Titans To Hire Robert Saleh As HC
Robert Saleh was expected to be choosey with his second head coaching opportunity, after washing out with the Jets. But the 49ers’ defensive coordinator has made a decision to dive back in after one season. The Titans are hiring Saleh as their next head coach, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Saleh, 46, impressed the team’s decision-makers during his interview in Tennessee on Monday. He was originally scheduled to speak with the team virtually on Sunday, but the two sides pivoted to an in-person meeting that could not take place until the following day due to league hiring rules.
The race appeared to be down to Saleh and Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy, who was set for his own in-person interview with the Titans on Tuesday. But Saleh won over owner Amy Adams Strunk and general manager Mike Borgonzi to become a head coach for the second time in his career.
Borgonzi was leaning toward Nagy, per ESPN’s Turron Davenport, but ownership’s preference for Saleh ultimately (and unsurprisingly) won out. Considering Adams Strunk’s recent history with hirings and firings, it will be interesting to learn how strongly Borgonzi was leaning in the direction of his former Chiefs coworker.
Saleh’s first opportunity as a head coach came with the Jets. Like his new job in Tennessee, it followed a successful stint as the 49ers’ defensive coordinator, a position Saleh first held from 2017 to 2020. He was Kyle Shanahan‘s first hire when he took over as San Francisco’s head coach, and the two worked together to turn the league’s bottom-ranked defense into one of its best. By 2019, the transformation was complete, and another strong year in 2020 turned Saleh into one of the hottest head coaching candidates in the 2021 hiring cycle.
The Jets swooped in with a five-year contract, and Saleh moved to New York with the goal of turning the hapless franchise around. But, like several other coaches before him, he could not get the job done. He finished with a 20-36 record before he was fired midway through the 2024 season, his fourth as head coach.
Saleh’s tenure with the Jets was heavily impacted by the team’s inability to land a solid quarterback. General manager Joe Douglas used the No. 3 pick in the 2021 draft to select Zach Wilson, but the BYU product never came close to meeting his billing. New York’s offense, coordinated by fellow Shanahan assistant Mike LaFleur, struggled through two seasons with Wilson as a starter before Douglas pivoted to Aaron Rodgers in 2023. As part of their play for the MVP quarterback, the team mutually agreed to part ways with LaFleur to recruit former Packers OC Nathaniel Hackett immediately after his disastrous years as the Broncos’ head coach. Rodgers tore his Achilles on the first play of the 2023 season, and the Jets offense collapsed with Wilson back under center.
On defense, however, Saleh was able to replicate his work in San Francisco. The Jets finished 32nd in points and yards allowed in his debut year and fourth in both categories in his second. Another strong year in 2023 was wasted after Rodgers’ injury, and Saleh was then fired after a 2-3 start in 2024. Many saw the decision from owner Woody Johnson as an unfair one, as Douglas had been the driving force between acquiring Wilson and Rodgers and Saleh did not even get a full season with the latter.
Saleh signed on as a consultant with the Packers for the rest of the 2024 season before returning to San Francisco in the offseason to retake his former job. The 49ers defense did not have the same statistical results in 2025 as their previous seasons under Saleh, but he coached his way through injuries to several key players, including Nick Bosa and Fred Warner, two of the best defenders in the league. The 49ers still finished 12-5 and stifled the Eagles offense in the first round of the playoffs. Though Saleh’s defense allowed just 281 yards in the divisional round, turnovers from San Francisco’s offense led to a 41-6 victory by the Seahawks.
Saleh and the Titans then agreed to push their interview back by a day, and Saleh was able to seal the deal on Monday. He will have a chance to shape a franchise that does not have many long-term cornerstones outside of rookie cornerback Cam Ward and defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons. Tennessee is projected by OverTheCap to have almost $100MM in 2026 cap space and is slated for the 4th pick in April’s draft.
Saleh’s first order of business will be filling his new staff. His long history in the NFL gives him plenty of relationships with other coaches around the league, especially those also branching off of Shanahan’s tree. Saleh will likely prioritize hiring his offensive coordinator, as he is expected to call defensive plays in Tennesee, per NFL insider Jordan Schultz. In New York, he handed that job off to defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, and though the unit excelled, Saleh felt disconnected from the game, according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo.
