Headlines

Grant Udinski

Grant Udinski Withdraws From Browns’ HC Search, Reaches New Jags OC Agreement

By | at January 26, 2026 9:23 am

Another candidate has taken himself out of contention for the Browns‘ ongoing head coaching search. Grant Udinski is no longer in the running to be hired by Cleveland.

Udinksi has withdrawn from the Browns’ search, as first reported by NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo. Notably, he adds Udinski and the Jaguars have reached a new agreement; a pay raise has been worked out, Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer adds. 2025 marked the first season for Udinski in Jacksonville, with him serving as the team’s offensive coordinator.

[RELATED: HC Search Tracker]

That position did not include play-calling duties, a responsibility head coach Liam Coen handled. Nevertheless, it represented another move up the ladder in Udinksi’s coaching career. The 30-year-old has only been an NFL staffer since 2020, spending two years with the Panthers and then three in Minnesota. Udinksi’s stock rose sharply during his Minnesota tenure, and it came as little surprise when he landed a coordinator opportunity last winter.

Jacksonville ranked sixth in scoring this season en route to a division title. Coen was of course a key figure in that success, but Udinkski helped his HC candidacy as well. A first opportunity to lead an NFL staff could still be coming. Per Garafolo, the Jags will allow Udinski to continue pursuing the Bills‘ HC opening. If a Buffalo hire does not take place, though, Jacksonville will have stability on the sidelines in 2026.

Mike McDaniel and Jesse Minter have also withdrawn from consideration in Cleveland’s case. McDaniel has an agreement in place with the Chargers to become their offensive coordinator, although he is not entirely out of the running for a head coaching gig at this point. Minter, meanwhile, was hired by the Ravens as their new HC last week. Udinski’s future is unclear at this point, but he will not be heading to Cleveland despite interviewing twice with the team.

The Browns have an internal candidate in the form of defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz. Cleveland has also met with Todd Monken and Anthony Lynn in person. The Browns could arrange interviews with one or both of Nate Scheelhaase and Chris Shula now that the Rams’ season has ended. Given today’s news, it is increasingly clear a member of that group will emerge as the Browns’ eventual hire.

15 comments Buffalo Bills Cleveland Browns Jacksonville Jaguars

Joe Brady, Brian Daboll, Anthony Lynn, Grant Udinski Among Bills’ HC Interview Requests; Klint Kubiak On Radar

By | at January 21, 2026 10:31 am

An eventful Bills morning includes a host of candidates to replace Sean McDermott. As expected, offensive coordinator Joe Brady is on that list.

The three-year Buffalo OC will interview to replace his former boss, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reports. A former Bills offensive coordinator — Anthony Lynn, currently the Commanders’ run-game coordinator — will also meet about the job, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Lynn, a two-year Bills staffer who finished his tenure as interim HC, will meet about the job Saturday.

[RELATED: 2026 NFL Head Coaching Search Tracker]

A name we also heard at the outset of the search process, Brian Daboll, is on the list as well. Daboll, the Bills’ OC from 2018-21, will interview, Russini tweets. Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo will join him. A request also has gone out to Jaguars OC Grant Udinski, per NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero.

As the Dolphins have hired Jeff Hafley to be their HC, two-year Miami DC Anthony Weaver will likely head elsewhere. Weaver is on the Bills’ HC interview list as well, with Russini confirming he has received a request. Some of the Bills’ meetings will be in Buffalo, some in Florida, according to SI.com’s Albert Breer.

Teams generally veer in a different direction when they fire a head coach, making offense-minded candidates ones to watch closely in this Buffalo search. The Bills are also believed to be monitoring a candidate tied to one of the conference championship-bound teams. Seahawks OC Klint Kubiak is believed to be on the team’s radar, CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones notes.

