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Andre Curtis

Ken Dorsey On Cowboys’ OC Radar; Latest On Brian Schottenheimer’s Staff

January 30th, 2025 at 12:16pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Cowboys have conducted two interviews for their OC role already, but neither of the early candidates — the Falcons’ Kevin Koger and Cardinals’ Klayton Adams — have experience in the role. Brian Schottenheimer is now moving to see about a meeting with a seasoned option.

Following his second firing in 15 months, Ken Dorsey is back in the mix for a coordinator gig. The Cowboys have the ex-Bills and Browns play-caller on their radar, per ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler, and are determining a potential interview. This marks the first Dorsey coordinator mention since his recent Cleveland ouster.

The Browns fired Dorsey after his stint as their play-caller, doing so despite having hired him only last year. Prior to Dorsey’s one-and-done stay in Cleveland, Buffalo axed him midway through his second season in the role. Dorsey worked under Brian Daboll as Buffalo’s QBs coach prior to climbing into the OC chair.

Beyond their OC search, the Cowboys are making more moves to fill out their staff under Schottenheimer. Andre Curtis will become the team’s defensive pass-game coordinator, while Aaron Whitecotton will step in as D-line coach. Dave Borgonzi will come aboard as linebackers coach, the team announced. Curtis, who overlapped with Schottenheimer in Seattle, interviewed for the Dallas DC job Matt Eberflus ultimately landed. Additionally, the Cowboys are interviewing Saints running backs coach Derrick Foster for the same position, ESPN.com’s Todd Archer tweets.

Cleveland hired Dorsey in an effort to tailor its offense more to Deshaun Watson‘s strengths. That backfired, though this may have been less on Dorsey than Watson proving a woefully unsuccessful trade acquisition. After Watson’s season-ending Achilles tear, Kevin Stefanski gave Dorsey play-calling responsibilities. He had previously held the play sheet throughout his Buffalo stay as OC. As the Browns rode the Jameis Winston rollercoaster and then inserted overmatched starters (Dorian Thompson-Robinson, Bailey Zappe) into the lineup to replace him, the team finished the season ranked last in scoring.

Buffalo’s offense ranked second in points and yardage in 2022, Dorsey’s only full season, but Sean McDermott fired the veteran staffer in November 2023. Allen improved on the turnover front under successor Joe Brady, who reduced Stefon Diggs‘ role to close out the 2023 season. Prior to his OC climb in 2022, Dorsey spent eight years as a QBs coach, mentoring Cam Newton and then Allen.

Curtis spent the past three seasons as the Bears’ safeties coach. He was, however, was the Seahawks’ defensive pass-game coordinator throughout Schottenheimer’s Seattle OC tenure. Having a history with both Schottenheimer and Eberflus boded well for Curtis. Dave Borgonzi, the younger brother of new Titans GM Mike Borgonzi, also comes over from Chicago; he had previously been the Bears’ linebackers coach.

Whitecotton spent the past four seasons as Jets D-line coach, mentoring the likes of Will McDonald and Jermaine Johnson during a period that featured a few upper-echelon New York defenses. Foster has spent one season with the Saints; he coached the Chargers’ RBs from 2021-23, with that period overlapping with Austin Ekeler leading the NFL in touchdowns in back-to-back seasons.

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 will accelerate. Here is how the market looks now. When other teams make changes, they will be added to the list.

Updated 1-31-25 (10:01pm 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)

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 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)

Cowboys Conduct DC Interview With Andre Curtis; Matt Eberflus Remains Likely Hire

January 26th, 2025 at 4:59pm CST by Adam La Rose

With Mike Zimmer no longer in the fold, the Cowboys are in need of a new defensive coordinator. Matt Eberflus is a name to watch closely on that front, but at least one other option has received a look.

Dallas conducted a DC interview with Andre Curtis, per ESPN’s Todd Archer. Curtis has experience in a number of positional roles across his time in the NFL, the most recent being as the Bears’ safeties coach. He has held that title since 2022.

Curtis began his coaching career at the Virginia Military Institute, working as the program’s linebackers coach for four years. That was followed by a two-year stint at Georgia Southern before he received his first NFL opportunity. The 48-year-old held a role on the Giants’ staff from 2006-08, and after that he worked with the Rams, Saints and Seahawks. Curtis worked his way up to passing game coordinator at the end of his Seattle tenure, serving in that role for three years.

As DLLS’ Clarence Hill Jr. notes, this interview satisfies the Rooney Rule requirement for the Cowboys’ defensive coordinator spot. He adds, however, that Eberflus is still on track to earn the position. Eberflus had his first head coaching stint come to an abrupt end midway through the season when the Bears fired him, but prior to his Chicago posting he built up his stock as the Colts’ DC. It would be feasible for the 54-year-old’s next coaching opportunity came at the coordinator level.

