Giants Hold John Harbaugh As Frontrunner For HC Job?
Prior to the news of John Harbaugh‘s Ravens exit, the Giants had been viewed as a team monitoring that situation closely. Now that Harbaugh is available, New York looks to have considerable interest.
The Giants are believed to have Harbaugh as their top choice, with ESPN’s Adam Schefter calling him a favorite to land the gig. The team had prepared for the possibility Harbaugh would become available, per ESPN.com’s Jordan Raanan. After Big Blue has struck out on coaches post-Tom Coughlin, Harbaugh appears a clear target.
Harbaugh, 63, is believed to have a high regard for the Giants’ job and Jaxson Dart, The Athletic’s Ian O’Connor tweets. After Week 18 began with a thin-looking talent pool for HC-needy teams, Harbaugh and Kevin Stefanski have become available. Stefanski is already set to interview with the Giants this week.
Six non-Baltimore HC openings currently exist, but teams who have a head coach employed are believed to be in on Harbaugh too. Within an hour of Harbaugh’s ouster, Schefter reports at least seven teams have reached out to the newly available coach. Other teams without HC openings are likely to follow, Schefter adds. Considering Harbaugh’s experience and credentials, and this year’s crop lacking the level of candidates the Ben Johnson-Mike Vrabel 2025 pool included, it is unsurprising he is generating this much interest early.
Harbaugh has only worked for two NFL teams despite coaching in the league since 1998. Ray Rhodes hired him to be on the Eagles’ staff that year, and Andy Reid kept him on as special teams coordinator for an additional eight years. Hired by the Ravens in 2008, Harbaugh became the rare ST coach to rise to the HC level. He enjoyed immediate success and guided Baltimore to 12 playoff berths and Super Bowl XLVII, where he edged brother Jim in a Ravens-49ers shootout.
With so much interest in Harbaugh, the Giants could be in a competition. The team’s decision to retain GM Joe Schoen after a mostly woeful first four seasons becomes more interesting when it comes to attracting a top candidate. The Giants have gone 7-27 over the past two seasons,. The jury is still out on Dart, but the team will not enter this draft with a quarterback need. Big Blue’s QB situation compares favorably to a few of the HC-needy teams’ depth charts at the game’s marquee spot, though the roster needs plenty of repair.
Harbaugh’s age does introduce a complication for interested teams. Clubs considering a rebuild would not appear to be fits for Harbaugh. No coach has ever been hired past the age of 66 (Bruce Arians). Harbaugh should still land a gig immediately, and ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler indicates he is expected to want one. But the age component is not one to entirely dismiss. That said, a few interviews will probably be set up soon. The Giants figure to be among those clearing part of their schedule to talk with the seasoned coaching vet.
49ers To Sign LB Kyzir White
Battling a slew of injuries at linebacker as they prepare for a first-round playoff matchup against the Eagles on Sunday, the 49ers are adding veteran insurance at the position. They have agreed to a practice squad deal with Kyzir White, insider Jordan Schultz reports.
The 49ers went through most of the regular season without their best linebacker, four-time All-Pro Fred Warner, who broke and dislocated his ankle in Week 6. Tatum Bethune stepped in as his replacement, but he suffered a season-ending groin injury in Week 18. Meanwhile, the statuses of fellow banged-up linebackers Dee Winters (ankle) and Luke Gifford (quadriceps) are uncertain as San Francisco’s trip to Philadelphia draws closer.
Warner may return if the 49ers advance a couple of rounds in the playoffs. In the meantime, they have another much-needed healthy option in White, though a hamstring injury shelved him for most of 2025.
After signing a practice squad deal with the Titans in early September, White’s only appearance of the regular season came in Week 3. The Titans waived him Dec. 5. The 29-year-old hoped to land with a contender when Tennessee cut him. A month later, he’ll get his wish.
White, who now has 93 games and 73 starts on his resume, entered the NFL as a fourth-round pick of the Chargers in 2018. Also a former Cardinal and Eagle, White has gone over the 100-tackle mark on three occasions and logged two 17-start seasons. He was a full-time starter in 2024 in Arizona, where he finished with 137 tackles and 2.5 sacks.