Former Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel could be the first name on Saleh’s list of OC candidates. The two worked together in San Francisco with McDaniel staying one year longer before he took the job in Miami. They could reunite in Tennessee, per SNY’s Connor Hughes, which would create one of the most exciting head coach-coordinator duos in the league.
More to come.
Chiefs To Hire Chad O’Shea As WRs Coach
The Chiefs are expected to hire Chad O’Shea as their next wide receivers coach, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
O’Shea, 53, held the same position on Kevin Stefanski‘s staff in Cleveland with the added title of passing game coordinator. He will succeed Connor Embree in Kansas City, where Andy Reid is shaking up his staff after the departure of offensive coordinator Matt Nagy. The Chiefs have already made plans to rehire Eric Bieniemy to replace Nagy, and O’Shea will also be returning to the team, albeit after a longer time away.
O’Shea is entering his 30th year of coaching and his 23rd at the pro level. He got his NFL start with the Chiefs as a volunteer assistant in 2003, which quickly turned into an assistant special teams coach gig. O’Shea spent the next three years in Minnesota as an offensive assistant.
The Patriots then hired O’Shea as their wide receivers coach in 2008. He stayed in New England for 10 seasons, winning three Super Bowls along the way, before following Brian Flores to Miami as the Dolphins’ new offensive coordinator in 2019. O’Shea only lasted one year in a coordinator role and returned to coaching wide receivers, this time under Stefanski in Cleveland.
The Browns passing game in O’Shea’s tenure never ranked higher than 19th, though the team’s lack of consistent quarterback play deserves the lion’s share of the blame. However, Cleveland’s receiving corps did not make substantial progress under O’Shea. Their best receivers in the last six years have been Amari Cooper and Jerry Jeudy, who were both acquired via trade. O’Shea did well to integrate both into the Browns offense – and likely played a key role in Jeudy’s career-best 2024 – but the team’s homegrown wideouts have not grown into clear starting-caliber players.
In Kansas City, O’Shea will work Reid and Bieniemy to rebuild a Chiefs receiver room that only has Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy as clear long-term contributors. As a part of a stronger offense with one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, he may be more successful than he was in Cleveland.
Ravens Plan 2nd HC Interview With Bills OC Joe Brady
The Ravens are planning to host Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady for a second head coaching interview this week, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
Brady, 36, just completed his first interview with the Ravens on Sunday. He must have impressed the team’s decision-makers, as they are already seeking another meeting.
Baltimore may also be moving quickly to evaluate Brady before the Bills get too deep into their search process to replace Sean McDermott. Brady is an obvious candidate to become Buffalo’s next head coach given his familiarity with Josh Allen and role in building their offense.
That success is likely the main reason the Ravens were interested in Brady in the first place. He first arrived in Buffalo as the Bills’ quarterbacks coach in 2022 after a short, unsuccessful stint as the Panthers’ offensive coordinator. During the 2023 season, Brady was promoted to offensive coordinator to replace Ken Dorsey and engineered a stronger, more balanced unit for the rest of the year. The Bills have continued to operate as one of the best offenses in the league under Brady, which has led to head coaching interest from multiple teams. In addition to the Ravens, he interviewed with the Raiders, Giants, and Dolphins. He is all-but-certain to land an interview with his current team as well.
Here is a full overview of the Ravens’ head coaching search:
- Joe Brady, offensive coordinator (Bills): Second interview requested
- Anthony Campanile, defensive coordinator (Jaguars): Interviewed 1/19
- Brian Flores, defensive coordinator (Vikings): Interviewed 1/13
- Vance Joseph, defensive coordinator (Broncos): Interviewed 1/8
- Kliff Kingsbury, former offensive coordinator (Commanders): Interviewed 1/12
- Klint Kubiak, offensive coordinator (Seahawks): Interviewed 1/9
- Mike McDaniel, former head coach (Dolphins): Interviewed 1/15
- Jesse Minter, defensive coordinator (Chargers): Interviewed 1/14
- Matt Nagy, offensive coordinator (Chiefs): Interviewed 1/11
- Darren Rizzi, special teams coordinator (Broncos): Interview expected
- Robert Saleh, defensive coordinator (49ers): Interviewed 1/18
- Nate Scheelhaase, pass-game coordinator (Rams): Interviewed 1/16
- Jim Schwartz, defensive coordinator (Browns): Interviewed 1/14
- Chris Shula, defensive coordinator (Rams): Interviewed 1/16
- Kevin Stefanski, former head coach (Browns): Second interview requested for 1/21
- Anthony Weaver, defensive coordinator (Dolphins): Second interview scheduled for 1/20
- Davis Webb, quarterbacks coach (Broncos): Interviewed 1/8
Brian Flores Considered ‘Serious Contender’ For Steelers HC Job
Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores is thought to be a “serious contender” to succeed Mike Tomlin as the Steelers’ head coach, according to Mark Maske of The Washington Post.
