HEADLINES

Month: November 2024

NFC Coaching Notes: Lions, Bears, Giants, Falcons, 49ers

February 2nd, 2022 at 10:00pm CST by Ben Levine

Dan Campbell and the Lions will begin interviewing candidates for the offensive coordinator vacancy this week, reports Dave Birkett of Detroit Free Press (on Twitter). However, tight ends coach Ben Johnson remains the favorite for the job.

Campbell took over play-calling duties from the one-and-done Anthony Lynn midseason, but Johnson’s responsibilities expanded in Detroit, as well. The 35-year-old has spent the past two seasons as the Lions tight ends coach, playing a big role in Pro Bowler T.J. Hockenson‘s ascension.

Previously, Johnson served as the Lions offensive quality control coach. He also had a seven-year stint on the Dolphins coaching staff.

More coaching notes out of the NFC…

  • The Bears continue to add to their coaching staff. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports (via Twitter) that the Bears have hired Tyke Tolbert as their new wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator. The 54-year-old coach had spent the previous three seasons as the Giants WRs coach. Tolbert has also had stints with the Broncos, Panthers, Bills, and Cardinals. Meanwhile, the Bears announced that they’ve hired Chris Morgan as their offensive line coach. The veteran coach was the assistant offensive line coach with the Steelers in 2021, and he had a stint as the Falcons OL coach from 2015 to 2020.
  • Bobby Johnson will be joining Brian Daboll in New York. According to Michael Silver (on Twitter), the Bills offensive line coach will be joining the Giants coaching staff in the same role. Johnson ended up spending three seasons in Buffalo. Meanwhile, the Giants are hiring Laura Young as their director of coaching operations, reports ESPN’s Jordan Raanan (via Twitter). This is believed to be the organization’s “first known woman hire on the coaching side.” Young previously served as the player services coordinator for the Bills.
  • The Falcons have hired Michael Pitre as their new running backs coach, the team announced (on Twitter). Pitre held the same role with the Bears this past season. The Falcons have been searching for a new RB coach since Desmond Kitchings left Atlanta to be the OC at Virginia.
  • Jon Embree won’t be back as the 49ers tight ends coach/assistant head coach next season, reports Matt Maiocco NBC Sports Bay Area (on Twitter). Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle writes that Embree declined a pay cut to return to San Francisco. The coach had spent the previous five seasons with the 49ers and was often credited for George Kittle‘s development.

AFC Coaching Notes: Broncos, Jets, Raiders, Titans

February 2nd, 2022 at 9:41pm CST by Ben Levine

Nathaniel Hackett filled two major roles on his coaching staff today, adding Justin Outten as his offensive coordinator and Ejiro Evero as his defensive coordinator. Naturally, the team isn’t finished adding to the staff. The Broncos announced that they’ve hired Butch Barry as their offensive line coach and Klint Kubiak as their passing game coordinator/quarterbacks coach.

Barry served as the 49ers’ assistant offensive line coach this past season. He previously worked with Hackett in Green Bay, with Barry serving as a senior analyst in 2020. The coach has also had stints with the Buccaneers and University of Miami.

Kubiak was the Vikings offensive coordinator in 2020. The song of Gary Kubiak, Klint Kubiak previously worked with the Broncos when he served as offensive assistant and quarterbacks coach between 2016 and 2018.

More coaching notes out of the AFC…

  • A pair of Jets coaches are stepping away from their roles. Senior offensive assistant Matt Cavanaugh won’t be returning to the team in 2022, per ESPN’s Rich Cimini (on Twitter). Cavanaugh joined the team in August to replace the late Greg Knapp, and he primarily played a role in the QB room. Cimini tweets that offensive assistant John Beck also won’t be back in 2022. Beck served as Zach Wilson‘s “personal coach” last season.
  • After serving as an offensive assistant with the Patriots, Bo Hardegree is joining Josh McDaniels‘ staff in Las Vegas. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (via Twitter), Hardegree has been hired as the Raiders new quarterback coach. Meanwhile, NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reports (via Twitter) that the Raiders will be retaining receivers coach Edgar Bennett. The former Packers OC was considered for jobs elsewhere.
  • The Titans have hired former Texans defensive line coach Bobby King to be their inside linebackers coach, reports Aaron Wilson. King previously worked with current Titans head coach Mike Vrabel when the two were in Houston, and King will also have another opportunity to coach long-time Texans linebacker Zach Cunningham.

NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 2/2/22

February 2nd, 2022 at 9:10pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s reserve/futures deals from around the NFL:

Jacksonville Jaguars

Kansas City Chiefs

San Francisco 49ers

Jaguars Part Ways With DC Joe Cullen

February 2nd, 2022 at 8:43pm CST by Ben Levine

While much of Urban Meyer‘s staff remains under contract in Jacksonville, the organization is still moving on from one of their core coaches. According to ESPN’s Field Yates (via Twitter), the Jaguars have parted ways with defensive coordinator Joe Cullen.

Cullen was hired one year ago by Jacksonville to take over as DC on Meyer‘s staff. The 54-year-old left his post as the defensive line coach in Baltimore to take the gig, though he already had experience with the Jags in that same position. He has also worked with the Buccaneers, Browns and Lions at the NFL level.

This divorce always seemed inevitable. Since the season has ended, Cullen has been connected to defensive coordinator gigs with the Ravens and Colts.

The Jaguars are still hunting for a new head coach, and there’s a good chance that hire will want to bring on their own staff. While the Jaguars parted ways with Cullen today, he’ll probably be the first of many current coaches to be let go by the organization.

Vikings Plan To Hire Rams’ Kevin O’Connell

February 2nd, 2022 at 7:00pm CST by Sam Robinson

Shortly after the Jim Harbaugh news surfaced, the Vikings appear to have their new top choice identified. They are targeting Rams offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell for the job, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets.

The Vikings appear serious here, with ESPN.com’s Dan Graziano adding the team called its other finalists to inform them they are no longer in the running for the job (Twitter link). That points to a strong indication O’Connell is on board to succeed Mike Zimmer. Minnesota had Giants DC Patrick Graham and Rams DC Raheem Morris positioned as its other finalists, having given each second interviews along with O’Connell.

Although an O’Connell deal cannot be finalized until after Super Bowl LVI, this chain of events points to the Vikings being confident they have their next coach. This process burned the Colts four years ago, with Josh McDaniels backing out of an agreement after Super Bowl LII. But O’Connell does not have the track record of HC hesitancy the ex-Patriots OC did. O’Connell was also a finalist for the Broncos job that went to Nathaniel Hackett, conducted a second interview with the Texans and was on the Jaguars’ second-interview radar.

Harbaugh interviewed for the Vikings’ HC job Wednesday, but the seven-year Michigan coach is staying at the college level. O’Connell, 36, has been the Rams’ offensive coordinator for the past two seasons, joining Sean McVay in Los Angeles after Washington changed regimes in 2020. O’Connell served as Washington’s quarterbacks coach from 2017-18 and moved up to OC in 2019. O’Connell and new Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah were also both with the 49ers in 2016.

O’Connell will be the Vikings’ first offensive-minded head coach since Brad Childress. The team moved in the defensive direction with its past two HCs — Zimmer and Leslie Frazier — but will now bring in a new play-caller. O’Connell has only been a play-caller for a three-month stretch, doing so after Washington fired Jay Gruden early in the 2019 season. Equipped with Case Keenum and a scuffling Dwayne Haskins, Washington ranked last in offense under O’Connell that year. Matthew Stafford‘s performance in his first Rams slate certainly made a better case for O’Connell this season.

The Vikings choosing O’Connell will mean Graham stays with the Giants as DC. Brian Daboll signed on for Graham to stick around were the Vikings to choose someone else as their head coach. Graham, 43, has been with the Giants for the past two seasons. Daboll and Graham previously worked together in New England. The Vikings going with O’Connell means the Rams will not have another one-and-done defensive coordinator, with Morris not connected to any other jobs. The Chargers made Brandon Staley a one-and-done with the Rams last year.

