Packers To Hire Penn State WRs Coach Noah Pauley
The Packers are expected to hire Penn State wide receivers coach Noah Pauley for the same job in Green Bay, per CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz.
2025 was Pauley’s first season at Penn State. He did not have much immediate success with the Nittany Lions’ wide receivers, but his previous work at Iowa State and North Dakota State are much stronger parts of his resume.
As the Cyclones’ wide receivers coach from 2022 to 2024, Pauley played an instrumental role in the development of Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel. The two made huge strides under Pauley’s tutelage and combined for 167 receptions, 2,377 yards, and 17 touchdowns in their final college season. Both were drafted by the Texans last April – Higgins with the 37th overall pick, Noel with the 79th – and put up solid but unspectacular rookie seasons.
In a way, it is surprising that the Texans have not looked into hiring Pauley considering their investment of the players he developed in college. Houston also drafted Xavier Hutchinson in 2023, a year after Pauley coached him to career- and Big 12-high stats of 107 receptions and 1,171 receiving yards.
Before Iowa State, Pauley coached now-Packers wide receiver Christian Watson at North Dakota State. The two will reunite in Green Bay, though Watson is in the last year of his contract. So are Jayden Reed and Dontayvion Wicks, while Matthew Golden and Savion Williams were both drafted last year.
It seems like the Packers will not be signing Romeo Doubs, and the cap hits of quarterback Jordan Love, edge rusher Micah Parsons, and right tackle Zach Tom will get bigger and bigger in the coming years. The team will also need to extend tight end Tucker Kraft, so extending multiple receivers may be out of the question. Pauley will therefore be crucial to the Packers’ continued strategy of drafting and developing young wide receivers while avoiding pricey extensions and free agent contracts. His main task will be getting Golden, the No. 23 pick last year – back on track after his disappointing rookie year.
2025 NFL Offensive/Defensive Coordinator Search Tracker
Last year, half the league changed up at offensive and defensive coordinator. As most HC-needy teams have now filled their open positions, the coordinator carousel has accelerated. Here is how the market looks now. When other teams make changes, they will be added to the list.
Updated 2-21-25 (1:59pm CT)
Offensive coordinators
Chicago Bears (Out: Chris Beatty)
- Declan Doyle, tight ends coach (Broncos): Hired
- Hank Fraley, offensive line coach (Lions): Rumored candidate; staying with Lions
- Bo Hardegree, quarterbacks coach (Titans): Interview requested
- David Shaw, senior personnel executive (Broncos): Interviewed 1/25
- Israel Woolfork, quarterbacks coach (Cardinals): Interview requested
Cleveland Browns (Out: Ken Dorsey)
- Darrell Bevell, quarterbacks coach (Dolphins): Interviewed 1/9
- Kevin Koger, tight ends coach (Falcons): Interviewed 1/10
- Klint Kubiak, offensive coordinator (Saints): Interviewed 1/13
- Charles London, quarterbacks coach (Falcons): Interviewed
- Tommy Rees, tight ends coach (Browns): Promoted
Dallas Cowboys (Out: Brian Schottenheimer)
- Klayton Adams, offensive line coach (Cardinals): To be hired
- Ken Dorsey, former offensive coordinator (Browns): Mentioned as candidate
- Kevin Koger, tight ends coach (Falcons): Interviewed
- Scottie Montgomery, running backs coach (Lions): Interviewed
Detroit Lions (Out: Ben Johnson)
- John Morton, pass-game coordinator (Broncos): Hired
Houston Texans (Out: Bobby Slowik)
- Nick Caley, tight ends coach (Rams): Hired
- Brian Johnson, pass game coordinator (Commanders): Interview requested
- Jerrod Johnson, quarterbacks coach (Texans): Interviewed 1/27
- Chip Kelly, offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach (Ohio State): Team has interest
- Klint Kubiak, offensive coordinator (Saints): Mentioned as candidate; hired by Seahawks
- Bill Lazor, senior offensive assistant (Texans): Interviewed 1/30
- Thad Lewis, quarterbacks coach (Buccaneers): Interviewed 1/28
