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Texans Add Brian Johnson, Grant Udinski To List Of OC Candidates

January 30th, 2025 at 6:43pm CST by Ben Levine

The Texans have cast a relatively wide net in their search for a new offensive coordinator, and we’ve got two more names to add to the growing list of candidates. According to FOX Sports’ Jordan Schultz, the Texans have requested an interview with Commanders pass game coordinator Brian Johnson. Meanwhile, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that the team interviewed Vikings coach Grant Udinski today.

Johnson would bring plenty of experience to Houston. The long-time coach had three stops as offensive coordinator in the college ranks, guiding the offenses at Utah, Houston, and Florida. He broke into the NFL in 2021 when he was named as the Eagles quarterbacks coach, and he quickly earned a promotion to offensive coordinator in 2023.

His stint as Philly’s OC left plenty to be desired, with pundits criticizing his lack of offensive creativity. To his credit, the Eagles still ranked top-ten in both yards and points that season, but Johnson was canned following that campaign. He quickly landed on his feet in Washington, where he was recruited by Dan Quinn to be the Commanders’ new offensive pass-game coordinator. Working alongside OC Kliff Kingsbury, the team squeezed a standout season out of rookie Jayden Daniels, and that performance apparently put Johnson back on the coordinator radar.

Udinski has spent the majority of his coaching career in Minnesota, working his way up from an assistant to his current role of assistant offensive coordinator/assistant quarterbacks coach. Plenty of teams have been enamored by the Kevin O’Connell-led offense, especially after the Vikings got a career-best season from Sam Darnold. As a result, Udinski garnered interest from the Patriots, Seahawks, and Buccaneers for their respective OC vacancies.

Following the Texans’ sudden decision to move on from Bobby Slowik, the team has looked far and wide for a new offensive leader. As our 2025 NFL Offensive/Defensive Coordinator Search Tracker shows, the team’s current list of candidates includes:

Jaguars To Conduct DC Interview With Daronte Jones

January 27th, 2025 at 3:10pm CST by Adam La Rose

Liam Coen is officially in place as the Jaguars’ head coach. Attention for the team will now turn to filling out the staff, particularly the coordinator positions.

On the defensive side of the ball, the first candidate (in terms of ones set to speak with the team) has emerged. Jacksonville will interview Daronte Jones for the DC position, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports. Jones has spent the past three years with the Vikings, serving as their pass game coordinator since 2023.

The 46-year-old’s playing career came to an abrupt end due to injury during his time in college, but he quickly transitioned to coaching. Jones spent time at the high school, CFL and college levels for several years before his first NFL opportunity came with the Dolphins in 2016. Since that time, he has also worked as a positional coach with the Bengals and Vikings.

In between, Jones spent the 2021 season as LSU’s defensive coordinator. While a move to the DC level in the NFL would be unprecedented, he does have some experience in that role. Still, it would come as little surprise if Coen preferred a veteran presence on the sidelines given his status as a rookie head coach with an offensive background.

To that end, it is notable a report from the weekend named Patrick Graham as a top candidate for the Jags’ DC posting. The 46-year-old has been at the helm of the Raiders’ defense for the past three seasons, and he has also worked at the coordinator level with the Giants and Dolphins. That experience stands in stark contrast to that of Jones, but the fact the latter has a meeting lined up means he is likely to receive at least some consideration from Coen and Co.

2025 NFL Offensive/Defensive Coordinator Search Tracker

January 26th, 2025 at 9:57pm CST by Sam Robinson

Last year, half the league changed up at offensive and defensive coordinator. As most HC-needy teams have now filled their open positions, the coordinator carousel has accelerated. Here is how the market looks now. When other teams make changes, they will be added to the list.

