Andy Reid Recommended Matt Nagy To John Harbaugh
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid let offensive coordinator Matt Nagy leave Kansas City this offseason, but he also helped him get his new job in New York.
Reid recommended Nagy to Giants head coach John Harbaugh (via SNY’s Connor Hughes) during his scramble to find a new offensive coordinator after Todd Monken took the Browns’ head coaching job. Harbaugh had long been planning to bring Monken, his OC in Baltimore, to New York and even tried to talk him out of going to Cleveland.
But Monken could not give up his first opportunity to be an NFL head coach, and Harbaugh had to look elsewhere. He interviewed a number of qualified candidates, though the pool of available talent had been thinned significantly by that point. So when Reid called Harbaugh to personally endorse his longtime assistant, the discussion likely carried a lot of weight in the Giants’ final decision.
Harbaugh went with another assistant hire who is once-removed from his coaching tree in assistant offensive line coach Grant Newsome, per ESPN’s Pete Thamel. Newsome previously worked under Jim Harbaugh as Michigan’s offensive line coach and sent a number of players to the NFL, including current Giants guard Jon Runyan Jr.
The Giants are still adding former Ravens assistants, though, including outside linebackers coach Matt Robinson, per CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz. He will move back to an assistant defensive line coach role, which was his title in Baltimore in 2024. He played a key role in developing Ravens outside linebacker Tavius Robinson and defensive tackles Nnamdi Madubuike and Travis Jones.
Offseason Outlook: Denver Broncos
Enjoying near-2024 Chiefs-level success in one-score games, the Broncos rode to a 14-3 record and the AFC's No. 1 seed. Denver far outdistanced longtime AFC West kingpin Kansas City and won the division by three games. The team's recent extension recipients led the way, with six players extended in 2024 or 2025 earning original-ballot Pro Bowl nods and four collecting All-Pro honors.
More impressively, the Broncos extended their season to the AFC championship game with Russell Wilson's $32MM cap figure topping their payroll. While Denver fell just short of Super Bowl LX -- with Bo Nix's season-ending ankle injury bringing one of the bigger what-ifs in recent NFL history -- the team has a clear window to continue as a top-tier operation in 2026. The Broncos are now clear of Wilson's record-setting dead money sum, and with Nix on a rookie contract, 2026 represents a sweet spot of sorts for the rejuvenated franchise.
Coaching/front office:
- Fired offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi
- Davis Webb promoted as OC replacement
- DBs coach Jim Leonhard became Bills' defensive coordinator
- Senior offensive assistant Pete Carmichael became Bills' OC
- DC Vance Joseph interviewed for Cardinals, Giants, Raiders, Ravens, Titans' HC jobs
- Webb interviewed for Bills, Raiders, Ravens' HC jobs, withdrew from Vegas search
- ST coordinator Darren Rizzi interviewed for Giants, Ravens' HC jobs
- Logan Kilgore promoted to QBs coach
Significant changes are on tap for Sean Payton's staff, though Denver's 2026 coach roster will include Joseph -- despite extensive HC interest -- and Webb even though teams pursued the latter for HC and OC jobs. Webb's status likely led to Lombardi's ouster. The longtime Payton underling was not viewed as a head coaching candidate despite the Broncos' recent success, and credit for Nix's development generally went to Payton and Webb. Lombardi, a three-stint Payton replacement, has landed with the Ravens.
Vikings Add Matt Thomas To Front Office
The Vikings are currently the NFL’s only team without a general manager. Kwesi Adofo-Mensah‘s firing has left Rob Brzezinski in place atop the front office until after the draft.
Brzezinski will have some assistance during his interim GM stint. The Vikings are hiring Matt Thomas to serve as a football administration consultant through to April’s draft, Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network report. Thomas (whose arrival is now official) worked as the Seahawks’ VP of football operations from 2013-24 before retiring. This short-term gig will give Minnesota a veteran voice in the front office.
Thomas and Brzezinski worked together when they were both with the Dolphins for the 1998 and ’99 seasons (h/t ESPN’s Kevin Seifert). This reunion will last through free agency and the draft, and it will see Thomas take on a key role relating to the salary cap. He will work alongside Emily Badis in that capacity and by doing so allow Brzezinski to focus on other matters during his brief tenure as general manager.
The timing of Adofo-Mensah’s dismissal caught many by surprise. By parting ways as late in the hiring cycle as the Vikings did, they left themselves short on replacement options. Jon-Eric Sullivan (Dolphins) and Ian Cunningham (Falcons) are no longer candidates for Minnesota since they accepted GM offers elsewhere. Minnesota’s spring search will make for an interesting team storyline late in the offseason, and the team’s new full-time general manager will inherit a roster shaped in no small part by Brzezinski over the coming months.
