HEADLINES

Month: January 2025

Lions’ Derrick Barnes, Carlton Davis Out For Season; David Montgomery Nearing Return

January 7th, 2025 at 2:25pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Lions’ injury activation puzzle continues to come into focus. Dan Campbell shed light on some of his players on IR and those rehabbing injuries while still on the active roster. Good and bad news has emerged.

Chiefly, David Montgomery‘s dodging of a season-ending injury — the feared scenario when Detroit’s starting running back went down in Week 15 — is close to producing a return. After Montgomery took part in a full workout before the Lions’ Week 18 game, Campbell said (via the Detroit Football Network’s Justin Rogers) he expects the recently extended RB to be ready for the team’s divisional-round matchup.

Generally, when “team fears”-driven headlines surface, bad news emerges. This represents a rare positive development from that place, and the Lions now have two more weeks to prepare Montgomery to reform his elite tandem with Jahmyr Gibbs, who thrived as the team’s starter in the veteran’s stead. Gibbs is coming off a four-touchdown performance in the Lions’ dismantling of the Vikings. As a result, Gibbs’ backfield mate has more time to recover.

While Gibbs took on a bigger role this season, Montgomery still totaled 775 rushing yards and 12 TDs in 14 games. Montomgery also became a far more significant part of Detroit’s passing attack, amassing 341 receiving yards after totaling just 117 in his first Lions season. The team gave him a two-year, $18.25MM extension weeks before his MCL injury.

Montgomery does not factor into the Lions’ IR-return puzzle, having been kept on the active roster. Otherwise, he would have needed to wait one more week to return. Linebacker Derrick Barnes does, but Campbell said neither he nor Carlton Davis will be expected to play again this season. Barnes has been on IR since September with a knee injury. The Lions had not ruled him out, pointing to a potential late-season reemergence. Like D-lineman John Cominsky, however, no comeback is likely.

This is a tough blow to a former Day 3 pick in a contract year, and Barnes had started 26 games for the Lions since being part of the first Campbell-Brad Holmes draft. That included three starts this year. While Barnes and Malcolm Rodriguez are done for the season, Alex Anzalone‘s return alongside Jack Campbell made a difference against Minnesota. Barnes’ injury activation place could be allocated to rookie DB Ennis Rakestraw. Campbell said the second-round pick is likely to be ready to go soon, Rogers adds. Rakestraw, a cornerback chosen 61st overall, suffered a hamstring injury during a late-November practice. The Missouri alum would represent some insurance, having only played 46 defensive snaps this season, for a position group battered by injuries.

Davis sustained a broken jaw in Week 15, and while the Lions did not place the trade pickup on IR as hope existed regarding a potential 11th-hour return, Campbell said (via the Detroit Free Press’ Dave Birkett) that is unlikely. Acquired in a package that brought a third-round pick to the Bucs, Davis started all 13 games he played for the Lions. He is heading toward free agency. Turning 28 just last week, the former Super Bowl LV starter should be expected to command extensive interest.

The Lions saw free agency addition Amik Robertson play quite well in relief Sunday night, operating primarily on Justin Jefferson and largely neutralizing the Vikings superstar. The former Raiders regular has started the past three games in place of Davis, playing alongside first-rounder Terrion Arnold. Being unable to put weight on his injured foot upon leaving the Lions’ Week 18 tilt, Arnold suffered a foot contusion. While Campbell stopped short of confirming Arnold would be back for Round 2, the fourth-year HC called the rookie’s prognosis “positive.”

Mike Vrabel On Jaguars’ HC Radar?

January 7th, 2025 at 1:58pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Jaguars unveiled their initial list of head coaching targets on Tuesday. The team has submitted an interview request with eight candidates so far, but other staffers will likely receive a look as well.

One of those could well be Mike Vrabel. The former Titans head coach is on the Jaguars’ “wish list,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. That comes as little surprise given the fact Vrabel has long been considered one of the top candidates in the 2025 hiring cycle. He has already interviewed with the Jets, while the Bears have issued an interview request. The Saints plan to line up a meeting as well.

Of course, the former Coach of the Year has long been connected to the Patriots given his success with the team as a player. Vrabel won three Super Bowlers with New England and he has a strong relationship with owner Robert Kraft. Once Jerod Mayo became a one-and-done coach, many immediately pointed to Vrabel as a logical replacement, and recent reporting on the matter confirms he is perceived as the team’s top candidate.

