Ex-Cards/Titans DB Rashad Johnson Retires
Former Cardinals and Titans safety Rashad Johnson has announced his retirement from the NFL in an Instagram post.
Johnson, who turned 32 years old earlier this week, enjoyed an eight-year pro career after being selected out of Alabama in the third round of the 2099 draft. Seven of those seasons came with the club that originally drafted him, the Cardinals, for whom he appeared in 100 of his 114 career games. Primarily a reserve and special teams player during his first five years in the league, Johnson was a full-time starter in 2014 and 2015, and racked up nine interceptions during that period.
After reaching free agency following the 2015 campaign, Johnson inked a one-year deal with the Titans. In his lone season with Tennessee, Johnson was one of four Titans safeties to see action on at least 50% of the club’s defensive snaps. He made seven starts and 14 total appearances while managing one forced fumble and one pass defensed. Although Johnson was expected to draw interest during the 2017 offseason (and was ranked as a top-15 free agent safety by PFR), he never generated any known interest and didn’t play in a contest last year.
Titans' DeMarco Murray Ruled Out
- Meanwhile, Titans running back DeMarco Murray has been ruled out of Saturday’s Wild Card game against the Chiefs (Twitter link via Rapoport). As a result, Derrick Henry will see a larger share of carries.
2018 NFL Head Coaching Search Tracker
Several NFL teams are currently hunting for a new head coach, and amidst reports about interview requests and potential candidates, it’s easy to lose track of the latest updates in the shuffle. So we’ll use this space – which will be updated until every team has hired a new head coach – to keep track of the most recent news and rumors. It can be found on the right-hand sidebar under “PFR Features.”
Listed below are the head coaching candidates that have been linked to each of the teams with vacancies, along with their current status. If and when other teams decide to make head coaching changes, they’ll be added to this list. Here’s the current breakdown:
Updated 2-11-18 (2:35pm CT)
Arizona Cardinals
- Steve Wilks, defensive coordinator (Panthers): Hired
- Keith Armstrong, special teams coordinator (Falcons): Interviewed on 1/8; interviewed for a second time on 1/19
- James Bettcher, defensive coordinator (Cardinals): Interviewed on 1/3
- John DeFilippo, quarterbacks coach (Eagles): Interviewed 1/5; expected to receive second interview
- Brian Flores, linebackers coach (Patriots): Interviewed on 1/6; expected to receive second interview
- Matt Patricia, defensive coordinator (Patriots): Interviewed on 1/6
- Jim Schwartz, defensive coordinator (Eagles): Interviewed on 1/5
- Pat Shurmur, offensive coordinator (Vikings): Interviewed on 1/5
- Mike Munchak, offensive line coach (Steelers): Interviewed on 1/7; declined to take second interview
Chicago Bears
- Matt Nagy, offensive coordinator (Chiefs): Hired
- John DeFilippo, quarterbacks coach (Eagles): Interviewed on 1/6
- George Edwards, defensive coordinator (Vikings): Interviewed on 1/4
- Vic Fangio, defensive coordinator (Bears): Interviewed on 1/3
- Josh McDaniels, offensive coordinator (Patriots): Interviewed on 1/5
- Pat Shurmur, offensive coordinator (Vikings): Interviewed on 1/5
- Steve Wilks, defensive coordinator (Panthers): Requested interview
Detroit Lions
- Matt Patricia, defensive coordinator (Patriots): Hired
- Teryl Austin, defensive coordinator (Lions): Interviewed on 1/2
- Jim Bob Cooter, offensive coordinator (Lions): Interviewed on 1/2
- Winston Moss, assistant head coach/LBs (Packers): Interviewed on 1/4
- Pat Shurmur, offensive coordinator (Vikings): Interviewed on 1/4
- Mike Vrabel, defensive coordinator (Texans): Interviewed on 1/3
- Steve Wilks, defensive coordinator (Panthers): Declined to be interviewed
Indianapolis Colts
Second search
- Frank Reich, offensive coordinator (Eagles): Hired
- Dan Campbell, tight ends coach (Saints): Interviewed on 2/8
- Leslie Frazier, defensive coordinator (Bills): Interviewed on 2/10
- Dave Toub, special teams coordinator (Chiefs): Mentioned as candidate
Original search
- Josh McDaniels, offensive coordinator (Patriots): Announced as head coach; rejected position
- Kris Richard, defensive coordinator (Seahawks): Interviewed on 1/5
- Mike Vrabel, defensive coordinator (Texans): Interviewed on 1/6
- Matt Nagy, offensive coordinator (Chiefs): Interviewed on 1/7
- Matt Rhule, head coach (Baylor): Interviewed; withdrew from consideration
- Steve Wilks, defensive coordinator (Panthers): No longer scheduled to interview
New York Giants
- Pat Shurmur, offensive coordinator (Vikings): Hired
- Josh McDaniels, offensive coordinator (Patriots): Interviewed on 1/5
- Mike Munchak, offensive line coach (Steelers): Dark horse candidate?
