Joe Brady, Brian Daboll, Davis Webb Potential Candidates For Bills’ HC Job
After the shocking firing of Sean McDermott on Monday, the Bills are in the market for a head coach for the first time since 2017. They may not look far for McDermott’s replacement, though, with Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady emerging as an early contender for the position. The 36-year-old “has a lot of fans in that building,” according to Connor Hughes of SNY.
[RELATED: Bills Promote Brandon Beane To President Of Football Ops/GM]
Brady spent four seasons under McDermott, who hired the ex-Panthers offensive coordinator as the Bills’ quarterbacks coach in 2022. While Brady opened 2023 in the same role, he finished the year as interim O-coordinator after the midseason firing of Ken Dorsey.
The Bills, 5-5 when they waved goodbye to Dorsey, reeled off six wins in their last seven after Brady began calling the plays. The team earned an AFC East title and won its first playoff game before falling to the Chiefs in the divisional round. Brady did enough over two-plus months for McDermott to promote him on to the full-time gig.
The Bills finished 10th in total offense and scored the second-most points in the NFL in 2024, Brady’s first year on the job. Quarterback Josh Allen won MVP honors for the first time, but the Chiefs again knocked the Bills out of the playoffs – this time in the AFC Championship Game.
In Year 2 under Brady, Buffalo ranked fourth in both yards and scoring, and running back James Cook led the league in rushing. The Bills’ offense amassed 57 points in two playoff games, but a 33-30 loss to the Broncos in the divisional round cost McDermott his job – a role that could go to Brady.
Although Brady doesn’t have any head coaching experience, he has drawn plenty of interest around the league over the past couple of years. The Bears, Jaguars, Saints and Jets all interviewed him before hiring different head coaches last January. As part of this year’s hiring cycle, Brady has already interviewed with the Falcons, Ravens, Raiders and Dolphins. Atlanta (Kevin Stefanski) and Miami (Jeff Hafley) have since filled their HC positions, but it appears the Bills will seriously consider Brady for another promotion.
A few years before Brady took over the Bills’ offense, Brian Daboll was in charge from 2018-21. The former McDermott sidekick is often credited with helping develop a young Allen into a superstar.
Daboll and Allen, integral parts of a top-tier Buffalo offense from 2020-21, forged a close bond during their time together. They may reunite in the coming weeks, as executives around the league told Dianna Russini of The Athletic that Daboll is a name to watch for in the Bills’ search.
As someone who grew up in the Western New York area, Daboll has close ties to the region. He also carries head coaching experience, though his first try with the Giants yielded uninspiring results.
The Giants went 20-40-1 in three-plus seasons under Daboll, whom they fired in November. After going 9-7-1 and winning a playoff game in 2022, Daboll’s rookie season, the Giants won just 11 of their last 44 games under his leadership. Despite early flashes, Daniel Jones didn’t develop into the answer under center for the Giants, which played a key role in Daboll’s struggles.
Daboll would inherit an elite QB in returning to Buffalo, but it’s debatable whether he’d provide an upgrade over McDermott, owner of a 98-50 regular-season mark and an 8-8 playoff record. At .662, McDermott boasts the 15th-best all-time winning percentage among head coaches. Daboll’s .336 mark is a whopping 326 points worse.
Former Bills signal-caller Davis Webb, who played with Allen from 2019-21 and under Daboll from 2019-22 (including a year with the Giants), is another potential option to replace McDermott, Peter Schrager of ESPN relays. Webb immediately got into coaching in 2023, the first year after his playing career ended, as the Broncos’ quarterbacks coach in 2023. He continues to hold that job, but head coach Sean Payton also promoted Webb to offensive pass game coordinator this season.
Webb, who has helped 2024 first-rounder Bo Nix turn into a quality starter, has already interviewed with the Raiders and Ravens this month. Although he’s just 30 years old (he’ll turn 31 on Thursday), Webb is a strong candidate to earn second interviews with one or both of those teams.
