HEADLINES

Month: November 2024

Deebo Samuel To Play In NFC Title Game

January 26th, 2024 at 4:24pm CST by Sam Robinson

JANUARY 26: After getting in multiple practices this week, Samuel is a go for the NFC title game. The fifth-year standout will not carry an injury designation into the Lions matchup, after practicing fully Friday. This ensures the 49ers will have their four skill-position pillars available as they aim to book the eighth Super Bowl trip in team history.

JANUARY 23: Deebo Samuel did not exactly come into the season with doubts existing about his talent, but his absences have revealed plenty about the 49ers’ offense. The team struggled after its versatile weapon exited the game during the first quarter of its latest Packers playoff matchup.

The 49ers lost three games while playing their starters this season; Samuel missed 11 of the 12 quarters in those losses. Samuel suffered an injury to the same left shoulder he hurt in October, but Kyle Shanahan confirmed (via ESPN.com’s Nick Wagoner) the fifth-year wideout did not sustain a fracture (he sustained a microfracture in the shoulder in October).

Samuel has a chance to play in the NFC championship game, ESPN’s Adam Schefter adds. Shanahan added Samuel only sustained a shoulder injury Saturday night, despite being initially checked for a concussion. With it being too early to determine Samuel’s practice status, Schefter indicates the $24MM-per-year player is 50-50 to play against the Lions.

Samuel’s shoulder injury likely prevented the 49ers from joining the Air Coryell Chargers, the 2004 Colts and a few others in the exclusive club with three 1,000-yard pass catchers. Brandon Aiyuk and George Kittle eclipsed 1,000 this season; Samuel finished with 892. The South Carolina alum added 225 rushing yards and five TDs. Samuel’s impact can be felt more on a per-play basis; in the regular season, Wagoner notes the 49ers averaged 7.1 yards per play with the former second-round pick on the field and 5.7 when he was sidelined.

Initially injuring his shoulder in the first quarter of a Week 6 loss to the Browns, Samuel was also sidelined for ensuing losses against the Vikings and Bengals. The 49ers rallied once Samuel (and left tackle Trent Williams) returned to action, ripping off a seven-game win streak that secured them home-field advantage.

Although the 49ers still have Aiyuk, Kittle and Christian McCaffrey available, Samuel being back obviously represents a major variable in the team’s chances of returning to a Super Bowl. No. 3 wideout Jauan Jennings‘ role expands greatly sans Samuel. With Samuel a tossup to play in this game, however, it would appear a near-certainty he would be able to return if San Francisco advances to Super Bowl LVIII.

Patriots Interview Thomas Brown For OC, To Meet With Lions’ Tanner Engstrand

January 26th, 2024 at 2:53pm CST by Sam Robinson

With Dave Canales taking over as Panthers HC, Thomas Brown‘s stint with the team can be labeled a one-and-done. Carolina’s most recent play-caller continues to draw interest for other coordinator posts, however.

Brown met with the Patriots about their OC vacancy, CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones notes. Working to replace Bill O’Brien as their play-caller, the Pats are also targeting the increasingly popular Lions coaching staff. They are planning to interview Detroit pass-game coordinator Tanner Engstrand for the position, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets. This will be Engstrand’s first coordinator interview.

[RELATED: Offensive/Defensive Coordinator Search Tracker]

Although Brown is still under contract with the Panthers, it would surprise if the team did not release the former Rams assistant from that deal. Brown, whose Carolina tenure included a 2-15 record and some behind-the-scenes unrest, finished the season as the Panthers’ play-caller. But Frank Reich also took back play-calling reins after initially giving them to Brown. The Panthers’ attempt to blend Reich concepts with Sean McVay‘s system backfired, and the team is starting over under Canalas, who signed a six-year deal.

The Steelers have also met with Brown, whose stock could be elevated as a former McVay staffer due to Zac Robinson — a hot name on the OC carousel early — being closely linked to the now-open Falcons OC job. The Los Angeles-based QBs coach has been connected to following Raheem Morris to Atlanta. This would take a third name out of the mix for the Patriots, who have seen targets Dan Pitcher and Shane Waldron hired elsewhere. The Pats are looking for their fourth OC in four seasons, with position lacking stability following Josh McDaniels‘ exit.

