HEADLINES

Month: December 2024

Bills Promote Bobby Babich To DC

January 30th, 2024 at 12:05pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Bills elected to retain Joe Brady as their full-time offensive coordinator, and the team has taken a similar approach on defense. Linebackers coach Bobby Babich has been promoted to DC in Buffalo, Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL Network report. The move is now official.

Babich has a longstanding relationship with head coach Sean McDermott, having been a member of Buffalo’s staff since 2017. Over that span, he has worked alongside the team’s safeties and linebackers while spending time with both McDermott and ex-DC Leslie Frazier. After the latter stepped away, McDermott took on play-calling duties for the 2023 season.

The younger Babich drew extensive interest for DC posts, including one in the AFC East. The Giants requested an interview with Babich earlier this month. That would have been a fairly natural fit, considering two ex-Bills bastions — Joe Schoen, Brian Daboll — are running the Giants now. The Packers then sent out an interview request, preceding Dolphins interest about their again-vacant job. Rather than see Babich depart for one of those positions, the Bills will elevate the 40-year-old assistant.

It will be interesting to see if McDermott keeps the play-calling reins or entrusts Babich, who has coached multiple positions during the Bills’ four-season run as AFC East champions. The son of former NFL DC Bob Babich, Bobby coached the Bills’ safeties from 2018-21 and has been the team’s linebackers coach for the past two years. Standout performances from midlevel investments have ensued during that time, and after D-line coach Eric Washington left to become the Bears’ DC, Babich will take over the post Frazier held for years.

During Babich’s time as safeties coach, Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer grew from part-time starters for their previous teams — the Packers and Browns, respectively — into impact players as Bills. The 2017 free agency pickups transformed from bargain signings to one of the best safety tandems of the 21st century, each signing multiple contracts with the Bills and becoming Pro Bowlers. During Babich’s first season in charge of Buffalo’s linebackers, former fifth-round pick Matt Milano earned first-team All-Pro recognition. Both Terrel Bernard and Tyrel Dodson played well this season following Milano’s injury.

Bob Babich served as defensive coordinator for the Bears, Lions and Jaguars from 2007-15. His stop in Buffalo — as linebackers coach — in 2017 led to both Babiches coaching under McDermott. Bobby has a pre-Buffalo history with McDermott, breaking into the league during the latter’s time as Panthers DC during the 2010s. Bobby Babich coached Poyer in Cleveland as well. After a lengthy grooming period, the Bills will gauge Babich’s chops running a defense.

Sam Robinson contributed to this post.

Panthers Hire Brad Idzik As OC

January 30th, 2024 at 11:49am CST by Adam La Rose

Dave Canales is in place as the new head coach of the Panthers, and his choice to fill the offensive coordinator role comes as no surprise. Carolina is set to hire Buccaneers receivers coach Brad Idzik as OC, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.

Canales and Idzik have a history with each other dating back to their Seattle days, and for that reason it was reported over the weekend that the latter was the likeliest candidate for Carolina’s OC post. Canales will likely take on play-calling duties with the Panthers after he did the same during his time with the Buccaneers in 2023, but Idzik will be a central figure on Carolina’s staff.

The Panthers were again all-in with respect to their pursuit of Lions OC Ben Johnson. While that did not materialize, it remained the expectation that an offensive candidate would be tapped as head coach. Canales will be tasked with overseeing quarterback Bryce Young‘s development after a poor rookie season. Idzik will assist in that regard as both staffers take on their respective new titles for the first time.

Idzik, 32, began his coaching career in 2019 with the Seahawks. During much of his time in Seattle, he worked with the team’s wide receivers, though he also had one year as an assistant QBs coach with the added title of offensive quality control coach. His first year with the Bucs came in 2023 as he followed Canales from Seattle to Tampa Bay, and their relationship will now continue in a new environment once again.

The fate of incumbent Panthers OC Thomas Brown has remained uncertain through the hiring cycle, but it had been expected that a new face would be added once the team’s next head coach was in place. Brown drew praise upon arrival on Frank Reich‘s staff, but he struggled in a play-calling capacity as the Panthers underwhelmed on offense both before and after Reich’s firing. Today’s news means Brown (who has been connected to multiple outside OC openings) will be free to pursue other options.

