HEADLINES

Month: November 2024

Raiders Targeting Jayden Daniels?

February 6th, 2024 at 10:20pm CST by Ben Levine

The Raiders will be eyeing quarterback prospects in the upcoming draft, but they might not wait for a signal-caller to fall to No. 13. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Raiders could be a trade suitors for a top-three pick.

Fowler notes that head coach Antonio Pierce is a “big fan” of Jayden Daniels, but the organization would surely have to trade for the LSU quarterback. Pierce and Daniels crossed paths during their stints at Arizona State, and that familiarity makes the Raiders a natural landing spot for the prospect.

Further, Fowler notes that Pierce was evaluating offensive coordinator candidates with “the loose possibility of Daniels in mind.” The team’s first choice for OC, Kliff Kingsbury, most recently worked with the draft’s top QB prospect, USC’s Caleb Williams. When Kingsbury declined the Raiders offer and opted for the Commanders’ job, the Raiders pivoted to Luke Getsy.

Fowler assumes that the Bears will take Williams with the first-overall pick, meaning the Raiders will likely have to trade with the Commanders (No. 2) or the Patriots (No. 3) if they want to add Daniels or UNC’s Drake Maye. New GM Tom Telesco was known for his drafting prowess during his years with the Chargers, although his strategy usually didn’t feature home-run, draft-day trades.

With that in mind, it’s notable that the team recently met with Washington QB Michael Penix Jr. at the Senior Bowl, per Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Penix is hoping to emerge as the fourth QB on the draft board (following Williams, Daniels, and Maye), although he’s not consistently projected for the first round.

Regardless of how things unfold during the draft, it’s likely that the Raiders will be eyeing a new signal-caller in 2024. Jimmy Garoppolo barely played once Pierce was named the interim head coach, and the veteran will likely be a trade/cut candidate. And while rookie Aidan O’Connell was a standout during the final chunk of the season, it sounds like the Raiders envision him as more of a backup. If the Raiders strike out in the draft, the team could turn to the likes of Kirk Cousins, Baker Mayfield, and Jameis Winston via free agency.

Seahawks, Leonard Williams To Discuss Deal

February 6th, 2024 at 10:06pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Seahawks were one of the teams which made a significant addition at the trade deadline, acquiring Leonard Williams from the Giants. He is set to become a free agent, but talks on a Seattle deal will take place.

The Seahawks did not pursue an extension with Williams in the aftermath of the trade, something which often takes place when teams spend notable draft capital on a player. Seattle sent New York a second-round pick in this year’s draft along with a 2025 fifth-rounder for Williams, whose contract was restructured to facilitate the deal. The former top-10 pick played in 10 games with the Seahawks, recording four sacks and 41 tackles.

As a result of his play, Williams could be a prime candidate for a short-term deal and Jeff Howe of The Athletic reports there is “hope” he and the Seahawks can work out an agreement (subscription required). Williams inked a three-year, $63MM deal with the Giants, and his next contract will likely check in at a lower price than that. Still, the 29-year-old proved in his audition period that he can be a productive contributor, and he could generate a notable market if he reaches free agency.

The Seahawks are currently projected to be over the 2024 salary cap, although they and all other teams will make several cost-shedding moves in the coming weeks. Improvement along the defensive front will be a key priority for new head coach Mike Macdonald and Co. after Seattle ranked 31st in the league in rushing yards allowed. Keeping Williams on a new contract would thus be a logical move to pair with a D-line addition in free agency or the draft.

On the other hand, the Seahawks already have Dre’Mont Jones attached to the three-year, $51MM deal he signed last offseason. Jones is set to carry cap hits of $18.18MM in 2024 and $23.18MM the following year, so retaining Williams on a lucrative pact of his own would leave considerable resources tied up along the defensive front. In any case, the sides will at least explore extending their relationship in advance of the new league year in March.

Packers Notes: Coaching, Clements, Evero, Watson

February 6th, 2024 at 9:32pm CST by Ben Levine

Tom Clements is expected to be back in Green Bay next season. The long-time coach will continue being the quarterbacks coach on Matt LaFleur’s staff in 2024, per Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

There was some speculation that the organization’s recent hiring of Sean Mannion could mean that the 70-year-old Clements would retire, but that isn’t the case. Per Silverstein, the Packers believe Clements will be a great mentor to Mannion, perhaps a hint that the recently-retired QB could eventually take over the role.

