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Bills Extend T Ryan Van Demark, Sign Seven To Reserve/Futures Deals

January 27th, 2025 at 7:53pm CST by Sam Robinson

Although ill-timed secondary injuries again bit the Bills in a Chiefs playoff matchup, the team has enjoyed good health along its offensive line over the past two seasons. This has kept swing tackle Ryan Van Demark mostly on the bench.

But the Bills still have plans for the backup lineman. Van Demark signed an extension Monday, allowing him to bypass exclusive rights free agency. This is a formality, as the Bills could have tendered Van Demark as an ERFA and retained him without any outside competition. Nevertheless, the young blocker is under contract for 2025.

Van Demark beat out David Quessenberry for the Bills’ swing job in 2023 and held a key backup role again this season. The 26-year-old former UDFA made his first two starts this season. While one of those came in a Week 18 after the Bills had wrapped up the AFC’s No. 2 seed, Van Demark also filled in for Spencer Brown at right tackle against the Chiefs in Week 11. He played 199 offensive snaps this season.

The Bills initially added Van Demark on a practice squad deal in September 2022; the Colts had included the UConn alum in their UDFA class that year but did not carry him onto their 53-man roster. Buffalo is still in good shape at tackle, having extended both Brown and Dion Dawkins in 2024.

In addition to Van Demark, the Bills conducted standard postseason business by handing out reserve/futures contracts. Running back Frank Gore Jr., who joined one of his father’s former teams by signing as a UDFA last May, is among the seven sticking around with the team into the 2025 offseason. Here is that contingent:

Buccaneers Interview Nick Caley For OC Job

January 27th, 2025 at 6:20pm CST by Sam Robinson

A fourth candidate is confirmed to be on the Buccaneers’ post-Liam Coen radar. Nick Caley, who joins Coen in having worked on Sean McVay‘s staff, is in the mix to replace him.

Caley interviewed for the Bucs’ OC post Monday. Caley follows Nate Scheelhaase as Rams assistants to meet with the Bucs about this job. Caley, the Rams’ pass-game coordinator, met virtually with the Bucs about the position.

Although Caley and Coen both come from the McVay tree, the two did not work together in Los Angeles. Caley arrived in L.A. as tight ends coach weeks after Coen returned to be Kentucky’s OC. Most of Caley’s career steps came in New England.

He had interviewed to move up to the Patriots’ OC post in 2023, but the team chose Bill O’Brien. Caley, who had spent eight seasons on Bill Belichick‘s staff, relocated after that decision. The Pats circled back to Caley in 2024, interviewing him twice about the OC position. But Jerod Mayo went with Alex Van Pelt.

The Rams’ TEs coach position has been somewhat of a launching pad in recent years. Thomas Brown had served in that role before becoming the Panthers’ OC; Caley has been a tight ends coach in each of the past eight seasons. The Patriots named Caley as Rob Gronkowski‘s position coach in 2017, and he stayed in that role through the 2022 season. McVay’s orbit has been a good place to fly for aspiring coordinators and HCs, and Caley’s name has now come up for multiple teams once again.

The Jets have shown interest in Caley, to the point he may be their top candidate, but no interview has taken place as of yet. Caley, 41, would be an interesting Bucs option due to his familiarity with McVay’s system. Coen came to Tampa after two stints under McVay, and Baker Mayfield doubled down on his 2023 rebound by throwing 41 touchdown passes and piloting the team back to the playoffs. With the Bucs feeling a bit burned by the way Coen left for Jacksonville, they can at least attempt to foster some continuity by poaching Caley from L.A. But they may be competing with the Jets, and perhaps other teams, to do so.

Bills S Micah Hyde To Retire

January 27th, 2025 at 5:30pm CST by Sam Robinson

Micah Hyde flirted with retirement in 2024, eventually confirming he would only return to the Bills if he opted to continue his career. Buffalo kept the door open and eventually called on Hyde as insurance. Though, the team did not opt to turn to that insurance policy when a significant safety injury occurred.

