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Giants Hire Tim Kelly As TEs Coach

February 6th, 2024 at 9:35am CST by Adam La Rose

Tim Kelly is set to venture outside the AFC South for the first time in his NFL coaching career. The former Titans offensive coordinator has been hired by the Giants as their tight ends coach, per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo. The move is now official.

[RELATED: Giants To Hire Shane Bowen As DC]

Kelly joined the Texans’ staff in 2014, and he remained with the organization through 2021. In his final three years in Houston, he served as offensive coordinator, though the team never finished better than 14th in scoring during Kelly’s time at the helm. After a single season as the passing game coordinator of the Titans, he was promoted to OC in Tennessee for the 2023 campaign.

The Titans finished near the bottom of the league in many offensive categories, leading to speculation he could be let go midseason. Then-head coach Mike Vrabel elected not to do so, but he was among the staffers fired at the end of the regular season. As a result, signs pointed to Kelly being one of the Tennessee coaches who would be on the move during this year’s hiring cycle. That was confirmed with the arrivals of Brian Callahan as play-calling head coach and Nick Holz as OC.

New York saw TEs coach Andy Bischoff depart to take the same position with the Chargers, according to a report from Doug Samuels of FootballScoop.com. The Giants’ announcement of the Kelly hiring does not confirm that Bischoff is out, but the former’s arrival obviously points in that direction. New York will aim to improve on offense in 2024 compared to last year’s output, and the tight end spot will be a crucial aspect of that goal.

Darren Waller was acquired via trade last offseason, and he arrived with substantial expectations as the focal point of the Giants’ passing game. He finished the year (one in which the team experienced numerous quarterback injuries) with a 52-552-1 statline in 12 games. An uptick in production would be a welcomed development, along with continued growth from 2022 fourth-rounder Daniel Bellinger. Kelly will oversee their play next season as the Giants look to rebound on offense and he aims to rebuild his coordinator stock.

Seahawks To Hire Jay Harbaugh As Special Teams Coordinator

February 5th, 2024 at 12:04pm CST by Adam La Rose

When signs were pointing to Jim Harbaugh landing the Chargers’ head coaching position, his son Jay was floated as a logical candidate to join him as special teams coordinator. The latter is indeed making the jump to the NFL, but not in Los Angeles.

Harbaugh is set to join the Seahawks as their special teams coordinator, Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated reports. He has been with Michigan under Jim Harbaugh since 2015, and much of his tenure with the Wolverines has included time as special teams coordinator. Jay has held that title since 2017, while also serving as a position coach (running backs, tight ends and safeties) at various points along the way.

Once it became clear Jim Harbaugh and the Chargers were talking terms on a contract and candidates to fill out his staff, Jay was reported as a top option for the role of ST coordinator in L.A. The Chargers have indeed matched expectations by hiring Greg Roman in a top offensive role, but today’s news confirms that the younger Harbaugh will not be joining him. Instead, incumbent ST coordinator Ryan Ficken will be retained, as KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson recently reported would likely be the case.

Jay Harbaugh, 34, and new Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald worked together at Michigan when the latter spent the 2021 season as the Wolverines’ defensive coordinator. Macdonald excelled in the DC post with the Ravens for two years, and his success in that role has now helped him become the youngest head coach in the NFL. Macdonald will have a familiar face in at least one coordinator spot on his initial staff.

Seattle’s third phase units had been guided by Larry Izzo for the past three seasons, after he had spent the previous three years as an assistant on special teams. The Seahawks allowed their staffers to seek out new opportunities once it was announced Pete Carroll would return, however. Seattle ranked eighth in special teams DVOA in 2023, and Harbaugh will look to at least match that level of success as the Seahawks aim to return to the postseason. This will mark his first full-time NFL gig as Macdonald’s staff begins to take shape.

Chargers To Hire Marcus Brady

February 5th, 2024 at 8:47am CST by Adam La Rose

Greg Roman is in place with the Chargers, but further additions are being made to Jim Harbaugh‘s staff. Los Angeles is set to hire Marcus Brady as pass-game coordinator, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports.