Jacksonville’s initial list of targets only includes one former head coach: Robert Saleh. The 45-year-old was in place at the helm of the Jets from 2021 through the first five weeks of this campaign. His firing brought about an end to his first NFL head coaching gig, one which was preceded by a four-year stretch as the 49ers’ defensive coordinator. That, in turn, came after Saleh worked with a number of teams as a position/quality control coach, including three years coaching the Jaguars’ linebackers. Currently working as a Packers consultant, his candidacy will be one of the more interesting ones to follow this winter.

As Schefter notes, Lions coordinator Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn are also top Jaguars targets. That falls in line with the interest both coaches have already received from other teams and comes as no surprise since both have received an interview slip from Jacksonville. Vrabel (whose Browns contract recently expired, leaving him free to speak with teams at any time) could also become a name to watch as the Jags seek out their Doug Pederson replacement.

Jets Request HC Interview With Saints’ Darren Rizzi

January 7th, 2025 at 1:52pm CST by Sam Robinson

Darren Rizzi has not been eliminated from the Saints’ full-time HC post, though considering how the only interim coach-turned-full-timer since 2017 fared, it would be rather surprising if New Orleans gave this scenario serious consideration.

Antonio Pierce went 4-13 as Raiders HC and is not certain to return. The 2023 interim Las Vegas leader, however, received interview requests from the Falcons and Titans last year. Pierce’s 5-4 run as interim Raiders HC impressed elsewhere as well. A year later, Rizzi is receiving outside interest after his half-season interim run.

[RELATED: Rizzi Aiming To Become Saints’ Full-Time Head Coach]

The Jets have made Rizzi part of their search process, requesting a meeting, per NewOrleans.football’s Nick Underhill. This is an unusual place to be, as Rizzi is both expected to be included in the Saints’ interview process and would be on track to remain part of New Orleans’ next coaching staff even if he does not land the full-time HC gig. A Jets meeting could, however, throw a wrench in those plans.

Rizzi, 54, has been a special teams coordinator since 2010 and has coached in the NFL since 2009. The Jets observed Rizzi’s ST work from 2009-18, when he was with the Dolphins; the final nine years of that stint came as Miami’s ST coordinator. While working under Tony Sparano, Joe Philbin and Adam Gase, Rizzi was not brought back under Brian Flores. The Saints hired him in 2019 and bumped him up to assistant HC in 2022.

The Saints went 3-5 under Rizzi. That represents an achievement in itself given the injuries to Derek Carr, Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed on offense. New Orleans won its first two games with Rizzi at the helm and then pushed Tampa Bay in the teams’ Week 18 matchup, making the eventual NFC South champions sweat before ultimately falling. While Rizzi presented a compelling case, the Saints’ struggles with Dennis Allen — another Sean Payton assistant promoted — would point to an outside hire of some sort taking place.

Courtesy of PFR’s Head Coaching Search Tracker, here is how the Jets’ HC search looks so far:

Brian Daboll May Step Out Of Play-Calling Role; John Mara Criticizes Giants’ Defense

January 7th, 2025 at 1:13pm CST by Sam Robinson

After OC Mike Kafka primarily called Giants plays from 2022-23, Brian Daboll took the reins this past season. Despite being at the controls as Josh Allen morphed from raw talent into superstar with the Bills, Daboll could not do much with the 2024 Giants’ offense. As a result, he nearly lost his job.

John Mara, however, retained both Daboll and GM Joe Schoen but issued directives that an improvement must take place immediately. Daboll is now entertaining a step back into a CEO coaching role, though the fourth-year Giants HC did not confirm if the idea of another shift was his or Mara’s.

[RELATED: Mike Kafka Drawing HC Interest]

Mara said Monday he talked to Daboll about moving off play-calling, but Daboll subsequently insisted (via the New York Daily News’ Pat Leonard) he broached the subject. When pressed as to who initiated that conversation, Daboll admitted it was perhaps Mara who did. While this seems an important detail, Daboll will be coaching for his job early in the 2025 season — regardless of which party brought this up.

Daboll could not coax quality play from Daniel Jones, despite he and Kafka doing so in 2022. Jones struggled during an injury-plagued 2023 and did not bounce back this season, leading to an in-season cut and a move to the Vikings’ practice squad. The Giants then went around Drew Lock to give Tommy DeVito the first crack at replacing Jones. Lock then took the wheel to close the season, offering inconsistent play down the stretch. The Giants finished 31st in scoring, but in Daboll’s (slight) defense, they were 30th in 2023. This came after a Saquon Barkley-dependent offense placed 15th in 2022, leading to a divisional-round appearance.

