HEADLINES

Packers To Add DeMarcus Covington, Promote Sean Mannion

January 30th, 2025 at 10:18am CST by Sam Robinson

One of Jerod Mayo‘s coordinators is expected to land elsewhere. DeMarcus Covington is expected to become the Packers’ defensive line coach, ESPN.com’s Rob Demovsky reports.

Although Covington interviewed for the Bengals’ defensive coordinator job, he has not been connected to another coordinator position since. In addition to the Covington move, Demovsky notes the Packers are planning to promote Sean Mannion to quarterbacks coach. This will be an important early-career elevation for Mannion, who ended his playing career after the 2023 season.

A Bill Belichick 2017 hire, Covington has spent his entire NFL coaching career in New England. The former college assistant worked his way up from an assistant level to position coach to Mayo’s DC. Covington had been in place as the Pats’ D-line coach from 2020-23, before climbing to a DC post. Other teams spoke with Covington about DC opportunities previously, though the year under Mayo did not go especially well.

Belichick had built a perennially reliable defense, and even his final Patriots unit — one that was without Matt Judon and Christian Gonzalez for most of the 2023 season — ranked seventh in terms of yardage despite the team going 4-13. The Mayo-Covington defense, which lost Judon to a late-summer trade but saw Gonzalez become a second-team All-Pro, fell to 22nd. Covington, 35, will look to rebound in Green Bay.

Mannion, 32, joined the Packers as an offensive assistant last year. The team saw Tom Clements‘ latest retirement open its QBs coach position, and while Connor Lewis was in place as the team’s assistant QBs coach in 2024, Mannion — a nine-year NFL veteran — is poised to land the job. The notion of third-string passers rising rapidly on the coaching market has included Davis Webb‘s Broncos transition and now David Blough being coveted by a few teams; Mannion is now on this track as well. This promotion also comes as ex-Packers QBs coach Luke Getsy is staying on as a senior offensive assistant.

Mannion and Matt LaFleur overlapped during the latter’s 2017 one-off as Rams OC; the Rams had drafted Mannion in the 2015 third round, primarily using him as Jared Goff‘s backup over the course of his rookie contract. Mannion enjoyed multiple tours as Kirk Cousins‘ backup with the Vikings, playing that role under Mike Zimmer and then Kevin O’Connell. The latter, of course, managed to vault from short-stint NFL backup to the Coach of the Year favorite.

Mannion made just three career starts — due to teams resting starters or a starter’s (Cousins, in this case) COVID-19 contraction, with the latter instance involving a start in Green Bay — and lost all three. This sort of resume has not impeded Webb or Blough, and the Packers will entrust Mannion with a key responsibility as they continue to develop Jordan Love.

Darren Mougey To Control Jets’ Roster; Latest On Team’s Coaching Staff

January 30th, 2025 at 9:45am CST by Sam Robinson

Woody Johnson confirmed earlier this week the Jets are adjusting their power structure. Both Aaron Glenn and Darren Mougey will report to ownership, signaling a shift from the Joe Douglas-Robert Saleh regime — in which only the GM did so. Even as Glenn will carry more weight in the Jets’ organization compared to Saleh, the team is still giving its new GM a significant role

Mougey will control the Jets’ 53-man roster, according to the New York Post’s Brian Costello. Like Mike Vrabel in New England, however, Glenn will be expected to have a significant voice in personnel. Johnson has already referred to Mougey as Glenn’s sidekick, Costello offers, pointing to the Jets needing to sign off on a coach-centric power structure to bring in Glenn, who was viewed as one of this coaching cycle’s top options.

Even as Glenn’s voice will be the most powerful in the room, this will give Mougey a significant opportunity. The latter has also previously worked for a team that has used its head coach as the personnel centerpiece, with the Broncos giving Sean Payton that power upon trading for him in 2023. Mougey had climbed to director of player personnel in 2021, doing enough to rise from John Elway staffer to GM George Paton‘s top lieutenant in Denver.

