Details On Titans’ Robert Saleh Hire
Although a report on Monday pegged Matt Nagy as the frontunner for the Titans’ head coaching position, the team instead hired Robert Saleh several hours later. Nagy and Saleh joined then-Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley as the Titans’ finalists, according to insider Jordan Schultz, who reveals the team never seriously considered Mike McCarthy despite interviewing him
Tennessee lost one of its finalists when the Dolphins hired Hafley as their head coach on Monday evening. Saleh, meanwhile, entered his Monday interview with the Titans needing to “win the job,” Albert Breer of SI.com writes.
In successfully landing the role, the former 49ers defensive coordinator secured a five-year contract, per Schultz. Because Saleh’s second stint in San Francisco only lasted one year, the 49ers will not receive draft compensation for losing him, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area notes.
Saleh’s summit with the Titans included a three-hour meeting with general manager Mike Borgonzi, president of football operations Chad Brinker, and several other members of their front office, Breer relays. Borgonzi made the recommendation to hire Saleh after his successful pitch to team brass.
Saleh impressed the group with a “detailed plan” on working with quarterback Cam Ward, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 draft. That included ideas on putting together the right offensive staff to maximize Ward’s potential. Saleh’s looking for a “CEO-type” offensive coordinator, Schultz says.
We already know Saleh’s offensive staff will not include Mike McDaniel, who developed a strong bond with Saleh when they coached together in San Francisco from 2017-20. Although Saleh had been in contact with McDaniel (via Jeremy Fowler of ESPN), the latter is on the cusp of becoming the Chargers’ offensive coordinator.
Given Ward’s importance to the organization, the Titans wanted all of their head coaching candidates to present a plan for Ward, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports. With Saleh now in charge and McDaniel about to come off the board, former Giants head coach Brian Daboll is reportedly in the mix to take over as Ward’s next offensive coordinator.
The Titans interviewed Daboll for their head coaching job, but he may wind up taking on a key role as an assistant with the team. However, Daboll has another suitor in the Eagles, who are interested in him for their O-coordinator opening. He’s also a potential candidate for Buffalo’s head coaching job, which became available when the team unexpectedly fired Sean McDermott on Monday. Daboll spent 2018-21 as the Bills’ OC and aided in developing Josh Allen into an elite signal-caller. In bringing in Daboll to help Ward, the Titans would hope for similar results.
If Daboll doesn’t join Saleh’s staff, Breer identifies former Commanders OC Kliff Kingsbury, Rams OC Mike LaFleur and Steelers OC Arthur Smith as other possibilities.
Kingsbury helped guide 2024 second overall pick Jayden Daniels to stellar results as a rookie, but multiple injuries largely prevented the dual-threat QB from building on that success this season. After Daniels played in just seven games in 2025, Kingsbury and the Commanders parted ways. Kingsbury has since drawn the attention of teams looking for head coaches and offensive coordinators.
LaFleur also worked with Saleh in San Francisco, though Breer is skeptical he’ll leave Los Angeles this offseason. Interestingly, LaFleur’s brother, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur, played a role in the Titans’ decision to hire Saleh. After the Jets fired him as their head coach in October 2024, Saleh ended the season on LaFleur’s staff as an offensive consultant. LaFleur, one of Saleh’s closest friends, provided the Titans helpful feedback during their search.
Smith, a Nashville native, also interviewed for the Titans’ HC gig. Previously a Titans assistant from 2011-20, Smith held the OC role in his last two years with the organization before a three-season run as the Falcons’ head coach. While Smith is still on Pittsburgh’s staff, Mike Tomlin‘s resignation casts doubt on his future with the team.
Saleh will spend the coming weeks assembling his staff, a group he hopes will help produce better results than he generated in New York. The Jets canned Saleh after he posted an unsightly 20-36 record over three-plus seasons. While Saleh didn’t call the defensive plays with the Jets, that will change in his new home, which helps give the Titans confidence the 46-year-old will capitalize on his second chance as a head coach.
Saleh’s “energy and presence” helped win over owner Amy Adams Strunk, whose previous head coaching hire, Brian Callahan, contributed to the franchise’s recent slide. Now stuck in a four-year playoff drought, the Titans have gone a woeful 19-49 since 2022.