Roman will likely take on offensive coordinator responsibilities, given his experience in that department and his familiarity with Harbaugh. Brady was the only other name seriously linked to the Chargers’ OC vacancy, and he interviewed for the position. Despite making the expected move of bringing in Roman, the team has now managed to land both he and Brady as part of a new-look staff.

The latter was also linked to the OC positions of the Panthers and Bears. Both teams went in another direction with their respective hires, meaning a return to an NFL coordinator gig will be delayed at least one more year for Brady. The 44-year-old held hat title with the Colts from 2021-22 as part of Frank Reich‘s staff, but he was let go as part of Indianapolis’ coaching changes. He spent the 2023 campaign as an assistant with the Eagles.

Prior to his five total years on the Colts’ staff, Brady served as an OC for six years in the CFL. His experience has now taken him to Los Angeles, where he will play a large role with an offense which struggled across the board last season. The Chargers finished the campaign ranked 21st in scoring and 13th in passing yards per game, figures weighed down in part by Justin Herbert‘s season-ending injury. Still, a step forward in 2024 will be critical for the former No. 6 pick individually and the Chargers as a whole.

Roman is known for his work in the run game, and finding more production on the ground will be a key goal in the offseason. However, Herbert’s arm will likely remain a significant aspect of Los Angeles’ attack, meaning Brady will bear a large degree of responsibility in Harbaugh’s initial group. As the Chargers’ staff comes further into focus, Brady will be a key figure to watch while he looks to boost his own coordinator stock in a new environment.

2024 NFL Head Coaching Search Tracker

February 1st, 2024 at 9:55am CST by Sam Robinson

The Commanders’ hire has wrapped this year’s cycle. Barring a team making an 11th-hour change, the 2024 HC carousel has come to a stop. The final breakdown produced five defensive coaches being hired compared to three with backgrounds on offense. Many teams are still searching for offensive and defensive coordinators, however.

Updated 2-1-24 (10:37am CT)

Atlanta Falcons

Carolina Panthers

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Chargers

New England Patriots

  • Jerod Mayo, linebackers coach (Patriots): Hired

Seattle Seahawks

Tennessee Titans

Washington Commanders

Jim Harbaugh To Earn $16MM Per Year; Chargers Had Mike Vrabel As Second Choice?

January 31st, 2024 at 2:07pm CST by Sam Robinson

After their round of rookie head coaches failed to produce a consistent winner, the Chargers are giving the keys to Jim Harbaugh. The longtime Michigan HC is expected to have final roster say over new GM Joe Hortiz. As expected, a lucrative contract comes with this job.

A report just before Harbaugh agreed to terms with the Bolts indicated the team would not quite meet his initial asking price, which was believed to be in the $18MM-per-year range — a salary Sean Payton is believed to have secured from the Broncos. But the Chargers will pay their new head coach in the same NFL tax bracket, with Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio indicating Harbaugh secured a $16MM salary. On a five-year deal, Harbaugh has locked in $80MM.

Coaching salaries remain a mysterious topic in the NFL, since they do not have to be disclosed like player contracts do. No salary cap exists for coaching deals, giving the wealthier owners an advantage in terms of wooing top-tier options. The Chargers do not fall into that category and have been regularly labeled as frugal. This perception affected the organization during its most recent search, but the team that serves as the Rams’ tenant at SoFi Stadium cannot be accused of being cheap this time around.

Michigan is believed to have offered Harbaugh a 10-year deal worth $125MM, but language regarding a potential NCAA suspension and how the Wolverines planned to handle their HC’s annual NFL flirtations complicated matters. The 60-year-old coach came into Chargers negotiations with that as leverage, along with the Falcons’ interest. Harbaugh had scheduled a second Falcons meeting, but amid negotiations with the Bolts, the veteran HC tabled that Atlanta trip.

