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Todd Monken

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 

Baltimore Ravens (Out: Greg Roman)

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)

Houston Texans (Out: Pep Hamilton)

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)

Los Angeles Rams (Out: Liam Coen)

New York Jets (Out: Mike LaFleur)

Philadelphia Eagles (Out: Shane Steichen)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Out: Byron Leftwich)

Tennessee Titans (Out: Todd Downing)

Washington Commanders (Out: Scott Turner)

Defensive Coordinators

Arizona Cardinals (Out: Vance Joseph)

Atlanta Falcons (Out: Dean Pees)

Buffalo Bills (Out: Leslie Frazier)

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

Houston Texans 

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)

Minnesota Vikings (Out: Ed Donatell)

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

  • Joe Woods, former defensive coordinator (Browns): Hired

Philadelphia Eagles (Out: Jonathan Gannon)

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

Latest On Ravens-Lamar Jackson Talks

February 23rd, 2023 at 6:44pm CST by Adam La Rose

With the franchise tag window open, the countdown is on to see how the Ravens and quarterback Lamar Jackson are going to approach the impending deadline. Their current situation is the result of longstanding contract negotiations reaching a well-established impasse.

Guaranteed money has long been reported as the sticking point between Baltimore’s front office and the 26-year-old, who does not have an agent. The Ravens’ top offer from last offseason included $133MM in guaranteed money, which would have ranked second in the league behind only the historic deal signed by Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson. Jackson, meanwhile, has repeatedly attempted to use that $230MM contract as the market value for his next pact.

Adding further to that notion, a detailed report from ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler and Jamison Hensley states that each counteroffer Jackson has made to the Ravens so far were fully guaranteed contracts which “exceeded that of Watson.” The latter was given his massive accord after sitting out the 2021 season in Houston, and being the subject of a bidding war between several teams before the Browns gave the Texans a package including three first-round picks to acquire him. Other QB extensions around the league since then have pointed to the Watson deal being an outlier, rather than the new norm.

That has left the two parties in a standoff, and the assumption that a franchise tag will either extend the negotiating period into the summer or, perhaps, open up the possibility of a tag-and-trade. Much will be determined by whether or not the Ravens use the exclusive or non-exclusive tag, given the differences in not only value but the involvement other teams could have in influencing negotiations. A decision on that front will need to be made no later than March 7.

Among the other key takeaways from the ESPN piece is the fact that it includes further team sources expressing their surprise that Jackson missed the Ravens’ wild card loss to the Bengals. The former MVP’s knee sprain cost him time to close out the regular season as well, and he drew criticism from inside and outside the organization for his absence. That, coupled with his statistical outputs since the 2019 campaign, have clouded his future.

The hire of Todd Monken as offensive coordinator has led to the expectation the Ravens will throw the ball more than they did under Greg Roman. The former Buccaneers and Browns OC has made clear his intention of developing Jackson more as a passer, something which would no doubt lead to improved performances individually and for the team, should he find himself in Charm City in 2023.

Confirming what many have believed regarding contract talks, ESPN’s Dianna Russini tweets that Jackson is receiving guidance on this matter from the NFLPA. While that does not represent a direct replacement for an agent, it allows the two-time Pro Bowler to have support while negotiating the league’s next mega-deal. Something significant will likely need to take place for traction to be gained, though, regarding a contract being finalized any time soon.

Coaching Notes: Cards, Kingsbury, Chargers

February 14th, 2023 at 9:52pm CST by Sam Robinson

Mentioned as a candidate to reunite with Sean Payton, Mike Zimmer also may be under consideration for another reunion. Jonathan Gannon, one of Zimmer’s original hires with the Vikings back in 2014, appears to have the veteran coach on his radar for his Cardinals staff, Howard Balzer of gophnx.com tweets. Eagles linebackers coach Nick Rallis also may be on Gannon’s radar to head to Arizona, per Balzer. Gannon spent four seasons on Zimmer’s Minnesota staff, working as the Vikings’ assistant defensive backs coach. Rallis, 29, was on Zimmer’s Vikes staff from 2018-20, before joining the Eagles. It will be interesting to see if Zimmer, 66, has multiple options to return to an NFL post.