Changes on offense may not be all that comes out of a disastrous 3-14 season. Mara criticized Shane Bowen‘s defense when assessing the season, potentially calling the former Titans DC’s job status into question. The Giants did climb from 26th to 21st in total defense, despite not having Dexter Lawrence for a third of the season and missing Kayvon Thibodeaux for a sizable chunk in the middle. New York’s secondary struggled, however.

“Quite frankly, I didn’t think our defense played very well this year at all,” Mara said, via the New York Post’s Ryan Dunleavy. “I know that when you have an offense that performs like that, you’re putting more pressure on your defense. But we need to make improvements there. I’m tired of watching teams go up and down the field on us. So, I think that has to be addressed.”

Despite Hard Knocks‘ offseason effort showing Bowen being given a key voice in defensive personnel, Dunleavy reminds he was not the Giants’ first choice for the job. Bobby Babich and Dennard Wilson were the team’s initial preferences, Dunleavy adds.

The Bills promoted Babich — a former Daboll Buffalo coworker — to DC, while Wilson instead took the Titans’ DC gig. The Giants were one of three other teams to request a DC meeting with Babich, while Wilson — a former Eagles DBs coach — was one of three Ravens assistants to become a DC elsewhere in 2024. He met about the Giants’ job in mid-January; Big Blue did not hire Bowen until Feb. 5.

Monitoring Bowen’s status will be important for Giants fans over the next few days, as it would be difficult to expect the team to carry on as is after a 3-14 season. Nevertheless, Daboll will soon be the team’s longest-tenured HC since Tom Coughlin.

Bears Submit Interview Requests With Mike McCarthy, Todd Monken, Arthur Smith, Brian Flores

January 7th, 2025 at 1:12pm CST by Adam La Rose

JANUARY 7: As of Tuesday afternoon, the Cowboys have yet to respond to the Bears’ McCarthy request, Schefter reports. It remains to be seen how Dallas will proceed on the McCarthy front with the expiration of his contract (and that of most of his assistants) approaching.

JANUARY 6: The Bears have been busy sending out head coaching interview requests Monday. To no surprise, most of their targets are currently coordinators on their respective teams. One staffer who still holds the title of head coach is on Chicago’s radar, however.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Todd Archer report the Bears have sought permission to speak with Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy. The team is currently awaiting word from Dallas on whether or not he will be made available for an interview. That, in turn, obviously depends on whether or not McCarthy will receive a new contract from the Cowboys.

Jerry Jones elected not to fire McCarthy after the Cowboys lost in the wild-card round last year, but he cited that continued lack of postseason success as a reason not offer an extension. The former Packers Super Bowl winner has thus spent 2024 as a lame duck coach who has received several votes of confidence from Jones and his players in spite of Dallas’ disappointing campaign. Jones and McCarthy (who could also draw interest from the Saints) are set to meet later today as uncertainty surrounds their future.

Even if McCarthy winds up being unavailable, other staffers are on the Bears’ radar. They include Todd Monken, as noted by NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. Monken is in his second season as the Ravens’ offensive coordinator, and he has drawn praise for helping lead Lamar Jackson to his most productive season to date. Baltimore became the first team in NFL history to surpass 4,000 passing yards and 3,000 rushing yards in a season this year (h/t Pro Football Network), so Monken could receive looks from several teams.

Taking a step forward on offense will be a clear priority for the Bears in 2025; to no surprise, the team is looking into several coaches with a background on that side of the ball. Steelers OC Arthur Smith has also received a slip, per Schefter. Smith received interest from the Jets prior to the 2024 season, and New York has requested a head coaching interview with the former Falcons boss. Smith’s first year at the helm of Pittsburgh’s offense has produced inconsistent results through the air, but as expected the team has been relatively strong in the run game.

The latest defensive candidate to receive an interview request is Brian Flores, Schefter reports. The former Dolphins HC spent one year as the Steelers’ linebackers coach in 2022 and has since worked as the Vikings’ defensive coordinator. Flores, 43, has helped his stock with his time in Minnesota and an intra-divisional move to the Bears recently emerged as a possibility. The Jets’ initial set of interview requests also includes Flores, though, so Chicago will have competition if the team targets him.