- Ben McDaniels, wide receivers coach/pass-game coordinator (Texans): Mentioned as candidate
- Jeff Nixon, offensive coordinator (Syracuse): Interviewed 1/27
- Grant Udinski, assistant quarterbacks coach (Vikings): Interviewed 1/30
Jacksonville Jaguars (Out: Press Taylor)
- 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; seen as favorite; staying with Rams
- Grant Udinski, assistant quarterbacks coach (Vikings): Hired
Las Vegas Raiders
- Darrell Bevell, quarterbacks coach (Dolphins): Interviewed 1/28; frontrunner
- Bo Hardegree, quarterbacks coach (Titans): Mentioned as candidate
- Jerrod Johnson, quarterbacks coach (Texans): Interviewed
- Chip Kelly, offensive coordinator (Ohio State): Hired
- David Shaw, senior personnel executive (Broncos): Mentioned as candidate; hired by Lions
New England Patriots (Out: Alex Van Pelt)
- Eric Bieniemy, former offensive coordinator (UCLA): Interviewed
- Marcus Brady, pass-game coordinator (Chargers): Interviewed 1/18
- Thomas Brown, interim head coach (Bears): Interviewed 1/14
- Josh McDaniels, former head coach (Raiders): Hired
- Tommy Rees, tight ends coach (Browns): Rumored candidate; promoted by Browns
- Grant Udinski, assistant quarterbacks coach (Vikings): Interviewed 1/21
New Orleans Saints (Out: Klint Kubiak)
- Kevin Koger, tight ends coach (Falcons): Rejected interview request
- Doug Nussmeier, quarterbacks coach (Eagles): Hired
- Kevin Patullo, pass-game coordinator (Eagles): Mentioned as candidate
- Robert Prince, receivers coach (Dolphins): Interviewed 2/15
- Jemal Singleton, assistant head coach/running backs coach (Eagles): Interviewed 2/17
New York Jets (Out: Nathaniel Hackett)
- Mark Brunell, quarterbacks coach (Lions): Mentioned as candidate
- Nick Caley, tight ends coach (Rams): Turned down interest
- Tanner Engstrand, pass-game coordinator (Lions): Hired
- 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
Philadelphia Eagles (Out: Kellen Moore)
- Kevin Patullo, pass-game coordinator (Eagles): Promoted
San Francisco 49ers
- Klay Kubiak, pass-game specialist (49ers): Promotion expected
- Noah Pauley, wide receivers coach (Iowa State): Interviewed 1/13
Seattle Seahawks (Out: Ryan Grubb)
- Thomas Brown, interim head coach (Bears): Interviewed
- Hank Fraley, offensive line coach (Lions): Conducted second interview 1/21; staying with Lions
- Klint Kubiak, offensive coordinator (Saints): Hired
- Byron Leftwich, former offensive coordinator (Buccaneers): Interviewed
- Adam Stenavich, offensive coordinator (Packers): Interviewed
- Travis Switzer, run-game coordinator (Ravens): Interviewed
- Grant Udinski, assistant quarterbacks coach (Vikings): Conducted second interview 1/17
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Out: Liam Coen)
- Marcus Brady, pass-game coordinator (Chargers): Interviewed 1/25
- Nick Caley, tight ends coach (Rams): Interviewed 1/27
- Josh Grizzard, pass-game coordinator (Buccaneers): Promoted
- Dave Ragone, quarterbacks coach (Rams): Interviewed 1/28
- Nate Scheelhaase, offensive assistant/passing game specialist (Rams): Interviewed 1/27
- Grant Udinski, assistant quarterbacks coach (Vikings): Interviewed 1/25
Defensive coordinators
Atlanta Falcons (Out: Jimmy Lake)
- Lou Anarumo, former defensive coordinator (Bengals): Interviewed 1/15
- Derrick Ansley, pass-game coordinator (Falcons): Interviewed 1/16
- Grady Brown, secondary coach (Steelers): Interviewed 1/17
- Matt Eberflus, former head coach (Bears): Interviewed 1/18
- Wink Martindale, defensive coordinator (Michigan): Interviewed 1/14
- Jeff Ulbrich, interim head coach (Jets): Hired
- Steve Wilks, former defensive coordinator (49ers): Interviewed 1/17
Chicago Bears (Out: Eric Washington)
- Dennis Allen, former head coach (Saints): Hired
- Lou Anarumo, former defensive coordinator (Bengals): Rumored candidate; hired by Colts
- Daronte Jones, defensive pass-game coordinator (Vikings): To interview
- Aubrey Pleasant, defensive pass-game coordinator (Rams): Interview requested
Cincinnati Bengals (Out: Lou Anarumo)
- DeMarcus Covington, defensive coordinator (Patriots): Interviewed
- Matt Eberflus, former head coach (Bears): Mentioned as candidate
- Al Golden, defensive coordinator (Notre Dame): Hired
