Jaguars Meet With Grant Udinski; Team Requests OL Interview With Austin Gund
Three more of the league’s offensive coordinator vacancies were filled on Friday. The Jaguars are among the teams who have yet to fill their OC position, though, and their search process is ongoing. So far, their search has been less than exhaustive, with the team only interviewing two candidates, Commanders quarterbacks coach Tavita Pritchard and Rams pass game specialist Nate Scheelhaase, to replace Press Taylor.
A third interview took place today, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, as the Jaguars hosted Vikings assistant offensive coordinator and assistant quarterbacks coach Grant Udinski. At only 29 years old, Udinski has been on a meteoric rise through the coaching ranks.
After going undrafted in 2019 as a defensive end out of Towson, Udinski traveled to Waco, TX, where he served for a year as a graduate assistant under then-Baylor head coach Matt Rhule. The next year, Udinski followed Rhule to Carolina as a coaching assistant for the Panthers, where he remained for two years.
Under the advice of Vikings passing game coordinator and tight ends coach Brian Angelichio, who had worked with Udinski for two years in Carolina, Minnesota hired Udinski on as assistant to the head coach/special projects in 2022. After a year in that role, Udinski was promoted to assistant quarterbacks coach, and this season, he added assistant offensive coordinator to his title, as well.
It’s not uncommon to see young coaches quickly rise through the ranks on offensive coaching staffs, but those phenoms are usually former quarterbacks with a high understanding of offensive schemes and philosophies. It’s strange to see so much offensive responsibility handed to a man who only seven years ago was playing defense at Towson as a walk-on. It probably doesn’t hurt that he was a CoSIDA academic first-team all-American with high marks at both the undergraduate and master’s levels of his education.
The Jaguars are not alone in their interest in Udinski, either. Today’s interview was Udinski’s fifth for an offensive coordinator role this offseason. A popular name, Udinski first interviewed twice with the Seahawks (a job that went to Klint Kubiak), then interviewed with the Patriots (a job that went to Josh McDaniels) before interviewing with the Buccaneers (a job that went to Josh Grizzard) and the Texans. While there’s a chance that the Houston and Jacksonville jobs may, too, fall out of his reach, it seems clear that Udinski’s trajectory is not slowing. The young coach is likely to find a home as a coordinator soon.
Despite having not hired an offensive coordinator yet, the Jaguars are reportedly actively looking to fill one of their position coaching jobs on the offensive side of the ball. Per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Jacksonville requested permission to interview Bills offensive/offensive line assistant Austin Gund for what he called “their open offensive line coaching position,” which seems to indicate that incumbent offensive line coach Phil Rauscher will not be returning to the role. Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports adds that the team has requested to interview 49ers assistant offensive line coach Cameron Clemmons for the job, as well.
Here’s a breakdown of the Jaguars’ search to fill the offensive coordinator position:
- Chip Kelly, offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach (Ohio State): Team has interest
- Tavita Pritchard, quarterbacks coach (Commanders): Interviewed 1/29
- Nate Scheelhaase, pass game specialist (Rams): Interviewed 1/29
- Grant Udinski, assistant quarterbacks coach (Vikings): Interviewed 1/31
Ely Allen contributed to this post.
NFL Reserve/Futures Deals: 1/31/25
Cowboys Aiming To Hire Klayton Adams?
4:07pm: While the list of known candidates for Dallas’ OC position has grown, Adams remains the name to watch closely. The Cowboys are “zeroing in on” Adams as their top choice, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports. As coordinator dominoes continue to fall, it will be interesting to see if Dallas moves quickly in the wake of today’s in-person interview.
10:41am: A favorite has emerged regarding the Cowboys’ offensive coordinator interview. After only two known virtual interviews for the position took place, an in-person meeting has been arranged. 
Dallas will speak again with Klayton Adams for the OC gig, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports. This summit will take place today, he adds. If all goes well for the Cardinals’ offensive line coach, he may very well take over as the Cowboys’ new offensive coordinator.
Adams’ first interview took place earlier this week, and at that time he was labeled as a strong contender for the position. It thus comes as no surprise a follow-up has quickly been arranged. Former OC Brian Schottenheimer was promoted to head coach for the first time in his career, and he will call plays on offense in 2025. With Matt Eberflus back in the organization (this time as DC) and Nick Sorensen in place as special teams coordinator, most of the major moves for his first staff have already been made. That will be especially true once a new offensive coordinator is brought in.
