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Bears To Interview Ron Rivera For HC Job

January 11th, 2025 at 9:55am CST by Ben Levine

The Bears are adding a franchise icon to their list of head coaching candidates. According to Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports, the Bears will interview Ron Rivera this weekend for their head coaching job.

Rivera has had multiple stints with the organization, most famously between 1984 and 1992 when the linebacker helped anchor Chicago’s defense. He won a Super Bowl with the ’85 Bears, and he proceeded to spend his entire nine-year playing career with the organization.

A few years following his retirement, Rivera got his first coaching gig in Chicago, serving as a defensive quality control coach for two years. He next spent a half-decade in Philly serving as the Eagles linebackers coach before he returned to the Bears as their defensive coordinator. Rivera earned PFWA’s Assistant Coach of the Year honors following his second season at the helm, and he helped guide an NFC Championship-winning defense in 2006.

The relationship between the two sides broke down following Rivera’s third season as DC. Rivera’s contract wasn’t extended due to failed negotiations, and he ended up leaving to become the ILB coach in San Diego. He was quickly promoted to DC with the Chargers, and he parlayed that performance into the Panthers HC job.

Rivera saw some ups and downs during his time in Carolina. His hiring coincided with the addition of first-overall pick Cam Newton, and the duo eventually led the Panthers to four playoff appearances in five years (including a run to the Super Bowl in 2015). Rivera earned a pair of Coach of the Year honors during that run. A late-season collapse saw the Panthers miss the playoffs in 2018, and the team bottomed out with Newton out of the lineup in 2019. Midway through that latter campaign, Rivera was let go by the Panthers.

He quickly landed on his feet in Washington, as he was named head coach ahead of the 2020 season. The Commanders made the playoffs despite a 7-9 record during Rivera’s first season on the sideline, and they flirted with a .500 record for the next couple of years. After the Commanders went 4-13 during the 2023 campaign, Rivera was fired by the team.

The long-time coach was out of football for the 2024 season, although he made it clear that he intended to return to coaching. It didn’t take long for him to reemerge during this year’s hiring cycle, as he’s already met with the Jets about their job.

Rivera now represents the 18th coach to be connected to Chicago’s job. Some of those targets, like Bill Belichick and Mike McCarthy, didn’t gain any traction, but the team has otherwise interviewed or requested interviews with 15 other candidates (excluding Rivera):

Browns’ Deshaun Watson Suffers Second Achilles Tear

January 10th, 2025 at 11:50pm CST by Adam La Rose

Deshaun Watson‘s recent setback in his Achilles rehab has proven to be a situation which will seriously threaten his availability for 2025. The Browns quarterback tore his Achilles a second time, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. The team has since confirmed the news.

Such a scenario was raised as a possibility earlier this week, with a second surgery of course being required in that event. As Rapoport notes, Watson underwent surgery yesterday to repair the most recent tear. His recovery timeline will now be pushed back as a result of the second operation; returning to full health in time for the start of the 2025 campaign was already a stretch, but now Watson is in danger of missing next season altogether.

“Earlier this week, when Watson reported to CrossCountry Mortgage Campus for his exit physical as part of the Browns’ season-ending process, he complained of discomfort after rolling his ankle in Miami,” a team statement reads in part. “MRI results demonstrated a re-rupture to his Achilles tendon. Dr. Bob Anderson, a foot and ankle specialist in Charlotte, NC, performed both surgeries.”

When on the field, Watson’s level of play has fallen well short of expectations. The former Texans Pro Bowler is still in Cleveland’s plans with two more years and $92MM guaranteed remaining on his pact (one which was once again restructured last month). The team has made it clear, though, that adding competition at the QB spot will be a priority for the offseason. Especially with Watson now set to miss considerable time next year, Cleveland will likely proceed with increased urgency in finding a new passer.

The Browns are currently scheduled to select second overall in April’s draft, and bringing in a rookie QB has already been floated as a distinct possibility. Two signal-callers – Miami’s Cam Ward and Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders – are considered the top options in this year’s class, one which is not viewed as favorably as past drafts. With veteran Jameis Winston a pending free agent, the Browns may be in the market for more than one quarterback addition over the coming months. In any case, Watson’s bid to return to his Houston form will be significantly delayed.

Raiders Fire GM Tom Telesco

January 9th, 2025 at 11:03pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Raiders are giving quick hooks to both their 2024 power brokers. Two days after Antonio Pierce‘s ouster, Tom Telesco is gone. The Raiders announced the veteran GM’s firing Thursday.