Flores, 44, was one of the first coaches to receive interest from the Steelers after Tomlin’s stunning departure. He is set to visit Pittsburgh this week for an in-person interview. That meeting will be a reconnection rather than an introduction, as Flores previously served as the Steelers’ senior defensive assistant and linebackers coach in 2022.
His familiarity with the franchise could be a strong factor in his candidacy. Flores arrived in Pittsburgh in February 2022 shortly after he was fired by the Dolphins. In the interim, he launched a lawsuit against the NFL and three specific teams – the Dolphins, Giants, and Broncos – which made him a persona non grata across the league. He reached out to Tomlin for advice on getting another coaching job, and Tomlin offered him a job with the approval of owner Art Rooney II.
Flores was able to turn that lifeline into the Vikings defensive coordinator job in 2023, again with Tomlin’s support. Flores found plenty of success in Minnesota, which, along with public endorsements from Tomlin and Kevin O’Connell, has raised his standing around the league considerably.
But with the lawsuit still winding its way through the courts – including a stop at the Supreme Court – owners may be hesitant to sign off on hiring Flores for their head coaching gig. He has received plenty of interest from teams looking for defensive coordinators, but only one other interview for a head coaching vacancy (from the Ravens). But the Steelers were the first team willing to take a chance on Flores after he left Miami, so they may be willing to bring him aboard once again.
In terms of both football and culture, Flores feels like an excellent match for the Steelers. His aggressive, blitz-heavy style will fit Pittsburgh’s roster well, and his familiarity with Tomlin will help him uphold the culture established by the longtime head coach.
George Kittle Eyeing Early-Season Return
It was assumed that George Kittle‘s Achilles injury would sideline him for a significant chunk of the 2026 campaign. However, the 49ers tight end is confident he’ll be back much earlier thanks to a “best-case scenario” tear.
[RELATED: 49ers’ George Kittle Suffers Torn Achilles]
Speaking to reporters today, Kittle discussed last week’s injury and the subsequent surgery, noting that doctors confirmed the team’s assessment that he suffered a “clean tear” near his soleus, which is located higher on his Achilles tendon.
“They didn’t have to drill into my heel,” Kittle said (via Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle). “And where the repair was, there’s more blood flow. And so it takes some time off the recovery time. So he’s very excited about everything. My recovery — when I’ll be running, when I’ll be ready to go play again — he’s very excited about it. So that puts me in a really good mood. It’s not as bad as other ones.”
Kittle wouldn’t commit to a definitive timeline, teasing that it would ultimately be a “surprise.” However, the tight end did acknowledge that he expects to be back before November, and he even hinted that he could push for a Week 1 return. As Branch notes, the latter scenario would require an eight-month recovery, which isn’t completely unfounded. Branch cites the roughly six-month recoveries for Michael Crabtree and Cam Akers, as well as Ben Roethlisberger‘s three-month turnaround (although the QB wasn’t cleared to play).
For further intrigue, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported this past weekend that Kittle had also undergone a “SpeedBridge repair,” which carries a bit more risk but should get him back on the field sooner (via Alex Simon of SFGate.com). The player was operated on by Dr. Neal ElAttrache, the team physician for the Rams and Dodgers. ElAttrache has also operated on the likes of Nick Bosa (twice), Tom Brady, and Kobe Bryant.
