HEADLINES

Month: January 2025

Falcons To Conduct DC Interview With Lou Anarumo

January 14th, 2025 at 10:41am CST by Adam La Rose

The Falcons are among the teams to make coordinator changes this offseason. DC Jimmy Lake was dismissed over the weekend, and the search for his replacement will be worth monitoring.

Former Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo will interview with the Falcons for their vacancy, as first reported by NFL Network’s Colleen Wolfe. Confirming the news, D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution adds the meeting will take place on Thursday. This marks the second DC gig Anarumo has been connected to.

The 58-year-old had a lengthy college coaching career before joining the pro ranks with the Dolphins. Anarumo spent six years coaching Miami’s defensive backs before doing the same with the Giants in 2018. That was followed by his first full-time NFL coordinator opportunity as he joined Zac Taylor‘s initial Bengals staff. His six-year run in that capacity came to an end after this season.

The Bengals’ best season on defense under Anarumo came in 2022, when the team finished sixth in points allowed. On four other occasions, though, Cincinnati ranked outside the top 20 in that category; that includes this past campaign, one in which the Bengals were hampered by injuries in the secondary but still fell short of even moderate expectations. Despite quarterback Joe Burrow leading the league in passing yards and wideout Ja’Marr Chase winning the ‘Triple Crown’ (by topping the NFL in receptions, yards and touchdowns), Cincinnati finished 9-8 and missed the playoffs.

While the Bengals search out a replacement coordinator, Anarumo may not need to wait long to find his next opportunity. He is expected to be among the candidates to interview for the Colts’ DC position, one which was created after the season with the firing of Gus Bradley. In addition to Indianapolis interest, Anarumo has found himself on Atlanta’s radar.

During Lake’s first year with the Falcons – which doubled as his debut campaign as an NFL coordinator – Atlanta ranked 23rd in total and scoring defense. Once again, a lack of pressure on opposing quarterbacks was a problem; the team finished with only 31 sacks, the second-fewest in the NFL. Taking a step forward in that department will be a goal for 2025. Under Anarumo this year, the Bengals ranked just 24th in sacks despite Trey Hendrickson leading the league with 17.5.

This marks the first known candidate for the Falcons as they look to improve on Lake’s performance on defense. It will be interesting to see how Anarumo’s interview shakes out and where else the team looks for potential hires.

Raiders Request GM Interview With Jon-Eric Sullivan, To Meet With John Spytek

January 14th, 2025 at 9:48am CST by Adam La Rose

The Raiders have begun the process of seeking out candidates for their general manager vacancy. To no surprise, two of the names on the team’s radar are among the top options in this year’s hiring cycle.

Jon-Eric Sullivan has received an interview request, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports. The Packers’ director of player personnel also received a slip from the Jets as part of their ongoing search. More notably, Sullivan is also among the apparent finalists for the Titans’ GM gig. A second interview with Tennessee is on tap, something which is also the case with a number of other in-demand candidates.

Another name heavily connected to the Titans is that of Buccaneers assistant general manager John Spytek. He too has a second interview lined up, but the Raiders have arranged a meeting of their own. ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times report Spytek will interview with Vegas as part of the team’s first round of meetings with candidates.

As a result of Spytek’s connection to Tom Brady given their time spent together at Michigan and again in Tampa Bay, he was floated as a potential candidate for the Raiders’ GM position. To no surprise, then, he has found himself in demand from two of the three teams seeking out a major front office hire. Up to this point, the Jets’ wide-ranging search process has not included contact with Spytek.

Having moved on from both head coach Antonio Pierce and general manager Tom Telesco, the Raiders have a pair of major organizational decisions looming. Brady – along with veteran headhunter Jed Hughes – will be key figures in the process of filling those vacancies. Owner Mark Davis does not plan on repeating his ‘Patriot Way’ approach from the Josh McDaniels-Dave Ziegler era, so it will be interesting to see which new direction the franchise moves in on the sidelines and in the front office.

Cowboys Considering Deion Sanders For Head Coaching Job

January 13th, 2025 at 10:35pm CST by Ben Levine

10:35pm: Sanders acknowledged that Jones reached out to him about the Cowboys HC job, but the coach also reiterated his commitment to Colorado.

“To hear from Jerry Jones is truly delightful, and it’s intriguing,” Deion Sanders said (via ESPN’s Adam Schefter). “I love Jerry and believe in Jerry. After you hang up, and process it, and think about it, it’s intriguing. But I love Boulder and everything there is about our team, the coaches, our student body and the community.”

7:50pm: While Deion Sanders has been mentioned as a potential candidate for a handful of NFL jobs, the Colorado head coach has yet to garner definitive interest from an organization. It sounds like that’s about to change, as the Cowboys apparently have their former star player on their radar.

[RELATED: Mike McCarthy Will Not Return As Cowboys’ Head Coach]

According to Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has spoken with Sanders about the team’s head coaching vacancy. “Discussions are expected to continue,” and Prime is considered a top candidate for the position. At the same time, Schultz cautions that the organization plans to interview other candidates as part of their process. The two sides haven’t scheduled an interview, but they’re expected to continue the dialogue, per Schultz.

Sanders, of course, had a standout five-year stint with the organization after the Cowboys won the “Deion Sweepstakes” during the 1995 offseason. While Sanders was limited to only nine games during his debut season in Dallas, he had a productive three-game postseason run to a Super Bowl championship (his second-straight after his one-season stop in San Francisco). Sanders proceeded to earn three-straight first-team All-Pro nods with the Cowboys between 1996 and 1998, but he was released due to salary-cap constraints following the 1999 campaign.

Close to two decades after his playing career ended, Sanders returned to the sideline as head coach of his own Prime Prep Academy. After coaching his sons for a year in high school, he was named head coach of Jackson State University, where he spent three seasons. He parlayed that performance into a gig at Colorado, where he had a chance to once again coach his son, Shedeur Sanders. Colorado’s run this past season solidified Sanders as an up-and-coming head coach, and it didn’t take long for the Hall of Famer to be connected to NFL coaching vacancies.

That included the job in Las Vegas, which Sanders was reportedly eyeing. The coach has a relationship with Tom Brady (who is spearheading the Raiders search), and there’s a chance the organization could make a move for Shedeur in the draft. Ultimately, the Raiders denied their interest in Sanders, but it didn’t take long for Prime Time to pop back up as a candidate in Dallas.

The Cowboys announced today that they’re moving on from Mike McCarthy, opening the door for a potential Dallas return for Sanders. The coach previously said he’d only consider a move to the NFL if he had the opportunity to coach his son, and with Dak Prescott attached to a newly-inked extension, it seems unlikely that Shedeur would land in Dallas. However, perhaps Deion would change his tune considering his relationship with the Cowboys organization. Schultz echoes the sentiment that Sanders has generally dismissed a move to the NFL, “but this was one call he wasn’t going to ignore.”

Mike McCarthy Will Not Return As Cowboys’ Head Coach

January 13th, 2025 at 10:20pm CST by Adam La Rose

After talks on a new deal failed to result in an agreement, Mike McCarthy is set to depart the Cowboys. Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports Dallas and the former Super Bowl winner will go their separate ways this offseason. A team announcement has since confirmed the news.

Several signs have pointed throughout the year to McCarthy remaining in Dallas despite the fact he spent the season on an expiring contract. He and owner Jerry Jones communicated with one another once the campaign ended, a point at which the Bears and Saints emerged as teams which could be interested in the event McCarthy became a free agent. Tomorrow night looms as the expiration date of his current pact, although Pelissero’s colleague Ian Rapoport notes he is free to speak with teams immediately.

[RELATED: Fallout From Cowboys-McCarthy Separation]

A report from last week stated McCarthy and the Cowboys were set to begin negotiating the terms of a new contract. A window of opportunity therefore existed for the parties to reach an agreement before tomorrow’s deadline, but that will no longer be the case. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported earlier on Monday there had not, in fact, been substantive talks on a new contract up to this point. Now, this latest update on the situation confirms Dallas will be in the market for a new head coach after McCarthy held the role for five seasons.

The first year of that tenure produced a 6-10 season, but McCarthy managed to deliver sustained regular season success after that point. The 61-year-old helped lead Dallas to a 12-5 record every year from 2021-23. This past campaign, a Cowboys roster which lost several key players in the offseason was hit hard by injuries. Dallas fell out of playoff contention early, although a turnaround late in the year seemed to help McCarthy’s stock.

Of course, the veteran’s tenure in Dallas will best be remembered for his playoff outings. Of the four postseason games McCarthy coached with the Cowboys, the team only ended up winning one. Jones cited last year’s home wild-card defeat against the Packers as a main reason why he made the decision to retain McCarthy without offering him an extension. After making it clear no in-season firing would take place (as was the case when his Green Bay tenure ended), questions were raised about how negotiations would proceed.

As Pelissero and CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones note, one of the main sticking points between Jones and McCarthy was the length of a potential new contract. Given the former’s hesitance to make a new commitment last offseason, it would of come as something of a surprise if a long-term offer has been made over the weekend. As the latter prepares to seek out his market, meanwhile, his assistants are also set to become free agents.

The Bears requested permission to interview McCarthy last week, when his Dallas future remained uncertain. The Cowboys blocked it, a move which has now proven to be a moot point. Chicago has conducted a wide-ranging search with interest being shown in NFL and college staffers. Longtime Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll – who is now joined by McCarthy as a 2025 candidate with a lengthy resume and a Super Bowl title – already interviewed with the Bears. It will be interesting to see if McCarthy does the same.

It was also learned last week that the Saints could be a team to watch in the event McCarthy reached the market. Since that is now the case, New Orleans will be free to set up an interview. Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn is seen as the top candidate for the job at this point, but plenty could change on that front over the coming days and weeks.

Former DC Dan Quinn could have represented a candidate to take over from McCarthy had a change been made last year. Quinn took the Commanders’ coaching gig, however, leaving Dallas in need of a different defensive coordinator. Mike Zimmer was brought in after previously leading the team’s defense over a seven-year period. The former Vikings head coach has expressed a desire to land another HC gig, and it will be interesting to see if Jones considers promoting him to the role. Meanwhile, Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz reports Bill Belichick would have had interest in Dallas’ opening had it existed before his decision to take charge of North Carolina. He adds that feeling likely would have been mutual, but now the Cowboys will need to move in another direction.

McCarthy sports an all-time winning percentage of .608, making him one of the most accomplished staffers available for the 2025 hiring cycle. He is a somewhat late addition to the list of options for the winter, but with the Patriots representing the only team to make a head coaching hire so far he could have several suitors in the near future.

Bears Schedule Mike McCarthy Interview

January 13th, 2025 at 10:10pm CST by Ben Levine

With Mike McCarthy a coaching free agent after he and the Cowboys did not reach serious negotiations on a new deal, the Bears are back in play. And they will meet with the five-year Cowboys leader.

McCarthy will interview for the Chicago HC job Wednesday, the Dallas Morning News’ David Moore reports. The Bears had requested a McCarthy meeting while he was still under contract, but the Cowboys blocked it. That is no longer in the equation, and the Bears will take advantage.

It’s rare to see an organization request a HC interview with another team’s head coach, although perhaps the Bears were reading the tea leafs ahead of the Dallas divorce. Chicago’s request also revealed that the front office would be willing to consider a trade for a head coach. Of course, that route seemed unlikely with Dallas considering the coach’s expiring contract, and now the Bears won’t face any restrictions as they consider McCarthy for their head coaching vacancy.

The Bears have left no stone unturned in their search for a new head coach, with the team’s long list of candidates only rivaling the Jets during this year’s hiring cycle. McCarthy would naturally represent one of the more experienced names on the list, although the Bears haven’t really hinted at whether they’re seeking a veteran coach or a fresh face. The team’s search has ranged from the likes of long-time coach Pete Carroll to Notre Dame’s Marcus Freeman, who doesn’t have any NFL experience.

Considering McCarthy’s penchant for developing quarterbacks, it’s not a surprise that the Bears would consider the long-time coach as they look to maximize first-overall pick Caleb Williams. McCarthy, of course, helped oversee the Packers’ transition from Brett Favre to Aaron Rodgers, and he finished his 13-year Green Bay tenure with only three losing seasons.

Dak Prescott was already well established when McCarthy was installed as the Cowboys’ head coach, and there was hope that the fresh voice could help guide Dallas to the promised land. That obviously didn’t come to fruition, and McCarthy started gaining a reputation as a playoff failure. For a Bears team that’s simply looking to regain some credibility, that sentiment probably won’t be a major concern.

McCarthy is the 20th name connected to the Bears head coaching vacancy. Per our 2025 NFL Head Coaching Search Tracker, the rest of that group includes:

Mike McCarthy Fallout: Failed Negotiations, Cowboys Candidates, McCarthy Suitors

January 13th, 2025 at 9:45pm CST by Ben Levine

The Mike McCarthy era in Dallas finally came to an end today, as the team announced that they wouldn’t be re-signing their head coach. With McCarthy’s contract set to expire tomorrow, the two sides were reportedly negotiating the terms of a new deal. However, it sounds like true contract talks never took place.

[RELATED: Cowboys Considering Deion Sanders For Head Coaching Job]

In a statement, owner Jerry Jones clearly stated that he made the determination to move on from McCarthy before any contract talks could commence.

“Over the past week, Mike [McCarthy] and I had the opportunity to conduct a joint review of all aspects of the past season, our players and staff, and also spent considerable time discussing the road forward for the team,” Jones said (via Jon Machota of The Athletic). “These discussions were thorough and received an appropriate amount of time and depth to cover. Prior to reaching the point of contract negotiations, though, it became mutually clear that it would be better for each of us to head in a different direction.”

While Jones’ statement was pretty clear, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero slightly pushes back at the notion that the two sides never discussed a new contract. Pelissero somewhat points to semantics, noting that “contract negotiations” would signal a definitive exchange of proposals (vs. the informal “talks”). Either way, the reporter believes the two sides did indeed discuss a path forward but ultimately couldn’t agree on contract length.

It didn’t take long for the Cowboys to start preparing for their impending head coaching search. According to Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports, the team’s decision makers took part in “inclusive hiring training” this afternoon, only hours after news broke of the McCarthy divorce. Soon, we’ll start hearing of some definitive candidates, but the rumor mill is already churning with potential names. Deion Sanders has already been linked to the Cowboys, and there are some initial rumblings surrounding other big names.

Predictably, the biggest name on the market will be connected to the offseason’s biggest vacancy. Sources told Jonathan Jones that Bill Belichick could be towards the top of the organization’s list of candidates, and sources also told the reporter that the iconic HC would have interest in the Dallas gig if it became available. While Belichick’s UNC contract includes a $10MM buyout, sources believe that penalty wouldn’t stop owners from pursuing the future Hall of Famer. Still, many reporters (including Charean Williams of ProFootballTalk.com) are skeptical that Jones would be willing to pay for a buyout…a relevant note in their potential pursuits of Belichick and Sanders.

Jonathan Jones also suggests that the Cowboys could look to the college ranks for another candidate: Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian. The long-time college coach has never held the HC role in the NFL, although he did have a stint as the Falcons offensive coordinator. Sarkisian would also require a buyout. Among current NFL coaches, two popular names are also expected to be on the team’s list of candidates. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport says Eagles OC Kellen Moore is a name to watch. Moore, of course, finished his playing career with the Cowboys before moving to the sideline, where he worked his way up from QBs coach to offensive coordinator.

The Cowboys will presumably also have interest in Lions Ben Johnson, but the team missed their window to interview the popular HC candidate. As Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz notes, the Cowboys will now have to wait until Detroit is knocked out of the playoffs until they can talk to Johnson about their vacancy. Fortunately, Jonathan Jones notes that Johnson shut down communication with teams following the first round of interviews, as the coordinator is now solely focused on Detroit’s playoff run. So, if the Cowboys do truly have interest in Johnson, it shouldn’t take a whole lot for the team to make up ground on their competition.

As for McCarthy, the veteran head coach has reportedly already scheduled an interview with the Bears, and NFL Network’s Jane Slater says Chicago’s interest is “very real.” ESPN’s Adam Schefter says the Saints are also expected to show interest in McCarthy; New Orleans was listed as a potential landing spot for the coach before his ouster in Dallas.

The rest of McCarthy’s staff is also free to speak with teams starting today, per Albert Breer of SI.com. Practically the entire Cowboys staff had expiring contracts, and Slater notes that there were some assistants who grew tired of the lack of uncertainty over their futures. It sounds like that includes Mike Zimmer, as the defensive coordinator has contemplated retirement, per ESPN’s Jeff Darlington. Zimmer just joined the Cowboys last offseason, and it was believed that his status with the organization would be tied to McCarthy’s status.

Steelers Interested In Re-Signing Justin Fields; Russell Wilson Status Less Certain?

January 13th, 2025 at 9:34pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Steelers’ party line of wanting to extend the Russell Wilson partnership beyond this season began shortly after the QB’s signing. It continued deep into the season, as the team zoomed to 10-3. But Wilson struggled down the stretch, as Pittsburgh’s schedule stiffened, and lost his final five games as the team’s starter.

Wilson wants to stay with the Steelers, but his value took a hit down the stretch. Signs of frustration with Wilson emerged within the Steelers, SI.com’s Albert Breer notes. This would stand to affect the team’s desire to bring the 13-year veteran back at a higher rate. Wilson’s grip on the Steelers’ starting job never appeared to loosen once he recovered from his calf injury, but the Mike Tomlin-led decision to bench Justin Fields was not unanimous.

A historically sack-prone quarterback, Wilson stayed on this course. The Chiefs, Bengals and Ravens combined to sack him 13 times over the past three weeks. The Steelers never found a reliable No. 2 wide receiver, though Mike Williams did resemble one sporadically, and they dealt with two significant offensive line injuries — to Troy Fautanu and James Daniels. While veteran Steelers insider Mark Kaboly notes Fautanu will be ready for OTAs — after the first-round tackle suffered a dislocated kneecap, Wilson may not be a lock to join him.

Wilson’s momentum screeched to a halt late in the season, and he is now 36. The quarterback did see drop issues plague the offense against Cincinnati, and he fired a laser to George Pickens — the primary culprit vs. the Bengals — for a touchdown against the Ravens. But the nine-time Pro Bowler trended downward during the season’s defining stretch. Pegging Wilson’s value, even on a weak QB market, will be tougher as a result.

A December estimation on this market moved to the Baker Mayfield place — three years, $100MM — but after the Steelers’ nosedive, it would be surprising if Wilson received that kind of offer from the Steelers. The Steelers do not negotiate in-season, so no talks have taken place. It would stand to reason the sides will huddle up, but the franchise has now gone eight seasons without a playoff win. Wilson was only involved in one of those years, but it also makes sense for the Steelers to explore a better option. Though, the team continuing to win and camp as an upper-middle-class operation makes finding one difficult.

Fields joins Wilson as a free agent and only saw action on a handful of plays, as a gadget option, after Wilson recovered from his nagging injury. That said, the Steelers entered the season open to exploring a long-term deal with their younger QB, and Breer adds the team “would love” to keep working with the 25-year-old passer. Though, the veteran reporter cautions the team might be interested in keeping Fields as a backup. That would stand to be a sticking point for the 2021 first-round pick, who could conceivably draw QB1 interest elsewhere — as a stopgap, if nothing else — during an offseason featuring a thin free agent market and a maligned rookie prospect pool.

Wilson is set to join Kirk Cousins — who will almost definitely be released, despite Falcons hopes at trading him — as aging starters on the market. No QB played this season for between $12.5MM per year and $25MM per annum, and only two players (Gardner Minshew and Geno Smith) populated that salary range. Mayfield’s $33MM-AAV pact is next on that list. Both Steelers QBs may be threats to expand that unpopulated QB middle class between Minshew and Smith.

Fields completed 65.8% of his passes to Wilson’s 63.7, though the latter threw 336 passes to Fields’ 161. Fields’ 7.4 yards per attempt also bettered Wilson’s number (6.9). Wilson did finish the regular season with a 16-5 TD-INT ratio, while Fields’ issues through the air again revealed themselves ahead of his October benching. The three-year Bears starter should still generate conversations about a starting gig somewhere; that will increase his value potentially beyond the Steelers’ comfort zone — if the AFC North club is set on him as a backup-only option, at least.

Plenty needs to be sorted out for the Steelers, who have smashed their heads against a low ceiling for a while now. The team is expected to retain Tomlin for a 19th season; he and Omar Khan will have a significant decision to make soon.

49ers Interview Noah Pauley For OC Job

January 13th, 2025 at 8:19pm CST by Ben Levine

The 49ers “search” for a new offensive coordinator appears to be a formality before the team inevitably promotes Klay Kubiak to the role. However, as the team complies with the NFL’s required process (which includes the Rooney Rule), they’re taking a look at some outside options. The team announced that they interviewed Noah Pauley for the job today.

Pauley made a name for himself during his time at North Dakota State. He served as the team’s pass game coordinator while helping coach eventual third-overall pick Trey Lance and All-American wide receiver (and eventual second-round pick) Christian Watson.

He most recently coached wide receivers and served as pass game coordinator at Iowa State. Jaylin Noel (80 catches, 1,194 yards, eight touchdowns) and Jayden Higgins (87 catches, 1,183 yards, nine touchdowns) both had standout seasons under Pauley’s tutelage. The coach also briefly worked with the Packers through the NFL’s Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship.

49ers coach Kyle Shanahan revealed the other day that Kubiak, who most recently served as the team’s offensive passing game specialist (and de facto OC), would earn a promotion to the full-time coordinator role this offseason. However, the NFL quickly stepped in, informing the organization that they had to comply to the open-search process before naming someone in the role. This also meant the 49ers had to include at least two minority candidates in accordance with the NFL’s Rooney Rule.

NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 1/13/25

January 13th, 2025 at 7:38pm CST by Ben Levine

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

Arizona Cardinals

Cleveland Browns

  • DT Ralph Holley

Denver Broncos

Green Bay Packers

Los Angeles Chargers

Pittsburgh Steelers

  • OT Doug Nester

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 1/13/25

January 13th, 2025 at 7:21pm CST by Ben Levine

Just one practice squad move to pass along:

Minnesota Vikings

  • Signed: OT Marcellus Johnson

Marcellus Johnson, an undrafted rookie out of Mizzou, spent much of the preseason with the Giants. He was later scooped up by the Vikings, where he had a short stint on the team’s practice squad. He’s once again landed on Minnesota’s taxi squad, and this could bode well for his chances of sticking around via a reserve/futures contract.

 

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