Chargers Request Interview Arthur Smith For OC Job; Davis Webb On Radar
The Chargers submitted an interview request for Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Smith, 43, has been in Pittsburgh for the last two years. The team has informed all of the assistant coaches on Mike Tomlin‘s staff that they are free to pursue opportunities elsewhere, leaving no obstacle between Smith and a lateral move to another offensive coordinator job.
The Chargers are the fourth team to express interest in hiring Smith in recent weeks. The Cardinals and the Titans have already interviewed Smith for their head coaching vacancies, and the Lions put in a request to interview him for their offensive coordinator gig.
Smith came up as an offensive assistant in Tennessee and took over as their offensive coordinator in 2019. He parlayed two successful seasons into a head coaching job with the Falcons, but his offenses in Atlanta and Pittsburgh never ranked higher than 15th in points or yards. Smith’s lack of consistent quarterback play is a mitigating factor, but he still got a high level of play out of Ryan Tannehill in Tennessee. Smith could not do much with Marcus Mariota or Desmond Ridder in Atlanta and struggled to find consistency with Justin Fields, Russell Wilson, and Aaron Rodgers in Pittsburgh. Justin Herbert would be the best quarterback with whom Smith has worked by far, but he will have to make his case for his ability to elevate the star quarterback and the Chargers offense in general.
The Chargers are also keeping Broncos quarterbacks coach Davis Webb on their radar, per Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer. The fast-rising coach interviewed for the Ravens’ and Raiders’ head coaching jobs and could garner interest from other teams as a potential offensive coordinator.
Webb is facing a seemingly gargantuan task this week getting Jarrett Stidham ready for the AFC Championship Game against a Patriots defense that savaged C.J. Stroud in the divisional round. Even a semi-successful game from Stidham would speak volumes about Webb’s coaching ability and could raise his profile as a candidate for other jobs around the league.
Browns Arranging Second HC Interview With Jesse Minter
Internal and external candidates have emerged as serious targets for the Browns as their head coaching search continues. The list of outside staffers firmly on the team’s radar continues to grow. 
Arrangements are being made for Cleveland to conduct a second interview with Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. The sides spoke on Friday, confirming Cleveland’s status as one of Minter’s numerous suitors. Each of the nine teams in the process of making a head coaching change have reached out to the up-and-coming staffer at least once.
This nevertheless represents the first instance in which a follow-up interview has been arranged in Minter’s case. It will be interesting to see if that changes over the coming days as every team except the Giants and Falcons ramps up its HC search. With the Chargers no longer in the postseason, Minter is free to speak remotely or in person with interested teams at any time. This Browns summit will be face-to-face, Rapoport notes to no surprise.
A three-time defensive coordinator at the college level, Minter, 42, won a national championship at Michigan in 2023. He then followed Jim Harbaugh to the NFL, taking on his current role with the Bolts. Los Angeles has boasted one of the league’s top defenses under Minter, finishing top-10 in points allowed during each of his two years in place. The team has particularly enjoyed strong play against the pass.
The Browns finished just 5-12 this season, but defensive shortcomings were not to blame. Cleveland ranked fourth in the NFL in yards allowed under Jim Schwartz, and retaining him remains a high priority for the team while Kevin Stefanski‘s replacement is sought out. Schwartz is a strong candidate to be promoted to head coach at this point, but Minter is one of several external options the Browns will attempt to meet with for a second time.
Via PFR’s HC Search Tracker, here is an updated look at where things stand for the Browns:
- Aden Durde, defensive coordinator (Seahawks): Interviewed 1/9
- John Harbaugh, former head coach (Ravens): Rumored mutual interest; Interview requested
- Mike McDaniel, former head coach (Dolphins): Interviewed 1/12; to conduct second interview 1/21
- Jesse Minter, defensive coordinator (Chargers): Interviewed 1/16; to conduct second interview
- Todd Monken, offensive coordinator (Ravens): Interviewed 1/10; to conduct second interview 1/20
- Dan Pitcher, offensive coordinator (Bengals): Interviewed 1/9
- Tommy Rees, offensive coordinator (Browns): Interviewed 1/8
- Nate Scheelhaase, pass game coordinator (Rams): Interviewed 1/16; second interview requested
- Jim Schwartz, defensive coordinator (Browns): To conduct second interview 1/19; seen as favorite?