Over the past two years, Clements has overseen a major turnover at the position. After coaching Aaron Rodgers during his first season at the helm, Clements guided Jordan Love through the QB’s first season as a starter.

Clements has been coaching since the 1990s, serving as the QBs coach with the Saints, Chiefs, Steelers, Cardinals, and Packers. He had a two-year stint as the Bills offensive coordinator before catching on with the Packers in 2006. He spent more than a decade in Green Bay, eventually serving as offensive coordinator and later assistant head coach. He called it a career following a two-year stint in Arizona, but he was coaxed out of retirement in 2022 and returned to the Packers.

More news out of Green Bay…

  • With the Packers having settled on Boston College head coach Jeff Hafley as their new defensive coordinator, the rest of the defensive coaching staff is starting to take shape. According to Silverstein, Hafley will bring along BC defensive line coach Vince Oghobaase. Incumbent defensive line coach Jerry Montgomery isn’t expected to be back next season, although Silverstein adds that linebackers coach Jason Rebrovich is expected to pivot to defensive line coach in 2024, making Oghobaase’s role unknown. In addition to Montgomery, passing game coordinator Greg Williams and inside linebackers coach Kirk Olivadotti won’t return to the Packers, per Silverstein.
  • The Packers are expected to hire former Dolphins linebackers coach Anthony Campanile, per Silverstein. Campanile is expected to be the team’s new run game coordinator, and the hiring was inspired by LaFleur‘s desire to transition to a 4-3 defensive scheme. Campanile has been a popular name this offseason; he interviewed for the Giants defensive coordinator job and was pursued by the Eagles to be their linebackers coach.
  • The Packers are also adding former Chargers defensive coordinator Derrick Ansley as their defensive pass-game coordinator, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. Ansley had a long stint in the NCAA to begin his coaching career, culminating in him serving as Tennessee’s defensive coordinator in 2019 and 2020. He joined the Chargers the following season, and after serving as their defensive backs coach for two years, he earned a promotion to DC in 2023.
  • Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero is sticking in Carolina, but if he shook loose, the Packers would have had interest, according to Fowler. The feeling would have been mutual, as Evero would have had interest in the Green Bay DC job. We heard last week that the Packers also made an unsuccessful run at Zach Orr as their defensive coordinator.
  • A hamstring injury has forced Packers wide receiver Christian Watson to miss a handful of games through his first two seasons in the NFL, but the organization is working to remedy the lingering issue. LaFleur told reporters (including Silverstein) that the Packers have a “plan” to figure out why Watson’s hamstring continues to be an issue. The team intends to send the wideout to a specialist who should provide further guidance.

Chargers Hire Greg Roman As OC

February 6th, 2024 at 7:10pm CST by Ely Allen

FEBRUARY 7: The Chargers have officially hired Roman, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. The veteran coach is also expected to be named offensive coordinator. This will be Roman’s fourth crack as an NFL OC. He served in that capacity for the 49ers (under Jim Harbaugh) and Ravens (under John), along with the Bills.

FEBRUARY 5: Former NFL offensive coordinator Greg Roman is on the cusp of making a return to the NFL as Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports that he is expected to join the Chargers in a prominent capacity. Roman is not only going to be rejoining the NFL, he will also be joining the staff of a Harbaugh in the NFL for the third time in his career.

After spending the 2023 season away from the NFL following his resignation from Baltimore’s offensive coordinator position under John Harbaugh, Roman is primed to return to the league under John’s younger brother, Jim Harbaugh. Jim is fresh off a National Championship victory with the Michigan Wolverines and, after years of anticipation, has finally decided to make the leap back to coaching at the NFL level in Los Angeles. With his return, the younger Harbaugh has opted to bring back a trusty coworker with whom he is very familiar.

Roman first started in the NFL as an offensive line assistant for the Panthers in their inaugural season back in 1995. After a four-year stint with the Texans that saw him coaching both the tight end and quarterback positions, Roman had his first job with the Ravens as an offensive line assistant under Brian Billick. Following his first stint with the Ravens and a one-year detour as a high school offensive coordinator in New Jersey, Roman found his first job under a Harbaugh with Jim as associate head coach at Stanford.