Dan Campbell retained Engstrand, 41, from the Matt Patricia staff, though this is his first season as the team’s pass-game coordinator. The 2020 Detroit hire coached the team’s tight ends from 2020-22. Engstrand joins OC Ben Johnson and DC Aaron Glenn as staffers in play to leave the Motor City due to the success Campbell’s team has achieved in his third season.

Chiefs Rule Out G Joe Thuney For AFC Championship Game

January 26th, 2024 at 2:40pm CST by Sam Robinson

JANUARY 26: Thuney will not be a game-time decision; the Chiefs ruled out their All-Pro left guard out for the AFC title game. Sunday will mark Thuney’s first absence this season. Nose tackle Derrick Nnadi is also out for a second straight game. Additionally, the team will not activate Skyy Moore from IR this week; the second-year wideout has been eligible to come off IR for the past two weeks.

JANUARY 24: While the Chiefs have seen their tackle pickups struggle this season, the defending Super Bowl champions boast one of the NFL’s best interior offensive lines. They look set to need at least one backup to step in Sunday, however.

The pectoral injury Joe Thuney suffered against the Bills is likely to keep him out of the AFC championship game, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter. Thuney is believed to have sustained a pec strain, per NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport.

Thuney avoiding a tear represents promising news regarding his potential availability for Super Bowl LVIII — should the Chiefs qualify — but he has been one of the NFL’s most durable players during his eight-year career. The former Patriots draftee missed two games last season; those are the only two absences of his eight-year career. Thuney received first-team All-Pro honors at left guard this season.

The Chiefs made Thuney a centerpiece in their 2021 O-line remodeling effort. After the Buccaneers hounded Patrick Mahomes in a Super Bowl LV blowout, the Chiefs added four new starters up front. Thuney became the most expensive piece, signing a five-year, $80MM contract to defect from New England. Thuney joined center Creed Humphrey, right guard Trey Smith and left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. in this successful overhaul. Brown has since left, joining the Bengals, but the Chiefs’ interior trio represents a key part of their voyage to a sixth straight AFC title game.

Thuney, 31, earned second-team All-Pro acclaim in 2022 and joined Humphrey as Chiefs blockers to receive Pro Bowl nods this season. The Patriots used Thuney as a five-year starter, franchise-tagging him in 2020. Though, the dependable guard did not earn any accolades while in New England. The former third-round pick has been quite important in Kansas City, however, especially considering the team’s Donovan Smith and Jawaan Taylor signings have produced inconsistency on the edges. ESPN’s pass block win rate metric slots Thuney, Humphrey and Smith, respectively, first, second and fourth among interior O-linemen.

Fifth-year blocker Nick Allegretti has made four starts at guard over the past two seasons. He profiles as the next man up for the Chiefs, who are attempting to become the first repeat Super Bowl champ since the 2003-04 Patriots. Second-year UDFA Mike Caliendo also resides on K.C.’s 53-man roster.

Packers Request DC Meetings With Bobby Babich, Aden Durde; Team Interviews Christian Parker

January 26th, 2024 at 1:38pm CST by Sam Robinson

The coordinator carousel is now in full swing, and the Packers are adding names to their search to replace Joe Barry. While a few former Rams staffers have come up, Green Bay is now targeting two voices without backgrounds under Sean McVay.

Matt LaFleur‘s team has requested permission to meet with Bills linebackers coach Bobby Babich and Cowboys defensive line coach Aden Durde for their DC role, NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo and ESPN.com’s Todd Archer report. Additionally, NFL.com’s James Palmer reports the Packers have interviewed Broncos DBs coach Christian Parker for the gig Thursday.

The Babich meeting will come to pass, per Garafolo, and it would surprise if Durde did not interview for the job as well. Teams cannot block this type of elevation, with the Packers’ DC holding play-calling responsibilities due to LaFleur’s status as an offense-oriented HC. After Barry served in the role for three years, the Packers are set to hire the third DC of the LaFleur era.