- Chris Shula, defensive coordinator (Rams): Interview requested
- Grant Udinski, offensive coordinator (Jaguars): Second interview requested
Chargers To Conduct OC Interview With Brian Daboll
Brian Daboll remains one of the top names to watch on multiple coaching fronts. The ex-Giants HC has now been linked to another coordinator opening around the NFL. 
Daboll will interview with the Chargers for their offensive coordinator position, Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network report. Throughout the early stages of this year’s hiring cycle, an OC hire has loomed as a distinct possibility. Daboll was linked earlier this month to Raiders interest, and he is believed to be among the top targets for the Eagles in that capacity.
Yesterday, Daboll interviewed with the Titans for their head coaching vacancy. He is not among Tennessee’s initial batch of finalists, but that could change in the coming days as the team continues to seek ex-head coaches for the 2026 season. In any case, this latest update on the Daboll front comes as little surprise. Prior to his expected Giants dismissal, Daboll’s stock was boosted by a strong OC run.
That included a successful stint with the Bills and prior coordinator experience in Cleveland, Miami and Kansas City. Aside from a surprising trip to the divisional round of the postseason during his first season as a head coach, Daboll was unable to meet expectations during his time in New York. Still, a play-calling gig with one of the teams looking for a change on the sidelines would allow him to return to a familiar role moving forward.
The Chargers had Greg Roman as their offensive coordinator during the first two years of Jim Harbaugh‘s tenure with the team. Things did not go according to plan during Los Angeles’ back-to-back losses in the wild-card round in particular, however. Questions were raised in the wake of last week’s low-scoring loss about Roman’s job security, and on Tuesday he was fired. 2026 will thus mark the first season in which Harbaugh serves as an NFL head coach without Roman as his OC.
Since Roman’s firing, the Bolts have spoken with pass-game coordinator Marcus Brady, quarterbacks coach Shane Day and former Titans head coach Brian Callahan for their offensive coordinator opening. A meeting with former Dolphins HC Mike McDaniel – who like Daboll is a candidate for head coaching and OC openings – has also been arranged.
Chargers To Interview Mike McDaniel For OC Position
Since he was fired by the Dolphins just over a week ago, Mike McDaniel has been offered a litany of opportunities to move on in some form or fashion. Some teams (Titans, Falcons, Browns, and Ravens) have expressed interest in him as a potential head coach again, while some teams (Lions, Eagles, and Buccaneers) still have head coaches in place and are interested in him returning to a potential offensive coordinator job. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the Chargers can be added to the latter group of teams as they are set to interview McDaniel to potentially replace Greg Roman. 
It’s been a busy week for McDaniel. Following his dismissal in Miami, he kicked off his week with his head coaching interviews with Atlanta and Cleveland. On Tuesday, he interviewed with the Lions for their offensive coordinator job, following that up with head coaching interviews with Tennessee on Wednesday and Baltimore on Thursday. Today, McDaniel returned to the coordinator interest, interviewing with Tampa Bay. Nothing’s been announced as scheduled for McDaniel this weekend, so perhaps he’s just enjoying a couple days off, but Rapoport expects his interview with Los Angeles to take place “early next week.”
Since firing Roman, the Chargers have looked at a number of names to fill his shoes. They first looked internally, granting an interview to passing game coordinator Marcus Brady of Montreal Alouettes fame. He has arrayed experience with both young and veteran talent, and his familiarity with Herbert could be a strong place to start with the likely journey to a new offensive scheme. Their second internal candidate was quarterbacks coach Shane Day. Day held the passing game coordinator title for two seasons in 2021-22 but was fired after the team blew a 27-point lead in Herbert’s first playoff game. He returned this year, much to the joy of the team’s star quarterback.
Mostly recently, the team interviewed former Titans head coach Brian Callahan for the open position. Callahan’s experience with young quarterbacks is a bit of a mixed bag. He helped kickstart what has been a strong start to Joe Burrow‘s career in Cincinnati, but in Tennessee, he struggled to get much out of offenses led by Will Levis and Cam Ward. In an attempt to save his job this year, he ceded play-calling duties after an 0-3 start to the Titans’ season, but he was relieved of his head coaching duties, too, after only three more games.
McDaniel only had one season of coordinator experience with the 49ers, and he didn’t call plays as the OC, but he was the Dolphins’ primary play-caller throughout his four-year run with the team. His arrival in Miami seemed to unlock Tua Tagovailoa in his third season as the offense improved from 25th in total yards and 22nd in scoring to sixth in total yards and 11th in scoring in McDaniel’s first year with the team. In Year 2, the Dolphins led the league in total yards and finished as the second highest-scoring offense. Injuries would limit the team over his last two seasons in Miami, but it’s clear why McDaniel is such a respected name in offensive coaching circles.