As for Gannon’s Cardinals staff as a whole, some of Kliff Kingsbury‘s assistants are in limbo. Vance Joseph and others have not been informed of their future with the Cards, Josina Anderson of CBS Sports tweets. Joseph was initially a candidate to replace Kingsbury and interviewed for the job, but the four-year Arizona DC did not reach the finalist stage.

With all five HC positions now filled, here is the latest from the coaching ranks:

  • Back from Thailand, Kingsbury has now met with multiple teams. After interviewing for the Texans’ OC post, the four-year Cardinals HC met with the Ravens. The sides discussed an unspecified staff position, Anderson tweets. This Sunday interview of sorts did not produce an agreement. Kingsbury is still in line to collect considerable cash from his 2022 Cardinals extension, but the Texans and Ravens hired others — Bobby Slowik, Todd Monken, respectively — to run their offenses.
  • Staying in Baltimore, Monken will have input in how the next Ravens offensive staff looks, per Anderson. The Ravens, as should be expected given their situation, followed through with their pledge to involve Lamar Jackson in the OC search as well (Twitter links). Monken, who collected two national titles while at Georgia, last coached in the NFL as the Browns’ OC in 2019.
  • Justin Herbert‘s 2023 brain trust will consist of ex-Cowboy staffers. After hiring Kellen Moore, the Chargers are adding Doug Nussmeier as quarterbacks coach, Dianna Russini of ESPN.com tweets. Nussmeier, an OC at five college programs from 2008-17, was with the Cowboys for five seasons — the past three as QBs coach. The 52-year-old assistant had multiple offers for 2023 NFL gigs, per Russini (on Twitter).
  • As the Broncos cycled through head coaches over the past several seasons, they kept Zach Azzanni in place. A Joseph hire back in 2018, Azzani stayed on as wide receivers coach under Vic Fangio and Nathaniel Hackett. Azzanni interviewed with both the Bills and Jets for the AFC East clubs’ respective wide receivers coach roles over the past two days, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com notes (on Twitter). While these meetings could signal Payton has other plans for this job, Pelissero adds the Broncos could still retain the highly regarded position coach to work for a fourth HC.
  • The Broncos will lose one of their quality control staffers to the Cowboys. Ramon Chinyoung is leaving Denver to become Dallas’ assistant offensive line coach, per 9News’ Mike Klis (on Twitter). The Cowboys are also hiring Will Harriger as an offensive assistant, Todd Archer of ESPN.com tweets. Harriger, who spent last season as a USC assistant, has worked with both Brian Schottenheimer and Dan Quinn. Harriger previously served as the Seahawks’ assistant quarterbacks coach from 2016-18 and later was part of Quinn’s Falcons staff.
  • Shortly after the Broncos interviewed Rex Ryan for their DC job, the ESPN analyst’s son is in the mix for a title bump. The Jets requested an interview with Seth Ryan for their wide receivers coach position, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter). A third-generation NFL coach, Seth is currently the Lions’ assistant receivers coach. Just 28, Ryan has an NFL assistant for four seasons. He has been with the Lions for the past two. Although Azzanni is also in the mix for this Jets job, Seth Ryan working for his father’s former team is on the radar.

Ravens Hire Todd Monken As OC

February 14th, 2023 at 9:53am CST by Adam La Rose

Another one of the numerous offensive coordinator searches in the 2023 cycle as been filled. The Ravens announced on Tuesday that Todd Monken has been hired as the team’s new OC.

The 57-year-old is making a return to the NFL after working at Georgia over the past three seasons. He held the joint title of quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator during that span, helping lead the Bulldogs to two straight national championships. His success there led to interest in a new opportunity at the pro level, though ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler tweets that the Baltimore vacancy was his priority.

Monken – who previously guided the offenses of the Buccaneers from 2016-18, and of the Browns in 2019 – was among Tampa Bay’s candidates for their vacant position. He interviewed last month as a potential Byron Leftwich replacement, but this news means a reunion will not be possible. Monken was a finalist for the Ravens’ OC gig, having interviewed for a second time less than two weeks ago.

A coach at the NCAA level beginning at age 25, Monken brings plenty of experience to a Ravens team which parted ways with Greg Roman at the end of the 2022 campaign. The latter had been in place since 2019, adding to his reputation as one of the league’s top offensive minds with respect to the running game. Shortcomings in Baltimore’s passing attack were chief among the reasons for the separation taking place, and an area Monken will be tasked with improving in his new position. Roman has emerged on the OC radar of the Commanders.

