2021 January - Pro Football Rumors

Chargers Interview Renaldo Hill For DC

January 21st, 2021 at 10:43am CST by Zachary Links

The Chargers interviewed Broncos defensive backs coach Renaldo Hill for their defensive coordinator position, as Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets, Staley. Hill has history with new head coach Brandon Staley after working with him in 2019.

Hill, a former NFL safety, has managed the Broncos’ defensive backs for the past two seasons. He began his coaching career at Wyoming in 2012, before breaking into the pros as the Dolphins’ assistant DBs coach in 2018. Hill has long been considered a “rising star” in the coaching ranks — the Chargers DC job would represent a slingshot up the ladder.

Earlier this week, Staley brought over another former Broncos colleague in Frank Smith. Smith, who spent 2020 as the Raiders’ tight ends coach, will serve as the Bolts’ offensive line coach and run game coordinator. Meanwhile, the Chargers were said to be targeting Kevin O’Connell for their OC vacancy, but they’ll have to look elsewhere after the Rams blocked the interview.

Jaguars Hire Trent Baalke As GM

January 21st, 2021 at 8:34am CST by Zachary Links

Now, it’s official. On Thursday, the Jaguars formally hired Trent Baalke as their new general manager.

“Trent Baalke has had success at virtually every level of football, notably so as a GM who shrewdly and quickly built an NFL conference championship organization and team,” Jaguars owner Shad Khan said in a statement. “Trent thoroughly knows the NFL and the dynamics of today’s game, has an exceptional eye for talent, and I know will have excellent chemistry with head coach Urban Meyer as they begin their mission to bring a consistent winner to our fans in Jacksonville.”

Baalke, 56, served as the Niners’ GM from 2011-2016. Roughly one year ago today, the Jaguars brought him in as their director of player personnel. Nine months later, he was bumped up to the interim GM role when David Caldwell was fired. Now, he has the full-time position where he’ll lead the Jaguars’ latest reboot alongside Meyer.

The Niners secured 35 Pro Bowl selections and made a Super Bowl appearance during Baalke’s six-year run with the team. Things cooled off near the end, however, following Jim Harbaugh‘s departure. The 49ers missed the playoffs in Harbaugh’s last season, and Baalke’s replacement hires — Jim Tomsula and Chip Kelly — were one-and-dones.

Before hiring Baalke, the Jaguars also considered the likes of Jerry Reese, Rick Smith, Louis Riddick, Terry Fontenot, and Ray Farmer.

Mark Ingram Clears Waivers

January 21st, 2021 at 8:24am CST by Zachary Links

Ravens running back Mark Ingram is now a full-fledged free agent. After going unclaimed on waivers, Ingram is free to sign with any team, including those in the playoffs.

Per league rules, Ingram would have been barred from taking the field for any playoff team that claimed him this week. However, after passing through the waiver wire, he’s postseason-eligible. The Bills, for example, sign Ingram today and have him on the field for Sunday’s AFC Championship Game against the Chiefs.

The Ravens made Ingram a healthy scratch in each of their playoff games this year. Once they were eliminated, they released Ingram to save $5MM against the 2021 cap and allow him to catch on elsewhere. The Ravens could have waited until mid-February or March to do the same thing, but they wanted to give Ingram and other players like Robert Griffin III an opportunity to win a championship.

Ingram, 31, finished out with just 72 carries for 299 yards in nine games. It was the worst season of his career, but he did still manage 4.2 yards per tote. The Bills, who have lacked consistency on the ground, could use someone like that. And, for what it’s worth, Ravens head coach John Harbaugh believes that he still has gas left in the tank.

“He’ll still play, I guarantee you,” Harbaugh said (via AL.com). “Mark and I had this conversation. He has plenty of football left. He’s going to contribute next year and beyond in the [NFL]…He’s a very good player, a very physical back. I remember when we played him the last time we played the Saints, and you see a guy on tape, and then he ran up our sideline and hit a couple guys on the sideline and popped up. And I looked at him, I was like, ‘This guy is physical, man. This guy is a tank.’ And he also had great feet. I was really impressed with him. Then we got him here, and I got to see it close up.”

