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2026 NFL Offensive/Defensive Coordinator Search Tracker

By | at February 15, 2026 10:15 pm

The 2026 head coaching carousel has now seen 10 jobs open since the start of the offseason, as the Bills have fired Sean McDermott. HC firings generally lead to coordinator changes, and several other teams have proceeded with OC or DC moves to start their offseasons. Here are the current OC and DC searches transpiring. As the remaining HC searches conclude, more coordinator searches will be added to this list.

Updated 2-20-26 (8:40am CT)

Offensive Coordinators

Arizona Cardinals (Out: Drew Petzing)

  • Nathaniel Hackett, quarterbacks coach (Dolphins): Hired

Atlanta Falcons (Out: Zac Robinson)

Baltimore Ravens (Out: Todd Monken)

Buffalo Bills (Out: Joe Brady)

  • Pete Carmichael Jr., senior offensive assistant (Broncos): Hire expected

Chicago Bears (Out: Declan Doyle)

Cleveland Browns (Out: Tommy Rees)

Denver Broncos (Out: Joe Lombardi)

  • Ronald Curry, quarterbacks coach (Bills): Interviewed
  • Brian Johnson, pass-game coordinator (Commanders): Interviewed
  • Davis Webb, quarterbacks coach (Broncos): Promoted

Detroit Lions (Out: John Morton)

Kansas City Chiefs (Out: Matt Nagy)

  • Eric Bieniemy, running backs coach (Bears): Rehired

Las Vegas Raiders (Out: Greg Olson)

  • Andrew Janocko, quarterbacks coach (Seahawks): Hired
  • Frisman Jackson, wide receivers coach (Seahawks): To interview

Los Angeles Chargers (Out: Greg Roman)

Los Angeles Rams (Out: Mike LaFleur)

  • Dave Ragone, quarterbacks coach (Rams): Title enhanced
  • Nate Scheelhaase, pass-game coordinator (Rams): Promoted

Miami Dolphins (Out: Frank Smith)

New York Giants (Out: Mike Kafka)

New York Jets (Out: Tanner Engstrand)

Philadelphia Eagles (Out: Kevin Patullo)

Pittsburgh Steelers (Out: Arthur Smith)

Seattle Seahawks (Out: Klint Kubiak)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Out: Josh Grizzard)

Tennessee Titans (Out: Nick Holz)

Washington Commanders (Out: Kliff Kingsbury)

Defensive Coordinators

Arizona Cardinals

Baltimore Ravens (Out: Zach Orr)

Buffalo Bills (Out: Bobby Babich)

  • Jim Leonhard, defensive backs coach (Broncos): Hired

Cleveland Browns (Out: Jim Schwartz)

Dallas Cowboys (Out: Matt Eberflus)

Green Bay Packers (Out: Jeff Hafley)

Las Vegas Raiders (Out: Patrick Graham)

Los Angeles Chargers (Out: Jesse Minter)

Miami Dolphins (Out: Anthony Weaver)

  • Sean Duggan, former linebackers coach (Packers): Hired
  • Clint Hurtt, defensive line coach (Eagles): Interviewed

New England Patriots (Out: Terrell Williams)

New York Giants (Out: Shane Bowen)

New York Jets (Out: Steve Wilks)

Pittsburgh Steelers (Out: Teryl Austin)

San Francisco 49ers (Out: Robert Saleh)

  • Gus Bradley, assistant head coach (49ers): Interviewed
  • Raheem Morris, former head coach (Falcons): Hired
  • Jim Schwartz, defensive coordinator (Browns): Rumored candidate
  • Joe Woods, defensive backs coach (Raiders): Interviewed

Tennessee Titans (Out: Dennard Wilson)

Washington Commanders (Out: Joe Whitt)

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Scott Tolzien, Chase Haslett To Remain On Saints’ Staff

By | at February 3, 2026 11:15 am

Scott Tolzien and Chase Haslett have both received interest from the Steelers as Mike McCarthy pieces together his staff. In each case, though, a departure from the Saints will not be taking place.

Tolzien has chosen to stay in New Orleans, NFL insider Jordan Schultz reports. Pittsburgh conducted an offensive coordinator interview with him yesterday, and Schultz notes Tolzien was considered a “top candidate” for the Pittsburgh job. Instead, Tolzien will carry on in his role as quarterbacks coach for New Orleans in 2026.

Schultz reported on Monday that Haslett interviewed with the Steelers for the role of pass-game coordinator and tight ends coach. A hire on that front would have allowed for a reunion with McCarthy. Haslett’s first coaching opportunity in the NFL came under McCarthy with the Cowboys. After five years on McCarthy’s Dallas staff, Haslett joined the Saints as their TEs coach. Per Schultz, the 33-year-old has joined Tolzien in deciding to remain in place for now.

