Bobby Slowik

OC Bobby Slowik To Stay With Texans

January 30th, 2024 at 5:48pm CST by Sam Robinson

Bobby Slowik entered Tuesday still in the mix for both remaining HC openings. The Texans’ offensive coordinator will pass on Seattle and Washington. Slowik will stay in Houston, according to SI.com’s Albert Breer.

A new deal, one that Breer mentions includes a significant raise, will keep Houston’s play-caller in town. This will ensure pivotal continuity for the ascending Texans, who saw C.J. Stroud become an impact rookie with Slowik calling the shots. This marked Slowik’s first season calling plays, but the former 49ers assistant was a fixture on this year’s HC carousel. He figures to be a big name during next year’s hiring period as well. This agreement also comes with an extension, ESPN.com’s Dan Graziano tweets.

The Seahawks interviewed Slowik, and the Commanders had met twice with the up-and-coming play-caller. Slowik, 36, also met with the Falcons, Panthers and Titans this month. The Falcons interviewed Slowik twice but went with Raheem Morris. Ben Johnson was rumored to be the favorite for the Washington job, but even with the two-year play-caller staying in Detroit, Slowik will no longer pursue the position. It is far from certain Slowik would have landed the job; he was not mentioned as a favorite like Johnson was. Still, this narrows the field for the Commanders.

Ravens DC Mike Macdonald, Ravens D-line coach Anthony Weaver, Cowboys DC Dan Quinn and Lions DC Aaron Glenn are the coaches remaining in the mix who have interviewed twice with the Commanders. Slowik met with Commanders brass in-person Jan. 23. Glenn is meeting with team reps today. Macdonald and Quinn are also in contention for the Seahawks’ job. Neither Seattle nor Washington has contacted Bill Belichick.

This represents big news for the Texans, who have seen quarterbacks coach Jerrod Johnson interview for multiple OC positions. The Saints have interviewed Johnson twice, while he spent today in Tampa meeting with Buccaneers brass. Slowik staying would provide some protection in the event Johnson leaves, giving Stroud continuity going into his second season. The Slowik-Johnson partnership worked wonders for Stroud in 2023; the No. 2 overall pick is the favorite to win Offensive Rookie of the Year acclaim.

Effectively in a two-year holding pattern as they pondered how to replace Deshaun Watson, the Texans ranked 30th in each of the previous two seasons. DeMeco Ryans‘ Slowik hire helped vault the team (with a notable Stroud assist) to 13th in scoring this season. The Texans voyaged to the divisional round, doing so after winning just 11 games from 2020-22. Set to build around Stroud’s rookie contract, the team now has assurances Slowik will keep working with the prized prospect.

Slowik resides in a strong spot regarding future HC employment. He comes from a Kyle Shanahan tree that has already produced three HC hires since 2021 and is tied to one of the NFL’s best young quarterbacks. It is arguable this situation outflanks Johnson’s in Detroit, given Stroud’s trajectory. Higher-profile jobs could become available in 2025, with the Cowboys and Eagles deliberating on their HCs after disappointing playoff exits. The Bills have also hit a divisional-round wall under Sean McDermott, while the Jaguars are weeks removed from a collapse. Slowik will join Johnson in reassessing the landscape in 2025.

Texans’ Bobby Slowik Arranges Second HC Interviews With Commanders, Falcons

January 23rd, 2024 at 9:25am CST by Adam La Rose

After a strong debut season as a coordinator, Bobby Slowik continues to drawn signficant head coaching interest. The Texans OC has a pair of second interviews lined up for a head coaching gig.

Slowik will meet with the Commanders today before a follow-up with the Falcons, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. His second meeting with Atlanta will take place on Thursday, SI’s Albert Breer adds. Slowik interviewed virtually with both teams on Sunday, and his second meeting with each will take place in person.

Slowik began his NFL coaching career under Mike Shanahan in Washington as a defensive assistant, spending three years in that capacity. Taking on the Commanders’ HC position would thus represent a return to the place where he started as a staffer. Slowik is best known for his work on the offensive side of the ball, however, which began when he paired with Kyle Shanahan in San Francisco.

While the latter served as play-caller, Slowik was an instrumental member of the 49ers’ offensive staff during his time in the Bay Area. The 36-year-old worked as San Francisco’s passing game coordinator from 2021-22 before he followed DeMeco Ryans to Houston. That move allowed him to take on the Texans’ offensive coordinator role, and the results thoroughly exceeded expectations.

With Slowik at the helm, quarterback C.J. Stroud delivered one of the most productive rookie seasons in NFL history. Houston advanced to the divisional round of the playoffs as part of the organization’s dramatic turnaround in Ryans’ debut season as a head coach. His and the team’s success has, to no surprise, entered Slowik’s name into the conversation of the league’s top up-and-coming offensive minds.