Telesco was believed to be safe after Pierce’s firing, as teams almost never make GMs one-and-dones. That will happen to Telesco, whose Brock Bowers draft choice did not prove enough for the Raiders to justify a second season. As Las Vegas searches for a new head coach, the team will clear the decks to pair that to-be-determined leader with a front office boss.

[RELATED: Pete Carroll To Interview For Raiders’ HC Job]

The team’s HC search is directly tied to Telesco’s dismissal. A search for two leaders at the same time appealed to the Raiders more than potentially forcing a head coach on an incumbent GM, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini notes. This will be a tough blow for Telesco, who has now been fired twice since December 2023.

Given tremendous power as a minority owner, Tom Brady‘s fingerprints are involved here. The broadcaster/part-owner discussed the situation with Mark Davis, per The Athletic’s Vic Tafur, and those conversations pointed the team in the direction of a full-on new start. Telesco, 52, was also not involved in the decision to fire Pierce, Tafur adds. Considering Brady’s influence now, Telesco was set to have his power curbed had he been retained for a second year. But this firing likely closes the book on his GM career. Trent Baalke is the only second-chance GM remaining, and his Jaguars standing is murky right now.

Last year, the Raiders brought in Telesco shortly after removing Pierce’s interim tag. Telesco had been the Chargers’ GM from 2013-23. While GMs infrequently receive second chances, Telesco’s experience brought Davis to sign off on an arranged marriage of sorts, with the owner wanting to pair his unseasoned HC with a veteran exec. Telesco-Pierce friction developed early, particularly about the quarterback position, last year. As the team attempts to solve that issue, neither will be part of it.

Pierce had supported a trade-up move to land a potential long-term QB option in the 2024 draft, while Telesco was in the camp of retaining assets and making the pick at No. 13. Having roster control, Telesco won out and Bowers delivered a historic season. Likely en route to a first-team All-Pro honor, Bowers broke Mike Ditka‘s longstanding record for receiving yardage by a rookie tight end. Bowers’ 1,194-yard year aside, the Raiders still have a glaring need at the most important position. A new GM will now tackle that from the No. 6 spot in the draft.

The Raiders had pursued Jayden Daniels, but a climb from No. 13 to No. 2 to reunite the ex-Arizona State passer with Pierce was never viewed as likely. The Commanders shot down the one offer they received for the pick; that proposal likely came from the Raiders. Michael Penix Jr. emerged as a fallback plan, but the team was not high enough on the left-handed prospect that a trade-up was strongly considered. After the Broncos chose Bo Nix at 12, the Raiders were effectively cut off. This significantly hampered Pierce, who did not warm up to Gardner Minshew. Pierce benched the free agent signing on a few occasions. More Pierce-Telesco friction developed during the season, and Brady’s outsized influence appeared to affect the GM.

Working with stopgap options at QB, Pierce finished 4-13 in his only full season as HC. He had gone 5-4 as Las Vegas’ interim coach. At that time, Davis was linked to potentially hiring an exec to check in above a GM. No such hire happened, but NFL owners approving Brady this past fall may vault the all-time QB great into such a role. Brady is on track to be a central figure in the team’s search for a quarterback answer, and the high-profile FOX staffer has already been heavily involved in the Raiders’ coaching search. Thursday’s firing will clear the way for a high-end coaching candidate to have a say in the team’s GM hire.

Telesco’s two-year, $25MM Minshew contract did not do much for the Raiders, beyond a Week 2 upset of the Ravens. Minshew may well be cut soon. The other notable Telesco free agency pickup cost far more, but Christian Wilkins — given a four-year, $110MM deal that checked in behind only Chris Jones‘ among D-tackles — suffered a Jones fracture that knocked him out after five games. The Raiders’ decision to let Josh Jacobs walk in free agency may not have been as costly as the Giants’ apathy regarding Saquon Barkley, but the defection hurt Vegas’ run game as well. Jacobs said he did not speak with Telesco before he left for Green Bay.

Telesco’s short Raiders tenure also included a trade of Davante Adams, who had run out of patience with the Raiders’ quarterback situation. Telesco landed a third-round pick from the Jets, who took on all of the wideout’s remaining 2024 salary. That pick will now help Brady and the to-be-determined GM, as the team may need ammo to trade into Shedeur Sanders or Cam Ward territory, as the Titans (No. 1), Browns (No. 2) and Giants (No. 3) need signal-caller help as well.

