Offseason Outlook: Carolina Panthers
An optimistic viewpoint can tab the Panthers' 2025 season as clear progress. The team ended a seven-season playoff drought and pushed the high-powered Rams once there. Pessimism would conversely point to a 27th-ranked offense and a minus-69 point differential -- as the NFC South has been unable to get its act together in recent years -- to indicate considerable work needs to be done.
No firing rumors followed Dave Canales or Ejiro Evero, and the Panthers at long last have achieved a semblance of stability under David Tepper. The team still needs a better answer on Bryce Young, and more help is almost definitely coming on that side of the ball this offseason.
Coaching/front office:
- Reached extension with DC Ejiro Evero; DC interviewed for Falcons, Raiders, Steelers' HC jobs
Although Evero checks a key box in generating interview slips -- being a five-year Sean McVay assistant -- the Carolina DC has been a fixture in receiving them despite continually being tied to teams with losing records. This marks the fourth straight year Evero has coordinated the defense of a losing team only to be contacted for a head coaching interview. Las Vegas met with Evero twice this year. He remains connected to that search, as the Vegas job is vacant, but Klint Kubiak is the favorite for a Raiders team that has been tied to an offense aim during its latest HC search. The Panthers will otherwise have Evero back for a fourth season.
Fallout From Vikings’ Firing Of GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah
To the surprise of many, the Vikings fired general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah on Friday. However, the move didn’t come as a shock to Adofo-Mensah, who “was not blindsided by this,” Jeremy Fowler of ESPN says. Adofo-Mensah somewhat expected to take the fall after a 9-8 season that did not include a playoff berth, though the Vikings waited almost a month to pull the trigger.
It took the Vikings 26 days after their season finale to hand Adofo-Mensah his walking papers. Owner Mark Wilf explained why on Friday, telling reporters he wanted to avoid a “knee-jerk” reaction and take a “methodical” approach (via Kevin Seifert of ESPN).
Multiple reports on Friday pointed to a tense atmosphere in Minnesota during Adofo-Mensah’s last season on the job. There may have been a rift between Adofo-Mensah and head coach Kevin O’Connell, whom the GM hired four years ago, but Wilf claims there wasn’t disharmony in the building.
“We are in touch with everyone in the building, sensing the dynamic, how people work together. I think, again, it’s a good collaborative situation,” he said. “People get along here. Everything was good. It’s strictly a professional decision on where we think the dynamic was best going forward.”
Moving on from Adofo-Mensah was “100% ownership”-driven and about the GM’s full “body of work,” declared Wilf, who tabbed executive vice president Rob Brzezinski to lead the Vikings’ front office through the draft. Wilf said the Vikings will consider a promotion to GM for Brzezinski, but they’ll conduct a “thorough” post-draft search before naming Adofo-Mensah’s replacement.
While Wilf is leaning toward giving the next GM power over personnel decision-making, he expects O’Connell to provide “extremely heavy input.” With O’Connell considered one of the game’s top coaches, that isn’t a surprise. Although Minnesota has gone 0-2 in the playoffs under O’Connell, its .632 winning percentage since he took over in 2022 is tied for the fifth-best mark in the NFL.
Poor quarterback play, mostly from 2024 first-round pick J.J. McCarthy, undermined the Vikings’ chances in 2025. McCarthy grabbed the reins after the Vikings lost veteran signal-callers Sam Darnold and Daniel Jones in free agency last March. After carrying his 2024 Minnesota breakout to Seattle this season, Darnold is preparing for Super Bowl LX against the Patriots. Jones had an impressive season with the Colts before tearing his Achilles in early December.
It may be too early to write off the 23-year-old McCarthy. For now, though, he looks like yet another draft miss for Adofo-Mensah, who traded up a spot to pick the former Michigan starter 10th overall. McCarthy’s struggles so far are especially damning with Darnold a week away from playing for a Lombardi Trophy.
Another draft trade – the 2022 deal that delivered wide receiver Jameson Williams to NFC North rival Detroit – also looks like a black mark on Adofo-Mensah’s resume, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com notes. The Vikings traded the 12th and 46th picks to the Lions for Nos. 32, 34 and 66. The Lions spent the 12th pick on Williams and the 46th choice on defensive end Josh Paschal. Paschal hasn’t been a difference-maker, but Williams is fresh off his second straight 1,000-yard season. Meanwhile, the Vikings used their first pick that year on former Georgia defensive back Lewis Cine, who didn’t last long with them after fracturing his leg in his rookie season. Cine is now a member of the United Football League.
