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2023 Offensive/Defensive Coordinator Search Tracker

By | at February 28, 2023 2:45 pm

As the head coaching carousel spun for several weeks, many teams made coordinator changes as well. Teams seeking new head coaches are conducting OC and DC searches, and a handful of other teams that did not make HC changes are also searching for top assistants.

This is a big year for offensive coordinator hires, with nearly half the league making changes. Here are the teams searching for new OCs and DCs. As new searches emerge, they will be added to the list.

Updated 3-1-23 (3:31pm CT)

Offensive Coordinators

Arizona Cardinals 

Baltimore Ravens (Out: Greg Roman)

Carolina Panthers (Out: Ben McAdoo)

  • Thomas Brown, tight ends coach, (Rams): Hired
  • Jim Bob Cooter, passing-game coordinator (Jaguars): Interviewed

Dallas Cowboys (Out: Kellen Moore)

  • Brian Angelichio, tight ends coach (Vikings): Interviewed 2/2
  • Thomas Brown, tight ends coach (Rams): Interviewed
  • Jeff Nixon, running backs coach (Panthers): Interviewed
  • Brian Schottenheimer, offensive consultant (Cowboys): Hired

Denver Broncos (Out: Justin Outten)

Houston Texans (Out: Pep Hamilton)

Indianapolis Colts (Out: Parks Frazier)

  • Jim Bob Cooter, passing-game coordinator (Jaguars): Hired
  • Tee Martin, wide receivers coach (Ravens): Interview requested

Kansas City Chiefs (Out: Eric Bieniemy)

  • Matt Nagy, quarterbacks coach (Chiefs): Hired

Los Angeles Chargers (Out: Joe Lombardi)

Los Angeles Rams (Out: Liam Coen)

New York Jets (Out: Mike LaFleur)

Philadelphia Eagles (Out: Shane Steichen)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Out: Byron Leftwich)

Tennessee Titans (Out: Todd Downing)

Washington Commanders (Out: Scott Turner)

Defensive Coordinators

Arizona Cardinals (Out: Vance Joseph)

Atlanta Falcons (Out: Dean Pees)

Buffalo Bills (Out: Leslie Frazier)

Carolina Panthers (Out: Al Holcomb)

  • Ejiro Evero, former defensive coordinator (Broncos): Hired
  • Vic Fangio, former head coach (Broncos): Interviewed
  • Marquand Manuel, safeties coach (Jets): Interviewed
  • Kris Richard, co-defensive coordinator (Saints): Interviewed

Denver Broncos

Houston Texans 

Los Angeles Chargers (Out: Renaldo Hill)

  • Derrick Ansley, defensive backs coach (Chargers): Promoted
  • Doug Belk, defensive coordinator (Houston): Interviewed
  • DeMarcus Covington, defensive line coach (Patriots): Interviewed

Miami Dolphins (Out: Josh Boyer)

Minnesota Vikings (Out: Ed Donatell)

New Orleans Saints (Out: Ryan Nielsen, Kris Richard)

  • Joe Woods, former defensive coordinator (Browns): Hired

Philadelphia Eagles (Out: Jonathan Gannon)

San Francisco 49ers (Out: DeMeco Ryans)

  • Vic Fangio, former head coach (Broncos): On radar
  • Chris Harris, defensive backs coach (Commanders): Interviewed 1/31
  • Kris Kocurek, defensive line coach (49ers): On radar
  • Steve Wilks, former interim head coach (Panthers): Hired
9 comments Arizona Cardinals Atlanta Falcons Baltimore Ravens Buffalo Bills Carolina Panthers Chicago Bears Cincinnati Bengals Cleveland Browns Dallas Cowboys Denver Broncos Detroit Lions Green Bay Packers Houston Texans Indianapolis Colts Jacksonville Jaguars Kansas City Chiefs Los Angeles Chargers Los Angeles Rams Miami Dolphins Minnesota Vikings New England Patriots New Orleans Saints New York Giants New York Jets PFR Originals Philadelphia Eagles Pittsburgh Steelers San Francisco 49ers Seattle Seahawks Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tennessee Titans Washington Commanders

Ravens Rumors: Taggart, Martin, Lynn

By | at February 22, 2023 10:03 pm

The Ravens announced a flurry of moves today as they continue to remake their staff this offseason. The biggest new name in Baltimore is former college head coach Willie Taggart, who will take over as the Ravens new running backs coach.