Babich, 40, has been on Sean McDermott‘s staff from the beginning. After coaching the Bills’ Micah Hyde–Jordan Poyer tandem for four seasons, Bobby Babich took over for his father, Bob, as linebackers coach. The Bills dealt with a few injuries at that position this season, most notably Matt Milano‘s October season-ender, but Milano earned All-Pro honors in the younger Babich’s first year in charge. The Packers join the Giants in targeting him for a promotion.

Turning up on Hard Knocks in 2021, Durde became known to viewers as the British coach on Dallas’ staff. Dan Quinn brought Durde over from Atlanta in 2021, and he has coached the Cowboys’ D-line since. Durde, 44, has coached Micah Parsons — well, sort of, with Dallas refusing to label the superstar defender as a pure defensive lineman — throughout his career while overseeing one of the league’s better D-lines. This marks Durde’s first connection to a DC opportunity.

Just 32, Parker is viewed as a rising talent. The Patriots are also targeting the Broncos assistant for their DC post. Both Nathaniel Hackett and Sean Payton retained Parker despite neither having hired him. The Vic Fangio hire has coached Patrick Surtain and Justin Simmons in Denver, helping both to All-Pro honors. The Broncos also unearthed a potential long-term slot corner, in Ja’Quan McMillian, as a rookie UDFA this season.

Courtesy of PFR’s Offensive/Defensive Coordinator Search Tracker, here is how the Pack’s DC search shapes up so far:

Jaguars To Hire Kris Richard, Cory Robinson

January 26th, 2024 at 1:24pm CST by Sam Robinson

Spending this season without an NFL gig, Kris Richard will again be paired with Ryan Nielsen in 2024. The two former Saints co-defensive coordinators are reuniting in Jacksonville.

The Jaguars are adding Richard to their staff, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson tweets. The two worked in New Orleans together from 2021-22. Richard is best known for his time as the Seahawks’ defensive coordinator, and that tenure has helped keep him on HC carousels. The 44-year-old assistant, who interviewed for the Raiders’ HC job this month (though, he did not appear a serious candidate), will resume his career as the Jags retool on defense.

While Richard’s time as Seahawks DC lasted three seasons, he was in Seattle for the Legion of Boom’s entire run. Rising from assistant DBs coach to cornerbacks coach to DBs coach to DC, Richard was the most consistent non-Pete Carroll presence on those coaching staffs. The Earl Thomas–Richard Sherman–Kam Chancellor mentor has not followed Gus Bradley or Dan Quinn up the ladder, but he has continued to be a regular on defensive staffs since his Seattle stay wrapped in 2018.

The Seahawks finished four straight seasons as the NFL’s top scoring defense, following only the 1950s Browns by accomplishing that over a four-season stretch. Coaching in two Super Bowls as a DBs instructor, Richard was in place during the last of those seasons (2015). The Seattle defense has not reached those heights since, and it has trended downward since Richard was fired following the 2017 season. Richard spent two seasons with the Cowboys (2018-19) before resurfacing in New Orleans. This season marked Richard’s second year off in the past five, however; he did not coach during the 2020 campaign.

The Jags are also hiring Cory Robinson as cornerbacks coach, Wilson adds. This continues the Saints reunion shaping up in Jacksonville. Robinson spent the past season with the Tennessee volunteers but worked under Nielsen and Richard with the Saints in 2022 as assistant DBs coach. Robinson held that role in New Orleans for three years.

Buccaneers Arranging OC Interviews With Kellen Moore, Zac Robinson, Ken Dorsey, Brian Johnson

January 26th, 2024 at 12:56pm CST by Adam La Rose

Tampa Bay experienced a batter-than-expected season on offense with first-year coordinator Dave Canales in charge of the unit. He has departed to become head coach of the Panthers, however, leaving the Buccaneers in need of a new OC for the second straight year.