While the Broncos moved onto treacherous terrain during the Paton-Mougey period by trading for Russell Wilson and pairing him with the overmatched Nathaniel Hackett — months before his Jets hire — the team also managed to make the playoffs despite a record $90MM-plus dead money bill. Mougey was not a GM candidate anywhere else, and only 32 of these jobs are available. Johnson made a point to note he would let Glenn and Mougey run the show this year, but after the owner irked many in the Jets’ front office and coaching staff by meddling in 2024, it may take a bit to convince Jets fans he will stay out of those matters.

Coach-centric setups have also provided tremendous success in other cities, as the Andy Reid, Sean McVay, Kyle Shanahan and Pete Carroll tenures illustrated over the past decade and change. Those teams have successful GMs in place (Brett Veach, Les Snead, John Lynch, John Schneider), but they ride shotgun — past tense in the case of Schneider, who has outlasted Carroll in Seattle — as Mougey will alongside Glenn in New York.

Elsewhere on the Jets’ staff, 9News’ Mike Klis reports they are finalizing a deal that would install Chris Banjo as their special teams coordinator. This follows a report that indicated Banjo was on Glenn’s radar. Banjo, 34, played 10 NFL seasons — two of those under Payton (and Glenn) in New Orleans — and has been the Broncos’ assistant ST coach since 2023. Denver already lost top ST coach Mike Westhoff around midseason, and Payton fired STC Ben Kotwica at season’s end. The team now may be set for a full-on overhaul in that department, with Saints interim HC Darren Rizzi still an option — depending on whom the Saints hire as their next leader. Although Westhoff and Kotwica held key roles, Banjo still resided in Denver as Marvin Mims went 2-for-2 in first-team All-Pro nods at punt returner.

The Jets have Lions assistant Tanner Engstrand as a strong candidate to become their next OC, and Glenn’s tight ends coach would further point to the ex-Ben Johnson lieutenant coming aboard. Steve Heiden is leaving his post as Lions tight ends coach to become the Jets’ O-line coach, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero adds.

A former NFL tight end, Heiden has spent most of his coaching career in charge of that position. His only season coaching O-linemen came in 2018, when he served as the assistant O-line coach under Steve Wilks in Arizona. Wilks is now in place as the Jets’ DC, while Pelissero identifies Engstrand as the OC frontrunner.

As the Jets give Heiden the chance to make an interesting transition, they are moving on from their O-line and tight ends coaches. Keith Carter, assistant O-line coach Ben Wilkerson and TEs coach Ron Middleton are out, according to KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson. Carter came over to join Hackett in 2023, making it rather unsurprising Glenn will not retain him. Middleton and Wilkerson each came to New York during Mike LaFleur‘s OC tenure.

Bears, Jaguars, Jets Request Interview With Commanders’ David Blough

January 30th, 2025 at 9:07am CST by Sam Robinson

David Blough‘s quarterback career lasted through the 2023 season, and the veteran reserve opted to transition to coaching before his 30th birthday. He is already generating extensive interest about moving up the ladder.

The Commanders hired Blough last year, and he spent the season as their assistant QBs coach. As teams observed the success Jayden Daniels enjoyed this season, Blough’s name is already in the mix for a move into a key role. Some of his former coaches are interested in bringing him aboard as QBs coach.

The Bears, Jaguars and Jets have submitted requests to interview Blough, NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo tweets. Chicago is eyeing him for its pass-game coordinator job, while Jacksonville and New York want to speak with him about coming aboard as QBs coach. The Bears may no longer be interested, at least regarding the pass-game coordinator position, as ex-Jaguars OC Press Taylor took that job Wednesday night.

Blough, 29, has an extensive history with Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn but did not overlap with Liam Coen. The new Jags HC has taken an extensive interest in Washington’s staff, with the Jags interviewing Commanders QBs coach Tavita Pritchard for their offensive coordinator role Wednesday. Pritchard landing that gig could make Blough a candidate to move up in Washington.

Blough did not receive much playing time as a pro, but that did not stop fellow 29-year-old recent retiree Davis Webb, who has impressed as the Broncos’ QBs coach. Blough is best remembered for his time with the Lions, a tenure that began with a summer 2019 trade. The Lions obtained Blough from the Browns in August 2019 and installed him as a Matthew Stafford backup. As Stafford missed half that season with a back injury, Blough started five games. While he lost all five, his tenure in Detroit continued after the Lions replaced Matt Patricia with Dan Campbell.

