HEADLINES

Month: November 2024

Raiders Request GM Interviews With Trey Brown, Terrance Gray; Champ Kelly To Be Interviewed

January 8th, 2024 at 3:16pm CST by Sam Robinson

Two more Raiders GM interview requests have come in. The Raiders are interested in meeting with Bengals senior personnel executive Trey Brown and Bills director of player personnel Terrance Gray, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com reports.

Brown’s inclusion is interesting due to the Raiders’ past with the young executive. The team met with Brown in 2019 and again in 2022. Gray has not previously interviewed for a GM job. These two AFC staffers join 49ers assistant GM Adam Peters and Colts assistant GM Ed Dodds in being on the Raiders’ list of interview hopefuls. Dodds joined Brown in meeting with Mark Davis and Co. during the 2022 search that produced a Dave Ziegler hire.

When the Raiders met with Brown in 2019, he held the Eagles’ director of college scouting position. Brown, 38, ascended to that job at just 31. He began his run as an NFL scout back in 2010 with the Patriots. Brown held front office positions with two short-lived leagues between his Eagles and Bengals gigs, working with the Alliance of American Football and second XFL iteration. The Bengals promoted Brown to his current post in 2022.

Gray has 20 years’ experience as an NFL staffer, working for the Chiefs and Vikings prior to his recent run with the Bills. Gray logged 11 years in Minnesota, coming up under Rick Spielman through the scouting ranks. Upon taking the Buffalo GM job in 2017, Brandon Beane hired Gray. He has held his director of player personnel title since 2022. Gray will likely meet with the Raiders later this week, per SI.com’s Albert Breer.

The Bills lost their assistant GM, Joe Schoen, to the Giants that year. Considering Buffalo’s success during Beane’s stay, it stands to reason Gray will be a name to watch on the GM interview circuit. While the Bengals saw Joe Burrow‘s injury impede their route back to the playoffs, the team has qualified for two AFC championship games during Brown’s years in Cincinnati.

While these four candidates may all interview, the Raiders will indeed meet with interim GM Champ Kelly, NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo notes. Davis said the team is likely to hire a GM before a head coach, though he indicated that is not a locked-in strategy. Kelly is expected to draw interest from other teams as well. The popular exec had built some momentum during his final weeks in the interim role, with a December report indicating he is more likely to stay than Antonio Pierce.

No Jim Harbaugh-like candidate exists thus far on Las Vegas’ GM interview list, so Kelly may not have the kind of competition Pierce stands to during this process. Though, if the Raiders are serious about Harbaugh, it would be a near certainty they would work with the Michigan HC to pair him with an approved GM. Davis is also considering a president of football operations-type hire that would be in this mix as well, complicating the AFC West franchise’s offseason.

Commanders Request Interview With Mike Macdonald; Team To Consider Eric Bieniemy For HC Position

January 8th, 2024 at 2:47pm CST by Sam Robinson

More updates continue to come in with respect to the Commanders’ coaching search. With Ron Rivera out of the picture, a number of outside candidates have been connected to the vacancy. The team’s top incumbent option could also receive consideration, however.

Washington has already submitted interview requests with four staffers preparing for their respective teams’ postseasons to begin: Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn (Lions), Raheem Morris (Rams) and Anthony Weaver (Ravens). The latter has company in Baltimore as it pertains to head coach interest. Defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald has received an interview request, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Additionally, Josh Harris said Monday (via NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo) that offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy will receive consideration for the HC post. The new Commanders owner said the team plans to finalize its front office strategy first before moving on to its HC list. Considering no in-person HC interviews can be conducted until after the divisional round this year, a GM-before-HC path makes sense. Harris noted Bieniemy will be part of the search.

Bieniemy went through more than a dozen interviews for HC positions during his time as Chiefs OC. Despite Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes-fueled surge to the top of the NFL, Andy Reid‘s right-hand man on offense could not land a job. This became a divisive issue. As reports of Bieniemy struggling in interviews surfaced, the obvious storyline of race became the lead topic surrounding the five-year Kansas City coordinator’s quest to become a head coach. Ultimately, Bieniemy decided to leave the Chiefs to call plays elsewhere. That effort produced mixed results, and after new ownership took over in Washington, it would be surprising if Bieniemy landed the Commanders’ HC job.