The Commanders quickly brought in a new general manager (Adam Peters, who has a relationship with Slowik dating back to their time in San Francisco), but the team has cast a wide net in its coaching search. Veteran defensive coordinators – and ex-head coaches – Dan Quinn and Raheem Morris – have lined up a second interview with Washington. The Commanders have also shown a strong interest in Lions OC Ben Johnson, however, and Slowik profiles as being similar to the latter given his age and background on the offensive side of the ball.

Unlike the Commanders, the Falcons have frequently been linked to high-profile candidates Bill Belichick and Jim Harbaugh. Atlanta has met with both candidates, but the team has also sent out a second request to speak with Mike Macdonald and Anthony Weaver as part of a wide-ranging search. Slowik will have competition for both positions, but his status as a serious candidate for both Washington and Atlanta demonstrates the extent to which has stock has risen this year.

Seahawks Request HC Interviews With Ben Johnson, Bobby Slowik

January 16th, 2024 at 4:18pm CST by Adam La Rose

As the Seahawks continue to cast a wide net in search of a Pete Carroll replacement, they plan to speak with two of the 2024 cycle’s most popular candidates. Seattle has requested a head coaching interview with Lions OC Ben Johnson, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. In addition, Texans OC Bobby Slowik has received a slip, ESPN’s Dan Graziano reports.

Seattle moved Carroll into an advisory role last week, despite his public comments suggesting he was prepared to coach the team for a 15th season. Interview requests have begun as a result of the move, with general manager John Schneider at the helm of the coaching search. As he confirmed in a Tuesday press conference, the latter will handle all personnel matters after Carroll held final say in that regard during his lengthy HC tenure.

Johnson has received an interview request from each HC-needy team except the Patriots and Raiders to date. The up-and-coming play-caller is believed to have a mutual interest with the Chargers, but significant competition will exist for his services. The Commanders and Panthers have identified Johnson, 37, as their top target. Seattle will thus have a number of suitors to outmaneuver if the team is to land him in this year’s cycle.

Much Like Johnson last year, Slowik has boosted his stock considerably in his first year as a coordinator. The former 49ers passing game coordinator followed DeMeco Ryans from San Francisco to Houston this offseason, and he has delivered a strong performance. The Texans ranked seventh in the league in passing yards this season despite quarterback C.J. Stroud missing time due to a concussion. Slowik, 36, is lacking in experience compared to a number of other candidates available this year. He has nevertheless received interview requests from the Falcons, Panthers, Titans and Commanders.

Schneider said he intends to begin Seattle’s coaching search tomorrow with virtual interviews (in-person meetings with coaches still in the playoffs cannot take place until after the divisional round). CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones notes the Seahawks’ interview with Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn is scheduled for Thursday. Quinn was immediately named as a candidate to watch given his ties to the franchise, though he too has garnered considerable interest from other teams with a HC vacancy.

Given the fact the team has several roster pieces in place from last year’s run to the postseason and the continuity strived for in terms of adding a coach similar to Carroll in terms of culture-building (as Schneider added will be the goal), Seattle’s hiring process will be worth watching closely. The team has targeted staffers from both sides of the ball, and the ultimate selection will be tasked with the significant challenge of matching Carroll’s success.

Titans Request Four HC Interviews; Team Not Targeting Bill Belichick, Jim Harbaugh

January 11th, 2024 at 12:20pm CST by Adam La Rose

With the dust having settled on Mike Vrabel‘s firing, the Titans are moving quickly in searching for his replacement. The team is casting a wide net, but a pair of high-profile candidates are not included.

Tennessee has submitted head coaching interview requests for Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. Colleague Ian Rapoport reports that the Titans are also interested in Texans OC Bobby Slowik, while adding the team is set to speak with Bengals OC Brian Callahan tomorrow. Lastly, Eagles offensive coordinator Brian Johnson has received an interview slip, per Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz.

Those names add further to the list of Titans targets, a group which already had five members comprising of coordinators on both sides of the ball as well as Raiders interim head coach Antonio Pierce. As Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports, however, neither Bill Belichick nor Jim Harbaugh are on the team’s radar. The former has officially parted ways with the Patriots as expected, while the latter has been linked to an NFL return for several months and is well-positioned to do so after winning a national title with Michigan.

Although Ben Johnson has been connected to commanding a high salary — due to his popularity on this latest HC carousel — the Titans staying out of the Belichick and Harbaugh derbies points to both a less expensive coach being targeted, along with a younger option. Belichick has now been ruled out for the Commanders and Titans. The Falcons remain connected to the legendary Patriots leader, while loose connections have formed between Belichick and the Chargers and Raiders. No official Belichick interview request has come out yet. Harbaugh has been connected to both the Falcons and Commanders, but the reigning national champion coach still looks to have the best chance of resurfacing in the NFL via the Chargers or Raiders.