The Broncos will host the Patriots in the AFC Championship Game on Sunday, meaning Webb won’t be available to meet with teams this week. He’s now focused on leading an undermanned Broncos passing attack that lost Nix to a season-ending ankle injury in their win over the Bills. No matter how far they go, the Broncos are likely to ride out the season with career backup Jarrett Stidham replacing Nix. Webb’s surging stock will continue rising if the 29-year-old Stidham performs well in his fifth career start and first since 2023. Regardless, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Bills contact him, especially considering Webb’s close friendship with Allen.
Whether it’s Brady, Daboll, Webb or another candidate, the Bills’ next HC will likely have a say in the fate of their remaining coaches, Jay Skurski of the Buffalo News reports. With the exception of offensive line coach Aaron Kromer, who retired Sunday, all of McDermott’s former assistants are still in place.
The well-regarded Kromer, 58, had two stints running the Bills’ offensive line (the first from 2015-16, the second from 2022-25). He began his NFL coaching career assisting with the Raiders’ O-line in 2001. Kromer later worked with the Buccaneers, Saints, Bears and Rams in various roles. He went 2-4 as the Saints’ interim head coach in 2012, the year of Payton’s BountyGate suspension, and was the Bears’ offensive coordinator from 2013-14.
With Kromer hanging it up, assistant OL coach Austin Gund may be in line as his successor, per Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic. That’ll be up to the Bills’ next head coach, but it stands to reason a Brady promotion would give Gund a better chance of returning in 2026.
Chargers Interview Drew Terrell For OC
The Chargers continue their search for a new offensive coordinator, and they’re now turning to an unexpected spot to potentially fill the role. The team announced this evening that they completed an interview with Cardinals passing game coordinator/wide receivers coach Drew Terrell.
The former Stanford wideout started his NFL coaching career with the Panthers in 2018. He made a name for himself during his three-year stint in Washington, where he served as a receivers coach. During his time with the organization, he oversaw Terry McLaurin‘s development into a Pro Bowl-caliber wideout, and he was also at the helm for one of Curtis Samuel‘s most productive campaigns.
He lost out on the Cardinals offensive coordinator job in 2023 but ended up still joining the organization as their passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach. While Marvin Harrison hasn’t truly broken out under the coach’s tutelage, Terrell did squeeze out an unexpected 1,000-yard campaign from Michael Wilson in 2025. Of course, Trey McBride has also emerged as one of the league’s premier pass-catching TEs while Terrell has served as the passing game coordinator.
While Terrell would appear to be a somewhat random addition to the Chargers’ OC search, he does have some connection to Jim Harbaugh. Terrell worked under the coach while working as a graduate assistant on Michigan’s staff.
Greg Roman was canned as the Chargers offensive coordinator following a low-score outing in the team’s playoff loss to the Patriots. Harbaugh has generally been targeting veteran coaches for the role, with the likes of Mike McDaniel, Brian Daboll, Arthur Smith, Marcus Brady, Shane Day, and Brian Callahan interviewing for the gig.
Packers To Interview Christian Parker For DC Job
With Jeff Hafley heading to Miami, the Packers are now in need of a new defensive coordinator. We’ve now got our first candidate for the opening. According to Jordan Schultz, the Packers will interview Eagles DBs coach and pass-game coordinator Christian Parker for the job.
[RELATED: Dolphins Hire Jeff Hafley As Head Coach]
This would be a bit of a homecoming for Parker, who started his NFL coaching career in Green Bay. Following a two-year stint as a Packers defensive quality control coach, Parker moved to the Eagles to serve as their defensive backs coach in 2021. He spent three years in that role before earning the added responsibility of passing game coordinator in 2024.
Most recently, Parker has been credited with the development of cornerbacks Cooper DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell. Both of the 2024 draft picks have emerged as key starters in Philly, and the duo both earned spots in the top-10 of Pro Football Focus’ positional rankings this season. Parker was also part of Vic Fangio‘s defensive staff that ranked No. 1 against the pass during their Super Bowl-winning 2024 campaign. While the defense took a slight step back in 2025 (finishing eighth overall), that didn’t do much to hurt Parker’s coordinator candidacy.
