Falcons, Raiders Request To Interview Panthers’ Ejiro Evero For HC
Hours after we learned of his preseason extension, Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero received requests to interview for head coach positions with the Raiders (per ESPN’s Adam Schefter) and Falcons (per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero). Evero has received some head coaching interest in two of the past three offseasons, but this is the first we’ve seen of his name in this year’s cycle. 
In 2023, Evero’s defense being a lone bright spot in Denver led to him receiving his first head coaching interest, securing interviews for all five vacancies in Arizona, Carolina, Denver, Houston, and Indianapolis. He conducted second interviews with the Texans and Colts and was even rumored to be a finalist for the Cardinals’ job, but ultimately, he accepted a new defensive coordinator position under Frank Reich in Carolina.
The following coaching cycle, continued defensive coaching success with the Panthers kept Evero’s name in the running for a number of open head coaching jobs. Of the eight vacancies in 2024, Evero interviewed for three of them. All three teams (Falcons, Panthers, and Seahawks) brought him back to conduct a second interview, but once again, he returned to his coordinator gig with the Panthers, this time for new head coach Dave Canales.
After featuring so prominently in the previous two coaching cycles, it was surprising to see the 2025 cycle come and go without hearing Evero’s name. This may have been a result of Evero’s defense in Carolina suffering some lows that we hadn’t seen in the coach’s recent tenure as coordinator. In 2024, the Panthers finished dead last in total defense, scoring defense, and rushing defense while finishing 23rd in pass defense. While not outstanding in 2025, the Panthers defense rebounded strongly and Evero is once again being recognized with head coaching interest.
The Falcons have already interviewed four candidates, splitting philosophies evenly with two offensive-minded candidates and two defensive-minded candidates. The team has requested interviews with three other candidates and, including Evero, all four are defensive-minded. It’s interesting to see Atlanta bring Evero in for an interview. His defense swept the Falcons in the regular season, including a 30-0 shutout in Charlotte.
The Raiders have interviewed five candidates for their head coaching job at this point in time, and all but one were offensive-minded coaches. They also have an interview planned with another offensive-minded candidate, but they’ve put out requests to interview two defensive-minded coaches, in addition to Evero.
Follow along with Pro Football Rumors’ 2026 NFL Head Coaching Tracker to see the latest on each candidate’s prospects and each team’s candidates.
Rams OC Mike LaFleur To Interview This Week With Raiders, Cardinals
While his older brother threatens to make headlines of his own in this year’s coaching cycle, Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur deserves his own flowers as he is set to interview this week for head coaching positions with both the Cardinals and Raiders, according to ESPN’s Peter Schrager. It had been rumored in the last few days, but these will be the first head coaching opportunities made available to the 38-year-old coordinator in his young career. 
A former quarterback, LaFleur didn’t see the same level of success as his brother, Matt, playing his college ball at Division-III Elmhurst University. He switched to safety for his final year as a player then became an offensive assistant for his alma mater in his first coaching gig. His next job came at Saint Joseph’s College in Indiana as quarterbacks coach for a year and, eventually, offensive coordinator. He spent a year in 2013 at Davidson as offensive coordinator/quarterbacks & wide receivers coach, his first taste of coordinator duties.
In 2014, LaFleur made his NFL coaching debut as an offensive intern with the Browns. The next year, he followed his brother to Atlanta, serving as an offensive assistant while Matt coached quarterbacks. When Matt earned his first offensive coordinator job in Los Angeles in 2017, Mike found his way to San Francisco where he was awarded the position of passing game coordinator/wide receivers coach. He dropped wide receivers from his duties two years later then, in 2021, followed Robert Saleh from the 49ers to New York to serve below Saleh as the Jets’ offensive coordinator.
Despite working with a cast of characters that featured Zach Wilson at quarterback, Michael Carter, Tevin Coleman, and Ty Johnson at running back, and Elijah Moore, Corey Davis, Keelan Cole, Jamison Crowder, and Braxton Berrios at wide receiver, LaFleur took an offense that had finished last in the NFL in total offense and 31st in passing offense and saw the unit improve to 26th in total offense and 20th in passing offense in his first season. Adding rookies Garrett Wilson and Breece Hall, LaFleur’s second year saw the offense finish 25th in total offense and 15th in passing offense.
LaFleur then got the opportunity to follow in his brother’s footsteps as the Rams’ offensive coordinator in 2023. He inherited a talented roster that had experienced injuries in 2022 but quickly returned the offense to success with second-year running back Kyren Williams adding a rushing element the team’s newly balanced unit. Wide receiver injuries limited the offense’s effectiveness last year, but LaFleur and the Rams rebounded this year to field the NFL’s top total offense, top scoring offense, top passing offense, and seventh-best rushing offense.