While this coaching salary is not top-of-the-line money, it is in the upper echelon. To illustrate how much the NFL has changed financially, Harbaugh was tied to a $3.25MM base salary when the Ravens traded him to San Diego in 1999.

Harbaugh will now go about his latest attempt to elevate a team, having done so everywhere he has been previously. Given the value a good head coach provides, $16MM is a relative bargain on an uncapped market. Had Harbaugh boarded the plane to follow through with his second Falcons meeting, however, the Chargers may have needed to go to one of their backup plans. The silver medalist in this race is unlikely to land a coaching job this year.

Had Harbaugh not committed to the Chargers during his second interview, ESPN’s Adam Schefter said during a Pat McAfee Show appearance Mike Vrabel was likely positioned as the team’s second choice. Vrabel interviewed with the Chargers, Falcons and Panthers during this cycle. It has been rather surprising to see the well-regarded HC drift off the radar during this cycle, especially considering the trade rumors that followed him during his final weeks with the Titans. With the Commanders not expected to include him in any course change, Vrabel would be forced to take an assistant job or spend the season out of the NFL.

Vrabel, 48, has coached in the NFL since 2014, serving as the Texans’ defensive coordinator after a three-year run as linebackers coach under Bill O’Brien. Despite Houston’s defense not playing particularly well under then-DC Vrabel in 2017, the assistant wowed Tennessee brass in his HC interview and became a successful HC. He guided the Titans to three straight playoff berths and signed an extension early during the 2022 offseason. Clashes with ownership following GM Jon Robinson‘s ouster led Vrabel out of Nashville.

Vrabel has experience coaching at the college level as well, beginning his coaching career with three seasons on Urban Meyer‘s Ohio State staff. It remains to be seen if Vrabel would consider a college gig again, but it appears the six-year Titans HC will not be leading an NFL team in 2024.

Chargers Finalize GM Agreement With Ravens’ Joe Hortiz

January 30th, 2024 at 8:10am CST by Adam La Rose

JANUARY 30: The agreement is now in place, ESPN’s Adam Schefter notes. Hortiz will take on a Chargers roster which faces a number of key questions ahead of free agency and the draft as a new chapter for the organization begins with Harbaugh on the sidelines and a rookie GM in the front office.

JANUARY 29: Joe Hortiz has considerable experience working alongside John Harbaugh, and he will now be in place alongside the latter’s brother. The Ravens’ player personnel director is set to become the next general manager of the Chargers, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Hortiz began his Ravens tenure in 1998, and he worked his way through the ranks during his tenure in the organization. The 48-year-old spent much of his Baltimore career on the scouting side of the organization, earning the title of college scouting director in 2009. He was then promoted to his current post in 2019 amidst growing general manager interest from outside teams.

The executive was a popular name in the past few hiring cycles. After interviewing with the Giants and Steelers about their open GM positions in 2022, he met with the Cardinals last offseason. The Chargers were the only known suitor for Hortiz in 2024, but that was enough to earn the executive his first GM job.

After finalizing a deal with head coach Jim Harbaugh, the Chargers have been actively trying to fill the GM job previously held by Tom Telesco. It was assumed that Harbaugh would have considerable say in the Chargers’ hire, especially considering his feud with Trent Baalke that ended his 49ers tenure. So, it’s not a huge surprise that he landed someone who’s worked closely with his brother for much of the Ravens’ existence. One of two known finalists, Hortiz was viewed as the frontrunner late last week.

The Chargers cast a wide net in their search for a new GM. The organization was connected to 11 candidates, with Giants assistant general manager Brandon Brown also earning a second interview. Interim JoJo Wooden was among those who garnered an interview, but it’s uncertain if he’ll be sticking around under Hortiz.

Now the GM will be tasked without turning around an organization that only has one playoff appearance over the past five seasons. The Chargers finished this past season with a 5-12 record, marking the fourth time they’ve finished with five or fewer wins over the past 10 years.

Ben Levine contributed to this post.