The 34-year-old has emerged as a name to watch during each of the past two hiring cycles. He interviewed for the Saints gig last offseason, and he’s expected to garner a second interview with the Cowboys this year.
If he ends up earning the Packers job, he’ll be tasked with turning around a defense that slightly disappointed this past year. The Packers ranked top 10 in points (sixth) and yards (fifth) in 2024, but the unit was less successful in 2025 (11th scoring and 12th in total defense). Part of that was due to Micah Parsons‘ season-ending injury, and Hafley’s popularity in this year’s coaching carousel proved that Green Bay’s defensive approach was still highly regarded.
NFL Reserve/Futures Deals: 1/19/26
Today’s reserve/futures contracts:
Buffalo Bills
- DT Tommy Akingbesote, LB Jimmy Ciarlo, OL Travis Clayton, DB Te’Cory Couch, CB M.J. Devonshire, RB Frank Gore Jr., WR Stephen Gosnell, WR Mecole Hardman, LB Keonta Jenkins, DE Andre Jones Jr., DT Zion Logue, DB Daryl Porter Jr.
Carolina Panthers
- CB Michael Reid
Pittsburgh Steelers
Bengals Extend TE Tanner Hudson
The Bengals are keeping Tanner Hudson around for at least another year. The team announced that they’ve signed the tight end to a one-year extension.
Following stints with the Buccaneers, 49ers, and Giants to begin his career, Hudson joined the Bengals practice squad late in the 2022 campaign. He stuck around Cincinnati for the following three seasons, getting into 38 games with the organization.
His best season came in 2023, when he hauled in 39 catches for 352 yards. He’s followed that up with 19-catch showings in both 2024 and 2025. This past season, Hudson got into a career-high 15 games, although he was limited to only 148 offensive snaps. He found himself fourth on the depth chart to begin the season, but he was mostly splitting reps with Noah Fant and Mike Gesicki behind Drew Sample by the time the season ended.
After inking a one-year, $1.255MM deal to stick with the Bengals last offseason, Hudson was set to hit unrestricted free agency this offseason. Instead, he’ll be sticking with Cincy through the offseason and likely through the 2026 campaign. Fant is also an impending free agent, so perhaps Hudson could find himself higher on the depth chart next season.
Giants Request DC Interview With Daronte Jones
We heard this past weekend that Daronte Jones was set for a second interview for the Cowboys defensive coordinator job. Now, a division rival has entered the fray. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Giants have requested permission to interview the Vikings passing game coordinator for their own defensive coordinator vacancy.
Jones had a long stint coaching college football before taking his first NFL gig with the Dolphins in 2016. Since then, he’s quickly climbed the ranks, serving as a cornerbacks/DBs coach with the Bengals and later the Vikings. This is actually his second stint in Minnesota, with Jones briefly leaving the organization to serve as LSU’s defensive coordinator in 2021.
After returning as the Vikings defensive backs coach in 2022, he earned a promotion to defensive pass game coordinator in 2023. He emerged as a popular defensive coordinator target during last year’s hiring cycle, interviewing for the Bears, Jaguars, and Saints gigs. He also interviewed for the Giants opening in 2024.
He ended up sticking in Minnesota for the 2025 campaign and is once again a candidate for multiple openings. The Jets interviewed him for their defensive coordinator vacancy, and the Cowboys moved him on to the second round of their search. There have also been rumblings that Jones could just earn a promotion to the role in Minnesota if Brian Flores ends up leaving.
John Harbaugh is now in the process of building out his staff with the Giants. He’s likely going to hire old friend Todd Monken to serve as his offensive coordinator, and we’ve heard that former assistant Anthony Weaver could be a candidate for the DC role. However, it seems like Harbaugh is willing to at least consider outside names as he looks to fill his staff.