Washington’s offensive rankings dropped from last season, sinking to 25th in points and 24th in yardage. DVOA slotted the Commanders’ offense 26th. The Commanders committed to Sam Howell at quarterback, shying away from starter-level QBs after pursuing every available QB1 in 2022. Howell became the first Washington QB since Kirk Cousins to go wire-to-wire as a starter, but Jacoby Brissett twice replaced him in games late in the season. The team lost its final eight games, making it more likely Harris starts fresh with his own hires.

Macdonald is among the younger candidates in this year’s head coaching cycle. The second-year Ravens DC has been expected to receive interest during this year’s HC hiring period. Baltimore finished the regular season with the NFL’s top scoring defense, doing so despite relying on Jadeveon Clowney and Kyle Van Noy on the edge. Clowney arrived late in the summer, while Van Noy did not sign until September. The two combined for 18.5 sacks, with D-tackle Justin Madubuike dominating (13 sacks) in his contract year.

Harris also hired analytics staffer Eugene Shen as his VP of football strategy during the season. Shen is an ex-Ravens staffer whose Baltimore tenure overlapped with Macdonald’s first stint with the team. It would, then, not be shocking to see Ravens GM and HC candidates emerge.

Adam La Rose contributed to this post.

Giants Fire ST Coordinator Thomas McGaughey; OC Mike Kafka, DC Don Martindale Likely To Be Retained

January 8th, 2024 at 2:14pm CST by Adam La Rose

2:14pm: Further changes to the Giants’ staff are coming. Offensive line coach Drew Wilkins and his brother, defensive assistant Kevin Wilkins have been let go, Charlotte Carroll of The Athletic reports. Both staffers have a history with Martindale given their shared time in Baltimore, and the latter has publicly praised both on several occasions. For that reason, speculation continues to point to a Martindale departure even though Daboll suggested otherwise this morning.

10:30am: Changes have been made to the Giants’ coaching staff, but a degree of stability is set to remain in place. Special teams coordinator Thomas McGaughey and offensive line coach Bobby Johnson have been fired, head coach Brian Daboll announced on Monday.

All three coordinator have been mentioned as potentially being on the hot seat, so McGaughey’s dismissal comes as little surprise. The 50-year-old’s NFL coaching career dates back to 2001, and he had a stint as an assistant with the Giants from 2007-10. He returned to New York after as the team’s coordinator in 2018 (following stints in that same role with the Jets, 49ers and Panthers), enjoying relative success early on.

In recent years, however, the Giants’ third phase performances have taken a turn for the worse. In 2023, New York finished 21st in terms of special teams DVOA, marking a continuation of the team’s underwhelming showings. Now, for the first time since Pat Shurmur‘s tenure as head coach, the Giants will need to find a replacement special teams coordinator.

Johnson followed Daboll to the Giants in 2022 after their shared time with the Bills. The O-line was a sore spot throughout the campaign, though, and New York allowed a league-leading 85 sacks. That figure is in part a result of the slew of injuries the Giants dealt with up front, but also a lack of development from certain young members of the unit. That includes right tackle Evan Neal, who struggled before missing the latter portion of the season due to an ankle injury which will require surgery.

Notably, though, Daboll added that he expects both offensive coordinator Mike Kafka and defensive coordinator Don Martindale to be retained for 2024. Both staffers were reported to be on the chopping block in November, something which came as little surprise given the team’s regression from its impressive playoff run in 2022. New York faced issues in the passing game both before and after Daniel Jones‘ ACL tear, leading to a 30th place finish in scoring (15.6 points per game).

The team’s defense did not fare much better under Martindale this season, and tensions between he and Daboll became a major talking point during the season. A November report from Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer pointed to a parting of ways being likely given the Daboll-Martindale rift, something the Giants attempted to publicly downplay. Martindale himself has also stated an intention to remain with the Giants, and it now appears that will be the case.

Significant improvement on both sides of the ball will be needed by New York if the team is to avoid a repeat of this season’s shortcomings. Plenty of significant decisions loom, including one on the future of running back Saquon Barkley. Jones’ contract has also not quelled doubts about his Giants tenure beyond the 2024 campaign. While ownership is on board with general manager Joe Schoen‘s rebuilding efforts, Daboll appears to likewise be satisfied a largely intact coaching staff will be able to rebound in 2024.

Raiders Request GM Interviews With Ed Dodds, Adam Peters

January 8th, 2024 at 1:28pm CST by Sam Robinson

Ed Dodds is believed to have impressed the Raiders during his 2022 interview for their general manager post. Two years later, the Colts executive could have another chance.

The Raiders requested another meeting with Dodds, according to NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero. Additionally, Las Vegas wants to meet with San Francisco assistant GM Adam Peters, per ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter.