This continues a remarkable rise for Slowik, who worked with Kyle Shanahan in both Washington and San Francisco. The Shanahan tree has proven fruitful since the 49ers’ 2019 turnaround, and Slowik’s play-calling debut — under ex-Shanahan DC DeMeco Ryans — produced the Offensive Rookie of the Year favorite in C.J. Stroud. The Texans’ rebound from 3-14 to 10-7 has put Ryans in danger of losing his play-caller early.

Brian Johnson has received two interview requests in two days; this follows the Panthers’ slip. This is not Johnson’s first season calling plays, however, as he was previously the OC at Florida. Ben Johnson’s play-calling efforts over the past two years have seen him draw interest just about everywhere. This makes five HC interview requests for the two-year Lions OC, who has played an integral role in the team’s turnaround. After bowing out early on last year’s HC carousel, Johnson is likely to land a job this year.

Callahan interviewed for the Colts and Cardinals’ jobs last year and has been in place as an OC longer than Slowik and the Johnsons combined (five years). That said, Zac Taylor calls plays in Cincinnati. But Joe Burrow‘s rapid ascent and the competent play of backup Jake Browning this season again led the way to Callahan becoming an HC candidate. In addition to the Titans, Callahan has received requests from the Panthers, Chargers and Falcons.

Sam Robinson contributed to this post.

Falcons Send Out Seven HC Interview Requests

January 11th, 2024 at 11:35am CST by Adam La Rose

11:35am: A seventh name can be added to the Falcons’ growing list of targets. Texans OC Bobby Slowik has received an interview request, per SI’s Albert Breer. Slowik followed DeMeco Ryans from San Francisco to Houston this offseason, and 2023 has marked his first stint as a coordinator. His and the team’s success has landed the 36-year-old on the HC radar this offseason. The Panthers and Commanders have also submitted interview requests for Slowik.

10:13am: The Falcons have been connected to two high-profile coaches in recent days, but the team has yet to line up any interviews with interested candidates. That is set to change soon, as Atlanta has now sent out six interview requests.

The Falcons are looking to speak with Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, reports Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, who adds Atlanta is also interested in Bengals OC Brian Callahan. In addition, Lions DC Aaron Glenn and Ravens defensive line coach/associate head coach Anthony Weaver are on the list of request recipients, colleague Ian Rapoport tweets. 49ers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks has also received a request, per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo. Lastly, Atlanta has requested an interview with Rams DC Raheem Morris, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Johnson, as expected, has been one of the most sought-after candidates so far. In his second season at the helm of Detroit’s offense, the Lions have remained among the league’s most efficient teams on that side of the ball. The 37-year-old has been in the Motor City since 2019 and a coordinator only since 2022, but his relative lack of experience did not stop him from generating interest during last year’s hiring cycle. An aggressive Johnson pursuit is expected from the Panthers, but he is also on the radar of the Chargers and Commanders.

Callahan has likewise been connected to a number of openings this season after receiving interest last year. The Bengals fell short of expectations this season, and the offense struggled in a number of categories. Despite going much of the year without Joe Burrow, though, Cincinnati still managed to go 9-8 while finishing 16th in the league in scoring. Notably, each of the other candidates listed for the Falcons’ vacancy have a background on the defensive side of the ball.

That includes Glenn, whose unit has not matched Johnson’s in terms of effectiveness. Nevertheless, the former has received interest from the Chargers, Titans and Commanders so far. Weaver has served as a position coach during his three-year Ravens tenure, but he has held a coordinator role in the past, doing so with the Texans in 2020. Mentioned less frequently than fellow Baltimore staffers Todd Monken and Mike Macdonald, Weaver has nonetheless received an interview request from the Commanders in addition to today’s summons.

Wilks and Morris both have interim head coaching experience. The former finished off the season with the Panthers last year after Matt Rhule was fired. Wilks received support from several Panthers players to be retained on a full-time basis, but the team instead went in a different direction. That led him to San Francisco, where he has guided the 49ers’ defense to top-10 finishes in both points and yards allowed en route to securing the NFC’s top seed.

Morris, meanwhile, is an interesting name given his Falcons connection. The 47-year-old joined Atlanta in 2020 as an assistant head coach, later taking on the DC title in 2020. Midway through that season, Dan Quinn was fired and Morris finished the campaign as interim head coach. He has not received another opportunity to lead a staff since then, but his three-year coordinator run with the Rams has been well received and it has put him back on the HC radar this offseason.