Much of the Ravens’ success in 2023 will be tied to the play they receive at the quarterback position. Lamar Jackson is a pending free agent; while he will be franchise tagged in the absence of a long-term deal being signed, his future with the team remains up in the air. Presuming the former MVP remains in place next season, Monken will look to glean more consistency from Jackson and an increase in production from the team’s pass-catchers.

“We conducted 21 interviews with 14 candidates throughout a thorough process that had wide-ranging organizational involvement,” head coach John Harbaugh said in a statement. “Todd’s leadership and coaching acumen were evident from the beginning. He has a proven track record for designing and teaching offensive systems that allow players to succeed at the highest level. We’re excited to get to work and begin building an offense that will help us compete for championships.”

Todd Monken, Justin Outten Set For Second Ravens OC Interviews

February 3rd, 2023 at 9:21am CST by Ben Levine

FEBRUARY 3: Monken has reached the second-interview stage with the Ravens, who are going through a thorough search to fill their offensive coordinator post. The Ravens will meet with the Georgia OC for a second time Friday, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets. Monken joins Seahawks quarterbacks coach Dave Canales and Justin Outten as finalists for the Ravens’ play-calling position.

Outten, who made the leap from Packers tight ends coach to Broncos OC last year, has also advanced to the finals of this pursuit, Garafolo adds (on Twitter). That meeting is expected for next week. The Broncos’ 32nd-ranked offense has thus far not hurt the key principals behind that attack, with Nathaniel Hackett landing the Jets’ OC job and Outten in play to replace Roman. The Broncos initially passed over Outten for play-calling duties; Hackett gave QBs coach Klint Kubiak the reins amid the offense’s persistent struggles. But Outten called Denver’s plays in the final two weeks.

JANUARY 28: For the second straight year, the Ravens could turn to the college ranks to fill a coordinator vacancy. According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero (on Twitter), the Ravens interviewed Georgia offensive coordinator Todd Monken for their own OC job this week.

[RELATED: Bucs To Interview Georgia OC Todd Monken]

Monken had recent stints as the Buccaneers and Browns offensive coordinator before joining Georgia as their offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach in 2020. Per Pelissero, the 56-year-old has been looking to return to the NFL, and he should have a good opportunity this offseason. We heard yesterday that the Buccaneers also interviewed Monken for their offensive coordinator vacancy.

Monken was a potential NFL head coach candidate in 2019. Following his one-and-done stint in Cleveland, he joined a Georgia squad that has since won back-to-back national championships. Georgia has ranked as a top-10 offense nationally in each of the past two seasons, and the SEC powerhouse is paying the coach accordingly; per the Tampa Bay Times’ Rick Stroud (on Twitter), Monken earns the highest salary among college assistants ($2.01MM).

The Ravens and OC Greg Roman parted ways following the team’s playoff loss. A number of names have emerged as potential candidates for the open positoon, including:

Bucs To Interview Georgia OC Todd Monken

January 27th, 2023 at 5:04pm CST by Sam Robinson

Surfacing as a candidate shortly after Byron Leftwich‘s firing, the prospect of Todd Monken coming back to Tampa is moving closer to a reality. The Buccaneers plan to interview Monken for their offensive coordinator job next week, Jenna Laine of ESPN.com tweets.

Monken, who worked as Tampa Bay’s offensive coordinator under Dirk Koetter in the late 2010s, is currently Georgia’s OC. He has been in that position for the past three years. This will be an interesting interview, considering the same GM — Jason Licht — is on staff after he moved on from Koetter and Monken four years ago.

Serving as the Bucs’ OC for much of Jameis Winston‘s tenure, Monken generated some momentum late in that run. Despite the Bucs moving on in 2019, Monken interviewed for five NFL jobs — including head coaching positions — that offseason. Ending up in Cleveland as Freddie Kitchens‘ OC, Monken went one-and-done after that disappointing Browns season but landed on his feet at Georgia. The Bulldogs have won back-to-back national championships, the second of which via a historic 65-7 rout of TCU.

The Bucs ranked in the top 10 in total offense in both 2017 and ’18, the latter year producing a third-place finish for the team’s offense. This still led Koetter and Monken out, but the latter was the primary play-caller when Ryan Fitzpatrick averaged 9.6 yards per attempt — a mark that still ranks in the top 10 for a season (an abbreviated one, as Fitz started seven games) in NFL history — for a squad that rostered an intriguing mix of wideouts and tight ends. While Koetter called plays for a point in 2018, Monken spent most of that season doing so. Kitchens was at the controls for the 2019 Browns.