Brady remains in the running for the Cardinals, Ravens and Raiders’ positions. On the radar for some of the jobs already filled, Brady is set to meet with Arizona and has a second Baltimore summit scheduled. He met with the Raiders virtually Sunday. Promoting Brady would be a way for the Bills to ensure continuity for Josh Allen, but given the team’s move to fire McDermott, is continuity what will be sought at this crucial point on the superstar quarterback’s timeline?

While Ken Dorsey was Allen’s OC between Daboll and Brady, the latter two are his most notable coordinators. Daboll was at the wheel when Allen morphed from a raw talent to a superstar, with the OC and Stefon Diggs receiving most of the credit for helping accelerate that development. Daboll, however, is coming off a rough three seasons with the Giants. The 2022 Coach of the Year did oversee an efficient Daniel Jones season in 2022, but he failed to avoid double-digit losses in 2023 and ’24 before being fired early in Jaxson Dart‘s Giants tenure.

Lynn was Buffalo’s OC to close the 2016 season, being elevated two times that year. Originally the Bills’ running backs coach to open Rex Ryan‘s tenure in 2015, Lynn climbed to interim OC and then replaced Ryan the following year. Lynn parlayed that into the Chargers’ HC job. Going 1-for-4 in playoff berths in Los Angeles, Lynn ended up as Dan Campbell‘s first Lions OC. Campbell stripped him of play-calling duties in 2021, leading to a one-and-done Detroit stay. Back on the position coaching tier since, Lynn has been with Washington since 2024.

Anarumo has not been a prominent name in this year’s cycle, but the Colts’ DC met about the Giants’ position. Udinski is deep in the Browns’ HC search, being set for a second interview this week. The 30-year-old made a big jump last year, going from assistant Vikings QBs coach to Jags OC. Udinski is just four months older than Allen.

Weaver is still in the thick of the Steelers and Ravens’ HC races, either being interviewed twice or having a second meeting scheduled with both. The Cardinals have also met with the two-year Miami DC.

Kubiak took meetings during the Seahawks’ bye week, but he is off limits for teams presently. The Bills cannot interview the first-year Seattle play-caller until after the Seahawks’ season ends. Kubiak is still up for the Cardinals, Ravens and Raiders’ positions.

The Bills have gone defense with their past two hires — Ryan and McDermott. Those represent the only HC hires of Terry Pegula‘s ownership tenure. Pegula bought the team during Doug Marrone‘s two-year run, which ended when the coach opted out of his contract following the 2014 season. Pegula and Brandon Beane, promoted to president of football ops, will be the key players in Buffalo’s first HC search in nine years.

6 comments Buffalo Bills Indianapolis Colts Jacksonville Jaguars Miami Dolphins Seattle Seahawks Washington Commanders

Browns To Conduct Second HC Interview With Jaguars’ Grant Udinski

By | at January 18, 2026 11:51 am

JANUARY 18: Udinski’s virtual interview with the Browns on Saturday lasted the allotted three hours, per Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union. That was an indication the meeting went well, and ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports Cleveland has requested a second HC interview. The 30-year-old joins Jim Schwartz, Todd Monken, and Mike McDaniel as candidates to get a second interview request from the Browns.

O’Halloran says that even if Udinski does not get an HC gig, he could be in-demand as a play-calling OC. Jacksonville, however, could block OC interview requests.

JANUARY 12: Liam Coen understandably garnered the most praise for the Jaguars’ turnaround that produced a 12-5 season, but offensive coordinator Grant Udinski certainly played a key role as well. Teams have paid attention to Trevor Lawrence‘s resurgence with regards to Udinski’s status.

Coming up as a potential HC candidate weeks ago, Udinski is indeed on the radar. The Browns have requested an interview with the young OC, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero tweets. Udinski is just 30 (today), but he already made the jump from assistant QBs coach to OC last year.

[RELATED: 2026 HC Search Tracker]

The Jaguars hired Udinski from his assistant QBs coach role in Minnesota. Although Udinski is a non-play-calling OC, the Jags going from 4-13 to 12-5 turned heads. With teams seeing how Coen and Ben Johnson turned their teams around in Year 1, more interest in offense-oriented HC candidates is logical. Udinski qualifies, even though his experience level falls short in most respects.