Kittle suffered the injury in the second quarter of San Francisco’s wild-card victory over the Eagles. The tight end said he felt pain when he planted his right foot in anticipation of a tackle, and he immediately knew what injury he had suffered
Joe Brady, Brian Daboll, Davis Webb Potential Candidates For Bills’ HC Job
After the shocking firing of Sean McDermott on Monday, the Bills are in the market for a head coach for the first time since 2017. They may not look far for McDermott’s replacement, though, with Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady emerging as an early contender for the position. The 36-year-old “has a lot of fans in that building,” according to Connor Hughes of SNY.
[RELATED: Bills Promote Brandon Beane To President Of Football Ops/GM]
Brady spent four seasons under McDermott, who hired the ex-Panthers offensive coordinator as the Bills’ quarterbacks coach in 2022. While Brady opened 2023 in the same role, he finished the year as interim O-coordinator after the midseason firing of Ken Dorsey.
The Bills, 5-5 when they waved goodbye to Dorsey, reeled off six wins in their last seven after Brady began calling the plays. The team earned an AFC East title and won its first playoff game before falling to the Chiefs in the divisional round. Brady did enough over two-plus months for McDermott to promote him on to the full-time gig.
The Bills finished 10th in total offense and scored the second-most points in the NFL in 2024, Brady’s first year on the job. Quarterback Josh Allen won MVP honors for the first time, but the Chiefs again knocked the Bills out of the playoffs – this time in the AFC Championship Game.
In Year 2 under Brady, Buffalo ranked fourth in both yards and scoring, and running back James Cook led the league in rushing. The Bills’ offense amassed 57 points in two playoff games, but a 33-30 loss to the Broncos in the divisional round cost McDermott his job – a role that could go to Brady.
Although Brady doesn’t have any head coaching experience, he has drawn plenty of interest around the league over the past couple of years. The Bears, Jaguars, Saints and Jets all interviewed him before hiring different head coaches last January. As part of this year’s hiring cycle, Brady has already interviewed with the Falcons, Ravens, Raiders and Dolphins. Atlanta (Kevin Stefanski) and Miami (Jeff Hafley) have since filled their HC positions, but it appears the Bills will seriously consider Brady for another promotion.
A few years before Brady took over the Bills’ offense, Brian Daboll was in charge from 2018-21. The former McDermott sidekick is often credited with helping develop a young Allen into a superstar.
Daboll and Allen, integral parts of a top-tier Buffalo offense from 2020-21, forged a close bond during their time together. They may reunite in the coming weeks, as executives around the league told Dianna Russini of The Athletic that Daboll is a name to watch for in the Bills’ search.
As someone who grew up in the Western New York area, Daboll has close ties to the region. He also carries head coaching experience, though his first try with the Giants yielded uninspiring results.
The Giants went 20-40-1 in three-plus seasons under Daboll, whom they fired in November. After going 9-7-1 and winning a playoff game in 2022, Daboll’s rookie season, the Giants won just 11 of their last 44 games under his leadership. Despite early flashes, Daniel Jones didn’t develop into the answer under center for the Giants, which played a key role in Daboll’s struggles.
Daboll would inherit an elite QB in returning to Buffalo, but it’s debatable whether he’d provide an upgrade over McDermott, owner of a 98-50 regular-season mark and an 8-8 playoff record. At .662, McDermott boasts the 15th-best all-time winning percentage among head coaches. Daboll’s .336 mark is a whopping 326 points worse.
Former Bills signal-caller Davis Webb, who played with Allen from 2019-21 and under Daboll from 2019-22 (including a year with the Giants), is another potential option to replace McDermott, Peter Schrager of ESPN relays. Webb immediately got into coaching in 2023, the first year after his playing career ended, as the Broncos’ quarterbacks coach in 2023. He continues to hold that job, but head coach Sean Payton also promoted Webb to offensive pass game coordinator this season.
Webb, who has helped 2024 first-rounder Bo Nix turn into a quality starter, has already interviewed with the Raiders and Ravens this month. Although he’s just 30 years old (he’ll turn 31 on Thursday), Webb is a strong candidate to earn second interviews with one or both of those teams.
