Falcons Announce Latest Staffing Decisions
With new head coach Kevin Stefanski and new general manager Ian Cunningham finding their place in Atlanta, the duo has slowly gone about, making decisions for how to fill out the staff. The two haven’t chosen to clean house, announcing a mixture of new hires and staffers to be retained, and that didn’t stop with the latest announcements.
First, the Falcons announced that Tokunbo Abanikanda, who served as Atlanta’s director of college scouting for the past two years, will remain in Atlanta for 2026. In fact, he’ll do so with a promotion to the title of director of scouting. Abanikanda was hired by the Falcons in 2012, four years into former general manager Thomas Dimitroff‘s 13-year tenure in Atlanta. He was retained on the staff of Dimitroff’s successor, Terry Fontenot, and has now survived the turnover to a third general manager in Cunningham.
A new hire in the front office was also announced over a week ago, when Jacqueline Roberts was named the new manager of coaching operations for the Falcons. Roberts got her start with Cleveland two years ago as an intern working with team logistics. Last year, she was promoted to coordinator of coaching logistics for the Browns, and she’ll now follow Stefanski to Atlanta for a similar role.
On the coaching side, the Falcons also saw one staffer retained and one brought from Cleveland. Senior defensive assistant Dave Huxtable was the staffer to be retained in his role on retained defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich‘s unit. A collegiate coach of 40 years, including stints as a defensive coordinator at North Carolina, UCF, Pittsburgh, and NC State, Huxtable joined the Falcons back in 2023, under then-defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen. He was retained under Nielsen’s successor, Jimmy Lake, and under Ulbrich, as well. Huxtable works with the defensive line, namely the pass rushers, and saw rookies James Pearce and Jalon Walker combine for 16.0 sacks in 2025.
The Cleveland import on the coaching staff is Michael Bearden, who was the recipient of the Browns’ Bill Willis Coaching Fellowship in 2025. Bearden spent two years as assistant wide receivers coach at Notre Dame before landing his first fellowship with the Bears in 2024. He’s now followed Stefanski to Atlanta to serve as a Falcons’ coaching fellow/offensive assistant.
Steelers Interview Matthew Smiley For ST Coordinator
After watching special teams coordinator Danny Smith depart for warmer climates in Tampa Bay, the Steelers are now searching for a special teams coach to fill the role. To that end, the team interviewed former Bills special teams coach Matthew Smiley for the position, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. 
Smiley began his coaching career at Dartmouth, where he initially served as assistant quarterbacks/specialists coach in 2005 before being named special teams coordinator after his first year. He then went to Division III Eureka, where he spent a year as offensive coordinator and the next at defensive coordinator until he was named interim head coach. Following that, he worked three years at Eastern Illinois as running backs coach/special teams coordinator and a year at Charleston Southern with the same title.
Smiley landed in the NFL in 2013 as assistant special teams coordinator for the Jaguars. After four years in Duval, he made his way to Buffalo, where he served as assistant special teams coordinator for five more seasons. After nine years as an assistant and five years in Buffalo, Smiley was finally promoted to special teams coordinator in 2022, when Heath Farwell opened the spot with a move for the same role with Jacksonville.
In Smiley’s three years as special teams coordinator, he worked with kicker Tyler Bass and punter Sam Martin. The return game under Smiley saw early success with two kickoff returns for touchdowns in his first year and a punt return for a touchdown in his second. After the 2024 season, though, Smiley parted ways with the Bills and didn’t coach in the 2025 season.
Additionally, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, the Steelers are interviewing Texas Tech outside linebackers coach C.J. Ah You this Tuesday for the same role in Pittsburgh. Per Pelissero, Ah You also interviewed Friday with the Cowboys. The Steelers’ interest in hiring for that role likely indicates that 2025’s outside linebackers coach, Denzel Martin, will not be back in 2026.
Broncos Notes: Nix, Free Agency, Dobbins, Strnad, Von
The latest reporting on Broncos quarterback Bo Nix indicated he will be medically cleared by the time OTAs open in May. However, Denver head coach Sean Payton’s comments on Nix’s fractured ankle led to some consternation among the team’s fanbase.
“What was found was a condition that was predisposed where they always find a little bit more when they go in and it wasn’t a matter of if, it was a matter of when,” Payton said. “When you look at the play, the surgeon said this was going to happen sooner than later.”
