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Israel Woolfork

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)

Bears Request OC Interview With Cardinals’ Israel Woolfork

January 25th, 2025 at 9:12pm CST by Adam La Rose

The list of offensive coordinator candidates for the Bears continues to grow. Chicago has requested an interview with Israel Woolfork, CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones reports.

[RELATED: Bears Add Antwaan Randle El, Al Harris To Staff]

Woolfork’s playing career ended in 2012, and he immediately transitioned to coaching. From 2013-21, he worked on the staff at Miami (Ohio), holding different titles along the way. Woolfork began as a graduate assistant before coaching the team’s running backs and then its receivers.

His entry into the NFL came with the Browns. Woolfork was involved in the Bill Walsh coaching fellowship program for 2021 and ’22, and after that process he landed his first position coaching gig at the pro level. The Cardinals hired him as their quarterbacks coach in 2023, and he has remained in that role for the past two years.

Kyler Murray was sidelined for the beginning of last season as he rehabbed his ACL tear. He managed to play eight games upon returning to the lineup, though, and his performances to close out the year laid the foundation for this past campaign. The Cardinals enjoyed a relatively strong start to 2024, posting a 6-4 record before the bye. The team fell out of contention in the NFC West toward the end of the campaign, but Woolfork’s work with Murray and Arizona’s other passers has now generated interest at the coordinator level.

New head coach Ben Johnson will no doubt call plays during his debut Chicago campaign, but his decision not to retain Thomas Brown leaves the team in need of another offensive coordinator hire. The Bears went with Shane Waldron last offseason, but his tenure proved to be short-lived. Brown served as interim play-caller (and, eventually, head coach) to close out the campaign but Johnson was of course Chicago’s top target for outside HC candidates. His offensive coordinator search will be one to watch closely as it expands.

Via PFR’s OC/DC Tracker, here is an updated look at where things stand:

  • Declan Doyle, tight ends coach (Broncos): Rumored candidate
  • Hank Fraley, offensive line coach (Lions): Rumored candidate; staying with Lions
  • Bo Hardegree, quarterbacks coach (Titans): Interview requested
  • Israel Woolfork, quarterbacks coach (Cardinals): Interview requested

Cardinals Finalize Gannon’s New Staff

March 1st, 2023 at 6:54pm CST by Ely Allen

The Cardinals announced today that they have finalized their coaching staff under new head coach Jonathan Gannon, according to Josh Weinfuss of ESPN. We’ve tracked many new hires, firings, and retainings as they’ve occurred, but today’s finalization fills in any holes that remained between last year’s staff and what we’ve reported on so far.

On the offensive side of the ball, we’ve got the confirmations and official titles for two new hires. Drew Terrell, who was expected to leave Washington and rumored to be in the running for Arizona’s pass-game coordinator role after missing out on the offensive coordinator job, has officially been hired as the Cardinals’ passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach. Additionally, Israel Woolfork, who was rumored to become the new quarterbacks coach after being informed by the Browns that he was granted leave from his diversity coaching fellow position, has officially been made the quarterbacks coach in Arizona.

Two other new hires were announced today on the offensive staff. Former Charleston Southern head coach Autry Denson has joined the staff as a running backs coach. Denson has extensive experience coaching the position at the college level for Notre Dame, Miami (OH), and Bethune-Cookman, but this will be his first job in the NFL. Also joining the staff, Chris Cook will be under offensive line coach Klayton Adams as the team’s assistant offensive line coach. Additionally, two members of the offensive staff from former head coach Kliff Kingsbury‘s tenure have been retained with slightly new titles. Formerly the co-pass game coordinator, Spencer Whipple will be retained in the role of pass game specialist. Similarly, former Bill Bidwill Fellowship and quarterbacks assistant Connor Senger has been retained in the position of offensive quality control coach.

On the defensive side of the ball, Patrick Toney and William Peagler, who were announced to be joining the Cardinals’ staff after working together at the University of Florida, had their titles officially announced today. Toney, who was originally expected to be the safeties coach, will be the Cardinals’ defensive backs coach. Peagler, after coaching tight ends in Gainesville, will serve as assistant defensive line coach. Additionally, a holdover from last year, former defensive assistant Ronald Booker has been retained to serve as defensive quality control.

On special teams, after the departure of assistant special teams coach Devin Fitzsimmons to Carolina, Sam Sewell will be filling the same role in 2023 for the Cardinals. Additionally, away from either side of the ball, the Cardinals hired two more new staffers and retained two others. Brandon Schwab has been hired as assistant to the head coach, and Shea Thompson has been hired as director of football performance. Coaching assistant Jay Razzano was retained from last year’s staff, and Kenny Bell, who served last season in Arizona as chief of staff and offensive assistant, will be retained as the team’s director of football strategy.

With the coaching staff finalized, Gannon and the Cardinals can turn their attention to the NFL Combine, the draft, and the rest of the offseason.

Cardinals To Hire QBs Coach, Several Others

February 22nd, 2023 at 9:02pm CST by Ely Allen

New Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon has already announced his dedication to quarterback Kyler Murray and hired a new mentor for the young passer in offensive coordinator Drew Petzing. According to Josina Anderson of CBS Sports, Petzing will be bringing along another former Browns’ assistant to Arizona.

Browns diversity coaching fellow Israel Woolfork has reportedly been informed by Cleveland that he has been granted leave to join the Cardinals staff. While not yet official, Woolfork is expected to be hired as Arizona’s next quarterbacks coach. Petzing coached passers in Cleveland and will likely continue to work with the group in Arizona, as well, giving Woolfork some nice support in his first position coaching job. The two will work together in continuing the development of one of the league’s promising young quarterbacks.

Here are a few other updates to Gannon’s new staff in Arizona as it continues to come together:

  • Gannon has reportedly filled another position coaching job, hiring former Broncos assistant offensive line coach Ben Steele as his new tight ends coach, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. The veteran coaching assistant has worked on four other teams’ staffs since first entering the NFL coaching ranks in 2014. Tight ends Stephen Anderson and Maxx Williams are facing free agency this offseason, but Steele should have Zach Ertz and Trey McBride to work with next year.
  • The Cardinals will be going to the college ranks to fill out their coaching staff, as well, hiring Northwestern cornerbacks coach Ryan Smith to coach the same group in Arizona, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. Smith inherits a talented young cornerbacks group led by Byron Murphy and Marco Wilson.
  • Gannon will be adding two other former college coaches from the University of Florida, according to Matt Zenitz of On3. Former Gators co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach Patrick Toney is expected to join the Cardinals as the new safeties coach. Although the specific position has yet to be announced, Gators tight ends coach William Peagler is expected to join Toney in Arizona. With Steele’s announcement as tight ends coach, that position is filled, so Peagler will have to find another role on Gannon’s staff.