The Broncos will host the Patriots in the AFC Championship Game on Sunday, meaning Webb won’t be available to meet with teams this week. He’s now focused on leading an undermanned Broncos passing attack that lost Nix to a season-ending ankle injury in their win over the Bills. No matter how far they go, the Broncos are likely to ride out the season with career backup Jarrett Stidham replacing Nix. Webb’s surging stock will continue rising if the 29-year-old Stidham performs well in his fifth career start and first since 2023. Regardless, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Bills contact him, especially considering Webb’s close friendship with Allen.
Whether it’s Brady, Daboll, Webb or another candidate, the Bills’ next HC will likely have a say in the fate of their remaining coaches, Jay Skurski of the Buffalo News reports. With the exception of offensive line coach Aaron Kromer, who retired Sunday, all of McDermott’s former assistants are still in place.
The well-regarded Kromer, 58, had two stints running the Bills’ offensive line (the first from 2015-16, the second from 2022-25). He began his NFL coaching career assisting with the Raiders’ O-line in 2001. Kromer later worked with the Buccaneers, Saints, Bears and Rams in various roles. He went 2-4 as the Saints’ interim head coach in 2012, the year of Payton’s BountyGate suspension, and was the Bears’ offensive coordinator from 2013-14.
With Kromer hanging it up, assistant OL coach Austin Gund may be in line as his successor, per Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic. That’ll be up to the Bills’ next head coach, but it stands to reason a Brady promotion would give Gund a better chance of returning in 2026.
Chargers Interview Drew Terrell For OC
The Chargers continue their search for a new offensive coordinator, and they’re now turning to an unexpected spot to potentially fill the role. The team announced this evening that they completed an interview with Cardinals passing game coordinator/wide receivers coach Drew Terrell.
The former Stanford wideout started his NFL coaching career with the Panthers in 2018. He made a name for himself during his three-year stint in Washington, where he served as a receivers coach. During his time with the organization, he oversaw Terry McLaurin‘s development into a Pro Bowl-caliber wideout, and he was also at the helm for one of Curtis Samuel‘s most productive campaigns.
He lost out on the Cardinals offensive coordinator job in 2023 but ended up still joining the organization as their passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach. While Marvin Harrison hasn’t truly broken out under the coach’s tutelage, Terrell did squeeze out an unexpected 1,000-yard campaign from Michael Wilson in 2025. Of course, Trey McBride has also emerged as one of the league’s premier pass-catching TEs while Terrell has served as the passing game coordinator.
While Terrell would appear to be a somewhat random addition to the Chargers’ OC search, he does have some connection to Jim Harbaugh. Terrell worked under the coach while working as a graduate assistant on Michigan’s staff.
Greg Roman was canned as the Chargers offensive coordinator following a low-score outing in the team’s playoff loss to the Patriots. Harbaugh has generally been targeting veteran coaches for the role, with the likes of Mike McDaniel, Brian Daboll, Arthur Smith, Marcus Brady, Shane Day, and Brian Callahan interviewing for the gig.
Packers To Interview Christian Parker For DC Job
With Jeff Hafley heading to Miami, the Packers are now in need of a new defensive coordinator. We’ve now got our first candidate for the opening. According to Jordan Schultz, the Packers will interview Eagles DBs coach and pass-game coordinator Christian Parker for the job.
[RELATED: Dolphins Hire Jeff Hafley As Head Coach]
This would be a bit of a homecoming for Parker, who started his NFL coaching career in Green Bay. Following a two-year stint as a Packers defensive quality control coach, Parker moved to the Eagles to serve as their defensive backs coach in 2021. He spent three years in that role before earning the added responsibility of passing game coordinator in 2024.
Most recently, Parker has been credited with the development of cornerbacks Cooper DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell. Both of the 2024 draft picks have emerged as key starters in Philly, and the duo both earned spots in the top-10 of Pro Football Focus’ positional rankings this season. Parker was also part of Vic Fangio‘s defensive staff that ranked No. 1 against the pass during their Super Bowl-winning 2024 campaign. While the defense took a slight step back in 2025 (finishing eighth overall), that didn’t do much to hurt Parker’s coordinator candidacy.
The 34-year-old has emerged as a name to watch during each of the past two hiring cycles. He interviewed for the Saints gig last offseason, and he’s expected to garner a second interview with the Cowboys this year.