Hill notes, though, that Curtis is a prime candidate to work as Dallas’ defensive backs coach. Having worked together with Eberflus in Chicago, the pair could look to continue their relationship with the Cowboys. Familiarity also exists between Curtis and new head coach Brian Schottenheimer dating back to their shared time in Seattle. Nothing is in place yet, but at this point it would come as no surprise if Curtis’ next stop in his coaching stop were to come in Dallas.

Bears Finalize 2024 Coaching Staff

March 2nd, 2024 at 2:30pm CST by Ely Allen

This offseason, the Bears had to replace both coordinator positions, a situation that usually results in quite a bit of turnover on either side of the staff. Head coach Matt Eberflus allowed each coordinator to make final decisions on their staff, but many assistants (particularly on the defense) were retained in Chicago for the 2024 NFL season.

We’ll start on defense, where Eberflus likely influenced some of the decisions made by new defensive coordinator Eric Washington. The staff looks fairly similar to last year’s with defensive line coach Travis Smith, linebackers coach Dave Borgonzi, cornerbacks coach and defensive passing game coordinator Jon Hoke, safeties coach Andre Curtis, and defensive quality control coach Kevin Koch all being retained in their prior roles. David Overstreet also remains on staff, but his title changes from assistant defensive backs coach to nickelbacks coach. Kenny Norton III also earned a promotion, going from coaching assistant to defensive quality control coach.

The only two new additions on defense appear to be Bryan Bing, who replaces Justin Hinds as assistant defensive line coach, and new defensive analyst (advance/special projects) Matt Pees. After Hinds departed to take the defensive line coaching job in Seattle, according to Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports, the Bears landed on Bing, who served as a defensive assistant with the Colts last year as a Tony Dungy Diversity Coaching Fellow. Pees is the son of long-time defensive coordinator Dean Pees and previously spent the last three years as a defensive assistant with the Falcons, working two of those years under his father.

On the offensive side of the ball, we already knew that new offensive coordinator Shane Waldron had hired Kerry Joseph as quarterbacks coach, Chad Morton as running backs coach, Chris Beatty as wide receivers coach, Thomas Brown as passing game coordinator, and Jason Houghtaling as assistant offensive line coach. Houghtaling will assist Chris Morgan, who was retained as offensive line coach and granted the additional title of offensive run game coordinator. Also retained were tight ends coach Jim Dray and offensive quality control coach Zach Cable.

There were three notable additions to the staff on offense. Both Ryan Griffin and Robbie Picazo will serve under the title offensive assistant (quarterbacks and wide receivers). Griffin, a former NFL quarterback, is taking his first coaching gig after a short stint in the Italian Football League last year. Picazo spent the past two years as an offensive assistant with the Seahawks and Texans, coaching at Rice and Stanford at the collegiate level for several years before that. The final offensive addition is Jennifer King, who will be the team’s offensive assistant (running backs). After becoming the first black woman to be named a full-time NFL coach as an assistant running backs coach for the past three year with the Commanders, King continues her NFL journey, this time in Chicago.

Lastly, the Bears enlisted the services of Chavis Cook to manage coaching administration.

There you have it. Eberflus has crafted a new staff with a mix of new and familiar faces. With the new staff locked in, the team can now turn its attention to free agency, the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, and the future of quarterback Justin Fields.

NFC Coaching Notes: Bears, Vikings, Giants

February 10th, 2022 at 10:47pm CST by Ben Levine

The post-Sean Payton era has started in New Orleans, with Dennis Allen officially taking over as the Saints new head coach. When speaking about his promotion, Allen mentioned the value of continuity within the franchise.

“I think that was one of the unique things about this job is that this was not a broken job. This is a job that’s a desirable job. This is a job that has a foundation and culture of winning that’s already been built,” Allen said (via ESPN’s Mike Triplett). “I don’t see this as something where we need to have a ton of change.”

While Allen acknowledged that he’ll preach a lot of the lessons he learned from Payton, he also intends to put his “own spin” on the job.

“I want to take the lessons that I’ve learned, I want to build upon those lessons, and I want to create my own legacy here with the New Orleans Saints,” the coach said.