The Bills did not elevate Hyde from their practice squad for the AFC championship game; Sean McDermott confirmed the team would not do so despite Taylor Rapp‘s hip injury in the divisional round. With Hyde spending his final season in Buffalo on the practice squad, he confirmed (via the Buffalo News’ Jay Skurski) he will retire.

Hyde said as much upon rejoining the Bills in early December. The Bills had split up one of the longest-tenured safety tandems of the free agency era in March, cutting Jordan Poyer and not re-signing Hyde. Poyer joined the Dolphins, but Hyde remained in Buffalo as a backup plan. Although the Bills centered their 2024 safety setup around Rapp and Damar Hamlin, they added Hyde to their P-squad for the stretch run. Hyde effectively replaced the seldom-used Mike Edwards — released midseason — but did not log any appearances in his 12th season.

This season obviously does not best encapsulate Hyde’s run in Buffalo. The former Packers draftee played a central role in the team’s McDermott-era rise. Signed to midlevel deals in McDermott’s first offseason in charge, weeks before Brandon Beane came aboard as GM, Hyde and Poyer started together for seven seasons (a 2022 Hyde injury did interfere during that stretch).

Each Buffalo safety earned at least one All-Pro honor, giving the Bills reliable back-line deterrence. The Bills made the playoffs six times during the Hyde-Poyer pair’s seasons together. Although the perennial AFC East champions have run into a rough trend of seeing their top cornerbacks unavailable for Chiefs matchups in the playoffs, the team was regularly able to count on its Hyde-Poyer duo for years.

Hyde, who turned 34 in December, made 95 starts with the Bills. Among Buffalo safeties, that ranks behind only Poyer (107), 1990s bastion Henry Jones (129) and all-time leader Steve Freeman (134). The Iowa alum earned two second-team All-Pro nods — in 2017 and 2021. Each season featured five Hyde interceptions. He added another pick in a 2021 wild-card rout of the Patriots.

A fifth-round Packers pick, Hyde yo-yoed as a starter in Green Bay. The Bills gave him a five-year, $30.5MM deal in March 2017 and later extended him in 2021 (two years, $19.25MM). While Hyde never became a top-market safety, he did well for himself as a pro by crossing the $50MM mark in career earnings during the 2023 season. Overall, Hyde has earned more than $53MM as a pro.

Hyde came back from a season-ending neck injury, one that gave Hamlin his first batch of starts before the latter’s terrifying injury in Cincinnati, to start alongside Poyer in the 2023 season. But the Bills drafted Cole Bishop in the 2024 second round; the Utah product became their No. 3 safety this season. Rapp’s new deal locks him down through the 2026 season, while Bishop could be in line to replace Hamlin as a starter — should the free agent-to-be leave Buffalo in March.

Raiders To Interview Rob Leonard For DC

January 27th, 2025 at 4:29pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Raiders are in position to move on from Patrick Graham after he worked as the team’s defensive coordinator for the past three years. New head coach Pete Carroll has not dismissed Graham, but he is looking into alternative DC options.

At least one of those will be an internal candidate. Vegas will interview defensive line coach Rob Leonard for the coordinator position, as noted by Tashan Reed of The Athletic. Leonard is now the second staffer connected to the gig.

For the first three seasons of his coaching career, Leonard worked at his alma mater (North Carolina State). He has been in the NFL since 2013, with his first pro opportunity coming from the Giants. Leonard worked as a position coach during his six-year New York tenure, one which was followed by time with the Dolphins and Ravens. A veteran of multiple roles coaching players along the defensive front, he has been in place with the Raiders for the past two seasons.

Vegas was hit hard up front by injuries in 2024. Malcolm Koonce faced high expectations entering the campaign, but a knee injury left him sidelined for the entire season. Fellow edge rusher Maxx Crosby was limited to 12 games due to an ankle injury, meanwhile, something which left the Raiders particularly shorthanded to close out the campaign. The team took a step back in terms of sacks recorded this year, but in 2023 Leonard’s unit demonstrated potential in that department.

It is already known that Seahawks pass-game coordinator Karl Scott has received an interview request. Scott is the last remaining Seattle staffer with ties to Carroll, so it comes as no surprise a reunion will be considered. It will be interesting to see if any other in-house options receive a look in addition to Leonard as the Raiders (presumably) expand their search over the coming days.