This will be Taggart’s first NFL job. To start his extensive college coaching career, Taggart coached quarterbacks, wide receivers, and served as a co-offensive coordinator over eight years with the Hilltoppers. After a three-year stint as Jim Harbaugh‘s running backs coach at Stanford, Taggart returned to Western Kentucky for his first head coaching gig.

He quickly elevated through college head coaching jobs. After three years at Western Kentucky, Taggart accepted a head coaching position at South Florida. Four years with the Bulls and Taggart was offered the head coach job at Oregon. After only one year with the Ducks, Taggart left Eugene to become head coach at Florida State. After a rough first season and disappointing start to his second year at the helm, Taggart was fired mid-season and replaced Lane Kiffin at Florida Atlantic the following year. Taggart was let go last November after an overtime loss to his alma mater and former team, Western Kentucky. While the results were ultimately mixed, Taggart is notable for being the first African-American head coach at all five universities.

Taggart played for Jack Harbaugh when he was a quarterback at Western Kentucky in the late 1990s, he coached under Jim in the late 2000’s at Stanford, and he will now have an opportunity to play under John Harbaugh in Baltimore. Running back Gus Edwards may be in danger as a potential cap casualty next season, but if he’s still around in 2023, Taggart will have a strong 1-2 punch in J.K. Dobbins and Edwards to work with. He’ll have four-time Pro Bowl fullback Patrick Ricard in the room, as well.

Here is a breakdown of the other moves made to the Ravens’ staff today:

  • With former quarterbacks coach James Urban reportedly not returning in the same role, the Ravens have elected to move wide receivers coach Tee Martin to quarterbacks coach. The former college offensive and passing game coordinator will now be in charge of the continued development of MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson. Martin’s extensive experience coaching the passing game should help as the Ravens move on from former offensive coordinator Greg Roman‘s run-heavy attack.
  • The Ravens will be losing a position coach in all the commotion. According to Matt Zenitz of On3 Sports, safeties coach D’Anton Lynn will be leaving Baltimore for the defensive coordinator position at UCLA. Lynn was in his second year on the job with the Ravens after earning his first position coaching gig in Houston. The coordinator job is an enticing opportunity as Lynn continues to climb the coaching ladder.
  • Lastly, Harbaugh announced that the organization is parting ways with head strength and conditioning coach Steve Saunders. Saunders was previously suspended back in 2020 due to his role in a brutal COVID-19 outbreak within the team midseason. Saunders will be replaced by Scott Elliott who has been with the team for four seasons. Along with Elliott, strength and conditioning coaches Anthony Watson, Ron Shrift, and Kaelyn Buskey will all be retained.
2 comments Baltimore Ravens Transactions

Colts Request OC Interview With Tee Martin

By | at February 16, 2023 9:49 pm

Another name has been added to the list of offensive coordinator candidates in Indianapolis. The Colts have requested an interview with Ravens wide receivers coach Tee Martin, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler tweets.

[RELATED: HC Steichen To Call Colts’ Plays]

For Martin, the 2022 campaign represented only his second season as an NFL staffer; he held the same title as he did the previous year, also spent in Baltimore. Prior to his Ravens hire, though, the 44-year-old enjoyed a highly-regarded college career. Martin’s time working with receivers at Kentucky, USC and Tennessee put him squarely on the NFL radar, and his hire was seen as a positive one for the Ravens’ positional group.

Production in the passing game has long been a talking point for Baltimore, particularly in the Lamar Jackson era with now-ex offensive coordinator Greg Roman at the helm for their offense. Tight end Mark Andrews has firmly entrenched himself as one of the league’s best at his position, earning three Pro Bowl nods and comfortably leading the team in receiving yards in 2022. Production on the perimeter, however, was once again lacking.

The Ravens lost their top two wideouts (Rashod Bateman and Devin Duvernay) to mid-season injuries, limiting their success in the passing game. Still, the fact that veteran Demarcus Robinson paced the team’s WRs with 458 yards underscores how much they struggled on offense down the stretch (a period in which Jackson was also injured, in fairness). Last season, Martin helped Marquise Brown record his only 1,000-yard campaign to date, prior to his trade to the Cardinals.

Last offseason, Martin was in the running for the Bills’ OC vacancy created by the departure of Brian Daboll. As a result, this isn’t the first interest being shown to him for a coordinator opportunity. His lack of experience in the NFL – and of guiding a team’s offense at the pro level – would be striking, given the Colts’ hiring of a rookie bench boss in Shane Steichen. Indianapolis’ only other reported candidate is Jim Bob Cooter, who by contrast has three-plus years of OC experience.