Given his role in the 49ers’ Kyle Shanahan-era run, Peters has been expected to be a hot commodity for a bit. Dodds’ inclusion here, however, is interesting. Mark Davis was impressed with Dodds during his previous meeting with the Colts’ assistant GM, but he went with a Patriot Way duo. After bailing on the Dave Ziegler–Josh McDaniels pairing midway through its second season in charge, Davis is reassessing once again.

These interview requests come as the league has learned of the team’s interest in Jim Harbaugh. Considering Harbaugh’s past and polarizing reputation among front offices, the Raiders could be set for a complicated search. Michigan’s natural interest in retaining the top-tier college HC will undoubtedly lead to the former 49ers leader setting both a high salary price and seeking to have a significant say in personnel matters. Both the Raiders and Chargers have shown steady interest in Harbaugh, who is believed to be intrigued by both jobs.

Dodds has been on Chris Ballard‘s Colts staff for the past seven years. While the Colts struggled for a while to pick up the pieces post-Andrew Luck, they built what has been regarded at points as a high-end talent stable around their evolving cast of QBs. Dodds has been a central figure in Indianapolis and has been part of GM interview cycles previously. In addition to the Raiders’ 2022 interest, Dodds turned down a Bears interview request that year. He interviewed with the Steelers in 2022 and Panthers in 2021.

Like Dodds, Peters has been with his current team since 2017. The 49ers brought him over after an eight-year stay in Denver. Peters also turned down the chance to interview for the Cardinals and Titans’ GM jobs last year. He has been mentioned as a John Lynch heir apparent in San Francisco, but after Lynch turned down Amazon in 2022, it is not known if the Hall of Fame safety-turned-exec is eyeing an exit anytime soon. Peters, whom the 49ers elevated to assistant GM in 2021, collected a Super Bowl ring for his Broncos work. In Denver throughout Peyton Manning‘s stay, Peters did join the Broncos during McDaniels’ short stint. That is certainly relevant due to the Raiders showing interest, but Peters has proven successful for a long time since the Broncos fired McDaniels.

Peters is also set to interview with the Commanders, who present an interesting opportunity due to the team’s league-leading cap-space figure and new ownership being in place. Both the Raiders and Commanders have been connected to being interested in hiring a football ops president-level staffer, which would seemingly reduce the GM’s power. That will be something to monitor, as Davis confirmed recently he is interested in such a position. Interim GM Champ Kelly is also on the radar to stay, so it would be quite surprising if the two-year Raiders staffer did not receive an interview. Kelly, however, is also expected to draw outside interest.

Commanders Send Out Five GM Interview Requests

January 8th, 2024 at 1:25pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Commanders have not yet dismissed Martin Mayhew from his GM post, but that has been expected. Owner Josh Harris will take the unusual step of sending out GM interview requests despite the incumbent still residing on staff.

Not long after firing Ron Rivera, Washington’s new ownership sent out five GM interview requests Monday. The team will attempt to meet with Bears assistant GM Ian Cunningham and Browns assistant GM Glenn Cook, according to the Washington Post’s Nicki Jhabvala. 49ers assistant GM Adam Peters also received a request, ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter reports, adding Chiefs assistant GM Mike Borgonzi also garnered one. Eagles assistant GM Alec Halaby did as well, per NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero.

Many staffers listed have been connected to GM vacancies in the past, and have had their names floated as ones to watch in the 2024 hiring cycle. As such, it comes as no surprise that the Commanders will involve them in their transition to a new organizational structure. Former Golden State Warriors general manager Bob Myers as well as former Vikings GM Rick Spielman are in place as advisors for the search process concerning Washington’s’ next head coach and president of football operations.

Cunningham has been a top GM candidate in recent years. He joined the Eagles’ staff after a lengthy tenure with the Ravens before taking his current Bears posting under Ryan Poles last offseason. Cunningham spoke with the Titans about their vacancy in 2023, and he turned down the Cardinals position. He will no doubt be a leading candidate for teams in need of a new GM this year as well.

Like Cunningham, Peters is considered a name to watch. The 2023 campaign marks his third in his current role with San Francisco, as he spent the previous four seasons as the 49ers’ vice president of player personnel. That came after a lengthy stint with the Broncos, making him an experienced option on the GM market. A personal connection could also be in play with respect to the Commanders’ vacancy.