The Raiders are looking to replace Pete Carroll after a one-and-done season with the team. Under Carroll and two different offensive coordinators, Las Vegas finished dead last in the NFL in total offense, scoring offense, and rushing offense while finishing 28th in passing offense. The offense is centered around key young pieces like running back Ashton Jeanty, wide receiver Tre Tucker, and tight ends Brock Bowers and Michael Mayer, and will have the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, which some assume may be used to draft Indiana’s Heisman-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza. The Raiders would be looking for LaFleur to bring an offensive punch to match what was a decent defense this past year, though it may be losing Maxx Crosby in the future.
The Cardinals are replacing Jonathan Gannon after his three years with the team yielded a 15-36 regular season record. Arizona may be looking to make changes at quarterback this offseason, but the offense rosters one of the league’s best tight ends in record-setter Trey McBride and a strong pair of receivers in Michael Wilson and Marvin Harrison Jr. The team should also return running back James Conner after his 2025 season-ending injury. Unlike the Raiders, it was the Cardinals’ defense that struggled through most of the season and would need to see major improvements under a new coaching staff.
Now that the seal is broken, LaFleur may start getting calls from other openings around the league. The two teams that have contacted him have already interviewed several candidates that LaFleur will need to outshine; not to mention that may become more difficult if his brother joins the fray. For now, LaFleur can look forward to entering new territory as he prepares for his first head coaching interviews.
Cardinals, Ravens, Raiders, Giants Submit Chris Shula Interview Request
A number of defensive staffers are among the top candidates in this year’s head coach hiring cycle. Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula is certainly one of them. 
Two interview requests had already been made in his case, but many more have since emerged. Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated reports the Cardinals, Ravens, Raiders and Giants submitted a slip for Shula. That means six of the eight teams which currently have a HC vacancy hope to speak with him.
Both Arizona and Las Vegas had coaches known for their work on the defensive side of the ball until recently. Pete Carroll proved to be a one-and-done staffer upon returning to the NFL. Not long after his firing, Jonathan Gannon‘s three-year tenure with the Cardinals came to an end. Teams often look to coaches with a separate background than their predecessor when making a change on the sidelines, but Vegas and Arizona are casting a wide net.
The Ravens have conducted a large number of interviews already in the aftermath of moving on from John Harbaugh. Baltimore has also requested to speak with three other coaches in addition to Shula, though. Further slips would come as little surprise. The Giants represent one of the top destinations for Harbaugh, but New York has also been connected to a long list of other candidates. That includes several staffers with a defensive background.
The grandson of legendary coach Don Shula, Chris has served as the Rams’ DC for each of the past two years. His success in that role could very well lead to the 39-year-old becoming the latest member of the Sean McVay coaching tree to land an NFL HC gig. Virtual interviews with Shula can take place beginning Tuesday, and several can be expected given the nature of interest in his case.
Raiders, Dolphins Request HC Interview With Jeff Hafley
Jeff Hafley continues to draw notable head coaching interest around the NFL. The Packers‘ defensive coordinator has received another pair of HC interview requests. 
The Raiders and Dolphins have submitted a slip for Hafley, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports. That means five of the eight teams with a vacancy have requested an interview in this case. Hafley has already received a request from the Cardinals, Falcons and Titans.
Vegas had not previously been linked to interest on this front, though that had been the case for Miami. Nevertheless, Hafley will be among the busiest candidates in this year’s cycle as he speaks with numerous suitors. Virtual interviews can begin as early as Tuesday. The first in-person summits with interested teams can begin after the divisional round since Green Bay’s season is over.
The nature in which the Packers lost last night represents a notable blemish on Hafley’s resume. Green Bay surrendered 25 points in the fourth quarter as part of the team’s late-game blown lead. That resulted in the Packers’ losing streak extending to five games. Defensive struggles were common during that period, one which took place after Micah Parsons‘ ACL tear.
With Parsons in the lineup, however, Green Bay jumped out to a 9-3-1 start. Hafley’s defense was a key factor in that success. Overall, the Packers finished the season ranked 11th in points allowed despite missing Parsons and others down the stretch. In 2024 – Hafley’s first year with the team – Green Bay ranked No. 6 in scoring defense and fifth in yards allowed. That, coupled with the 46-year-old’s experience as a head coach (at Boston College from 2020-23), has seen him frequently named as one of the top options on the market for this year’s hiring cycle.