Udinski only leapt onto the position coaching level in 2023, being an assistant to Kevin O’Connell in the two years prior. He began his NFL career as a coaching assistant prior to that, following Matt Rhule from Baylor to Carolina in 2020. While Rhule did not work out with the Panthers and is back at the college level, teams took notice in Udinski last year. The Texans, Patriots, Seahawks and Buccaneers each interviewed Udinski for OC positions in 2025. He conducted two interviews with Seattle before becoming Jacksonville’s OC.

The Giants were believed to have Udinski on their HC radar this offseason, though no request has emerged yet. With the Jags now eliminated, Udinski is free to interview. Had Jacksonville defeated Buffalo on Sunday, he would have needed to wait until Wednesday to do a remote interview. Free of restrictions, Udinski most likely will meet about possibly succeeding Kevin Stefanski — who was also a Vikings staffer, albeit before Udinski arrived — in Cleveland.

1 comment Cleveland Browns

2026 NFL Head Coaching Search Tracker

By | at January 7, 2026 9:50 pm

The Browns, Cardinals, Falcons and Raiders followed the Giants and Titans in firing head coaches, making those calls between the Week 18 conclusion and Black Monday. The Ravens then moved on from John Harbaugh after 18 seasons; two days later, the Dolphins canned Mike McDaniel. Following a wild-card loss, the Steelers and Mike Tomlin are separating after 19 years. Now, after an overtime divisional-round loss in Denver, Sean McDermott is out in Buffalo.

The 10 HC openings are tied with 1978, 1997, 2006 and 2022 for the most in one year. Here are the candidates connected to all those searches, including the four remaining jobs. If more teams make changes, they will be added to the list.

Updated 1-26-26 (5:50pm CT)

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Buffalo Bills

Cleveland Browns

Las Vegas Raiders

Miami Dolphins

New York Giants

Pittsburgh Steelers

Tennessee Titans

11 comments Arizona Cardinals Atlanta Falcons Baltimore Ravens Buffalo Bills Cincinnati Bengals Cleveland Browns Denver Broncos Detroit Lions Green Bay Packers Indianapolis Colts Jacksonville Jaguars Kansas City Chiefs Las Vegas Raiders Los Angeles Chargers Los Angeles Rams Miami Dolphins Minnesota Vikings New England Patriots New York Giants PFR Originals Pittsburgh Steelers San Francisco 49ers Seattle Seahawks Tennessee Titans

Coaching Notes: Chiefs, Lions, Udinski, Leonhard, Idzik, Brown, Bears, Pitcher, Scheelhaase, Godsey

By | at January 3, 2026 10:36 pm

Matt Nagy looms as one of the top head coaching candidates with an offensive background in this year’s hiring cycle. A departure for a second HC opportunity (or at least a play-calling offensive coordinator role) is something to watch for over the coming days.

In the event Nagy were to head elsewhere, the Chiefs would find themselves in need of an OC replacement. The team could look to familiar options in such a scenario. Kansas City would “welcome back” Mike Kafka or Eric Bieniemy, Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network report.

Bieniemy, 56, worked under Andy Reid from 2013-22. That span included five years in the offensive coordinator role. Bieniemy led Washington’s offense for one season before doing the same at UCLA. He is currently serving as the Bears‘ running backs coach. Kafka, meanwhile, was with the Chiefs for five years, operating as quarterbacks coach and pass-game coordinator along the way. As the interim head coach of the Giants, the 38-year-old’s future is currently unclear.