After making the unsurprising move of dismissing Arthur Smith, the Falcons have been connected to both Jim Harbaugh and Bill Belichick. Links to the latter have continued in the wake of his long-rumored spilt with the Patriots having been confirmed. No Harbaugh or Belichick interviews have been lined up to date, of course, but the team will now have meetings with a host of other options as the Falcons look to take a step forward in 2024 and beyond.

Commanders Request HC Interview With Texans OC Bobby Slowik

January 8th, 2024 at 7:59pm CST by Ben Levine

The Commanders are eyeing a somewhat familiar face in their head coaching search. According to Nicki Jhabvala of the Washington Post, the Commanders requested an interview with Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik.

Slowik started his coaching career as a defensive assistant in Washington back in 2011. He eventually moved on to the 49ers, working his way up from a defensive quality control coach to offensive passing game coordinator. After one year in that latter role, the 36-year-old was hired as the Texans offensive coordinator last offseason.

Despite his offense featuring a rookie quarterback in C.J. Stroud and a number of question marks at the skill positions, the Texans offense was productive in 2023. The offense had the fewest giveaways in the NFL, and the passing offense ranked top-10 in yards. While veteran Devin Singletary eventually had to take over for struggling sophomore Dameon Pierce, Slowik got great production from his wide receivers, with Nico Collins (80 receptions, 1,297 yards, eight touchdowns) and rookie Tank Dell (47 catches, 709 yards, seven touchdowns) led the way.

The offense’s performance has now made Slowik a popular name on the head coaching market. The coordinator has already received an interview request from the Panthers for their head coaching job.

Slowik joins a growing list of candidates to replace Ron Rivera in Washington. That grouping includes Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn (Lions), Anthony Weaver and Mike Macdonald (Ravens), and Raheem Morris (Rams). Commanders offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy is also expected to receive consideration for the HC post.

Panthers Request HC Interviews With Ben Johnson, Todd Monken, Bobby Slowik

January 8th, 2024 at 6:23pm CST by Ben Levine

The list of Panthers head coaching candidates continues to grow. According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Panthers have requested an interview with Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson for the HC job. Meanwhile, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that the Panthers have also requested a HC interview with Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken. The Panthers have also requested an interview with Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik (per Pelissero) and Buccaneers offensive coordinator Dave Canales (via ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler).

Johnson is expected to be one of the most popular head coaching candidates this offseason. Since earning a promotion to offensive coordinator in 2022, Johnson has helped guide the Lions to one of the best offenses in the NFL. The Lions ranked top-10 in points in each of the past two campaigns, and after the passing offense took off in 2022, the rushing offense joined them in 2023.

Johnson was already a hot name last offseason, earning interviews with the Panthers, Texans, and Colts. Ultimately, Johnson said the allure of sticking with head coach Dan Campbell and quarterback Jared Goff convinced him to stay in Detroit. Following another successful regular season, it’ll be interesting to see how the offensive coordinator proceeds in 2024, especially if David Tepper is willing to back up the Brink’s truck.

Following underwhelming OC stops in Tampa Bay and Cleveland, Monken caught on with Georgia in 2020. He returned to the NFL in 2023, this time as Baltimore’s offensive coordinator. Monken was credited with helping guide the Ravens to one of the best offenses in the NFL this past season. In 2023, Baltimore ranked first in points scored, first in takeaway/giveaway ratio, and fourth in yards. Despite injuries throughout the depth chart, the Ravens’ rushing attack continued to be the most productive in the NFL, ranking first in yards, third in yards per attempt, and fourth in touchdowns.

After interviewing for the Jets and Packers head coaching jobs in 2019, Monken had been off the head coaching radar over the past few years. He’s quickly rehabilitated his image; besides his interview with the Panthers, Monken has also earned an interview from the Chargers.

Slowik’s stint with the 49ers culminated in him earning offensive passing game coordinator in 2022, and his success in that role earned him the OC job in Houston for the 2023 campaign. Despite rostering one of the least-experienced offenses in the NFL, Slowik squeezed a productive season out of his group, helping guide the Texans to the 12th-best mark in both points and yards.

Canales spent more than a decade in Seattle before earning the Buccaneers offensive coordinator job last offseason. There were plenty of question marks surrounding Tampa Bay’s offense heading into 2023, but Canales got a productive season out of his squad. Baker Mayfield had one of the best seasons of his career under center, and the Buccaneers ended up finishing top-10 in passing touchdowns and interceptions.

We already heard that the Panthers requested a HC interview with Bengals OC Brian Callahan, meaning the five definitive candidates all have offensive backgrounds. Recent reports indicated that Tepper was eyeing more of an offensive-minded coach, although that hasn’t stopped the organization from being connected to (and potentially pursuing) the defensive-minded Bill Belichick.