The Bears have already sought out interviews with Aaron Glenn (Lions), Mike Kafka (Giants), Drew Petzing (Cardinals) and Anthony Weaver (Dolphins). That group includes an even split of offensive and defensive coaches, and the latest additions to the list include a mix of backgrounds and experience. Finding the right fit to develop Caleb Williams will be critical for general manager Ryan Poles, and his search process will include looking into several outside candidates.

Dolphins’ Chris Grier: Tyreek Hill Has Not Issued Trade Request

January 7th, 2025 at 1:04pm CST by Adam La Rose

In the aftermath of the Dolphins’ Week 18 contest, Tyreek Hill caused a stir with his post-game remarks. The All-Pro wideout openly discussed moving on from Miami despite agreeing to a new contract with the team this past summer.

Speculation has increased since then that a trade will take place, although nothing is imminent on that front. On Tuesday, Dolphins general manager Chris Grier and head coach Mike McDaniel held a press conference and to no surprise, Hill’s decision to pull himself from the game (after it had become clear reaching the playoffs would not be possible for Miami) was a topic which came up early.

“It’s not acceptable to leave a game and won’t be tolerated in the future,” McDaniel said (via ESPN’s Marcel Louis-Jacques). “[Hill] embraced accountability… I don’t think there’s anything to fix.”

Even though Hill “opened the door” to a deal sending him out of Miami with his Sunday comments (and has not yet retracted them), Grier noted a trade request has not been made (h/t Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network). Grier added he and Hill had a “productive conversation” in the wake of the season coming to an end. Speculation will no doubt continue on this situation, but the lack of a desire on Hill’s part for a trade to be worked out is a sign he could remain in Miami moving forward.

The two-time Super Bowl winner was dealt from the Chiefs to the Dolphins in 2022, and he received a four-year, $120MM upon arrival. That $30MM AAV was inflated by the non-guaranteed figures at the back end of the deal, and in August team and player agreed to a restructure which brought in new money (including $65MM in total guarantees) without adding any new years to the pact. Hill’s future seemed to be secure once that was in place, but his comments – provided they are to be taken at face value – certainly point to another change of scenery being something he would welcome.

Hill is under contract through 2026, and nearly all of his base compensation ($27.75MM total) for next year is already guaranteed. Jaylen Waddle is also on the books long term, and that receiver duo will remain the focal point of Miami’s offense if both of its members stay in place moving forward. In Hill’s case, it appears neither team nor player will spend the near future working to find a trade partner.

Jets Request GM Meetings With Brian Gaine, Jon-Eric Sullivan

January 7th, 2025 at 12:37pm CST by Sam Robinson

Although a second team has entered the GM mix, as the Titans have fired Ran Carthon after two years, the Jets have been at this much longer. Their GM search includes several names — both second-chance candidates and aspiring first-timers — and more interview slips have since gone out.

A potential rookie GM and another former front office boss are on the Jets’ radar. The team sent out requests to Bills assistant GM Brian Gaine and Packers VP of player personnel Jon-Eric Sullivan, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter and NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport.

Gaine has moved into the position current Giants GM Joe Schoen once held, and teams have also been interested in Bills exec Terrance Gray for GM posts. As Buffalo has become an AFC East powerhouse after snapping a near-two-decade playoff drought, teams have shown interest in Brandon Beane‘s lieutenants. Gaine has enjoyed two stints in Buffalo, though those tenures sandwich a forgettable stint as the Texans’ GM.

Hired to replace Rick Smith in 2018, Gaine was booted from that post less than 16 months in. The Texans fired their GM after the 2019 draft, representing a historically quick hook. They did so despite Gaine having worked in Houston’s front office from 2014-16. A Jets meeting would be Gaine’s first known GM interview since his Texans ouster.

Houston had gone to the playoffs in 2018, being one of the few 0-3 teams to make it in NFL history, but the team soon gave Bill O’Brien HC/GM powers during what became a rather interesting period. Gaine ended up back in Buffalo soon after his Houston dismissal, and he has been the Bills’ assistant GM since Schoen’s 2022 exit.

Sullivan has gone through a more stable NFL run, being a Packers exec for more than 15 years. A Packers intern back in 2004, Sullivan joined the scouting ranks in 2008 and has worked his way up to the role of one of Brian Gutekunst‘s top aides. After four years as co-director of player personnel, Sullivan has been in his current post since 2022. This would be Sullivan’s first known interview for a GM post.