Adams immediately transitioned to coaching after his playing career ended in 2004. He worked at his alma mater (Boise State) for two seasons before seeing time at four other college programs. That included six years at Colorado, the final one of which saw him handle co-offensive coordinator duties. The 41-year-old’s first NFL tenure came with the Colts (2019-22), where he worked with the team’s offensive linemen and tight ends.
For the past two years, Adams has worked with the Cardinals. Arizona has been strong in the running game over that time, something which has helped boost his stock regarding a potential coordinator gig. No other team has been connected to Adams during the 2025 hiring cycle, but a mutual interested clearly exists with the Cowboys. Dallas has also met with Falcons tight ends coach Kevin Koger in addition to being linked to Ken Dorsey. Other candidates could still emerge, but for now Adams appears to be in pole position.
Cowboys Interview Scottie Montgomery For OC Position
Brian Schottenheimer will call plays for the Cowboys in 2025, his debut season as a head coach. His choice of offensive coordinator will still be an important one, and the list of candidates for the position has grown. 
Lions running backs coach Scottie Montgomery has interviewed with the Cowboys, ESPN’s Todd Archer reports. He is the third staffer to speak with the team on the OC front as a result. This is the first coordinator gig Montgomery has been connected to in the 2025 hiring cycle.
The 46-year-old saw his playing career end in 2005, and he immediately took up coaching. Montgomery worked at his alma mater (Duke) from 2006-09 and again from 2013-15 as offensive coordinator and associate head coach. His college resume also includes time as East Carolina’s head coach as well as a two-year stint as OC at Maryland.
Montgomery first worked in the NFL with the Steelers (2010-12) and he returned to the pro game with the Colts in 2021. After a pair of seasons working with Jonathan Taylor and Co. as Indianapolis’ running backs coach, he joined Dan Campbell‘s staff as RBs coach. Montgomery has also held the title of assistant head coach during his time in Detroit, which has allowed him to oversee arguably the league’s top backfield tandem in Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery.
The Lions have already seen Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn depart their coordinator positions for head coaching gigs. Campbell expected to lose both during the 2025 cycle, and further changes on his staff could be coming with Tanner Engstrand seen as the frontrunner for the Jets’ OC job. Losing Montgomery would mark another blow to the Lions, although it would give the Cowboys a staffer with a strong background in the run game, an area in which Dallas certainly has considerable room for improvement.
Via PFR’s OC/DC Tracker, here is an updated look at the Cowboys’ search:
- Klayton Adams, offensive line coach (Cardinals): To conduct second interview 1/31
- Ken Dorsey, former offensive coordinator (Browns): Mentioned as candidate
- Kevin Koger, tight ends coach (Falcons): Interviewed
- Scottie Montgomery, running backs coach (Lions): Interviewed
Doug Pederson Drawing OC Interest
By the time Doug Pederson‘s Jaguars tenure came to an end after the regular season concluded, no one around the league was surprised. Another head coaching opportunity is not on the horizon at this point, but Pederson is still a name to watch during the waning stages of the hiring cycle. 
The former Eagles Super Bowl winner is drawing interest as a potential offensive coordinator, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports. He adds that it remains to be seen at this point if that feeling will wind up being mutual. Pederson was out of coaching in 2021 prior to taking the Jaguars’ HC gig, so he could opt to once again take a break before re-entering the coaching market.
The 57-year-old spent four years as a high school head coach before receiving his first NFL opportunity with the Eagles in 2009. Pederson worked his way up to quarterbacks coach before following Andy Reid to Kansas City as the Chiefs’ OC. That three-year spell was followed by a return to the Eagles as their head coach from 2016-20.
Pederson amassed a record of 42-31-1 in Philadelphia. His three winning campaigns with the Eagles and Super Bowl pedigree led to high expectations upon arrival in Jacksonville. During his first season in Duval County, the Jags managed a 9-8 record and a wild-card victory. Continued development from quarterback Trevor Lawrence and an elevation to the status of AFC contender was seen as feasible as a result.
Instead, much of the past two seasons did not go according to plan for Pederson’s team. Missed time from Lawrence was one of the factors influencing underwhelming showings on offense, while major changes to the coaching staff on the other side of the ball last offseason did not produce the desired effect. Amidst reported clashes with then-general manager Trent Baalke and a 2-9 start to the campaign, a bye week firing appeared to be on the table in 2024. Pederson survived the rest of the season, but he was dismissed on Black Monday.