Falcons To Interview Andy Weidl For GM
In hiring Matt Ryan as their president of football and Kevin Stefanski as their head coach, the Falcons have crossed two key tasks off their list in the past 10 days. The Falcons still need to choose a general manager, though, and Steelers assistant GM Andy Weidl has emerged as a candidate to replace the fired Terry Fontenot. Weidl will interview for Fontenot’s old job, Mark Kaboly of The Pat McAfee Show reports.
With Ryan in charge of football matters, the Falcons’ GM gig is regarded as a secondary position. That means the Steelers could have blocked Weidl from interviewing with Atlanta, but they’ll instead allow him to discuss the position with Ryan & Co.
Weidl, a Pittsburgh native, began his career with the Steelers as a player personnel assistant in 1999. After working in scouting roles with the Saints and Ravens from 2000-16, he spent six years in the Eagles’ front office.
Weidl, who returned to the Steelers in 2022, crossed paths with Stefanski’s Browns twice in each of the past four seasons. The former AFC North rivals could soon join forces in Atlanta, where Stefanski will have input into the Falcons’ GM decision. While Ryan is atop the Falcons’ football department, he made it clear last week that he won’t meddle with either the head or GM once they’re in place.
“The final decisions that I am going to have to make is who we hire, but we are empowering (the HC and GM) to go out there and do their job and I have expressed that in the interviews that we have had,” Ryan said.
Before hiring Ryan in his new role, the Falcons interviewed Lions chief operating officer Mike Disner, Panthers executive vice president of operations Brandt Tilis, 49ers director of scouting and football operations Josh Williams, and Bears assistant general manager Ian Cunningham for the job. It’s unclear if Ryan will discuss the GM post with any of those four, but we know he’ll talk with Weidl.
Texans RB Joe Mixon’s Future Remains Uncertain
It remains uncertain if Joe Mixon will ever take an NFL field again. As Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston writes, the running back’s NFL future still “lacks definitive clarity.” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans acknowledged as much during his season-ending press conference, admitting that he doesn’t “know that answer right now” when asked about Mixon’s status for the 2026 campaign.
The veteran running back ended up missing the entire 2025 season thanks to a “complicated” foot and ankle injury. While Mixon denied midseason reports that he wouldn’t suit up during the 2025 campaign, that ended up coming to fruition.
The former Bengals standout was traded to the Texans ahead of the 2024 season, and he quickly signed a three-year, $27MM extension. He had a productive first season with his new squad, finishing with 1,325 yards from scrimmage and 12 touchdowns in 14 games. Mixon suffered a foot injury while working out in the offseason, and while the veteran sought several outside remedies, he never made enough progress to return to game action. The Texans remained relatively quiet about his status throughout the 2025 season, with Wilson noting that they were honoring the player’s wish for privacy.
“When you have your best players, you’re going to be a better team,” Ryans said (via Wilson). “Joe, he’s a really great running back for us and not having him, yes, of course, it affected our running game. Joe is one of the top running backs in this league. That affected us.”
Since Mixon spent the 2025 season on the non-football injury, the Texans weren’t obligated to pay his $7MM salary. It’s uncertain if the franchise ended up paying out that money. While the RB still has a year remaining on his contract, he’s only due a non-guaranteed $8MM in 2026. As Wilson notes, the Texans are expected to cut him loose this offseason.
The team signed Nick Chubb to replace Mixon in the lineup, although the former Pro Bowler was limited to only 573 offensive yards. Chubb is set to hit free agency this offseason, where he’ll be joined by fellow Texans RB Dare Ogunbowale. That would effectively leave fourth-round rookie Woody Marks as the only healthy RB on the roster entering the offseason.
Falcons Request OC Interview With Buccaneers’ Bryan McClendon
Following a productive two-year stint coaching wideouts in Tampa Bay, Bryan McClendon is now getting a look for offensive coordinator gigs. According to Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports, the Falcons have requested permission to interview McClendon for their OC job.
[RELATED: Falcons Interview Drew Terrell For OC Job]
Following a brief summer stint with the Bears, McClendon proceeded to spend more than a decade in college football. He worked his way up the ranks at Georgia, including a brief stint as their interim head coach following Mark Richt‘s departure. He spent a few years as South Carolina’s offensive coordinator plus two years on Oregon’s staff (including a brief stint as their interim HC) before returning to Georgia in 2022.