When Harbaugh made his first move to the NFL to coach the 49ers, he brought Roman along as his offensive coordinator. After a rumored power struggle led to Harbaugh’s departure from San Francisco, Roman accepted the offensive coordinator job at Buffalo under Rex Ryan. After a two-year stint with the Bills, Roman found his way back to Baltimore to work for the elder Harbaugh brother as a senior offensive assistant and tight ends coach, exchanging the “senior offensive assistant” for “assistant head coach” in his job title in his second year with the team.

Roman would be promoted to offensive coordinator in Baltimore following the retirement of Marty Mornhinweg. In a full offseason with a second-year Lamar Jackson determined as the starter with Joe Flacco newly departed, Roman and Jackson would help deliver the franchise’s winningest season in its history, with Jackson winning his first MVP award. The next two seasons would see similar success from Jackson when he was healthy but a complete inability to mold Jackson’s offense to his backups in an effective manner.

Eventually, after a series of disappointing postseason exits, Roman and the Ravens would mutually part ways. Roman’s stretches as an offensive coordinator have revealed interesting patterns. He has routinely been paired with dual-threat quarterbacks like Jackson, Colin Kaepernick, and Tyrod Taylor. He tends to see less and less success the longer he stays in one place with lots of attention being called to his red-zone play-calling.

Roman’s pairing with an offense led by quarterback Justin Herbert is an interesting prospect. He may not have the same influence on quarterbacks as he’s had in previous years and may be asked to help boost a rushing attack that finished 25th in the league in yards last year. Regardless, Roman is a trusted companion for the new Chargers head coach, and his return to the NFL will be interesting to watch in Los Angeles.

Raiders Hire Luke Getsy As OC

February 6th, 2024 at 6:05pm CST by Sam Robinson

FEBRUARY 6: The Raiders have made it official. The team announced the hiring of Getsy as its new offensive coordinator.

FEBRUARY 4: Less than a day after Kliff Kingsbury backtracked on a reported agreement to become the Raiders’ offensive coordinator, the team is moving toward another option. The team is zeroing in on Luke Getsy.

The Raiders and the recently fired Bears OC are working on an agreement, according to SI.com’s Albert Breer. A hire is expected, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler tweets. This would be for another play-calling OC gig; the Bears axed Getsy after two years in the same role. This has been an eventful search for Antonio Pierce‘s team, but it is looking like — barring another 11th-hour breakdown — the AFC West club will have a new play-caller in place soon.

A number of Raiders targets took OC jobs elsewhere. The Bengals promoted Dan Pitcher to what is a non-play-calling OC position. Ex-Browns OC Alex Van Pelt interviewed with the Raiders but accepted the Patriots’ play-calling OC role. The Raiders also had Klint Kubiak, Zac Robinson and Shane Waldron on their radar. This trio of candidates respectively is now aligned with the Saints, Falcons and Bears. As a result of Kingsbury’s course change, the Raiders are ready to commit to a future with Chicago’s previous play-caller.

The Kingsbury agreement surfaced on Thursday. As of Saturday morning, however, the deal was off. Kingsbury informed the Raiders he would not take the job; this came after contract negotiations fell apart. The USC quarterbacks coach is believed to have sought a three-year deal, while the Raiders were aiming at a two-year pact. This might not boil down to only term length, but as it stands now, Kingsbury is squarely on the Commanders’ radar to become their play-calling OC.

Following the Kingsbury news, dot connecting between the Raiders and Getsy commenced. Though, the Raiders also spoke with Eric Bieniemy about the position. With Kingsbury and Chip Kelly — another Raiders candidate — on the radar in Washington, it certainly appears Bieniemy will not be retained. Seeing as Bieniemy arrived in Washington when Dan Snyder and Ron Rivera were still in power, it seemed a long shot he would stay — especially after a 4-13 season — under this new Josh Harris–Adam Peters–Dan Quinn regime.