A list of targets has begun to emerge. Tampa will speak with Chargers OC Kellen Moore on Monday, NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reports. Colleague Ian Rapoport adds that Rams QBs coach Zac Robinson has received a Bucs interview request. The team also plans to speak with ex-Bills offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, who notes his Tampa interview will take place next week. Lastly, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports ousted Eagles OC Brian Johnson has a Buccaneers interview lined up.

Moore’s future with the Chargers has not yet been determined, but with Jim Harbaugh now in place, he is likely to bring his own assistants aboard. That could lead to a number of opportunities for Moore, who joined L.A.’s staff last offseason after a successful run with the Cowboys. The 34-year-old has also been connected to the Browns and Eagles during this year’s hiring cycle, so he could have a few options to choose from in the event he does wind up in a new home for the second offseason in a row.

Robinson has been one of the hottest coordinator candidates in 2024. He has interviewed three times so far, and he has received a request from an additional three teams including today’s slip from Tampa Bay. Robinson, 37, has been with the Rams since 2019, spending much of his time working with the team’s quarterbacks. For each of the past two seasons, he has held the additional title of passing game coordinator. Staffers often make the jump from that combination of roles to a coordinator gig, and Robinson doing the same would leave a signficant vacancy for Sean McVay to fill.

Dorsey saw his run with the Bills come to an end midway through the 2023 season. Buffalo’s offense went in a different direction under interim OC Joe Brady, whose success down the stretch has him in consideration for the full-time position. Still, Dorsey is on the radar for a new coordinator opportunity right away, having interviewed with the Browns. The 42-year-old’s Buffalo stint was his only NFL coordinator position to date, but he has extensive experience as a QBs coach.

Johnson was promoted to OC of the Eagles last year, and his familiarity with Jalen Hurts and the team’s offense led to signficant expectations despite Shane Steichen‘s departure. Earlier in the year, Philadelphia performed well in a number of areas, and the team put up solid overall numbers in several offensive categories. As was the case on defense, however, things took a turn for the worse late in the year through the wild-card round of the postseason. Johnson was dismissed as part of the Eagles’ staff overhaul, but he took head coaching interviews before that, and he is also on the OC radar.

Quarterback Baker Mayfield enjoyed a productive campaign under Canales, and keeping the former in place will be a key offseason priority for Tampa Bay. One of the most important factors in replicating Mayfield’s success will of course be the latter’s replacement, and the Bucs could have competition for some of the most in-demand candidates. Their search will start to take shape in the coming days.

Browns, Saints To Interview Brian Johnson For OC

January 26th, 2024 at 12:12pm CST by Adam La Rose

JANUARY 26: Johnson has met with the Browns, but he has generated further interest. The Saints will speak with him on Monday, per Dianna Russini of The Athletic. New Orleans has cast a wide net in searching for a Pete Carmichael replacement. The longtime OC held play-calling responsibilities after Sean Payton‘s departure, making the Saints’ vacancy an important one as the team looks for more consistency on offense compared to 2023.

JANUARY 25: Cleveland’s ongoing search for a new offensive coordinator will include interest in ex-Eagles OC Brian Johnson. The Browns will interview Johnson today, Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com reports.

The Eagles, as expected, have moved on from Sean Desai as well as Johnson as part of their staff overhaul. The latter was in place as Philadelphia’s quarterbacks coach for two years before ex-OC Shane Steichen departed to take the Colts’ head coaching position. To fill the vacancy, Johnson was promoted in a move which came as little surprise.

After a strong start, the Eagles suffered a notable regression down the stretch and into the postseason. While struggles on defense were more prevalent, Philadelphia’s offense also took a step back and reports of a rift on that side of the ball emerged before the team’s wild-card loss. After only one season at the helm – during which the Eagles ranked seventh in scoring and eighth in yards – Johnson was let go.

Before that move became official, the 36-year-old interviewed with both the Falcons and Titans for their respective head coaching vacancies. Indeed, a recent report pointed to Johnson being a candidate to land in a new posting relatively soon, although questions remained about what position he could take on. Today’s meeting with Cleveland will be his first interview since his Eagles tenure came to an end.