Vegas may not end up holding a special place for the twice-fired GM, as a 63-21 Raiders rout of the Chargers led Telesco and Brandon Staley out the door in Los Angeles. Telesco’s Chargers teams had received steady praise for their roster construction, and the Raiders viewed the GM as having assembled better rosters than the results ultimately yielded. That influenced the team’s GM pick, even as Telesco only went 3-for-11 in playoff berths as the Bolts’ front office boss. The next Raiders GM search committee will have a prominent new voice in Brady.

Brady has already contacted ex-Patriots boss Bill Belichick about potentially bailing on North Carolina and coming aboard, but the new Tar Heels coach is not believed to be considering a return to the league. A GM opening would clear a potential path, however. The Raiders also secured a meeting with Lions OC Ben Johnson, one of the hottest HC candidates in recent memory. Johnson is meeting with three other teams this week as well. Having an open GM slot would stand to appeal to Johnson, who has been selective during his time on the HC carousel.

The Raiders have now fired two GMs since October 2023, having canned Dave Ziegler at the same time of Josh McDaniels‘ ouster. The team had given Jon Gruden personnel power upon hiring him, with Mike Mayock riding shotgun. Neither setup lasted long. Brady and Co. will attempt to find a long-running HC-GM tandem for a franchise that has not enjoyed that in ages. The heavy turnover among the Raiders’ staff could certainly hurt the team’s chances at landing a quality GM. How that factors into the team’s upcoming pursuit will be worth monitoring.

Raiders Interested In Bill Belichick; North Carolina HC Not Planning NFL Return

January 8th, 2025 at 11:27pm CST by Sam Robinson

11:27pm: This newfound interest notwithstanding, Belichick is prepared to pass. The North Carolina leader is not interested in coming back to the NFL, The Athletic’s Diann Russini reports. Belichick is attempting to focus on recruiting presently, with Russini adding the HC icon’s “sole focus” is building the Tar Heels’ program. This may still be a coaching subplot to follow, but as of now, it does not look like Belichick will be aggressively pursuing a quick Chapel Hill exit.

11:10am: While it looked like Bill Belichick made a preemptive move to pass on the 2025 HC carousel, teams are interested in seeing if he would hop back on for what would be a second straight year. Belichick took the North Carolina top job last month, but he is now being connected to NFL vacancies once again.

The Raiders are among them, according to NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero, who reports Tom Brady — who is playing a central role in the Las Vegas HC search — recently contacted his former coach to see about a reunion. A notable buyout number exists in Belichick’s Tar Heels contract, but it would not be a dealbreaker for an NFL team considering what Belichick was earning with the Patriots. At least one other team has inquired as well.

Before June 1, it would cost an NFL team $10MM in a buyout scenario with the ACC school. After that date, the buyout drops to $1MM. The $10MM payment would be due within 180 days, The Athletic’s Tashan Reed adds. This was essentially designed to ensure a Belichick commitment this year, and at his age (73 in April), it is unrealistic to expect too many more connections to NFL jobs beyond this year. That made his Tar Heels decision so surprising, considering the eight-time Super Bowl winner (counting two DC rings) has only coached in the NFL prior to the December decision.

Some at North Carolina are concerned about the buyout scenario, per CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones, who indicates that $10MM figure has not bothered NFL folk. Belichick was earning more than $20MM per year with the Patriots. The North Carolina gig now gives Belichick a true safety school, so to speak, as it would stand to reason he would be interested in an NFL opportunity — were it to come along after a befuddling 2024.

The Raiders fired Antonio Pierce on Tuesday, and veteran NFL insider Josina Anderson reported part of the reason for the delay pertained to two unnamed candidates’ availability. It is possible a feeler to Belichick indicated intrigue, though no interview is scheduled as of yet. The Raiders have thus far sent invites to Aaron Glenn and Ben Johnson, with ex-Belichick assistant Brian Flores also on the radar. Considering Belichick’s past with Josh McDaniels, this would certainly be an interesting pursuit.

Indeed, Pelissero adds Brady spoke with Belichick while the Raiders were determining Pierce’s future. It would stand to reason the quarterback-turned-announcer/minority owner’s former boss gave an indication he was interested. Mark Davis turning back to the Patriot Way would be strange given how quickly the McDaniels-Dave Ziegler regime unraveled. But Davis has given Brady considerable authority, certainly signaling he is fine with certain members of the former dynasty.