Payton’s use of the word “predisposed” created the belief that Nix may be more susceptible than most to this type of injury, particularly since the soon-to-be 26-year-old has undergone two prior surgeries on the same ankle. Nix himself subsequently refuted that notion.
According to Nix, there is “nothing predisposed” in his ankle, and he said there is no concern that the ankle will impact him in the future (via Luca Evans of the Denver Post). He went on to say that Payton’s statement may have been misinterpreted, and that he does not have a longstanding or chronic issue. Rather, a source tells Parker Gabriel of the Denver Post that in this case, the “predisposition” simply meant that a fracture had already started to develop in Nix’s ankle before it reached the breaking point in the waning stages of the Broncos’ divisional-round victory over the Bills.
Nix also pointed out that, counting his last two seasons in college, he had played in roughly 60 straight games before he was forced to miss last week’s AFC Championship Game. That supports his belief that his durability will not be an issue going forward.
Only time will tell, but in the meantime, the Broncos have now turned their attention to the offseason and readying themselves for another playoff run. At present, Denver is currently in the middle of the pack in terms of projected 2026 cap room ($28.5MM, per OverTheCap.com). As Chris Tomasson of the Denver Gazette relays, CEO Greg Penner said his club will be “opportunistically aggressive” in free agency, and while Penner did not offer specifics, it is fair to expect a team with a rookie-contract quarterback under center to be an active buyer.
Although the Broncos finished second in the NFL with 37 drops in 2025, both Payton and GM George Paton indicated they are happy with their collection of wide receivers (via Evans). That group is fronted by veteran stalwart Courtland Sutton and otherwise includes promising but largely unproven talent like Pat Bryant, Troy Franklin, and Marvin Mims. Franklin was unable to play in the AFCCG because of a hamstring injury, and Bryant left the game early due to a hamstring malady of his own. That left backup signal-caller Jarrett Stidham with midseason pickups Lil’Jordan Humphrey and Elijah Moore as his top WRs behind Sutton, and the receiving corps dropped three passes in the contest.
That said, Payton believes the issue is one of technique, not talent, and he thinks an increased emphasis on the proper way to catch a football will make a meaningful difference. Paton likewise suggests the proper pass-catching personnel is in place, and he does not believe the receivers who were available at the 2025 trade deadline would have moved the needle a great deal.
However, it does appear the running back depth chart could get some attention. No stranger to injured reserve, J.K. Dobbins was enjoying a strong first year in Denver until a Lisfranc injury cut his campaign short after 10 games. He had posted a 5.0-YPC average and four touchdowns on 153 carries prior to the injury, but rookie RJ Harvey averaged just 3.3 yards per carry after taking over RB1 duties. The club did not rush for more than 80 yards in either of its two postseason contests and did not average four or more yards per carry in six of its final nine games of the year.
Evans suggests the team could opt to bring back Dobbins – who has expressed a desire to return – or look to the draft for RB reinforcements. One way or another, Payton acknowledged that improvement in the running game will be a top agenda item.
Denver will also have to sort out its inside linebacker situation, as both Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad are eligible for free agency. Strnad played exclusively on special teams over the 2022-23 seasons but participated in over half of the Broncos’ defensive snaps in each of the last two years due to injuries to other players in the LB room. He played well in 2025, with Pro Football Focus ranking him 25th out of 88 qualified ‘backers. He believes he has proven his worth as a starter and is therefore seeking a multiyear contract that would give him a starting opportunity (via Tomasson).
Strnad, 29, says he would like to remain in Denver, but he acknowledges he may have to seek a new employer if the team elects to retain Singleton, who recently turned 32. Dre Greenlaw, who signed a three-year deal with the Broncos last offseason, will occupy one of the starting ILB spots.
If he has it his way, Von Miller will return to the Broncos to perhaps put a bow on his Hall of Fame career. Now 36 (37 in March), Miller was selected by Denver with the No. 2 overall pick of the 2011 draft and remained with the club until the trade deadline of the 2021 season, when he was dealt to the Rams. During his Mile High tenure, he racked up 110.5 sacks, three First Team All-Pro nods, eight Pro Bowl bids, and a Super Bowl ring (he was also named MVP of Super Bowl 50). While he is far removed from his prime, he quietly recorded nine sacks in a rotational role for the Commanders in 2025, thus proving he still has something to offer to a team’s pass-rushing contingent.
