HEADLINES

Month: November 2024

Jaguars Fire DC Mike Caldwell, Others

January 9th, 2024 at 1:00pm CST by Sam Robinson

JANUARY 9: Changes on the offensive side of the ball have been made as well. Running backs coach Bernie Parmalee and offensive line assistant Todd Washington are out, per a statement from Pederson. The former was fired while the latter did not have his contract renewed, as noted by Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.

JANUARY 8: Following their late-season collapse, the Jaguars will make a major move. They are firing Mike Caldwell after his second season as defensive coordinator, Fox Sports’ Greg Auman reports.

Although the Jaguars struggled on both sides of the ball to close out this disappointing season, Caldwell will be the first domino to fall. The Jags hired the former NFL linebacker after he helped the Buccaneers win a Super Bowl as linebackers coach, but it is certainly unsurprising to see Jacksonville move forward with a big change.

As should be expected, the changes will not stop at Caldwell. Jacksonville is firing its defensive staff, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport. While DVOA placed the Jaguars’ defense 10th overall, the group slipped down the stretch. Jacksonville allowed at least 28 points in four of its final six games — all losses. After an 8-3 start, the team closed what had looked like a promising season at 9-8.

Among the members of Caldwell’s defensive staff: D-line coach Brentson Buckner, pass-game coordinator Deshea Townsend, inside linebackers coach Tony Gilbert, safeties coach Cody Grimm and senior defensive assistant Bob Sutton. The Jags ranked 26th in pass defense. While the team did not make strides on offense after Doug Pederson handed play-calling reins to OC Press Taylor this season, no changes have emerged on that side of the ball yet. ESPN.com’s Michael DiRocco adds that three defensive assistants — assistant D-line coach Rory Segrest, outside linebackers coach Bill Shuey and quality control staffer Patrick Reilly — will be retained.

The Jags splurged on both sides of the ball in 2022, allocating big bucks on free agents in Pederson’s first offseason as HC. They also added Travon Walker with the No. 1 overall pick while following that up with first-round linebacker Devin Lloyd. The Jags signed Foye Oluokun, Foley Fatukasi and Darious Williams in 2022. They extended Roy Robertson-Harris in 2023, largely returning the same cast from a defense that ranked 12th (scoring) and 24th (yardage) last season. Despite Josh Allen‘s contract-year sack surge, the Jags did not improve on that side of the ball as a whole.

DVOA, however, ranked Caldwell’s 2022 defense — additions notwithstanding — 26th. Yet, the Jaguars largely stood pat and ran it back following their AFC South title. The questionable decision burned the team, with Pederson pointing out missed assignments and missed tackles. Derrick Henry submitted a throwback performance Sunday, in what appears to be his Titans finale, by rampaging for 153 yards in a win-and-in game for the Jags. Jacksonville allowed 28 points to a Tennessee team that was previously 0-5 in AFC South play.

This firing means the Jaguars, by the 2024 season, will employ four defensive coordinators in five years. Todd Wash departed after the Doug Marrone firing, while Urban Meyer‘s DC (Joe Cullen) left after the unfit HC’s one-and-done. Caldwell, 52, played 11 NFL seasons and has been an NFL assistant for the past 16 years.

Titans Fire HC Mike Vrabel

January 9th, 2024 at 11:35am CST by Adam La Rose

After signficant speculation regarding his future, Mike Vrabel‘s time in Tennessee has come to an end. The Titans fired the veteran head coach on Tuesday, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The team has since confirmed the move.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network terms the news a parting of ways, but in any event the Titans will have a substantial vacancy to fill on the sidelines. Notably, today’s separation has not come about via trade, something many suggested would take place if the decision was made on Tennessee’s part to move on. Now, Vrabel will be free to join a new team without compensation coming the Titans’ way.

Tension was believed to exist between between Vrabel and general manager Ran Carthon, which led to questions being raised about the possibility a move on the sidelines could be made. The former downplayed that factor, and stated a public intention of remaining in Nashville for the foreseeable future. After a meeting with the franchise’s top decision-makers, however, Vrabel is now unemployed. Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports the Titans felt working out a trade would be too lengthy and complex to follow through with it. She adds Vrabel made no request to be traded or step away from his Titans post.

