Falcons To Interview Andy Weidl For GM
In hiring Matt Ryan as their president of football and Kevin Stefanski as their head coach, the Falcons have crossed two key tasks off their list in the past 10 days. The Falcons still need to choose a general manager, though, and Steelers assistant GM Andy Weidl has emerged as a candidate to replace the fired Terry Fontenot. Weidl will interview for Fontenot’s old job, Mark Kaboly of The Pat McAfee Show reports.
With Ryan in charge of football matters, the Falcons’ GM gig is regarded as a secondary position. That means the Steelers could have blocked Weidl from interviewing with Atlanta, but they’ll instead allow him to discuss the position with Ryan & Co.
Weidl, a Pittsburgh native, began his career with the Steelers as a player personnel assistant in 1999. After working in scouting roles with the Saints and Ravens from 2000-16, he spent six years in the Eagles’ front office.
Weidl, who returned to the Steelers in 2022, crossed paths with Stefanski’s Browns twice in each of the past four seasons. The former AFC North rivals could soon join forces in Atlanta, where Stefanski will have input into the Falcons’ GM decision. While Ryan is atop the Falcons’ football department, he made it clear last week that he won’t meddle with either the head or GM once they’re in place.
“The final decisions that I am going to have to make is who we hire, but we are empowering (the HC and GM) to go out there and do their job and I have expressed that in the interviews that we have had,” Ryan said.
Before hiring Ryan in his new role, the Falcons interviewed Lions chief operating officer Mike Disner, Panthers executive vice president of operations Brandt Tilis, 49ers director of scouting and football operations Josh Williams, and Bears assistant general manager Ian Cunningham for the job. It’s unclear if Ryan will discuss the GM post with any of those four, but we know he’ll talk with Weidl.
NFL Reserve/Futures Deals: 1/20/26
Today’s reserve/futures deals:
Chicago Bears
- WR Maurice Alexander, RB Brittain Brown, TE Stephen Carlson, LS Luke Elkin, DB Dallis Flowers, DL Jonathan Garvin, LB Dominique Hampton, OL Kyle Hergel, TE Nikola Kalinic, DB Dontae Manning, DL Jeremiah Martin, DB Gervarrius Owens, WR JP Richardson, LB Nephi Sewell
Green Bay Packers
- DL Jaden Crumedy, QB Kyle McCord
Houston Texans
- DE Solomon Byrd, C Eli Cox, WR Josh Kelly, TE Luke Lachey, S Kaevon Merriweather, G Sidy Sow, DT Junior Tafuna, LB Xavier Thomas, WR Jared Wayne
Philadelphia Eagles
- CB Ambry Thomas
Pittsburgh Steelers
- DB Doneiko Slaughter, OL Lorenzo Thompson
San Francisco 49ers
- OL Isaac Alarcon, DL Evan Anderson, CB Eli Apple, WR Junior Bergen, DL William Bradley-King, DB Derrick Canteen, LB Andrew Farmer, S Darrick Forrest, LB Jalen Graham, QB Adrian Martinez, OL Drake Nugent, OL Brandon Parker, WR Malik Turner, DL Sebastian Valdez
Buccaneers Hire Danny Smith As ST Coordinator
The Buccaneers are turning to a veteran coach to guide their special teams. According to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, Tampa Bay is hiring Danny Smith as their new special teams coordinator.
Smith’s coaching career dates back to the 1970s, when he served as a graduate assistant at Edinboro. After spending more than a decade in college football, he got his first NFL job with the Eagles in 1995. Since then, he’s had stints with Detroit, Buffalo, Washington, and Pittsburgh.
He most recently served as the Steelers special teams coordinator, a job he held since 2013. During his time with the organization, Smith was credited with the development of kicker Chris Boswell, who currently ranks second on the franchise’s all-time scoring list.
Following Mike Tomlin‘s departure, Smith considered new opportunities. The 72-year-old now lands with the Buccaneers, who have been seeking a replacement for the ousted Thomas McGaughey. Smith interviewed for the job on Friday, and Todd Bowles didn’t take long to make a hire. The gum-chewing coordinator beat out the likes of Craig Aukerman, Anthony Levine Sr., Michael Clay, and Jett Modkins for the job.
Latest On Sean McDermott’s Firing; Ravens, Steelers, Titans Potential Suitors?
The Bills’ 2025 season and Sean McDermott‘s tenure as their head coach ended with a 33-30 divisional round loss to the Broncos on Saturday. McDermott received his walking papers after falling short of a Super Bowl bid for a ninth straight year, but his firing on Monday came as a surprise to him and just about everyone else.
McDermott still believed his job was safe after the Denver game, Tim Graham of The Athletic reports. The 51-year-old continued with business as usual Sunday in conducting exit interviews at One Bills Drive. Owner Terry Pegula canned McDermott a day later and promoted the head coach’s longtime running mate, general manager Brandon Beane, to president of football operations/GM.