The Jets have already met with Louis Riddick, Jim Nagy and ex-GMs Jon Robinson and Thomas Dimitroff for the job. They have since sent out requests to former Browns GM Ray Farmer, ex-Colts GM Ryan Grigson. Chiefs exec Mike Borgonzi, Buccaneers cap chief Mike Greenberg, Bengals exec Trey Brown and Eagles assistant GM Alec Halaby are also on the Jets’ radar. Borgonzi will interview for the job Wednesday, joining OC Matt Nagy in meeting with the Jets at that point. Due to their bye week, the Chiefs can see their assistant coaches and execs interview virtually for open positions now.

Bengals To Interview Patrick Graham, DeMarcus Covington For DC Job

January 7th, 2025 at 12:11pm CST by Sam Robinson

Narrowly missing out on a playoff berth after entering the season with Super Bowl aspirations, the Bengals fired longtime defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo on Black Monday. They are moving on a replacement search quickly.

Cincinnati is look to two candidates who came off worse seasons, in eyeing the Las Vegas and New England staffs. Raiders DC Patrick Graham and Patriots DC DeMarcus Covington received interview slips from the Bengals, per NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero, and both candidates intend to interview.

Graham is set to meet about the position today, while Pelissero notes Covington’s meeting is on tap Wednesday. Teams can block coordinator lateral moves, so long as they do not involve a non-play-calling coordinator receiving that chance elsewhere, but Graham is no longer under contract with the Raiders. He is free to interview. With the Patriots again in transition, they have given Covington permission to make this potential lateral move.

The Patriots made a quick change, firing Jerod Mayo after previously promoting him without conducting a search. With Mayo having promoted Covington from D-line coach, this leaves the 2024 Pats DC on shaky ground. Featuring this century’s most dependable NFL unit (on the whole) during Bill Belichick‘s 24-year run in charge, New England’s defense dropped to 22nd in scoring and yardage under Covington. This came despite Christian Gonzalez‘s return to full strength. The Patriots did trade Matt Judon just before the season, however.

After the Raiders snapped a streak of finishing outside the NFL’s top half in scoring defense for more than 20 years — via the Graham-led unit’s ninth-place result in 2023 — the team closed in the 25th spot this season. That said, Las Vegas’ offense did not give Graham too much to work with; the Raiders ranked 15th in total defense for the second straight year.

Graham, 45, has much more experience — as he has been the DC with the Giants and Dolphins previously — and is on the Jaguars’ HC interview list. Both Graham and Covington, 35, are ex-Belichick assistants; though, they did not overlap in New England. The Bengals will see what each brings to the table soon.

Saints’ Derek Carr Not Open To Pay Cut

January 7th, 2025 at 11:50am CST by Sam Robinson

Retaining GM Mickey Loomis, the Saints will pair their long-running front office setup with a new coaching staff soon. This partnership will oversee a retooling effort, as a full rebuild does not appear to be in the cards. A collaboration on the team’s most important player will be necessary, as the Saints are once again in the worst cap shape of any team entering an offseason.

Derek Carr is now in Year three of his $150MM contract, which runs through 2026. The former Raiders cornerstone has battled injuries, and a battered receiving corps gave he and the Spencer Rattler–Jake Haener combination little to work with as the season progressed. New Orleans has a decision to make on Carr, but anything drastic would involve a heavy dead money figure.

Carr, 34 in March, is due a $30MM base salary for 2025. Of that total, $10MM is guaranteed due to the QB being on the Saints’ roster in March 2024. A $30MM injury guarantee — covering the remainder of Carr’s 2025 salary and $10MM of his 2026 paragraph 5 pay — would vest in March of this year. The Saints have already gone to the restructure well, as this is perhaps the NFL’s restructure headquarters, but no known pay-cut effort has occurred. Carr would not accept a trim if the Saints tried.

“I wouldn’t take a pay cut,” Carr said, via ESPN.com’s Katherine Terrell. “Yeah, I wouldn’t do that. Especially with what I put on tape. Would I restructure? Absolutely. I’ll always help the team that way. But there’s some things that you put out there that you earned. Even in some cases it could be even worse, but I felt confident when I signed it that this would give the team the best flexibility at the time.

“… But there’s always a kind of respect as a quarterback you’re like, well still we’re in that respectful lane. ‘We’re good. Build the team.’ But yeah, I wouldn’t take anything less to do this. It’s hard enough putting our bodies through it. And you’re trying to get everything you can for your family for it.”