Packers To Retain Luke Getsy, Extend ST Coordinator Rich Bisaccia

January 27th, 2025 at 3:40pm CST by Sam Robinson

JANUARY 27: Getsy is indeed set to remain with the Packers as a senior offensive assistant, Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports. It comes as no surprise he will return to his more familiar side of the ball in 2025.

Silverstein adds that special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia has received an extension. Green Bay’s assistant head coach was believed to have one year left on his deal, with Silverstein noting retirement may have been under consideration. Now, another year has been tacked onto his pact, so the 64-year-old is in position to remain in place through 2026.

JANUARY 24: Following Robert Saleh, Luke Getsy joined Matt LaFleur‘s Packers staff in an advisory capacity after an in-season firing. The short-lived Raiders OC worked remotely for a stretch helping out Green Bay’s defense, while the defense-oriented Saleh aided the offense.

Getsy has an extensive history with the Packers, and ESPN.com’s Rob Demovsky indicates the team is expected to retain the two-time OC on its 2025 staff. The Pack need a new quarterbacks coach, after veteran Tom Clements‘ latest retirement, and Getsy has experience in that role.

The Bears hired Getsy off the Packers’ staff in 2022, as Matt Eberflus tasked him with elevating Justin Fields. Although steady criticism came Getsy’s way, Fields did take significant steps as a runner during Getsy’s tenure. A bid to break Lamar Jackson‘s single-season QB rushing record fell short, as the Bears rested Fields for a Week 18 game in which a loss would have given them a chance at the No. 1 overall pick. Fields did not ultimately progress where the Bears wanted as a passer, though had Chicago not obtained that top pick in 2023 and traded it to the freefalling Panthers (ahead of Carolina’s pick becoming No. 1 in 2024), there is a good chance Fields would have played out his rookie deal with the Bears.

Antonio Pierce also booted Getsy, doing so halfway into a miserable Raiders season. As Pierce voiced issues with the Raiders’ Gardner Minshew-centered quarterback plan, the team traded Davante Adams after having lost Josh Jacobs in free agency. Amid a losing streak, Getsy lost his job. LaFleur, who had rehired Getsy after he had initially caught on under Mike McCarthy, gave his former assistant a landing spot post-Las Vegas. Barring another OC interview coming up, Getsy may be prepared to settle in Green Bay once again.

Getsy, 40, worked with the Packers from 2014-17 and then again, after a year at Mississippi State, from 2019-21. He served as the team’s QBs coach during Aaron Rodgers‘ third and fourth MVP seasons (and Jordan Love‘s first two NFL years), launching him onto the OC carousel. The Pack could also be a team to watch involving recently dismissed OC Bobby Slowik, per Demovsky, as the second-generation NFL coach is a Green Bay native. But Slowik generating OC interest is more plausible compared to Getsy right now; it is far from certain he would be available as an assistant to work under/alongside OC Adam Stenavich.

Jaguars To Conduct DC Interview With Daronte Jones

January 27th, 2025 at 3:10pm CST by Adam La Rose

Liam Coen is officially in place as the Jaguars’ head coach. Attention for the team will now turn to filling out the staff, particularly the coordinator positions.

On the defensive side of the ball, the first candidate (in terms of ones set to speak with the team) has emerged. Jacksonville will interview Daronte Jones for the DC position, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports. Jones has spent the past three years with the Vikings, serving as their pass game coordinator since 2023.

The 46-year-old’s playing career came to an abrupt end due to injury during his time in college, but he quickly transitioned to coaching. Jones spent time at the high school, CFL and college levels for several years before his first NFL opportunity came with the Dolphins in 2016. Since that time, he has also worked as a positional coach with the Bengals and Vikings.

In between, Jones spent the 2021 season as LSU’s defensive coordinator. While a move to the DC level in the NFL would be unprecedented, he does have some experience in that role. Still, it would come as little surprise if Coen preferred a veteran presence on the sidelines given his status as a rookie head coach with an offensive background.