The Vikings are one of several teams currently projected to be over the cap for 2026; Over the Cap has them in the red by more than $40MM. A number of cuts, extensions and restructures will be required over the coming weeks as a result. Thomas’ presence could prove to be key as Minnesota’s financial setup for 2026 takes shape.
Ex-Eagles OL Coach Jeff Stoutland Will Not Coach In 2026
On Wednesday, the NFL world found out that legendary Eagles offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland would not be coaching in Philadelphia next season. We now know (via ESPN’s Tim McManus) that he does not intend to coach at all in 2026.
The Eagles wanted to keep Stoutland in place under new offensive coordinator Sean Mannion
, but he declined their offer. If he was interested in other jobs, he would have become the hottest commodity on the coaching market. While most teams already have their offensive line coach for 2026 in place, Stoutland could have easily become a senior offensive assistant or run game coordinator on any number of staffs.
Instead, he will take a year away from coaching after more than four decades with various college and NFL teams that featured two Super Bowl rings and two BCS National Championships.
Stoutland is leaving Philadelphia after a rocky 2025 season for the Eagles offense. After three straight years as a top-10 unit, they fell back to 19th in points and 24th in yards. Head coach Nick Sirianni and offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo worked to diversify the run game, but did so in such a manner that encroached on Stoutland’s role as run game coordinator.
Then, after firing Patullo, the Eagles hired Sean Mannion as their new offensive coordinator. He spent time under both Kyle Shanahan and Sean McVay and will bring their schemes to Philadelphia. Stoutland does not have as much experience with those systems.
Those factors contributed to Stoutland’s growing discomfort in Philadelphia and eventual departure. However, he does not plan to retire and could becoming one of the most sought-after assistants in the NFL next hiring cycle.
Vikings FB C.J. Ham Retires
C.J. Ham‘s NFL career has come to an end. The longtime Vikings fullback took to Instagram on Thursday to announce his retirement. 
Ham went undrafted in 2016, but the Duluth, Minnesota native signed with his hometown team. That marked the beginning of a lengthy career spent entirely with the Vikings. Ham took on fullback duties in 2017 and continued in that capacity for a total of nine seasons.
During that span, the Augustana product emerged as one of the league’s top fullbacks. In an era where full-time players at the position have become few and far between, Ham managed to remain a rotational presence on offense throughout his Vikings tenure. He was a Pro Bowler in 2019 and again in 2023 based largely on his strong special teams play, something which stayed consistent through this past season.
In all, Ham played roughly 2,300 snaps on both offense and special teams. He totaled triple-digit scrimmage yards each season from 2019-21, the stretch which also included his heaviest usage rates on offense. Over the past few years, Ham saw his role and playing time decline. That likely would have continued into the future had the pending free agent inked another deal with the Vikings.
Instead, Ham will turn his attention to his post-playing days at the age of 32. In all, he played 147 combined regular and postseason games during his Vikings tenure. Ham totaled roughly $19.5MM in career earnings while playing out four different Minnesota contracts.
Pro Football Rumors Front Office Subscriber Chat: 2/5/26
Pro Football Rumors' Sam Robinson will be holding a live chat at 3pm Central today, exclusively for Trade Rumors Front Office subscribers!
Rams GM Les Snead Addresses Pending Puka Nacua Extension Talks
The 2026 could prove to be a rather busy one for the Rams. Clarity on the Matthew Stafford situation will be critical, while members of the team’s 2023 draft class are now eligible for extensions. 
That group includes star wideout Puka Nacua. As things stand, Nacua is on track to enter the 2026 campaign as a pending free agent. Working out an extension to prevent a potential departure has been seen as a priority for some time now, and general manager Les Snead recently spoke about the pending negotiations on a new deal in Nacua’s case.
“He’s evolved into one of the best,” Snead said (via Gary Klein of the L.A. Times). “It seems like, ‘OK, that’s a pretty simple contract because it’s pretty self-explanatory where you fall in the ecosystem and the hierarchy.’ But there’s also so many variables… So again similar to a few players that we’ve had in the past… that have been at that level in the ecosystem, you’ve got to begin communication and begin working through it to come up with a win-win solution.”
It would come as no surprise if Nacua and his camp pushed for a market-topping deal this spring. Ja’Marr Chase worked out a Bengals extension averaging $40.25MM per year last offseason. The NFL’s salary cap was set at just over $279MM for 2025. It will exceed $300MM in 2026, something which will no doubt continue the inflation of certain position’s markets. Nacua is of course a strong candidate to benefit from the upward movement in the cap ceiling.