New Orleans underwent a number of changes on the sidelines last offseason, something which is of course commonplace when new head coaches arrive. Kellen Moore took on HC duties for the first time, and he led the Saints to a 6-11 record. Momentum was built toward the end of the campaign with rookie quarterback Tyler Shough delivering a number of encouraging performances. Shough is now positioned for a full season atop the depth chart, and continued development on his part would boost Tolzien’s coaching stock.

Taysom Hill may have played his final game with the Saints, while Foster Moreau is a pending free agent. The tight end position could look much different in 2026 for New Orleans as a result. Haslett will play a key role on Moore’s staff regardless of how things shake out at the tight spot next year.

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Steelers Planning Scott Tolzien OC Interview, Hire James Campen

By | at January 29, 2026 9:27 pm

While Mike McCarthy spent five years as the Cowboys’ head coach, the early makeup of his Steelers staff reminds more of his Packers setup. After hiring one-year Green Bay assistant Patrick Graham as DC, McCarthy has one of his former players in the running for Pittsburgh’s OC post.

The Steelers are planning to interview Saints assistant Scott Tolzien for their OC vacancy, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports. Tolzien is New Orleans’ QBs coach, but prior to that, he both played and coached under McCarthy.

Tolzien was one of Aaron Rodgers‘ backups in Green Bay from 2013-15. He then spent two years with the Colts and retired from playing in 2018. He went back to Wisconsin to start his coaching career as an analyst, which quickly led to a job on Mike McCarthy’s staff in Dallas in 2020. Tolzien was promoted to quarterbacks coach in 2023 and oversaw a career-best performance from Dak Prescott, who finished in second place in MVP voting. The Cowboys struggled after Prescott’s season-ending injury in 2024, though Tolzien helped backup quarterback Cooper Rush compile a 4-4 record as a starter to close out the year.

McCarthy was fired after the season, and Tolzien reunited with former Cowboys offensive coordinator Kellen Moore in New Orleans. Tolzien took the quarterbacks coach job on Moore’s staff and worked with rookie quarterback Tyler Shough this past season. Shough took over the starting job midway through the year, worked through some first-year bumps, and led the Saints to a 4-1 record in their last five games.

The Steelers are still working through their list of offensive coordinator candidates, but they have made one key hire on that side of the ball. Longtime offensive line coach James Campen will be joining McCarthy’s staff, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Campen spent 15 years under McCarthy in Green Bay, including 12 years as the Packers’ offensive line coach. He also developed a close relationship with Aaron Rodgers during that time, which could be another factor in the veteran quarterback’s return to Pittsburgh in 2026.

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Saints Hire Scott Tolzien, T.J. Paganetti; Team ‘Zeroing In’ On Doug Nussmeier As OC

By | at February 18, 2025 5:29 pm

Like many coordinators who get head coaching opportunities, Kellen Moore is bringing multiple members of his staff in Philadelphia to his new job in New Orleans.

The Saints “are currently working to finalize a deal” to make Doug Nussmeier their next offensive coordinator, per veteran NFL insider Josina Anderson. Nussmeier spent 2024 as the Eagles’ quarterbacks coach and is considered the frontrunner for the job position in New Orleans. He previously coached quarterbacks for the Chargers and the Cowboys. Nussmeier also served as offensive coordinator for several major college programs from 2008 to 2017, including Alabama, Florida, and Michigan.

Nussmeier isn’t the only top Eagles assistant following Moore to New Orleans. The Saints are also hiring Eagles run game specialist and assistant offensive line coach T.J. Paganetti, per Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football. He has spent the last eight seasons in Philadelphia, working closely with legendary Eagles offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland. Paganetti will likely take over as the Saints’ offensive line coach after John Benton followed Klint Kubiak to Seattle.

Moore is hiring another familiar face to serve as quarterbacks coach in Scott Tolzien, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. Tolzien was an assistant in Dallas when Moore was the Cowboys’ offensive coordinator from 2020 to 2022. Tolzien was promoted to quarterbacks coach after Moore moved on in 2023, but was not expected to be retained on Brian Schottenheimer‘s new staff.

Tolzien, a former NFL quarterback himself, will help the Saints navigate an uncertain quarterback situation this year. Derek Carr performed well in 2024, but struggled to stay healthy. His durability will remain a concern entering his age-34 season – if he even stays on the roster – but neither Spencer Rattler nor Jake Haener inspired much confidence in 2024. The Saints’ cap situation will hinder them in the free agent quarterback market, and the draft’s top quarterbacks will likely go before their first round pick (No. 9 overall).

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Cowboys QBs Coach Scott Tolzien Not Expected Back In 2025

By | at January 25, 2025 12:19 pm

The Cowboys are sticking with continuity on their coaching staff, as the team promoted offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer to the head coaching role. However, it sounds like the team will need to slightly revamp their offensive coaching staff.