2023 Offensive/Defensive Coordinator Search Tracker

February 28th, 2023 at 2:45pm CST by Sam Robinson

As the head coaching carousel spun for several weeks, many teams made coordinator changes as well. Teams seeking new head coaches are conducting OC and DC searches, and a handful of other teams that did not make HC changes are also searching for top assistants.

This is a big year for offensive coordinator hires, with nearly half the league making changes. Here are the teams searching for new OCs and DCs. As new searches emerge, they will be added to the list.

Updated 3-1-23 (3:31pm CT)

Offensive Coordinators

Arizona Cardinals

Drew Petzing, quarterbacks coach (Browns): Hired
Drew Terrell, wide receivers coach (Commanders): Interview requested
Joel Thomas, running backs coach (Saints): Interview requested
Troy Walters, wide receivers coach (Bengals): Interview requested

Baltimore Ravens (Out: Greg Roman)

Brian Angelichio, tight ends coach (Vikings): Conducted second interview
Eric Bieniemy, offensive coordinator (Chiefs): Interview being arranged
Dave Canales, quarterbacks coach (Seahawks): Conducted second interview 2/6
Bobby Engram, offensive coordinator (Wisconsin): Interviewed twice
George Godsey, tight ends coach (Ravens): Interviewed
Chad Hall, wide receivers coach (Bills): Interviewed 2/1
Brian Johnson, quarterbacks coach (Eagles): Expected to interview?
Byron Leftwich, former offensive coordinator (Buccaneers): Interviewed
Todd Monken, offensive coordinator (Georgia): Hired
Doug Nussmeier, former quarterbacks coach (Cowboys): Interviewed
Chad O’Shea, wide receivers coach (Browns): Interviewed 1/23
Justin Outten, offensive coordinator (Broncos): Conducted second interview 2/7
Dan Pitcher, quarterbacks coach (Bengals): Received interest, extended by Bengals
Frank Reich, former head coach (Colts): Mentioned as candidate
Zac Robinson, quarterbacks coach (Rams): Interviewed 1/24
James Urban, quarterbacks coach (Ravens): Interviewed

Carolina Panthers (Out: Ben McAdoo)

Thomas Brown, tight ends coach, (Rams): Hired
Jim Bob Cooter, passing-game coordinator (Jaguars): Interviewed

Dallas Cowboys (Out: Kellen Moore)

Brian Angelichio, tight ends coach (Vikings): Interviewed 2/2
Thomas Brown, tight ends coach (Rams): Interviewed
Jeff Nixon, running backs coach (Panthers): Interviewed
Brian Schottenheimer, offensive consultant (Cowboys): Hired

Denver Broncos (Out: Justin Outten)

Ronald Curry, quarterbacks coach (Saints): Interviewed; to stay with Saints
Joe Lombardi, former offensive coordinator (Chargers): Hired

Houston Texans (Out: Pep Hamilton)

Nick Caley, tight ends coach (Patriots): Interviewed
Jerrod Johnson, assistant quarterbacks coach (Vikings): Interviewed; named quarterbacks coach
Kliff Kingsbury, former head coach (Cardinals): Interviewed 2/10
Bobby Slowik, passing-game coordinator (49ers): Hired
Troy Walters, wide receivers coach (Bengals): Interview requested

Indianapolis Colts (Out: Parks Frazier)

Jim Bob Cooter, passing-game coordinator (Jaguars): Hired
Tee Martin, wide receivers coach (Ravens): Interview requested

Kansas City Chiefs (Out: Eric Bieniemy)

Matt Nagy, quarterbacks coach (Chiefs): Hired

Los Angeles Chargers (Out: Joe Lombardi)

Joe Brady, quarterbacks coach (Bills): Interview requested
Thomas Brown, tight ends coach (Rams): Interviewed 1/25
Jerrod Johnson, assistant quarterbacks coach (Vikings): Interviewed 1/25
Kellen Moore, former offensive coordinator (Cowboys): Hired
Greg Olson, senior offensive assistant (Rams): Interviewed 1/24
Frank Reich, former head coach (Colts): Mentioned as candidate
Zac Robinson, quarterbacks coach (Rams): Interview requested
Luke Steckel, tight ends coach (Titans): Interviewed 1/26

Los Angeles Rams (Out: Liam Coen)

Marcus Brady, offensive consultant (Eagles): Interviewed
Thomas Brown, tight ends coach (Rams): Mentioned as candidate
Brian Johnson, quarterbacks coach (Eagles): Interviewed
Mike LaFleur, former offensive coordinator (Jets): Hired
Wes Phillips, offensive coordinator (Vikings): Declined interview request
Frank Reich, former head coach (Colts): Mentioned as candidate
Zac Robinson, quarterbacks coach (Rams): Mentioned as candidate