Of the 10 players Adofo-Mensah drafted in his inaugural class, only fifth-round running back Ty Chandler and sixth-round receiver Jalen Nailor are still with the Vikings. Neither has risen above role player status, and the same is true of most of the picks Adofo-Mensah made during his four-year tenure. None of his selections have made the Pro Bowl to this point.
Adofo-Mensah, a former commodities trader who never played or coached football, started off in the NFL as a manager of research and development for the 49ers in 2013. He rose up to become the Browns’ vice president of football operations from 2020-21 before the Vikings chose him to replace former GM Rick Spielman. As an analytics-based hire who didn’t come with a traditional football background, Adofo-Mensah “was never truly accepted [in Minnesota] from day one,” sources told Fowler.
Latest On Bills’ Joe Brady Promotion
Buffalo’s latest early playoff exit led to the firing of long-tenured head coach Sean McDermott, but after interviewing nine candidates for the job, the team stayed in-house to replace him. Joe Brady, McDermott’s offensive coordinator for the past two-plus years, became the Bills’ head coach on Tuesday.
Although Brady carries no head coaching experience, the Bills believe they found a “CEO of their football operation” in the 36-year-old, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com says. Indeed, Brady won the Bills over during the “CEO portion” of his interview, Jordan Schultz reports.
“When we started this process, we were looking for a CEO-type head coach,” said general manager Brandon Beane, who added that Brady will provide a “fresh, new vision for the Buffalo Bills” (via Katherine Fitzgerald of the Buffalo News).
As he adjusts to his CEO position, Brady will continue to call the offensive plays in 2026. Asked how he’ll handle juggling both roles, Brady said he learned from former boss Sean Payton, whom he assisted in New Orleans from 2017-18.
“I’ve been in the room and seen how his day-to-day goes, and seen what that looks like from a game-planning standpoint,” Brady told One Bills Live. “Being with the defense also, and then, okay, now I can get ready to go call a game … That’s 20-plus years of doing it from Sean Payton, so I’m understanding of that. There’s going to be growing pains with it.”
Less than a week into his head coaching tenure, Brady has already pried two notable assistants from Payton’s staff in Denver. After hiring Pete Carmichael Jr. as his offensive coordinator on Friday, Brady brought in Jim Leonhard as his D-coordinator on Saturday.
Before joining Payton in Denver as an offensive assistant in 2024, Carmichael was his OC with the Saints from 2009-21. Payton, not Carmichael, called the offensive plays during their long-running partnership in New Orleans. Carmichael will now take on a similar role in Buffalo.
The Bills’ Brady-led offense is coming off its second straight top-five finish in points. Quarterback Josh Allen won the MVP award in 2024, Brady’s first full season in charge. Allen took an active role in the Bills’ HC search, sitting in on all interviews, though he wasn’t involved in assembling a list of finalists or the hiring itself, Peter Schrager of ESPN reports. The 29-year-old is fully on board with Brady’s promotion, though (via Syndey Ciano of the team’s website).
“He’s a real human that guys can get behind and understand and play for,” Allen said. “I thought in his interview, the vision that he had for this team … He’s going to continue to keep working hard and trying to find ways for our team now to be put in successful positions.”
Jaguars Unlikely To Re-Sign Devin Lloyd?
Last spring, the Jaguars declined Devin Lloyd‘s fifth-year option. As a result, the productive linebacker is currently on track for free agency in March. 
2026 will mark Lloyd’s first trip to the open market unless a new Jacksonville pact can be worked out. It seems as though that will not take place, though. ESPN’s Rob Demosky writes the Jags will “likely” see Lloyd depart by taking a big-ticket contract elsewhere.
[RELATED: 2026 Salary Cap To Exceed $300MM]
The fifth-year option groups inside and outside linebackers together for valuation purposes. As a result, NFL teams have increasingly opted against picking up the option in cases like Lloyd’s. Similarly, the franchise tag does not differentiate between the two positions. That means tagging Lloyd would cost roughly $28.2MM in fully guaranteed compensation for 2026.
The top of the LB market is currently $21MM per year, so tagging Lloyd would come as a major surprise. A long-term pact is more feasible for the 27-year-old, and wherever it comes from it will no doubt include a considerable raise. Lloyd was held under 113 tackles for the first time in his career during the 2025 season, but he set a new career high with five interceptions while totaling 81 stops. His production and role in Jacksonville’s impressive defense resulted in second-team All-Pro honors.
