Eagles Hire 15 Assistants
5:46pm: The Eagles have made Reich’s hiring official. They’ve also named 14 other assistants to posts. Seven of those coaches are holdovers from Chip Kelly‘s staff. Here’s the list (unless otherwise specified, the names come courtesy of the Eagles’ website):
- Eugene Chung, offensive line/tight ends/running game
- Phillip Daniels, defensive quality control/assistant defensive line
- Dave Fipp, special teams
- Ken Flajole, linebackers
- Matthew Harper, assistant special teams
- Tim Hauck, defensive backs/safeties
- Greg Lewis, wide receivers (Twitter link via ESPN’s Adam Caplan)
- Justin Peelle, tight ends
- Jim Schwartz, defensive coordinator
- Duce Staley, running backs
- Jeff Stoutland, offensive line
- Press Taylor, offensive quality control/assistant quarterbacks
- Cory Undlin, defensive backs/cornerbacks
- Dino Vasso, defensive quality control/assistant secondary
On the heels of these moves, the Eagles released offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur and linebackers coaches Rick Minter and Bill McGovern from their contracts, according to Caplan (on Twitter). They let go of previous D-coordinator Billy Davis on Monday, per Caplan (Twitter link).
1:40pm: The Eagles have reached an agreement with Frank Reich to make him their new offensive coordinator, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSports.com, who reports (via Twitter) that it’s a “done deal.” Reich had been scheduled to have a formal interview with the team today, and Adam Caplan of ESPN.com had suggested “it would be an upset” if he wasn’t hired (Twitter link).
[RELATED: Eagles hire Jim Schwartz as defensive coordinator]
Reich, recently fired as the Chargers’ offensive coordinator after two seasons leading San Diego’s offense, interviewed for the same position on Adam Gase‘s Dolphins staff, but Miami ultimately chose Clyde Christensen as their new OC.
Had he become the Dolphins’ offensive coordinator, Reich wouldn’t have called the team’s plays (Gase will do that), and it looks as if he won’t handle that responsibility in Philadelphia either. New head coach Doug Pederson indicated during his introductory press conference on Tuesday that he expects to call offensive plays in 2016.
In San Diego, Reich was let go in large part due to the Chargers’ ineffective running game, but he did just fine with the team’s aerial attack — Philip Rivers led the NFL in completed passes in 2015, racking up nearly 4,800 yards passing to go along with 29 touchdowns.
Injuries have plagued the Chargers over the last couple years, and health problems on the offensive line likely contributed to the struggles of first-round running back Melvin Gordon, but Reich took the fall for the offense’s regression. In 2014, Reich’s first year as offensive coordinator, San Diego went from second in offensive DVOA to 11th. The team slipped to 15th this season, and the Chargers also went from scoring nearly 25 points per game in 2013 to just 20 by 2015.
In addition to reaching a deal with Reich, the Eagles have also reportedly agreed to hire former Browns offensive coordinator John DeFilippo as the club’s quarterbacks coach. The new additions to Pederson’s offensive coaching staff likely spell the end of Pat Shurmur‘s time in Philadelphia, despite the fact that the new head coach said on Tuesday that Shurmur would receive consideration for the OC role.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Dolphins Hire Clyde Christensen As OC
JANUARY 20: The Dolphins have made the hiring of Christensen official, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle. They’ve also named Bo Hardegree their new quarterbacks coach, according to Adam H. Beasley of the Miami Herald (Twitter link). Hardegree worked with Gase as an offensive assistant in both Denver and Chicago.
JANUARY 16: The Dolphins will hire Colts quarterbacks coach Clyde Christensen as their new offensive coordinator, reports Adam Schefter of ESPN (Twitter link). Alex Marvez of FOX Sports reported just a few hours ago that Christensen was a candidate for the position.