The Raiders were among the teams to make a head coaching change on ‘Black Monday’ by dismissing Pete Carroll after just one season in charge. At that point, it appeared as though Mike McDaniel would be safe in Miami. However, he too wound up being fired. Both teams have already begun interviews with some of their HC targets, and they will look to do the same with Hafley.
Eagles’ Lane Johnson Returns To Practice; Azeez Ojulari’s Practice Window Opens
JANUARY 11: Johnson is officially inactive for today’s game. Mike Garafolo of NFL Network notes practice included encouraging moments during the past few days, but Johnson’s return to the lineup will not be possible until at least next week.
JANUARY 7: The Eagles are expecting to get some reinforcements on both sides of the ball in the playoffs.
The most impactful player who could return is right tackle Lane Johnson, who has not played since mid-November due to a foot injury. Swing tackle Fred Johnson has held up, but not excelled in his All-Pro teammate’s place.
Johnson practiced on Wednesday, per Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer. He would be a major boost to an Eagles offense that has sputtered in the second half of the season. After their Week 10 bye, Philly scored more than 2o points in just three of their last nine games. Those performances all came against a handful of the worst defenses in the league. Johnson would no doubt fortify the offensive line
On defense, the Eagles are expecting to have Nakobe Dean back in the wild card round; defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said as much on Tuesday (via The Athletic’s Zach Berman). Dean has been out since Week 15 due to a hamstring injury. He also missed the first five games as he completed his recovery from a January 2025 torn patellar tendon. In between, he posted a career-high four sacks in just 10 games, an impressive number for an off-ball linebacker. First-round pick Jihaad Campbell has started next to Zack Baun for the past few games and will likely slide back to the bench upon Dean’s return.
Philadelphia’s defense may also get outside linebacker Azeez Ojulari back on the field soon. He has been on injured reserve since the beginning of November and was designated to return on Wednesday, according to McLane. The fifth-year defender signed with the Eagles this offseason but was too far down the depth chart to play at the start of the year. After four healthy scratches, he finally got some game day action with both Nolan Smith and Ogbo Okoronkwo landing on IR. Ojulari, however, only saw 32 snaps across three games before injuring his hamstring.
Panthers LT Ikem Ekwonu Suffers Torn Patellar Tendon
Ikem Ekwonu suffered what Panthers head coach Dave Canales referred to as a “significant” knee injury yesterday. Further testing has confirmed that is indeed the case. 
Canales said on Sunday Ekwonu suffered a torn patellar tendon. Surgery is forthcoming as a result. No firm timeline is in place at this point, but a lengthy rehab process now awaits the Panthers’ left tackle. Canales noted the injury will have an impact on Carolina’s offseason planning along the offensive line.
“It is something we have to consider, knowing we’re going to go through a full offseason — what’s the timeline, how does that affect training camp, roster numbers and all of that,” Canales said (via ESPN’s David Newton). “Timeline wise, all those times vary, but it’s significant.”
Ekwonu is in danger of missing not only the coming offseason program as well as training camp but also a large portion of the 2026 campaign. Being without him for an extended period would deal a notable blow to Carolina’s O-line, a unit which could see considerable turnover during the coming months. Ekwonu and the Panthers have a mutual interest in an extension, but a major injury such as this could lead to a pause in negotiations on that front.
Last offseason, the Panthers picked up Ekwonu’s fifth-year option. As a result, the 25-year-old is due to earn $17.56MM for 2026. That figure is guaranteed, but the potential for other left tackle investments in free agency and/or the draft will be something to watch closely in Carolina’s case. The team will be seeking offensive upgrades across the board coming off an inconsistent 2025 campaign which resulted in a division title but also left plenty of room for improvement.
Ekwonu was fully available for each of his first two years in the NFL. The former No. 6 pick missed just two games in each of the 2024 and ’25 campaigns, but that strong run of availability is in serious danger of being interrupted next season.
Panthers, DC Ejiro Evero Agreed To Extension Prior To 2025 Season
Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero‘s contract was due to expire at the end of the 2025 season. Although it was not revealed until Sunday, during head coach Dave Canales‘ end-of-season presser, Carolina extended Evero before the start of the ’25 campaign (via Joe Person of The Athletic). Person adds that the contract runs through 2027.
Evero, 45, has been with the Panthers since 2023, one year before Canales’ arrival. While new head coaches generally prefer to bring in their own coordinators, Canales noted at the outset that he hoped to retain Evero. As such, Carolina blocked him from taking defensive coordinator interviews with other clubs.
They could not prevent him from speaking with teams about a head coaching position, and he landed second HC interviews with three clubs in the 2024 cycle (including the Panthers, who ultimately settled on Canales). Obviously, he did not land any of those positions, but his status as one of the best defensive coaches in the game has endured.