Jim Harbaugh To Stay At Michigan

February 2nd, 2022 at 6:29pm CST by Sam Robinson

Jim Harbaugh interviewed with the Vikings on Wednesday and was seemingly positioned to land the job if he wanted it. Instead, the Michigan head coach intends to remain in Ann Arbor, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.

The seven-year Wolverines coach was connected to the Raiders and Vikings’ HC jobs. He spoke with the Vikings about the gig on multiple occasions. This Minnesota connection marked the closest Harbaugh has come to jumping back to the NFL since his 49ers stay ended. The Vikings met with Harbaugh for nine hours, but Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets the team did not make an immediate offer.

Rather than more Harbaugh-to-NFL connections arising annually, the veteran coach informed Michigan president Warde Manuel he wants to stay at his alma mater as long as it wants him, Schefter adds (via Twitter). Harbaugh, 58, has been in NFL coaching rumors for years. This not happening in 2023 and beyond would be a change for the former NFC champion coach. Harbaugh is coming off his first win over Ohio State, which led to Michigan’s first appearance in the College Football Playoff. The decorated HC was believed to be miffed at the pay cut he accepted last year. It will be interesting to see if Michigan adjusts his contract.

Harbaugh surfaced late in the Vikings’ HC search, seemingly jumping to the front of the line in the pursuit to succeed Mike Zimmer. However, Minnesota will need to pivot to one of its other finalists. The Vikes held second meetings with Giants defensive coordinator Patrick Graham, Rams OC Kevin O’Connell and Rams DC Raheem Morris. Here is how the team’s HC search now looks:

Raiders Name Champ Kelly Assistant GM

February 2nd, 2022 at 5:07pm CST by Sam Robinson

After falling short in a bid to land the Raiders’ general manager job, Champ Kelly is still headed to Las Vegas. The Raiders hired the longtime Bears executive to be their assistant GM on Wednesday.

While Kelly has spent the past seven years in Chicago, rising to the role of assistant director of player personnel, he worked with new Raiders HC Josh McDaniels during his brief Denver stay. Kelly was with the Broncos before and after McDaniels’ stint but rose to the post of assistant pro personnel director while McDaniels was running the show from 2009-10.

Kelly has been a GM candidate for a bit now, interviewing with the Broncos and Panthers last year. The Bears interviewed him for their GM role last month but ended up hiring Chiefs exec Ryan Poles. Kelly will now be new Raiders GM Dave Ziegler‘s right-hand man in the revamped Vegas front office. Ziegler also worked alongside Kelly with the Broncos during McDaniels’ stay, beginning his personnel career after Kelly had already arrived in Denver.

The 2022 season will mark Kelly’s 16th in the NFL. He began as a Broncos scout in 2007. The Bears hired him to be their pro scouting director in 2015. Unlike McDaniels and Ziegler, Kelly has no ties to the Patriots. Mark Davis has cleaned house in recent weeks, fully moving on from the Jon Gruden–Mike Mayock power structure.

Bills To Hire Joe Brady As QBs Coach

February 2nd, 2022 at 4:43pm CST by Sam Robinson

Not long after the Bears met with Joe Brady about a staff position, the Bills will be the team that lands the former Panthers offensive coordinator. Brady will sign on as Buffalo’s quarterbacks coach, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.

While the Sean McDermott–Brandon Beane Bills have brought in many ex-Panthers players in recent years, this Brady hire does not stem from past connections. Brady joined the Panthers as their OC well after McDermott and Beane were in Buffalo, but the former architect of LSU’s record-setting offense represents an interesting hire for a team that just lost play-caller Brian Daboll to the Giants.

Brady, 32, will team with new Buffalo OC Ken Dorsey as McDermott’s top offensive staffers. Dorsey will be in line to call plays for the Bills, a role Brady had with the Panthers for most of the past two seasons. Bringing nearly three full seasons’ worth of coordinator experience, Brady stands to help the cause as Josh Allen‘s new position coach. This will be Dorsey’s first season as a coordinator at any level.