Although White has barely played since his two-year Cardinals tenure ended, he could factor into the 49ers’ postseason plans at linebacker. Eric Kendricks (currently on the practice squad), Curtis Robinson and Garret Wallow are among the injury-riddled team’s other options.
Falcons Request Interview With 49ers Exec Josh Williams
Atlanta is expected to hire Matt Ryan as its president of football operations, but the team is required to interview other candidates for the role first. That may include 49ers director, scouting and football operations Josh Williams. The Falcons have requested a meeting with Williams, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
The Falcons are the second team to show interest in the 38-year-old Williams since the regular season ended Sunday. He’s also on the Dolphins’ radar as they search for a general manager. Williams was a finalist for the Jaguars’ GM job a year ago. They interviewed him twice before hiring James Gladstone instead.
After finishing as a runner-up to Gladstone, Williams stayed in San Francisco’s John Lynch-led front office this year. Since joining the 49ers in 2011, Williams has garnered significant experience as a scout. In his current position, he “directs pro and college scouting efforts, supports player development, and assists in contract negotiations,” according to the 49ers’ website.
Williams could follow former Lynch assistants Martin Mayhew, Ran Carthon and Adam Peters in earning a major promotion elsewhere, but landing the Atlanta gig looks like a long shot. Barring an unexpected change of heart from owner Arthur Blank or Ryan, the former quarterback appears to be a near-lock for president of football ops duties.
At minimum, interviewing Williams would help the Falcons satisfy the Rooney Rule. It’s worth noting that they’re also in the market for a GM. That job could conceivably go to Williams, who would work under Ryan. Looking to fill that position, the Falcons have already requested an interview with Bears assistant GM Ian Cunningham.
Klint Kubiak Receives HC Interview Requests From Giants, Cardinals, Raiders
To little surprise, Klint Kubiak is a popular early candidate for head coaching opportunities. The Seahawks OC has received plenty of interest from teams with a HC vacancy.
Kubiak was already known to have received an interview request from the Falcons. He is also expected to be a target for the Titans regarding their opening. In addition, Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated reports the Giants, Cardinals and Raiders have submitted an interview slip. This marks the first offseason in which Kubiak has received an HC interview request. Giants rumors had emerged before the regular season’s conclusion.
Seattle clinched the NFC’s No. 1 seed and with it a bye during the wild-card round. As a result, NFL rules permit Kubiak to interview virtually with interested teams this week. All interviews he conducts must take place before the opening round of the playoffs wraps up. Per Breer, Kubiak is currently in the midst of planning his schedule with his focus still mainly on the Seahawks.
Kubiak has worked as an offensive coordinator with three different teams (Vikings in 2021, Saints in 2024 and Seahawks this season). The 38-year-old has not lasted beyond one season in any of those roles, though the Seahawks certainly would be interested in retaining him for the 2026 season. The Vikings fired Mike Zimmer after the 2021 campaign, and the Saints dismissed Dennis Allen midway through the ’24 season. That led to new offensive play-callers arriving and Kubiak heading elsewhere.
The second-generation play-caller coached the Broncos’ quarterbacks during an eventful 2022 season in Denver; Nathaniel Hackett went around OC Justin Outten to give Kubiak play-calling duties as the season spiraled. Hackett then worked as the pass-game coordinator under Kyle Shanahan in 2023, helping Brock Purdy to a Pro Bowl season as the 49ers soared to Super Bowl LVIII. The Seahawks reunited Kubiak with Sam Darnold this past offseason, with the assistant’s presence a draw for the QB, and the Seahawks have booked the NFC’s No. 1 seed for the first time in 11 years.
Seattle ranks third in scoring offense and eighth in yardage, and Darnold has delivered on his free agent contract. The Seahawks have seen some second-half inconsistency from their starter, but he has done enough to keep the offense afloat en route to a 14-3 record. Jaxon Smith-Njigba also smashed a Seahawks single-season record by tallying an NFL-leading 1,793 yards. With this coaching crop heavier on the defensive side, Kubiak was bound to receive requests. The Seahawks, who fired Ryan Grubb after one season, could face the prospect of replacing their OC for a third straight year.
Sam Robinson contributed to this post.