Updated 2-21-25 (1:59pm CT)

Offensive coordinators

Chicago Bears (Out: Chris Beatty)

Cleveland Browns (Out: Ken Dorsey)

Dallas Cowboys (Out: Brian Schottenheimer)

Detroit Lions (Out: Ben Johnson)

  • John Morton, pass-game coordinator (Broncos): Hired

Houston Texans (Out: Bobby Slowik)

Jacksonville Jaguars (Out: Press Taylor)

Las Vegas Raiders 

New England Patriots (Out: Alex Van Pelt)

New Orleans Saints (Out: Klint Kubiak)

New York Jets (Out: Nathaniel Hackett)

Philadelphia Eagles (Out: Kellen Moore)

  • Kevin Patullo, pass-game coordinator (Eagles): Promoted

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks (Out: Ryan Grubb)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Out: Liam Coen)

Defensive coordinators

Atlanta Falcons (Out: Jimmy Lake)

Chicago Bears (Out: Eric Washington)

Cincinnati Bengals (Out: Lou Anarumo)

Dallas Cowboys (Out: Mike Zimmer)

Detroit Lions (Out: Aaron Glenn)

  • Larry Foote, inside linebackers coach (Buccaneers): Interviewed
  • Kelvin Sheppard, linebackers coach (Lions): Promoted

Indianapolis Colts (Out: Gus Bradley)

Jacksonville Jaguars (Out: Ryan Nielsen)

  • Anthony Campanile, linebackers coach/running game coordinator (Packers): Hired
  • Jonathan Cooley, pass-game coordinator (Panthers): Interview requested
  • Patrick Graham, former defensive coordinator (Raiders): Interviewed 1/27
  • Daronte Jones, defensive pass-game coordinator (Vikings): Interviewed 1/27
  • Aubrey Pleasant, defensive pass-game coordinator (Rams): Interviewed 1/28

Las Vegas Raiders 

New England Patriots (Out: DeMarcus Covington)

  • Ryan Crow, outside linebackers coach (Dolphins): Interviewed 1/21
  • Terrell Williams, defensive line coach (Lions): Hired

New Orleans Saints (Out: Joe Woods)

New York Jets (Out: Jeff Ulbrich)

  • Chris Harris, former defensive backs coach/passing game coordinator (Titans): Interviewed 1/29
  • Steve Wilks, former defensive coordinator (49ers): To be hired

San Francisco 49ers (Out: Nick Sorensen)

Buccaneers Conduct OC Interviews With Marcus Brady, Grant Udinski

January 25th, 2025 at 6:52pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Buccaneers are moving quickly in their bid to find Liam Coen‘s replacement. Three candidates have now been attached to the team’s offensive coordinator opening.

Tampa Bay conducted a virtual interview with Chargers passing game coordinator Marcus Brady on Saturday, per a team announcement. The same is also true of Vikings assistant quarterbacks coach Grant Udinsky. Earlier today, it was learned the Buccaneers have submitted an interview request for Rams offensive assistant Nate Scheelhaase.

Prior to beginning his NFL coaching tenure in 2018, Brady had a long spell in the CFL. He served as offensive coordinator of the Montreal Alouettes as well as the Toronto Argonauts, winning a total of three Grey Cups in that span. After three seasons working with the Colts’ quarterbacks, Brady was promoted to OC and served in that capacity in 2021 and ’22.

The 45-year-old worked as a senior offensive assistant with the Eagles in 2023 before taking his current job in Los Angeles. The Chargers underwent a number of changes on the sidelines with the arrival of Jim Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Greg Roman this offseason, and one of the outcomes was increased efficiency from quarterback Justin Herbert (who posted a league-best interception rate of 0.6%). Brady’s role in that success landed him an interview with the Patriots for their OC posting this month.

Udinski began his college coaching career in 2019, and he followed Matt Rhule from Baylor to the Panthers to start his NFL tenure. After two years in Carolina, Udinski was hired by the Vikings as part of Kevin O’Connell‘s initial staff. For the past two years, the 28-year-old has worked as an assistant QBs coach and during the 2024 campaign he also had the title of assistant offensive coordinator.