Peters and Myers have a long history with one another, as noted by Mike Garafolo of NFL Network. That could explain (to an extent) the latter’s inclusion on Harris’ hand-picked search committee to replace Rivera and, eventually, Mayhew. Likely to be significantly in demand this offseason, Peters will be able to afford to be choosey when electing to remain in the Bay Area or depart for a GM opening. He will interview with Washington this week, per Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer.

The Commanders could be an attractive vacancy given Harris’ presence as owner, the team’s signficant cap space heading into free agency and the No. 2 selection in this year’s draft. A rebuild will be required, and the lack of a head coach certainly leaves the franchise with a degree of uncertainty, though. When speaking to the media on Monday, Harris said he intends to have a new head of football operations in place before a HC. The timeline along which a GM will be brought in will be worth watching closely.

Sam Robinson contributed to this post.

Brian Burns Still Aiming To Be Paid Like Top-Tier Edge Rusher

January 8th, 2024 at 1:09pm CST by Sam Robinson

Brian Burns did not receive an invite to another Pro Bowl and saw his sack count drop noticeably from the 2022 season, but the Panthers are still believed to have the free agent-to-be in their plans. Carolina’s recent history with Burns still gives him leverage, and he intends to use it.

The Panthers are expected to apply the franchise tag on Burns, but potential negotiations may be complicated now. The GM that had run the negotiations since Burns became extension-eligible, Scott Fitterer, received his walking papers Monday morning. A new staff will assess Burns’ value, but he has not changed his stance since the Panthers’ summer negotiations fizzled.

The Ron Rivera-era first-round pick said Monday (via ESPN’s David Newton) he is still aiming to be paid among the highest-earning edge defenders. Burns’ lofty ask this offseason was believed to have checked in around $30MM per year. That proved too much for Fitterer’s liking, but his decision-making gave Burns tremendous leverage.

Fitterer famously turned down a Rams offer that included two first-round picks and a third for Burns, and the since-fired GM also refused to include Burns in trade talks with the Bears for the No. 1 pick last March. With Nick Bosa‘s $34MM-per-year extension changing the edge market, the Panthers were unable to hammer out a deal. Fitterer also balked at trade overtures this year.

With the Panthers using a 3-4 base defense in recent years, Burns may soon find himself in the linebacker/defensive end debate the NFL’s outdated franchise tag formula often presents edge rushers. The linebacker tag is expected to come in around $18.5MM in 2024, the D-end tag around $20.1MM. That has spurred grievances in recent years, but Burns’ salary ask will be the headline item here.

Bosa’s re-up changed the game for edge rushers, and it should be expected to produce more movement on that market this coming offseason. Prior to Bosa’s monster 49ers contract, T.J. Watt‘s $28MM-AAV deal topped the edge defender list for two years. Burns, who has just one season with double-digit sacks, has not proven himself to be in that class of pass rusher. He finished with eight sacks this season; that total is only the fourth-best of his career. Burns’ 46 career sacks rank 12th in the NFL since 2019.

The Panthers’ defense fared far better than the team’s disjointed offense, however, and Burns held up for 16 games. He should be in position to command a big-ticket deal, but with the Panthers having the tag to keep the Florida State alum off the market, it would not surprise if the sides’ stalemate continues — unless Burns drops his asking price — into the summer. While Burns wants to stay with the Panthers, this situation could be complicated for a while.

Chargers C Corey Linsley Expected To Retire

January 8th, 2024 at 12:47pm CST by Sam Robinson

Corey Linsley spent most of this season on the reserve/NFI list, stripping the Chargers’ offensive line of an All-Pro talent. Exiting his abbreviated age-32 season, Linsley is not likely to come back.

A heart-related issue prompted the Chargers to move Linsley off the roster in September, and the 10-year veteran center said Monday he is “99%” likely to retire, per The Athletic’s Daniel Popper. Linsley has spent the past three seasons with the Chargers, coming to Los Angeles after a long run with the Packers.

A first-team All-Pro in 2020 and a second-teamer in 2021, Linsley has done well for himself in terms of accolades and career earnings. But he is now expected to prioritize his health and walk away. Although the Chargers played without Linsley for much of the season, this will create a major need for the now-retooling team up front.

During an offseason in which the Chargers overhauled their offensive line, Linsley signed a five-year, $62.5MM deal. At the time of signing, that represented an AAV record for centers. The Chargers signed Linsley and Matt Feiler to go with first-round pick Rashawn Slater that year. Building up their front around Justin Herbert‘s rookie contract, the Bolts assembled an intriguing O-line. The group has been unable to stay healthy, however. Slater missed much of the 2022 season, while Linsley’s non-emergent heart condition kept him off the field for all but three games in 2023.