Lloyd remained a full-time starter despite seeing a dip in his defensive snap share. The Utah product will be counted on as a key contributor for his next team, and the linebacker market will offer few alternatives in free agency which are younger than him. Lloyd’s second contract could see him join the list of linebackers attached to an AAV of at least $12.5MM. That would move him within the top eight at the position in terms of average annual value.
Foye Oluokun inked a new Jags contract in 2024; he has two years remaining on his pact. Jacksonville also has recent Day 3 picks Ventrell Miller and Jack Kiser in place at the LB position. One or both could be in line for a sharp uptick in defensive usage in the event Llyod were to depart in free agency.
Klint Kubiak Emerges As Raiders’ HC Favorite
JANUARY 31: Kubiak’s second Raiders interview is now complete. NFL insider Jordan Schultz reports it “went well,” although no agreement was worked out right away. Kubiak’s attention will now turn to his Cardinals follow-up.
JANUARY 29: One of two HC openings remaining on a frenzied 2026 carousel, the Raiders have a pivotal meeting with Klint Kubiak slated for Saturday. The Raiders can meet a second time with the Seahawks’ offensive coordinator this week, but they cannot officially hire him until after Super Bowl LX.
This scenario has played out with some candidates in the recent past. The Saints waited until after Super Bowl LIX to hire Kellen Moore, though the sides had an agreement in place before the game, while the Colts and Cardinals did the same after Super Bowl LVII in hiring Shane Steichen and Jonathan Gannon. The 49ers proceeded this way with Kyle Shanahan, while the Colts had planned to before Josh McDaniels backed out of an agreement. The Raiders have company for Kubiak, though.
The Cardinals’ post-Gannon HC search also includes a Saturday second interview with Kubiak. It is possible the Seattle play-caller opts to stay with Sam Darnold — on a team favored to win Super Bowl LX — for a second season rather than accept one of the jobs other candidates have passed on. Klay Kubiak, Klint’s younger brother, was one of those who withdrew from the Las Vegas search. That could matter, as Klint Kubiak may be the favorite for the job.
The Raiders are believed to have Klint Kubiak as their HC favorite, according to the California Post’s Vincent Bonsignore. Davis Webb was viewed as the other frontrunner, but he has since backed out of the race. That sets the stage for Kubiak, who may have a Raiders-or-Cardinals decision to make.
Kubiak, 38, has yet to stay in an OC role longer than one season. His 2021 and ’24 gigs (in Minnesota and New Orleans, respectively) ended after those teams fired their HCs. The Saints’ Moore hire led Kubiak to Seattle, and he reunited with Darnold — the 49ers’ backup during Kubiak’s 2023 San Francisco stop. Darnold played well in the NFC championship game, guiding the Seahawks to a shootout win despite recently suffering an oblique injury. The Seahawks are now favored to win their second Super Bowl, giving Kubiak considerable momentum.
While Webb was viewed as the top Kubiak challenger, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler notes Panthers DC Ejiro Evero is not out of the running just yet. It would appear Evero is an underdog, but he did receive two interviews. This sets up an interesting duel between coworkers on the 2022 Broncos’ staff. Kubiak was Webb’s predecessor as Denver’s QBs coach, with Evero as Broncos DC that year. The Nathaniel Hackett–Russell Wilson partnership combusted quickly in a 5-12 season, but both Kubiak and Evero landed on their feet.
Evero has been the Panthers’ DC for the past three seasons. He signed an extension before the 2025 campaign began. The Falcons and Steelers sent Evero interview slips this year, but the Raiders are the only team to interview him twice. Evero presented a detailed offensive plan during his second Vegas meeting, per Fowler.
The Raiders will naturally be interested in pairing Kubiak with likely No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza; this reality came up recently, with Kubiak and Webb emerging as frontrunners after defense-minded leaders Antonio Pierce and Pete Carroll busted. But the Raiders showed strong interest in Jesse Minter during his second interview, SI.com’s Albert Breer notes. The Raiders did not extend Minter an offer yet, but Breer notes the team was warming to him as HC. But Minter met with the Ravens again soon after and agreed to return to Baltimore.
The loser of this apparent Kubiak derby would likely be forced further down their respective lists. Both teams had Joe Brady in the building before the Bills promoted him, and Anthony Campanile bowed out of the Cardinals’ search. Arizona is believed to have Rams OC Mike LaFleur as a finalist as well. He could be hired at any point, with the Seahawks eliminating the Rams last week.