The former fifth-round pick broke out with a stellar rookie season, collecting second-team All-Pro honors along the way. Nacua was limited to 11 games in 2024, but he remained healthy this year en route to another hugely productive campaign. The BYU product led the NFL in receptions (129) and yards per game (107.2); that helped earn him a first-team All-Pro nod along with a second Pro Bowl invitation. Any long-term pact worked out in Nacua’s case will surely move him near the top of the financial pecking order amongst receivers at a minimum.
The Rams have fellow WR Davante Adams on the books for 2026. He is expected to remain in place at a cap charge of $28MM, although Nacua inking a monster extension would lessen the chances of Adams being retained in the future. Los Angeles has several other ascending players to consider extending, such as defensive tackle Kobie Turner, guard Steve Avila and edge rusher Byron Young. Finding room for them, as well as Nacua, will prove to be challenging.
Snead, like head coach Sean McVay, recently signed a Rams extension. He will be tasked with keeping the team’s core intact for as long as possible, and efforts on that front will include a push to extend Nacua over the coming weeks or months.
Steelers Hire Joe Whitt
Joe Whitt‘s time in the nation’s capital came to an end one month ago. The veteran staffer has now found his next coaching opportunity. 
The Steelers have added Whitt to their staff, as first reported by NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. The move has since been confirmed by a team announcement. Whitt spent the past two seasons as the Commanders’ defensive coordinator, but after being stripped of play-calling duties midway through the 2025 campaign his dismissal came as no surprise. In Pittsburgh, he will hold the title of assistant head coach while also working with the team’s secondary.
[RELATED: Steelers Hire Brian Angelichio As OC]
Whitt’s showing in Washington left plenty to be desired, but he has a deep level of familiarity with new Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy. The two worked together in Green Bay from 2008-18. Whitt also joined McCarthy’s Cowboys staff and spent three seasons as Dallas’ defensive pass-game coordinator (a role he had experience with during his Packers stint as well).
An NFL coach dating back to 2007, Whitt has served in a number of capacities over the years. The 47-year-old’s first defensive coordinator gig came about when he followed Dan Quinn from Dallas to Washington. The fact things did not go according to plan with the Commanders will likely limit his future DC opportunities. Still, Whitt will look to rebuild his stock by working with a Steelers group which ranked 29th against the pass in 2025.
In other Steelers staffing news, longtime NFL defensive tackle Domata Peko has been hired. He will be Pittsburgh’s defensive line coach in 2026. Peko began his coaching career on McCarthy’s Cowboys staff in 2024. Last season, he coached Colorado’s defensive line but a reunion with McCarthy will bring about a return to the pro ranks for the coming campaign.
The Steelers have also announced the hiring of Patrick Reilly. He will serve as the team’s defensive quality control coach. Reilly worked as an offensive assistant with the Texans in 2025, but he was recently let go. Prior to his one-and-done Houston stint, Reilly worked on the defensive side of the ball during a four-year run in Jacksonville. This Pittsburgh hire will see him return to a familiar role.
NFLPA Remains Averse To 18-Game Season
Many have long seen it as a foregone conclusion the NFL’s regular season will expand to 18 games. Moving from the current setup to one including an additional regular season contest (and one fewer week in the preseason) will require an agreement involving the NFL Players Association, though. 
The NFLPA has previously expressed its lack of a willingness to expand the schedule further, citing a number of concerns. The turbulent events of this past summer has left the union with temporary leaders in place, something which will delay negotiations on this front. In any case, interim executive director David White recently made it clear there remains no desire on the part of the NFLPA to explore any additions to the length of the season.
Players have “no appetite” for an 18th game, White said (via CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones). He added the issue of schedule expansion is “not casual” (h/t ESPN’s Brooke Pryor). The current CBA runs through 2030, leaving plenty of time for negotiations between the NFL and NFLPA to take place. Not much has happened since White was named interim leader of the union, and commissioner Roger Goodell said in October things would be put on pause until White’s permanent replacement is in place.
“It is not a given we’ll do that,” Goodell confirmed (via Mike Garafolo of NFL Network) when speaking about the possibility of adding an 18th game. “It’s something we want to talk about with union leadership.”
White’s stance on the matter has remained clear during his time in charge of the NFLPA. Meanwhile, union president Jalen Reeves-Maybin reiterated (via Pryor) an expanded schedule is “not something players are excited for.” Issues such as an additional bye week, roster sizes, travel for international games and playing surfaces are among those most important to the NFLPA. The willingness of the league to make concessions on at least some of those fronts will no doubt be key once formal negotiations begin.