- Matt Patricia, defensive coordinator (Patriots): Interviewed on 1/5
- Jim Schwartz, defensive coordinator (Eagles): Interview put on hold
- Steve Spagnuolo, interim head coach/DC (Giants): Interviewed on 1/3
- Eric Studesville, former assistant head coach/RBs (Broncos): Interviewed on 1/10
- Steve Wilks, defensive coordinator (Panthers): Interviewed on 1/9
Oakland Raiders
- Jon Gruden, ESPN commentator: Hired
- Bobby Johnson, tight ends coach (Raiders): Interviewed
- Tee Martin, offensive coordinator (USC): Interviewed
Tennessee Titans
- Mike Vrabel, defensive coordinator (Texans): Hired
- Josh McDaniels, offensive coordinator (Patriots): Mentioned as candidate
- Frank Reich, offensive coordinator (Eagles): Mentioned as candidate
- Matt LaFleur, offensive coordinator (Rams): Interviewed on 1/19
- Steve Wilks, defensive coordinator (Panthers): Interviewed on 1/18
Mike Mularkey Could Be Fired Even With Playoff Win
- Despite the fact that the Titans could clinch a playoff spot today, Rapoport says that head coach Mike Mularkey is in trouble, and if Tennessee loses to Jacksonville this afternoon, Mularkey could be fired. Indeed, he could be canned even if the Titans make the playoffs but lose in the wildcard round. Apparently, ownership is frustrated with the development of Marcus Mariota, and if the Titans dismiss Mularkey, they could go hard after Patriots OC Josh McDaniels.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/29/17
Here are today’s minor moves.
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: FB Marquez Williams
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: OL John Fullington
- Waived: TE John Phillips
Philadelphia Eagles
- Placed on IR: LB Joe Walker
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: RB Khalfani Muhammad
- Waived: CB Demontre Hurst
DeMarco Murray Out For Week 17
DeMarco Murray is dealing with a badly sprained knee and will not be available in the Titans’ crucial Week 17 contest, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports (on Twitter).
Tennessee’s starting running back is dealing with the most severe of MCL tears, and while he initially expressed optimism he could play through it against the Jaguars, the Titans are going to rest him Sunday. The Titans, however, will not place Murray on IR, Terry McCormick of TitanInsider.com tweets.
The Titans will lean on Derrick Henry for ground support in hopes of advancing to their first AFC playoff bracket in nine years. Henry’s been a bigger part of the offense in his second season than he was in 2016, and Murray’s numbers have declined as well. But the team refusing to place its starting back on IR indicates it is at least considering a healthy Murray-Henry setup taking the field in a playoff game.
Murray suffered the knee injury in Week 16. He will finish his second Titans season with more than 600 fewer rushing yards (659) than he amassed last year in a Pro Bowl campaign. The seventh-year runner’s yards-per-carry figure (3.6) is also nearly a yard off his ’16 pace.