Bills Add K Matthew Wright To P-Squad
With kicker Matt Prater battling a quadriceps injury, his status is uncertain for the Bills’ wild-card round meeting with the Jaguars on Sunday. In the event Prater is unable to play, the Bills added insurance on Tuesday in signing Matthew Wright to their practice squad. To clear a spot for Wright, the Bills released offensive lineman Richard Gouraige.
Prater initially injured his quad in Week 15, leading to a two-game absence. Looking for a temporary fill-in, the Bills worked out Wright and Michael Badgley on Dec. 16.
The Bills passed on Wright for Badgley, whose difficulties with extra points transferred from Indianapolis to Buffalo. Badgley made 18 of 21 extra points this season with the Colts, who cut him Dec. 2. The Bills parted with Badgley after he converted just two of his four PATs with them.
Prater came back for Week 18, but he aggravated his quad in a win over the Jets. If Wright has to take his place in Jacksonville, the nomadic 29-year-old will kick for a fourth team this season. He played in two games with the Texans and one apiece with the Titans and Commanders in 2025. Wright combined to go 5 for 5 on field goals and 4 for 4 on PATs.
Since entering the NFL as an undrafted free agent from UCF in 2019, Wright has garnered regular-season experience with eight teams. Over a 33-game span, Wright has hit 60 of 68 field goals (88.2%) and 45 of 47 extra points (95.7%).
Despite strong conversion rates, Wright typically hasn’t lasted long anywhere. His most extensive action in a season came with the Jaguars in 2021. Wright played in 14 of their games that year and made 21 of 24 field goals, though he was a less successful 13 of 15 on PATs. A half-decade later, Wright may have a chance to face Jacksonville in a do-or-die game.
Along with Wright, the Bills added fellow kicker Maddux Trujillo on a reserve/futures contract on Tuesday. Trujillo signed with the Colts as an undrafted free agent from Temple last spring, but they waived him with an injury settlement in early September. The 22-year-old is now joining his second NFL organization four months later.
Lions Fire OC John Morton
Weeks after Dan Campbell took over Lions play-calling duties, the team will search for a new offensive coordinator. John Morton is out as OC after one season in the role, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reports. The Lions have since announced the move.
This was rumored to be the direction the Lions were heading, and it certainly makes sense given the abrupt removal of Morton’s chief responsibility. The firing also comes after the Lions went through a curiously thin search to replace Ben Johnson.
Neither Lions coordinator search was thorough. Campbell promoted Kelvin Sheppard to DC and added Morton from the Broncos, who had him in place as their pass-game coordinator. The Lions only satisfied the Rooney Rule during their OC search, with Campbell clearly having Morton in mind after losing Johnson to the Bears. It would surprise if the team replicated that narrow search this time around.
Morton, 56, had worked as a senior offensive assistant in Detroit during the 2022 season. This dismissal marks Morton’s second one-and-done in an NFL OC role. The Jets moved on after the 2017 season. Morton had the misfortune of leading the Jets’ offense during what turned out to be a gap year, when the team let Ryan Fitzpatrick walk in free agency and signed Josh McCown as a stopgap starter. Morton’s setup, however, was much better in Detroit. The offense took a step back after Johnson departed for Chicago.
The Lions still ranked fourth in scoring offense and fifth in yardage, but Campbell yanked Morton’s play sheet prior to Week 10. The move reminded of Campbell’s impatience with Anthony Lynn, the Lions’ OC during Campbell’s first year as HC. Campbell demoted Lynn, taking the play sheet, before the parties separated after the 2021 season. This brought Johnson to the forefront, and he excelled in the OC role for three seasons. Johnson drew significant HC interest in 2023 and ’24 but backed out of the running in both years. This gave Campbell some time to determine a replacement, but his first choice backfired.
While the Lions deserve criticism for not conducting much of a search to replace Johnson, continuity concerns motivated the decisions. Morton had been with the Lions three years ago and interviewed for the OC job Lynn landed a year prior. Following Morton’s Jets firing, he was on Jon Gruden‘s Raiders staff (as a senior assistant) for three years. The Broncos appointed him as their PGC in 2023. That season brought a Russell Wilson turnaround, and while Sean Payton has received most of the credit for that and Bo Nix‘s impressive career start, Morton parlayed Nix’s rookie season into an OC opportunity.
