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Buccaneers Interview Three More Candidates For ST Coordinator Job

By | at January 15, 2026 6:47 pm

The Buccaneers are casting a relatively wide map as they search for a replacement for fired special teams coordinator Thomas McGaughey. Over the past two days, we’ve learned that the organization has added three more candidates to their interview list.

[RELATED: Buccaneers Fire ST Coordinator Thomas McGaughey]

The team announced yesterday that they completed an interview with Craig Aukerman. The long-time NFL coach has been a coordinator in multiple stops, including stints with the Chargers, Titans, and Dolphins. He’s coming off his first season as Miami’s special teams coordinator, but considering their search for a new head coach, there’s a good chance Aukerman will be seeking a new gig for 2026.

The Buccaneers then announced today that they interviewed Anthony Levine Sr. for the role. The long-time Ravens special teams ace got his coaching start in Baltimore, serving as a coaching assistant. He moved to the Titans in 2022 to serve as an assistant special teams coach, and he actually spent the 2023 campaign working under Aukerman. Levine moved back to the Ravens in 2025 to serve as an assistant ST coach.

Finally, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reported today that the Buccaneers interviewed Eagles ST coordinator Michael Clay. While the coach isn’t under contract for the 2026 season, his contract doesn’t technically expire until next month, so the Eagles had to grant permission for the chat. Clay has been Philly’s special teams coordinator since the 2021 campaign.

The trio will join Lions assistant special teams coordinator Jett Modkins, who interviewed for the job earlier this week. These coaches will be looking to improve a Tampa Bay special teams unit that earned the third-lowest Pro Football Focus grade this past season.

2 comments Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Steelers Request HC Interview With 49ers OC Klay Kubiak

By | at January 15, 2026 5:19 pm

Klint Kubiak is one of the most popular names in this year’s hiring cycle. Now, his brother is starting to generate some interest. According to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, the Steelers have requested an interview with 49ers offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak for their head coaching vacancy.

Kubiak started his NFL coaching career in 2021, when he joined Kyle Shanahan‘s 49ers staff as a defensive quality control coach. He quickly earned a promotion to assistant quarterbacks coach, and after two years in that role, he was named the team’s offensive passing game specialist.

The 49ers operated without an offensive coordinator after Mike McDaniel left for the Dolphins in 2022. But with Shanahan deciding to shake up his staff last offseason, Kubiak earned a promotion to offensive coordinator.

The 49ers offense improved their points total in 2025 despite dealing with a number of injuries on offense. The team had to turn to backup QB Mac Jones for nearly half their games, with the signal-caller guiding the squad to a 5-3 record. Former first-round receiver Ricky Pearsall found himself in and out of the lineup, and tight end George Kittle missed a handful of games. Plus, the 49ers navigated the entire season without one of their highest-paid offensive weapons in Brandon Aiyuk.

Thanks to the surprising showing from the depleted 49ers offense, Kubiak is now generating interest from the Steelers for their head coaching vacancy. His father, Gary Kubiak, had multiple stints as an NFL head coach, while his brother, Klint Kubiak, has been connected to nearly every vacancy after guiding the Seahawks offense to one of the league’s top performances in 2025.

Now, Klay will garner his first HC interview, and he joins a growing list of candidates to replace Mike Tomlin in Pittsburgh. While Kubiak doesn’t have the same resume as some of his competitors for the job, the Steelers haven’t been afraid of hiring inexperienced coaches in the past. Tomlin only served one season as a defensive coordinator before earning Pittsburgh’s HC job.

Kubiak is now the eighth coach to garner an interview request from the Steelers:

6 comments Pittsburgh Steelers San Francisco 49ers

Jaelan Phillips, Nakobe Dean Want To Stay With Eagles

By | at January 15, 2026 5:15 pm

The Eagles’ 2025 season is over, but two of their pending free agents have no desire to leave Philadelphia.

Outside linebacker Jaelan Phillips said (via PHLY Sports’ EJ Smith) that he would prefer to re-sign with the Eagles, though he indicated he would test out free agency. The 26-year-old arrived in Philadelphia at the trade deadline but contributed only two sacks and four tackles for loss in his eight regular-season appearances despite a 78% snap share.

Phillips’ desire to play for a competitive team will likely keep the Eagles high on his list of potential destinations, but the team may not be able to offer him a market-level contract. Phillips’ age and first-round pedigree should attract him plenty of interest in free agency, but his injury history may be cause for concern.