Pairing McDaniel with Herbert, young running back Omarion Hampton, a versatile receiving corps, and eventually, two extremely talented, recovered offensive tackles could make for a dangerous unit. In order to land him, though, the Dolphins will need to hope the right head coaching opportunities don’t come his way and that he’ll prefer to work for them. There’s a long way to go in this process but bringing McDaniel in certainly makes the team’s OC search more interesting.
Chargers Interview Brian Callahan For OC
Brian Callahan now appears on two teams’ offensive coordinator radars. The recently fired Titans coach discussed the Buccaneers’ play-calling position this week, and the Chargers came next.
The Bolts announced Callahan’s interview Friday. Callahan spent five years as the Bengals’ OC, a period that will help his cause more than the Titans HC tenure — one that ended after just 23 games.
This marks the first known external candidate for the Bolts’ OC post. The team previously interviewed pass-game coordinator Marcus Brady and QBs coach Shane Day for the role Greg Roman‘s firing vacated. Callahan, 41, has been an NFL staffer since 2010. He worked for the Broncos, Lions and Raiders before receiving the chance to work under Zac Taylor as Cincinnati’s OC.
Neither of Taylor’s top coordinators received too much HC consideration for years, which represented a bit of a surprise considering Cincinnati’s Super Bowl LVI appearance and berth in the following year’s AFC championship game. While Lou Anarumo called the shots on defense, Callahan served as a non-play-calling OC. Issues with play-calling and game management doomed him in Tennessee.
Prior to being canned 23 games into his tenure, Callahan handed the play sheet to QBs coach Bo Hardegree. When Callahan was fired, the Titans’ offense ranked 31st in the NFL. Granted, Tennessee only improved to 30th after Mike McCoy‘s interim stay. And the Chargers will gauge Callahan’s readiness. In Los Angeles, Jim Harbaugh serves as a CEO head coach. His Roman successor would call plays for a Justin Herbert-quarterbacked offense. That presents a strong draw, and bigger-name candidates — particularly as the HC carousel sorts itself out — figure to emerge soon.
Harbaugh employed Roman throughout his time in San Francisco and for two years in L.A., but the Chargers’ increasingly run-centric offense lost both its starting tackles — Joe Alt, Rashawn Slater — and then sputtered in a wild-card loss to the Patriots. Callahan impressed in his Bucs interview, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. It will be interesting to see if he advances far in this search and/or comes up in other OC searches yet to form.
Coaching Departures: Bowman, Chiefs, Jaguars
As the Chargers seek a new offensive coordinator (and likely a new defensive coordinator), they’ll also be on the lookout for a new linebackers coach. GM Joe Hortiz announced today that coach NaVorro Bowman is stepping away from the team to spend more time with his family.
Bowman was a standout linebacker throughout the 2010s, earning four first-team All-Pro nods during his stint with the 49ers. A former third-round pick out of Penn State, Bowman finished his career with 798 tackles, 14 sacks, and nine forced fumbles. His 527 solo tackles in San Francisco ranks fifth on the franchise’s all-time leaderboard.
Following a one-year stop on the Maryland staff, Bowman joined former 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh in Los Angeles. During his time with the Chargers, Bowman oversaw the development of Daiyan Henley and Junior Colson, and he guided a LBs room that also featured veterans Denzel Perryman and Troy Dye.
The Chargers have started interviewing internal candidates to replace offensive coordinator Greg Roman, who was fired this week. The team will also be seeking a new defensive coordinator if Jesse Minter earns a head coaching job.
More coaching notes from around the NFL…
- Following news from earlier today that the Chiefs moved on from WR coach Connor Embree, Sam McDowell of the Kansas City Star reported that RBs coach Todd Pinkston has also been fired. The 48-year-old spent the past three seasons in the role, with Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt generally leading the depth chart during his tenure. The Chiefs rushing attack consistently ranked in the bottom-half of the league thanks to the Patrick Mahomes-led offense, but the Chiefs also bottomed out in yards-per-attempt in 2024 and 2025.