If he ends up earning the Packers job, he’ll be tasked with turning around a defense that slightly disappointed this past year. The Packers ranked top 10 in points (sixth) and yards (fifth) in 2024, but the unit was less successful in 2025 (11th scoring and 12th in total defense). Part of that was due to Micah Parsons‘ season-ending injury, and Hafley’s popularity in this year’s coaching carousel proved that Green Bay’s defensive approach was still highly regarded.
Latest On Sean McDermott’s Firing; Ravens, Steelers, Titans Potential Suitors?
The Bills’ 2025 season and Sean McDermott‘s tenure as their head coach ended with a 33-30 divisional round loss to the Broncos on Saturday. McDermott received his walking papers after falling short of a Super Bowl bid for a ninth straight year, but his firing on Monday came as a surprise to him and just about everyone else.
McDermott still believed his job was safe after the Denver game, Tim Graham of The Athletic reports. The 51-year-old continued with business as usual Sunday in conducting exit interviews at One Bills Drive. Owner Terry Pegula canned McDermott a day later and promoted the head coach’s longtime running mate, general manager Brandon Beane, to president of football operations/GM.
Beane will lead the search to replace McDermott, who went an excellent 106-58 (including 8-8 in the playoffs), earned eight playoff berths and won five division titles in his first head coaching stint.
Now one of the most accomplished coaches available, McDermott figures to draw interest from at least some teams with openings. Indeed, there are clubs that “want to move quickly” on McDermott, though some of their key decision-makers were busy conducting in-person meetings with other head coaching candidates on Monday, according to Dianna Russini of The Athletic.
The Dolphins are hiring Jeff Hafley, while the Giants reeled in John Harbaugh and the Falcons brought in Kevin Stefanski. That leaves the Cardinals, Ravens, Browns, Raiders, Steelers and Titans as 2026 possibilities for McDermott. The Ravens, Steelers and Titans may be the most logical fits, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network says.
After eight years with Josh Allen as his quarterback, heading to Baltimore as Harbaugh’s replacement would enable McDermott to work with a second straight MVP-winning signal-caller, Lamar Jackson.
The Steelers don’t have QB figured out for 2026 (Aaron Rodgers‘ return may still be on the table), which could turn off McDermott, but he’d land with a perennial playoff contender. The club didn’t post a sub-.500 record in any of its 19 years under Mike Tomlin, McDermott’s college teammate at William & Mary, and is coming off an AFC North-winning campaign. Hiring McDermott would represent a significant change in course for the Steelers, though. Their only three head coaching choices since 1969 – Chuck Noll, Bill Cowher and then Tomlin – were all 30-somethings with no prior experience in the role.
Baltimore and Pittsburgh typically expect to contend each year, but that hasn’t been the case in Tennessee in recent seasons. The Titans have gone an awful 19-49 during their four-year playoff drought, meaning McDermott or any other potential hire will face a tall task in attempting to lead the franchise back to relevance. It wouldn’t be new territory for McDermott, who arrived in Buffalo in 2017 looking to revive an organization that was mired in a 17-year playoff drought. He guided the Bills back to the playoffs in his first season, the beginning of a long run of success.
The cupboard isn’t bare in Tennessee, which drafted QB Cam Ward No. 1 overall in 2025. The next coaching staff will aim to to develop Ward into a franchise passer. The Titans will also enter the offseason with a boatload of cap space and the No. 4 pick in the draft. A quick turnaround could be in store if the Titans make the right head coaching hire, though it’s unknown if the position appeals to McDermott. For now, Matt Nagy is reportedly the leading candidate for the job.
NFL Reserve/Futures Deals: 1/19/26
Today’s reserve/futures contracts:
Buffalo Bills
- DT Tommy Akingbesote, LB Jimmy Ciarlo, OL Travis Clayton, DB Te’Cory Couch, CB M.J. Devonshire, RB Frank Gore Jr., WR Stephen Gosnell, WR Mecole Hardman, LB Keonta Jenkins, DE Andre Jones Jr., DT Zion Logue, DB Daryl Porter Jr.
Carolina Panthers
- CB Michael Reid
Pittsburgh Steelers