The college game has changed substantially this decade, with the NIL landscape and transfer portal reshaping all sports — football chief among them. Belichick signing on during this time always made for a strange fit, even with his extensive background running an NFL team. Belichick, however, was believed to be studying the college game as he determined potential NFL fits — notably doing so with McDaniels. No major interest was believed to have come the legendary coach’s way from the league, after the Falcons interviewed him twice last year — being the only team to meet with him about a top job — only to pass on him for Raheem Morris. Belichick was then reported to be “disgusted” with the NFL, setting his sights on the college game.

While the other NFL Belichick suitors are not known, Pelissero mentions the Jaguars as a potential fit. Belichick has a relationship with Tony Khan, the son of Jaguars owner Shad Khan, and was loosely tied to that job earlier this season. A Belichick-Trent Baalke partnership was believed to be a non-starter, but the Jags may well be open to an arrangement in which Baalke slides to a different role in the organization after a four-year run as GM. Jacksonville, however, is also highly interested in Johnson.

The Jets also came up just before Belichick’s Tar Heels commitment. Former Belichick Browns coworker Mike Tannenbaum attempted to set up a meeting between Belichick and ex-rival Woody Johnson. The meeting did not occur. While not much love has been lost between Belichick and his late-1990s employer, now that the coach may be back in play in the NFL a New York meeting would at least be on the radar.

Given how high Davis has been on Brady’s input since his official arrival as a part-owner, the new organizational voice stumping for Belichick would make this a situation to closely monitor. While it would put North Carolina in a bad spot, Belichick saw how other teams viewed him during the 2024 offseason, as the age issue proved significant. This could be his last chance at an NFL gig, so it would be logical if this Raiders avenue would generate appeal.

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.

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.

Jaguars Fire Doug Pederson

January 6th, 2025 at 11:01pm CST by Adam La Rose

Doug Pederson‘s run with the Jaguars has come to an end. As expected, the veteran head coach was fired on Monday, a team announcement confirmed.

“I strongly believe it is possible next season to restore the winning environment we had here not long ago,” a statement from owner Shad Khan reads (h/t NFL.com). “I will collaborate with General Manager Trent Baalke and others, within and close to our organization, to hire a leader who shares my ambition and is ready to seize the extraordinary opportunity we will offer in Jacksonville.”

[RELATED: Jags HC Candidates Emerge; Team Open To Hiring Executive VP]

As Khan’s statement notes, Baalke will remain in place for 2025. The former 49ers GM has been at the helm of the Jaguars since 2021, predating Pederson’s arrival. The collective struggles the pair has endured over the past two years led many to believe sweeping changes could be made this offseason. Leading up to ‘Black Monday,’ however, it remained unclear which way Khan was leaning. While many around the league predicted Baalke would be dismissed, the news of Pederson’s firing comes as no surprise.

Jacksonville went 9-8 in Pederson’s first year with the team, and a run to the divisional round of the playoffs offered optimism he and quarterback Trevor Lawrence would be able to string together a sustained run of success. Things took a downward turn last year, though, with a second-half collapse leaving the team out of the playoffs. Pederson thus increasingly found himself on the hot seat as the 2024 campaign progressed.

Khan made it clear he had high expectations for the Jaguars based on their roster, but the team started 0-4. A playoff berth was therefore out of reach early, and Pederson found himself among the coaches in danger of being fired midway through the campaign. Khan remained patient on that front, as he generally has during his ownership tenure. Still, signs continued to point to a dismissal after the campaign, the most recent being assistants on Pederson’s staff admitting they expected major changes to be made.

With a 4-13 season in the books (leaving Pederson with an overall mark of 22-29 in Duval County), that has now proven to be the case. The Jaguars join the Jets, Saints, Bears and Patriots as teams in need of a new coach, and Khan – who has not been in contact with potential candidates yet – will begin his latest search. Interestingly, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero of NFL Network notes the Jags’ next coach will report directly to Khan, not Baalke.

Reports of a rift between Baalke and Pederson emerged in September, so a coaching change bringing with it a new power structure in the organization is a notable development. With Lawrence on the books long term, finding a coach capable of maximizing his potential will be an obvious priority (although that was, of course, also the case when Pederson was hired). While Baalke is safe for now, he will no doubt remain the subject of scrutiny moving forward.

Pederson, 56, spent five seasons at the helm of the Eagles. That stretch included a Super Bowl championship, and after only a one-year absence following his Philadelphia dismissal he took another HC gig with Jacksonville. It will be interesting to see how he proceeds during the 2025 hiring cycle as one of the most experienced coaches on the market.

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