Georgia has ranked as a top-10 offense nationally in each of the past two seasons, though the Bulldogs’ defense has generated more attention from NFL scouts. He enjoys a pretty nice gig for the SEC powerhouse, however, coaching sought-after recruits and, per the Tampa Bay Times’ Rick Stroud (on Twitter), earning the highest salary among college assistants ($2.01MM). Monken, 56, has spent most of his career in the college ranks. Though, he also coached the Jaguars’ wide receivers from 2007-10. Only the Bucs have reached out to Monken so far. Excepting Keenan McCardell, Tampa Bay has identified a host of young position coaches for its role. Here is where that search stands thus far:

Buccaneers To Fire OC Byron Leftwich

January 19th, 2023 at 9:28am CST by Sam Robinson

The Buccaneers are moving on from Byron Leftwich. The team’s offensive coordinator of the past four years will not return in 2023, according to the Tampa Bay Times’ Rick Stroud.

In addition to Leftwich’s dismissal, Stroud points to other changes. As many as five offensive staffers and multiple defensive assistants will not be back next season. This follows a season in which the Bucs’ offense declined considerably after two strong years with Tom Brady. The changes came to pass after a Todd Bowles meeting with GM Jason Licht and Bucs ownership, per Stroud.

This news comes a year after Leftwich, 43, was on the HC carousel. The Jaguars interviewed their former quarterback twice in January 2022, but Leftwich removed his name from consideration for the job. Jacksonville ended up hiring Doug Pederson and is now in the divisional round. Leftwich’s fourth Bucs offense dropped from second in 2021 to 25th this season.

In December, a report emerged indicating Brady and Leftwich were not seeing eye-to-eye, and a recent report noted a Brady 2023 return could well be contingent on Leftwich’s dismissal. Many connected Brady to Bruce Arians‘ exit as well, though Arians has repeatedly denied he was forced out. While Brady’s Tampa future is up in the air, Bowles will search for his own offensive coordinator. Bowles’ seat warmed after the Bucs’ 8-9 finish and blowout loss to the Cowboys in the wild-card round, and he will tie his future to a handpicked OC.

A name to watch is Georgia OC Todd Monken, per NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter). Monken has a history with the Bucs, having been on staff from 2016-18, and Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com adds (via Twitter) he has generated interest from teams.

The Bucs moved on from Monken upon firing Dirk Koetter after the 2018 season, leading Monken to Cleveland and the Arians-Leftwich tandem to Tampa. Monken has been Georgia’s OC since 2020, and his tenure has overlapped with the greatest stretch in the program’s history. The Bulldogs have won back-to-back national championships, the most recent being cemented via a 65-7 rout of TCU. Monken’s 2018 Bucs season also included Ryan Fitzpatrick posting a 9.6 yards-per-attempt figure, which still ranks in the top 10 all time.

Leftwich earned a second chance as an OC following a dismal 2018, which featured the Cardinals’ first post-Arians season end with a 3-13 record and the team ranking last offensively. Arians, who had retired following the 2017 slate, brought Leftwich to Tampa and installed him as the Bucs’ play-caller. Jameis Winston‘s historically high-variance 2019 season gave way to Brady in 2020. After a rocky start, the legendary QB drove the Bucs to a top-three ranking on offense that year. Leftwich collected a Super Bowl ring that season, and Brady led the NFL in touchdown passes and passing yards in 2021. Tampa Bay’s final Winston-led offense also ranked in the top seven in both points and yards, which should reflect well on Leftwich. But this season brought an undeniable blow to his value.

The Bucs ranked last across the board in rushing this season, despite the team re-signing Leonard Fournette on a three-year deal worth $21MM. Offensive line issues plagued the team, and Brady’s QBR fell from second in 2021 to 18th in 2022. The Bucs’ 198 fewer points from 2021-22 doubles as the second-steepest decline in NFL history, behind only the Falcons’ freefall from 1973-74 (h/t Fox Sports’ Greg Auman). Although Brady threw for 351 yards in Tampa Bay’s woeful wild-card performance, he struggled throughout and did not confirm anything about his 2023 plans postgame. The 45-year-old passer has been connected to retiring again, playing for the Bucs in 2023 or playing elsewhere. More Brady-dominated news cycles are coming, but Leftwich will be on the lookout for his next gig by that point.