The Browns dismissed OC Alex Van Pelt among other staffers in a bid to improve on offense in 2024 and beyond. Cleveland finished mid-pack in both passing and rushing yards per game this season, one in which the team’s offense was ravaged by injuries. The new OC’s ability to work with quarterback Deshaun Watson will be a critical factor for the Browns, given Watson’s status as the starter through at least the remainder of his fully-guaranteed contract. Cleveland has exclusively looked outside the organization to date with respect to OC candidates.

Here is an updated look at the Browns’ search:

  • Andy Dickerson, offensive line coach (Seahawks): To interview
  • Ken Dorsey, former offensive coordinator (Bills): Interviewed
  • Brian Johnson, former offensive coordinator (Eagles): To interview 1/25
  • Jerrod Johnson, quarterbacks coach (Texans): Interviewed 1/23

Bears To Interview Joe Barry For DC Role; Team Hires Kerry Joseph As QBs Coach

January 26th, 2024 at 9:36am CST by Adam La Rose

The Bears have already filled one of their coordinator vacancies by tapping Shane Waldron for the OC position. The team still needs a defensive coordinator, however, and Chicago will look at a familiar option in its ongoing search.

[RELATED: Offensive/Defensive Coordinator Search Tracker]

The Bears are set to interview Joe Barry for their DC position tomorrow, NFL Network’s Jane Slater reports. Barry’s three-year run in charge of the Packers’ defense came to an end on Wednesday, in a move which many had been calling for. Green Bay struggled to live up to expectations on defense during Barry’s time there, and his future had been a matter of speculation well before his dismissal. Slater adds that Barry will also speak with the Eagles about their LBs coach vacancy today.

The 53-year-old is no stranger to the NFC North, however, with his first coordinator gig having taken place with the Lions from 2007-08. Since then, Barry has held a number of positions, including linebackers coach with the Chargers. During that time, he worked alongside Nick Sirianni, who will remain in place as head coach of the Eagles for at least the 2024 campaign.

Barry has also served as a defensive coordinator in Washington, and his Green Bay tenure was preceded by an assistant head coach title with the Rams. He thus has signficant experience in a number of systems, though his stock has no doubt taken a hit after an underwhelming period with the Packers. He marks the fourth candidate to arrange an interview with the Bears for their DC position, as the team looks to build off its late-season success on that side of the ball from 2023.

Additionally, Chicago has found its next QBs coach. The Bears are hiring Kerry Joseph for that role, per Slater’s colleague Tom Pelissero. Joseph played safety for the Seahawks before enjoying a successful CFL career as a quarterback, winning a Grey Cup and earning Most Outstanding Player honors in 2007. His pro coaching career began as an assistant in Seattle, and he took on the role of assistant quarterbacks coach in 2022. He is thus a familiar staffer to pair with Waldron as Chicago prepares to continue working with Justin Fields under center or a replacement added in this year’s draft.

While Joseph will join Waldron in making the move from Seattle to Chicago, at least one Seahawks staffer will not do the same. Passing game coordinator Sanjay Lal interviewed with the Bears recently, but he has now withdrawn his name from consideration on Matt Eberflus‘ staff, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports. Lal will explore other opportunities as teams continue to make alterations to their coaching lineups.

Steelers To Interview Jerrod Johnson For OC Position

January 26th, 2024 at 8:49am CST by Adam La Rose

Jerrod Johnson remains a top candidate for an offensive coordinator gig. The Texans QBs coach is set to meet with the Steelers today to discuss their OC vacancy, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.

Pittsburgh replaced Matt Canada midseason, handing the reins of the offense to Eddie Faulkner and Mike Sullivan. That move (accompanied down the stretch by a switch to Mason Rudolph under center) produced an uptick in production for the unit, but it came as no surprise when head coach Mike Tomlin confirmed the team would look outside the organization for its next offensive coordinator.

Johnson (whose playing career included time in Pittsburgh in the 2012 offseason) represents a logical candidate for a replacement. The 35-year-old has only spent one season in his current post – having previously worked as an assistant QBs coach with the Vikings – but his work with C.J. Stroud has helped his stock dramatically. Stroud and the Texans shattered expectations in his rookie season, and that has generated plenty of outside interest for Johnson. The Saints and Browns have met with him already, and the same is true of the Eagles.