Carolina ranked at or near the bottom of several offensive categories in 2023, and improvement from Young, along with developments along the O-line and at the skill positions will be needed moving forward. Plenty of attention will be on Canales to deliver that, but Idzik will remain a key confidant along the way as his rise through the NFL coaching ranks continues.

Broncos To Hire Pete Carmichael

January 30th, 2024 at 10:52am CST by Adam La Rose

Pete Carmichael‘s run with the Saints came to a close at the end of the 2023 season. The longtime New Orleans offensive coordinator has not needed to wait long to find his next opportunity, however.

Carmichael is set to join the Broncos in an as-yet undetermined offensive role, NOLA.com’s Jeff Duncan reports. That comes as little surprise, as the move will allow Carmichael to once again work alongside Denver head coach Sean Payton. The agreement is expected to be formally announced down the road, Duncan adds.

Since taking over as Broncos head coach last offseason, Payton has brought in a number of staffers and players with whom he shares a history from his time in New Orleans, including current offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi. Carmichael will now become the latest to make the New Orleans-to-Denver trek as the Broncos look to take a step forward on offense. The central storyline in that effort, of course, will be the future of quarterback Russell Wilson.

Denver showed signs of improvement under Payton in 2023, but the team as a whole and Wilson in particular did not meet expectations. The Broncos finished 26th in total offense and 19th in scoring, and Wilson was benched once a postseason berth was essentially out of reach. Jarrett Stidham finished the campaign as a starter, and the quarterback spot is marked by uncertainty as things currently stand with Wilson still on the books through 2028.

Carmichael became the Saints’ offensive coordinator in 2009, and he held the post through the 2023 campaign. Notably, Payton served as the team’s play-caller during his time there, although Carmichael took over in that regard after Payton’s departure in 2022. Over the past two seasons, the Saints have put up middling numbers in several categories, but the team did rank ninth in scoring in 2023 amidst an uptick in passing efficiency with Derek Carr under center.

Denver’s offense will be a unit worth watching closely after the Payton-Wilson partnership did not yield the desired results. Payton will no doubt remain the team’s play-caller, but Carmichael’s experience with the Saints should make him a key figure on the Broncos’ staff moving forward.

Saints To Interview Greg Lewis For OC Position

January 30th, 2024 at 10:08am CST by Adam La Rose

A new candidate has emerged in the Saints’ ongoing search for a new offensive coordinator. New Orleans is set to speak with Ravens receivers coach Greg Lewis today, reports Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.

Lewis’ meeting comes at a time when a decision could be forthcoming relatively soon for the Saints. As Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.football notes, the team’s OC search has “narrowed considerably.” New Orleans moved on from Pete Carmichael at the end of the campaign, bringing a close to his lengthy tenure at the position. Lewis will join the list of candidates under consideration to replace him.

The latter had an eight-year playing career with the Eagles and Vikings which came to an end in 2010. He quickly turned to coaching, beginning with stints at San Diego, San Jose State and Pittsburgh as a WRs coach. Lewis’ first NFL opportunity came with the Saints in 2015 as an offensive assistant, and it set him up for future positions in the pro game.

The 43-year-old worked as the Eagles’ WRs coach in 2016, then took the same position with the Chiefs for a four-year stretch. Lewis remained in Kansas City from 2021-22 as the team’s running backs coach, allowing him to become a two-time Super Bowl winner as a member of Andy Reid‘s staff. He joined the Ravens this past offseason as part of Baltimore’s overarching goal of improving in the passing game.

That effort resulted in 214 passing yards per game, which ranked just 21st in the league. Still, Lewis was part of an staff overseeing the league’s fourth-highest scoring offense this year, and he has now landed on the OC radar. The New Orleans vacancy is the first to which he has been connected during the 2024 hiring cycle.

Here is how the Saints’ OC search is shaping up:

Packers Request DC Interviews With Dennard Wilson, Zach Orr

January 30th, 2024 at 9:20am CST by Adam La Rose

9:20am: Wilson is not the only Ravens staffer on the Packers’ radar. Green Bay has also requested a DC interview with linebackers coach Zach Orr, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports. Orr’s playing career was cut short due to a congenital spine condition, but he has transitioned to coaching at the NFL level. The 31-year-old worked with the Ravens from 2017-20 before taking a position with the Jaguars. He then returned to Baltimore in 2022 in his current role, which has made him a key figure on DC Mike Macdonald‘s staff.