Linsley did much better as a free agent than he did on his first extension. The 2014 fifth-round pick signed a three-year, $25.5MM extension with the Packers in 2017. Green Bay used the Ohio State alum as an immediate starter, and he operated as the team’s snapper during three seasons that ended in the NFC championship game (2014, 2019, 2020). Pro Football Focus rated Linsley as a top-10 center from 2018-20. Centers are almost never franchise-tagged, with all O-line positions being grouped together on the tag, so Linsley hit the market rather than sign a second Packers extension in 2021.

PFF rated Linsley as the NFL’s No. 2 overall center in ’21 and kept him as a top-10 snapper last season, a Bolts playoff year. The Chargers used Will Clapp as their primary center following Linsley’s move off the roster this season, deploying the ex-Saints blocker as a first-stringer in 11 games. Clapp, however, ended the season on IR. Former fifth-round pick Brenden Jaimes finished the season as the Bolts’ snapper. PFF rated Clapp 28th among centers. Clapp is due for free agency in March, while Jaimes’ rookie contract runs through 2024.

Unless Linsley changes his mind, he will conclude his career with 132 starts. Linsley’s 99 starts as a Packer are the fifth-most by a center in franchise history. The Ohio native stands to finish his career with more than $66MM in earnings.

Dennis Allen Expects To Remain Saints HC

January 8th, 2024 at 12:43pm CST by Adam La Rose

As news continues to pour in regarding coaching and general manager changes, no such shifts seem to be looming in New Orleans. Saints head coach Dennis Allen said on Monday (via ESPN’s Katherine Terrell) that he expects to remain in place for 2024.

Like the rest of the NFC South, the Saints were the subject of speculation regarding their head coaching future throughout the year. Allen had been reported as being on the hot seat, something which came as little surprise given the team’s offensive struggles in particular. More recent signs did point, however, to Allen being safe regardless of New Orleans’ end to the campaign.

The 51-year-old was promoted to head coach in 2022 to replace Sean Payton. The move came after he had spent the past seven years on New Orleans’ staff as defensive coordinator, and that unit has remained strong over the past two campaigns. Shortcomings at the quarterback position were a talking point this past offseason, though, and the team made a major move in the form of adding quarterback Derek Carr.

By and large, the four-time Pro Bowler did not live up to the expectations generated by his four-year, $150MM pact. A number of issues contributed to his struggles early in the year in particular as he and the team’s skill-position corps dealt with injuries and the season-opening suspension to running back Alvin Kamara. New Orleans finished the year ranked only 13th in passing yards per game and 15th in total offense (although the team managed to check in at ninth in scoring).

For that reason, changes to the offensive staff have been mentioned as a distinct possibility. OC Pete Carmichael could be on the hot seat, although no firm decisions on his fate have been made yet. The Saints improved in Allen’s second year at the helm, posting a 9-8 record in 2023 after going 7-10 the year before. The veteran-laden squad was unable to win an underwhelming NFC South once again, though, which represents a point of consternation.

In spite of that, Allen (who has yet to receive an official vote of confidence at this point) appears to be on track for a third year in charge. Several key offseason decisions lie ahead, and the franchise will no doubt continue its annual tradition of signficant contract restructures this winter. While changes will be made in some capacity, continuity on the sidelines can be expected.

Pete Carroll Intends To Stay For 15th Season With Seahawks

January 8th, 2024 at 11:56am CST by Sam Robinson

Pete Carroll retirement noise circulated briefly as the season wound down, but the longtime Seahawks head coach swatted those away Monday morning. The NFL’s oldest HC is planning to stay on for a 15th season in 2024.

The Seahawks finished 9-8 for a second straight season. Considering the draft capital the team used from the back end of the Russell Wilson haul, the eight-loss season and playoff absence represents a disappointment. Carroll, 72, is still aiming to turn things around next season.

“I plan to be coaching this team,” Carroll said, via the Seattle Times’ Bob Condotta. “I’m not worn out. I’m not tired. I need to do a better job.”

Despite making a buyer’s trade by landing Leonard Williams from the Giants (for second- and fifth-round picks), the Seahawks did not boast an upper-echelon defense. Carroll being a defense-oriented head coach, this is obviously a disappointment. Seattle will send New York the No. 48 overall pick in 2024 for Williams, who is on track for free agency. The Carroll- and Clint Hurtt-run defense ranked 25th in scoring and 30th in yards allowed. Even as the Seahawks have steadily plummeted on that side of the ball, a 30th-place finish represents a new Carroll-era low for the franchise.