Evero’s career as an NFL staffer began back in 2011 as a quality control coach with the 49ers. He eventually worked his way up the ranks and parlayed his work as the secondary coach and passing game coordinator with the Super Bowl champion Rams in 2021 into a defensive coordinator post with the Broncos in 2022.
That year was a disastrous one for the Broncos, who fired first-year head coach Nathaniel Hackett in the middle of the campaign. Ejero’s defense, though, was not the problem, as his unit finished seventh in yards allowed. He declined to take the interim HC job upon Hackett’s dismissal and was released from his contract when Denver acquired Sean Payton.
In his first year with the Panthers in 2023, the club finished fourth in total defense (although Carolina surrendered the fourth-most points per game). In the first year of the Canales/Evero partnership in 2024, the Panthers finished dead last in terms of both total defense and scoring defense, which likely played a role in Evero’s absence from the 2025 HC circuit.
The Panthers nonetheless opted not only to retain Evero, but to extend his contract. While their surprising run to the playoffs in 2025 was made possible by a weak NFC South, they did push the Rams to the brink in a narrow wildcard-round loss on Saturday and ended the regular season in the middle of the pack with respect to yards allowed and points allowed.
As Carolina looks to build on something of a breakthrough, it will have continuity at the top of the coaching staff.
NFL Appeals Portion Of Brian Flores Lawsuit To SCOTUS
A portion of Brian Flores’ lawsuit against the NFL and a handful of its clubs may be heading to the United States Supreme Court. Per Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, the league has filed a petition for writ of certiorari with SCOTUS in an effort to keep all of Flores’ claims in arbitration rather than open court.
In August, Flores’ claims against the league and three teams – the Broncos, the Giants, and the Texans – were allowed to proceed to court rather than remain in arbitration. In affirming that decision and ruling against the NFL, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals reasoned that Flores never signed contracts with mandatory arbitration language with those clubs (the basis for his claims against those three teams is that they allegedly conducted sham head coaching interviews to comply with the Rooney Rule).
On the other hand, because Flores and co-Plaintiffs Steve Wilks and Ray Horton had signed contracts with the Dolphins, Cardinals, and Titans, respectively, and because those deals included a mandatory arbitration provision, the claims against that trio of teams remained in the purview of Peter Harvey, the arbitrator whom commissioner Roger Goodell appointed.
The NFL sought a rehearing of the Second Circuit’s decision – originally made by a three-judge panel – before the court’s full 13-judge bench, but that request was denied. Left with no other alternative, the league is now seeking review from the highest court in the land.
Of course, the Supreme Court grants only a small fraction of the petitions for writ of certiorari it receives each year. The NFL has presented the following question for review:
Whether an arbitration agreement governing disputes in a professional sports league is categorically unenforceable under the Federal Arbitration Act because it designates the league commissioner as the default arbitrator and permits the commissioner to develop arbitral procedures.
By narrowing the scope of the question to professional sports leagues, the league is allowing the court – if it chooses to hear the case – to narrow the scope of its eventual holding in the same way. In other words, even if the court rules in the league’s favor, it would not necessarily be greenlighting CEOs of all industries to preside over arbitration claims involving their companies in the same way that Goodell (or his designee) has presided over arbitration claims involving the NFL.
The NFL’s petition will further delay any trial or hearing on the merits of the suit, which Flores initiated nearly four years ago. In the meantime, Flores’ coaching career is still going strong.
The 44-year-old just finished a successful three-year run as the Vikings’ defensive coordinator, and now that he is out of contract, he and Minnesota are discussing a new deal. Though he has been mentioned as a candidate for the Raiders’ head coaching vacancy, only the Ravens have put in a formal HC interview request as of the time of this writing.
Browns Request HC Interview With Rams Pass Game Coordinator Nate Scheelhaase
The Sean McVay coaching tree continues to bear fruit. As ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports, the Browns have requested a head coaching interview with Rams pass game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase.
Scheelhaase, 35, made the jump to the professional ranks in 2024 after spending the entirety of his career as a collegiate staffer. That included his work as offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach at Iowa State under highly-respected HC Matt Campbell, which clearly caught McVay’s attention.
After just one season on McVay’s staff, Scheelhaase landed two OC interviews in last year’s cycle and was even considered the favorite for the Jaguars’ gig. He ultimately opted to remain in Los Angeles with an expanded role.