Johnson arrived in Detroit during the same offseason Blough did, beginning as an offensive assistant and eventually rising to the OC role. The Lions cut Blough after training camp in 2022, leading him to stints with the Vikings and then the Cardinals — with whom he made two more starts (two losses) to close out the ’22 campaign — but the Lions circled back to the Purdue alum once the Cards cut him in August 2023. Blough spent the ’23 season on the Lions’ practice squad, remaining there until the team’s NFC championship game loss to the 49ers.

Johnson has already gone historically young with his OC post, hiring ex-Webb Denver colleague Declan Doyle, who is 28. Blough would make for an interesting addition. The Jets join the Jags in not yet hiring an OC. The Commanders will see their play-caller (Kliff Kingsbury) return for the 2025 season, but both Pritchard and Blough are drawing interest early.

Jets Hire Steve Wilks As DC

January 29th, 2025 at 10:57pm CST by Adam La Rose

The first major Jets hire of the Aaron Glenn era is set to be made. The team’s next defensive coordinator will be the staffer long seen as the top candidate for the position.

Steve Wilks is finalizing a deal to take over New York’s defense, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports. He had an interview lined up for today, so that meeting has obviously gone well. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler adds a contract will be signed tomorrow. This will mark a return to coaching after Wilks was out of the league in 2024.

Once the Glenn hire was made, Wilks was named as a strong contender to become his defensive coordinator. The latter has worked as a DC three separate times in the NFL, also holding that role on three occasions in the college ranks. An interview also took place with Chris Harris, but Glenn and Co. have elected to go with their top choice for 2025. Multiple reports from yesterday noted this was the team’s expected route.

Wilks first coached in the NFL in 2005, and his stock steadily rose with respect to his head coaching candidacy. His first – and to date, only – full-time opportunity in that department came in 2018 with the Cardinals. After his one-and-done campaign in Arizona, Wilks worked as the Browns’ D-coordinator before a one-year DC stint at Missouri. He returned to the pro ranks on Carolina’s staff.

The Panthers fired Frank Reich midway through his first season as head coach in 2022, and Wilks took over on an interim basis. He received support from the players to receive the gig full time, but Carolina ultimately hired Dave Canales. That left Wilks on the move, and he took charge of the 49ers’ defense for their latest Super Bowl run. After losing the title game (and reportedly clashing with head coach Kyle Shanahan along the way), though, Wilks was fired.

Now, the Jets will bring him onboard in an effort to replicate the success seen for much of Jeff Ulbrich‘s time at the helm of their defense. After Robert Saleh‘s midseason firing, Ulbrich took over as interim HC but posted a 3-9 record. While he interviewed for the full-time gig, Glenn was long seen as a preferred candidate for this year’s hiring cycle. The latter called plays during his time with the Lions, but that will not be the case in New York.

As a result, the Jets’ defensive coordinator hire loomed as a key one for Glenn to make regarding his first year as a head coach. Wilks represents a highly experienced addition to his staff, and expectations will be high for his debut campaign in New York. The Jets finished third or fourth in total defense for each of the past three seasons, and remaining strong on that side of the ball will be an obvious goal moving forward. If Wilks can help the team attain it, his stock will likely receive a boost.

Matthew Stafford Plans To Play In 2025

January 29th, 2025 at 10:54pm CST by Adam La Rose

It has not taken long for Matthew Stafford‘s immediate future to become settled. The Rams are set to have their starting quarterback in place once again for 2025.

Stafford has informed the team of his intention of playing next season, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports (video link). His age-37 season will be his fifth in Los Angeles, and expectations will remain high given his level of play when healthy for the Rams. Stafford declined to confirm in the wake of the Rams’ divisional round loss whether or not he would continue his career, although his comments hinted that would be the case.

Shortly thereafter, head coach Sean McVay said the team was hoping to learn of the two-time Pro Bowler’s intentions sooner rather than later. That question has seemingly been put to rest, although Rapoport notes another round of contract adjustments may be in order this offseason. The sides worked out a restructure agreement just ahead of training camp last summer, and Stafford’s 2024 pay was increased as a result.