After Brad Idzik left to become the Panthers offensive coordinator in 2024, the Buccaneers turned to McClendon for his first NFL gig. The coach entered an enticing situation in Tampa Bay, and despite a number of injuries in their WRs room, Buccaneers receivers still accounted for 28 of Baker Mayfield‘s 41 passing touchdowns.
The Buccaneers receiving corps once again dealt with injuries in 2025, with Mike Evans and Chris Godwin combining for only 63 combined catches in 17 total games. Still, the team got a standout performance from first-round rookie Emeka Egbuka, with seventh-round rookie Tez Johnson also chipping in 322 yards and five touchdowns.
McClendon would have the opportunity to take the next step of his career on Kevin Stefanski‘s new staff in Atlanta. Tommy Rees is the favorite for the Falcons OC job, but the Falcons have considered some outside names. Earlier tonight, we learned that the team interviewed Cardinals passing game coordinator/wide receivers coach Drew Terrell.
Brian Daboll “In The Mix” For Titans OC Job?
Robert Saleh could potentially turn to his former New York counterpart to fill his offensive coordinator role. NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo believes that Brian Daboll is in the mix for the Titans offensive coordinator job. Jonathan Jones of NFL on CBS also reported this connection earlier today.
Daboll interviewed for the Titans head coaching gig but ultimately lost out to Saleh, who reportedly came to an agreement with the franchise last night. Still, that factor may not dissuade the former Giants head coach from taking a job on Tennessee’s staff.
Per Garafolo, Daboll is one of several available OC candidates who “does like what he sees” with the Titans. Garafolo cites several factors that could be alluring to potential hires. Obviously, 2025 first-overall pick Cam Ward leads that list, but the reporter also points to the team’s abundance of cap space, high draft picks, and new NFL stadium. In fact, it was those factors that led the Titans to finish second in the John Harbaugh sweepstakes, according to Garafolo.
Thanks to the attractive situation in Tennessee, Saleh will have “some cards” that he can use when recruiting his new staff to the Titans. If the new head coach wants an experienced name to guide his offense, Daboll would certainly fit the bill. The 50-year-old has held several OC jobs throughout his NFL career, including stops with the Browns, Dolphins, Chiefs, and Bills. He didn’t see the same offensive success during his head coaching gig with the Giants, although he did have to start eight different QBs during his four years in New York.
With Mike McDaniel off the board after taking the Chargers OC job, Daboll would now be one of the hottest names left on the market. The coach is still in the running for the Eagles OC job, and he may emerge as a HC candidate in Buffalo. While he doesn’t have a true connection to the Titans, Garafolo notes that he formed a friendship with Saleh while the two were coaching in New York. Now, they could both land on the same staff in Tennessee.
Packers To Interview Jonathan Gannon For DC Job
After being fired as Cardinals head coach earlier this month, Jonathan Gannon continues to generate interest for defensive coordinator openings. The latest team to schedule an interview is the Packers, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network.
[RELATED: Cowboys Scheduling Second Interviews With DC Candidates]
Gannon spent years coaching defensive backs in Minnesota and Indianapolis before being hired as the Eagles defensive coordinator in 2021. Following an inconsistent first season at the helm, Philly’s defense took it to another level in 2022, finishing second in yards allowed and eighth in points allowed. That performance ended up earning him the Cardinals head coaching gig (although not without a bit of controversy).
The coach’s stint in Arizona proved to be forgettable, as he never guided the Cardinals to a winning record during his three seasons with the organization. His best showing was in 2024, when the team finished 8-9. However, they took a major step back in 2025, finishing with a 3-14 record. Gannon also struggled to get the most out of his defense during his time in Arizona; the Cardinals never finished better than 15th in points allowed and 21st in yards allowed.
Still, Gannon clearly has a reputation as a respected defensive mind. He’s garnered a second interview for the Cowboys defensive coordinator job, and he was a candidate for the Commanders gig. Gannon also interviewed for the Titans head coaching vacancy before the team opted for Robert Saleh.
Now, he’s drawing interest from Green Bay to replace Jeff Hafley, who recently took the head coaching job in Miami. As Matt Schneidman of The Athletic notes, Matt LaFleur praised Gannon earlier this year, describing him as a “really good coach” and saying that he did a “hell of a job” in Arizona. Gannon is joining a group of candidates that currently features Vikings DBs coach Daronte Jones and Eagles DBs coach Christian Parker.