Tennessee posted a winning record in each of Vrabel’s first four seasons, including three playoff appearances and a trip to the AFC title game. He earned Coach of the Year honors following the 2021 campaign, but things have taken a turn for the worse since then. A seven-game losing streak to close out the 2022 season left the team with a 7-10 record after a division title seemed to be in the cards. After an offseason which included Carthon’s hiring and the decision to move on from a number of high-priced veterans, this year was viewed as a rebuilding effort to an extent.

The Titans went 6-11 in 2023, finishing in the basement of the AFC South. Like their divisional rivals, though, the team may have a young passer to build around in the form of Will Levis. The Ryan Tannehill successor showed flashes as a rookie, though signficant improvement will be needed on offense under center and along the O-line in particular for a turnaround to be possible moving forward. A new coach will be guiding the team starting in 2024.

No power struggle took place in Tennessee, Jonathan Jones of CBS Sport reports. Still, Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk has elected to move on from a longtime employee for the second straight year (having dismissed ex-GM Jon Robinson midseason in 2022). Vrabel’s status remained in the air leading into Black Monday, but with his fate now official, he will immediately become one of the top candidates in the 2024 hiring cycle.

With the Patriots considering a move away from Bill Belichick on the sidelines, New England has been linked to a Vrabel pursuit. The 48-year-old had a 14-year playing career in the NFL, including eight seasons with the Patriots. Vrabel has been classified as a ‘home run’ candidate for Pats owner Robert Kraft, but he will no doubt have competition from other teams looking for a HC hire in the coming weeks.

“Earlier today, I spoke with Mike Vrabel and told him about my decision to make a change at head coach,” a statement from Strunk reads in part. “As I told Coach Vrabel, this decision was as difficult as any I’ve made as Controlling Owner. I appreciate Mike’s contributions to the Tennessee Titans both on and off the field. Anyone who has ever met him knows how passionate and genuine he is, and he’s been a strong supporter of the Nashville community.

“As the NFL continues to innovate and evolve, I believe the teams best positioned for sustained success will be those who empower an aligned and collaborative team across all football functions. Last year, we began a shift in our approach to football leadership and made several changes to our personnel to advance that plan. As I continued to assess the state of our team, I arrived at the conclusion that the team would also benefit from the fresh approach and perspective of a new coaching staff.”

The Titans will now join the Falcons, Panthers, Raiders, Chargers and Commanders as teams in need of a new face on the sidelines. It will be interesting to see which candidates they target as a Vrabel successor as the franchise continues to move in a notably different direction than the one in place during the recent past.

Cowboys DC Dan Quinn Plans To Interview With Commanders, Panthers, Chargers

January 9th, 2024 at 11:28am CST by Adam La Rose

To no surprise, Dan Quinn has already received a number of interview requests for head coach openings around the league. Given his decision in recent years to remain in his position as Cowboys defensive coordinator, however, the degree to which he reciprocates interest from outside teams will be a key storyline.

Quinn plans to meet with each of the three teams which have submitted an interview request to date, Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated reports. The Commanders, Panthers and Chargers are all interested in the 53-year-old, who has been in Dallas for the past three years in his current role. A return to a head coaching role has been touted on a number of occasions in the past, though.

Last offseason, the Cardinals interviewed Quinn twice; the Colts also had a second meeting lined up before he decided to bow out of the running for HC consideration. That move allowed him to once again guide one of the NFL’s top defenses, and the Cowboys have delivered on his side of the ball this season. Dallas finished the 2023 campaign ranked fifth in both points and yards allowed.

The team took a step back in terms of takeaways (finishing 12th in that department after the leading the league each of the past two seasons), although second-year corner DaRon Bland topped the NFL with nine interceptions and a record five pick-sixes. Having further confirmed his reputation as one of the top defensive minds in the game, Quinn will be a signficant add for any interested team should he elect to depart the Cowboys.

A recent report suggested the former Falcons HC is likelier to take a outside job in 2024 than he has been in previous years. For that reason, it comes as no surprise that he will at least take a first interview with Washington, Carolina and Los Angeles. Breer adds Quinn’s sit-downs will likely take place late next week.

Per the updated rules regarding head coaching interviews, virtual meetings with teams playing in the wild-card round cannot take place until at least January 16. Follow-up interviews in person are prohibited until after the divisional round has come to a close. Quinn’s schedule will thus depend on the level of success the Cowboys have in the coming weeks, but for now he intends to at least explore his non-Dallas options.