After Brady helped Joe Burrow set a record with 60 touchdown passes for a national championship-winning Tigers team in 2019, his Panthers quarterback situations were not on that level. Brady booked five head coaching interviews in 2021, but the Panthers dropped from 21st to 30th in total offense from Brady’s first Carolina season to his second. Carolina’s Sam Darnold–Cam Newton QB situation doubled as one of the league’s worst; Allen will be a considerable step up for a coach attempting to rebound after a December firing.

Mutual Interest Between Seahawks, Quandre Diggs For Return

February 2nd, 2022 at 3:50pm CST by Adam La Rose

Much of the offseason in Seattle will be dominated by what the team decides to do with quarterback Russell Wilson. On the defensive side of the ball, though, another key decision will need to be made regarding free safety Quandre Diggs. According to John Boyle of Seahawks.com, a reunion is the goal for both sides. 

[Related: Seahawks Restructure Quandre Diggs’ Deal]

Diggs has been a standout on an otherwise underwhelming Seattle defense since his midseason arrival in 2019. There have been offseason issues as recent as this past September regarding his contract status – namely, the lack of a long-term extension to the three-year, $18.6MM deal he was on when he was traded from Detroit. He did play the full season in each of 2020 and 2021, however, partly due to a compromise reached in the lead-in to this campaign.

In his two full seasons in Seattle, Diggs has established himself as one of the best playmaking safeties in the league. The former sixth-round pick recorded five interceptions in both years, as well as a combined 158 tackles and 17 pass breakups. The 10 interceptions are tied for the NFL lead during that span, and earned him his first two Pro Bowl selections. That production will garner plenty of suitors on the open market, if he reaches it for the first time in March.

The 29-year-old said there’s “no question” he wants to remain a Seahawk. “If we can make it work and it works out for both sides, and I feel fairly compensated knowing that I’m a two-time Pro-Bowler, [who received] All-Pro votes, and one of the best, if not the best free safety in the NFL – I have to be compensated as well, and I feel like I did everything the right way to be compensated as well. If it works out and they say they want to do it, let’s get it done“.

Head coach Pete Carrol has publicly expressed an interest in keeping Diggs, who suffered a broken leg in the team’s season finale. However, Seattle already signed Jamal Adams to a four-year, $70MM deal in August. Deciding to keep Diggs, then, would very likely give the Seahawks the league’s most expensive safety tandem. As The Seattle Times’ Adam Jude notes, their only other safeties under contract for next year are Ugo Amadi and Marquise Blair, both of whom are headed into the final year of the rookie deals.

If Diggs does hit the open market, he would join a free agent class that is also scheduled to include the likes of Tyrann Mathieu, Jessie Bates and Marcus Maye.

Eagles’ Jalen Hurts Undergoes Ankle Sugery

February 2nd, 2022 at 2:35pm CST by Adam La Rose

Jalen Hurts is expected to be the starting quarterback for the Eagles in 2022. Before setting his sights on offseason improvement, though, he is having surgery on his injured ankle, according to NFL.com’s Kevin Patra. 

[Related: Eagles Reaffirm Jalen Hurts As 2022 Starting QB]

Hurts initially wanted to avoid the procedure, but not long after he was seen in a walking boot following the team’s playoff loss, surgery was agreed upon as being necessary. He injured his left ankle in the team’s Week 12 loss to the Giants, which caused him to miss the following game. While that was his only injury-related absence this season, it affected his mobility throughout the latter stages of the campaign.

As ESPN’s Tim McManus writes, Hurts was upfront in acknowledging the injury. “Clearly, I’ve been battling little issues with my ankle” he said after the team’s 31-15 Wild Card loss to the Buccaneers. “For the last part of the season whenever I came back after the injury, our offense kind of changed a bit. I wasn’t running as much. I wasn’t doing those things as much simply because I wasn’t able to get freaky like usual”.

The 23-year old finished the season with 3,144 yards and 16 touchdowns through the air, but also 784 yards and 10 majors on the ground – both of which ranked first in the league amongst quarterbacks. His overall performance has led the Eagles to publicly commit to him moving forward, though some feel they could still make a move (perhaps with some or all of the three first round picks they currently own in the upcoming draft) for a more proven signal caller.

Hurts is expected to make a full recovery in time for the team’s training program in April, setting him up for a second season as the team’s starter.

Load More Posts