Miller reached out to Paton last year to discuss a possible reunion, though he knew the presence of fellow pass rushers Jonathon Cooper and Nik Bonitto would make a Denver contract unlikely. Paton confirmed as much, and while Cooper and Bonitto are still on the roster and attached to big-money deals, Miller is making another plea.
In a recent episode of his Free Range podcast, Miller said, “[a]fter the season, y’all make room for me over there with the Denver Broncos. I would love to be a Denver Bronco next season. … Let’s just rock out, man. Me, Jonathon Cooper, Nik Bonitto. Like bro, why not? I had nine sacks… I led probably 20 teams in the NFL in sacks this season” (via Will Petersen of DenverSports.com).
Given the contract statuses of Cooper and Bonitto, Paton may be no more willing to bring Miller back into the fold than he was last year. Miller nonetheless should get an opportunity somewhere, and he will have a chance to leapfrog several more players on the all-time official sacks list. His 138.5 career sacks currently put him in ninth place in the regard, behind Terrell Suggs (139.0), Jason Taylor (139.5), and Michael Strahan (141.5).
The Broncos’ offseason business also included a reshaping of their coaching staff. In addition to the dismissal of offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi, WRs coach Keary Colbert received his walking papers, as ESPN’s Jeff Legwold reported (which is perhaps no surprise in light of Payton’s comments on the need for his wideouts to improve their technique). The team also fired CBs coach Addison Lynch.
Denver also lost senior offensive assistant Pete Carmichael Jr. and defensive pass-game coordinator Jim Leonhard to the Bills, with whom they will serve as offensive coordinator and defensive coordinator, respectively. Broncos quarterbacks coach Davis Webb is in line for a promotion to OC to replace Lombardi.
Dolphins To Hire Sean Duggan As DC
Another important hire on Jeff Hafley‘s Dolphins staff is being made. Packers linebackers coach Sean Duggan is heading to Miami to become the team’s new defensive coordinator, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports. 
Once the Dolphins brought in Jon-Eric Sullivan as their new general manager, signs increasingly pointed to Hafley following him to South Beach as head coach. As expected, that proved to be the case roughly two weeks ago. Hafley will have a familiar face at the coordinator spot on his first Miami staff.
The Dolphins interviewed Clint Hurtt for the position, but Duggan was recently named as the expected hire in this case. He and Hafley have worked together at the college and pro levels. Duggan worked as a graduate assistant at Ohio State before following Hafley to Boston College. The two continued to work alongside one another for Hafley’s two seasons as the Packers’ defensive coordinator.
Hafely will call plays on defense during his first NFL head coaching stint. The coordinator spot will still of course be an important one, though, and Duggan will take on increased responsibilities with this new title. The 32-year-old was a defensive assistant in Green Bay in 2024 before coaching the team’s linebackers this past season. He will see an expanded purview during his first DC gig at the pro level.
Today’s news comes as little surprise but it confirms incumbent defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver will not be retained for 2026. Weaver spent the past two seasons as Miami’s DC, and he was a popular target for head coaching interviews around the NFL during this year’s hiring cycle. Weaver, 45, was a finalist for the Cardinals’ gig but it went to Mike LaFleur earlier today. Late in the coordinator hiring process, Weaver will now seek out a new opportunity.
Miami ranked 24th in total defense and 22nd in points allowed last season. Improvement across the board will be sought out under Hafley, Duggan and Co. this season with the Dolphins aiming for sustained success under their new regime. Mike McDaniel managed a pair of wild-card appearances during his four-year tenure, but he did not post a playoff win and oversaw a team which regressed over time.
Bobby Slowik had already been promoted to offensive coordinator prior to today’s move. Chris Tabor is also in place as Miami’s new special teams coordinator. With Duggan now in place, many of Hafley’s most important hires have been taken care of.
Falcons QB Michael Penix Jr. Expects To Be Medically Cleared By April
The partially-torn left ACL he suffered in Week 11 of the 2025 season has reportedly threatened Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. ’s availability for the start of the 2026 slate. Penix, however, has other ideas.
[RELATED: Falcons Expected To Release Kirk Cousins]
The 25-year-old signal-caller recently told Zach Klein of WSB-TV that he is already doing squats and believes he will be medically cleared by April. In light of prior reports, that would appear to be a rather optimistic timeline, but it would be a welcome development for player and team.