The Jags have since (in rather unorthodox fashion) hired Liam Coen as their new head coach, and while their offensive coordinator position is unfilled, Pederson is obviously not a candidate. Several other OC vacancies are in place around the league, though, and he could have options if he elects to interview for one or more of them in the near future. It will be interesting to see if he does so or decides to wait for 2026 to continue his career.
Matt Capurro To Depart Seahawks, Rejoin Raiders
Pete Carroll‘s first Raiders staff is taking shape. To no surprise, a familiar face will be joining him in Vegas for 2025.
[RELATED: Carroll, GM John Spytek To Share Authority With Raiders]
VP of coaching operations Matt Capurro is departing the Seahawks to join Carroll and the Raiders, Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated reports. He has a history with Caroll dating back to their time spent together at USC and, later, Seattle. His Seahawks tenure reached its 15th season in 2024, so his absence will be notable.
Capurro’s tenure in the NFL also includes time with Al Davis and the Raiders. He was in Oakland from 2003-08, so he will be no stranger to Carroll or the organization. It will be interesting to see what kind of role Capurro takes on in Vegas, but for the past three years in Seattle he oversaw a number of day-to-day operations as a key figure on the team’s coaching staff. It would come as no surprise if he found himself in a similar capacity with the Raiders.
Carroll took a three-year deal to return to an NFL sideline; the team has an option for a fourth season. The strength of the AFC West has tempered expectations for the Raiders regarding their 2025 outlook, but a notable quarterback addition this offseason could of course change things. Patrick Graham will remain in place for a fourth season as defensive coordinator, while former Carroll colleague Darrell Bevell is the favorite to land the Raiders’ OC gig. Tom Cable could be in line for a Carroll reunion (and third stint with the organization), so plenty of familiar faces could be in place once next season begins.
In other Vegas coaching news, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports John Glenn is being hired as linebackers coach. Glenn served in that capacity for six years under Carroll with the Seahawks before working as an assistant special teams coach with the Commanders in 2024. He will now head to Vegas as Carroll continues to assemble his initial Raiders staff with coaches he has a history with.
Nick Caley Turned Aside Jets’ OC Interest; Tanner Engstrand Still Frontrunner
Aaron Glenn moved quickly in finding a defensive coordinator for his first Jets staff. On the offensive side of the ball, further clarity has emerged regarding the two top candidates. 
SNY’s Connor Hughes reports Nick Caley was New York’s top choice for the OC gig. The in-demand Rams tight ends coach was not interested in joining the Jets, he adds. Caley – who also took on the role of pass-game coordinator this season, his second in Los Angeles – was among the names to watch regarding offensive coordinator options once it became clear Glenn was on track to land the Jets’ head coaching position.
A subsequent report confirmed the 42-year-old was New York’s No. 1 candidate for the position. In spite of that, Caley has elected to turn his attention elsewhere. The Jets face uncertainty over Aaron Rodgers‘ future and therefore their outlook at the quarterback position, making their opening one which can be seen as less attractive than others around the league. Caley has interviewed with the Texans and Buccaneers for their OC positions, and he will likely remain in the running on at least one of those fronts as the coordinator landscape takes shape in the coming days.
With their top option off the market, Hughes adds that Tanner Engstrand remains the Jets’ likely hire for offensive coordinator. Earlier this week, it was reported a confidence exists around the league for the Lions’ pass-game coordinator to follow Glenn to New York, so today’s update comes as no surprise. Engstrand, 42, arrived in Detroit in 2020, and spent the past four years working alongside Glenn under head coach Dan Campbell. An internal promotion was considered by the Lions after Ben Johnson‘s departure, leaving Engstrand as a candidate to remain in the Motor City for 2025.
Instead, the Lions went with John Morton as their new OC, leaving Engstrand’s future in the air. The latter could of course remain in his current position for 2025, but joining the Jets would allow him to handle coordinator duties in the NFL for the first time in his career. No other team has shown interest in Engstrand to date, but it would come as no surprise if an in-person Jets interview were to be arranged in the near future with a hire following shortly therafter.