8:56am: Dennard Wilson remains a highly sought-after defensive coordinator candidate. The Ravens defensive backs coach has received a DC interview request from the Packers, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

Green Bay moved on from Joe Barry after the team’s elimination, a move which had been predicted by many before the 2023 campaign. The Packers have cast a wide net in their search for his replacement, although to date only two interviews have taken place with one more lined up. Wilson adds to the list of Green Bay’s targets, but the team will likely have competition for his services if an interview produces an offer.

Wilson, as Rapoport notes, has a Titans interview scheduled for today. He is also set to speak with the Rams, and those teams are joined by the Giants in having shown interest. New York has lined up a second interview with Wilson, whose stock rose during the 2023 campaign. After being passed up for the Eagles’ DC position last offseason, Wilson departed for Baltimore to take on the same role.

The 41-year-old helped oversee a Ravens secondary which was among the league’s best this year. Baltimore finished sixth in terms of passing yards allowed per game, and the team racked up 18 interceptions. An NFL staffer since 2012, Wilson has extensive experience as a secondary coach and passing game coordinator. He has never held a defensive coordinator title, however.

Green Bay finished 10th in scoring defense in 2023, but overall the team underperformed relative to expectations during much of Barry’s tenure at the helm. Improvement against the run in particular will be a target moving forward, and the team’s new defensive staff will be a key storyline entering the 2024 season as the Packers aim to build off their offensive success.

Here is an updated look at the Packers’ DC search:

Chargers Finalize GM Agreement With Ravens’ Joe Hortiz

January 30th, 2024 at 8:10am CST by Adam La Rose

JANUARY 30: The agreement is now in place, ESPN’s Adam Schefter notes. Hortiz will take on a Chargers roster which faces a number of key questions ahead of free agency and the draft as a new chapter for the organization begins with Harbaugh on the sidelines and a rookie GM in the front office.

JANUARY 29: Joe Hortiz has considerable experience working alongside John Harbaugh, and he will now be in place alongside the latter’s brother. The Ravens’ player personnel director is set to become the next general manager of the Chargers, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Hortiz began his Ravens tenure in 1998, and he worked his way through the ranks during his tenure in the organization. The 48-year-old spent much of his Baltimore career on the scouting side of the organization, earning the title of college scouting director in 2009. He was then promoted to his current post in 2019 amidst growing general manager interest from outside teams.

The executive was a popular name in the past few hiring cycles. After interviewing with the Giants and Steelers about their open GM positions in 2022, he met with the Cardinals last offseason. The Chargers were the only known suitor for Hortiz in 2024, but that was enough to earn the executive his first GM job.

After finalizing a deal with head coach Jim Harbaugh, the Chargers have been actively trying to fill the GM job previously held by Tom Telesco. It was assumed that Harbaugh would have considerable say in the Chargers’ hire, especially considering his feud with Trent Baalke that ended his 49ers tenure. So, it’s not a huge surprise that he landed someone who’s worked closely with his brother for much of the Ravens’ existence. One of two known finalists, Hortiz was viewed as the frontrunner late last week.

The Chargers cast a wide net in their search for a new GM. The organization was connected to 11 candidates, with Giants assistant general manager Brandon Brown also earning a second interview. Interim JoJo Wooden was among those who garnered an interview, but it’s uncertain if he’ll be sticking around under Hortiz.

Now the GM will be tasked without turning around an organization that only has one playoff appearance over the past five seasons. The Chargers finished this past season with a 5-12 record, marking the fourth time they’ve finished with five or fewer wins over the past 10 years.

Ben Levine contributed to this post.

Seahawks Schedule Second HC Interview With Ben Johnson; Team To Meet With Mike Macdonald

January 29th, 2024 at 10:04pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Commanders and Seahawks saw a number of the top remaining candidates for their head coaching vacancies become available via their team’s respective losses on Sunday. Washington’s intentions remain clear, but Seattle will also speak with the names most frequently connected to its own opening.