[RELATED: Dolphins hire Vance Joseph as defensive coordinator]
Christensen is the latest new face on first-time head coach Adam Gase‘s Miami staff, but his role probably won’t be as large as new defensive coordinator Vance Joseph‘s, for example. While Joseph will likely control all aspects of his defensive unit, Gase – a former offensive coordinator himself – will call the plays for the Dolphins, meaning Christensen will probably take on more of an administrative role.
Nevertheless, Christensen will certainly play a part in reshaping a Miami offense that finished just 22nd in the league in DVOA. As noted, the 59-year-old Christensen most recently acted as the Colts’ QBs coach, but he does have coordinator experience, acting in that capacity for Indianapolis from 2009-11 and with Tampa Bay in 2001. All told, Christensen’s coaching experience (pro and collegiate) dates back to 1979, but the last 14 years have been spent with the Colts.
Along with Christensen, former Chargers OC Frank Reich was also interviewed for the Dolphins vacancy. You can follow all the latest assistant coaching headlines by bookmarking our 2016 Offensive/Defensive Coordinator Tracker.
49ers Offer Mike Vrabel DC Job
The 49ers have offered Texans assistant Mike Vrabel their defensive coordinator job, sources tell Dianna Marie Russini of ESPN.com (Twitter link). According to Russini, the team is currently waiting on Vrabel’s answer. It should come soon, as new head coach Chip Kelly said Wednesday that he’d like to have his staff in place within the next week (Twitter link via the team).
[RELATED: 49ers hire Chip Kelly as head coach]
Vrabel, who spent most of his NFL playing career with the Patriots, winning three Super Bowls with New England, began his coaching career in 2011 following his retirement as a player. After spending three seasons as a positions coach at Ohio State, Vrabel joined the Texans in 2014. He has been the linebackers coach in Houston for the last two years.
The Niners interviewed Vrabel for their defensive coordinator opening on Tuesday, a day before Kelly was introduced to the media. A Tuesday report indicated that incumbent defensive coordinator Eric Mangini would also interview for the job, despite a Monday report suggesting that there was a “strong possibility” he’d be retained.
If Vrabel ends up accepting the 49ers’ reported offer and becoming the club’s new defensive coordinator, he’ll have a challenging task ahead. In Philadelphia, Kelly’s Eagles ranked at the bottom of the NFL in terms of time of possession in each of the last three seasons due to their fast-paced offense, which forced the defense to spend plenty of time on the field. Mangini’s 49ers unit, meanwhile, ranked 29th in the NFL in yards allowed per game (387.4) in 2015, finishing outside the top 25 against both the run and the pass.
As for Mangini, if he ends up on the outside looking in when San Francisco makes its defensive coordinator hire, he’ll hardly be the first assistant coach Kelly has replaced. We learned on Tuesday that offensive coordinator Geep Chryst and eight other assistants won’t be returning to the team for the 2016 season.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Community Tailgate: NFL FA Power Rankings
As Super Bowl 50 nears, there are plenty of topics and storylines to discuss, and PFR’s Community Tailgate is designed to address those stories. What’s the Community Tailgate all about? Well, it’s pretty simple. We’ll highlight one of the top stories going on in the NFL. Then, in the comment section below, we want you to weigh in and let us know what you think.
Of course, while the debate may get spirited, we ask that it all stays respectful. If you need a reminder of our rules, please check out our commenting policy. Basically, we ask that you refrain from inappropriate language, personal insults, and attacks. Speaking of commenting: we’ve made it much easier to leave a comment here at Pro Football Rumors. You are no longer required to be a registered user – simply put in your name, email address, and comment and submit.
With only three more games left on the NFL’s schedule for the 2015/16 season, fans of 28 teams around the league have already started looking ahead to the offseason decisions facing their respective clubs. Coaching changes are well underway, and draft selections will be made in the spring, but in between, the NFL conversation figures to be dominated by free agency.
While not every team gets overly involved on the free agent market, each of the NFL’s 32 franchises has at least one notable contributor eligible for free agency this winter, so it’s worth looking ahead to which players could have the biggest impact if they sign with new teams. Dallas Robinson of Pro Football Rumors did just that over the weekend, checking in with a second installment of his Free Agent Power Rankings.