With the Jets’ search potentially entering its final stage, here is an updated look at where it stands:
- Mark Brunell, quarterbacks coach (Lions): Mentioned as candidate
- Nick Caley, tight ends coach (Rams): Turned down interest
- Tanner Engstrand, pass-game coordinator (Lions): Frontrunner
- Jerrod Johnson, quarterbacks coach (Texans): Team to pursue interview
- Klint Kubiak, offensive coordinator (Saints): Mentioned as candidate; hired by Seahawks
- Scott Turner, interim offensive coordinator (Raiders): Mentioned as candidate
Bengals Want To Re-Sign Tee Higgins At ‘Right Number’
Duke Tobin has made definitive proclamations on Tee Higgins during each of the past two winters. The de facto Bengals GM declared his No. 2 wide receiver unavailable in trades at the 2023 Combine and then franchise-tagged him last year. Barring a second franchise tag, Higgins is poised to hit the market.
Higgins would vault to the top tier of this year’s free agent crop if not re-tagged, and although Joe Burrow has stumped for the Bengals to keep the high-end Ja’Marr Chase sidekick, Tobin’s latest comments do not point to that being the likely scenario. The veteran personnel exec said the Bengals want to retain Higgins; as could be expected, however, Tobin acknowledged the challenges this effort will bring.
[RELATED: Early Expectations Point To Higgins Exit]
“It’s going to be hard,” Tobin told the Cincinnati Enquirer’s Kelsey Conway on the subject of a Higgins re-signing. “We feel like we have the resources to do it, but it all depends on how the negotiation goes and whether they’re willing to accept wanting to come back at a number that makes sense for everybody. And you know what we do with Tee going forward, I’ve always been very upfront in my desire to have Tee Higgins on our team.
“I’ve never not been upfront about that, and that desire continues, but we have to be able to come together with his representation on what that means and what the right number is for his experience, for his play time, for his production.”
Considering where the wide receiver market has gone and the price hike Chase’s first-team All-Pro season likely will bring, the Bengals will have their work cut out for them regarding any effort to convince Higgins to take a discount. The team already denied the five-year veteran a chance to capitalize on his value in free agency last year, via the tag.
Higgins has changed agents and could certainly sign a deal north of $25MM per year on the open market. Where the cap settles will help shape Higgins’ price, but a two-time 1,000-yard pass catcher becoming available ahead of his age-26 season will ignite a bidding war. The Patriots are among the teams expected to be involved.
The last time true negotiations between the Bengals and Higgins transpired, the team submitted a below-market offer believed to be well south of even $20MM per year. The team has not conducted serious negotiations with Higgins since the first half of 2023; Higgins was the only tagged player last year not subsequently extended. Cincinnati is again free to do so, with the season having ended, and holds exclusive negotiating rights until March 10. But it would take a monster proposal for the Bengals to keep Higgins from testing free agency. Based on Tobin’s comments, it does not appear that should be expected.
“Let’s find something that works for everybody, because he is a guy that we want to have here, and hopefully that can come together, but we have other guys who are trying to take big bites of the apple in other areas, and we’re going to have to balance those as we go forward,” Tobin said.
Tobin did tell Conway he meets with Burrow to start each offseason, effectively keeping the superstar passer in the loop, but the exploding WR market — one that will be set to include a market-setting Chase extension before too long — may talk louder here. Although D.J. Moore is a more accomplished player, his $27.5MM-per-year Bears accord did not involve multiple suitors. Brandon Aiyuk‘s market did, to a degree, as the 49ers let him gauge the market in a complex process. That produced a $30MM-per-year deal with $76MM in total guarantees. That could be the price range for Higgins, as the market’s top five consists of first-team All-Pros. Higgins has yet to make a Pro Bowl.
Some execs are quite skeptical the Bengals, with the $55MM-AAV Burrow deal on their books, will pay Higgins market value, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler adds. With Chase almost definitely set to ask for more than Justin Jefferson‘s Vikings payday ($35MM per to go with $110MM guaranteed), it seems doubtful a Bengals franchise not known for lavish spending will pony up what is necessary.
A second tag would cost Cincinnati $26.2MM. While not too much has come out suggesting that is realistic, it would be a way for the Bengals to either reassess their options — after the team underachieved in 2024 — or obtain value in a trade. Projected to hold more than $46MM in cap space, the Bengals will have until March 4 to apply a second Higgins tag. Otherwise, the team could lose a core player for a mere 2026 compensatory pick.