The league’s slate of international contests has seen continued growth over several years, and at least nine games will be played outside of the United States in 2026. The NFL has a clear target in mind which would see every team play one overseas game per year as part of an 18-game schedule. There is still plenty of work to be done to ensure that will be possible, though, with a change in stance on the part of the union representing a notable hurdle.
Raiders’ Maxx Crosby Likely To Seek Trade
The dustup between Maxx Crosby and the Raiders regarding his injury shutdown brought considerable awkwardness, and teams around the league monitored the situation closely. That is likely to continue.
As Klint Kubiak will soon prepare to transition from Super Bowl play-caller to one of the architects behind the latest Raiders rebuild, he will soon be briefed on the Crosby situation. We heard last month a Crosby trade would be in play, and Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer reinforces that. Crosby is likely done in Las Vegas, according to Glazer, who indicated during an appearance on Yahoo Sports Daily the injury issue last season and the prospect of another Raiders rebuild will likely push the eighth-year edge rusher to seek a trade.
The Raiders would want to keep Crosby, per Glazer, who would expect any trade to unfold before the draft. A Crosby trade would arm the Raiders with considerable draft ammo, but it is important to note the player is more eager to find an exit door than the team is to accommodate him. That could lead to an impasse, but the Crosby trade watch continues as the 2025 season wraps.
As many as 20 teams contacted Glazer after the contentious injury shutdown occurred. With Crosby displaying elite form in 2025, the Raiders would certainly ask for a first-round pick and then some ahead of the All-Pro’s age-29 season. The Raiders are not strangers to holding multiple first-round picks in a draft, but they squandered opportunities upon trading Khalil Mack and Amari Cooper. A new regime would be tasked with making a two-first-rounder draft pay off — in the event Crosby is moved before this one.
Pete Carroll was believed to be against a Crosby shutdown, moving the blame/credit (as the Raiders secured the No. 1 overall pick) on the front office. This stands to benefit Kubiak, who will soon be coaching (barring a shocking course change) Fernando Mendoza and either have Crosby ready for an eighth season or a substantial picks package in exchange for trading the standout edge rusher.
The Raiders’ Carroll-Tom Brady-John Spytek regime extended Crosby last March, pushing his contract through 2029. Two years remained on the deal Josh McDaniels and Dave Ziegler authorized in 2022, and Crosby secured a $35.5MM AAV on his new pact. The Raiders would not be significantly affected by dead money, despite having paid Crosby recently, in the event of a trade. The contract includes a $30MM base salary for 2026 that would be transferred to an acquiring team. Rather than load up the deal with signing bonus money that would go on Las Vegas’ cap in the event of a trade, this regime made Crosby’s guarantee consist mostly of 2025 and ’26 base salaries.
Frontloading the contract will make it easier to move, pointing to this Raiders regime having a potential trade in mind when it structured the deal. If the Raiders trade Crosby, they would only be on the hook for his 2026 signing bonus proration ($5.1MM) in dead money. That represents an opportunity if Brady and Spytek want to go down this road.
When the shutdown happened before Week 17, Crosby “vehemently disagreed” with the decision. With Glazer reporting the edge rusher’s displeasure with the Raiders’ decision, it is not too hard to connect dots here. A report then indicated Crosby would evaluate his future in Vegas, and a video of him playing basketball and jumping on a trampoline despite an injured knee represented a clear message to the Raiders. The team, which also placed Brock Bowers on IR before a Week 17 loss to the Giants, had incentive to lose and completed the mission — a goal Crosby did not share.
Glazer pointed to a Micah Parsons-like return for Crosby. Las Vegas two first-rounders would be a bit of a surprise considering Parsons was heading into his age-26 season. But, as referenced above, Crosby is signed through 2029 on a contract that has since been dwarfed by Parsons and Aidan Hutchinson. That would be attractive to contending teams.
A bidding war would obviously benefit the Raiders, but we have seen these situations resolved peacefully in the recent past. Myles Garrett went from saying he was done in Cleveland to signing a four-year, $160MM extension. With the Raiders already paying Crosby, money may not resolve this matter. But no trade request has emerged. The Raiders have also refused to part with Crosby at recent trade deadlines, with Mark Davis confirming his top player’s unavailability at the 2024 deadline. The Patriots and Seahawks asked about Crosby before his extension last year. It does appear now, however, that Raiders fans need to prepare for the prospect of one of the best defenders in franchise history being moved soon.