New York Jets (Out: Mike LaFleur)

Darrell Bevell, quarterbacks coach (Dolphins): Declined interview request
Marcus Brady, offensive consultant (Eagles): Interviewed
Nick Caley, tight ends coach (Patriots): Interviewed 1/17
Bill Callahan, offensive line coach (Browns): Declined interview request
Nathaniel Hackett, former head coach (Broncos): Hired
Brian Johnson, quarterbacks coach (Eagles): Interviewed
Klint Kubiak, quarterbacks coach (Broncos): Interviewed 1/22
Chad O’Shea, wide receivers coach (Browns): Interviewed 1/20
Kevin Patullo, passing-game coordinator (Eagles): Interviewed
Frank Reich, former head coach (Colts): Mentioned as candidate

Philadelphia Eagles (Out: Shane Steichen)

Brian Johnson, quarterbacks coach (Eagles): Promoted
Kevin Patullo, passing-game coordinator (Eagles): Mentioned as candidate
Nate Scheelhaase, offensive coordinator (Iowa State): Interviewed

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Out: Byron Leftwich)

Thomas Brown, tight ends coach (Rams): To conduct second interview 2/15
Dave Canales, quarterbacks coach (Seahawks): Hired
Jim Bob Cooter, passing-game coordinator (Jaguars): Interviewed 1/26
Ronald Curry, passing game coordinator/quarterbacks coach (Saints): Interviewed 1/31
Pep Hamilton, offensive coordinator (Texans): Declined interview request
Klint Kubiak, quarterbacks coach (Broncos): Interviewed 1/26
Keenan McCardell, wide receivers coach (Vikings): Interviewed 1/26
Todd Monken, offensive coordinator (Georgia): Interviewed 1/31
Scottie Montgomery, running backs coach (Lions): Interviewed 2/13
Kellen Moore, former offensive coordinator (Cowboys): mentioned as candidate
Dan Pitcher, quarterbacks coach (Bengals): Interviewed 1/27; conducted second interview with Bucs but will remain with Bengals
Shea Tierney, quarterbacks coach (Giants): Interviewed 1/31

Tennessee Titans (Out: Todd Downing)

Eric Bieniemy, offensive coordinator (Chiefs): Interview requested
Tim Kelly, passing-game coordinator (Titans): Hired
Charles London, quarterbacks coach (Falcons): To interview
Matt Nagy, quarterbacks coach (Chiefs): Interview requested

Washington Commanders (Out: Scott Turner)

Darrell Bevell, quarterbacks coach (Dolphins): Declined interview request
Eric Bieniemy, offensive coordinator (Chiefs): Hired
Thomas Brown, tight ends coach (Rams): Interviewed 1/24
Jim Caldwell, former head coach (Lions): Declined interview request
Charles London, quarterbacks coach (Falcons): Interview requested
Anthony Lynn, assistant head coach/running backs coach (49ers): Interviewed 2/1
Greg Roman, former offensive coordinator (Ravens): Interviewed 2/14
Pat Shurmur, former offensive coordinator (Broncos): Interviewed; fallback option?
Eric Studesville, running backs coach (Dolphins): Interviewed 1/23
Ken Zampese, quarterbacks coach (Commanders): Interviewed 1/18

Defensive Coordinators

Arizona Cardinals (Out: Vance Joseph)

Dave Borgonzi, linebackers coach (Bears): Interviewed 2/17
DeMarcus Covington, defensive line coach (Patriots): Interview requested
Nick Rallis, linebackers coach (Eagles): Hired

Atlanta Falcons (Out: Dean Pees)

Ejiro Evero, former defensive coordinator (Broncos): Interview blocked
Vic Fangio, former head coach (Broncos): Interviewed
Brian Flores, linebackers coach (Steelers): Interview requested; mutual interest?
Jerry Gray, defensive backs coach (Packers): Interview requested
Al Holcomb, interim defensive coordinator (Panthers): Interview requested
Ryan Nielsen, co-defensive coordinator (Saints): Hired

Buffalo Bills (Out: Leslie Frazier)

John Butler, defensive backs coach (Bills): Mentioned as candidate

Carolina Panthers (Out: Al Holcomb)

Ejiro Evero, former defensive coordinator (Broncos): Hired
Vic Fangio, former head coach (Broncos): Interviewed
Marquand Manuel, safeties coach (Jets): Interviewed
Kris Richard, co-defensive coordinator (Saints): Interviewed