With Black Monday approaching, here are some other coaching notes from around the NFL:

  • Lions head coach Dan Campbell recently hinted at staffing changes. It would comes as little surprise if OC John Morton were to be among those let go, seeing as he was stripped of play-calling duties midway through the campaign. Morton said (via Rapoport and Pelissero) “I’d like to be here” when asked about the possibility of remaining in Detroit. Taking on a lesser role for next season could thus be something to watch for as Campbell looks into his coordinator options.
  • Overall, the pool of head coaching candidates for 2026 is not seen as being as strong as last year. A large number of firings over the next few days may not be forthcoming as a result. On the other hand, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini notes (subscription required) this winter could be busier than usual in terms of coordinator changes. Jaguars OC Grant Udinski, Broncos secondary coach Jim Leonhard, Panthers offensive coordinator Brad Idzik and Patriots pass-game coordinator Thomas Brown are among the staffers she identifies among those who have drawn strong reviews for their work this season.
  • Ben Johnson has impressed during his debut season in Chicago. He could be in line to lose a number of key assistants soon, however. Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports names Bieniemy as a candidate to depart this winter with his stock having received a boost. In addition, offensive coordinator Declan Doyle, pass-game coordinator Press Taylor and quarterbacks coach J.T. Barrett have each generated buzz regarding interest around the league. Johnson may have multiple vacancies to fill in the near future in the wake of Chicago’s successful campaign.
  • Dan Pitcher has been with the Bengals since 2016. Over that time, he has worked his way up to quarterbacks coach, a role he has had for six seasons and counting. The 38-year-old finds himself as an interview candidate for OC positions, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. Losing Pitcher would deal another blow to the stability Zac Taylor enjoyed on his offensive staff until Brian Callahan‘s departure in 2025.
  • Fowler also points to Nate Scheelhaase as a “sleeper” with respect to offensive coordinator interviews. Scheelhaase, 35, served in many positions at the college level before joining the Rams in 2024; he currently serves as the team’s pass-game coordinator. Many Sean McVay assistants have gone on to land notable gigs elsewhere in the NFL, and along with D-coordinator Chris Shula Scheelhaase could soon become the latest to do so.
  • Since 2022, George Godsey has served as the Ravens’ tight ends coach. That tenure is nearing an end, however, Godsey is finalizing a deal to become the next offensive coordinator at Georgia Tech, ESPN’s Pete Thamel reports. By returning to his alma mater, Godsey will end a run of NFL coaching positions which dates back to 2011.
3 comments Baltimore Ravens Carolina Panthers Chicago Bears Cincinnati Bengals Denver Broncos Detroit Lions Jacksonville Jaguars Kansas City Chiefs Los Angeles Rams New England Patriots

Mike McCarthy, Antonio Pierce Among Giants’ HC Candidates

By | at January 2, 2026 11:51 am

The Giants’ head-coaching search informally started immediately after firing Brian Daboll, but recent discussions have created an initial list of candidates to interview, per The Exhibit’s Josina Anderson.

Several coaches are already known to be on the Giants’ radar, including Notre Dame HC Marcus Freeman, Packers DC Jeff Hafley, Colts DC Lou Anarumo, Commanders OC Kliff Kingsbury, Seahawks OC Klint Kubiak, and Browns HC Kevin Stefanski. Giants interm HC Mike Kafka is also expected to interview with the team after auditioning for the full-time job since Daboll’s removal.

Interview requests will be much stronger indications of the Giants’ interest. Their lengthy list of candidates is primarily focused on former head coaches and current coordinator, per ESPN’s Jordan Raanan.

The formal interview process has technically already begun, as candidates not employed by an NFL team can interview right away. Former Packers and Cowboys HC Mike McCarthy and and former Raiders HC Antonio Pierce are on the Giants’ list. Pierce, a former Pro Bowl linebacker, played in New York for five seasons and earned a Pro Bowl nod and a Super Bowl ring in the process. That connection to the franchise – as with Jets HC Aaron Glenn – could give Pierce a leg up in the Giant’s hiring process, according to ESPN’s Dan Graziano.