- Patrick Graham, defensive coordinator (Raiders): Interviewed
- Wink Martindale, defensive coordinator (Michigan): Rumored candidate
Dallas Cowboys (Out: Mike Zimmer)
- Ryan Crow, outside linebackers coach (Dolphins): Interview requested
- Andre Curtis, safeties coach (Bears): Interviewed
- Matt Eberflus, former head coach (Bears): Hired
Detroit Lions (Out: Aaron Glenn)
- Larry Foote, inside linebackers coach (Buccaneers): Interviewed
- Kelvin Sheppard, linebackers coach (Lions): Promoted
Indianapolis Colts (Out: Gus Bradley)
- Dennis Allen, former head coach (Saints): Interviewed 1/17
- Lou Anarumo, former defensive coordinator (Bengals): Hired
- Ephraim Banda, safeties coach (Browns): Interviewed 1/10
- Wink Martindale, defensive coordinator (Michigan): Interviewed 1/15
- Steve Wilks, former defensive coordinator (49ers): Interviewed
Jacksonville Jaguars (Out: Ryan Nielsen)
- Anthony Campanile, linebackers coach/running game coordinator (Packers): Hired
- Jonathan Cooley, pass-game coordinator (Panthers): Interview requested
- Patrick Graham, former defensive coordinator (Raiders): Interviewed 1/27
- Daronte Jones, defensive pass-game coordinator (Vikings): Interviewed 1/27
- Aubrey Pleasant, defensive pass-game coordinator (Rams): Interviewed 1/28
Las Vegas Raiders
- Patrick Graham, defensive coordinator (Raiders): Retained
- Rob Leonard, defensive line coach (Raiders): Interviewed 1/27
- Karl Scott, pass-game coordinator (Seahawks): Interview requested
New England Patriots (Out: DeMarcus Covington)
- Ryan Crow, outside linebackers coach (Dolphins): Interviewed 1/21
- Terrell Williams, defensive line coach (Lions): Hired
New Orleans Saints (Out: Joe Woods)
- George Edwards, outside linebackers coach (Buccaneers): Mentioned as candidate
- Daronte Jones, defensive pass-game coordinator (Vikings): To interview 2/15
- Robert Livingston, defensive coordinator (University of Colorado): Was under consideration
- Christian Parker, passing game coordinator/defensive backs coach (Eagles): Interviewed 2/16
- Brandon Staley, assistant head coach (49ers): Hired
New York Jets (Out: Jeff Ulbrich)
- Chris Harris, former defensive backs coach/passing game coordinator (Titans): Interviewed 1/29
- Steve Wilks, former defensive coordinator (49ers): To be hired
San Francisco 49ers (Out: Nick Sorensen)
- Gus Bradley, former defensive coordinator (Colts): Rumored candidate
- Robert Saleh, former head coach (Jets): Hired
- Brandon Staley, assistant head coach (49ers): Mentioned as candidate
- Deshea Townsend, defensive backs coach (Lions): Interviewed 1/9
- Jeff Ulbrich, interim head coach (Jets): Rumored candidate
49ers Interview Noah Pauley For OC Job
The 49ers “search” for a new offensive coordinator appears to be a formality before the team inevitably promotes Klay Kubiak to the role. However, as the team complies with the NFL’s required process (which includes the Rooney Rule), they’re taking a look at some outside options. The team announced that they interviewed Noah Pauley for the job today.
Pauley made a name for himself during his time at North Dakota State. He served as the team’s pass game coordinator while helping coach eventual third-overall pick Trey Lance and All-American wide receiver (and eventual second-round pick) Christian Watson.
He most recently coached wide receivers and served as pass game coordinator at Iowa State. Jaylin Noel (80 catches, 1,194 yards, eight touchdowns) and Jayden Higgins (87 catches, 1,183 yards, nine touchdowns) both had standout seasons under Pauley’s tutelage. The coach also briefly worked with the Packers through the NFL’s Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship.
49ers coach Kyle Shanahan revealed the other day that Kubiak, who most recently served as the team’s offensive passing game specialist (and de facto OC), would earn a promotion to the full-time coordinator role this offseason. However, the NFL quickly stepped in, informing the organization that they had to comply to the open-search process before naming someone in the role. This also meant the 49ers had to include at least two minority candidates in accordance with the NFL’s Rooney Rule.