market this year. All but one team with a HC vacancy has submitted an interview request in his case, and Shula figures to be busy over the coming days. He will speak with the Ravens, Steelers and Dolphins today, Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated reports.
All three of those teams have cast a wide net in terms of candidates, but it comes as little surprise Shula is a target in each case. The 39-year-old has drawn praise for his work leading the Rams’ defense over the past two years. Prior to replacing Raheem Morris as the team’s DC, Shula held a number of roles in Los Angeles. He also has one year of defensive coordinator experience at the college level (albeit with Division-III program John Carroll).
The grandson of Don Shula, Chris is one of many staffers with a defensive background who has drawn considerable interest in this year’s cycle. That, coupled with his age, would certainly make him a logical fit with Pittsburgh in particular. The Steelers opted for a first-time head coach in their 30s with experience on defense for each of their last three HC hires (Chuck Noll, Bill Cowher, Mike Tomlin). Shula is among the top options available who fit that description.
Pittsburgh could still take the route of an offensive coach, with the team having shown interest in candidates from that side of the ball as well. The same is also true of Baltimore; the team’s search for a John Harbaugh replacement includes a wide range of targets. Several ex-head coaches have interviewed already, but less experienced staffers have received a look as well. Shula is no doubt one of the main candidates on the latter front for Baltimore and other teams.
Don Shula spent 26 years of his illustrious head coaching career in Miami, so Chris would face the challenge of filling very large shoes in the event he were to take on HC duties there. The Dolphins have a long-running streak of hiring first-time coaches, and tapping one with a defensive background would mark a notable departure from the Mike McDaniel era. With longtime Packers exec Jon-Eric Sullivan now in place as general manager, many have pointed to Jeff Hafley as a likely Dolphins hire. Miami will of course speak with other candidates, however.
Per NFL rules, each of these interviews must be conducted remotely. The first round of meetings for staffers in Shula’s position (those set to participate in this weekend’s games) must be completed before the end of the divisional round. As such, a full list of his potential destinations will soon emerge.
Giants Likely To Hire Todd Monken As OC
The Giants are poised to become the first team to make an official head coaching hire in 2026. John Harbaugh is finalizing an agreement to head to New York. 
Once that takes place, attention will turn to Harbaugh’s staffing choices. He is naturally expected to being a number of Ravens coaches with him, and that includes a likely offensive coordinator transition. Todd Monken is a strong target of Harbaugh’s, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports. A Monken agreement is expected to make him the team’s next offensive coordinator, which would come as no surprise.
NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo confirms Monken is the “frontrunner” for New York’s OC spot at this point. Nothing is finalized at this time, with a formal search required before a hire can be made. Once Harbaugh is officially in place, he will also have to make a decision on the fate of interim head coach Mike Kafka, who served as the Giants’ offensive coordinator prior to Brian Daboll‘s firing. Brining in Monken would presumably lead Kafka elsewhere as the coaching landscape takes shape.
According to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times, Monken – who is still under contract with the Ravens for now – “expects” to be offered the OC gig in New York. Notably, Stroud adds that Harbaugh and Monken have not spoken with each other since news of the pending Giants deal broke in Harbaugh’s case. Discussions between the two should be expected shortly. Of course, other options have been explored by Monken aside from the strong possibility of following Harbaugh to his next destination.
The Browns conducted an interview with Monken last week for their head coaching vacancy. A reunion with the Buccaneers as their offensive coordinator has also been floated, with an interview being arranged recently. Between the Harbaugh news and today’s updates, however, it would come as a surprise if Monken did not find himself guiding the Giants’ offense in 2026.
A young core led by quarterback Jaxson Dart appealed to Harbaugh and played a role in the mutual interest which was seen between team and coach leading up to their agreement. Provided he takes on OC duties, Monken will be tasked with overseeing Dart’s second year and his development alongside the likes of wideout Malik Nabers and running back Cam Skattebo. An agreement on that front would leave one of the most experienced coordinator candidates off the market for other suitors.