Here’s a breakdown of Dallas’s list, which is ranked in terms of projected guaranteed money for these free-agents-to-be:
- Von Miller, OLB (Broncos)
- Alshon Jeffery, WR (Bears)
- Kirk Cousins, QB (Washington)
- Kelechi Osemele, G/T (Ravens)
- Josh Norman, CB (Panthers)
- Muhammad Wilkerson, DE (Jets)
- Sam Bradford, QB (Eagles)
- Cordy Glenn, T (Bills)
- Russell Okung, T (Seahawks)
- Eric Berry, S (Chiefs)
For explanations of those rankings, you can check out Dallas’s full piece. After you do, and after you take a look at our complete list of 2016 free agents, we want you to weigh in.
Does this top 10 look good to you? Are there players listed here that you think shouldn’t make the cut, or omissions that need to be listed? And how many of these players do you think will actually be available in March, having not been franchised or extended by their current teams?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below!
North Notes: Allen, Gordon, Bears, Packers
Asked today during a press conference if he has confidence that cornerback Cortez Allen can be an impact player going forward, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin admitted that he’s not convinced of that, per Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Twitter link). Since signing a four-year, $24.6MM extension about a year and a half ago, Allen has struggled significantly — he was benched in 2014 and missed nearly all of the 2015 season with a knee injury.
While it’s possible that Tomlin’s comment was a motivational tactic for Allen heading into 2016, it seems more likely that the club simply plans on moving on from the cornerback. Releasing him this winter would only save $1.7MM against the cap, but the club could increase those savings for 2016 to $4.4MM by designating Allen as a post-June 1 cut and pushing some of his dead money to 2017.
As we wait to see what the Steelers plan on doing with Allen, let’s check in on a few more items from out of the NFL’s North divisions….
- Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon, who has filed for reinstatement from his year-long suspension, believes he has a “good chance” of having that application approved, says Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link). According to Cole, Gordon has been working out in California and keeping his distant from bad influences as he looks to return to the NFL for the 2016 season.
- With Dowell Loggains ascending to the Bears‘ offensive coordinator job to replace Adam Gase, the club will need to name a new quarterbacks coach. According to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune, wide receivers coach Mike Groh is an in-house candidate for that role. Biggs also identifies former Louisville quarterback Dave Ragone as a potential option for Loggains’ staff, though Ragone may still be under contract with Washington.
- Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com has the details on which Packers players cashed in on per-game roster bonuses this season.
- The Packers brought in wide receivers Kadron Boone and Jimmy Jean for workouts, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (via Twitter).
NFC West Rumors: Shanahan, Long, Okung
Mike Shanahan received strong consideration from the 49ers as the team was deliberating over its new head coach, with former players like Steve Young and Ronnie Lott talking to the team on Shanahan’s behalf, says Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link). However, according to Cole, a key factor in the Niners’ decision to go with Chip Kelly was the club’s belief that Shanahan wanted to move on from Colin Kaepernick, using San Francisco’s first-round pick to draft a quarterback.
It remains to be seen whether Kaepernick will bounce back under Kelly’s system, given his accuracy issues, but 49ers management has some confidence that the quarterback can still have success in San Francisco, and Kelly appears likely to give him a shot.
Here’s more from around the NFC West:
- After battling through another injury-plagued season in 2015, veteran defensive end Chris Long is entering the final year of his contract, and the Rams seem unlikely to keep him around at his current price ($9.75MM base salary, $14.25MM cap hit). Would Long consider a pay cut to remain with the franchise as it moves to Los Angeles? “Of course I’m open to doing something like that,” Long said, per Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com. “It’s not about the money at this point for me.”
- As he prepares to represent himself in free agency, Seahawks tackle Russell Okung tells Sheil Kapadia of ESPN.com that he has done his homework and he thinks he’ll make out well.