Restructures are commonplace at this time of year, and Saints fans know this better than anyone. The previous Carr restructure created the high dead money bill in exchange for cap savings last year. As a result, it would come with a $50.13MM dead cap charge if New Orleans released Carr. That could be halved via a post-June 1 cut. Like the Broncos’ case with Russell Wilson last year, the Saints could attempt to escape now before another injury guarantee vests. It just would mean cap savings of less than $1.5MM this year.

A restructure is probably where the team goes, as Carr would count an NFL-record $51.46MM against the cap in 2025. The Saints gave Carr a no-trade clause, minimizing the chances of that route being feasible. The Raiders did the same via the sides’ 2022 agreement, and they moved on via release in February 2023.

Carr started 17 games for the Saints in 2023 but only 10 this past season, with the QB battling an oblique tear and a subsequent hand injury. He finished with 15 touchdown passes, five INTs and 7.7 yards per attempt, and although the 11th-year veteran did not have enough snaps to qualify in QBR, his 63.1 number checked in higher than his 2023 offering (56.5). Carr remains a capable but unspectacular option, but the Saints finding a definitive upgrade would prove difficult this offseason.

“That’s the life of a quarterback,” Carr told Terrell. “Whenever the season doesn’t end the way [you wanted] that’s the person people look at. ‘Well what money can we free up to get this and do this’ … and I’m fully confident with what I put on tape. I’m not worried, if that’s the case, and it had to change and all that kind of stuff. I’m super confident that whatever it is, I could get anywhere else to play. And so I’m not worried about that, but at the same time, I just want to win.”

Per usual, the Saints are in their own sector of cap trouble, sitting more than $66MM over the projected 2025 ceiling. No other team is more than $24MM over. Carr said he has engaged in “great conversations” with Loomis and Gayle Benson. With the Saints limited in terms of how they could replace the middling QB, especially in an offseason that does not look to feature many upgrade options, Carr sits on fairly steady ground ahead of the Saints’ annual cap-gymnastics period.

Patriots To Interview Byron Leftwich

January 7th, 2025 at 11:47am CST by Adam La Rose

Byron Leftwich recently confirmed his intention of returning to the NFL, and he has at least one suitor interested in speaking with him about a head coaching position. Leftwich will meet with the Patriots today, Mike Jones of The Athletic reports.

Leftwich spent three seasons working under Bruce Arians in Arizona, and at the end of his Cardinals tenure it came as no surprise the pair reunited in Tampa Bay. The former first-round quarterback worked as the Buccaneers’ offensive coordinator from 2019-22. Since then, however, Leftwich has been out of coaching.

The 44-year-old generated some interest in the coaching ranks recently, but he has had his eye on a new NFL opportunity. Tampa Bay enjoyed notable offensive success for much of Letwich’s tenure, but after Arians was replaced as head coach by Todd Bowles the unit took a step back during the 2022 campaign. Leftwich interviewed for the Ravens’ OC position in 2023, and one year later he made clear his interest in reuniting with Mike Tomlin by taking on the offensive coordinator spot in Pittsburgh. The 2025 hiring cycle marks his next opportunity to receive a look.

Leftwich does not have head coaching experience, but he has been connected to HC openings before. Reports emerged in 2022 stating he was a candidate for the Jaguars’ head coaching position, with perceived tension with general manger Trent Baalke ultimately leading the team in another direction. Leftwich has since denied that he was ever offered the position, one which – as of yesterday – is once again open.

The Patriots had a 24-year run with Bill Belichick at the helm, and his successor took over last offseason. Jerod Mayo was long viewed as Belichick’s heir apparent, with a succession clause being added to his contract to prevent the team from needing to conduct an outside search. After one year at the helm, Mayo was dismissed, leaving owner Robert Kraft and the team’s front office (which will remain intact) to start over.

To no surprise, Mike Vrabel is seen as the top candidate for New England’s vacancy. Like Mayo, Vrabel has a past as a former Patriots player, and Kraft is known to hold him in high regard. The team must meet with at least two external minority candidates as part of the search process to satisfy the Rooney Rule, and Leftwich will qualify in that respect. That is not the case for Lions OC Ben Johnson, who is expected to interview with New England. Leftwich will join him in terms of candidates with an offensive background as the Patriots seek out a coach capable of developing quarterback Drake Maye over the short- and long-term future.

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