To that end, it is notable a report from the weekend named Patrick Graham as a top candidate for the Jags’ DC posting. The 46-year-old has been at the helm of the Raiders’ defense for the past three seasons, and he has also worked at the coordinator level with the Giants and Dolphins. That experience stands in stark contrast to that of Jones, but the fact the latter has a meeting lined up means he is likely to receive at least some consideration from Coen and Co.

Texans To Conduct OC Interview With Jerrod Johnson; Jets Also Interested

January 27th, 2025 at 1:35pm CST by Adam La Rose

For each of the past two seasons, the Texans have advanced to the divisional round of the postseason. In spite of that success, the team made a coordinator change by firing offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik.

In the wake of that decision, a shortlist of replacement candidates emerged. One of those was quarterbacks coach Jerrod Johnson, so to no surprise he is set to speak with the Texans for the coordinator gig. Houston will interview him this week, Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 reports.

Johnson has a relationship with quarterback C.J. Stroud dating back to 2019. Last season’s Offensive Rookie of the Year has been complimentary of Johnson during his time with the Texans, and it would be sensible to allow the two to continue working together. Their dynamic would of course change in the event Johnson were to be promoted to OC, but it is a possibility to watch for.

The Texans are not alone in being interested for Johnson, though. Wilson adds the Jets are “expected to pursue an interview” with the 36-year-old. Aaron Glenn is in place as New York’s head coach, but he has yet to fill the offensive or defensive coordinator spots. A list of Jets OC candidates is already in place, but plenty of time remains for it to grow to include Johnson.

A former undrafted free agent, Johnson’s playing career saw him spend time in the NFL, CFL and UFL from 2011-16. His coaching tenure started in 2017, and after a one-year stint with the 49ers he spent three seasons on the Colts’ staff. Johnson worked as an offensive quality control coach there before moving on to the Vikings as their assistant QBs coach. A member of DeMeco Ryans’ initial Texans staff, Johnson has held his current title since 2023.

Via PFR’s OC/DC Tracker, here is an updated look at the Texans’ ongoing coordinator search:

49ers Hire Brant Boyer As ST Coordinator

January 27th, 2025 at 11:55am CST by Adam La Rose

Brant Boyer has found his next NFL opportunity. The veteran coach is set to take charge of the 49ers’ special teams in 2025.

San Francisco announced Boyer’s hire on Monday. The 53-year-old had spent the past nine years as the Jets’ special teams coordinator, overseeing a unit which has seen a wide range of performances. He recently interviewed with the 49ers, as noted by Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area.

New York saw Boyer’s unit deliver performances as low as 30th in the NFL in EPA on special teams but also as high as first (h/t ESPN’s Nick Wagoner). The 49ers have long struggled to find third phase consistency, and that will be the goal moving forward as Boyer replaces Brian Schneider. Notably, Maiocco’s report adds that Nick Sorensen is not expected to remain with the team.

Sorensen worked as San Francisco’s defensive coordinator in 2024 after taking over from Steve Wilks. Head coach Kyle Shanahan elected to look internally after Wilks’ one-and-done campaign. It became clear after the season that Sorensen would not remain as the 49ers’ DC, but at that point the possibility remained he could stay on in another role. Especially with the ST coordinator position now filled, it appears he will need to look elsewhere for his next gig.

After briefly working with the Browns and Giants, Boyer served as an assistant special teams coach for the Colts. From 2012-15, he played a key role in Indianapolis’ third phase success, leading to his first coordinator opportunity. It will be interesting to see how his second plays out.

Raiders Request DC Interview With Karl Scott; Bo Hardegree, David Shaw On Radar?

January 27th, 2025 at 11:09am CST by Adam La Rose

Pete Carroll is set to return to the NFL coaching ranks with the Raiders. As the 73-year-old prepares to fill out his staff, a number of names worth monitoring have emerged.

Karl Scott was floated as a potential defensive coordinator candidate once the news of Carroll’s Vegas hire emerged. Scott serves as the Seahawks’ defensive passing game coordinator and he represents the last holdover from Carroll’s Seattle staffs. To no surprise, then, CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones reports Scott has received a DC interview request from the Raiders.