Dolphins, Justin Houston Agree To Deal

January 9th, 2024 at 10:41am CST by Adam La Rose

In need of help along the edge, the Dolphins are making an addition ahead of the postseason. Justin Houston has agreed to a deal with Miami, reports Mike Garafolo of NFL Network.

The Dolphins have lost both Jaelan Phillips and Bradley Chubb to Achilles and ACL tears, respectively. Those injuries have dealt a major blow to the team’s edge group, but further injury troubles have emerged in the front seven as well. Andrew Van Ginkel is likely out for the remainder of the year (as is also the case for Jerome Baker). Houston will provide depth in time for the wild-card round.

The latter should have a rotational role available right away behind Emmanuel Ogbah and Melvin Ingram. Houston has been a free agent since his underwhelming Panthers tenure came to an end last month. Carolina waived him after he was limited to just seven games through injury. During that time, he posted only 0.5 sacks.

Houston had a strong two-year stint with the Ravens from 2021-22. In the latter campaign in particular, he proved a continued ability to serve as a disruptive pass-rush presence by posting a team-leading 9.5 sacks. Baltimore elected not to retain the 34-year-old in the offseason, however, eventually adding Jadeveon Clowney and Kyle Van Noy to hold notable roles on the edge. Houston logged a 41% snap share in his brief Carolina stint, so he could be poised for a signficant rotational presence from the jump.

The four-time Pro Bowler landed a $6MM deal with the Panthers in the offseason, but his free agent stock has obviously taken a sharp downturn given the way the 2023 season has played out. In the event he were to prove effective in the playoffs with Miami, though, he could rebuild his value to an extent. Doing so with the Dolphins could prove beneficial to team and player.

After leading the AFC East for much of the campaign, Miami lost the top spot in the division by losing the final game of the regular season slate to Buffalo. The Dolphins are set to visit the Chiefs in the opening round of the playoffs as a result, and injuries on both sides of the ball will be a major talking point in advance of the contest. With Houston in place, however, Miami will at least have signficant experience available in the team’s re-tooled edge group.

Chargers Request HC Interview With Rams DC Raheem Morris

January 9th, 2024 at 9:48am CST by Adam La Rose

Raheem Morris remains one of the top early candidates for a head coaching position in the 2024 hiring cycle. The Rams defensive coordinator has received an interview request from the Chargers, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.

Morris becomes the seventh coach to receive an interview request from Los Angeles, a team which has also been linked to high-profile options such as Bill Belichick and Jim Harbaugh. The Chargers’ vacancy is seen as one of the more attractive ones given the presence of quarterback Justin Herbert, something which could lend itself to a coach with an offensive background being targeted. So far, however, many of the candidates the team has shown an interest in are known for their work on the other side of the ball.

That applies to Morris, who has spent most of his NFL coaching career working with the defense in one capacity or another. The 47-year-old has been a head coach on two occasions: a three-year run with the Buccaneers from 2009-11, and an interim stint with the Falcons in 2020 after Dan Quinn‘s firing. Overall, his HC record sits at just 21-38, but his subsequent work as a positional coach and coordinator has rebuilt his value.

Morris spent three seasons in Washington as the team’s secondary coach before taking an assistant head coach posting in Atlanta. After closing out his final Falcons season as interim HC, he took the Rams’ defensive coordinator position. Los Angeles has put up middling numbers in term of yards and points allowed across the past three campaigns, a period which includes the franchise’s Super Bowl victory.

The Rams have managed to make an unexpected run to the postseason this year despite the loss of several veterans in the offseason (including cornerback Jalen Ramsey, linebacker Bobby Wagner and edge rusher Leonard Floyd). That success has led to interest in Morris on the part of the Panthers and Commanders, so the Chargers will have competition if they elect to aggressively pursue him. Morris will certainly be a key candidate to watch as the coaching landscape takes shape.

Josh McDaniels Could Return To Patriots If Bill Belichick Remains For 2024 Season

January 9th, 2024 at 8:55am CST by Adam La Rose

Several dominoes have already fallen on the coaching circuit around the league, but a major question which remains unanswered pertains to Bill Belichick‘s future. The Patriots could part ways with the six-time Super Bowl winner, but a possibility exists that he remains in place for at least one more season.