Beane will lead the search to replace McDermott, who went an excellent 106-58 (including 8-8 in the playoffs), earned eight playoff berths and won five division titles in his first head coaching stint.
Now one of the most accomplished coaches available, McDermott figures to draw interest from at least some teams with openings. Indeed, there are clubs that “want to move quickly” on McDermott, though some of their key decision-makers were busy conducting in-person meetings with other head coaching candidates on Monday, according to Dianna Russini of The Athletic.
The Dolphins are hiring Jeff Hafley, while the Giants reeled in John Harbaugh and the Falcons brought in Kevin Stefanski. That leaves the Cardinals, Ravens, Browns, Raiders, Steelers and Titans as 2026 possibilities for McDermott. The Ravens, Steelers and Titans may be the most logical fits, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network says.
After eight years with Josh Allen as his quarterback, heading to Baltimore as Harbaugh’s replacement would enable McDermott to work with a second straight MVP-winning signal-caller, Lamar Jackson.
The Steelers don’t have QB figured out for 2026 (Aaron Rodgers‘ return may still be on the table), which could turn off McDermott, but he’d land with a perennial playoff contender. The club didn’t post a sub-.500 record in any of its 19 years under Mike Tomlin, McDermott’s college teammate at William & Mary, and is coming off an AFC North-winning campaign. Hiring McDermott would represent a significant change in course for the Steelers, though. Their only three head coaching choices since 1969 – Chuck Noll, Bill Cowher and then Tomlin – were all 30-somethings with no prior experience in the role.
Baltimore and Pittsburgh typically expect to contend each year, but that hasn’t been the case in Tennessee in recent seasons. The Titans have gone an awful 19-49 during their four-year playoff drought, meaning McDermott or any other potential hire will face a tall task in attempting to lead the franchise back to relevance. It wouldn’t be new territory for McDermott, who arrived in Buffalo in 2017 looking to revive an organization that was mired in a 17-year playoff drought. He guided the Bills back to the playoffs in his first season, the beginning of a long run of success.
The cupboard isn’t bare in Tennessee, which drafted QB Cam Ward No. 1 overall in 2025. The next coaching staff will aim to to develop Ward into a franchise passer. The Titans will also enter the offseason with a boatload of cap space and the No. 4 pick in the draft. A quick turnaround could be in store if the Titans make the right head coaching hire, though it’s unknown if the position appeals to McDermott. For now, Matt Nagy is reportedly the leading candidate for the job.
Brian Flores Considered ‘Serious Contender’ For Steelers HC Job
Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores is thought to be a “serious contender” to succeed Mike Tomlin as the Steelers’ head coach, according to Mark Maske of The Washington Post.
Flores, 44, was one of the first coaches to receive interest from the Steelers after Tomlin’s stunning departure. He is set to visit Pittsburgh this week for an in-person interview. That meeting will be a reconnection rather than an introduction, as Flores previously served as the Steelers’ senior defensive assistant and linebackers coach in 2022.
His familiarity with the franchise could be a strong factor in his candidacy. Flores arrived in Pittsburgh in February 2022 shortly after he was fired by the Dolphins. In the interim, he launched a lawsuit against the NFL and three specific teams – the Dolphins, Giants, and Broncos – which made him a persona non grata across the league. He reached out to Tomlin for advice on getting another coaching job, and Tomlin offered him a job with the approval of owner Art Rooney II.
Flores was able to turn that lifeline into the Vikings defensive coordinator job in 2023, again with Tomlin’s support. Flores found plenty of success in Minnesota, which, along with public endorsements from Tomlin and Kevin O’Connell, has raised his standing around the league considerably.
But with the lawsuit still winding its way through the courts – including a stop at the Supreme Court – owners may be hesitant to sign off on hiring Flores for their head coaching gig. He has received plenty of interest from teams looking for defensive coordinators, but only one other interview for a head coaching vacancy (from the Ravens). But the Steelers were the first team willing to take a chance on Flores after he left Miami, so they may be willing to bring him aboard once again.
In terms of both football and culture, Flores feels like an excellent match for the Steelers. His aggressive, blitz-heavy style will fit Pittsburgh’s roster well, and his familiarity with Tomlin will help him uphold the culture established by the longtime head coach.
NFL Reserve/Futures Deals: 1/19/26
Today’s reserve/futures contracts:
Buffalo Bills
- DT Tommy Akingbesote, LB Jimmy Ciarlo, OL Travis Clayton, DB Te’Cory Couch, CB M.J. Devonshire, RB Frank Gore Jr., WR Stephen Gosnell, WR Mecole Hardman, LB Keonta Jenkins, DE Andre Jones Jr., DT Zion Logue, DB Daryl Porter Jr.