NFL Reserve/Futures Deals: 1/20/26
Today’s reserve/futures deals:
Chicago Bears
- WR Maurice Alexander, RB Brittain Brown, TE Stephen Carlson, LS Luke Elkin, DB Dallis Flowers, DL Jonathan Garvin, LB Dominique Hampton, OL Kyle Hergel, TE Nikola Kalinic, DB Dontae Manning, DL Jeremiah Martin, DB Gervarrius Owens, WR JP Richardson, LB Nephi Sewell
Green Bay Packers
- DL Jaden Crumedy, QB Kyle McCord
Houston Texans
- DE Solomon Byrd, C Eli Cox, WR Josh Kelly, TE Luke Lachey, S Kaevon Merriweather, G Sidy Sow, DT Junior Tafuna, LB Xavier Thomas, WR Jared Wayne
Philadelphia Eagles
- CB Ambry Thomas
Pittsburgh Steelers
- DB Doneiko Slaughter, OL Lorenzo Thompson
San Francisco 49ers
- OL Isaac Alarcon, DL Evan Anderson, CB Eli Apple, WR Junior Bergen, DL William Bradley-King, DB Derrick Canteen, LB Andrew Farmer, S Darrick Forrest, LB Jalen Graham, QB Adrian Martinez, OL Drake Nugent, OL Brandon Parker, WR Malik Turner, DL Sebastian Valdez
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 1/20/26
Today’s practice squad moves:
Denver Broncos
- Signed: WR Brandon Johnson
- Released: C Michael Deiter
With Broncos starting center Luke Wattenberg expected to return from IR for the AFC Championship Game, the team decided to move on from veteran center Michael Deiter. The 29-year-old got into 17 games for the Commanders last season and appeared in two games with them in 2025. He caught on with the Broncos practice squad earlier this month. Taking his place is Brandon Johnson, who is the son of former Colorado Rockies catcher Charles Johnson and cousin of former NFL standout Chad Johnson. The wideout has seen time in 23 career games, hauling in 26 catches for 335 yards and five touchdowns.
Falcons Interview Drew Terrell For OC Job
Drew Terrell‘s coordinator candidacy is starting to heat up. We learned yesterday that the Cardinals passing game coordinator/wide receivers coach interviewed for the Chargers OC job, and now NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that Terrell also interviewed for the Falcons job.
[RELATED: Chargers Interview Drew Terrell For OC]
Following his four-year collegiate career at Stanford (where he was recruited by Jim Harbaugh), Terrell kicked off his coaching career with a job at Virginia Tech. He quickly moved on to Michigan’s staff under his former college coach before taking his first NFL coaching gig with the Panthers in 2018.
Terrell joined the Commanders franchise in 2020 and quickly earned a promotion to WRs coach, where he guided the likes of Terry McLaurin and Curtis Samuel. He lost out on the Cardinals OC job in 2023 but still ended up joining their staff as the passing game coordinator/wide receivers coach. While Terrell struggled to get the most out of Marvin Harrison during his time in Arizona, he has played a key role in the development of Michael Wilson and (to a lesser extent) Trey McBride.
Terrell has turned into a relatively popular name during this year’s hiring cycle, as he’s scheduled interviews with the Commanders and Chargers. Now, he’ll have an opportunity to join Kevin Stefanski‘s new staff in Atlanta. While Tommy Rees is the favorite for the Falcons OC job, Terrell represents the team’s first official interview for the position.
Buccaneers Hire Danny Smith As ST Coordinator
The Buccaneers are turning to a veteran coach to guide their special teams. According to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, Tampa Bay is hiring Danny Smith as their new special teams coordinator.
Smith’s coaching career dates back to the 1970s, when he served as a graduate assistant at Edinboro. After spending more than a decade in college football, he got his first NFL job with the Eagles in 1995. Since then, he’s had stints with Detroit, Buffalo, Washington, and Pittsburgh.
He most recently served as the Steelers special teams coordinator, a job he held since 2013. During his time with the organization, Smith was credited with the development of kicker Chris Boswell, who currently ranks second on the franchise’s all-time scoring list.
Following Mike Tomlin‘s departure, Smith considered new opportunities. The 72-year-old now lands with the Buccaneers, who have been seeking a replacement for the ousted Thomas McGaughey. Smith interviewed for the job on Friday, and Todd Bowles didn’t take long to make a hire. The gum-chewing coordinator beat out the likes of Craig Aukerman, Anthony Levine Sr., Michael Clay, and Jett Modkins for the job.