- Peter King of TheMMQB.com provides some illuminating details about last week’s owners meeting in Houston that resulted in the Rams‘ plan for relocation to Los Angeles being approved. According to King, Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie and Seahawks owner Paul Allen were among those in the room who helped shift the momentum from the Carson project to Stan Kroenke‘s Inglewood plan.
Coach Rumors: Shula, Lynn, 49ers, Manusky
It was widely reported during the week leading up to the NFL’s Wild Card games this month that Panthers offensive coordinator Mike Shula wasn’t interested in interviewing for any head coaching jobs while Carolina remained alive in the playoffs. However, speaking to Alex Marvez of FOX Sports, Shula says he’s not sure where that perception came from.
“All I said (to the media) was I’m focused on the playoffs,” Shula said. “The other quote was if it did happen, if I was approached, I’d have to consider that at the time. Those were my only quotes … Somebody said I had an agent out there talking, too. I don’t have an agent. I have a friend that helps me, but he definitely wasn’t that person … I don’t know where that (report) came from.”
It’s somewhat odd that Shula would clarify his stance now, after all the vacant head coaching positions have been filled, rather than earlier in the interview process. Those reports suggesting he was reluctant to interview for other jobs while preparing for Panthers playoff games didn’t materialize out of thin air, so even if Shula claims he would have been open to opportunities, I’d imagine he’s happy to remain in his current role.
Here are a few more coaching-related updates from around the NFL:
- Bills running backs coach and assistant head coach Anthony Lynn is interviewing for the 49ers‘ offensive coordinator job, a source tells Marvez (Twitter link). Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (Twitter link) hears that the interview is scheduled to take place on Thursday. Lynn previously met with the Niners during the team’s head coaching search.
- Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com provides another update on the 49ers, tweeting that Chip Kelly is interested in finding a spot on his staff for Jeff Nixon, who spent five years as the Dolphins’ running backs coach.
- According to Marvez (Twitter link), Washington is set to hire Greg Manusky – who was the Colts’ defensive coordinator up until the end of the 2015 season – as the club’s outside linebackers coach. However, Mike Jones of the Washington Post (Twitter link) and ESPN’s John Keim hear there’s no deal in place yet, though they both say Washington has interest in Manusky, with Keim confirming the team interviewed him.
- The Titans have one more defensive line coach interview taking place today before making a decision on the position, tweets Marvez. Former Giants assistant Robert Nunn is one candidate for the job.
Josh Gordon Files For Reinstatement
Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon has filed his application for reinstatement from the suspension that sidelined him for the 2015 season, reports Tony Grossi of ESPNCleveland.com. It’s not clear exactly when Gordon submitted his application for reinstatement to the league office, but the rules of the process dictate that he’ll have his answer within 60 days, so we should learn his fate for 2016 within the next month or two.
Since his entry into the league in 2012, Gordon’s NFL career has been tumultuous to say the least. He missed the first two games of the 2013 season following a drug suspension, but then went on to lead the NFL in receiving yards, finishing with 87 receptions for 1,646 yards and nine touchdowns.
Hopes were high for the 2014 season, but Gordon’s off-the-field issues resurfaced, as he was first arrested for DUI, and then suspended for one year after again violating the league’s substance-abuse policy. He was eventually reinstated after only 10 games as part of the NFL and the players’ union agreeing to a new drug policy, which reduced the sentences for some players-in-limbo. The Browns subsequently suspended Gordon for the final contest of the season after he reportedly violated team rules, and then a failed alcohol test resulted in the wideout’s ban of at least a year last February.
“To be reinstated, a player must demonstrate sustained abstinence,” NFL spokesman Greg Aiello explained in an email to Grossi. “In support of their applications, players generally put forward verifiable testing records and/or submit to periodic NFL testing during the banishment period.”
While former Browns head coach Mike Pettine indicated in December that the team would welcome Gordon back with open arms, Pettine is obviously no longer involved in making that decision, and neither is former general manager Ray Farmer. So if Gordon is reinstated, it will be up to a group that includes Hue Jackson, Sashi Brown, and Paul DePodesta to decide whether the 24-year-old remains part of Cleveland’s plans.