The terms of that arrangement currently has him on track for only a $4MM roster bonus in terms of locked in compensation (before the start of the regular season, that is) for 2025. Stafford is also set to carry a cap hit of nearly $50MM next season, and an extension or new re-working of his pact could help lower that figure. It will be interesting to see if negotiations can progress on a quicker timeline compared to last year.

While McVay is on the record with allowing Stafford to remain with the Rams as long he wishes to continue his career, the possibility of a trade was floated over the weekend. Moving on from the veteran after June 1 would generate $27MM in cap savings (along with almost $23MM in dead money) for Los Angeles, but it would of course create a major vacancy at the QB spot. No successor is currently in place with Jimmy Garoppolo set to hit free agency and 2023 fourth-rounder Stetson Bennett yet to play a regular season snap.

The Rams are comfortable with proceeding on a year-to-year basis with Stafford, so his future will remain a talking point as long as his career lasts. For now, though, he is on track to suit up for 2025 as the team aims to make another playoff run next season.

Raiders Retain Patrick Graham As DC

January 29th, 2025 at 10:50pm CST by Adam La Rose

After looking into a few outside candidates, the Raiders are in position to maintain the status quo at the defensive coordinator spot. Pete Carroll is set to have continuity on that side of the ball for 2025.

Patrick Graham is working out a deal with the team which will see him remain in his role as DC, Bovada’s Josina Anderson reports. The door has remained open to such a possibility in the wake of Carroll’s hire, and as long as an agreement can be reached, that will prove to be the case. Vic Tafur of the The Athletic confirms this situation is trending in the direction of continuity. A deal has now been worked out, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. Graham’s previous contract expired, but he has a new one in hand.

Graham has been with Vegas for the past three seasons, having served as a coordinator in the NFL each year dating back to 2019. The 46-year-old was naturally seen as a replacement candidate once Carroll was brought in, given the fact teams often undergo mass changes on the sidelines in the wake of a head coaching hire. A report from yesterday noted, however, that Graham and Carroll would meet to discuss working together in 2025.

It appears that effort will produce an arrangement allowing Graham to carry on with the Raiders. The former Dolphins and Giants DC interviewed twice with the Jaguars for their head coaching vacancy. Jacksonville ultimately hired Liam Coen, and in the wake of that move Graham emerged as a prime candidate for the team’s D-coordinator position. Instead, the Jags will need to look elsewhere.

The Raiders ranked 26th in the NFL in scoring defense during Graham’s first year at the helm, but the unit made a jump to ninth in that department in 2023. Expectations were high for this past campaign as a result, but injuries along the edge in particular helped lead to a regression. Despite overseeing a unit which fell back to 25th in points allowed, Graham is set to receive an extended look.

Vegas requested one external interview (Karl Scott) with respect to potential outside replacement candidates, while also speaking with defensive line coach Rob Leonard. It will be interesting to see what happens in the latter’s case with what was a perceived vacancy now set to remain filled. In any case, the Raiders will have defensive consistency on the sidelines in 2025 provided Graham and the team can come to terms on a new arrangement.

Steelers Want To Improve At WR, Have Not Begun George Pickens Extension Talks

January 29th, 2025 at 10:40pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Steelers owner Art Rooney II admitted that the team will be looking to improve their receiver room this offseason after struggling to find consistency at the position in 2024 outside of George Pickens.

“I think we have positions in the wide receiver room we’re going to have to address,” said Rooney (via Mark Kaboly of the Pat McAfee Show).

Bringing in a high-profile wideout to take targets away from Pickens could cause tension with the mercurial 23-year-old, something Rooney addressed in his press conference.

“I think every team seems to have one or two guys in that room that you have to manage them correctly,” said Rooney. “I still think George has enough talent that we’ve got to try to work and see if we can get him to fulfill the talent that he really has.” 

Indeed, despite repeated incidents at Georgia and in Pittsburgh, Pickens has been the Steelers’ best receiver since he was drafted. Head coach Mike Tomlin is no stranger to getting the most out of intense personalities (Antonio Brown, Le’Veon Bell), which Rooney referenced as well.

“But when you have guys that are as talented as some of the guys you’re probably thinking of, you try to work with them and have them help you be successful,” he said, adding that the team has yet to work on an extension for Pickens.