General manager Howie Roseman is known for his aggressive spending, but he has been willing to let talented (but perhaps not elite) players walk in free agency. Last offseason, for example, Josh Sweat and Milton Williams both found new teams as Roseman was not willing to pony up for a pricey contract for either pass rusher. The Eagles need depth at edge rusher with only Nolan Smith and Jalyx Hunt under contract in 2026, but they have other positions to address, too.

For the same reason, linebacker Nakobe Dean may not get his wish to stay in Philly, either. He met with Roseman after the season ended, per 94WIP’s Eliot Shorr-Parks, but did not get an indication about the team’s plans. And unlike the Eagles’ edge rusher room, their linebacking corps has plenty of talent. The team signed Zack Baun to a three-year, $51MM contract last offseason and spent a first-round pick on Jihaad Campbell. They also have Jeremiah Trotter and Chance Campbell, both solid special teams contributors who could get more defensive opportunities in 2026.

Offensive tackle Fred Johnson is taking a slightly different approach. He said (via The Athletic’s Zach Berman) that “opportunity” will be the biggest factor in his decision. Johnson started 14 games across the last two seasons with time at both tackle spots, but if Lane Johnson returns for the 2026 season, he will not get a starting job in Philadelphia.

“Obviously, this my home team,” Johnson said. “This is where I want to end my career, but you never know how things play out. And I feel like I played myself into a role that is more than just a backup, more than just a guy. I feel like I’m a starter in this league, and I feel like I showed that. I don’t know what the future holds, but the first rights to anything is Philly.”

Johnson said last May that he intends to play out the rest of his current contract, which goes through 2027, but his injuries this season could change his mind. In that case, Johnson would be a strong candidate to re-sign in Philadelphia and take on the starting right tackle job moving forward.

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Chargers Interview Marcus Brady For OC

By | at January 15, 2026 3:48 pm

Chargers passing game coordinator Marcus Brady interviewed for the team’s offensive coordinator vacancy on Thursday, making him the first candidate to replace Greg Roman.

Brady, 46, is a former CFL quarterback who began coaching for the Montreal Alouettes as soon as he ended his playing career with them. After two years as a wide receivers coach, he was promoted to offensive coordinator for a year before taking the same job with the Toronto Argonauts in 2013.

In 2018, Brady moved to the NFL as a quarterbacks coach. He was promoted to offensive coordinator in 2021 but lost his job in November of 2022, leading to a short stint as a consultant with the Eagles. He stayed in Philadelphia for another season before joining Jim Harbaugh‘s staff in Los Angeles in his current role.

During his time in the NFL, Brady has worked with a number of young star quarterbacks – including Andrew Luck, Jalen Hurts, and Justin Herbert – as well as established veterans like Matt Ryan and Philip Rivers. His familiarity with Herbert and the Chargers current offense makes him a logical candidate to take over Roman’s job while instituting key changes to strengthen the team’s passing attack.

The Chargers will interview other candidates for their OC gig, but they may want to wrap up their hiring process quickly so they can turn their attention to the other side of the ball. Defensive coordinator Jesse Minter has received head coaching interest from several teams and could be leaving Los Angeles in the coming weeks.

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49ers Designate Fred Warner For Return

By | at January 15, 2026 3:35 pm

JANUARY 15: As expected, Warner will not play against the Seahawks. Shanahan confirmed (via The Athletic’s Matt Barrows) the 49ers will not activate the star linebacker from IR this week. Warner’s chance to return would come if San Francisco pulls an upset Saturday.

JANUARY 13: Fred Warner‘s lengthy onramp to a potential playoff cameo will pass a key mile marker Tuesday. Warner is returning to 49ers practice.

The 49ers are designating the All-Pro linebacker for return, ESPN.com’s Nick Wagoner notes. A reemergence in Saturday’s divisional-round game is not expected, per Wagoner, but a comeback for a potential NFC championship game is in play.

[RELATED: Injured Reserve Return Tracker]

Sidelined with a fractured and dislocated ankle since mid-October, Warner has made considerable progress. Rumblings about a potential return before season’s end surfaced soon after. As recently as early December, however, it was considered unlikely. Two weeks ago, however, the prospect of Warner coming back gained steam. He progressed to running on a side field last week, The Athletic’s Matt Barrows notes.

Snake-bitten by injuries yet again, the 49ers finished their wild-card win in Philadelphia down three first-team All-Pros. Nick Bosa has been out for months and is not coming back. George Kittle went down during the game with an Achilles tear; Kittle has already undergone surgery, per Kyle Shanahan. Warner has not played since Week 6. Still, the 49ers found a way to win, rallying behind Christian McCaffrey — who missed most of last season before returning in full force this year — and a returning Trent Williams to eliminate the defending champion Eagles.