If Martin were to land the position, he would inherit a team with few known commodities at receiver aside from Michael Pittman Jr. The former second-rounder led the Colts with 925 yards, but an increase in overall production from the unit will be a top priority for Steichen’s staff in 2023. Given Martin’s background, he could be help in that regard.

1 comment Baltimore Ravens Indianapolis Colts

Ravens Request OC Interview With Vikings’ Brian Angelichio

By | at January 22, 2023 7:43 pm

The Ravens continue to cast a wide net in search of their new offensive play caller. In addition to considering Rams quarterbacks coach Zac Robinson, Browns wide receivers coach Chad O’Shea, and Seahawks quarterbacks coach Dave Canales, Baltimore has requested to interview Vikings passing game coordinator and tight ends coach Brian Angelichio, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.

Angelichio has been a tight ends coach in the league since 2012 when he followed Greg Schiano from Rutgers to the Buccaneers. Since then, he’s had some bad luck finding head coaches who have stayed in their jobs long term, bouncing around to Cleveland, Green Bay, Washington, and Carolina before his most recent position in Minnesota. Angelichio joined the Vikings’ staff this year with first-year head coach Kevin O’Connell, who granted him the new added moniker of passing game coordinator.

Angelichio has a few notable coaching performances on his resume. In 2015, he coached veteran tight end Gary Barnidge to a career 1,043-yard season in which he caught nine touchdowns. He’s also coached some of the NFL’s best recent tight ends, overseeing Jimmy Graham with the Packers as well as Jordan Reed and Vernon Davis in Washington. With Angelichio as passing game coordinator, the Vikings ranked fifth in the NFL in passing yards gained and tied for fourth in the league in passing touchdowns this year.

Angelichio has now had his name added to the ever-growing list of candidates to become the Ravens’ new offensive coordinator, alongside Robinson, O’Shea, and Canales. Fowler added that there are a number of other names he’s hearing as potential candidates including former Colts head coach Frank Reich, Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, and former Buccaneers offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich.

In addition to the many outside candidates, the Ravens also have at least two in-house candidates in wide receivers coach Tee Martin and quarterbacks coach James Urban. Martin is a recent addition to the NFL coaching ranks, joining the Ravens in 2021 after years as a passing game coordinator and play caller for multiple Power 5 programs in college football. Urban has been with the team since 2018, coaching Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson since his rookie season. He’s never called plays, but he’s been in the NFL since 2004 and worked alongside Ravens head coach John Harbaugh for much of that time.

Baltimore is doing its due diligence with its search for a new offensive play caller. The team has doubled down on their intent to center the offense around Jackson, going as far as to allow him as much input into the coaching search as possible. Angelichio becomes one of many names for Jackson, Harbaugh, and company to consider.

1 comment Baltimore Ravens Indianapolis Colts Kansas City Chiefs Minnesota Vikings Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Ravens’ Tee Martin, Raiders’ Edgar Bennett To Interview For Bills’ OC Position

By | at January 31, 2022 3:35 pm

With Brian Daboll off to the Giants as their newest head coach, the Bills continue to search for a new offensive coordinator. The second name on the list of candidates is Tee Martin, the Ravens’ wide receivers coach, who is set to meet with Buffalo for the vacancy (Twitter link via The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec). Not long after that came out, ESPN’s Dan Graziano tweeted that Edgar Bennett, who holds the same title with the Raiders, will also interview for the role. 

[Related: Ken Dorsey To Be Considered For Bills, Giants OC Jobs]

The Martin announcement was made by Ravens HC John Harbaugh when he addressed the media on Monday. Martin, 43, has only been an NFL coach for this past season. He has a decorated college resume, though, highlighted by work as the wide receivers coach at Kentucky, USC and Tennessee dating back to 2010. Those stints have also included the roles of passing game coordinator, OC and assistant head coach along the way. The 2021 season, while disappointing overall for the Ravens, offered cause for optimism at the receiver position with Marquise Brown recording his first 1,000-yard season and Rashod Bateman demonstrating, once he was healthy, why he was worthy of a first round pick.

Bennett has been an NFL coach since 2005, the year he started working in Green Bay. That lasted until 2017, and included a three-year stint as the team’s OC. Part of a major overhaul on the offensive staff in 2018, the 52-year-old was let go in January of 2018. For the past four years, he has been the WRs coach with the Raiders; the 2021 campaign saw Las Vegas rank sixth in the league in passing yards.