2026 will be a pivotal year for the Falcons, Penix, and Penix’s future earning power. He will be extension-eligible at the end of the season, and Atlanta will have to make a decision on his fifth-year option – always a lucrative proposition for quarterbacks – by May 2027. At this point, he has not yet lived up to his status as the No. 8 overall pick of the 2024 draft and has not done enough to suggest he is the Falcons’ franchise QB.
Still, multiple scouts and coaches recently opined that the club’s offense under former head coach Raheem Morris and former offensive coordinator Zac Robinson did not properly utilize Penix’s abilities, particularly his arm strength. New HC Kevin Stefanski was not able to do much with less-than-ideal quarterback situations during the 2024-25 seasons in Cleveland, but he did earn two Coach of the Year nods during his Browns tenure thanks in large part to the production he coaxed out of Baker Mayfield in 2020 and a 38-year-old Joe Flacco in 2023.
If Stefanski and new OC Tommy Rees can help Penix realize his potential, the Falcons may be able to crack the postseason for the first time since 2017. Of course, as they will be installing a new offensive system, it will be especially helpful if Penix can be on the field for OTAs and training camp.
In 12 games as an NFL starter, Penix has posted a 4-8 record. His 58.0 QBR in 2025 was 18th in the league out of 41 qualified players and placed him above passers like Jared Goff and Sam Darnold. Traditional quarterback rating was less bullish, as Penix’s 88.5 mark was below average and similar to those earned by players like Tua Tagovailoa and Justin Fields.
Greg Roman, Darrell Bevell Among Finalists For Jets’ OC Job
FEBRUARY 1: It appears Bevell is another finalist. Josina Anderson of The Exhibit reports that Bevell will take an in-person interview with the Jets on Monday.
JANUARY 31: After parting with offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand on Tuesday, the Jets plan to narrow their search for his replacement down to three finalists, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. The list includes Greg Roman, who will have an in-person interview with the Jets early next week.
The 53-year-old Roman, one of five candidates to interview virtually with the Jets, is in the running alongside Frank Reich, Darrell Bevell, Ronald Curry and Lunda Wells. Given his vast experience as an offensive coordinator, it’s no surprise Roman is under serious consideration to replace Engstrand, who had never held the role until Glenn hired him last year.
Roman, a longtime Jim Harbaugh assistant, worked in the NFL as his O-coordinator in San Francisco from 2011-14 and rejoined him over the past two years with the Chargers. Between then, Roman served as a coordinator in Buffalo (2015 until an early season firing in 2016) and Baltimore (2019-22). Alex Smith, Colin Kaepernick, Tyrod Taylor, Lamar Jackson and Justin Herbert are among the quarterbacks who have performed well under Roman.
With Roman at the helm in Los Angeles this season, Herbert put together his second Pro Bowl campaign. However, after Herbert and the Chargers’ offense fared horribly in a 16-3 loss to the Patriots in the wild-card round, Harbaugh replaced Roman with Mike McDaniel.
Taylor is now a Jet, but as a soon-to-be free agent, his future is uncertain. While Justin Fields and Brady Cook are under contract for next season, it’s doubtful either will factor into the Jets’ Week 1 plans in 2026. Despite handing the mobile Fields a guaranteed $30MM on a two-year deal last offseason, expectations are the Jets will release him in the coming weeks. Head coach Aaron Glenn benched Fields for the rest of the year in mid-November.
With all three of their QBs posting lackluster results in 2025, the Jets easily had the worst passing offense in the NFL. That helped lead to 29th-place finishes in both scoring and total offense. The Jets ranked a much more respectable 10th in rushing, but their No. 1 back, Breece Hall, is due to become a free agent on the heels of his first 1,000-yard season. As a run-first coordinator, Roman may prefer to keep Hall.
Whether the Jets hire Roman or someone else, it’s imperative for Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey to give their next coordinator more talent than Engstrand had at his disposal in 2025. Star wide receiver Garrett Wilson, tight end Mason Taylor, and the tackle tandem of Olu Fashanu and Armand Membou are foundational pieces who are sure to return next season, but there’s plenty of room for improvement around them.
Giants Considering Brian Callahan, Kliff Kingsbury For OC
The Giants have added to their list of offensive coordinator candidates. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, New York has either spoken with, or plans to speak with, Brian Callahan and Kliff Kingsbury about its OC vacancy.