Matt Nagy In Lead For Titans’ HC Job?
With Jeff Hafley nearing an agreement to become the Dolphins’ head coach, that leaves one fewer candidate for the Titans. Tennessee had lined up a second interview with Hafley, but the team will have to look elsewhere. It appears the Titans are zeroing in on former Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy, who “sure feels like” the frontrunner for the job, per Terry McCormick of TitanInsider.com.
Nagy’s second interview with the Titans is scheduled for Tuesday. San Francisco defensive coordinator Robert Saleh is holding his second interview with Tennessee today. Saleh’s clearly still in the running, but it looks as if he’s facing an uphill climb to beat out Nagy for the role.
Unlike Saleh, Nagy has an extensive working relationship with Titans general manager Mike Borgonzi. That may ultimately tip the scales in Nagy’s favor. Borgonzi, who’s leading the Titans’ head coaching search, was a Chiefs employee from 2009-24. Nagy was an important part of the Chiefs’ coaching staff from 2013-17 and again from 2022-25.
While Nagy could remain in Kansas City in 2026, that looks unlikely. With Nagy’s contract up, the Chiefs are expected to hire Eric Bienemy as their offensive coordinator. The Cardinals, Ravens and Raiders have joined the Titans in interviewing Nagy for their head coaching positions. It’s unknown where the 47-year-old will go in 2026 if he’s not a head coach.
If Tennessee or another team hands Nagy the reins, he’ll aim for a longer tenure and better results in his second attempt as an NFL head coach. Nagy coached the Bears to a 34-31 record during a four-year run from 2018-21. He won Coach of the Year in his first season and helped the Bears to the playoffs twice, but an inability to develop a franchise quarterback played a large role in his firing. The Bears went 8-8 or worse in their last three seasons under Nagy, who couldn’t get enough from former first-round QBs Mitchell Trubisky and Justin Fields.
Nagy has since been part of three AFC-winning teams and two Super Bowl champions in Kansas City, where he has worked with future Hall of Fame signal-caller Patrick Mahomes. However, head coach Andy Reid – not Nagy – has been responsible for calling the offensive plays. Nagy doesn’t plan on calling the plays if he becomes a head coach again (via Mike Garafolo of NFL Network), which will make it all the more crucial for him to identify the right offensive coordinator.
If the Titans choose Nagy, they’ll count on him and his offensive staff to turn Cam Ward, the No. 1 pick in last year’s draft, into a franchise QB. Ward showed flashes as a rookie, but coaching instability (the team fired Brian Callahan in mid-October and rode out a 3-14 season with Mike McCoy) and a subpar supporting cast led to poor results in 2025.
Cardinals Scheduled In-Person Interview With Robert Saleh
The Titans have identified Robert Saleh as a finalist for their head coaching vacancy, and they’re apparently not the only organization to move the 49ers DC to the second-round of their interview process. According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, Saleh is scheduled for an in-person interview with the Cardinals on Tuesday.
[RELATED: Titans To Conduct In-Person Robert Saleh HC Interview]
Saleh emerged as a target for Arizona’s head coaching gig earlier this month. He had his first interview with the Cardinals last Thursday. Since then, the 49ers have been eliminated from the postseason, including an ugly performance this past weekend when the Seahawks offense found the end zone on four occasions. Of course, that singular performance wouldn’t be enough to dissuade teams from considering the former Jets head coach.
While his New York stint didn’t go as planned, Saleh has rehabilitated his image during his first season back in San Francisco. Despite the 49ers missing top defenders like Fred Warner and Nick Bosa for much of the campaign, San Francisco still finished the regular season with a 12-5 record. The defense wasn’t unbeatable; they ranked just 20th in total defense and 13th in points allowed. However, Saleh reinforced his reputation of getting the most out of his defensive personnel.
Saleh’s candidacy in Arizona would likely be dependent on the status of his active interview in Tennessee. The coach is currently interviewing for the Titans job, and there’s a chance the organization doesn’t let him out of the building without a deal. In that scenario, the Cardinals would be forced to pivot to another candidate.