Getsy, 39, interviewed for the Raiders’ OC job last week; they were the first team to reach out. While the interview went well, the Raiders did not position the ex-Packers QBs coach as their first choice. Getsy also interviewed for the Patriots and Saints’ OC positions, meeting with the Saints twice. But the team is prepared to go with Kubiak.

Tasked with developing Justin Fields, Getsy drew criticism as that effort did not go smoothly. That said, the ex-Aaron Rodgers position coach made a concerted effort to utilize Fields’ gifts in the run game midway through the 2022 season. The result nearly brought down Lamar Jackson‘s single-season QB rushing record; Fields finished with 1,143 rushing yards — second-most by a QB in a season — in 2022. The jury is still out on Fields as a passer, leading to the Caleb Williams rumors, but the Bears respectively ranked first and second on the ground in Getsy’s two seasons.

On the whole, the Bears ranked 23rd and 18th in scoring offense during Getsy’s two seasons in Illinois. Prior to that stay, he also served as the Packers’ pass-game coordinator from 2020-21. Current Raider Davante Adams ripped off his first two All-Pro seasons during that span.

Assuming this Getsy-Raiders partnership becomes official, this year’s OC carousel will feature three recently fired coordinators — Getsy, Van Pelt, Ken Dorsey — landing jobs elsewhere. The Chargers also did not retain Kellen Moore, but he is now in place as the Eagles’ OC. Ditto Seattle and Waldron, who left for Chicago after three years as Pete Carroll‘s OC. Getsy will step into an interesting position in Las Vegas.

Some of this era’s top offensive minds reside in the AFC West. Andy Reid is set to coach in his fifth Super Bowl, while the Broncos have former Super Bowl champion Sean Payton in his second offseason running the show. The Chargers have upped the ante, hiring ex-Super Bowl HC and reigning national champion Jim Harbaugh to oversee Justin Herbert‘s development. Getsy will join a team that has by far the least experienced head coach in the division, and with Pierce’s background on defense, it will be Getsy in full command on the offensive side.

The Raiders also have a quarterback question to answer, joining the Broncos in that regard. Getsy will either be charged with developing a draft choice or working with a veteran acquisition. Either way, plenty will be on the young assistant’s shoulders in 2024.

Coaching Notes: Vrabel, Fangio, Dolphins, Eagles, Marrone, Saints, Titans, Bills

February 6th, 2024 at 4:55pm CST by Sam Robinson

Seeing as Mike Vrabel went from highly regarded HC to trade candidate to bumped off this year’s carousel entirely, potential reasoning behind the ex-Titans boss’ standing is certainly relevant. Vrabel’s old-school, intimidating style may have been a factor in him not landing a job, with a GM going so far as to mention to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini this even could even extend to his physical stature. The former NFL linebacker also may have found himself pigeonholed as a slightly older candidate, even at 48, than some owners wanted, Russini offered during an appearance on The Athletic Football Show. Only Jim Harbaugh (60) and Dan Quinn (53) was older among this year’s eight HC hires. Vrabel interviewed for the Falcons, Panthers and Chargers’ jobs.

Some teams were interested in hiring Vrabel as a defensive coordinator, Russini adds, but the six-year NFL HC has not been connected to any specific coordinator jobs. With not many DC positions left, Vrabel seems likely to join Bill Belichick as coaches on the outside looking in this year. Vrabel may stand to have a better chance of landing another HC job moving forward, with Belichick set to turn 72 in April. For now, however, he is out of the league. The reports about Vrabel clashing with Titans ownership may have impacted his chances as well.

Here is the latest from the coaching ranks:

  • On the subject of coaching clashes, Vic Fangio‘s style did not appear to draw universal praise while with the Dolphins. Jalen Ramsey, Jevon Holland and rookie Cam Smith expressed issues with the veteran DC, ProFootballNetwork.com’s Adam Beasley notes. While praising Fangio’s old-school demands, Tyreek Hill also relayed a rumor about others indicating behind closed doors the team’s 2023 DC wanted to return to Philadelphia. Previously mentioned as rubbing some in Miami the wrong way, Fangio is indeed back with the Eagles. The Dolphins have hired ex-Ravens D-line coach Anthony Weaver to replace him.
  • Preparing to hire Klint Kubiak as offensive coordinator, the Saints will not extend Doug Marrone‘s second stint with the team into the 2024 season. In place as the Saints’ offensive line coach from 2022-23, Marrone will not be asked back, Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.football tweets. The Saints have veteran O-line coach John Benton as a frontrunner to fill the spot, NOLA.com’s Luke Johnson adds. Benton, 60, would be a logical hire. He worked as Gary Kubiak‘s O-line coach for eight years in Houston and was the 49ers’ O-line coach under Kyle Shanahan from 2017-20. After following Robert Saleh to New York in 2021, Benton spent this past season out of football.
  • Former Falcons assistants Steve Jackson and Frank Bush will be part of new Titans DC Dennard Wilson‘s staff, ESPN.com’s Turron Davenport tweets. A former Texans DC and interim Jets DC, Bush was on Arthur Smith‘s Falcons staff as linebackers coach for three years. This will be a return trip for Jackson, who has a history as a player and a coach with the franchise. A former Oilers cornerback, Jackson finished his career in Super Bowl XXXIV with the Titans. He later served as assistant DBs coach under Mike Mularkey in Tennessee from 2016-17. Jackson spent the past two seasons with the Falcons.
  • The Bills are moving senior defensive assistant Al Holcomb to a position coach role. The former Panthers DC will replace Bobby Babich as Buffalo’s linebackers coach, ESPN.com’s Alaina Getzenberg notes. Babich is now Buffalo’s DC. Holcomb, who worked with Sean McDermott in Carolina, joined the Bills last year. The AFC East champs are also promoting Marcus West from assistant defensive line coach to D-line coach to replace Eric Washington, who became the Bears’ DC last month.

Latest On Seahawks’ HC Decision; Eric Bieniemy On Radar For OC?

February 6th, 2024 at 3:51pm CST by Sam Robinson

Fallout from the Seahawks and Commanders’ HC hires points to Seattle winning out, hiring Mike Macdonald despite Washington’s push. It took a six-year contract for the Seahawks to land the young defensive coordinator, but they are starting over after initially being connected to Dan Quinn.

Likely the Commanders’ fallback option during what turned into a complicated HC search that featured some notable Ben Johnson involvement, Quinn was the first name mentioned in connection with the Seahawks’ job. But the veteran staffer’s past with Pete Carroll may well have been an issue for the team. As the Seahawks sought a fresher option, Sportskeeda’s Tony Pauline notes Quinn’s two stints under Carroll worked against him.

The team viewed Quinn as too similar to Carroll, per Pauline. Considering Quinn worked under Carroll in 2010 — after being added to the then-Jim Mora Jr.-led Seattle staff in ’09 — and then led the team’s defense from 2013-14, comparing Quinn to his former boss is understandable. The Seahawks led the NFL in scoring defense during both Super Bowl seasons under Quinn, and he reestablished his value with the Cowboys over the past three years. But he will be tasked with leading the Commanders now, as Macdonald is moving forward with assembling his Seahawks staff.

Quinn and Commanders front office boss Adam Peters informed Eric Bieniemy, following the team’s Kliff Kingsbury OC addition, he would not be retained. At this time last year, Bieniemy had been a Commanders target after five seasons as the Chiefs’ non-play-calling OC. Seeing HC interest decline in recent years and his first year as a play-calling OC produce a decline on offense in Washington, Bieniemy sits in limbo late in the hiring period.

The Seahawks should still be a team to watch in connection with Bieniemy, according to ProFootballNetwork.com’s Adam Caplan, who connects the NFC West team to the veteran assistant for the OC job. The Seahawks have thus far been tied to new Alabama OC Ryan Grubb and Lions pass-game coordinator Tanner Engstrand for what will be a play-calling OC post. The Giants blocked the Hawks from interviewing OC Mike Kafka.

Bieniemy’s failure to land a head coaching job during his five-year run as Chiefs OC became one of this period’s defining coaching storylines. Bieniemy’s Washington departure also leaves the NFL with no Black offensive coordinators or offensive play-callers. This has been a longstanding issue for the league, even as four teams hired minority HCs during this year’s cycle. The three Black candidates hired — Antonio Pierce, Jerod Mayo, Raheem Morris — came from the defensive side. This pattern has shined a light on Bieniemy’s candidacy, but after the Commanders finished 25th in scoring offense and closed the season on an eight-game losing streak, their 2023 OC’s stock has dropped.