Vegas has had Patrick Graham in place as defensive coordinator for the past three seasons, but with a new staff incoming it would come as no surprise if he were to depart in the near future. The 46-year-old is believed to be a leading candidate for the Jaguars’ DC gig, so he may have his next opportunity lined up soon. In any case, it will be interesting to see if Scott receives strong consideration to reunite with Carroll in Vegas.

The 39-year-old began his coaching career in 2007, making a number of stops at the college level. Scott spent three seasons working under Nick Saban at Alabama as the team’s defensive backs coach before receiving his first look in the NFL. The Vikings hired him to be their DBs coach for 2021, and he has held that same role with the Seahawks since 2022.

Making the jump to defensive coordinator would be a first for Scott, but given his familiarity with Carroll the Raiders’ gig could be a suitable one. Vegas finished ninth in points allowed in 2023, but this past season – one in which injuries along the edge in particular hindered the team – saw a regression to 25th in that department. Whether Scott or another candidate is hired, guiding that unit to a rebound will be a clear goal next season.

With respect to the offensive coordinator position, a separate Jones report notes Bo Hardegree is a name to watch. The Titans’ quarterbacks coach previously held that title with the Raiders; in 2023, he served as Vegas’ interim OC. A return to Sin City could be in order, especially since Hardegree (who interviewed with the Bears before they made their offensive coordinator hire) is still on the market.

Jones also writes that David Shaw could be on the Raiders’ radar. The longitme Stanford head coach has drawn HC interest around the NFL in recent years, and in 2024 he worked with the Broncos as a senior personnel executive. Shaw, 52, was also on the Bears’ interview list for their offensive coordinator gig. He, along with Scott and Hardegree, will be worth watching closely as Carroll weighs his staffing options.

Patriots To Hire Thomas Brown, Doug Marrone

January 27th, 2025 at 9:42am CST by Adam La Rose

Mike Vrabel continues to build his Patriots staff, and a pair of interesting names have emerged on Monday as that process continues. Thomas Brown is the latest coach to head to New England.

Brown is being brought in, Mark Daniels of MassLive reports. He held three different titles during his time with the Bears this past season, including of course interim offensive coordinator and later interim head coach. It was already known he would not return to Chicago, but he has not needed to wait long to find his next opportunity.

Daniels’ report did not specify what Brown’s role will be in New England, but Tom Pelissero of NFL Network clarifies he will work as the Patriots’ tight ends coach and passing game coordinator. That is roughly in line with where Brown stood with the Bears at the start of the 2024 campaign, one in which Shane Waldron was fired midseason. Brown took over as Chicago’s play-caller, eventually earning another promotion when head coach Matt Eberflus was dismissed.

That left the 38-year-old in an interesting position at the onset of the hiring cycle. Brown interviewed with the Bears for the full-time HC gig, but as expected the team made a strong (and successful) push to hire Ben Johnson away from the Lions. Considering Brown met with the Patriots for their offensive coordinator position, though, this news comes as little surprise.

Vrabel and the Patriots reunited with Josh McDaniels to serve (once again) as offensive coordinator for 2025. Brown will have a role on the new-look staff, working closely with a tight ends room led by Hunter Henry. The veteran set a new career high in catches and yards in 2024, and he will be counted on to remain a key contributor on offense moving forward. It will be interesting to see how Brown fares in rebuilding his stock over the course of his Patriots tenure.

Prior to the news of Brown’s hire on Monday, it was learned Doug Marrone will be joining the Patriots’ staff as well. ESPN’s Mike Reiss notes Marrone’s title is uncertain at this point, but his experience working on the offensive line suggests he could be heavily involved with a unit in need of significantly improved play moving forward. Marrone’s NFL coaching career has included seven years as a head coach (five in Jacksonville, two in Buffalo) as well as an offensive coordinator stint in New Orleans. McDaniels will certainly have a veteran presence on his latest Patriots staff.

Marrone spent the 2024 campaign at Boston College working as a senior analyst for football strategy, so a role along those lines could also be in play. In any event, his addition – along with that of Brown – adds to the number of notable staffers in place under Vrabel for 2025.

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