[RELATED: Cowboys Hire Brian Schottenheimer As HC]

According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Scott Tolzien isn’t expected back in Dallas next season. The former NFL journeyman was attached to an expiring contract, so there doesn’t need to be any formal divorce separation the two sides.

Tolzien could have been a logical candidate to replace Schottenheimer in the offensive coordinator role. After spending three seasons as an assistant, Tolzien spent the past two years coaching the Cowboys quarterbacks. Dak Prescott finished second in MVP during the 2023 campaign, and while the QB’s numbers took a step back before his season-ending injury in 2024, Tolzien still earned a reputation as a “talented QB tutor” (per Rapoport).

Rapoport also notes that Tolzien could “resurface soon.” Plenty of teams are still settling their coaching staffs, and the 37-year-old may have done enough in Dallas to garner a coordinator interview. At the very least, Tolzien shouldn’t have any issues finding another job coaching QBs.

Schottenheimer will now be searching for at least an OC and a QBs coach, but the new Cowboys head coach will look to add to his own offensive responsibilities. According to CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones, Schottenheimer is expected to call the offensive plays next season. The former coordinator didn’t have this specific duty under Mike McCarthy, but it sounds like Schottenheimer is only going to increase his offensive oversight moving forward. Fortunately, this shouldn’t be an issue for Prescott; ESPN’s Todd Archer says the QB has a good relationship with Schottenheimer and likes the coach’s “creativity.”

While the Cowboys are anticipating more changes to their coaching staff, there’s hope that some of the current coaches will stick around. This includes tight ends coach Lunda Wells, with Archer noting that the long-time Giants staff member could be a candidate to coach the offensive line.

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Cowboys Announce Remaining Coaching Staff Moves

By | at February 24, 2023 9:13 pm

In an offseason that threatened to take away both coordinators, the Cowboys have finalized their coaching staff for the 2023 season. We’ve reported on every staff change up to this point, but a few final updates were declared along with the final announcement.

Defensive coordinator Dan Quinn chose to remain in his current role with the Cowboys, withdrawing his name from consideration for multiple head coaching jobs around the NFL. With the departure of Kellen Moore to Los Angeles, the Cowboys promoted Brian Schottenheimer to offensive coordinator and made a few resulting staff changes.

The biggest announcement came for Jeff Blasko, who served last season for the Cowboys as assistant offensive line coach. Blasko will be taking over for Skip Peete, who was not renewed after last season, as the Cowboys running backs coach. Although running back Tony Pollard faces free agency and Ezekiel Elliott remains under contract, it is widely believed that Blasko will definitely be coaching Pollard and only possibly Elliott next season. Blasko has a history coaching offensive lines and has plenty of experience under head coach Mike McCarthy. This will be Blasko’s first opportunity working with running backs as a position coach in the NFL.

Another staffer from last year is receiving a promotion to position coach. Last year’s coaching assistant Scott Tolzien has been promoted to quarterbacks coach. The former NFL passer has moved quickly up the ranks of coaching. His first coaching role was in 2019 at Wisconsin, where he served as an analyst for the Badgers. He spent the next three years in his previous role with the Cowboys before receiving this new opportunity.

A defensive quality control coach last year for the Cowboys, Cannon Matthews is the next coaching assistant to receive a promotion, earning the assistant defensive backs coach job. Additionally, Ryan Feder switched sides of the coaching staff this offseason. After working with the defensive staff last year as a quality control and analytics coach, Feder will work in the position of game management and offensive assistant coach.

Finally, the addition of two other assistants rounds out the staff. Evan Harrington has joined the staff as an offensive assistant. Lastly, Pete Ohnegian has been hired in the role of quality control and defensive assistant. After an offseason that threatened much more change, the Cowboys have rounded out their staff with plenty of time to prepare for the 2023 season.

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Cowboys Make Staff Changes

By | at February 8, 2020 3:46 pm

In announcing their coaching staff, the Cowboys revealed more new names coming to join Mike McCarthy in his first season.

Although this offseason featured a few ex-Cowboys assistants going to New York to follow Jason Garrett, McCarthy hired former Giants staffer Lunda Wells to be his tight ends coach. Wells joins assistant offensive line coach Jeff Blasko and first-year coach Scott Tolzien as the latest additions to McCarthy’s first Dallas staff.

However, the most notable move may be a holdover changing roles. Doug Nussmeier will move from tight ends coach to leading the Cowboys’ quarterbacks.

This marks a notable promotion for the two-year tight ends coach, but this new position will mark a return to the kind of responsibilities the longtime college assistant enjoyed. Nussmeier served as QBs coach and offensive coordinator at several major college programs — Washington, Alabama, Michigan and Florida among them — from 2009-17. In between, he served as the Rams’ QBs coach under Scott Linehan from 2006-07. Linehan helped bring Nussmeier to Dallas before the 2018 season.