When Campbell took the call sheet, the Lions ranked 12th in yards per game. The second half brought an improvement, as Morton faded into the background. The Lions enjoyed good health at the skill positions, but Morton struggled to keep Jameson Williams involved in the offense. Detroit ran into some injury trouble along its offensive line, but the Jared Goff-piloted offense still stayed in the top five following Johnson’s departure.
The Lions have Goff, Williams, Amon-Ra St. Brown, David Montgomery and Penei Sewell signed long term. Jahmyr Gibbs is an extension candidate as well, creating obvious appeal for this job. Morton has spent a few years away at the college level, but he began his NFL coaching tenure in 1998. He has been a two-time Gruden staffer and three-time Payton assistant. A drop south of the coordinator level appears a near-certainty after this quick firing.
Rams Activate S Quentin Lake From IR
The Rams are getting one of their top defenders back ahead of a first-round playoff matchup in Carolina on Saturday. The team has activated safety Quentin Lake from injured reserve.
The Rams went a month and a half without Lake, who dislocated his left elbow in a Week 11 win over the Seahawks and had to undergo surgery. Los Angeles improved to 8-2 that day and looked like a strong contender for the NFC’s No. 1 spot, but a 4-3 mark without Lake led to a fifth-place finish in the conference.
A sixth-round pick from UCLA in 2022, Lake became a full-time starter in 2024 and continued in that role this year before landing on IR. Lake picked up 61 tackles, a sack, a personal-best 10 passes defensed and the first interception of his career over 10 games in 2025. He was on the field for 100% of defensive snaps during that span. Lake mostly played in the slot, but he also logged 80-plus snaps in the box and at free safety, and lined up along the edge at times.
Recognizing the versatile Lake’s importance to their defense, the Rams locked him up to a multiyear deal on Jan. 1. Lake had been on track to reach free agency in March before inking a three-year, $42MM deal with $25.7MM in guarantees. Healthy again, he’ll have a chance to make an impact during the postseason.
To make room for Lake’s return, the Rams placed linebacker Shaun Dolac on IR with a knee injury, ending his season. The undrafted rookie from Buffalo appeared in all 17 regular-season games and totaled 25 tackles. Dolac played 258 of his 300 snaps on special teams.
Giants, Falcons Among Teams Monitoring Ravens HC John Harbaugh’s Status
Changes of some kind are expected on the Ravens’ coaching staff. It remains unclear if that will include the departure of John Harbaugh, but his situation is drawing considerable attention. 
A parting of ways between Harbaugh and the Ravens has been floated late in the season, one in which the team finished 8-9 and fell short of the playoffs. Leading up to Week 18’s winner-take-all game against the Steelers, it appeared as though a firing would be considered a surprise. Still, uncertainty looms over the situation with the list of coaching vacancies taking shape.
Harbaugh has been at the helm of the Ravens for 18 seasons; only Mike Tomlin‘s Steelers tenure is longer. Baltimore authorized a three-year extension last March, and owner Steve Bisciotti is well known to hold Harbaugh in very high regard. Those factors point to stability at the HC position for 2026. Nevertheless, Outkick’s Armando Salguero reports there are teams “monitoring” the possibility of Harbaugh departing. Included among them are the Giants and Falcons.
This comes after Josina Anderson of The Exhibit described Harbaugh as being “well-coveted” by teams around the league. That no doubt includes at least some of those with a vacancy at the moment (such as New York and Atlanta). Six openings are in place currently, although the possibility exists for that number to increase depending on how things play out in yet-to-be-finalized cases such as Harbaugh’s.
Per Anderson, movement amongst the coaching staff will be coming “relatively soon.” That could include a parting of ways with one or both of offensive coordinator Todd Monken and defensive coordinator Zach Orr. Monken has been on the head coaching radar in previous years, and earlier today he received an interview request from the Browns.
Details on the matter of assistant coaches will be worth watching for closely in Baltimore’s case. Until a firm commitment becomes public from the team, meanwhile, Harbaugh’s status will remain at least somewhat unclear. A final decision will have implications for Baltimore but it could also make a notable impact on this year’s hiring cycle.
Dolphins To Interview Chargers’ Chad Alexander For GM; Mike McDaniel Not Lock To Stay?