The 49ers played the Eagles without others at linebacker. The team suited up for its wild-card assignment without starters Dee Winters and Tatum Bethune. Warner’s primary replacement, Bethune is out for the remainder of the season. Winters played all 17 regular-season games but missed the wild-card outing with an ankle injury. With Warner not set to come off IR until at least next week — should the 49ers pull an upset in Seattle — Winters’ status this week will be something to closely monitor. Garret Wallow, who began the season with the the Broncos, and Eric Kendricks — an 11th-year veteran who had committed to the 49ers in 2024 only to reconsider and join the Cowboys — played extensively Sunday and would be in line to do so again if Winters cannot go against the Seahawks.

Following Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman in becoming a perennial All-Pro as a San Francisco linebacker, Warner landed his second extension this offseason. The 49ers gave their dominant second-level defender a three-year, $63MM deal. As injuries have hounded the team in most years, Warner had been the constant, staying on the field and establishing a Hall of Fame-caliber resume by soaring to four All-Pro first teams. Warner, 29, had missed only one career game coming into this season. He played through a leg fracture in 2024. He will now attempt a return to action after a serious injury.

8 comments San Francisco 49ers Transactions

Coaching Rumors: Ravens, Eagles, Weis, Witten, Seahawks, Chiefs

By | at January 15, 2026 3:16 pm

The Steve Bisciotti era in Baltimore has included two first-time HCs — Brian Billick, John Harbaugh — but the owner is not against a retread. Bisciotti specified there will not necessarily be a success baseline from that retread’s first coaching run in order for him to land the job as Harbaugh’s successor.

“The one thing that I know that I will probably take it on the chin is if our final candidate is an ex-coach who has a losing record,” Bisciotti said, via ESPN.com’s Jamison Hensley, “and you all are going to have to understand that we are going to be able to judge that failure with his circumstances and marry that up and not disqualify them.

“It’d be very easy for me to try and avoid those ex-head coaches because they have losing records, but I’m telling you, we are keen to their circumstances, and we won’t let their first shot at a job influence us negatively for this one.”

Bisciotti also pointed to the next Baltimore HC receiving plenty of time in the role, pointing to at least “five or six” years. Though, that will largely depend on the Ravens’ performance as Lamar Jackson‘s prime goes on. The Ravens’ search includes eight second-chance HC options thus far. Bisciotti will have input, but he specified (via Ravens.com’s Ryan Mink) Eric DeCosta, EVP Ozzie Newsome and president Sashi Brown are running the search.

Here is the latest from the coaching ranks:

  • The Eagles have been connected to big names for their OC post, being tied to Kliff Kingsbury, Kevin Stefanski, Mike McDaniel and Brian Daboll early in the process. A college option has also emerged on Philly’s radar. The Eagles have “poked around” on LSU OC Charlie Weis Jr., per the New York Daily News’ Pat Leonard. Weis, who is following Lane Kiffin from Ole Miss, coached Jaxson Dart at with the Rebels and played a central role in an 11-1 season, overseeing Division II transfer Trinidad Chambliss. Just 32, the second-generation college coach has been a college OC since he was 25. Weis served as Florida Atlantic’s OC beginning in 2018 before moving to South Florida and then Ole Miss. Unlike Kiffin, Weis stayed on during the Rebels’ run to the CFP semifinals. The Eagles are planning to give their next OC full autonomy of the offense, per The Exhibit’s Josina Anderson, with Nick Sirianni long being a CEO HC.
  • Staying on the college level, Oklahoma announced Thursday that Jason Witten is joining its staff as tight ends coach. Witten, 43, had been the coach at Liberty Christian High School in Texas but was on the Cowboys’ radar for a job last year. Witten came up as a dark-horse HC candidate in Dallas last year but later said he did not discuss that role. Though, this Oklahoma gig — Witten’s first at the college level — could be a springboard to a future NFL position.
  • Seahawks running backs coach Kennedy Polamalu took a leave of absence recently and will not return to the team. Polamalu is now off the Seattle staff ahead of the team’s divisional-round game, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson tweets. Polamalu took the leave in mid-December. Assistant offensive line coach Justin Outten and offensive assistant Michael Byrne have held Polamalu’s duties since the staffer’s exit. Polamalu, 63, has been with the Seahawks for two seasons. He has been in coaching since 1992, first arriving in the NFL in 2004.
  • After Andy Reid‘s worst season since his 2012 Eagles finale, the Chiefs are tinkering with their staff. They are moving on from wide receivers coach Connor Embree, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport notes. Embree climbed from the quality control level to wideouts coach in 2023. Even as the Chiefs claimed a second straight Super Bowl title that season, the year began a downturn for Kansas City receivers. Experiments with Kadarius Toney and Skyy Moore failed before another uneven passing season in 2024 commenced. After a 6-11 2025 slate, the Chiefs will look for another wideouts instructor.
2 comments Baltimore Ravens Kansas City Chiefs Philadelphia Eagles Seattle Seahawks