Callahan, 41, lasted less than two seasons as the Titans’ head coach, as Tennessee fired him before the halfway point of the 2025 campaign. Still, he earned that position on the strength of his performance as the Bengals’ offensive coordinator prior to his stint in Nashville, and he has received interest as an OC in this year’s cycle.
He interviewed for the Chargers’ position that ultimately went to Mike McDaniel, and he landed a second interview for the Bucs’ gig. Tampa Bay chose to hire Zac Robinson instead, but Callahan apparently remains well-regarded in league circles. This is despite the fact that he was a non-play-calling coordinator during his time in Cincinnati, and while he is credited for helping Joe Burrow become one of the league’s best quarterbacks, the Titans – who obviously do not boast a talent like Burrow under center – faltered with Callahan calling plays (in a failed effort to right the ship, Callahan even gave up those duties to quarterbacks coach Bo Hardegree before Week 4 of the 2025 slate).
Kingsbury, 46, enjoyed some success as the Cardinals’ head coach from 2019-22, helping quarterback Kyler Murray become a Pro Bowl-caliber player and leading the team to a playoff berth in 2021. A 4-13 showing in 2022 triggered his ouster, but he seemed to rebuild his stock as the Commanders’ offensive coordinator in 2024. That season, QB Jayden Daniels earned Offensive Rookie of the Year honors, and Washington made a surprise trip to the NFC Championship Game.
Daniels’ injury-marred sophomore slate was the biggest factor in the Commanders’ 2025 regression. As such, it would not have been surprising to see Kingsbury – who spurned HC interest last year in order to continue working with Daniels – remain in place in 2026. Instead, philosophical differences with GM Adam Peters and HC Dan Quinn led to a parting of the ways.
Kingsbury nonetheless landed HC and OC interviews with both the Ravens and Titans this year. If he secures the Giants’ post, he will have the opportunity to work with another promising young passer in 2025 first-rounder Jaxson Dart, whose presence is one of the reasons why Big Blue’s HC opportunity was considered an attractive one.
John Harbaugh earned that post after his 18-year stint as the Ravens’ sideline general came to an end. As Dan Duggan of The Athletic observes, Harbaugh has generally preferred to hire OCs with play-calling experience at the professional level. Now that the Browns hired Todd Monken – who had been expected to follow Harbaugh from Baltimore to New York – as their head coach, Harbaugh will need to look elsewhere for that type of experience.
As Fowler notes in a follow-up post, the Giants are expected to bring their OC finalists to their facility for in-person interviews this week. Here is an updated look at New York’s search:
- Brian Callahan, former head coach (Titans): Interview expected
- Jim Bob Cooter, offensive coordinator (Colts): To interview 2/1
- Shane Day, quarterbacks coach (Chargers): To interview
- Kliff Kingsbury, former offensive coordinator (Commanders): Interview expected
- Todd Monken, offensive coordinator (Ravens): Hire expected
- Robert Prince, wide receivers coach (Dolphins): Interviewed 1/23
- Willie Taggart, running backs coach (Ravens): Joining staff in different capacity
- Alex Tanney, pass-game coordinator (Colts): To interview 1/30
- Davis Webb, quarterbacks coach (Broncos): Interview requested
- Charlie Weis Jr., offensive coordinator (LSU): Mentioned as candidate
Eagles DC Vic Fangio Leaning Towards 2026 Return, Has Not Ruled Out Retirement
The Eagles have already made a change at offensive coordinator this year, hiring Sean Mannion to replace the demoted Kevin Patullo. It is unclear whether the club will also be in search of a new defensive coordinator.
During a recent appearance on The Anthony Gargano Show, Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network said he has not heard that DC Vic Fangio is retiring, nor has he heard that Fangio will return (video link). He added that he would not be surprised either way.
According to Garafolo, during the Eagles’ Super Bowl party last year, Fangio told his fellow attendees that he appreciated working with them and suggested he was going to end his career on a high note with a Super Bowl ring. And then he elected to continue working.
It sounds as if something similar transpired this year. Citing multiple sources, Jimmy Kempski of PhillyVoice.com says Fangio told the team he was retiring, only to be convinced to come back for at least one more season. That said, a team spokesperson declined to confirm that Fangio would remain in place in 2026.