An eighth Dolphins GM candidate has emerged. Beyond interim front office boss Champ Kelly and the sextet to receive interview slips Monday, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports Chad Alexander is also on the request list.
Alexander, the Chargers’ assistant GM since 2024, was on the GM radar last year. The Jaguars met with him about their vacancy, and the Raiders brought him in twice for meetings.
A Ravens exec for nearly 20 years, Alexander worked under Joe Douglas in New York from 2019-24. The Jets scrapped their Douglas plan months after losing Alexander to the Chargers. Alexander worked with Bolts GM Joe Hortiz for nearly 20 years in Baltimore and has been part of two playoff teams since relocating to Los Angeles.
The Dolphins have sent interview requests to the Packers’ Jon-Eric Sullivan, the Rams’ John McKay, the Eagles’ Alec Halaby and 49ers execs Josh Williams, Tariq Ahmad and R.J. Gillen. While Mike McDaniel worked with Ahmad, Gillen and Williams in San Francisco, he has no history with the other three execs summoned. Some of the candidates have not been informed if McDaniel is staying, according to the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson. Sullivan is meeting with the team today, SI.com’s Albert Breer tweets.
It is worth wondering if all of the candidates are under this impression or if some are; it could just be a matter of only some of the candidates’ understanding of this situation are known at this juncture. It would be odd if the Dolphins hired an exec from the 49ers and fired McDaniel, but were they to reach outside that tree, a move with a fresh GM-HC start would make more sense. Signs have pointed to McDaniel staying for a bit, but if the Dolphins want to hire a GM not keen on working with a coach on the hot seat, it would make sense to reevaluate the situation.
The interviewees for this GM position will have some NFL bigwigs firing questions at them. Hall of Famers Dan Marino and Troy Aikman, recently named a consultant as the Dolphins conduct their first GM search since 2016, are on the committee set to meet with aspiring candidates, Jackson notes. Stephen Ross, team president Tom Garfinkel, senior VP of football administration Brandon Shore and Ross son-in-law Danny Sillman are meeting with the candidates. McDaniel is believed to have input, but it does not appear a lock he is staying for a fifth season.
Cardinals Request HC Interviews With Robert Saleh, Anthony Weaver
Jonathan Gannon was among the head coaches fired yesterday. That leaves the Cardinals as one of six teams in the market for a replacement.
A second target regarding potential hires has now emerged in Arizona’s case. The Cardinals have requested an interview with 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated reports. This comes shortly after Broncos DC Vance Joseph was named as a candidate expected to interview with Arizona. Dolphins DC Anthony Weaver has also received a slip from the Cardinals, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Saleh joins Joseph as a former NFL head coach whose first shot didn’t go well. After a previous run as the 49ers’ defensive coordinator from 2017-20, Saleh took over as the Jets’ head coach in 2021. He lasted three-plus seasons and finished 20-36 with no playoff appearances.
The Jets fired Saleh after a 2-3 start last year. It didn’t spark a turnaround for the Jets, who lost nine of 12 under interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich. That led to the end of the failed Aaron Rodgers era and the beginning of a new GM/HC regime with Darren Mougey and Aaron Glenn grabbing the reins.
Saleh, who closed the 2024 season as an offensive consultant with the Packers, rejoined Kyle Shanahan‘s staff in San Francisco last January. Now one of the game’s highest-paid D-coordinators, Saleh will earn more head coaching looks after helping the 49ers overcome a slew of key injuries en route to a 12-5 season and a playoff spot. The 49ers have gone most of the season without their two best defenders, the injured Fred Warner and Nick Bosa. They ended the regular season just 20th in total defense as a result, but the 49ers ranked a much better 13th at keeping points off the board.
Currently in his first stint as a coordinator, Weaver’s defense in Miami finished a lackluster 22nd in yards and 24th in points in 2025. However, the unit was top 10 in both categories in his first year at the helm last season. The former Ravens and Texans defensive lineman earned head coaching interviews with the Bears and Saints a year ago, but those teams went in other directions.
While the Dolphins wrapped up a disappointing season on Sunday, the 45-year-old Weaver is again garnering outside consideration for a promotion. Along with the Cardinals, the HC-needy Falcons have requested a meeting with Weaver.
Connor Byrne contributed to this post.