Carolina Panthers
- CB Michael Reid
Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers Expected To Conduct Second HC Interview With Anthony Weaver
With an uptick in in-person interviews set to take place over the coming days, plenty of movement could be imminent on the coaching front. The Steelers are among the eight teams in need of a head coach. 
Pittsburgh has spoken with a number of candidates already, and that includes Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver. A follow-up is now being arranged. Weaver is expected to interview in person with Miami this week, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
In addition to his first meeting with Pittsburgh, Weaver interviewed with the Cardinals, Falcons and Ravens as part of the initial round of their respective searches. The 45-year-old has never been a head coach at the college or NFL levels, but he did hold the title of associate head coach during the final two seasons of his three-year Ravens tenure. This will mark the first in-person interview for Weaver during the 2026 cycle.
A number of similarities existed with respect to each of the Steelers’ past three HC hires. Chuck Noll, Bill Cowher and Mike Tomlin were each 30-something staffers with a defensive background and a lack of prior head coaching experience when they arrived in Pittsburgh. Replicating the success from all members of that trio is the goal as the Steelers move forward following Tomlin’s resignation. Weaver’s background is on the defensive side of the ball, and he has worked as a D-coordinator on two occasions (Texans in 2020, Dolphins in 2024-25).
Miami’s coaching staff is set to undergo a number of changes once Mike McDaniel‘s replacement is brought in. Weaver’s fate remains uncertain at this time, with the Steelers looking into other HC options as well this week. It will be interesting to see if he emerges as a finalist for the position or if Pittsburgh heads elsewhere in the process of hiring Tomlin’s successor.
Here is an updated look at where things stand for the Steelers:
- Ejiro Evero, defensive coordinator (Panthers): Interview requested
- Brian Flores, defensive coordinator (Vikings): To conduct in-person interview
- Marcus Freeman, head coach (Notre Dame): Rumored candidate; staying at Notre Dame
- Jeff Hafley, defensive coordinator (Packers): Interviewed 1/17
- Klay Kubiak, offensive coordinator (49ers): Interviewed 1/18
- Mike McCarthy, former head coach (Cowboys): To interview
- Jesse Minter, defensive coordinator (Chargers): Interviewed 1/17
- Nate Scheelhaase, pass game coordinator (Rams): Interviewed 1/16
- Chris Shula, defensive coordinator (Rams): Interviewed 1/16
- Anthony Weaver, defensive coordinator (Dolphins): Interviewed; second interview expected
Chargers Request Interview Arthur Smith For OC Job; Davis Webb On Radar
The Chargers submitted an interview request for Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Smith, 43, has been in Pittsburgh for the last two years. The team has informed all of the assistant coaches on Mike Tomlin‘s staff that they are free to pursue opportunities elsewhere, leaving no obstacle between Smith and a lateral move to another offensive coordinator job.
The Chargers are the fourth team to express interest in hiring Smith in recent weeks. The Cardinals and the Titans have already interviewed Smith for their head coaching vacancies, and the Lions put in a request to interview him for their offensive coordinator gig.
Smith came up as an offensive assistant in Tennessee and took over as their offensive coordinator in 2019. He parlayed two successful seasons into a head coaching job with the Falcons, but his offenses in Atlanta and Pittsburgh never ranked higher than 15th in points or yards. Smith’s lack of consistent quarterback play is a mitigating factor, but he still got a high level of play out of Ryan Tannehill in Tennessee. Smith could not do much with Marcus Mariota or Desmond Ridder in Atlanta and struggled to find consistency with Justin Fields, Russell Wilson, and Aaron Rodgers in Pittsburgh. Justin Herbert would be the best quarterback with whom Smith has worked by far, but he will have to make his case for his ability to elevate the star quarterback and the Chargers offense in general.
The Chargers are also keeping Broncos quarterbacks coach Davis Webb on their radar, per Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer. The fast-rising coach interviewed for the Ravens’ and Raiders’ head coaching jobs and could garner interest from other teams as a potential offensive coordinator.
Webb is facing a seemingly gargantuan task this week getting Jarrett Stidham ready for the AFC Championship Game against a Patriots defense that savaged C.J. Stroud in the divisional round. Even a semi-successful game from Stidham would speak volumes about Webb’s coaching ability and could raise his profile as a candidate for other jobs around the league.
Steelers To Conduct HC Interview With Mike McCarthy
With Mike Tomlin having resigned as the Steelers’ head coach, Pittsburgh could turn to the coach who bested Tomlin in Super Bowl XLV as his replacement. As Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network reports, the Steelers have secured an HC interview with Mike McCarthy (ESPN’s Adam Schefter was first to report an interview was expected).
McCarthy, 62, is a Pittsburgh native, and he and Steelers GM Omar Khan had a brief overlap in New Orleans in 2000-01. During that time, McCarthy was working as the Saints’ offensive coordinator, and Khan was in the team’s football operations department.