Via PFR’s Head Coaching Search Tracker, here is how the Raiders’ expansive search — which has featured a few names exit early — looks as of Thursday night:
- Joe Brady, offensive coordinator (Bills): Conducted second interview 1/25
- Brian Daboll, former head coach (Giants): Conducted second interview 1/27
- Ejiro Evero, defensive coordinator (Panthers): Conducted second interview 1/20
- Brian Flores, defensive coordinator (Vikings): Mentioned as candidate
- Jeff Hafley, defensive coordinator (Packers): To conduct second interview 1/21
- John Harbaugh, former head coach (Ravens): Contacted
- Vance Joseph, defensive coordinator (Broncos): Interviewed 1/8
- Klay Kubiak, offensive coordinator (49ers): Interviewed 1/18; withdrew from search
- Klint Kubiak, offensive coordinator (Seahawks): To conduct second interview 1/31; frontrunner
- Mike LaFleur, offensive coordinator (Rams): Interviewed 1/16
- Mike McDaniel, former head coach (Dolphins): Interviewed 1/19
- Jesse Minter, defensive coordinator (Chargers): Conducted second interview 1/20
- Matt Nagy, offensive coordinator (Chiefs): Interviewed 1/8
- Nate Scheelhaase, pass-game coordinator (Rams): Interviewed 1/16
- Chris Shula, defensive coordinator (Rams): Interviewed 1/16
- Kevin Stefanski, former head coach (Browns): Interviewed 1/8; withdrew from search
- Davis Webb, quarterbacks coach (Broncos): Conducted second interview 1/26; withdrew from search
WR DeAndre Hopkins Open To Re-Signing With Ravens
DeAndre Hopkins joined the Ravens in free agency last offseason by inking a one-year deal. The decorated wideout now faces an uncertain future, although he would welcome a second Baltimore campaign. 
“The reality of it, having a new offensive coordinator, being an older guy, I know football and I know how the business side works,” Hopkins said during an appearance on the Up & Adams show (video link). “I would love to come back, but not every offensive coordinator is wanting a veteran receiver on their team. Some guys have different dynamics of how they go about coaching. It’s nothing personal.”
The Ravens are in the midst of widespread coaching changes. The arrival of Jesse Minter as a first-time head coach, coupled with efforts by John Harbaugh‘s Giants and Todd Monken‘s Browns to recruit Baltimore staffers, has created a number of vacancies. One of those was filled yesterday with the team agreeing to hire Declan Doyle as offensive coordinator. It will be interesting to see if Doyle supports the idea of a new Hopkins deal.
In 2025, Hopkins got off to a strong start with 99 yards and a pair of touchdowns across his first two games. Despite remaining healthy through the remainder of the campaign, however, the five-time Pro Bowler totaled just 330 yards on 22 catches; he did not add any more scores along the way. That production is comfortably the lowest of Hopkins’ 13-year career, and it will no doubt lead to another modest free agent pact. He joined the Ravens on a $5MM deal last spring.
Baltimore’s receiver depth chart is set to be topped once again by Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman in 2026. Flowers is coming off his second consecutive 1,000-yard campaign, and the two-time Pro Bowler is eligible for an extension this spring. Bateman, meanwhile, is on the books through 2029. Retaining Hopkins would once again consign him to a depth role, especially with tight end Mark Andrews still in the fold for next year and beyond.
Hopkins, who will turn 34 in June, noted he would have preferred a larger role in the Ravens’ offense (a unit which dealt with quarterback injuries for much of the year). Nevertheless, he would be amenable to another season working with Lamar Jackson and thus enjoying a degree of stability at the QB spot. Since the end of his Texans tenure, Hopkins has worked with several signal-callers during time with the Cardinals, Titans and Chiefs which preceded his Ravens stint.
Expectations will be tempered in this case given Hopkins’ age and drop-off in production relative to his best seasons. Still, he could offer a veteran presence to any receiving room. As the Ravens sort through their list of pending free agents, a decision will soon need to be made on offering a 2026 deal.
Falcons To Hire Tanner Engstrand
Tanner Engstrand has not needed to wait long to line up a new NFL gig. The recently-departed Jets offensive coordinator is heading to Atlanta.
The Falcons have an agreement in place to hire Engstrand as their pass-game coordinator, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. Multiple suitors were in play in this case, Rapoport adds. Engtrand will take on a key role under Kevin Stefanski for at least one season.
Last weekend, Jets head coach Aaron Glenn moved on from a number of his assistants but briefly kept Engstrand in place. At the time, it was unclear if the latter would continue with New York in a lesser capacity or move on. Engtrand and the Jets parted ways on Tuesday. That decision paved the way for this Falcons hire.