While Carroll expects changes (via The Athletic’s Michael-Shawn Dugar), the veteran HC indicated this is the case only because there are usually changes at this time of year.

Carroll hired Hurtt to run the defense in 2022, ousting Ken Norton Jr. But Seattle’s defense has regressed over the past several years. The only defense since the 1950s Browns to go rank first in points allowed in four consecutive years, the Seahawks are long past their Legion of Boom days. They have not ranked in the top 10 in scoring defense since 2016. That said, Norton’s group finished 11th in 2021. Hurtt’s units have now gone 25th-25th in his two seasons calling the shots.

The Seahawks have Geno Smith tied to a team-friendly contract — a three-year, $75MM deal that includes barely $28MM guaranteed — so it would not be shocking to see Wilson’s successor receive a third season as QB1. Smith, 33, finished 12th in QBR this season. The Seahawks also have their top two running backs and top three wide receivers each signed for at least two more seasons.

As for Carroll, his most recent extension runs through 2024 with an option for 2025. Without a 10-win season since 2020, Wilson’s last non-injury-plagued year in Seattle, Carroll signing another extension may generate more discussion among ownership. The team had evaluated contingency plans in the event Carroll did choose to retire, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero note. Unless Jody Allen would want to move on from Carroll, he will stay in place for the 2024 campaign. The former Jets and Patriots HC will turn 73 in September.

Commanders Request HC Interviews With Ben Johnson, Aaron Glenn, Raheem Morris, Anthony Weaver

January 8th, 2024 at 11:35am CST by Adam La Rose

Moving quickly in the wake of Ron Rivera‘s expected firing, the Commanders have already begun identifying targets for his replacement. The team has sent out a number of interview requests.

Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and DC Aaron Glenn are among the candidates being sought out, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. Both staffers, and Johnson in particular, are believed to be hot commodities in the 2024 hiring cycle. As a result, it comes as little surprise that Washington will speak to each of them.

Johnson has enjoyed a successful second season in his current posting, helping the Lions remain on the league’s most efficient offenses. His work with quarterback Jared Goff has earned considerable praise, and it made him a firm target of the Panthers last year. Johnson, 37, is one of the younger coaches set to be on the market, but he has been an NFL staffer for 12 years.

Once again, Carolina is prepared to make a serious run at Johnson for the team’s latest head coaching vacancy. The Panthers are in need of a new HC and also a GM, and much of the franchise’s ability to rebound from the struggles of the past few years will depend on quarterback Bryce Young‘s development. Johnson would be a welcomed addition in that regard, but the presence of Justin Herbert in Los Angeles has made the Chargers gig an attractive one. A mutual interest is thought to exist between Johnson and the Bolts.

Glenn’s tenure with the Lions has been less consistent than Johnson’s, but he could likewise be connected to several openings this year. Detroit put together an extension for him last winter, as a sign of his success as part of Dan Campbell‘s staff. Glenn did make it clear in the summer, however, that he has his eyes on a head coaching gig at some point in his career.

In addition to the Lions duo, the Commanders have requested to speak with Rams DC Raheem Morris, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. Morris has been in Los Angeles for the past three years in his second defensive coordinator gig at the NFL level. The 47-year-old’s coaching career includes a stint as secondary coach in Washington from 2012-14. A return to the nation’s capital would give the Commanders a veteran staffer and, like Rivera, one with a background on the defensive side of the ball.

Morris was a high-profile candidate for a number of vacancies in recent years. He interviewed twice with the Vikings in 2022 before Minnesota elected to add Kevin O’Connell. Morris was also linked to the Broncos‘ and Colts‘ gigs last year. It would come as little surprise if he were to land his first head coaching opportunity since his three-year run at the helm of the Buccaneers (2009-11).

Lastly, Washington has also submitted a request with Ravens D-line coach Anthony Weaver, per Schefter. Weaver holds the title of associate head coach, and his strong showing in Baltimore over the past three seasons has landed him on the HC radar. Ravens coordinators Todd Monken and Mike Macdonald are also expected to receive interest, but Weaver has experience at the coordinator level (with the Texans in 2020) and is a well-regarded staffer.

More names will no doubt emerge with respect to the Commanders’ search process, but for now a strong quartet has surfaced. Each candidate could speak with any number of teams currently looking to fill a vacancy, so Washington will have competition on the coaching market. Virtual interviews with candidates on playoff teams cannot take place until at least January 16 given this year’s adjustments to the interview procedure.

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