The Seahawks are set to interview Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson tonight along with Ravens DC Mike Macdonald tomorrow, SI’s Albert Breer reports. In the former’s case, this summit will be a second interview which comes amidst expectations he is the top choice of the Commanders. The latter, meanwhile, has not yet taken part in a Seahawks meeting.

In spite of that, it was reported during the weekend that the Seahawks were interested in speaking with Macdonald. The Ravens and Lions were eliminated on Sunday, leaving their staffers free to interview with and accept offers from teams prepared to offer a head coaching position at any time. Both Johnson and Macdonald have been amongst the most sought-after candidates in this year’s cycle, and their futures could become clear in the coming days.

The Panthers were prepared to (once again) make a push to land Johnson, one of the top young offensive minds in the league. He was tapped as Carolina’s top choice, but the same is true of Washington. With the Panthers having moved on to Dave Canales, the Commanders are in pole position to land the 37-year-old.

Johnson would be a welcomed addition to any staff, but the Seahawks will have other options if he does take the Commanders gig. Macdonald, like Johnson, has only been an NFL coordinator over the past two years, but his work with Baltimore’s defense has quickly upped his head coaching stock. Prior to tomorrow’s sit-down with the Seahawks, he will meet today with the Commanders.

Of course, another name looming over the Seattle vacancy is Dan Quinn. The current Cowboys defensive coordinator has elected to turn down HC interest in the past, but a chance to succeed Pete Carroll in Seattle could await him. Quinn is among the staffers to have already conducted a second interview with the team, and Clarence Hill Jr. of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram notes Quinn could presently be considered a “slight favorite” for the job. However, Seattle is high on Macdonald, he adds.

Indeed, NBC Sports’ Peter King confirms Quinn’s history with Seattle (having previously served as the team’s DC) is unlikely to represent a deciding factor in the team’s ultimate decision. Plenty is still to be determined as the Seahawks enter the next phase of their coaching search. Both they and the Commanders will be worth watching closely as the HC cycle approaches its end.

Falcons Hire Rams’ Jimmy Lake As DC

January 29th, 2024 at 9:55pm CST by Ben Levine

Raheem Morris is set to fill another major hole on his coaching staff with a former Rams staffer. The Falcons announced that they’ve hired Jimmy Lake as their new defensive coordinator.

[RELATED: Falcons To Hire Zac Robinson As OC]

Lake worked alongside Morris this past season in Los Angeles, serving as a defensive assistant. Lake ended his brief coaching hiatus when he joined the Rams last offseason, and he’s rapidly climbed the coaching ladder by securing Atlanta’s coordinator job.

Prior to his brief break, Lake was the head coach at Washington. He had a tumultuous two years in that role, a stint that featured a suspension for shoving one of his players away from a fight. Less than a week after being handed his suspension, Lake was fired as head coach, ending his tenure with a 7-6 record.

Of course, prior to those two forgettable years, Lake made a name for himself in Washington, working his way up from defensive backs coach to defensive coordinator and, eventually, head coach. Lake’s previous NFL jobs included assistant positions with the Buccaneers and Lions.

The 47-year-old coach wasn’t previously connected to the Atlanta job. The only two known candidates for the gig were former Jaguars defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell and former Eagles defensive coordinator Sean Desai. Ultimately, Morris decided to opt for the familiar face, which is what he did when he added Rams QBs coach Zac Robinson as his new offensive coordinator.

The Falcons also announced that they’ve retained Marquice Williams as their special teams coordinator. The organization seemed to be trending in this direction, and Williams made his preferences clear when he rejected job opportunities elsewhere. Now, the veteran coach will stick around for Morris’s first season at the helm.

Coaching/Front Office Notes: Eagles, Bears, Jets, Browns

January 29th, 2024 at 9:14pm CST by Ben Levine

Clint Hurtt is heading to Philadelphia. After having spent the past two seasons as the Seahawks defensive coordinator, the veteran coach is joining the Eagles as their new defensive line coach, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.

Hurtt worked with defensive linemen and linebackers in Chicago before joining the Seahawks as their assistant head coach/defensive line coach in 2017. He earned a promotion to defensive coordinator in 2022 and spent two seasons in that role. Seattle’s defense didn’t fare all that well with Hurtt at the helm, as the defense never finished better than 26th in points allowed and 20th in yards allowed.