Johnson’s lack of experience relative to other candidates available could hinder his chances of landing an OC position, but the chance still remains that he could be promoted to the coordinator role in Houston. Texans OC Bobby Slowik has received head coaching interest in this year’s cycle, and his departure would create a notable vacancy on Houston’s staff. Johnson could be an internal option to take over from Slowik in the event he were to leave.

The Steelers’ list of OC candidates is relatively small for now, and the team’s only other interview to date has been with Panthers offensive coordinator Thomas Brown. Pittsburgh also has a meeting lined up with Rams QBs coach Zac Robinson. Johnson will join that pair in discussing a key role on Tomlin’s staff, as the Steelers look to find certainty at the quarterback position and on the sidelines for 2024.

Falcons Hire Raheem Morris As HC

January 25th, 2024 at 10:22pm CST by Sam Robinson

The only team to interview Bill Belichick this month, the Falcons are heading in a different direction. The team is closing in on hiring Raheem Morris as its next head coach, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero reports. ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter reports the Falcons plan to make the hire.

This comes after CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones reported the Rams’ defensive coordinator impressed during his second interview this week. Morris had a Seahawks interview scheduled; this Falcons hire will nix that. Morris spent six seasons in Atlanta prior to moving to Los Angeles, finishing that Falcons tenure as interim HC replacing Dan Quinn. The Rams will pick up third-round picks in 2024 and 2025 for seeing a minority assistant hired as a head coach.

[RELATED: Latest On Falcons’ Leadership Structure]

While Belichick overshadowed this search, the Falcons conducted a wide-ranging process to replace Arthur Smith. The team met with Mike Vrabel on Wednesday and conducted second interviews with Panthers DC Ejiro Evero and Texans OC Bobby Slowik. The Falcons also met with Ben Johnson, Aaron Glenn, Anthony Weaver and Mike Macdonald virtually, but due to the Lions and Ravens staffers being tied to teams in the conference championship round, Atlanta could not meet in-person with those candidates this week. The NFC South franchise will move forward with Morris.

The Belichick piece is obviously significant here, as this represented the longtime Patriots leader’s most likely landing spot, but this also provides a true second chance for Morris. Now 47, Morris was hired as Buccaneers HC back in 2009 at just 32. Morris lasted three years as Tampa Bay’s HC but did not prove ready for the job. (Although the 2010 Bucs won 10 games, Morris went 17-31 in Tampa.) After leaving the Falcons on good terms for L.A. in 2021, Morris collected a Super Bowl ring. Sean McVay and Rams brass offered endless praise for Morris, who will become the latest in a line of Rams staffers to land promotions elsewhere.

Another Rams piece lingers here, too. Zac Robinson, McVay’s QBs coach, has emerged as a lead candidate to follow Morris and become the Falcons’ next OC, Jones reports. This would be interesting due to the volume of interview requests in Robinson’s inbox. Robinson has interviewed with the Patriots, Saints and Bears and received requests to meet with the Steelers and Raiders. After the Bengals took Dan Pitcher off the board Wednesday, Robinson following Morris to Georgia would further deplete the OC candidate pool.

Arthur Blank targeted Belichick early, according to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, but some internal persuasion looks to have swayed the owner. While Belichick’s accomplishments lap every other candidate in this year’s cycle, Morris also checks the experience box Blank sought — now becoming the first retread HC hire in the owner’s 22-year run — due to his Tampa Bay tenure and 2020 stay as the Atlanta interim boss. SI.com’s Albert Breer indicated this week the non-Blank sect of Falcons brass may not have been as interested in Belichick, and it is worth wondering if the prospect of the six-time Super Bowl champion HC shaking up Atlanta’s power structure played a role in the organization passing.