Tennessee faces a win-and-in scenario against a Jaguars team that is already locked into the AFC’s No. 3 seed, so prospects are encouraging for the Titans to end that lengthy playoff drought. Henry is averaging 4.7 yards per tote and leads the team with 693 rushing yards.
Breer’s Latest: Black Monday Preview
With the final week of the NFL’s regular season approaching, that only means two things; 12 teams will soon be focusing on reaching the Super Bowl, while the rest will start to look ahead to next season. One major part of looking forward is addressing who on the coaching staff will be returning in 2018. Many of these coaching questions are answered on the day following Week’s 17 conclusion, conveniently called “Black Monday”.
Veteran reporter Albert of Breer of Sports Illustrated, gave a preview of the coaches he expects to stay and the ones that will likely be shown the door in his most recent column. Breer ranked the potential firings as “Likely/Done”, “We’ll See”, and “It’s Complicated”. In total, there were 15 head coaches mentioned who could see their situations change starting next week.
Here’s a quick look at Breer’s takes on some of the league’s hottest coaching questions:
- There were five head coaches included in the “likely/done” category including: Bears‘ John Fox, Bengals‘ Marvin Lewis, Lions‘ Jim Caldwell, Colts‘ Chuck Pagano and and the Giants‘ interim coach Steve Spagnuolo. The four full-time head coaches on this list have all had their fair share of success in the league. In fact, three of them led their current teams to multiple playoff appearances during their tenure. However, Caldwell and Lewis have been unable to win a postseason game with Pagano and Fox having failed at continuing the past success they have shown during their careers in football. Breer notes that while the “expectation is that Fox will be gone”, the decision on the fate of general manager Ryan Pace is true question facing the franchise this offseason. There’s been rapid speculation about Lewis, Caldwell and Pagano throughout the year, so their inclusion on this list is no surprise. Finally, the Giants are currently interviewing general manager candidates who will almost certainly be looking to lead their own head coaching search once hired.
- Breer puts six current head coaches in the ‘we’ll see” part of the list. This portion mentions the Cardinals‘ Bruce Arians, Broncos‘ Vance Joseph, Raiders‘ Jack Del Rio, Buccaneers‘ Dirk Koetter, Titans‘ Mike Mularkey and the Redskins‘ Jay Gruden. There’s a variety of situations going on here with Breer noting that Arizona could see Arians retire, which could lead them to other current NFL head coaches: Todd Bowles and Bill O’Brien. Del Rio and Gruden have had their fair share of success because of quality quarterback play, but both have managed to decrease confidence because of an inconsistent 2017 season. However, Breer points out that both are signed long-term so their owners would have to eat the remaining years of their current deals. Mularkey and Koetter were rewarded for the relationships they formed with their QB’s, but there’s been disappointment with how this season has unfolded for their teams. Breer notes that should Mularkey lose this Sunday, he could be on the chopping block come Monday morning with the team looking to hire an offensive-minded coach like Josh McDaniels. Finally, Joseph has forced himself to the hot seat even in his first year of coaching the Broncos, though Breer says himself that this situation is “unpredictable” given that team president John Elway is just “not pleased with how the season’s gone”.
- Browns head coach Hue Jackson, and the two previously mentioned O’Brien and Bowles of the Texans and Jets, find themselves on the “it’s complicated” section of Breer’s roundup largely because of just the many factors are at play in regards to their situations. Jackson got a vote of confidence from owner Jimmy Haslam himself, but new general manager John Dorsey could have his sights on implementing his own guy after a winless season. O’Brien has made the playoffs before, but has struggled committing to a QB even after the team selected Deshaun Watson in the first round. Bowles has done a lot with a little in New York this season, but ownership could go in a different direction with a new starting signal caller likely walking into the building next year. Also, there is the potential that all three coaches could move onto new head coaching gigs with the number of openings that could be available this offseason. The final and definitely most surprising inclusion on this list was Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll, who Breer mentions could retire at age 66 with a roster about to see major turnover in the next few years. Although, I would venture that nothing he’s said this season would indicate that being the case.