For coaches currently working for an NFL team, interview requests must wait until the regular season ends. The Giants’ interest seems to be focused on defensive coordinators, as Hafley (Packers), Vance Joseph (Broncos), Chris Shula (Rams), and Jesse Minter (Chargers) are all expected to receive interview requests. Hafley, a New Jersey native, in particular “seems to have some traction in New York,” according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.

Any coach for a non-playoff team can be interviewed as soon as Week 18 concludes. If the Broncos secure a first-round bye, Joseph (and any other coaches employed by a team with a bye) can only be virtually interviewed until the end of the wild card round. Coaches without a bye can be interviewed until the end of the divisional round. After the divisional round, teams can begin in-person interviews with coaches for teams eliminated by the playoffs.

Other coaches who have an “outside chance” to be interviewed by the Giants include Texans DC Matt Burke and Panthers DC Ejiro Evero, per Raanan. Current head coaches that are fired at the end of the season, especially Stefanski, could also be considered by the Giants. They could also seek to follow the wave of hiring young offensive coordinators from the Kyle Shanahan/Sean McVay coaching tree such as Vikings quarterbacks coach Josh McCown or Jaguars OC Grant Udinski.

11 comments New York Giants

Jaguars OC Grant Udinski To Be Popular HC Candidate?

By | at December 14, 2025 12:32 pm

Jaguars offensive coordinator Grant Udinski will not turn 30 until next month. Nonetheless, Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports reports the promising coach may be a popular name in the upcoming HC cycle.

Since the Rams hired Sean McVay as their head coach just a few days shy of his 31st birthday in 2017, other teams around the NFL frequently have sought candidates in the same mold: a young, creative offensive mind who can provide fresh energy and engineer a high-scoring outfit. Clubs seeking the “next McVay” have found varying degrees of success, but Udinski could be the next such coach to try and replicate the sustained stretch of competitiveness Los Angeles has enjoyed under its former wunderkind.

When Jacksonville’s first-year HC, Liam Coen, hired Udinski in February, he called his new staffer a “rising star,” and he was not the only one to notice. Udinski started his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Baylor in 2019 and followed Matt Rhule from Waco to the Panthers in 2020. Rhule’s tenure with Carolina did not go well, and Udinski jumped ship after the 2021 season to join Kevin O’Connell’s first staff with the Vikings in 2022.

Udinski became Minnesota’s assistant quarterbacks coach the following year, and he added the role of assistant offensive coordinator last season. As Jones notes, the Pennsylvania native had a hand in two strong Kirk Cousins-led years with the Vikes – though one of them was shortened by injury – and he was also heavily involved in Sam Darnold’s surprising 2024 campaign. 

Jones likewise credits Udinski with helping Jags QB Trevor Lawrence’s “resurgence” this season. While Jacksonville is 9-4 and in first place in the AFC South, Lawrence’s bottom-line stats are just as pedestrian as they have been throughout most of his pro career. Still, the success the team as a whole is having has kept Udinski’s stock on the rise.

His cause could also be helped by the dearth of other offensive-minded candidates who have stood out in 2025. Jones appears to acknowledge that Udinski’s youth will give HC-needy teams pause, and the fact that he does not call the Jaguars’ offensive plays – Coen holds that responsibility – may also be a cause for concern (though that is merely speculation).

Even if he does not land a head coaching post in 2026, Udinski could become a fixture in HC rumors in future years, just as he was on the OC circuit in 2025 (he interviewed for the offensive coordinator position with five different clubs). 

5 comments Jacksonville Jaguars

Jaguars Hire Grant Udinski As OC

By | at February 5, 2025 10:37 pm

The Jaguars have settled on their new offensive coordinator. The team announced that they’re hiring Vikings assistant quarterbacks coach Grant Udinski for the role.

“Grant will bring a wealth of knowledge, energy and a winning mindset to help lead our offense here in Jacksonville,” head coach Liam Coen said in a statement. “He is a rising star in this league that has been a pillar of success for the Vikings organization and we can’t wait to have him lead our offense.”