More coaching notes out of the NFC…

  • Andre Curtis is the Bears new safeties coach, the team announced. The 45-year-old has spent the past seven years with the Seahawks, including the past four years as the defensive passing game coordinator. Per the Bears’ website, the Seahawks had six defensive backs earn at least one Pro Bowl nod during Curtis’s stint with Seattle.
  • The Vikings are expecting to hire Chris Kuper as their offensive line coach, reports Aaron Wilson of Pro Football Network (via Twitter). Kuper had an eight-year playing career with the Broncos, and following a three-year coaching stint with the Dolphins, he joined the Broncos as their assistant offensive line coach in 2019. He ultimately spent three seasons in Denver.
  • The Vikings are also hiring Chris Rumph as their defensive line coach, per Wilson (on Twitter). The 50-year-old spent the 2021 season in the same role with the Bears, and he’s also had an NFL coaching stint with the Texans.
  • The Giants are hiring Mike Groh as their wide receivers coach, according to Pro Football Talk. Groh spent the past two years as the WRs coach with the Colts, and he had a previous stint with the Eagles that saw him getting promoted to offensive coordinator for the 2018 and 2019 seasons.

Seahawks To Make Changes To Defensive Coaching Staff

January 18th, 2022 at 9:55am CST by Adam La Rose

While it appears the Seahawks will be keeping their head coach and general manager, they are making some important changes to the coaching staff on the defensive side of the ball. DC Ken Norton Jr. and defensive passing game coordinator Andre Curtis are expected to be let go, according to a report from Bob Condotta and Adam Jude of the Seattle Times. 

[Related: Seahawks To Retain HC Pete Carroll, GM John Schneider]

Norton has served as the team’s defensive coordinator for the past four seasons, a stretch that has seen unusually poor results on that side of the ball. Seattle’s league ranking in yards allowed varied from 16th in 2018 to 28th this year during his tenure. In each of the last two seasons, the team has had major problems defensively, giving up an average of 451 yards per game through Week 5 of 2021. However, those campaigns have each featured a notable turnaround, as the Seahawks finished this season 11th in the league in points allowed at 21.5 per game, for example.

Ultimately, though, the overall falloff from the days of the ‘Legion of Boom’ – not mention of course, the team’s 7-10 record – have led to Norton’s dismissal. The reporters named Clint Hurtt, Seattle’s defensive line coach, as a candidate to take over the DC role. The 43-year-old has held that title since 2017, but has also been an assistant head coach since 2018. While he has eight total years of NFL experience as a positional coach, he has never been a coordinator. Another option “on the shortlist” is Ed Donatell, who is currently the Broncos’ DC. The 64-year-old has been the defensive coordinator with two other teams throughout his long NFL career, and has ties to HC Pete Carroll dating back to their time with the Jets in the 1990s.

As for Curtis, the passing game had been a particularly sore spot during his tenure overseeing that part of the defense, which also began in 2018. In 2020, the team gave up franchise-worst 285 yards per game through the air, and, just like the defensive unit as a whole, got off to a rough start in 2021 as well. Through Week 3, that figure was still over 264 yards per game, leading to significant roster changes in the secondary. While things improved beyond that point, the Seahawks obviously felt it wasn’t enough for Norton and Curtis to be brought back.

Clearly, the defense – both on the field and along the sidelines – will be a major point of emphasis during the offseason in Seattle.

 

Coach Notes: Saints, Kelly, 49ers, Jets

January 2nd, 2015 at 3:35pm CST by Zachary Links

The Saints are making some changes to the coaching staff underneath head coach Sean Payton, as Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network tweets (via these links). New Orleans is parting ways with wide receivers coach Henry Ellard, tight end coach Terry Malone, and defensive backs coach Andre Curtis.

The question now is whether the team will retain defensive coordinator Rob Ryan, who is highly respected around the league and in the Saints’ locker room despite the team’s recent struggles. Rapoport personally wouldn’t be surprised to see the Saints keep him and build around his scheme.

Let’s check in on a few more coaching situations around the league….

  • Despite speculation that Eagles head coach Chip Kelly may be unhappy in Philadelphia following Tom Gamble’s dismissal, John Middlekauff of 95.7 The Game (Twitter link) hears that Kelly isn’t going anywhere. Tim McManus of PhillyMag.com tweets that a move is likely forthcoming, but it won’t involve the departure of Kelly or GM Howie Roseman.
  • The 49ers will interview Pats offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels tomorrow, a source tells Albert Breer of NFL.com (on Twitter).
  • The Jets‘ contingent of Woody Johnson and consultants Ron Wolf and Charley Casserly will meet with Tom Cable today, according to Rapoport (via Twitter). The former Raiders head coach currently serves as the Seahawks’ offensive line and assistant head coach.
  • A source familiar with the Bears’ coaching search told Adam Jahns of the Sun-Times the team remains steadfast in its desire to find a GM before their next coach, but the Bears couldn’t miss their permitted opportunities to meet with Adam Gase and Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn this week.

Luke Adams contributed to this post.