Denver Broncos

Sean Desai, defensive assistant (Seahawks): Interviewed 2/7
Ejiro Evero, former defensive coordinator (Broncos): Released from contract
Brian Flores, linebackers coach (Steelers): Interview cancelled
Vance Joseph, defensive coordinator (Cardinals): Hired
Matt Patricia, senior football advisor (Patriots): Interviewed 2/22
Christian Parker, defensive backs coach (Broncos): Interviewed
Kris Richard, former co-defensive coordinator (Saints): Interviewed
Rex Ryan, former head coach (Bills): Conducted second interview 2/18; considered favorite?
Mike Zimmer, former head coach (Vikings): Mentioned as candidate; interviewed for separate Broncos job

Houston Texans

Matt Burke, defensive line coach (Cardinals): Hired
Chris Harris, defensive backs coach (Commanders): Interview requested
Kris Kocurek, defensive line coach (49ers): Mentioned as candidate; expected to remain with 49ers
Marquand Manuel, safeties coach (Jets): Interviewed 2/7
Cory Undlin, passing-game specialist/secondary coach (49ers): Mentioned as candidate

Los Angeles Chargers (Out: Renaldo Hill)

Derrick Ansley, defensive backs coach (Chargers): Promoted
Doug Belk, defensive coordinator (Houston): Interviewed
DeMarcus Covington, defensive line coach (Patriots): Interviewed

Miami Dolphins (Out: Josh Boyer)

Anthony Campanile, linebackers coach (Dolphins): Interviewed 1/27
Sean Desai, defensive assistant (Seahawks): Interviewed 1/25
Vic Fangio, former head coach (Broncos): Hired
Kris Richard, co-defensive coordinator (Saints): Interviewed 1/26

Minnesota Vikings (Out: Ed Donatell)

Sean Desai, defensive assistant (Seahawks): Interviewed 1/24; to withdraw from search
Ejiro Evero, former defensive coordinator (Broncos): Expected to interview
Brian Flores, linebackers coach (Steelers): Hired
Ryan Nielsen, co-defensive coordinator (Saints): Interview requested
Mike Pettine, defensive assistant (Vikings): Interviewed 1/25

New Orleans Saints (Out: Ryan Nielsen, Kris Richard)

Joe Woods, former defensive coordinator (Browns): Hired

Philadelphia Eagles (Out: Jonathan Gannon)

Sean Desai, defensive assistant (Seahawks): Hired
Vance Joseph, defensive coordinator (Cardinals): Interviewed 2/21-2/22
Jesse Minter, defensive coordinator (Michigan): Interviewed
Glenn Schumann, co-defensive coordinator (Georgia): Interviewed
Chris Shula, defensive backs coach (Rams): Interviewed
Jim Leonhard, defensive coordinator (Wisconsin): Interviewed
Dennard Wilson, defensive backs coach (Eagles): Mentioned as candidate

San Francisco 49ers (Out: DeMeco Ryans)

Vic Fangio, former head coach (Broncos): On radar
Chris Harris, defensive backs coach (Commanders): Interviewed 1/31
Kris Kocurek, defensive line coach (49ers): On radar
Steve Wilks, former interim head coach (Panthers): Hired

Texans To Hire Bobby Slowik As Offensive Coordinator

February 12th, 2023 at 11:35am CST by Adam La Rose

The Texans will hire Bobby Slowik as their new offensive coordinator, as Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network reports (via Twitter). Like DeMeco Ryans, Houston’s new head coach, Slowik joined the 49ers as a defensive quality control coach in 2017. He subsequently moved to the other side of the ball and spent the 2022 campaign as San Francisco’s offensive passing game coordinator. He will now follow Ryans from the Bay Area to Texas.

Slowik, 35, represented a logical candidate to take on the OC job in Houston, one which was vacated by Pep Hamilton. The latter held that role last season for the first time with the Texans, overseeing one of the league’s lowest-scoring and least efficient offenses. Talent obviously played a large role on that front, of course, but it comes as no surprise that a new face is being brought in to help the team’s rebuild.

Today’s news comes just days after Kliff Kingsbury was brought in for an interview for the offensive coordinator posting. That, in turn, came as something of a surprise considering the belief the ex-Cardinals head coach would spend the 2023 season away from the sidelines. Aaron Wilson of KPRC reports that his sit-down with the Texans went well, but Slowik was thought by many to be the frontrunner once it became official that Ryans was the new head coach in Houston.

The son of former NFL DC Bob Slowik, Bobby began his NFL tenure in Washington in 2010. That time was followed by a brief stint as a defensive assistant in the nation’s capital, then a three-year period working as an analyst with Pro Football Focus. He turned his work with the analytics website into his first San Francisco position, allowing him plenty of time to gain experience on both sides of the ball and develop a working relationship with Ryans. Expectations will be raised for the pair heading into the 2023 season.