Among those names is Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph, who is considered a “strong candidate” for the job. The other definitive and rumored candidates include:
- Thomas Brown, tight ends coach (Patriots): Interview requested
- Matt Burke, defensive coordinator (Texans): Interview requested
- Jeff Hafley, defensive coordinator (Packers): Interviewed 1/14
- John Harbaugh, former head coach (Ravens): Contacted
- Klint Kubiak, offensive coordinator (Seahawks): Interviewed 1/10
- Mike LaFleur, offensive coordinator (Rams): Interviewed 1/16
- Jesse Minter, defensive coordinator (Chargers): Interviewed 1/13
- Raheem Morris, former head coach (Falcons): To interview
- Matt Nagy, offensive coordinator (Chiefs): Interviewed 1/9
- Chris Shula, defensive coordinator (Rams): Interviewed 1/16
- Arthur Smith, offensive coordinator (Steelers): Interview requested
- Anthony Weaver, defensive coordinator (Dolphins): Interviewed 1/9
Ravens Expected To Conduct HC Interview With Darren Rizzi
The Ravens have conducted a wide-ranging first round of interviews in their search for a head coach. The list of candidates in their case is set to grow even further, however. 
Broncos special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi is expected to interview with Baltimore, 9News’ Mike Klis reports. Rizzi spoke with the Giants earlier this month before New York ultimately hired John Harbaugh. Now, he is set to be among the options to replace Harbaugh as the Ravens’ head coach.
Rizzi has a lengthy track record as a special teams coach, something which is particularly notable since that was also the case for Harbaugh when he arrived in Baltimore in 2008. Rizzi has been a ST coordinator with the Dolphins (2011-18), Saints (2019-24) and Broncos (2025). The 55-year-old was New Orleans’ interim head coach to close out last season after Dennis Allen was fired. He reunited with longtime colleague Sean Payton last winter by joining Denver.
In addition to his brief run leading a staff with the Saints, Rizzi held the title of assistant head coach in New Orleans. He also worked as an associate head coach during his final two years in Miami. At the college level, Rizzi’s Rutgers tenure included four years as an assistant head coach. On two occasions – with Division-II New Haven from 1999-2001 and with Rhode Island in 2008 – Rizzi has worked as a standalone head coach.
That gives him more experience than some of the other candidates connected to Baltimore’s HC opening to date. Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti has left the door open to a first-time coaching hire or a second opportunity for one of the veterans on the market. Balance between staffers with a background on offense and defense has been struck so far in Baltimore’s search, but Rizzi is the only candidate to date with one on special teams.
Since the Broncos advanced to the AFC title game, Rizzi (and colleagues like Vance Joseph and Davis Webb) cannot conduct an interview this week. Over the coming days, the Ravens may wind up making a hire depending on how many more dominoes fall around the NFL. In any case, a Rizzi interview will be something to watch for once it becomes possible.
Via PFR’s HC Search Tracker, here is an updated look at where things stand for Baltimore:
- Joe Brady, offensive coordinator (Bills): Interviewed 1/18
- Anthony Campanile, defensive coordinator (Jaguars): Interviewed 1/19
- Brian Flores, defensive coordinator (Vikings): Interviewed 1/13
- Vance Joseph, defensive coordinator (Broncos): Interviewed 1/8
- Kliff Kingsbury, former offensive coordinator (Commanders): Interviewed 1/12
- Klint Kubiak, offensive coordinator (Seahawks): Interviewed 1/9
- Mike McDaniel, former head coach (Dolphins): Interviewed 1/15
- Jesse Minter, defensive coordinator (Chargers): Interviewed 1/14
- Matt Nagy, offensive coordinator (Chiefs): Interviewed 1/11
- Darren Rizzi, special teams coordinator (Broncos): Interview expected
- Robert Saleh, defensive coordinator (49ers): Interviewed 1/18
- Nate Scheelhaase, pass-game coordinator (Rams): Interviewed 1/16
- Jim Schwartz, defensive coordinator (Browns): Interviewed 1/14
- Chris Shula, defensive coordinator (Rams): Interviewed 1/16
- Kevin Stefanski, former head coach (Browns): Second interview requested for 1/21
- Anthony Weaver, defensive coordinator (Dolphins): Second interview scheduled for 1/20
- Davis Webb, quarterbacks coach (Broncos): Interviewed 1/8
Bills Promote Brandon Beane To President Of Football Operations/GM
After their latest gut-wrenching postseason loss, the Bills made the eye-opening decision to fire longtime head coach Sean McDermott on Monday. McDermott spent his entire nine-year tenure in Buffalo alongside general manager Brandon Beane, but they’re not walking out the door together. Rather, the Bills promoted Beane to president of football operations/GM on Monday.