Belichick, 71, is five years older than anyone ever hired to be a full-time NFL head coach. The Bucs’ 2019 Bruce Arians hire still leads the way here, and this offseason would represent one of the most interesting carousels in league history if it leaves Belichick without a chair. Reports last week pegged Belichick — the first coach to meet with the Falcons twice — as the clear favorite, to the point he had the right of first refusal and was in a way interviewing the Falcons about a fit. As the days passed since Belichick’s Atlanta meeting, it started to look like Belichick was losing ground. The Falcons ended up meeting with 14 candidates.

Throughout Belichick’s Patriots tenure, he held personnel power. The Falcons had Blank and CEO Rich McKay running this search, but the team still has GM Terry Fontenot in place. Fontenot arrived as Morris exited in 2021; the two are now set to work together. The prospect of Belichick ultimately answering to McKay could have also been a red flag for the legendary HC, and Fontenot’s role would likely have been impacted by a Belichick hire. The Falcons also passing on Belichick bringing back a host of ex-Patriot staffers, including the likes of Josh McDaniels and Matt Patricia, also could have served as a dealbreaker for the team.

After Morris and Dave Canales (Panthers) agreed to terms in the NFC South today, only two teams — the Commanders and Seahawks — are looking for HCs. Neither have met with Belichick, and neither is believed to be interested. Rumblings about teams with HC vacancies being open to Belichick have surfaced, but unless a team were to fire its coach and create a late vacancy, it is looking like the 2024 season will be the first without Belichick in a head coaching role since 1999.

Belichick has been either a head coach or an assistant in the NFL each year since 1975. Beginning with his native Baltimore Colts, Belichick initially landed on the HC radar after winning two Super Bowls as Giants defensive coordinator. A Browns partnership in the early ’90s did not produce consistent success, but after Belichick teamed again with Bill Parcells with the Patriots and Jets later in the decade, Robert Kraft brought him back as head coach. That union (with a heavy assist from Tom Brady) produced one of the great HC runs in sports history, but the Pats have moved on after a 4-13 season, hiring heir apparent Jerod Mayo.

Will Belichick — 14 wins shy of Don Shula‘s all-time record — be willing to take an assistant job somewhere to continue his career? Belichick made a public comment indicating a willingness to relinquish authority in New England, but it worth wondering if other teams were leery about giving him the keys after recent struggles on the GM front in Foxborough. This Morris hire represents good news for Fontenot, who was tasked with a rebuild upon being hired in 2021. He appears set to continue that work with a second head coach.

The Falcons gave Morris the interim job in October 2020; he went 4-7 in that span, finishing off a 4-12 season for the team. Atlanta has since finished 7-10 in each of the past three seasons, with ugly late-season losses ending Smith’s run. In Morris, the Falcons have a familiar face who was part of Quinn’s Super Bowl LI staff. Morris also showed versatility during his first Atlanta stint, being the rare coach to work on both sides of the ball for the same franchise. The Falcons employed Morris as their wide receivers coach from 2016-19, shifting him to defensive coordinator in 2020.

Morris replaced Brandon Staley as Rams DC and served as the top defensive voice in the building for a Super Bowl champion. Riding an Aaron Donald–Von Miller–Jalen Ramsey veteran nucleus, Morris helped that defense crest at the right time. That said, the Rams ranked first in scoring and total defense under Staley in 2020; they never placed higher than 15th in either category under Morris. But the latter also displayed his coaching acumen this year, seeing several Super Bowl pieces stripped from the roster. The Rams still found their way back to the playoffs, with third-rounders Kobie Turner and Byron Young providing vital Donald support during what was initially labeled a rebuilding season.

It is still interesting the Falcons hired a Quinn staffer to be their next HC, and the Morris move also marks new territory in modern NFL history. Although 12 teams have elevated interim HCs to the full-time post in the 21st century, this is the only post-2000 occurrence of a team bringing back its interim leader after he subsequently coached elsewhere.

Morris will be tasked with leading a team Fontenot has indeed upgraded but one that appears in need at quarterback. The Falcons are expected to pursue an upgrade on Desmond Ridder, and Morris will be expected to use his defensive background to enhance that unit’s capabilities as well. The Falcons have not made the playoffs since 2017; they will bet on Morris over Belichick to become a better long-term leader.

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