Murray Suffered Third Degree MCL Tear
An MRI revealed that Titans running back DeMarco Murray has a third degree MCL tear, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter (Twitter link). The veteran back believes he can play through the injury with the Titans aiming for a playoff spot.
This is a change from Schefter original report on Sunday night that Murray sprained his MCL in the Week 16 tilt with the Rams. Murray’s status is still up in the air, with head coach Mike Mularkey saying on Sunday night the back was day-to-day and commenting on his toughness.
The Titans currently own the final wildcard spot in the AFC with an 8-7 record and just need a win vs. the Jaguars, or losses from both the Chargers and Bill, to get into the playoffs for the first time since 2008. Though in front for the final spot, Tennessee has dropped three consecutive games.
If Murray was to be held out of action, 2016 second-round pick Derrick Henry would assume the role of lead back. Henry has been the better back, out-gaining Murray by 34 yards on 36 fewer carries.
Extra Points: Titans, Lions, Pats, Vikings
A very special Christmas edition of Extra Points:
- It has been an open subject of debate in league circles whether the Titans will shell out substantial money to land a big name head coach this offseason, Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com writes. Mike Mularkey is still employed as the team’s head coach, but some anticipate that the Titans will shake things up in the offseason if they miss the playoffs. The 8-7 Titans can make the postseason with a win over the Jaguars in Week 17 or losses from the Chargers and Bills.
- Lions Vice President of Player Personnel Kyle O’Brien is emerging as potential GM candidate for other teams in the NFL, Alex Marvez of The Sporting News (Twitter link) has learned. Meanwhile, there’s some speculation about the job security of head coach Jim Caldwell.
- The talk of the league is that the Patriots, Vikings, and Eagles coaching staffs will be very popular the league’s head coaches jobs start to open up next week, Mike Jurecki of 98.7 FM tweets. Recently, members of each staff were recommended for head coaching gigs by the NFL’s Career Development Advisory Panel.
DeMarco Murray May Not Play In Week 17
The Titans dropped their third game in a row when they fell late to the Rams in Week 16. However, that was not the only bad news that came from their defeat. Starting running back DeMarco Murray was helped off the field after suffering a knee injury in the fourth quarter of the contest, according to the team’s official website.
While there was no immediate diagnosis, Titans head coach Mike Mularkey did not like what he saw when Murray went down.
“We’re going to get an MRI on him and see the extent of it,” Mularkey said. “Didn’t look good. He’s a pretty tough guy, watched him walk off, and it didn’t look good.”
Murray will be 30 years old next month and has not looked as dynamic as he did a season ago. The veteran back has averaged just 3.6 yards per carry in 2017, which is a notable step down from his 4.4 yards per carry mark from last year.
If the injury turns out to be as bad as it appeared on the field, Tennessee would lean heavily on backup running back Derrick Henry to help carry them to the postseason.
The 23-year-old has clearly been the more effective back this season and has seen his workload increase in his second full year in the NFL. Henry has totaled double-digit carries seven times in 2017, but would be in-line for at least 20 touches should Murray be forced to sit.
He’ll, obviously, he’ll get a bigger load,” Mularkey said. “It’s good for him, I’m glad we have him. That’s what he’s here for, and (David) Fluellen as well. And again, that’s me speaking right after the game. I’ve seen him before come back pretty strong. He’s about as tough a player we got.”
The Titans are still in a prime position punch their postseason ticket for the first time since the 2008-09 season. All Tennessee needs to do is beat a Jaguars team that could have nothing to play for should the Steelers win their game this afternoon. Nevertheless, the prospect of losing another playmaker for a franchise that has stumbled mightily towards the finish line is not an ideal situation entering the final week of the 2017 regular season.