Chargers Request OC Interview With Marcus Brady

January 29th, 2024 at 9:37am CST by Adam La Rose

With Kellen Moore set to take over as offensive coordinator of the Eagles, the Chargers officially have a vacancy at that spot on Jim Harbaugh‘s initial staff. The process of finding Moore’s replacement has begun.

The Chargers have requested an interview with Eagles senior offensive assistant Marcus Brady, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports. Brady’s Indianapolis OC tenure came about after he was let go by the Colts midway through the 2022 campaign as part of Frank Reich‘s staff. He has been connected to other coordinator opportunities during this year’s hiring cycle, however.

Brady has received interview requests from the Bears (who have since hired Shane Waldron for their OC spot) and the Panthers (who are likely to pair new head coach Dave Canales with fellow Buccaneers staffer Brad Idzik). The Chargers therefore represent Brady’s best potential option at the moment, though plenty could of course change in the coming days and weeks with respect to the coordinator carousel.

The 44-year-old had a six-year run as a coordinator in the CFL before taking his first NFL position with the Colts in 2018. Brady worked his way up to OC in 2021 with Indianapolis before his time in that role was cut short soon after. He had a hand in an Eagles offense which delivered strong overall numbers in 2023, but fell short of expectations down the stretch and in the postseason, meaning he could be elsewhere in the near future.

When signs continued to point to Harbaugh being hired, Greg Roman was listed as a name to watch regarding the Chargers’ OC spot. The pair worked together during their time with the 49ers, so a reunion would come as little surprise. Roman was away from coaching this year after his tenure at the helm of the Ravens’ offense came to an end. Also an interviewee with the Bears, he is still in the running to wind up alongside Harbaugh in L.A. Roman is now joined, however, by Brady in being connected to the position.

Eagles Hire Kellen Moore As OC

January 27th, 2024 at 9:56pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Eagles moved quickly in tapping Vic Fangio as their DC, and the team’s other coordinator vacancy has now been filled as well. Philadelphia is set to hire Kellen Moore as offensive coordinator, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. Howard Eskin of 94 WIP was the first to note an agreement seemed imminent.

Moore had initially been blocked from taking part in outside interviews, but the arrival of Jim Harbaugh as head coach offered more clarity on his future (or lack thereof) with the Chargers. Moore had recently been linked to a number of OC posts, including that of the Eagles. Now, he will take over from Brian Johnson.

The latter was promoted from QBs coach to offensive coordinator to replace Shane Steichen last offseason. That move was well-received at first, but things did not go according to plan during the latter part of the campaign in particular. A rift reportedly emerged amongst the team’s offense, and Johnson (like his counterpart Sean Desai) was let go at the end of the season.

Head coach Nick Sirianni faced an uncertain future with respect to his own job security in the wake of the Eagles’ nosedive, and it quickly became clear he would remain in place only if significant staff changes were made. When speaking about the team’s offense earlier this week, Sirianni conceded (via Jori Epstein of Yahoo! Sports) the Eagles “got stale” on that side of the ball. As a result, he added he would be stepping back to a degree in terms of his influence on the unit.

Notably, Sirianni also made it clear Philadelphia would seek out an option with whom he did not share overlapping experience. A candidate with a background from a different coaching tree and with at least an altered schematic approach was listed as a priority. Given that, Moore’s hire represents a logical one. He will aim to steer the Eagles back to their previous success highlighted by last year’s run to the Super Bowl.

Moore gained steam as one of the league’s most highly-acclaimed offensive play-callers during his time with the Cowboys. He had a four-year run in Dallas, and on two occasions during that span the team led the league in scoring. While the Cowboys remained productive in the passing game in particular in 2023 with head coach Mike McCarthy at the helm of the offense, Moore was nevertheless seen as an attractive coordinator candidate in this year’s cycle.

The 34-year-old entered the season with high expectations given his pairing with Chargers QB Justin Herbert. The latter missed the end of the campaign due to injury, but overall Los Angeles disappointed on both sides of the ball. Moore still wound up on the Eagles’ shortlist of candidates for their OC posting, though. He interviewed earlier this week, and that summit clearly went well.