Pickens is under contract for 2025, as is Calvin Austin, the team’s second-leading receiver, but Van Jefferson and Mike Williams are both set to hit free agency. Rooney’s comments indicate that he is planning to go in another direction, though he’s more focused on the Steelers’ future at quarterback.

“That’s priority No. 1,” said Rooney. “The quarterback position is a key piece of the puzzle that needs to be addressed.” 

But the Steelers’ offseason resources – the 21st overall pick and more than $40MM in cap space, per OverTheCap – are better attuned to bolster their receiving corps. It’s unlikely one of the draft’s top quarterbacks falls to Pittsburgh, and none of the available veterans profile as high-upside options. The 2025 receiver class is far deeper in both the draft and free agency, forcing the Steelers into a tough offseason dilemma. They can improve their weapons on offense, but that may not be enough to break their playoff win drought without a better long-term quarterback.

Jaguars Conduct OC Interview With Commanders’ Tavita Pritchard

January 29th, 2025 at 10:27pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Jaguars’ list of offensive coordinator candidates is beginning to take shape. Jacksonville’s second interview for the position has now taken place.

[RELATED: Jaguars Interested In Chip Kelly?]

Tavita Pritchard met with new head coach Liam Coen and Co. on Wednesday, per a team announcement. This marks the first coordinator gig the Commanders’ quarterbacks coach has been linked to this offseason. It comes as little surprise his work from 2024 has generated attention, however.

Pritchard was a quarterback at Stanford from 2006-09, and immediately after his playing career ended he transitioned to coaching at his alma mater. The 37-year-old remained with the program though 2022, holding a number of roles along the way. That included a five-year run as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.

The first NFL opportunity of Pritchard’s career came with the Commanders in 2023. He has been the team’s QBs coach since then, something which of course resulted in him having a key role on the staff which oversaw Jayden Daniels‘ debut season. The Offensive Rookie of the Year favorite enjoyed a stellar campaign in 2024, something which put offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury back on the head coaching radar.

The former Cardinals HC will remain in the nation’s capital for 2025, but departures elsewhere on the Commanders’ staff could still take place given the team’s surprise run to the NFC title game this season. That could include Pritchard getting an OC opportunity in spite of his thin NFL resume. He and Coen have not worked together before.

Early today, it was learned the first Jaguars interviewee for the coordinator spot was Rams pass game specialist Nate Scheelhaase. Coen will call plays in 2025, but his first OC hire will nevertheless be an important one as he fills out his staff in the near future. It will be interesting to see how many other candidates emerge for the posting over the coming days.

Bears To Hire Press Taylor

January 29th, 2025 at 9:22pm CST by Adam La Rose

Press Taylor‘s time as the Jaguars’ offensive coordinator is over with Liam Coen in the process of building his first Jacksonville staff. Taylor has not needed to wait long to find his next opportunity, however.

The ex-Jags OC is being hired by the Bears, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. Taylor will take on the role of pass-game coordinator while working under Ben Johnson. The Bears recently added Declan Doyle as their offensive coordinator, a role he has not previously held in the NFL.

Taylor, by contrast, worked in that capacity during his time in Jacksonville. Hired as an initial member of Doug Pederson‘s staff, the 37-year-old called plays for the team in 2023 and continued in that capacity for this past campaign. Things did not go according to plan either time, something which caught the attention of former general manager Trent Baalke.

A November report noted Baalke’s preference for this past offseason would have been for Pederson to fire Taylor and bring in a new OC. That did not happen, and a dismal campaign ended with Pederson and (eventually) Baalke being dismissed. Now, as Coen weighs his options, Taylor will once again find himself on the move.

The latter has been in the NFL since 2013, having spent his first eight years on the sidelines with the Eagles. The final three years of that stretch included the role of quarterbacks coach, and in 2020 Taylor also served as Philadelphia’s pass-game coordinator. He has experience in such a position, one which he will handle in 2025 for the Bears.

Providing quarterback Caleb Williams with stability in Year 2 and beyond will be critical for Chicago. Johnson, to no surprise, will call plays during his first campaign as a head coach, but the success he, Doyle and Taylor have in overseeing the development of last April’s No. 1 pick will go a long way in determining the Bears’ success. A strong run in the Windy City could also help rebuild Taylor’s stock around the league with respect to future OC opportunities.

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