Meanwhile, the Ravens will build their running game around J.K. Dobbins, who averaged an eye-popping 6.0 yards per carry in his rookie season.

Coaching Notes: Steelers, Cowboys, Giants

January 20th, 2021 at 6:49pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Steelers made a key staff change last week, promoting Matt Canada to replace offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner. But the team will not part ways with DC Keith Butler. The longtime Pittsburgh coordinator agreed to terms on a one-year extension Wednesday, according to Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (on Twitter). Butler has overseen Pittsburgh’s defense since the franchise split with Dick LeBeau in 2015, and while Butler’s units as a whole have not measured up to his predecessor’s Super Bowl-winning crews, the Steelers have led the NFL in sacks in each of the past four seasons and have ranked in the top three in DVOA in each of the past two.

Here is the latest out on the Pittsburgh staff and other coaching groups around the league:

Although the Steelers are coming off another home playoff defeat, Mike Tomlin does not appear to have moved toward a hot seat. Steelers ownership is not believed to have any desire to move away from Tomlin, per The Athletic’s Ed Bouchette (subscription required). Tomlin had the Steelers at 11-0 this season and managed to have last year’s largely Ben Roethlisberger-less team at 8-8, leading to Coach of the Year consideration in both cases. However, the Steelers lost five of their final six games this year and have lost home playoff games three times since 2014. Tomlin is signed through the 2021 season.
The Giants became the second team in two years to call on Dave DeGuglielmo as a late replacement as an offensive line coach, but the arrangement looks to have been temporary. Like the Dolphins last year, the Giants will not look to retain DeGuglielmo for a second season. They are searching for a new O-line coach, Dan Duggan of The Athletic tweets. DeGuglielmo came to New York on an interim basis to replace Marc Colombo, whom Joe Judge fired this season.
The Panthers will turn to a legacy name to help out their offensive line. Carolina intends to hire Tony Sparano Jr. as assistant O-line coach, according to Dennis Dodd of CBS Sports (on Twitter). The son of the late Tony Sparano, Sparano Jr. worked as the Jaguars’ assistant O-line coach for the past four seasons. Despite being 34, the second-generation coach has worked in the NFL since 2011.
Jim Harbaugh will poach one of his brother’s assistants. Ravens linebackers coach Mike MacDonald will become Michigan’s co-defensive coordinator, with Yahoo.com’s Pete Thamel reporting former Cowboys defensive backs coach Maurice Linguist will move to Ann Arbor, Mich., to share in that responsibility (Twitter link). Macdonald, 33, was with the Ravens for seven seasons — the past three as linebackers coach. Linguist has spent much of his career in the college ranks but was on Nolan’s staff in Dallas this season.
Another of Quinn’s Cowboys staffers became known Wednesday. The Cowboys hired Aden Durde as defensive line coach. Durde will follow Quinn from Atlanta, where he was most recently the Falcons’ outside linebackers coach. Durde, who spent time with the Cowboys as part of the Minority Fellowship Program from 2014-15, will join Joe Whitt Jr. in following Quinn from Atlanta to Dallas.
Arthur Smith‘s first Falcons staff will not include offensive line coach Chris Morgan, according to SI.com’s Albert Breer (on Twitter). Morgan worked with the Falcons for six years, initially serving under OC Kyle Shanahan. Given that offensive scheme’s presence in a few NFL cities, Morgan profiles as an interesting coaching free agent.

Bears Interview George Edwards For DC

January 20th, 2021 at 6:20pm CST by Sam Robinson

While the Bears will not top their Mike Singletary defensive coordinator interview for candidate popularity, they reached out to a former NFC North DC this week as well.

The Bears requested an interview with Cowboys senior defensive assistant George Edwards, and the former Vikings DC met with Bears brass, Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram tweets. Edwards worked in Minnesota for six seasons but spent the 2020 campaign on Mike Nolan‘s staff in Dallas.

The Cowboys had one of the worst defensive seasons in franchise history in 2020 but interviewed Edwards to replace Nolan, Hill adds. Dan Quinn, however, ended up landing the Dallas DC gig. Edwards, 53, has been an NFL assistant since 1998 and has held two defensive coordinator posts — in Buffalo and Minnesota — since 2010.