Moore will take over a unit which ranked eighth in total offense in 2023 and seventh in scoring. A total renovation will thus likely not be necessary, especially if quarterback Jalen Hurts manages to return to his previous form in 2024. Like Herbert, Hurts landed a monster extension last offseason, and he is in place for the long term. Maximizing his skillset will be a top priority for Moore in his return to the NFC East.

With Fangio and Moore in place as coordinators, expectations will again be high for Sirianni entering the 2024 campaign. Further staffing changes could still take place, but the two most significant vacancies have now been filled, with a high-profile OC candidate being taken off the market as many other teams continue their respective searches. The Chargers will now, as expected, officially join the list of OC-needy franchises.

Chargers Fallout: Harbaugh, Hortiz, Herbert, Staff, Minter, Michigan, Falcons

January 26th, 2024 at 10:53pm CST by Sam Robinson

Although the Chargers reside in a different city than they did during Jim Harbaugh‘s time with the team as a quarterback, he will reunite with the organization that once gave him an opportunity as his career wound down. It took a big salary and appears to have brought considerable autonomy to complete this transaction.

Harbaugh signed a five-year contract, and Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz indicates the longtime Michigan HC is likely to have final say when it comes to personnel matters. Teams are often reluctant to provide this for head coaches, but Harbaugh brought leverage — due to the interest the Falcons showed and the offers Michigan made to keep him — that allowed him to maximize his position.

The Falcons had scheduled a second interview, but Harbaugh ended up postponing it. Harbaugh may or may not have intended to make that trip, but he used it during talks with the Chargers, who had long been the frontrunners in this race.

The Bolts did not give any of their Tom Telesco-era HCs final say, with the GM running the show. The team frequently struggled to turn Telesco’s well-regarded rosters into playoff berths, however, and Dean Spanos said ownership would spend time considering how it organized its power structure. It appears Harbaugh did enough to justify an HC-centric operation. Harbaugh, 60, also used president John Spanos‘ comments pushing back on the Chargers’ perceived frugality when it comes to HC spending to his advantage in negotiations, Schultz notes, adding the Chargers’ openness in giving such power to a head coach separated them during this year’s hiring period.

This contract is worth more than the $12.5MM-per-year deal Michigan is believed to have offered, and even if it falls short of the $18MM salary range Sean Payton established last year, Harbaugh will be given more control than any of the other HCs hired this year. The nine-year Wolverines HC appears prepared to bring his most recent DC — Jesse Minter — with him to Los Angeles, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler notes. Other staffers are likely to follow, per Schultz. Harbaugh made it a point during Bolts talks to mention bringing analytics staffers from Ann Arbor as well.

The power the Bolts are giving Harbaugh understandably gives him a considerable say in where the team’s GM search ends. This became a sticking point for Harbaugh, per Schultz. Given how his 49ers tenure concluded, it is logical this became a priority for the accomplished HC. Harbaugh’s feud with Trent Baalke and issues with 49ers ownership led him out the door after four years, bringing a steep freefall for the team before Kyle Shanahan — given a six-year contract due to what transpired in Baalke’s final years — began to pick up the pieces.

As for where the Bolts go at GM, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson indicates Ravens exec Joe Hortiz is considered the favorite by some around the league. Hortiz, the Ravens’ director of player personnel, has extensive ties to the Harbaugh family and has been in Baltimore for nearly the franchise’s entire existence. This would stand to better prepare him for the potential challenge of working with Jim Harbaugh.

Hortiz has worked alongside John Harbaugh since the latter’s arrival in 2008 but has been with the Ravens since 1998. Prior to his 2019 promotion under GM Eric DeCosta, Hortiz spent 10 years as the team’s director of college scouting. Hortiz joins Giants assistant GM Brandon Brown as the only candidates the Chargers have brought in twice.