Commanders Hire D.J. Williams As QBs Coach

By | at January 15, 2026 2:49 pm

The Commanders are already transitioning from Kliff Kingsbury to David Blough at OC, giving a recently retired quarterback the play sheet ahead of his 31st birthday. Washington is now adding another key voice for Jayden Daniels.

D.J. Williams, son of Commanders exec and former Super Bowl MVP Doug Williams, is coming over from the Falcons to be Washington’s next QBs coach, ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets. D.J. Williams spent the past two seasons with the Falcons, first as assistant QBs coach and then as QBs coach.

This decision comes after the Panthers made the move to keep another Commanders candidate. Carolina is promoting assistant QBs coach Mike Bercovici to pass-game coordinator, insider Jordan Schultz tweets. Bercovici received an interview request from the Commanders about the job but will remain on Dave Canales‘ Carolina staff. Bercovici, 32, has been with the Panthers since Frank Reich‘s 2023 stopover.

Previously a five-year Saints assistant, Williams will join his father in Washington after interviewing for the job. The former Grambling State QB mentored Michael Penix Jr. over the past two seasons, being hired just before Atlanta completed an unusually assembled quarterback room by signing Kirk Cousins to a big-ticket contract and then drafting Penix. The latter was inconsistent before being shut down due to injury this season, but Washington will bring in his position coach to work with Daniels.

This will be an interesting setup for the Commanders, who jettisoned a seasoned play-caller in Kingsbury. Blough was on the Lions’ OC radar, leading to this Commanders promotion. Blough entered the 2025 season as Washington’s assistant QBs coach, moving up a rung on the ladder when QBs coach Tavita Pritchard became Stanford’s HC. It will now be Blough overseeing Williams as the top offensive staffers in Washington ahead of Daniels’ third season.

Bercovici has been part of Bryce Young‘s development since the diminutive passer’s 2023 arrival, but he also worked both under Kingsbury in Arizona (2020-22) and with Daniels at Arizona State. Bercovici was with the Sun Devils as a graduate assistant in 2019, Daniels’ freshman season with the then-Pac-12 program. It would appear the Panthers’ decision to promote Bercovici prevented a reunion with the standout quarterback, but Doug Williams certainly carries plenty of clout in Washington. The former Washington starting QB, now working in an advisory role, has been in the franchise’s front office since 2014.

0 comments Carolina Panthers Washington Commanders

Cowboys To Interview Christian Parker, Charlie Bullen, DeMarcus Covington For DC Job

By | at January 15, 2026 2:42 pm

The Cowboys’ search for a new defensive coordinator continues to expand.

Dallas will interview Eagles pass game coordinator Christian Parker and Giants interim defensive coordinator Charlie Bullen on Thursday, with Packers run game coordinator DeMarcus Covington scheduled for Friday, according to ESPN’s Todd Archer.

Parker, 34, spent six years as a college coach before getting his first NFL job with the Packers. He then serves as the Broncos’ defensive backs coach from 2021 to 2023 before taking on his current position in Philadelphia. In Denver, he played a crucial role in the development of cornerbacks Patrick Surtain and Riley Moss. Similarly, he oversaw the breakout rookie seasons by Eagles cornerbacks Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean in 2024.

Bullen, 42, has NFL experience with the Dolphins and Cardinals as well as some time in college at Iowa and Illinois. He was hired as the Giants outside linebackers coach in 2024 and quickly integrated Brian Burns into the Giants’ pass rush following his trade from the Panthers. Bullen then took over the team’s interim DC after Shane Bowen was fired in November. The unit improved significantly at the end of the year, allowing just 33 points in their last three games.