Additionally, the Seahawks will retain their defensive pass-game coordinator. Initially linked to following ex-Seattle DC Clint Hurtt to Philadelphia, Karl Scott will stay in Seattle, according to the Seattle Times’ Bob Condotta. Scott has been the team’s DBs coach for the past two seasons, and while Condotta adds his role under Macdonald is unclear, the Seahawks will keep a Carroll assistant on that side of the ball.

The team is also hiring Kirk Olivadotti from the Packers, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson tweets. The son of former Dolphins DC Tom Olivadotti, Kirk has been an NFL assistant for most of the 21st century. Spending much of his career (16 years over two stints) with Washington, Olivadotti joined Macdonald on the Georgia Bulldogs’ staff from 2011-13. Olivadotti coached the Bulldogs’ linebackers in that span, while Macdonald was on the quality control level. After spending the past five seasons as the Packers’ ILBs coach, the 50-year-old assistant is expected to coach the Hawks’ linebackers.

Ravens, G Kevin Zeitler Discussing Deal

February 6th, 2024 at 2:51pm CST by Sam Robinson

Kevin Zeitler has continued to serve as a reliable interior offensive lineman. Now on team No. 4, Zeitler picked up his first Pro Bowl nod during a 12-year career. The Ravens guard also wants to play at least one more season.

Although Zeitler is one of the NFL’s oldest active O-linemen, set to turn 34 next month, the Ravens are interested in bringing him back. GM Eric DeCosta said he and Zeitler have discussed another deal, Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic notes (subscription required). Zeitler played out his initial three-year Baltimore pact this season.

A late-career Steelers cameo from completing the AFC North sweep, Zeitler has been one of the Ravens’ most dependable cogs during the 2020s. Pro Football Focus has graded Zeitler as a top-15 guard in each of his three Baltimore seasons. In 2023, the advanced metrics website slotted him as the NFL’s second-best pass-protecting guard. Illustrating the inconsistencies in grading O-linemen, ESPN’s pass block win rate metric did not place Zeitler in the top 20. But the former Bengals, Browns and Giants blocker has been durable and a regular starter over the course of his 12-year career.

Zeitler scored big in free agency back in 2017, parlaying his fifth-year option Bengals season into a then-guard-record deal with the Browns (five years, $60MM). Changing GMs during Zeitler’s Cleveland tenure, the Browns included him as part of their Odell Beckham Jr. deal in 2019. The Giants used Zeitler as a two-season starter, and despite then-GM Dave Gettleman‘s push to bolster the team’s O-line, Big Blue released the trade pickup in 2021. Zeitler then signed a three-year, $22.5MM deal with the Ravens.

The former first-round pick expressed a desire for a Ravens extension last summer, but no new deal emerged. Zeitler started 15 more games with the Ravens, playing out the contract while missing only four contests in that three-season run. Zeitler has started 181 career games. Than number ranks in the top 20 all time; the Wisconsin alum is 29 starts ahead of Zack Martin among active guards.

With Ravens left guard John Simpson due for free agency as well, the Ravens face the prospect of losing both their guard starters. The team let contract-year breakout blocker Ben Powers depart last year, opting for Simpson at a lower cost. With Simpson playing out his deal and Tyler Linderbaum on a rookie pact that can be pushed to 2026 via the fifth-year option, Zeitler staying on a midlevel accord makes sense. He will be a more affordable free agent than Patrick Queen, who appears poised to test the market, and Justin Madubuike, who is likely to be franchise-tagged. Baltimore also has effective stopgap pass rushers Jadeveon Clowney and Kyle Van Noy out of contract.

This year’s guard market features some interesting first-time free agents. Jonah Jackson, Kevin Dotson, Robert Hunt, Damien Lewis, Jon Runyan Jr., and Ezra Cleveland are weeks away from hitting the market. Among guards to have held UFA status previously, Zeitler may lead the pack for value. Ex-Denver teammates Graham Glasgow and Dalton Risner are among the veteran options set to be available. The Ravens have until March 11 to keep Zeitler off the market.