Unsurprisingly, Justin Herbert‘s status loomed as a Harbaugh draw. Many around the NFL pointed to Harbaugh showing interest in elevating Herbert — who supplies one of the top QB skillsets in the game today — after an inconsistent recent run, Fowler adds. Harbaugh worked wonders for Alex Smith and Colin Kaepernick in San Francisco and is coming off a run with J.J. McCarthy that ended in a convincing national championship result. Via the extension he inked last summer, Herbert is tied to the Chargers through the 2029 season. Only Patrick Mahomes‘ contract runs beyond that timeframe.

Stanford went 1-11 during its final pre-Harbaugh season; the Cardinal finished 12-1 in 2010, propelling Harbaugh to the 49ers. San Francisco had missed eight straight playoff fields prior to Harbaugh’s 2011 arrival; he moved the team to three consecutive NFC championship games. Harbaugh’s .695 win percentage is the best among NFL coaches who started their careers since the 1970 merger. While the former Chargers QB’s style may not be for everyone, the success he has achieved on the sideline convinced the Chargers to revamp their organization to bring him in.

Buccaneers Arranging OC Interviews With Kellen Moore, Zac Robinson, Ken Dorsey, Brian Johnson

January 26th, 2024 at 12:56pm CST by Adam La Rose

Tampa Bay experienced a batter-than-expected season on offense with first-year coordinator Dave Canales in charge of the unit. He has departed to become head coach of the Panthers, however, leaving the Buccaneers in need of a new OC for the second straight year.

A list of targets has begun to emerge. Tampa will speak with Chargers OC Kellen Moore on Monday, NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reports. Colleague Ian Rapoport adds that Rams QBs coach Zac Robinson has received a Bucs interview request. The team also plans to speak with ex-Bills offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, who notes his Tampa interview will take place next week. Lastly, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports ousted Eagles OC Brian Johnson has a Buccaneers interview lined up.

Moore’s future with the Chargers has not yet been determined, but with Jim Harbaugh now in place, he is likely to bring his own assistants aboard. That could lead to a number of opportunities for Moore, who joined L.A.’s staff last offseason after a successful run with the Cowboys. The 34-year-old has also been connected to the Browns and Eagles during this year’s hiring cycle, so he could have a few options to choose from in the event he does wind up in a new home for the second offseason in a row.

Robinson has been one of the hottest coordinator candidates in 2024. He has interviewed three times so far, and he has received a request from an additional three teams including today’s slip from Tampa Bay. Robinson, 37, has been with the Rams since 2019, spending much of his time working with the team’s quarterbacks. For each of the past two seasons, he has held the additional title of passing game coordinator. Staffers often make the jump from that combination of roles to a coordinator gig, and Robinson doing the same would leave a signficant vacancy for Sean McVay to fill.

Dorsey saw his run with the Bills come to an end midway through the 2023 season. Buffalo’s offense went in a different direction under interim OC Joe Brady, whose success down the stretch has him in consideration for the full-time position. Still, Dorsey is on the radar for a new coordinator opportunity right away, having interviewed with the Browns. The 42-year-old’s Buffalo stint was his only NFL coordinator position to date, but he has extensive experience as a QBs coach.

Johnson was promoted to OC of the Eagles last year, and his familiarity with Jalen Hurts and the team’s offense led to signficant expectations despite Shane Steichen‘s departure. Earlier in the year, Philadelphia performed well in a number of areas, and the team put up solid overall numbers in several offensive categories. As was the case on defense, however, things took a turn for the worse late in the year through the wild-card round of the postseason. Johnson was dismissed as part of the Eagles’ staff overhaul, but he took head coaching interviews before that, and he is also on the OC radar.

Quarterback Baker Mayfield enjoyed a productive campaign under Canales, and keeping the former in place will be a key offseason priority for Tampa Bay. One of the most important factors in replicating Mayfield’s success will of course be the latter’s replacement, and the Bucs could have competition for some of the most in-demand candidates. Their search will start to take shape in the coming days.

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