In the latter case, a familiar face could join Belichick on the sidelines. Josh McDaniels is “a candidate to return” to New England in the event Belichick stays with the team, Jeff Howe of The Athletic reports (subscription required). The latter met with owner Robert Kraft on Monday, but no firm decision has been made at this point. The process through which a direction is determined could take weeks, so it comes as no surprise that nothing concrete has emerged on the second day of the offseason.

McDaniels’ coaching career includes a pair of ill-fated head coaching gigs (with the Broncos and Raiders), but he is of course best known for his time as the Patriots’ offensive coordinator. Serving in that role from 2006-08, then again from 2012-21, he enjoyed considerable success with Tom Brady and the team’s offense. It is that unit which has struggled considerably over the past two years in particular, during which time the Patriots have made taken very different approaches on the sidelines.

Belichick handed offensive play-calling duties to Matt Patricia in 2022, a move which raised eyebrows given his background on the defensive side of the ball. Joe Judge – whose Patriots tenure mainly comprised of special teams work – also had a large hand in the offense, a unit which delivered underwhelming results. The decision to bring in Bill O’Brien as OC for this season was seen as a sound one, but quarterback Mac Jones did not rebound as hoped, leaving his future unclear after three seasons.

The Patriots electing to start over on the sidelines would come as little surprise if Belichick were indeed to depart in the near future. He could still convince Kraft that a switch in organizational structure – perhaps one in which the 71-year-old ceded his duties as de facto general manager – could yield a rebound from this year’s 4-13 season, however. Such a proposal could lead to Belichick finishing out his current Patriots contract, which runs through 2024.

McDaniels’ Raiders tenure (during which he and ex-GM Dave Zeigler adopted a Patriot Way-inspired approach) resulted in a 9-16 record and a midseason firing in his second year at the helm. The turbulent nature of his Vegas stint likely dealt a major blow to his future head coaching opportunities, but another OC appointment could be in the cards with New England. As Howe notes, McDaniels remains close with both Belichick and Kraft, and a reunion could present the chance for at least one more campaign together. Pending developments on the Belichick front, McDaniels’ status will be something to monitor.

Bill Belichick Willing To Relinquish Patriots Personnel Authority

January 8th, 2024 at 9:59pm CST by Ben Levine

While a number of head coach-needy teams are starting to line up for Bill Belichick‘s services, there hasn’t been any word about the coach’s status in New England. While both sides could still be heading towards a divorce, it sounds like the iconic head coach is at least willing to make concessions to stick with the Patriots.

While speaking to reporters following yesterday’s regular season finale, Belichick admitted that he’d consider giving up his personnel authority.

“Look, I’m for whatever we collectively decide as an organization is the best thing to help our football team,” Belichick said (via ESPN’s Mike Reiss). “I have multiple roles in that, and I rely on a lot of people to help me in those responsibilities; somebody has to have the final say. Whatever that process is, I’m only part of it.”

When asked about his job status and whether he’d be staying with the organization, Belichick pointed out that he’s still “under contract” and will continue to operate as he always does. When asked if owner Robert Kraft has given any indication if he’ll be back next season, Belichick responded in typical fashion.

“I learned [a] lesson from my dad growing up — you work for the team that you’re working for and do the best you can for it, until somebody tells you different. So that’s not going to change,” he said.

There’s been a recent sentiment that Belichick “hasn’t lost his fastball” on the sideline, with most of the criticism focused on his lack of success with recent personnel decisions. Over the past 10 seasons, the Patriots have drafted only three players who eventually earned Pro Bowl nods (guard Joe Thuney, punter Jake Bailey, and quarterback Mac Jones), and the team’s spending spree during the 2021 offseason has led to mixed results.

Belichick’s personnel decisions go beyond the players on the field. The coach was criticized for his handling of Josh McDaniels‘ departure last season, with Belichick curiously opting for a former defensive coordinator (Matt Patricia) and former special teams coordinator (Joe Judge) to guide his offense. The results were disastrous, leading Kraft to request that Belichick add former OC Bill O’Brien to the staff. While Belichick obliged, he didn’t provide O’Brien with much freedom to run the operation, leading to tension on the coaching staff throughout the 2023 campaign. That lack of coaching consistency has also had a major impact on Jones, who has taken major steps backwards in each of the past two seasons.