Covington, 36, spent four years at the college level before an eight-year stint in New England. He was promoted to defensive coordinator in 2024 but was not retained on Mike Vrabel‘s new staff. Covington went to Green Bay in the offseason and held the defensive line together after the departure of Kenny Clark and injuries to multiple key players. He could be promoted to replace defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley if he leaves for a head coaching job, per Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Parker, Bullen, and Covington are the latest additions to a long list of candidates for the Cowboys’ DC job. Other requested or scheduled interviewees include former Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon, Ravens defensive coordinator Zach Orr, Browns safeties coach Ephraim Banda, Vikings defensive pass game coordinator Daronte Jones, Broncos defensive pass game coordinator Jim Leonhard and their own defensive line coach, Aaron Whitecotton.

2 comments Dallas Cowboys Green Bay Packers New York Giants Philadelphia Eagles

Vance Joseph ‘Strong Candidate’ For Cardinals’ HC Job?

By | at January 15, 2026 2:01 pm

With John Harbaugh appearing to be out of the mix, other dominoes should soon start to fall on the HC market. But the Cardinals were not viewed as a serious contender for the longtime Ravens leader’s services. Their search should not be affected much by the Giants’ expected hire.

Arizona has 13 other names in this race. One of them would be a familiar hire. Vance Joseph was the Cardinals’ defensive coordinator for four seasons under Kliff Kingsbury, and 9News’ Mike Klis notes the current Broncos DC is expected to become a strong candidate for the Cards’ top job. Joseph has a strong relationship with Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill, per Klis.

Joseph has gained steam during his third season back in Denver. The Cardinals initially hired Joseph after the Broncos fired him as their head coach, and Joseph coached the likes of Patrick Peterson, J.J. Watt and Zach Allen in Arizona. One of those seasons included a playoff berth (2021) despite Watt missing most of it and Peterson having defected to the Vikings in free agency. Joseph’s Arizona tenure produced two top-12 defenses (2020, ’21) but ended on a down note, with the Cards ranking 31st in 2022.

Joseph, 53, interviewed for the Cards’ HC job in 2023 but lost out to Jonathan Gannon. That led him back to Denver under Sean Payton, and the move has paid off for both sides. Denver enters the divisional round as the AFC’s No. 1 seed, and Joseph’s defense finished the regular season ranked third in points for a second straight year. Joseph has overseen Allen’s rise into a first-team All-Pro, after second-team honors came the interior D-lineman’s way in 2024, and Patrick Surtain‘s 2024 Defensive Player of the Year campaign looks good on the second-chance HC option’s resume.

Joseph has also interviewed for the Falcons, Ravens, Raiders, Giants and Titans’ HC jobs. The Cardinals would be making an interesting move by going defense-defense with their past two HC hires if they choose Joseph, but that scenario appears firmly in play. Joseph’s candidacy will partially be determined by how far the Broncos’ season extends. He will be free to interview in-person anywhere next week if the Bills eliminate the Broncos, but if Denver wins, he cannot conduct an in-person interview until the Super Bowl bye week.

Via PFR’s HC Search Tracker, here is how Arizona’s process stands as of Thursday afternoon:

5 comments Arizona Cardinals Denver Broncos

Steelers Request HC Interview With Packers DC Jeff Hafley

By | at January 15, 2026 1:02 pm

The Steelers requested to interview Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley for their head coaching vacancy, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

Hafley, 46, has become one of the most popular head coaching candidates in this year’s hiring cycle. He came up as a defensive backs coach with multiple college programs before making the jump to the NFL in 2012. After seven seasons with three different teams, he returned to college as Ohio State’s defensive coordinator, which he quickly parlayed into a four-year stint as Boston College’s head coach.

In 2024, the Packers made a bold move to fire defensive coordinator Joe Barry, despite his solid results in his three years in charge. They installed Hafley as his replacement in the hopes that he could turn a good unit into a great one.

He succeeded. In Hafley’s debut year, the Packers finished sixth in points allowed and fifth in yards allowed, both significant improvements from their 2023 rankings. They took a step back to 11th and 12th this year, though losing Micah Parsons – arguably the best defensive player in the NFL – to a torn ACL certainly contribute to some of their struggles down the stretch.

Hafley’s players have generally given him rave reviews, specifically regarding his ability to build relationships with his players. That was a hallmark of Mike Tomlin‘s 19 years in Pittsburgh and something the franchise will likely look for in his successor. He has also worked with both Matt LaFleur and Kyle Shanahan, giving him some connections he can call on when building his staff. His recent history at Boston College may also give him a stronger chance of bringing some college coaching talent to the NFL.

Hafley has also received head coaching interest from the Cardinals, Falcons, Raiders, Dolphins, Titans, and Giants, though that last job no longer seems to be available. Here’s a full overview of the Steelers’ current candidates:

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