That modicum of familiarity aside, McCarthy does bring plenty of experience to the table. His Super Bowl victory came in his fifth season as the Packers’ HC, and he lasted seven more years in Green Bay beyond that. After a year off in 2019, McCarthy took over for Jason Garrett as the Cowboys’ head coach in 2020. Dallas struggled to a 6-10 mark in McCarthy’s first year, but the team put together three straight 12-win seasons thereafter.
However, those successful regular seasons resulted in just one playoff victory during McCarthy’s Dallas tenure. Following a 7-10 campaign in 2024, the club did not renew his contract.
That has not prevented McCarthy from attracting interest in each of the last two head coaching cycles. He interviewed for the Bears’ and Saints’ posts last year and for the Titans’ and Giants’ vacancies in 2026. While New York has already hired John Harbaugh, the Tennessee job remains open.
The Steelers’ storied history and unparalleled head coaching stability make their HC gig attractive in some respects, though their quarterback situation is one that could give high-end candidates cause for concern. With former McCarthy charge Aaron Rodgers under center, the club clinched the AFC North crown in the waning seconds of the 2025 regular season but was routed by the Texans in the wildcard round of the playoffs. Reports published after Tomlin’s resignation suggested Rodgers would not return to Pittsburgh.
Other reports have indicated that the team would nonetheless be amenable to a new deal for the mercurial passer, and that Rodgers’ teammates would be happy to have him back. Even if that were to happen, Rodgers is now 42, and the Steelers do not have an obvious long-term QB on the roster or a clear means of acquiring one this offseason.
Of course, a McCarthy-Rodgers reunion in the Steel City would be a fascinating development given the combination of success and interpersonal tension they shared in Green Bay (it has been reported that any discord between the two men has dissipated over time). Their QB outlook notwithstanding, veteran NFL reporter and current Cowboys beat Ed Werder says there is nothing McCarthy would like more than to become the head coach of his hometown Steelers, and he even suggests a McCarthy hire could make a Rodgers re-up more likely.
Take a look at our tracker to see how the Steelers’ search, and the searches of other HC-needy teams, are shaping up.
Aaron Rodgers Not Expected To Re-Sign With Steelers; Team Amenable To Reunion
Mike Tomlin resigned as the Steelers’ head coach this week, ending a 19-year run with the franchise. Future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers was Tomlin’s last quarterback in Pittsburgh. With Tomlin gone, it’s likely Rodgers has thrown his final pass as a Steeler, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com says.
This isn’t especially surprising in the wake of comments owner Art Rooney II made following Tomlin’s exit.
“Aaron came here to play for Mike, so I think it’ll most likely affect his decision,” Rooney said of Rodgers’ future.
However, the Steelers are reportedly open to a Rodgers return if he is so inclined. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Rodgers’ teammates were effusive in their praise for him, and most (if not all) of them told team executives during their exit interviews they would like to have him back next year. Schefter nonetheless acknowledges Rodgers is unlikely to re-sign.
During his trip to free agency last offseason, Rodgers reportedly told the Vikings they were his preferred team. After Minnesota didn’t reciprocate, the longtime Packer and ex-Jet pivoted to Pittsburgh on a one-year, $13.65MM contract.
In their only year working together, Rodgers and Tomlin formed a strong bond during a 10-7 campaign. With Rodgers providing an upgrade over predecessor and fellow short-term stopgap Russell Wilson, Tomlin went out with his eighth AFC North title and 13th playoff berth.
With his Steelers tenure likely over, it’s unclear if the 42-year-old Rodgers will aim to play a 22nd season in 2026. Rodgers said before the season that it would probably be his last, but he left the door open for a 2026 return in late December. While a Monday morning report pointed to mutual interest in Rodgers continuing as a Steeler next year, that was before their season fizzled out with a 30-6 loss to the Texans in the wild-card round. Tomlin stepped down the next day.
If this is it for Rodgers, his illustrious career will conclude on a respectable note. The Steelers didn’t have a great offensive supporting cast around him, but Rodgers completed 65.7% of passes, amassed 3,322 yards, tossed 24 touchdowns against seven interceptions, and posted a 94.8 passer rating in 16 games. That may be enough to convince other teams to pursue him as a short-term fix in the offseason.
With Rodgers seemingly done in Pittsburgh, it’s unknown which route the team will take at quarterback this offseason. Mason Rudolph is under contract for another year, but he’s likely better off in a backup role. Sixth-round pick Will Howard, who didn’t throw a pass as a rookie, is another in-house option. Otherwise, free agency, the trade market and the draft will be potential avenues for the Steelers. With still a couple of months before decisions are made on that front, the Steelers are working to find a new head coach for the first time since 2007.