Still, Hurtt has earned a reputation as a reliable DL coach. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Hurtt had multiple offers to coach defensive linemen, but he ended up opting for the Eagles opportunity.

Pelissero notes that the Eagles are also expected to hire one of Hurtt’s assistants from Seattle. Karl Scott is joining the Eagles as their new DBs coach. Scott spent the past two seasons as Seattle’s secondary coach/passing game coordinator.

More coaching and front office notes from around the NFL…

  • The Bears will interview Chargers wide receivers coach Chris Beatty for the same role, according to Pelissero. Meanwhile, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that veteran coach Ike Hilliard will also interview for the Chargers job. After a long college coaching career, Beatty took his first NFL job with the Chargers in 2021 as their WRs coach. Over the past few years, he’s helped guide the likes of Keenan Allen and Mike Williams to 1,000-yard seasons. Hilliard has spent time as the WRs coach with Washington, Buffalo, and Pittsburgh, and he was most recently on the coaching staff at Auburn. Hilliard worked alongside offensive coordinator Shane Waldron when the two were in Washington.
  • The Jets are hiring Tony Dews as their running backs coach, per Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports. Dews was Derrick Henry‘s coach in Tennessee between 2018 and 2022, and he spent the 2023 campaign as the Titans tight ends coach. He’ll be replacing Taylor Embree, who was let go after the season. Meanwhile, Connor Hughes of SNYtv reports that the Jets interviewed Rob Moore for their WRs coach job. Moore also recently worked for the Titans, spending the past six years as their receivers coach.
  • The Browns have hired Jacques Cesaire as their defensive line coach, per Pelissero. After playing his entire career with the Chargers, Cesaire broke into the NFL coaching ranks as the Bills assistant defensive line coach in 2020. He spent the past two seasons with the Texans, serving as the team’s defensive line coach. He’ll be replacing Ben Bloom, although Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com writes that the coach could still stick in Cleveland in a different role for the 2024 campaign.
  • Saints college scouting director Cody Rager is heading to the Broncos, according to Nick Underhill of NOF Network. Neil Stratton passes along that Rager will be Denver’s new vice president of player personnel. Rager spent the past nine seasons in New Orleans, including the past three as the assistant college scouting director. Rager got his NFL start with the Dolphins back in 2012.

Buccaneers QBs Coach Thad Lewis Receiving Interest For OC; Bills, Raiders First To Reach Out

January 29th, 2024 at 8:40pm CST by Ely Allen

TODAY, 8:40pm: Lewis has secured an interview, as the former QB met with the Titans today about their offensive coordinator vacancy, according to ESPN’s Kimberley A. Martin.

SATURDAY, 3:35pm: The Buccaneers made the playoffs this year partially thanks to some improvements to a re-tooled offense with a new starting quarterback in Baker Mayfield getting coached up by a new offensive coordinator in Dave Canales and quarterbacks coach in Thad Lewis. The success seen in Tampa Bay will result in the team having to re-tool once more. With Canales departing to become head coach of the Panthers, Lewis will see opportunities for offensive coordinator jobs moving forward.

The first of those opportunities will come in the form of an interview with the Bills, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. The Bills are looking to replace Ken Dorsey after firing the play-caller midseason this year. After firing Dorsey, the team went on to win six of their final seven games under the play-calls of quarterbacks coach Joe Brady, with their only loss coming in overtime to the Eagles. After failing to win the race for the Falcons’ head job, Brady will interview for the Bills’ full-time offensive coordinator gig, competing with Lewis.

Lewis has also had an interview requested by the Raiders to be the new coordinator under new head coach Antonio Pierce, according to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. If Lewis were to interview, he would join a field of five candidates that has been reduced from seven due to recent hires. There have also been rumors that Lewis could follow Canales to Carolina.

Lewis has risen quickly in NFL circles. After spending two years as an offensive analyst at UCLA, Lewis joined the Buccaneers as an intern in 2020. He was promoted to assistant wide receivers coach before earning his current position. After only four years in the NFL, Lewis is on the cusp of reaching one of the heights of offensive coaching.

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