Last year, half the league changed up at offensive and defensive coordinator. We are still a bit away from the floodgates opening on the OC and DC markets, due to many HC jobs remaining open, but here is an early look at the coordinator openings and the candidates in the mix to fill them. When other teams make changes, they will be added to the list.
Updated 1-17-25 (5:57pm CT)
Offensive coordinators
Cleveland Browns (out: Ken Dorsey)
- Darrell Bevell, quarterbacks coach (Miami Dolphins): Interviewed 1/9
- Kevin Koger, tight ends coach (Atlanta Falcons): Interviewed 1/10
- Klint Kubiak, offensive coordinator (New Orleans Saints): Interviewed 1/13
- Charles London, quarterbacks coach (Atlanta Falcons): Interviewed
- Tommy Rees, tight ends coach (Cleveland Browns): Promoted
New England Patriots (out: Alex Van Pelt)
- Thomas Brown, interim head coach (Chicago Bears): Interviewed 1/14
- Josh McDaniels, former head coach (Las Vegas Raiders): Confirmed candidate
- Tommy Rees, tight ends coach (Cleveland Browns): Rumored candidate
San Francisco 49ers
- Klay Kubiak, pass-game specialist (San Francisco 49ers): Promotion expected
- Noah Pauley, wide receivers coach (Iowa State): Interviewed 1/13
Seattle Seahawks (out: Ryan Grubb)
- Thomas Brown, interim head coach (Chicago Bears): Interviewed
- Hank Fraley, offensive line coach (Detroit Lions): Interviewed
- Klint Kubiak, offensive coordinator (New Orleans Saints): To conduct second interview 1/17
- Byron Leftwich, former offensive coordinator (Tampa Bay Buccaneers): Interviewed
- Grant Udinski, assistant quarterbacks coach (Minnesota Vikings): To conduct second interview 1/17
Defensive coordinators
Atlanta Falcons (Out: Jimmy Lake)
- Lou Anarumo, former defensive coordinator (Cincinnati Bengals): Interviewed 1/15
- Derrick Ansley, pass-game coordinator (Atlanta Falcons): Interviewed 1/16
- Grady Brown, secondary coach (Pittsburgh Steelers): Interviewed 1/17
- Wink Martindale, defensive coordinator (Michigan): Interviewed 1/14
- Jeff Ulbrich, interim head coach (New York Jets): Interviewed 1/15
- Steve Wilks, former defensive coordinator (San Francisco 49ers): Interviewed 1/17
Cincinnati Bengals (Out: Lou Anarumo)
- DeMarcus Covington, defensive coordinator (New England Patriots): Interviewed
- Matt Eberflus, former head coach (Chicago Bears): Mentioned as candidate
- Patrick Graham, defensive coordinator (Las Vegas Raiders): Interviewed
- Wink Martindale, defensive coordinator (Michigan): Rumored candidate
Indianapolis Colts (Out: Gus Bradley)
- Dennis Allen, former head coach (New Orleans Saints): To interview 1/17
- Lou Anarumo, former defensive coordinator (Cincinnati Bengals): Interviewed 1/15
- Ephraim Banda, safeties coach (Cleveland Browns): Interviewed 1/10
- Wink Martindale, defensive coordinator (Michigan): Interviewed 1/15
- Steve Wilks, former defensive coordinator (San Francisco 49ers): Interviewed
San Francisco 49ers (Out: Nick Sorensen)
- Gus Bradley, former defensive coordinator (Indianapolis Colts): Rumored candidate
- Robert Saleh, former head coach (New York Jets): Interviewed 1/9; offer expected?
- Brandon Staley, assistant head coach (San Francisco 49ers): Mentioned as candidate
- Deshea Townsend, defensive backs coach (Detroit Lions): Interviewed 1/9
- Jeff Ulbrich, interim head coach (New York Jets): Rumored candidate
Everybody noted the failures of the Nick Sorenson defense in San Francisco, but is it fair to note the coincidental appearance of Brandon Staley as a high level coach at the same time as the 9ers’ defensive demise?
I doubt Staley has much of anything to do with it. I think most people would blame most of the decline of the defense on spending so much time short of Hargrave, Greenlaw, Ward, Hufanga, Jackson, and Bosa. I think cutting Sorensen loose is changing course after not loving the experience of him as a first time coordinator. Shanahan’s DCs are also like his strategic sparring partners. With Saleh, Ulbrich, and others on the market, maybe he wanted someone in a higher weight class.
I did. Charger Ds under Staley underperformed too.