Ken Zampese, Ike Hilliard, Barrett Ruud Join Falcons’ Staff; Team Retains Jerry Gray

February 6th, 2024 at 1:52pm CST by Sam Robinson

In Zac Robinson and Jimmy Lake, Raheem Morris installed two first-time NFL coordinators as his top lieutenants. The returning Falcons leader will backstop the OC-DC tandem with some experienced staffers in key posts.

The Falcons hired Ken Zampese as a senior offensive assistant, and the team is retaining defensive assistant Jerry Gray. The latter, an Arthur Smith hire, agreed to an extension to stay under Morris, NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo notes. Zampese worked as the Bengals’ OC from 2016-17, while Gray has multiple stints of DC experience. The veteran staffer served as the Bills’ DC in the 2000s and led the Titans’ defense from 2011-13. Gray will continue in an assistant HC/defense capacity.

Gray, 61, came to Atlanta after philosophical differences with then-Green Bay DC Joe Barry keyed a Wisconsin exit. The former decorated DB has been an NFL assistant for the past 27 seasons. A second-generation NFL assistant, Zampese brings 24 years of experience at this level. The 56-year-old staffer is best known for his 15 seasons on Marvin Lewis‘ Bengals staff, most of which coming as the team’s QBs coach. Zampese was in that role for the past four seasons under Ron Rivera in Washington.

Ike Hillard also joined the Falcons as their wide receivers coach. This will mark a return to the league for the former Giants starter. Hilliard, 47, did not coach in 2022 and was last in the NFL as the Steelers’ receivers coach from 2020-21. An NFL receivers coach from 2011-21, Hilliard was at Auburn in 2022. The Falcons also added Kevin Koger as their tight ends coach. Koger was on the radar for OC positions in 2022, interviewing for the Broncos and Packers’ jobs. Koger, 34, spent the past three years as the Chargers’ TEs coach. These appointments will be rather important, given the investments the Falcons made in Drake London and Kyle Pitts.

As Hilliard settles in, the Falcons will shift T.J. Yates from receivers coach to quarterbacks coach. The former NFL QB spent three seasons on Smith’s staff, arriving during the 2021 offseason in which Morris left for Los Angeles. This will be his first season as a team’s top QBs coach, though it is not yet known exactly who Yates will be developing. Morris is also keeping Dwayne Ledford as offensive line coach, adding the role of run-game coordinator to his title. Smith brought Ledford out of the college ranks in 2021. Pro Football Focus ranked the Falcons’ O-line fourth last season. The Falcons retained assistant Steven King but will move him from an offensive staffer to assistant special teams coach.

Multiple Rams staffers will follow Morris as well. Tim Berbenich, a 2023 Rams assistant, signed on as a Falcons pass-game specialist. He will also hold game management responsibilities. Lance Schulters, whose DB career included a stop in Atlanta, joined Morris’ staff as a defensive assistant. He last coached with the Rams in 2022. Nick Jones, a three-year Rams staffer, is signing on with the Falcons as assistant O-line coach. Offensive assistant K.J. Black will also come to Georgia after spending time on McVay’s staff.

Jay Rodgers, whom the Chargers fired shortly after dismissing Brandon Staley, will receive another opportunity as part of this staff. The Falcons hired Rodgers as their D-line coach. Rodgers has been an NFL D-line coach for the past 12 years, serving in that capacity for the Broncos and Bears ahead of his L.A. stay. Justin Hood will move up to DBs coach, after spending 2023 on the quality control level in Green Bay.

Former NFL linebacker Barrett Ruud will also make his coaching debut in the pros, being hired as Atlanta’s ILBs coach. Ruud coached at Nebraska, his alma mater, from 2018-22. The Falcons will keep Michael Pitre as their running backs coach. Helping Tyler Allgeier to a 1,000-yard rookie year, Pitre has held this role for the past two seasons.

Rounding out the staff, the Falcons are hiring the son of longtime Patriots O-line coach Dante Scarnecchia. Steve Scarnecchia is onboard as the Falcons’ chief of staff, coming over from the Jets. Ex-Bolts assistant John Timu is now on Lake’s defensive staff. Chandler Whitmer, in place as a pass-game specialist, will join Rodgers, Timu and Koger incoming from the Chargers’ staff.

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