Stefanski and Engstrand have never worked together, but they will now collaborate for the 2026 campaign. Prior to his one-and-done OC stint, Engtrand spent five years as a valued member of the Lions’ staff. The 43-year-old worked as Detroit’s pass-game coordinator from 2022-24. He has also been an offensive coordinator at the collegiate level and handled OC duties for the XFL’s DC Defenders in 2019 and ’20.
As expected, Stefanski brought Tommy Rees with him from Cleveland to Atlanta as the team’s OC. Rees will call plays, but Engstrand’s title will leave him with key responsibilities on offense. Finding consistent production in the passing game will be critical for Atlanta as part of the team’s effort to rebound from a disappointing 2025 campaign. Quarterback Kirk Cousins is unlikely to still be with the Falcons by the start of next season, but the play of Michael Penix Jr. will be worth watching closely. A strong year in his regard would no doubt help Engstrand’s stock entering next year’s hiring cycle.
Cowboys Add Derrick Ansley To Staff
New Cowboys defensive coordinator Christian Parker has been busy over the past few days working to piece together his staff. A notable name will be joining him in Dallas for 2026. 
Derrick Ansley has agreed to terms with the Cowboys, ESPN’s Todd Archer reports. This news marks an expected to end to his Packers tenure. Ansley worked as Green Bay’s defensive pass-game coordinator for each of the past two years. The team brought in Bobby Babich to fill that role earlier this week, however.
Ansley has not needed to wait long to find his next opportunity. The 44-year-old will join Ryan Smith in Dallas, per Archer. Smith was reported to be a Cowboys target recently, with the same also being true of outgoing Ravens defensive coordinator Zach Orr. Like Orr, Ansley has previously been a DC at the NFL level.
In 2023, Ansley was promoted to defensive coordinator of the Chargers. That move followed two years as a defensive backs coach with the Bolts but proved to be short-lived. Brandon Staley‘s midseason firing paved the way for a slew of changes on the sidelines and the eventual arrival of Jim Harbaugh. That led Ansley – who has also worked as a defensive coordinator at the college level (Tennessee in 2020 and ’21) – to Green Bay. He spent two years working under Jeff Hafley, who is now in place as the Dolphins’ head coach.
Ansley will hold the familiar titles of defensive pass-game coordinator and DBs coach, per Archer. He adds Smith will operate as Dallas’ secondary coach. Together, the two will be tasked with helping lead a needed turnaround in production from that unit. The Cowboys ranked last in the NFL in pass defense this season, a key reason why they fell short of the playoffs. A stronger showing in 2026 could help Ansley’s future coordinator stock; he interviewed for one DC opening during each of the past two hiring cycles.
Meanwhile, interviews with several other candidates for the Cowboys’ staff continued today. According to Archer, Steelers outside linebackers coach Denzel Martin, Eagles assistant linebacker coach Ronell Williams and former Vikings defensive line coach Marcus Dixon all conducted in-person interviews on Saturday. USC D-line coach/defensive run game coordinator Eric Henderson will meet with the team tomorrow.
AFC East Coaching Updates: Duggan, Dolphins, Bills
New Dolphins head coach Jeff Hafley has worked quickly to fill out his first NFL coaching staff. We’ve reported several confirmed hires, but one addition hasn’t yet been publicly made official. According to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, it’s believed that former Packers linebackers coach Sean Duggan has followed Hafley from Green Bay to Biscayne Bay.
Duggan has been a longtime Hafley disciple. After serving as a linebackers coach at Hawai’i and UMass, Duggan took a graduate assistant position at Ohio State, where Hafley was co-defensive coordinator/defensive backs coach. When Hafley was named head coach at Boston College, Duggan followed, getting promoted to linebackers coach and, eventually, adding co-defensive coordinator to his title. When Hafley was hired as defensive coordinator in Green Bay, he brought along Duggan, who served a year as a defensive assistant before being named linebackers coach this past season.
Now, while Duggan’s hire in Miami hasn’t been officially announced, the hire of new Dolphins linebackers coach Al Washington has been, per Jackson. Washington was also on staff with Duggan and Hafley at Ohio State back in 2019. He followed up his tenure with the Buckeyes with a four-year stay as Notre Dame’s defensive line coach. With Washington occupying the LB coach position, though, Duggan’s position in Miami becomes a mystery. Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has ventured that Duggan could end up being Hafley’s pick for defensive coordinator. The Dolphins have reportedly only interviewed one candidate for that position, so they may not be able to officially announce Duggan into the job until they’ve satisfied the Rooney Rule.