Udinski was another coach who spoke with the Patriots about their OC gig before they elected to reunite with Josh McDaniels. He is also a finalist for the Seahawks’ vacancy, having conducted a second interview last week. The Bucs therefore may have competition for the services of Udinski – who, unlike Brady does not have coordinator experience – depending on how the teams evaluate him as a candidate for this year’s hiring cycle.

Tampa Bay appeared to have Coen in place for 2025 and beyond with a new deal agreed to during the week. In the wake of the Jaguars firing general manager Trent Baalke, though, Coen met with Jacksonville a second time and was ultimately hired as the team’s new head coach. Todd Bowles is thus in need of another new OC this offseason, and it will be interesting to see how his latest search plays out.

Bears Request DC Interview With Vikings’ Daronte Jones

January 25th, 2025 at 9:00am CST by Ben Levine

JANUARY 26: Jones’ interview with the Bears will take place this weekend, according to CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones.

JANUARY 23: Ben Johnson isn’t wasting any time looking to add to his staff. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Bears have requested an interview with Vikings coach Daronte Jones for their defensive coordinator vacancy.

After spending more than a decade in the college ranks, Jones got his first NFL gig with the Dolphins in 2015, when he worked as an assistant defensive backs coach. He later coached cornerbacks with the Bengals and defensive backs with the Vikings before being named defensive coordinator at LSU in 2021.

Jones only lasted one year at that stop. The coordinator wasn’t retained as part of Brian Kelly’s first staff in Baton Rouge, and he quickly caught on with the Vikings. After spending his first season in Minnesota as the defensive backs coach, Jones has spent the past two years serving as the Vikings defensive pass game coordinator.

As Rapoport notes, Jones has earned a reputation as a bright defensive mind, and he’s had time to hone his skills working under the likes of Brian Flores, Vance Joseph, and Marvin Lewis. The coach also has experience working alongside Johnson, as the duo were both on the Dolphins coaching staff between 2016 and 2017.

Rams defensive pass-game coordinator Aubrey Pleasant is the only other known candidate to potentially replace ousted DC Eric Washington in Chicago. The Bears (and Johnson) have been loosely connected to former Saints head coach Dennis Allen, and they were a rumored landing spot for former Bengals DC Lou Anarumo before he joined the Colts staff.

Vikings, Kevin O’Connell Agree To Extension

January 21st, 2025 at 10:35pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Vikings have not waited long after the end of their season to work out an extension with Kevin O’Connell. Minnesota’s head coach has a new deal in place, the team announced on Tuesday.

“Kevin is exactly who we believed him to be when we named him as our head coach – an innovative play caller, an excellent communicator and a strong leader who motivates and connects with his players,” a statement from owner Mark Wilf reads. “He has helped establish a culture that positions us for sustained success, and he will continue to set the standard we need as we pursue a championship for Vikings fans.”

O’Connell was previously set to enter the final year of his pact in 2025, but it became clear immediately after the team’s wild-card loss that the team would engage in extension talks. Those efforts carried the potential of an agreement being worked out in short order, and that has proven to be the case. No specifics are known with respect to term, but this new contract has been announced as a multi-year accord.

Hired in 2022, the 39-year-old had experience as an offensive coordinator prior to his arrival in Minnesota but none as a head coach. O’Connell made an immediate impact, though, leading the team to a 13-4 record in his debut season at the helm. Expectations were high last year as a result, particularly on the offensive side of the ball. Quarterback Kirk Cousins tore his Achilles midway through the campaign, however, and the team wound up 7-10 and out of the playoff picture.

Cousins’ free agency was a central offseason storyline for the Vikings last spring, and the team ultimately watched him depart on the open market by signing with the Falcons. J.J. McCarthy was selected as a long-term replacement under center, but (especially with the Michigan product being sidelined for the year with a meniscus tear) it was veteran free agent pickup Sam Darnold who handled QB1 duties in 2024.