While Mike Zimmer played a major role in the Vikings ranking as a perennially stout defense during Edwards’ tenure, his top lieutenant played a key part in those units’ success as well. Minnesota’s defenses finished in the top 10 in points allowed in each of Edwards’ final five seasons. The Vikings took a considerable step back this season, though their defense lacked the talent of previous years.

Chicago has assembled a growing list of Chuck Pagano replacement options in recent days. Edwards and Singletary join internal candidates Jay Rodgers (D-line) and Sean Desai (safeties), ex-Cardinals and Giants DC James Bettcher and Colts DBs coach Jonathan Gannon.

John Harbaugh On Roman, Jackson, WRs

January 20th, 2021 at 5:38pm CST by Sam Robinson

John Harbaugh shut down the prospect of the Ravens revamping their offense on Wednesday. Greg Roman will be back for a third season as Baltimore’s offensive coordinator, Harbaugh said (via Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic).

Roman garnered interest for HC positions last year, following Lamar Jackson‘s unanimous MVP season. But Jackson’s less dominant 2020, and another Ravens playoff game involving offensive struggles, has lowered Roman’s stock. No teams reached out to him about a head coaching position this year. Nevertheless, the veteran assistant will be the team’s OC for the 2021 season. Harbaugh does not expect changes to his offensive staff, Zrebiec adds, though the Lions have interviewed QBs coach James Urban for their OC job.

The 13-year Ravens HC also said the team will extend Jackson either this year or in the 2022 offseason. Although Jackson experienced inconsistency this season, he remains in line for a monster extension.

With the Bills set to explore a Josh Allen re-up this year, Jackson would stand to benefit. The prospect of the salary cap returning to its usual growth in 2022 would increase Jackson’s earning potential as well. The Ravens will pick up Jackson’s fully guaranteed fifth-year option by May, extending his rookie contract through 2022.

The Ravens, however, are coming off another disappointing playoff loss that featured its run-centric offense unable to keep pace. (Though, Jackson’s concussion obviously affected the Ravens’ ability to do so.) The team features one of the NFL’s lowest-profile receiving corps, and although the upcoming free agency market could well include several high-end wideouts, the Ravens are not in a strong position to convince one to join their unique offense.

Still, Harbaugh said the team could target a possession-type receiver to play alongside Marquise Brown.

“I think a big, physical receiver would be awesome for us. We can use anybody who is talented and good,” Harbaugh said. “… I’m not going to beg anybody to be here. I’m not a college coach and I don’t have to recruit anybody. If you want to win, if you want to be part of a great organization and you want to be part of a team, you want to love coming to work every single day and you love football, playing in the AFC North, come here.

“If you don’t, if you’re all worried about stats and numbers and your stat line and how many balls you catch necessarily and that’s all you care for, then there’s a lot of other teams you can play for and we’re looking forward to lining up against you.”

Brown led the Ravens in receiving, with 769 yards, this season. The team has featured just one receiver (Brown) surpass 500 yards in each of the past two seasons. Willie Snead is not under contract for the ’21 season.

Seahawks To Interview Kirby Wilson For OC

January 20th, 2021 at 5:07pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Seahawks have thus far focused their offensive coordinator search on recently fired head coaches, being connected to Anthony Lynn, Adam Gase and Doug Pederson. The team has a longtime assistant on its radar as well.

Raiders running backs coach Kirby Wilson is expected to interview for the Seahawks’ OC post, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter). While this will be Wilson’s first OC interview since he met with the Ravens about their play-calling position in 2014 — a search that ended with Gary Kubiak landing the job — he has a history with Pete Carroll.

Wilson’s first NFL coaching gig came as the Patriots’ running backs coach during Carroll’s three-year stay in the late 1990s. Carroll then hired Wilson as USC’s wide receivers coach during his first year with the Trojans in 2001. Wilson, 59, has been back in the NFL since 2002, having served as running backs coach for seven teams over the past 19 seasons. He has been with the Raiders for two seasons.

The Seahawks have used only two offensive coordinators over the past 10 seasons — Darrell Bevell and Brian Schottenheimer. The team parted ways with Schottenheimer after three seasons last week. Pederson has bowed out of the running for this job early, not intending to coach next season.