Udinski has only been coaching for six years, five of which have come in the NFL. Following a quick stint with the Panthers, Udinski joined the Vikings as an assistant in 2022. It didn’t take long for him to earn a promotion. He earned the title of assistant quarterbacks coach in 2023, and he added the role of assistant offensive coordinator in 2024.

The coach’s offensive prowess garnered some attention in 2024. Udinski was described as a mentor to injured rookie QB J.J. McCarthy, and he also helped guide Sam Darnold to the best season of his career. As teams looked to Kevin O’Connell‘s coaching tree to fill their offensive holes, Udinski became a popular name on the coordinator market, interviewing for gigs with the Seahawks and Jaguars.

While Coen is expected to have a heavy hand in Jacksonville’s offensive approach, the new head coach has led a limited search for a new OC. Rams pass game specialist Nate Scheelhaase was reportedly the favorite for the gig, but he ended up sticking in Los Angeles for the 2025 campaign. The team also showed interest in Chip Kelly and interviewed Commanders QBs coach Tavita Pritchard before ultimately landing on Udinski for the gig.

The new coordinator will have plenty to work with in Jacksonville. Trevor Lawrence hasn’t reached the pinnacle that was expected when he was the first-overall pick, but the organization will be counting on Udinski to get the most out of the franchise player. The team also seemed to hit on a WR1 in rookie Brian Thomas, and they’re rostering a pair of backfield options in Tank Bigsby and Travis Etienne (barring a trade).

In Minnesota, the Vikings will be losing a significant staff member, but the team should have some coaching continuity on offense. Offensive coordinator Wes Phillips is set to be back for a fourth season with the organization, and Josh McCown will be sticking around for another season as Minnesota’s quarterbacks coach.

16 comments Jacksonville Jaguars Minnesota Vikings Newsstand

Jaguars Meet With Grant Udinski; Team Requests OL Interview With Austin Gund

By | at January 31, 2025 9:57 pm

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.

0 comments Buffalo Bills Jacksonville Jaguars Minnesota Vikings San Francisco 49ers Transactions

Texans Add Brian Johnson, Grant Udinski To List Of OC Candidates

By | at January 30, 2025 6:43 pm

The Texans have cast a relatively wide net in their search for a new offensive coordinator, and we’ve got two more names to add to the growing list of candidates. According to FOX Sports’ Jordan Schultz, the Texans have requested an interview with Commanders pass game coordinator Brian Johnson. Meanwhile, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that the team interviewed Vikings coach Grant Udinski today.

Johnson would bring plenty of experience to Houston. The long-time coach had three stops as offensive coordinator in the college ranks, guiding the offenses at Utah, Houston, and Florida. He broke into the NFL in 2021 when he was named as the Eagles quarterbacks coach, and he quickly earned a promotion to offensive coordinator in 2023.

His stint as Philly’s OC left plenty to be desired, with pundits criticizing his lack of offensive creativity. To his credit, the Eagles still ranked top-ten in both yards and points that season, but Johnson was canned following that campaign. He quickly landed on his feet in Washington, where he was recruited by Dan Quinn to be the Commanders’ new offensive pass-game coordinator. Working alongside OC Kliff Kingsbury, the team squeezed a standout season out of rookie Jayden Daniels, and that performance apparently put Johnson back on the coordinator radar.

Udinski has spent the majority of his coaching career in Minnesota, working his way up from an assistant to his current role of assistant offensive coordinator/assistant quarterbacks coach. Plenty of teams have been enamored by the Kevin O’Connell-led offense, especially after the Vikings got a career-best season from Sam Darnold. As a result, Udinski garnered interest from the Patriots, Seahawks, and Buccaneers for their respective OC vacancies.

Following the Texans’ sudden decision to move on from Bobby Slowik, the team has looked far and wide for a new offensive leader. As our 2025 NFL Offensive/Defensive Coordinator Search Tracker shows, the team’s current list of candidates includes:

2 comments Houston Texans Minnesota Vikings Washington Commanders
Show all
Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors