HEADLINES

Month: January 2025

Raiders Fire HC Antonio Pierce

January 7th, 2025 at 11:00pm CST by Sam Robinson

Two days after the Patriots made Jerod Mayo a one-and-done head coach, the Raiders are following suit. Antonio Pierce‘s stay as a full-time Raiders HC will be capped at one season, with NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport, Tom Pelissero and Mike Garafolo reporting the team is firing its interim-turned-full-time coach.

Rumblings about a Pierce ouster have steadily come out for weeks, with the former Super Bowl-winning linebacker struggling during a 4-13 season. Pierce had impressed in 2023, winning over the locker room — to the point players voiced strong support for his full-time candidacy — after a 5-4 finish. He will not have a chance to rebound from this disappointing campaign, despite Las Vegas winning two of its final three games.

Some Raiders players kept voicing support for Pierce after the season ended, ESPN’s Adam Schefter adds, but ownership did not give into any such pushes this year. Maxx Crosby memorably was tied to a trade request if the Raiders did not promote Pierce, with Josh Jacobs and Davante Adams stumping for the unusual HC candidate as well. Mark Davis listened at that point, being fond of Pierce’s style and appreciation for the organization’s history. Pierce still brought an atypical background for the job, as we detailed in our Offseason In Review piece, having never been an NFL coordinator or college HC. His inexperience showed.

This will not be a full-on teardown. The Raiders are not firing GM Tom Telesco, Schefter adds. GMs typically receive fewer second chances but are more generally given more time than head coaches. Telesco is one of just two active second-chance GMs, and he will receive a second Raiders season. That said, minority owner Tom Brady is expected to play a big role in the Raiders’ 2025 offseason. That stands to strip some power from Telesco.

At least two unknown candidates have caught the Raiders’ eye, with Bovada’s Josina Anderson reporting the availability of these coaches helped cause the delay in the franchise firing Pierce. The team was linked to ex-Brady teammate Mike Vrabel recently, but the Patriots are also expected to complete a strong pursuit of their former linebacker. It would stand to reason Davis will target experience with his next hire, but the past few years have not been good for the second-generation owner.

Davis had convinced Jon Gruden to come out of the broadcast booth to sign a 10-year contract in 2018, but problematic emails surfacing led the second-stint Raiders HC out of town. Gruden had missed the playoffs in his first three seasons back, though his 2021 team — with interim leader Rich Bisaccia at the controls — qualified and nearly upset the eventual AFC champion Bengals. Davis expressed regret over passing on Bisaccia, helping Pierce’s chances. Pierce did make the interesting leap of being a Josh McDaniels hire that impressed. Davis canned McDaniels and GM Dave Ziegler 1 1/2 seasons into their tenure. He is still paying McDaniels’ contract, and Pierce will still draw a Raiders salary going forward.

A Monday report pointed to disagreements between Pierce and Telesco continuing into the season, with the quarterback position at the heart of this friction. Pierce had pushed for a QB-driven trade-up move, but Telesco was in the camp of retaining the team’s draft picks rather than mortgaging future pieces. While the GM’s side may be up on the scorecards early in this fight — thanks to Brock Bowers‘ historic season — Pierce was forced to coach a bottom-tier quarterback situation. The Raiders used Gardner Minshew, Aidan O’Connell and Desmond Ridder this season.

The former Arizona State DC sought a reunion with ex-Sun Devils starter Jayden Daniels, and the Raiders almost certainly were the team to make the Commanders an offer — the only one they received — for No. 2 overall. Moving from No. 13 to No. 2 was never too realistic, but the Raiders standing pat also cost them target Michael Penix Jr. The team was high on Penix but did not view the southpaw passer as worth trading up for; ditto Bo Nix, who ended up in Denver at No. 12. The Raiders took Bowers, who looks like an instant star, but enter the offseason in dire need at QB.

Like Mayo, Pierce inherited a difficult situation. The Raiders traded Adams early this season, leaving them with both a QB deficiency and a lack of playmakers. Las Vegas’ offense ranked 29th offensively, as Pierce fired OC hire Luke Getsy midway through the season, after Kliff Kingsbury backed out of a deal. Patrick Graham‘s defense finished 25th in points allowed. The 2023 team had climbed to ninth, marking the only time since the Super Bowl XXXVII season the franchise had finished in the top half in scoring defense. How Pierce assembled his staff also generated internal scrutiny, and he was not exactly praised for game management, either.

As for where the Raiders will go post-Pierce, Schefter notes Brady is indeed on the search committee. Considering Davis’ comments regarding the legendary QB’s role in terms of fixing that position, it is unsurprising Brady will help pick the coach. Approved as part-owner after more than a year of waiting, Brady has been mentioned as being set to play a central role in the HC search — even as his FOX Super Bowl responsibilities will interfere on this front. As of now, Brady remains in the historically unusual spot of broadcasting through significant limitations; the Raiders appear to be planning to make that worth his while via rare (for a minority owner) opportunities in personnel.

Pierce, 46, did not bring a play-calling acumen to the Raiders. Davis was burned by the two previous coaches who did, however, with the McDaniels mistake stinging fast. It will be fascinating to see which direction the Raiders go now. Pierce snapping a 10-game losing streak with wins over the Jaguars and Saints will hurt the Raiders moving forward, as they slid from the No. 1 overall draft slot to No. 6. A push for Shedeur Sanders or Cam Ward will likely require another trade-up effort.

Davis’ recent quick-trigger firings, and the team’s quarterback situation, will not make this a particularly appealing job. The presences of Andy Reid (and Patrick Mahomes), Sean Payton and Jim Harbaugh in the AFC West also will create a daunting task for Pierce’s successor. It looks like Davis is counting on Brady to be a difference-maker in the Raiders’ uphill battle, though luring Vrabel to the desert will not be easy.

Telesco will now have a chance to make a hire, though that was not his strong suit in Los Angeles. Telesco hired Mike McCoy, Anthony Lynn and Brandon Staley — coaches who did not impress, with the Raiders viewing the GM’s rosters as better than the results — and was fired after a 63-21 loss in Las Vegas in December 2023. How Brady’s presence will impact Telesco’s role will be a key Raiders storyline as well, as Davis will certainly face pressure to land his next hire after essentially passing on a true coaching search in 2024 to hire Pierce.

Already admitting what he has deemed a mistake, Davis will try again. No Raiders coach has lasted more than four years on the job since Art Shell‘s first stint, which occurred well before the younger Davis assumed control. The search for elusive HC stability persists.

Titans Fire GM Ran Carthon

January 7th, 2025 at 10:54pm CST by Adam La Rose

Ran Carthon is out as the Titans’ general manager after two years. The team announced on Tuesday Carthon has been fired while noting head coach Brian Callahan will be retained.

Tennessee moved on from Jon Robinson late in the 2022 season, his seventh at the helm. Carthon was hired as his replacement, and he faced the task of overseeing a transition to a younger core. One of the central aspects of that effort was the decision to draft quarterback Will Levis, but his time atop the depth chart has not matched expectations. Carthon’s job security was in question leading up to the end of the season, and now the team has indeed moved on.

[RELATED: Titans Fire Assistant GM Anthony Robinson, Others]

“It’s impossible to ignore that our football team hasn’t improved over the past two years,” a statement from owner Amy Adams Strunk reads in part. “I am deeply disappointed in our poor win-loss record during this period, of course, but my decision also speaks to my concern about our long-term future should we stay the course.”

The Titans went 6-11 in Carthon’s first year as GM, which doubled as head coach Mike Vrabel‘s final one in the organization. The latter was dismissed last offseason in a sign Carthon may receive a lengthy opportunity to oversee the Titans’ rebuild. Indeed, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network notes the 43-year-old signed an extension this past offseason, a deal which left him with four years on his contract. Carthon had executive vice president added to his title last January in a move which gave him roster control and a major voice regarding the coaching staff.

Callahan was hired during the 2024 cycle, and his Titans gig represents his first opportunity as a head coach. The former Bengals offensive coordinator was tasked in large part with overseeing Levis’ development, but that process did not go according to plan. Dealing with injuries during the year, the former No. 33 pick was benched late in the campaign and his future in the organization is up in the air. Tennessee finished the year 3-14, leaving the team atop the first-round draft order. The opportunity to add a new franchise QB will add value to the GM vacancy, although the quick hook Carthon has received could give at least some interested candidates pause.

In the meantime, president of football operations Chad Brinker will oversee the search for Carthon’s replacement. The longtime Packers staffer was hired in 2023 and promoted to his current role last offseason. Brinker along with Callahan will be key figures for the organization moving forward, although the team announcement makes it clear Brinker – not the new general manager – will “break ties” when it comes to roster decisions moving forward.

“I think the general manager position is unique to their respective organizations,” Brinker said in a statement. “This particular job, what we’ll be looking for is someone who has spent their career as a scout, is a top-flight, top-level evaluator who has spent the majority of their career projecting college players to the National Football League, they’ve had a major hand in setting the draft board in preferably a consistent, winning organization, and you can see their fingerprints all over the roster.”

With roughly $61MM in projected cap space for this offseason, the Titans are near the top of the NFL in terms of financial flexibility. That, coupled with the No. 1 pick, will be among the attractions for GM candidates in Tennessee. Making major additions at a number of positions will be needed for the team to return to the postseason, something the new hire will have a role in (although clearly the same will be true for Brinker). Finding stability in the front office and on the sidelines represents a key organizational goal for the Titans, and the next step in that process will be another general manager hire.

Cowboys Deny Bears Permission For Mike McCarthy HC Interview

January 7th, 2025 at 10:40pm CST by Sam Robinson

After a bit of a delay, the Cowboys have responded to the Bears regarding Mike McCarthy. Dallas is blocking its head coach from meeting with Chicago brass for a lateral move, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.

Teams requesting meetings with other clubs’ HCs is certainly rare, but with McCarthy having coached on an expiring contract, the Cowboys left the door open to such requests. The Bears were the only team thus far to request a meeting. That said, Dallas only has McCarthy under contract for another week. After January 14, the team cannot block its HC from interviewing elsewhere.

[RELATED: Bears Open To Trading For Head Coach]

This comes after Jones had said, “go talk” (via SI.com’s Mike Fisher) in reference to McCarthy potentially meeting with other teams. Tuesday’s development runs counter to that sentiment. No decision has been made on McCarthy, however, AllDLLS.com’s Clarence Hill reports.

The Cowboys have a week to work out another contract with McCarthy. Otherwise, a scenario in which the NFC East team is vying for its own coach on the market would arise. Tuesday’s decision could be interpreted as a Cowboys effort to keep McCarthy. If nothing else, the Cowboys would appear undecided on letting their HC walk. The team has been known for delayed calls here, as the Jason Garrett era reminds.

Some momentum appeared to build in favor of this transpiring, with Dak Prescott offering a strong endorsement of his HC late in the season. The Cowboys also preceded this disappointing season with three straight 12-win campaigns. They had not enjoyed that kind of consistency since their 1990s dynasty, though McCarthy’s squads obviously left plenty to be desired in terms of playoff success.

Still, the Cowboys have let a former Super Bowl-winning coach dangle after refusing to extend his contract last year. Jerry Jones cited the Packers debacle as the primary reason he refused to do so. Connections to Bill Belichick emerged last year, but the Cowboys stayed the course with McCarthy. While it looked like Dallas would indeed not renew his contract, the rare NFL lame-duck HC generated some support and now looks to have a legitimate chance to stay. Then again, McCarthy may also be miffed by the Cowboys denying him a chance to talk to the Bears while still not giving him a new deal yet.

As of Sunday, Jones was indeed undecided on McCarthy. This, then, becomes a pivotal stretch of days. With in-person interviews with contracted coaches not permitted until after the divisional round, McCarthy would have an advantage if the Cowboys do not renew his contract by the 14th. He would be free to meet with any team at that point. Coaches tied to playoff teams that did not earn home-field advantage cannot start interviewing virtually until next week. In-person meetings cannot take place until Jan. 20, and even then, teams would be unable to meet with coaches on conference championship-bound teams.

The Bears have requested meetings with four former head coaches — Mike Vrabel, Arthur Smith, Brian Flores and Pete Carroll; the former Seahawks leader will meet with the team Thursday. McCarthy’s matter may well not be sorted out by then, but the ex-Green Bay HC’s path to Chicago is closed for the time being.

Nick Sorensen Won’t Return As 49ers Defensive Coordinator

January 7th, 2025 at 8:47pm CST by Ben Levine

The 49ers will be seeking their fourth defensive coordinator in four years. Nick Sorensen won’t return as the 49ers defensive coordinator in 2025, according to Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area.

However, Sorensen’s stint in San Francisco may not be over. Maiocco adds that the 49ers are hoping they can keep the coach on Kyle Shanahan’s staff for next season. One option could be special teams coordinator, as Matt Barrows of The Athletic notes. The 49ers fired ST coordinator Brian Schneider the other day, and Sorensen served in that role during his time with the Jaguars.

After ranking third in points allowed in 2023, the 49ers dropped to 29th during Sorenson’s first season at the helm. The defense also struggled to generate turnovers, with Cam Inman of the Mercury News noting that the team had zero interceptions over their final seven games and only one fumble recovery over their final 11 games.

There was hope that Sorenson would help guide the 49ers to a new level after the team fired Steve Wilks last offseason. The former NFL journeyman moved quickly through the coaching ranks in San Francisco, where he worked his way up from a defensive assistant to defensive pass game specialist to defensive coordinator in three seasons. In addition to his one-year stint as Jaguars ST coordinator, Sorenson also had experience coaching defense with the Seahawks, where he served as the team’s secondary coach during the final seasons of the Legion of Boom era.

While the 49ers dealt with a long list of injuries, the team clearly wasn’t willing to tolerate the clear regression from the defense in 2024. Now, the organization will be seeking their fourth defensive coordinator in four seasons. Prior to Wilks one-year stint as defensive coordinator, DeMeco Ryans spent two years in the role before becoming head coach of the Texans.

Ryans’ predecessor, Robert Saleh, could be a candidate to take over for Sorenson, as Inman notes. Saleh spent four years as San Francisco’s defensive coach before leaving to become the Jets head coach in 2021. He was canned by the Jets earlier this season before catching on as a consultant in Green Bay, and he’s already emerged as a candidate for the Jaguars head coaching vacancy. It’s more likely that Saleh’s return to coaching will require a stop as coordinator, and a familiar spot in San Francisco could be his softest-possible landing.

Inman also points to Jeff Ulbrich and Gus Bradley as potential candidates for the 49ers new DC opening. Ulbrich most recently served as Saleh’s interim replacement in New York, and that was preceded by a three-plus-year stint as the Jets DC. The veteran coach crossed paths with Shanahan in Atlanta, and he spent his entire 10-year playing career in San Francisco.

Bradley and Shanahan have never worked alongside each other, but the veteran coach brings plenty of experience. Bradley most recently served as the Colts defensive coordinator, a role he held for three seasons before getting dismissed yesterday. Bradley also held DC roles with the Raiders, Chargers, and Seahawks, and he had a four-year stint as head coach with the Jaguars.

Patriots Arrange Mike Vrabel HC Interview, Met With Pep Hamilton For Job

January 7th, 2025 at 8:41pm CST by Sam Robinson

After being passed over during the 2024 HC carousel, Mike Vrabel missing out this year would be borderline shocking. He has now been tied to every team with a vacancy; that includes the Raiders, who just made their Antonio Pierce firing official.

The Patriots, however, have made the former Super Bowl-winning linebacker and Titans HC their frontrunner. What stands to be a significant meeting is now on tap. Vrabel will meet with his former team Thursday, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports.

New England has also already brought in another candidate, having met with former Colts and Texans OC Pep Hamilton, Rapoport and NFL.com colleague Tom Pelissero add. This comes after a Byron Leftwich meeting. While it comes across as cynical, the Pats have now satisfied the Rooney Rule requirement that stipulates clubs must meet with two external minority candidates before hiring a head coach. This is not to outright dismiss Leftwich and Hamilton, but neither has coached in the NFL for the past two seasons. The team has announced both interviews, setting the stage for Vrabel.

An expedited process burned the Patriots last year, as they did not interview any other candidates before promoting Jerod Mayo. A quick Vrabel decision would not technically be especially different, but the ex-Patriots defender has obviously proven plenty already. The former NFL Coach of the Year has also drawn widespread interest, as the Patriots are now competing with several teams. However, a report last week pointed to Vrabel being interested in the job. It is also worth wondering if the Patriots would have fired Mayo so quickly had they not known Vrabel was a prime candidate to accept an offer.

The Pats would not be the first team to meet the Rooney Rule requirement and then quickly hire another coach. Although Pierce is Black, the Raiders did so last year, meeting with Leslie Frazier and Kris Richard before quickly removing Pierce’s interim tag. The Pats took the interesting step of inserting language in Mayo’s contract to circumvent the Rooney Rule, naming the Black assistant Bill Belichick‘s successor. The Mayo move did not work out, with Robert Kraft blaming himself for a mistake. It is certainly possible the Pats want a proven commodity to quickly move past that chapter.

It should not be determined a Vrabel New England return is an open-and-shut process, but it would be surprising if the Pats did not offer him the job. Vrabel, 49, spent this past season as a Browns consultant. He took the Titans to three playoff berths, winning two AFC South titles and helping the team to its first AFC championship game since 2002.

A Patriot from 2001-08, the former linebacker/occasional red zone receiving weapon trekked to Foxborough during Tennessee’s bye week last season — an act that did not go over well with Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk — to go into the Patriots’ Hall of Fame. Vrabel sat with Kraft during that ceremony. While the owner passed on an interview last year in elevating Mayo (whom Kraft had said he had deemed Belichick’s successor years ago), it appears the Patriots want this hire to happen soon.

Hamilton, 50, last coached as Texans OC in 2022. Andrew Luck‘s former OC in Indianapolis, Hamilton moved from Houston’s QBs coach in 2021 to the OC role under Lovie Smith a year later. Hamilton, who also helped Justin Herbert to Offensive Rookie of the Year honors as Chargers QBs coach in 2020, is currently working for the NFL Network.

Brian Flores, who worked with the Patriots for 15 years, is also interested in the position. No interview request has gone out. It would, however, be interesting to see if the Pats were still interested in Ben Johnson — who is believed to be prepared to interview — after the Vrabel meeting. It would stand to reason, given the Lions OC’s stock, the Pats would hold off on a Vrabel hire until at least going through the virtual meeting with Johnson.

Vrabel can meet with the Patriots in-person due to not being tied to a team; Johnson can only do so virtually for the time being. The Lions are giving Johnson and DC Aaron Glenn from Thursday to Saturday to do their interviews, SI.com’s Albert Breer adds; they are allowed to do so this week due to Detroit having secured a first-round bye.

Bears Schedule Pete Carroll HC Interview

January 7th, 2025 at 8:40pm CST by Ben Levine

Pete Carroll expressed interest in the Bears’ head coaching job, but the longtime Seahawks HC’s name was not included in the initial wave of interview requests. It is now.

[RELATED: Pete Carroll Interested In Bears’ HC Job]

The Bears are planning to meet with the Super Bowl-winning coach Thursday, ESPN.com’s Dan Graziano and Jeremy Fowler report. Carroll attempted to land another job after his Seattle ouster last year but did not. The veteran leader’s age (73) stands to present issues, as it did for Bill Belichick, but the Bears are going to see what the experienced leader can bring to the table.

Reports about Carroll’s NFL future haven’t necessarily been consistent. Following his Seattle ouster, there were rumblings that the long-time coach was moving towards retirement, anyway. On the flip side, reports indicated that Carroll intended to remain in his post as head coach of the Seahawks in 2024, but efforts to convince the organization to allow that to take place were ultimately unsuccessful.

While Carroll didn’t push for a new gig during the 2024 campaign, he recently resurfaced in the HC carousel, as the former Super Bowl champ was connected to the Bears gig towards the end of the regular season. He’ll now have a chance to pitch himself to Chicago’s brass, although it remains to be seen if the organization is simply doing their due diligence. While the Bears have cast a wide net in their search for a Matt Eberflus replacement, there’s been a sentiment that they’re seeking an offensive mind who can help develop former No. 1 pick Caleb Williams. Carroll’s defensive pedigree wouldn’t necessarily match with that gameplan.

Of course, Carroll’s decades in the NFL means he has plenty of connections, so it shouldn’t be tough for the coach to find a worthy offensive lieutenant. Carroll also helped transform former third-round pick Russell Wilson into one of the best QBs in the NFL, so it’s not like the coach is completely incapable of guiding a young signal-caller.

While Carroll’s age could work against him, he also had an obvious experience advantage over his fellow candidates. The long-time coach has 18 years of head coaching experience in stops with the Jets, Patriots, and Seahawks. He’s only earned one Super Bowl ring, but he also earned a second NFC Championship, and he owns a career playoff record of 11-11. His final seasons in Seattle left a bit to be desired, as the Seahawks went 25-26 with a single one-and-done playoff appearance between 2021 and 2023.

Still, there’s no denying that Carroll represents one of the most respected names available on the market. Assuming the Bears are looking for an immediate return to legitimacy, Carroll would certainly add some credibility to the organization.

NFL Reserve/Futures Deals: 1/7/25

January 7th, 2025 at 8:39pm 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

  • DE Anthony Goodlow, OL Sincere Haynesworth, RB Zonovan Knight, NT P.J. Mustipher

Atlanta Falcons

  • WR Makai Polk

Buffalo Bills

Chicago Bears

  • TE Jordan Murray

Cincinnati Bengals

Indianapolis Colts

Las Vegas Raiders

  • DL Tyler Manoa

Miami Dolphins

San Francisco 49ers

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 1/7/25

January 7th, 2025 at 8:23pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s practice squad transactions:

Kansas City Chiefs

Los Angeles Chargers

Los Angeles Rams

Washington Commanders

  • Signed: DT Haggai Ndubuisi
  • Released: OT Max Pircher

To make room for veteran RB Ezekiel Elliott, the Chargers moved on from a veteran wideout. Laviska Shenault spent the majority of this season with the Seahawks, where he hauled in five catches in 11 games. The former second-round pick caught on with the Chargers practice squad in December and ended up getting into one game with the squad.

Minor NFL Transactions: 1/7/25

January 7th, 2025 at 8:06pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor moves:

Baltimore Ravens

Houston Texans

Los Angeles Chargers

Los Angeles Rams

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

A handful of playoff teams designated players for return from IR today, opening the 21-day window for activation. While there’s a chance these players are activated at some point during the postseason, they could also merely be providing the team with another body during practices.

Rams Place RB Blake Corum On IR

January 7th, 2025 at 6:58pm CST by Ben Levine

Blake Corum‘s rookie season has officially come to an end. The Rams announced that they’ve placed the first-year running back on injured reserve.

Corum suffered a fractured forearm during the Rams’ season finale. The injury will knock Corum out for the entire postseason, and the team has opened his roster spot by placing the rookie on IR.

A former standout at Michigan, Corum’s college career culminated with him earning the National Championship Offensive MVP. He was ultimately the third RB off the board (behind Jonathon Brooks and Trey Benson) when the Rams selected him in the third round of this past year’s draft.

With Kyren Williams dominating the backfield shares, snaps were difficult to come by for the Rams other RBs. Ronnie Rivers seemed to be the team’s initial choice for RB2, but the rookie eventually overtook his teammate, with Corum garnering the majority of the team’s backup RB snaps after their Week 6 bye. Corum ended up finishing his rookie campaign having compiled 265 yards from scrimmage on 65 touches.

With the rookie out of the lineup, Rivers will likely step up as the team’s top backup. The team is also rostering Cody Schrader, and the team announced that they’ve added veteran RB Royce Freeman to the practice squad.

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