Darnold delivered by far the most productive season of his career during his first campaign working with O’Connell. The latter’s reputation as one of the league’s top offensive minds has increased as a result, although it remains to be seen if Darnold will remain in Minnesota or take a lucrative deal with another team on the open market. In any case, Year 2 with the former top-three pick or a fresh start with McCarthy atop the depth chart will result in high expectations following a 14-3 campaign.

General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah is in the same situation as O’Connell with respect to his current deal being set to expire after the 2025 season. It would come as little surprise if he too were to land an extension, though. Indeed, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network notes talks on a new deal for Adofo-Mensah are underway.

Ensuring the top organizational decision-makers remain in place for the foreseeable future is a logical goal for the Vikings. O’Connell’s situation has now been taken care of, while Adofo-Mensah is on track to be extended as well. That pairing has led Minnesota to a 34-17 record, and continued success in a highly competitive NFC North will remain the target for 2025 and beyond.

Patriots Conduct OC Interview With Vikings’ Grant Udinski

January 21st, 2025 at 2:00pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Patriots are among the teams in need of a new offensive and defensive coordinator. The list of candidates to interview for the former position has expanded.

New England met with Grant Udinski yesterday, Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated reports. That makes him the third candidate to interview for the OC vacancy. The Patriots are, of course not alone in showing interest in the Vikings’ assistant OC, though. Udinski is also among the finalists for Seattle’s offensive coordinator position.

The Patriots are starting over at a number of positions on their staff with Mike Vrabel in place as head coach. That is common practice in the NFL, but with a pair of coordinator spots to fill the team will look to move quickly. Udinski does not have a history with Vrabel, but he is held in high regard around the league and could take on his first career coordinator gig as early as this season as a result.

The 28-year-old worked as a graduate assistant in 2019 before following Matt Rhule from Temple to Carolina one year later. After two seasons with the Panthers, Udinski joined the Vikings’ staff under Kevin O’Connell. He took on the position of assistant quarterbacks coach last year, and had assistant OC added to his title for the 2024 campaign. After a season in which Sam Darnold exceeded expectations in Minnesota, Udinski’s stock has certainly risen in short order.

The Patriots have Drake Maye in place as their quarterback of the present and (at least short-term) future, but the rest of the offense faces plenty of questions. Upgrading along the O-line and adding at the receiver position will be key offseason priorities, something the team’s next OC will no doubt have a say in once a hire is made.

Via PFR’s OC/DC tracker, here is an updated look at the Patriots’ ongoing search:

Updated 2025 NFL Draft Order

January 19th, 2025 at 10:00pm CST by Ely Allen

Two weekends of playoff football have come and gone, providing us with 10 more draft slots cemented into position as NFL teams continue to be eliminated from the playoffs. The top 18 picks were already divvied up at the conclusion of the regular season to the teams who failed to make the playoffs, while picks 19-28 have been determined over the past two weeks.

For non-playoff teams, the draft order has been determined by the inverted 2024 standings plus a series of tiebreakers, starting with strength of schedule. The playoff squads are being slotted by their postseason outcome and the reverse order of their regular-season record.

The league’s Super Wild Card weekend resulted in the elimination of Chargers, Steelers, Broncos, Packers, Buccaneers, and Vikings after their respective losses. Tampa Bay benefitted from the three-way tie in record with Denver and Pittsburgh, just as the Chargers did over the Packers.

The divisional round of the playoffs resulted in the elimination of the Texans, Rams, Ravens, and Lions. This time, Houston held the tiebreaker over Los Angeles, gifting it higher draft priority.

We are still at a place that, for the first time since the league expanded to 32 teams in 2002, there is a chance that every team drafts in the first round, as no first-round picks have yet been traded. It’s extremely unlikely that this will remain the case, as draft-day trades are a very common occurrence, but it’s still an interesting concept to note this close to the draft.