In 2024, Scheelhaase helped the Rams finish as a top-10 passing offense despite injuries to Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua. In 2025, with 16 games of Nacua and 14 games of Davante Adams, Los Angeles topped the league in terms of both total offense and scoring offense, which clearly appeals to a Browns team that finished near the bottom of the pack in both categories.
Obviously, Cleveland does not currently possess anywhere close to the quarterback and receiver talent that the Rams boast, and a candidate who appears to be a rising star in the coaching world may prefer to wait for a more appealing opportunity. On the other hand, a young staffer who has never served as a coordinator at the NFL level could certainly be swayed by an HC contract if one were to be offered. He is also a possible candidate (f0r the second year in a row) for the Bucs’ offensive coordinator job.
ESPN’s Peter Schrager recently suggested both Scheelhaase and Rams OC Mike LaFleur could find themselves in the HC pool this year. Thus far, no interview requests have come LaFleur’s way, though that could certainly change in the near future.
Here is an updated look at how the Browns’ search to replace Kevin Stefanski is shaping up, via our HC tracker:
- Aden Durde, defensive coordinator (Seahawks): Interviewed 1/9
- John Harbaugh, former head coach (Ravens): Rumored mutual interest; Interview requested
- Mike McDaniel, former head coach (Dolphins): To interview
- Jesse Minter, defensive coordinator (Chargers): Interview requested
- Todd Monken, offensive coordinator (Ravens): Interviewed 1/10
- Dan Pitcher, offensive coordinator (Bengals): Interviewed 1/9
- Tommy Rees, offensive coordinator (Browns): Interviewed 1/8
- Nate Scheelhaase, pass game coordinator (Rams): Interview requested
- Jim Schwartz, defensive coordinator (Browns): Interviewed 1/8
Dolphins’ GM Hire Could Improve Giants’ Odds Of Landing John Harbaugh; Miami HC Job Not Viewed As Desirable
The Giants have been connected to former Ravens head coach John Harbaugh from the moment Baltimore fired him last week, with initial reports saying New York is “all-in” on the former Super Bowl winner. The Dolphins have also contacted Harbaugh, but in the estimation of the NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo (video link), Miami’s GM hire is good news for Big Blue’s pursuit.
The ‘Fins recently named Jon-Eric Sullivan as their new general manager, bypassing Chad Alexander in the process. Interestingly, Alexander – who worked for the Ravens during 11 of Harbaugh’s 18 years with the club – was added to Miami’s GM search just hours before Baltimore relieved Harbaugh of his duties. The Chargers have employed Alexander as their assistant GM since Harbaugh’s brother, Jim, became the Bolts’ head coach in 2024.
Without the Harbaugh connection in place at the top of the Miami front office, Garafolo believes one potential suitor is off the board. Plus, he suggests Harbaugh – who could have his pick of non-Ravens teams in need of a head coach – may not want to join the Dolphins anyway due to their uncertain quarterback situation and difficult salary cap picture, which could necessitate a reset of sorts.
Fox Sports’ Eric D. Williams echoes that sentiment. Citing Tua Tagovailoa’s contract and 2025 performance, cap constraints, and an aging roster, only one of the league sources with whom Williams spoke ranked the Miami post among the top three HC vacancies in the league. The Giants offer a more promising roster, which includes a rookie-contract quarterback in Jaxson Dart who flashed in 2025, and that is one of the reasons why the New York job is generally considered to be a more attractive one.
We heard just yesterday that Harbaugh is watching film on Dart and Tennessee QB Cam Ward and is staying in touch with decision-makers for both the Giants and Titans as well as members of his most recent Baltimore coaching staff. In a separate report for the NFL Network (video link), Garafolo says the Giants are not taking a “Harbaugh-or-bust” approach to their HC search, though he does acknowledge they are hoping they make Harbaugh’s short list and will land an interview with him. While Garafolo does not say so explicitly, the NFL Network included a graphic indicating former Browns HC Kevin Stefanski is one of the team’s other top candidates.
Paul Schwartz of the New York Post says that if the Giants truly want Harbaugh, they may need to step outside of their comfort zone on multiple fronts. In addition to commanding a salary at or near the top of the HC market – although a portion of that will be offset by the roughly $34MM the Ravens are obligated to pay through the end of the 2028 season – Harbaugh ran what one league source called a “big program” that may include additional investments in a larger coaching staff, team facilities, and other aspects of the operation.
Per Schwartz, Harbaugh will also want assurances that he will be able to hire any coordinator or coach he wants without financial constraint. Nonetheless, he is said to be willing to have a conversation with GM Joe Schoen, and considering the appeal of their vacancy, it is not surprising that Schwartz believes the Giants are squarely in the mix for Harbaugh’s services.