It was uncertain if Belichick would be willing to continue coaching in New England while relinquishing his GM duties, and that willingness could play a big role in him ultimately sticking with the organization. Belichick was set to meet with Kraft today and discuss the team’s lack of success in 2023, but that meeting was never expected to lead to a Black Monday ouster. In fact, Jason La Canfora of the Washington Post suggests that the two sides could meet “multiple times” as they determine the best path forward.

For what it’s worth, Belichick refused to discuss a hypothetical where he’d join another team, but we’re already hearing rumblings that rival teams are ready to pounce. Just over the past few days, we’ve heard Belichick connected to the Raiders, Falcons, Commanders, and Panthers.

Chargers, Commanders Request HC Interview With Cowboys DC Dan Quinn

January 8th, 2024 at 9:48pm CST by Ben Levine

For a third-straight offseason, Dan Quinn is emerging as a popular name on the head coaching carousel. According to Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz, the Commanders and Chargers have requested permission to interview the Cowboys defensive coordinator. We learned earlier today that the Panthers had also requested an interview with Quinn.

After getting fired as the Falcons head coach during the 2020 campaign, it didn’t take long for Quinn to re-emerge as a head coaching candidate. During the 2022 offseason, he interviewed for the Bears, Broncos, Dolphins, Vikings, and Giants jobs before ultimately deciding to stay in Dallas. He was sought after once again in 2023, garnering interest from the Cardinals, Broncos, and Colts. For a second-straight year, Quinn decided to stick with the Cowboys.

This time around, Quinn might be more open to a HC opportunity. We heard recently that Quinn is believed to be “more receptive to the right offer.” The coach has certainly rehabilitated his image during his three seasons as the Cowboys defensive coordinator. The Cowboys defense has finished two of those three seasons in first place for points allowed, and the defense has never finished lower than 11th in yards allowed.

Of course, Quinn’s resume goes beyond his stint in Dallas. Following a short stint as the Seahawks defensive coordinator, Quinn was named the Falcons head coach in 2015. He led his team to the Super Bowl during his second season at the helm, and the Falcons won another playoff game in 2017 after finishing with a 10-6 record. However, the team stumbled to 7-9 records in both 2018 and 2019, and Quinn was fired following an 0-5 start to the 2020 campaign.

Washington would certainly be an interesting fit for Quinn; the Commanders have become plenty familiar with their division foe over the past three seasons. As Ralph Vacchiano of Fox Sports opines, that makes a Quinn/Commanders pairing “hard to imagine,” although it’d be “quite a coup” if Josh Harris and co. can pull it off.

A number of candidates have already emerged for the Commanders HC job, with the organization requesting interviews with Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald, Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris, Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik, and Ravens defensive line coach Anthony Weaver. The Commanders have also been linked to Patriots coach Bill Belichick and Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh, while incumbent offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy is expected to be considered for the job.

The Chargers have also been connected to Belichick and Harbaugh. Their list of definitive candidates includes Glenn, Johnson, Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham, Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken, and 49ers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks.

NFL Reserve/Futures Deals: 1/8/24

January 8th, 2024 at 9:24pm CST by Ben Levine

Many teams have started signing players to reserve/futures contracts, allowing organization to retain (routinely) young, practice squad players. Here are the latest reserve/futures contracts:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

  • OL Barry Wesley

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Cincinnati Bengals

Denver Broncos

Indianapolis Colts

Las Vegas Raiders

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

New York Jets

Seattle Seahawks

Tennessee Titans

Washington Commanders

  • LB Brandon Bouyer-Randle, WR Davion Davis, CB D’Angelo Mandell

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 1/8/24

January 8th, 2024 at 9:03pm CST by Ben Levine

A handful of practice squad moves to pass along:

Arizona Cardinals

According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Cardinals are releasing Clement from the practice squad so he can catch on with a contender for the playoffs. The running back has spent much of the past two seasons in Arizona, collecting 109 yards from scrimmage in 12 games. He spent the first chunk of his career with the Eagles, including 2017 and 2018 campaigns where he combined for 895 yards from scrimmage and eight touchdowns.

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