Here is how the draft order looks following two weeks of playoff football:

  1. Tennessee Titans (3-14)
  2. Cleveland Browns (3-14)
  3. New York Giants (3-14)
  4. New England Patriots (4-13)
  5. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-13)
  6. Las Vegas Raiders (4-13)
  7. New York Jets (5-12)
  8. Carolina Panthers (5-12)
  9. New Orleans Saints (5-12)
  10. Chicago Bears (5-12)
  11. San Francisco (6-11)
  12. Dallas Cowboys (7-10)
  13. Miami Dolphins (8-9)
  14. Indianapolis Colts (8-9)
  15. Atlanta Falcons (8-9)
  16. Arizona Cardinals (8-9)
  17. Cincinnati Bengals (9-8)
  18. Seattle Seahawks (10-7)
  19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-7)
  20. Denver Broncos (10-7)
  21. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7)
  22. Los Angeles Chargers (11-6)
  23. Green Bay Packers (11-6)
  24. Minnesota Vikings (14-3)
  25. Houston Texans (10-7)
  26. Los Angeles Rams (10-7)
  27. Baltimore Ravens (12-5)
  28. Detroit Lions (15-2)
  29. Washington Commanders (12-5)
  30. Buffalo Bills (13-4)
  31. Philadelphia Eagles (14-3)
  32. Kansas City Chiefs (15-2)

NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 11/17/25

January 17th, 2025 at 10:04pm CST by Ely Allen

Friday’s reserve/futures contracts around the league:

Atlanta Falcons

Buffalo Bills

Minnesota Vikings

New York Jets

Seattle Seahawks

Washington Commanders

Seahawks Meet With Byron Leftwich For OC Position; Second Interview With Vikings’ Grant Udinski Scheduled

January 17th, 2025 at 12:13pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Seahawks continue to move forward in their search for an offensive coordinator. A new name has emerged as one of the team’s targets while the list of finalists grows.

Byron Leftwich recently interviewed with Seattle for the OC spot, Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports reports. Leftwich made it clear earlier this season he intended to return to an NFL sideline in some capacity during the 2025 hiring cycle. He met with the Patriots for their head coaching position last week, but a deal allowing him to lead a staff would come as a surprise.

Another coordinator gig would be more realistic, especially considering his success in that capacity with the Buccaneers. Leftwich helped guide the team to a top-three finish in scoring each season from 2019-21. The 2022 campaign witnessed a notable regression with Todd Bowles taking over from Bruce Arians as head coach, but Leftwich could rebuild his stock with another opportunity this year.

While Leftwich has met with the team once, the Seahawks are into the finalist phase by taking part in second interviews. Saints OC Klint Kubiak will speak with Seattle today, having already done so last week. The Browns showed interest in Kubiak as well before promoting Tommy Rees to fill their offensive coordinator spot. Kubiak remains on New Orleans’ staff for now, but since the Saints are among the teams in need of a head coach he has been allowed to seek out other opportunities.

Kubiak is joined by Grant Udinski as a finalist for the Seahawks’ gig. The latter has a second, in-person interview lined up for today, per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo. Udinski is an assistant OC with the Vikings while also holding the title of QBs coach. The 28-year-old first joined an NFL staff when he followed Matt Rhule from Temple to Carolina in 2020. He took a role under Kevin O’Connell in his first year as Vikings head coach (2022), earning a promotion to his current role one year later.

After one season in place, Ryan Grubb was dismissed as Seattle’s offensive coordinator. Mike Macdonald will look to generate a rebound on that side of the ball for his second year at the helm, although before that can take place a decision on quarterback Geno Smith‘s future will need to be made. Whether it is Smith in place or another passer for 2025, the Seahawks’ next OC will be tasked with overseeing a step forward in the run game in particular.

Seattle has also interviewed Bears interim head coach Thomas Brown and Lions offensive line coach Hank Fraley for the OC vacancy. It will be interesting to see if either of them wind up joining Kubiak, Udinski (and potentially Leftwich) as finalists.

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