As part of a lengthy statement, owner Terry Pegula announced: “Brandon will oversee all facets of our football operation, including the oversight of our coaching staff. I have full faith in and have witnessed Brandon’s outstanding leadership style and have confidence in his abilities to lead our organization.”
Beane will lead the search for McDermott’s successor, though Pegula and president of business operations Pete Guelli will also have input. The Bills’ next head coach will report to Beane. McDermott, on the other hand, reported to Pegula.
This will be the first head coaching hire of Beane’s career. The former Panthers executive took over as the Bills’ GM in May 2017, four months after McDermott joined the organization. The two were familiar with one another after teaming up in Carolina, where McDermott was the defensive coordinator for six years before Buffalo picked him as its sideline leader.
In the first season of the McDermott-Beane era, the Bills unexpectedly finished 9-7 with Tyrod Taylor under center and snapped a 17-year playoff drought. That was the first in a long line of successful seasons for the two.
Before McDermott’s firing, he was at the helm for seven straight seasons of 10-plus wins. The Bills have posted a 98-50 regular-season record with eight playoff berths and five AFC East titles since 2017. However, an inability to get over the hump in the playoffs and capitalize on the presence of superstar quarterback Josh Allen, whom Beane traded up for and drafted seventh overall in 2018, led to McDermott’s ouster.
Allen has generally thrived in the playoffs, but he and the Bills didn’t get past the AFC Championship Game under McDermott. They lost each of their AFC title game appearances to the Chiefs (2020 and ’24). While the Bills won 12 regular-season games in 2025 and beat the Jaguars in the wild-card round to secure McDermott’s eighth playoff victory, their season concluded with a 33-30 overtime loss to the Broncos in the divisional round.
Although McDermott never guided the Bills to the Super Bowl, there’s a strong argument Beane didn’t provide the coach enough talent. An inability to land difference-makers in the draft has been an issue. As Benjamin Solak of ESPN notes, in 56 picks since cashing in big with the Allen choice, Beane has drafted just two players who have gone to the Pro Bowl (running back James Cook and tight end Dawson Knox).
Cook and Knox were important parts of another productive Bills offense in 2025, but Beane’s failure to find a high-end receiver since cutting ties with Stefon Diggs in 2024 continued weighing the team down this season. While the Bills were connected to names such as Jaylen Waddle, Jakobi Meyers and Rashid Shaheed before the Nov. 4 trade deadline, Beane didn’t pull off any deals.
After striking out at the deadline, Beane wound up signing well-traveled wideout Brandin Cooks, whom the Saints released, three weeks later. Cooks made a clutch 36-yard grab on a game-winning drive in Jacksonville, but an inability to secure a deep pass against the Broncos in overtime played a major role in the Bills’ loss. A bang-bang play was ruled an interception for Broncos cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian, who wrestled the ball from Cooks and prevented the Bills from potentially setting up for the game-winning field goal.
Had the controversial Cooks play been ruled a catch, there’s a good chance McDermott would be preparing for the third AFC title game of his coaching career. He’s out of a job just two days later, though, leaving Beane to search for a worthy successor.