Since Gordon’s contract tolled in 2015, his free agency has been postponed by a year — he’ll be eligible for restricted free agency a year from now if he’s on an NFL roster for at least six games in 2016. The team suspension that kept Gordon out of the 2014 regular-season finale cost him the opportunity to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of his contract, since it limited him to five games in 2014. The NFLPA filed a grievance against the Browns on Gordon’s behalf for that suspension, but there has been no indication that the complaint was – or will be – successful.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Extra Points: Shula, Irvin, Falcons, Packers
Panthers offensive coordinator Mike Shula made it known during the head coaching hiring cycle that he wasn’t interested in taking interviews until Carolina’s playoff run was complete, preferring to focus on the task at hand. While it’s certainly an admirable approach, it may have cost him at least one job, as Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports that the Dolphins never reached out to Shula because they wanted to hire a head coach quickly. Miami did become the first franchise to hire a new HC, agreeing to terms with Adam Gase on January 9.
Here’s more from around the NFL:
- Although Seahawks linebacker Bruce Irvin recently told the media that he’d be willing to accept less money to stay with the Seahawks, Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com isn’t necessarily buying it. Irvin is an Atlanta native, and the Falcons would be offering him a chance to reunite with ex-Seattle coordinator Dan Quinn. Plus, notes McClure, Atlanta has shown a willingness to spend on defensive acquisitions in the past.
- In other Falcons news, receiver Devin Hester is set to face a three-to-six month recovery after undergoing toe surgery today, according to McClure. Hester, who missed 11 games in 2015 due to the injury, might miss some offseason work, but should be healthy by the start of the 2016 season.
- The Packers and GM Ted Thompson are interested in Mississippi State linebacker Beniquez Brown, a source tells Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net. Brown is a potential third-round pick, in the estimation of Pauline.
- CFL receiver Eric Rogers recently worked out for the Colts, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (Twitter link). This is Rogers’ third PFR mention today, so it’s clear that he’s getting attention around the league.
Latest On Browns’ Coaching Staff Targets
9:36pm: The Dolphins wanted to interview Wilson for a running game coordinator position as well, writes Goessling in a full post, but the Vikings blocked Miami’s and Cleveland’s requests with the hope that they could sign Wilson for 2016 and beyond.
9:13pm: Wilson’s Wednesday interview is almost a formality, according to Goessling, who reports (Twitter link) that Wilson is “all but assured” of landing the running game coordinator position.
8:27pm: New Browns head coach Hue Jackson is still working to formulate a coaching staff, and it appears as though several new hires are close to being finalized. Veteran offensive coordinator Al Saunders is expected to join Cleveland as an assistant, according to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, while former Vikings running backs coach Kirby Wilson will interview with the club on Wednesday with an eye toward becoming the Browns’ running game coordinator, per Ben Goessling of ESPN.com.
Jackson and Saunders have a working relationship that dates back to the 2009 season, when both were working for the Ravens (they also worked together on the 2011 Raiders), so it’s no surprise that Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com reported this morning that Saunders was a “strong candidate” to join the Cleveland staff. The 68-year-old Saunders offers more than thirty years of NFL coaching experience, and while he won’t be calling plays (Jackson will do that), he’ll presumably help design the club’s weekly game plan.
Meanwhile, Wilson’s contract with the Vikings expired today, per Goessling, so he is now free to negotiate with any team. Previous reports indicated that Minnesota had blocked Cleveland’s request to interview Wilson, but now that he is no longer under contract, the Browns don’t need the Vikings’ approval. Wilson would add yet another voice — including Sanders and possibly Pep Hamilton, whom Jackson is also said to be courting — to Cleveland’s offensive meeting room.
Of course, Saunders and Wilson aren’t the only coaches that Jackson is reportedly eyeing, as we heard this morning that — after much trepidation — Titans defensive coordinator Ray Horton interviewed for the same position with the Browns. In her report linked above, Cabot confirmed that today’s scheduled meeting did in fact take place.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.