Following up on Kempski’s report, Garafolo reiterates that while Fangio appears to be leaning towards returning at the moment, that could still change. Dianna Russini of The Athletic also heard that Fangio waffled a bit in 2025, but a team source told her that “we’ll convince him to stay” in 2026.
It is not difficult to see why the Eagles want Fangio to return. One of the most respected and influential defensive minds in the game, Fangio joined Philadelphia in his current capacity in 2024, after a collapse on the defensive side of the ball torpedoed the club’s chances of a deep postseason run the year prior. A concerted effort to address deficiencies in the secondary certainly helped, but after the Eagles finished 26th in total defense and 30th in scoring defense in 2023, they finished first and second, respectively, in those areas in 2024. They went on to capture the second Super Bowl title in franchise history.
Although Fangio’s unit regressed a bit in 2025, its performance was still respectable (13th in total defense, fifth in scoring defense). This time, it was the Patullo-directed offense that undermined Philadelphia’s championship aspirations.
Additionally, with a rookie play-caller in the offensive coordinator seat, it stands to reason that head coach Nick Sirianni wants some stability and experience among his top lieutenants. It does appear the Eagles have been formulating a backup plan just in case Fangio decides to call it quits.
According to Kempski, Philadelphia reached out to former defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon, whose success in that role over the 2021-22 campaigns helped him become the Cardinals’ head coach in 2023. Arizona cut ties with him last month, and he subsequently accepted the Packers’ DC position.
Philly was also planning to contact Jim Schwartz, per Kempski. Schwartz was the Eagles’ defensive coordinator when they won their first Super Bowl title at the end of the 2017 season. After being passed over for the Browns’ head coaching job in this year’s cycle, Schwartz reportedly wants out of Cleveland, where he has worked as the DC since 2023.
Now 67, Fangio previously said he wants to finish his coaching career as the Eagles’ defensive coordinator. It is too soon to say whether that time has already come. Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer says Fangio has not responded to questions about his future since the 2025 season came to an end.
Bills To Hire Jim Leonhard As DC
After starting his NFL playing career in Buffalo in 2005, Jim Leonhard is headed back to western New York. The Bills are expected to hire the 43-year-old as their defensive coordinator, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Leonhard spent the last two seasons in Denver as their defensive pass game coordinator. He additionally held the title of defensive backs coach in 2024 and assistant head coach in 2025. In that time, the Broncos defense has been one of the best in the NFL, ranking second in yards per attempt last year and leading the league this past season. He is the team’s second assistant to join Joe Brady‘s new staff in Buffalo; Broncos senior offensive assistant Pete Carmichael accepted a job as the Bills’ new offensive coordinator earlier this week.
Leonard has now completed a remarkable rise from walk-on safety at the University of Wisconsin to NFL defensive coordinator. Despite three straight All-Big Ten nods to end his college career – and a strong pedigree as a returner – Leonhard went undrafted in 2005. He signed with the Bills and made the 53-man roster, kicking off a decade-long career that featured stints with five other teams.
Among them were the Broncos, who gave Leonhard his first NFL coaching job, and the Ravens, who requested to interview him for their defensive coordinator vacancy. He also interviewed with the Cowboys, Chargers, and Jets, but they all went with other candidates. Instead, he will join Brady in Buffalo as the play-caller for a Bills defense that was one of the league’s best from 2021 to 2023 but faltered in the last two years.
The Bills’ coaching jobs were viewed as some of the most desirable in the league due to the franchise’s recent success and the presence of star quarterback Josh Allen. But a closer look at the roster reveals significant holes. The defensive line features only two proven impact players in Greg Rousseau and Ed Oliver, veteran linebackers Matt Milano and Joey Bosa are set to hit free agency, and the secondary either needs more veteran depth or some development from their younger players.
Leonhard can certainly address that final issue right away. A number of Broncos defensive backs have taken significant steps forward under Leonhard, including cornerbacks Riley Moss and Ja’Quan McMillian. Safety Talanoa Hufanga earned a second-team All-Pro nod in 2025, his first year in Denver, and Patrick Surtain won Defensive Player of the Year in 2024.
Leonhard starting his coaching career at his alma mater in 2016. After a year as defensive backs coach, he was promoted to defensive coordinator and eventually served as the interim head coach in 2022. He then spent a year at Illinois as an analyst before joining Sean Payton‘s staff in Denver.
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.