Slowik played a key role in the 49ers’ offense over the past several years, helping coach one of the more unique units in the league. San Francisco has ranked in the top four in the NFL in terms of total offense three times in the past four seasons, finishing top-six in scoring twice during that same span. Slowik will be dealing with a very different Texans group in his first coordinator posting, but the team does appear to have the foundation of a strong running game in place in tailback Dameon Pierce, and has a prime opportunity in the upcoming draft to land a franchise quarterback.

In other Texans news, Pelissero’s colleague Mike Garafolo tweets that Jerrod Johnson is coming onboard as the team’s quarterbacks coach. Johnson, 34, is a Houston native who received OC interest during this year’s cycle. He interviewed for the Texans’ coordinator vacancy, along with that of the Chargers. Johnson spent last year as the assistant QBs coach in Minnesota, and will take on a larger role this season in Houston with, in all likelihood, a rookie signal-caller in place.

Rory Parks contributed to this post.

Latest On Texans’ Coordinator Searches

January 31st, 2023 at 9:17pm CST by Ben Levine

The Texans have secured their new head coach, as the organization agreed to a six-year contract with DeMeco Ryans earlier today. Now, the organization is shifting the focus to coordinators, and the Texans have already starting compiling a list of candidates for both roles.

It sounds like Ryans will presumably bring in his own staff, meaning incumbent offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton will likely be on the outside looking in. The Texans have already started reaching out to potential candidates, with NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reporting (via Twitter) that the organization has requested an interview with 49ers passing game coordinator Bobby Slowik for the OC job. Meanwhile, Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports reports (on Twitter) that the Texans have also requested permission to interview Bengals wide receivers coach Troy Walters for the gig.

Slowik would be a natural fit if Ryans is hoping to implement some of San Francisco’s offensive philosophies. Slowik has been with the 49ers since 2017 and actually started on the defensive side of the ball. He moved to offense in 2019, became an offensive pass game specialist in 2021, and earned the promotion to offensive passing game coordinator in 2022. The 49ers, of course, dealt with a number of injuries at quarterback this past season, but the team still got 29 passing touchdowns (vs. only eight interceptions) from Jimmy Garoppolo and rookie Brock Purdy.

It’s not a huge surprise that Walters is getting a look for an offensive coordinator job. While the Bengals organization has invested plenty of resources into the receiver position, Walters has still gotten the most out of the trio of Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Tyler Boyd. The 46-year-old coach doesn’t have much of an NFL coaching resume, but he previously served as offensive coordinator at UCF and Nebraska.

The 49ers didn’t have a defensive coordinator in 2022, with head coach Lovie Smith mostly being responsible for defensive play-calling. With Smith now out of the picture, it sounds like Ryans will be looking for someone to help guide the defense. According to Aaron Wilson of Click2Houston.com (via Twitter), the Texans have interest in Jets safeties coach Marquand Manuel for the defensive coordinator job.

Following an eight-year playing career, Manuel joined the coaching ranks as an assistant special teams coach with the Seahawks in 2012. He worked his way up to become the Falcons’ defensive coordinator from 2017-18, but following a top-10 performance during his first year, Atlanta finished in the bottom five in 2018, leading to his ouster. After a one-year stint as a DBs coach with the Eagles in 2020, Manuel joined Robert Saleh‘s first Jets staff in 2021 and has served as Gang Green’s safeties coach over the past two seasons. The Jets allowed the fourth-fewest yards per game and the third-fewest passing yards per game in 2022, leading to him also garnering an interview for the Panthers’ defensive coordinator job.

The Texans also have interest in 49ers passing game specialist-secondary coach Cory Undlin for the defensive coordinator job, according to Wilson (on Twitter). Besides having worked extensively with Ryans over the past two years, Undlin has experience as a defensive coordinator, having served in the role with the Lions in 2020. Of course, that stint ended with his firing, but Undlin has seemingly rehabilitated his image following two successful seasons in San Francisco. The long-time coach won Super Bowl rings with the Patriots and Eagles, and he’s also head coaching stints with the Browns, Jaguars, and Broncos.

Undlin isn’t the only 49ers defensive coach that Ryans is considering. According to Wilson, the Texnas also have interest in 49ers defensive line coach Kris Kocurek. However, 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan is “expected to work to keep his staff intact” following Ryans’ move to Houston. Matt Barrows of The Athletic tweets that Ryans could also recruit 49ers defensive quality control coaches Stephen Adegoke and Andrew Hayes-Stoker to Houston (but presumably not for the DC job).

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