Here are a few other coaching updates coming out of the AFC East:
- On the offensive side of the ball in Miami, the Dolphins have also hired Matt Applebaum to serve as assistant offensive line coach, per Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports. Applebaum was Hafley’s offensive line coach at Boston College for the first two years of Hafley’s four-year tenure. Applebaum then, oddly enough, left the Eagles to accept a job as the Dolphins offensive line coach, his first position coaching role in the NFL. He was let go after only a year at the job, though, and returned to his old position in Chestnut Hill for Hafley’s last year with Boston College, remaining with the team until Hafley called him to Miami. On the other side of the ball, the team also added assistant defensive line coach Chuka Ndulue, per Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2. Ndulue made the jump to the NFL ranks of coaching last year in the same position for the Chargers. He represents the minority of coaches on staff in Miami who do not have a working history with Hafley prior to this.
- Lastly, in the AFC East, the Bills are reportedly hiring respected veteran offensive line coach Pat Meyer, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. A former collegiate strength & conditioning coach, Meyer started coaching offensive line in 2008 at Colorado State. He made the jump to the Canadian Football League in 2012 before landing as an assistant offensive line coach with the Bears the following season. After two years in Chicago, he spent another two seasons as an offensive assistant in his first stint with the Bills. That led to his first NFL full-time position coaching job as the Chargers offensive line coach/run game coordinator, a role he performed for three years before a two-year stint as the Panthers OL coach and a four-year stint in Pittsburgh. He returns to Buffalo now to serve as a position coach with the Bills for the first time.
NFC North Coaching Updates: Vikings, Petzing, Packers
Barring a departure for one of the two remaining open head coaching positions, the Vikings have fulfilled their biggest offseason wish of retaining defensive coordinator Brian Flores, even securing him long-term with a contract extension. While Flores is still around, assistant head coach Mike Pettine has retired, passing game coordinator/defensive backs coach Daronte Jones landed a coordinator job with the Commanders, and the team moved on from offensive line coach Chris Kuper and allowed defensive line coach Marcus Dixon‘s contract to expire. 
Head coach Kevin O’Connell has been working to fill the roles left vacant by these departures in recent weeks. Per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the team has brought in Frank Smith to fill Pettine’s former role as assistant head coach. Smith, a former offensive coordinator with the Dolphins, learned under former play-calling head coach Mike McDaniel and could bring some of his influence to the offense. He’s also expected to help in run game planning. To replace Kuper, O’Connell promoted Keith Carter to offensive line coach. He was the team’s assistant OL coach last year but has served as a full-time position coach in the past and will return to that role in Minnesota next year.
On defense, Gerald Alexander will replace Jones as defensive pass game coordinator/defensive backs coach. Alexander has bounced around since entering the NFL ranks of coaching in 2017, working DB coaching jobs with the Panthers, Dolphins, Steelers, and Raiders before landing in Minnesota. Flores worked with Alexander during his stops in Miami and Pittsburgh, so if he doesn’t get a head coaching position, Alexander will be reuniting with him in Minnesota. Replacing Dixon will be Ryan Nielsen, who will add defensive run game coordinator to Dixon’s original DL coach title. Nielsen has coordinator experience with the Saints, Falcons, and Jaguars and most recently served as a senior defensive assistant with the Bills.
Here are a few other coaching updates from around the NFC North:
- Last year, the Lions took play-calling duties away from offensive coordinator John Morton and ended up parting ways with him at the end of the season. Head coach Dan Campbell took over play calling for the remainder of the season, but he doesn’t intend to retain those duties in 2026. According to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, general manager Brad Holmes told the media that new offensive coordinator Drew Petzing will take the reins in calling plays for the offense in Detroit next season. Petzing will be running the show as the Lions look to get back on track after a disappointing 2025 campaign.
- Lastly, in Green Bay, Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports reports that the Packers are expected to hire Sam Siefkes as linebackers coach. After a year at the collegiate level as defensive coordinator at Virginia Tech, Siefkes reunites with new Packers DC Jonathan Gannon. Siefkes previously served as Gannon’s linebackers coach in Arizona, where Gannon was head coach. Siefkes’ addition indicates that former linebackers coach Sean Duggan, who was reportedly expected to follow Jeff Hafley to Miami for a potential shot at a role as defensive coordinator, is officially departed from Green Bay.