Lions Interview James Urban For OC Job

January 20th, 2021 at 4:43pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Lions are moving forward with their offensive coordinator search. Under new HC Dan Campbell, the team is interviewing Ravens quarterbacks coach James Urban for its OC post, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets.

An NFL position coach for the past 12 seasons, Urban has been in charge of Baltimore’s QBs since 2018. The former Eagles and Bengals assistant was in place when the Ravens transformed their offense midway through the ’18 season, upon moving from Joe Flacco to Lamar Jackson, and has generated OC interest in the past.

The Eagles were interested in Urban last year but did not end up filling their OC position. However, this marks the first known interview Urban has received for an offensive coordinator role. Prior to helping Marty Mornhinweg and then Greg Roman change up the Ravens’ offense for their soon-to-be MVP quarterback, Urban spent seven seasons as the Bengals’ wide receivers coach. Urban, 47, coached five-year Lions wideout Marvin Jones throughout his Cincinnati tenure, though Jones is a free agent this year.

While the Lions interviewed OC-turned-interim HC Darrell Bevell for their HC job, Campbell landing the position signals the franchise will go in a new direction on offense. More OC candidates will soon emerge.

Washington To Hire Martin Mayhew

January 20th, 2021 at 4:19pm CST by Sam Robinson

One of the candidates Washington considered for its general manager post will head back to the nation’s capital anyway, despite Marty Hurney set to lead the team’s front office.

Martin Mayhew agreed to terms to join Washington’s front office, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). The former Lions GM’s role has yet to be determined, but considering he was a high-ranking exec with the 49ers in recent years, Mayhew will soon hold a key position within the Hurney- and Ron Rivera-led power structure.

In addition to bringing nearly eight years’ worth of GM experience, Mayhew will return to the team with which he won a Super Bowl. During an eight-year playing career, Mayhew was a starting cornerback for the dominant 1991 Washington squad — amid a four-year stay in D.C. — but his executive work has occurred primarily in Detroit and San Francisco.

Taking over a franchise in tatters in 2008, Mayhew elevated the Lions back to the playoffs. Detroit returned to the postseason in Mayhew’s third full season, 2011, and was back in the playoffs in 2014 under Jim Caldwell. While the Lions fired Mayhew in 2015, the roster nucleus he put in place made the playoffs in 2016 as well. Mayhew, 55, joined the 49ers in 2017 and served as the organization’s VP of player personnel over the past two years.

Bears Interview Mike Singletary For DC Job

January 20th, 2021 at 3:51pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Bears’ defensive coordinator search ratcheted up in stature this week, now involving one of the biggest names in franchise history. Hall of Fame linebacker Mike Singletary met with Bears brass about their DC position this week, Adam Jahns and Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic report (subscription required).

Singletary has not coached in the NFL since being the Vikings’ linebackers coach during ex-teammate Leslie Frazier‘s Minnesota stay (2011-13), but he brings head coaching experience and quite the legacy with the Bears. The middle linebacker on their storied 1985 Super Bowl squad, Singletary earned first-ballot Hall of Fame status after his 12-year Bears career concluded.

Most recently, the ex-49ers head coach worked with The Spring League last year and as head coach of the Alliance of American Football’s Memphis Express in 2019. Singletary, 62, served as an advisor with the 2016 Rams as well. But the Chicago legend’s most notable coaching work obviously came with San Francisco.

Singletary went 18-22 with the 49ers, rising to their head coaching role in 2008 and staying through the 2010 season. While the overall results were mixed, Singletary did oversee the 2009 squad’s defense to a top-five ranking. Prior to presiding over Patrick Willis‘ early-career work, Singletary coached the Ravens’ linebackers for two seasons. The first of those, 2003, featured Ray Lewis following in Singletary’s footsteps by winning Defensive Player of the Year acclaim for the second time.

Chicago lost two-year DC Chuck Pagano to retirement and has assembled a short list of replacement options in the days since. Singletary joins internal candidates Jay Rodgers (D-line) and Sean Desai (safeties), ex-Cardinals and Giants DC James Bettcher and Colts DBs coach Jonathan Gannon.