- The Jaguars are moving on from secondary coach Ron Milus, according to Josina Anderson. The veteran coach has served as a DBs or secondary coach throughout his 25-year coaching career, with his longest stint coming with the Chargers between 2013 and 2020. Following a three-year stint with the Colts, Milus joined Liam Coen‘s new Jacksonville staff last offseason. Jaguars defensive backs accounted for 15 interceptions this past season, including five from safety Antonio Johnson. On the flip side, the defense ranked 21st in yards allowed, and the coach didn’t necessarily maximize Travis Hunter‘s defensive ability.
Chargers Interview Shane Day For OC
The Chargers continue to eye internal candidates to replace Greg Roman. Following news that the team interviewed passing game coordinator Marcus Brady for their OC vacancy, the team announced tonight that they’ve also interviewed quarterbacks coach Shane Day.
[RELATED: Chargers Interview Marcus Brady For OC]
Day has had a long NFL coaching career, but he’s never had an opportunity to lead an offense. As a QBs coach, he’s guided the likes of Jay Cutler, Jimmy Garoppolo, and (of course) Justin Herbert to successful seasons. Throughout his two decades of coaching, Day has also served as an assistant offensive line coach (in Washington) and a tight ends coach (in Miami).
Day is actually in the midst of his second stint with the organization. He served as the team’s passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach between 2021 and 2022, but following a disastrous showing in that latter year’s AFC Wild Card game, he was fired alongside OC Joe Lombardi. Day spent one season on the Texans staff before returning to the Chargers under Jim Harbaugh in 2024.
Herbert had one of the best showings of his career that season, finishing with a career-low 0.6 percent interception rate while guiding the Chargers to a career-high 11 wins. Herbert earned another Pro Bowl nod this past season, although he also finished the campaign with a career-worst 2.5 percent interception rate. Of course, injuries and a depleted offensive line could be partly to blame for that performance.
Either way, Herbert is a big fan of Day (per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo), and that could go a long way in the coach’s coordinator candidacy. The Chargers have been seeking a replacement for Roman, who was fired following the team’s ugly playoff loss to the Patriots. The Chargers ranked 11th in scoring during Roman’s first year in charge and 20th in 2025, and we heard that the “tenor” regarding the coordinator’s future changed in the wake of their postseason loss. Still, it appears as if Harbaugh is looking to maintain some continuity on that side of the ball, as the only two candidates for the job were on the staff in 2025.
Chargers Interview Marcus Brady For OC
Chargers passing game coordinator Marcus Brady interviewed for the team’s offensive coordinator vacancy on Thursday, making him the first candidate to replace Greg Roman.
Brady, 46, is a former CFL quarterback who began coaching for the Montreal Alouettes as soon as he ended his playing career with them. After two years as a wide receivers coach, he was promoted to offensive coordinator for a year before taking the same job with the Toronto Argonauts in 2013.
In 2018, Brady moved to the NFL as a quarterbacks coach. He was promoted to offensive coordinator in 2021 but lost his job in November of 2022, leading to a short stint as a consultant with the Eagles. He stayed in Philadelphia for another season before joining Jim Harbaugh‘s staff in Los Angeles in his current role.
During his time in the NFL, Brady has worked with a number of young star quarterbacks – including Andrew Luck, Jalen Hurts, and Justin Herbert – as well as established veterans like Matt Ryan and Philip Rivers. His familiarity with Herbert and the Chargers current offense makes him a logical candidate to take over Roman’s job while instituting key changes to strengthen the team’s passing attack.
The Chargers will interview other candidates for their OC gig, but they may want to wrap up their hiring process quickly so they can turn their attention to the other side of the ball. Defensive coordinator Jesse Minter has received head coaching interest from several teams and could be leaving Los Angeles in the coming weeks.
Dolphins Arrange HC Interviews With Jesse Minter, Robert Saleh
The Dolphins were recently among the teams to request an interview with Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter as well as 49ers DC Robert Saleh. Both in-demand staffers will speak with Miami. 
Minter and Saleh will conduct interviews with the Dolphins today, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. Both will take place virtually, per NFL rules. Three other candidates have already interviewed once with Miami, and another will do so this weekend.
The Dolphins continue to widen their search for one of the eight remaining head coaching vacancies around the league (presuming John Harbaugh‘s Giants deal winds up being finalized as expected). Miami’s most recent process resulted in a highly-regarded Kyle Shanahan staffer taking over (Mike McDaniel). The team could wind up taking a similar route by hiring Saleh, who returned to San Francisco in 2025 following the end of his Jets head coaching tenure.