The Cowboys retained Kellen Moore as their OC, and Nussmeier’s role with the franchise grew last year after the team transitioned from Linehan to Moore in that job. Nussmeier was also a candidate to be Dallas’ OC. His rise within the organization continues, with McCarthy tabbing Moore and Nussmeier to be his top voices on the offensive side of the ball. Nussmeier, 49, will replace Jon Kitna as QBs coach.

Set to move into Nussmeier’s previous role, Wells spent the past eight seasons with the Giants — seven of those coaching Big Blue’s offensive line or tight ends. Blasko worked under James Campen in Cleveland last year. Blasko worked with McCarthy in Green Bay.

Given starts with the Packers and Colts, prior to a stay in the Alliance of American Football, Tolzien will transition to coaching. The 32-year-old ex-quarterback spent three seasons with McCarthy in Green Bay before moving to Indianapolis to be one of Andrew Luck‘s backups in 2016.

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Christian Hackenberg Signs With AAF

By | at November 9, 2018 10:49 am

Former Jets second-round pick Christian Hackenberg has agreed to play for the Alliance of American Football, according to an announcement from the league. He’ll be joined by quarterback Scott Tolzien, wide receiver DeMarcus Ayers, safety Rahim Moore, linebacker Steven Johnson, and tight end Wes Saxton, the AAF says. 

The AAF will kick off in February, meaning that Hackenberg has likely exhausted all present options in the NFL. Hackenberg never saw the field in his two seasons with the Jets and failed to hook on with the Raiders after an offseason trade brought him to Oakland. After that, he lasted only a few weeks on the Eagles’ 90-man roster and his stint on the Bengals’ practice squad ended when he was released earlier this month.

Hackenberg became Penn State’s all-time leader in passing yards (8,457) and touchdowns (48) after three years on campus. His stats did not jump off of the page and he completed just 53.5% of his passes in his final collegiate season, but NFL teams were enamored by his size and pro-style experience in 2016. Jets GM Mike Maccagnan reached for him at No. 51 overall and that gamble never paid off.

AAF contracts probably include an out clause for NFL offers, so Hackenberg and the league’s other players could conceivably get back into the NFL in the second half of the season.

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Colts To Start Jacoby Brissett At QB

By | at September 15, 2017 9:51 am

The Colts are planning on starting quarterback Jacoby Brissett on Sunday against the Cardinals, sources tell NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter). Scott Tolzien, who started for the Colts in Week 1, will head to the bench. Ben Volin of the Boston Globe (via Twitter) hears that Brissett was actually informed of the team’s decision on Monday. Jacoby Brissett (vertical)

The Colts were criticized this offseason for not upgrading their backup QB situation. Right around the 53-man cutdown deadline, the Colts acquired Brissett from the Patriots in exchange for wide receiver Phillip Dorsett. Brissett was supposed to be Tolzien’s backup while Andrew Luck recovered from injury, but Tolzien’s putrid performance in the season opener has vaulted Brissett into the starting job.

Earlier this week, Colts coach Chuck Pagano admitted that he was thinking about starting Brissett.

“He’s got a sense of calm to him, poise,” Pagano said of Brissett. “Obviously, you love his physical traits, he’s a big man. He can see over things. … Been there before, so obviously it’s not too big.”

Tolzien went 9-of-18 in the season opener for 128 yards and two interceptions. He was also sacked four times. Brissett was called in at the end and completed two of three passes for 51 yards.

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Latest On Andrew Luck’s Timetable

By | at September 4, 2017 6:48 pm

The Colts made it official that Andrew Luck won’t be on the field for them Sunday in Week 1, making the game against the Rams the franchise’s first opener without its franchise passer since 2011.

However, Luck is not exactly a lock to return to the field in time for Week 2, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com notes (video link). The NFL insider adds the rest of September is not certain for Luck, reporting some believe this absence will extend into October.

The Colts are exercising extreme caution with Luck in hopes of not having to see the quarterback go through right shoulder trouble again, Rapoport reports, adding there is perhaps a “strong possibility” Scott Tolzien receives more than one start and possibly more than two or three. Mike Wells of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter) Luck is still without a timetable for a return to practice.

Being removed from the PUP list would point to Luck returning at some point early in the season, but Indy’s September slate — which features a trip to Los Angeles and home tilts against the Browns and Cardinals — could feature a Tolzien-fronted operation. Luck has been out since January because of shoulder surgery.

In Luck’s 10 games out of the lineup over the past two years, the Colts are 6-4. But the since-retired Matt Hasselbeck was responsible for five of those victories.

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