Jaguars Hire Anthony Campanile As DC
Liam Coen has landed his new defensive coordinator. The Jaguars are hiring Anthony Campanile to run their defense, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. The Jaguars have since announced the move.
“Anthony Campanile represents exactly what we want to be as a defensive unit and football team,” Coen said in a statement (via Bleacher Report’s James Palmer). “He brings an aggressive defensive mindset and a system that is adaptable to our players and allows them to play fast and physical.”
Following a long stint coaching college football (including a one-year look as Boston College’s co-defensive coordinator), Campanile has seen a rapid rise through the NFL ranks. He got his first NFL job with the Dolphins as their linebackers coach in 2020, and he ended up spending four years in that gig. After going empty handed during Miami’s search for a new DC, Campanile left for a promotion in Green Bay in 2024, where he served as the Packers linebackers coach and run game coordinator.
The Packers finished this past season ranked seventh in rushing yards allowed per game (99.35) and third in yards per attempt (4.0). As a result of Green Bay’s impressive showing, Campanile became a relatively popular name on the coordinator circuit. He had an interview with the 49ers earlier this offseason, and Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel says Campanile likely would have gotten the 49ers gig if Robert Saleh rejected the job. Silverstein notes that Campanile also had an opportunity to join Penn State as their new defensive coordinator.
Instead, the 42-year-old will be heading to Jacksonville, where he’ll be tasked with guiding a defense that finished last season ranked 31st in yards allowed and 27th in points allowed. Campanile’s extensive work with linebackers should also benefit some of the team’s recent draft picks, including 2022 first-round pick Devin Lloyd.
Coen made it clear that he wasn’t going to retain Ryan Nielsen on his new staff. The Jaguars launched a DC search that includes the likes of Panthers defensive pass game coordinator Jonathan Cooley, former Raiders DC Patrick Graham, Vikings defensive pass game coordinator Daronte Jones, and Rams defensive pass game coordinator Aubrey Pleasant. Ultimately, Campanile won out.
With Campanile now in Jacksonville, the Packers will need to find a new coach for their linebackers. Matt Schneidman of The Athletic points to Sean Duggan as a natural replacement. Duggan most recently served as a defensive assistant in Green Bay’s linebackers room, but he previously coached the position under current Packers DC Jeff Hafley when the two were at Boston College.
Bills Don’t Regret Amari Cooper Trade, Would Consider Re-Signing WR
Amari Cooper‘s half-season stint in Buffalo didn’t necessarily go as planned. After being shipped from the Browns to the Bills in October, the veteran wideout was limited to only 20 receptions and a career-worst 37.1 yards per game. Despite the disappointing results, it sounds like Bills GM Brandon Beane would make the move again.
Speaking to reporters today, Beane said he does “not regret the move” and believes Cooper helped the Bills despite the lack of counting stats (per ESPN’s Alaina Getzenberg). The GM also hinted that the wideout’s wrist injury may have contributed to his underwhelming production. Beane told reporters that Cooper’s wrist injury could have required surgery, with one doctor actually recommending that route. However, the wideout decided to play through the injury (per Getzenberg).
Cooper is now set to hit free agency, and there’s a chance the two sides look to continue their partnership. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Bills have been happy with Cooper’s presence in the locker room, and they’re “intrigued” by the idea of giving the receiver a full offseason to click with Josh Allen.
The 30-year-old WR may not have a robust market following a disappointing 2024 campaign. In 14 games with the Browns and Bills, Cooper was limited to only 44 catches for 547 yards and four touchdowns. Still, Cooper is only a year removed from a 2023 campaign where he hauled in a career-high 1,250 receiving yards, so there could be plenty of teams that are willing to look past the recent drop in production.
While the Bills will continue to evaluate their wide receiver options heading into the offseason, the front office will also be focused on keeping their franchise QB in Buffalo for the long haul. While Allen is still under contract through the 2028 campaign, Beane didn’t completely rule out extending his franchise star.
“I’m not saying it will happen, I’m not saying it won’t happen — I don’t really want to go into that,” Beane said of a potential extension (h/t Myles Simmons of ProFootballTalk.com). “And I really can’t tell you at this point. We haven’t even approached that. It’s just, season-ending loss, he doesn’t even want to talk about it. … He was dejected, like all of us. There will be a time and place. And not saying we will, but not ruling it out either.”