These announcements come after it was reported that Ken Dorsey, the quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator for the Bills, would likely be promoted to OC with Daboll gone. The only alternative, it is believed, would be if Daboll convinced Dorsey to follow him to New York. With Buffalo looking at two external candidates, the team will have options if that does in fact happen.

6 comments Baltimore Ravens Buffalo Bills Las Vegas Raiders

AFC Staff Notes: Steelers, Ravens, Raiders

By | at February 6, 2021 4:54 pm

In contention for the Jaguars’ quarterbacks coach position, Mike Sullivan will instead land in Pittsburgh. The Steelers are hiring the former Giants and Buccaneers offensive coordinator, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets. Sullivan, 53, will replace Matt Canada, who is now the Steelers’ OC. Pittsburgh’s QB coaching role grew in importance recently, with the Steelers giving Dwayne Haskins an opportunity to reboot his career. While Ben Roethlisberger is planning to return for an 18th season, Sullivan will have multiple developmental QBs — Haskins and Mason Rudolph — to mentor. Sullivan has not coached since the 2018 season, when he served as the Broncos’ QBs coach.

Here is the latest from the AFC’s coaching carousel:

  • The Ravens are adding a few staffers, including former USC offensive coordinator Tee Martin as wide receivers coach, Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com tweets. A former Heisman-winning quarterback at Tennessee, Martin has coached at the college level for the past 12 years. The former NFL quarterback has not coached at the pro level, but as wideouts coach with the Trojans and Kentucky Wildcats, Martin oversaw the development of JuJu Smith-Schuster, Michael Pittman and Randall Cobb. Baltimore will also add Jay Peterson as assistant linebackers coach, Jason Brooks as assistant D-line coach and Keith Williams as a passing-game assistant, Hensley adds. Jason Brooks is the son of ex-Ravens D-line coach Clarence Brooks.
  • Northwestern HC Pat Fitzgerald again passed on an NFL path, but he will poach a Raiders staffer. Las Vegas senior defensive assistant Jim O’Neil left to become Northwestern’s defensive coordinator. A defensive coordinator with the Browns and 49ers from 2014-16, O’Neil coached on Jon Gruden‘s past three Raiders staffs.
  • The Broncos will fill their defensive backs coach position by hiring former Packers assistant Christian Parker, according to the Denver Post’s Ryan O’Halloran (on Twitter). This will mark a big jump for Parker, who spent the 2020 season as a quality control staffer in Green Bay. Parker was DBs coach at Texas A&M previously, however. Previous Denver DBs coach Renaldo Hill left to become the Chargers’ DC.
  • New Texans DC Lovie Smith will hire his son, Miles Smith, as linebackers coach, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (on Twitter). Miles Smith previously served under his father as the University of Illinois’ linebackers coach. The Texans will retain previous LBs coach Bobby King but move him to D-line coach.
  • The Steelers will add Chris Morgan as their assistant offensive line coach, per Dan Duggan and Mark Kaboly of The Athletic (Twitter link). Morgan, who also interviewed with the Giants this offseason, spent the past six years as the Falcons’ O-line coach.
6 comments Baltimore Ravens Denver Broncos Houston Texans Las Vegas Raiders New York Giants Pittsburgh Steelers

Raiders Interviewed USC’s Tee Martin

By | at January 9, 2018 2:44 pm

Before the Raiders hired Jon Gruden, they interviewed a pair of minority candidates to satisfy the league’s Rooney Rule. Initially, the only coach identified was tight ends coach Bobby Johnson. We now know that the other “mystery” coach was USC offensive coordinator Tee Martin (Twitter link via Ian Rapoport of NFL.com). Tee Martin (vertical)

Martin, 39, played quarterback at the University of Tennessee and spent his first two years in college as Peyton Manning‘s backup. In 2000, he was drafted in the fifth round by the Steelers. His NFL career didn’t go as planned, but he did go on to spend time with the Eagles and Raiders. He also has the dubious distinction of being one of six QBs to be drafted before Patriots superstar Tom Brady in ’00.

This past year, Martin’s Trojans offense ranked 13th nationally. For all of his football acumen, it’s unlikely that he ever had a real chance of getting the Raiders’ head coaching job.

1 comment Las Vegas Raiders
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