Saleh’s unit has dealt with a slew of injuries this season but it has helped bring the 49ers to the divisional round of the playoffs. San Francisco’s D-coordinator from 2017-20 during his first stint with the team, Saleh would provide the Dolphins or any other suitor with an experienced presence on the sidelines. The 46-year-old is also one of the top candidates to have served as a head coach at the NFL level.
Minter, meanwhile, has received an interview request from every team seeking a new head coach. That comes as little surprise, but it underscores the competition Miami could face in a potential bidding war for his services. The Dolphins’ opening was recently reported to be seen as less attractive than others around the league. It will be interesting to see if that impacts the choices made by some of the top candidates as they weigh their options.
A defensive coordinator with multiple college teams, Minter has held that role with the Chargers for the past two years. His success in that capacity has landed him firmly in the conversation to become a head coach during the 2026 hiring cycle. Quarterback uncertainty looms over the Dolphins right now, but Minter, 42, would primarily be tasked with overseeing the team’s defense in the event he were to land the HC gig.
Here is an updated look at Miami’s search:
- Joe Brady, offensive coordinator (Bills): Interview requested
- Anthony Campanile, defensive coordinator (Jaguars): Interview requested
- Patrick Graham, defensive coordinator (Raiders): To interview 1/19
- Jeff Hafley, defensive coordinator (Packers): Interviewed 1/14
- John Harbaugh, former head coach (Ravens): Contacted
- Klint Kubiak, offensive coordinator (Seahawks): Interviewed 1/10
- Mike McCarthy, former head coach (Cowboys): Rumored candidate
- Jesse Minter, defensive coordinator (Chargers): To interview 1/15
- Robert Saleh, defensive coordinator (49ers): To interview 1/15
- Chris Shula, defensive coordinator (Rams): Interview requested
- Kelvin Sheppard, defensive coordinator (Lions): Interview requested
- Kevin Stefanski, former head coach (Browns): Interviewed 1/13
- Adam Stenavich, offensive coordinator (Packers): Rumored candidate
Steelers Request HC Interviews With Jesse Minter, Brian Flores, Anthony Weaver
The Steelers continue adding candidates in their search for a new head coach. They’ve requested interviews with Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, Vikings D-coordinator Brian Flores and Dolphins DC Anthony Weaver, per reports from Tom Pelissero of NFL Network and Dianna Russini of The Athletic.
Looking for a replacement for Mike Tomlin, whose 19-year run with the franchise ended Tuesday, the Steelers previously sent out interview requests for Rams assistants Chris Shula and Nate Scheelhaase. Aside from Scheelhaase, all of the Steelers’ early candidates come with a defensive background. The same was true of Tomlin when the Steelers hired him in January 2007.
Minter doesn’t have any head coaching experience, but his strong work as an assistant has made him a hot commodity across the league. All nine teams with a head coaching vacancy have either requested an interview or have conducted one with the 42-year-old, who has effectively teamed with Jim Harbaugh over the past few seasons.
Minter was Harbaugh’s D-coordinator at Michigan from 2022-23. He followed Harbaugh to the Chargers after a national championship-winning campaign with the Wolverines. The Chargers’ defense has ranked near the top of the league in back-to-back seasons under Minter. The unit finished 2024 first in scoring and 11th in yards, and it ranked ninth in scoring and fifth in yards this season.
Flores, who went 24-25 as the Dolphins’ head coach from 2019-21, was on Tomlin’s staff in Pittsburgh in 2022. He served as a senior defensive assistant and linebackers coach that year. Flores then left to run the Vikings’ defense, a group that finished 2025 third in yards and seventh in points. Flores’ contract is now up after three successful seasons, but head coach Kevin O’Connell has made it known that retaining him is a high priority. However, the Vikings will have to fend off teams that consider Flores a head coaching candidate and others that want him as a defensive coordinator.
Weaver has already held head coaching interviews with the Cardinals, Falcons and Ravens in the past week. A former defensive lineman with the Ravens and Texans from 2002-08, Weaver has coached with those two teams and the Jets, Bills, Browns and Dolphins since 2012. He was the Dolphins’ defensive coordinator from 2024-25, but with head coach Mike McDaniel out, Weaver’s future in Miami is uncertain. Even if the 45-year-old doesn’t leave the Dolphins for a head coaching job, he could be an assistant elsewhere in 2026.