Leftwich’s Winston offense outperforming Monken’s Winston work should work in the former’s favor, though some of Winston and Brady’s Tampa production will undoubtedly be attributed to Arians. Leftwich, a former Jags top-10 pick, entered coaching in 2016 as an Arians intern but rose to the OC level by 2018, when the Cardinals fired Mike McCoy in-season.

Jason Garrett In Lead For Duke HC Job?

December 10th, 2021 at 6:30pm CST by Sam Robinson

6:30pm: It turns out Garrett will not win out for this position. Duke is set to hire Texas A&M defensive coordinator Mike Elko as head coach, Yahoo.com’s Pete Thamel tweets.

2:00pm: After having David Cutcliffe in place for 14 years as head coach, Duke may well be zeroing in on a longtime NFL staffer to lead its program. Jason Garrett is viewed as the frontrunner to land the Blue Devils’ head coaching gig, ESPN’s Suzy Kolber tweets.

The recently dismissed Giants offensive coordinator has been connected to the ACC position this week, moving quickly after an in-season firing. This would be Garrett’s first college coaching job. Garrett, 55, played collegiately at Princeton and Columbia in the 1980s.

A quarterback in the NFL and CFL from 1989-2004, Garrett caught on with the Dolphins as an assistant in 2005. He became the Cowboys’ OC within two years and then landed Dallas’ HC job on a full-time basis in 2011. That tenure lasted nine seasons, with Garrett going 85-67.

While Garrett’s role became scrutinized, he led the Cowboys to three divisional-round berths from 2014-18. The ex-Cowboys QB oversaw Tony Romo and Dak Prescott‘s development, though the team was frequently criticized for underachieving during Garrett’s later years.

Garrett interviewed for the Chargers’ HC job last year but stayed on in his Giants play-calling post for a second season in 2021. A John Mara preference to join Joe Judge‘s staff in 2020, Garrett did not last through his second season with Judge. Former Buccaneers and Browns offensive coordinator Todd Monken, currently Georgia’s OC, is among the other names who have been connected to the position, according to Steve Wiseman of the Raleigh News and Observer.

Browns To Interview Rich Scangarello For OC

January 18th, 2020 at 1:09pm CST by Sam Robinson

While working on their GM and defensive coordinator roles, the Browns are now moving along with their offensive coordinator search. New HC Kevin Stefanski plans to interview recently fired Broncos OC Rich Scangarello for the role, Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

The interview is expected to take place Monday or Tuesday, per Cabot. The Broncos fired Scangarello less than a week ago, bringing in former Browns HC Pat Shurmur to head up their offense.

Stefanski is expected to call plays in Cleveland but has indicated he is not committed to doing so. Scangarello worked as the 49ers’ quarterbacks coach prior to moving to Denver in a play-calling role. The Broncos’ offense ranked 28th in both points and yards this season, but the first-time NFL OC did not have too much to work with, talent-wise. That would be less of an issue in Cleveland.

Scangarello, 47, oversaw an offense forced to use three quarterbacks due to injury. But the Broncos finished 4-1 once Drew Lock took the reins, and it came as a surprise when Vic Fangio fired his first-year coordinator. Perhaps Scangarello’s most impressive showing, however, came when he helped first-time starter Brandon Allen to a midseason victory over the Browns.

Previous Browns OC Todd Monken recently accepted an offer to become Georgia’s OC. The Browns have used three different offensive coordinators since the start of the 2018 season, going from Todd Haley to Freddie Kitchens to Monken.

The Browns’ 2019 offense, despite being one of the league’s most-hyped units, was a massive disappointment. The Kitchens-orchestrated attack ranked 22nd in both points and yards, frequently prone to mismanagement and failing to fully unleash prized trade acquisition Odell Beckham Jr. Stefanski and the new OC will be tasked with rejuvenating Baker Mayfield, who took a step back after a strong finish to 2018.

Coaching Rumors: Jaguars, Browns, Panthers, Patriots

December 27th, 2019 at 8:10pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

The 2019 regular season is winding down, which means the coaching carousel is about to start ramping up. Earlier today the Falcons announced Dan Quinn would be back for 2020, crossing one potential opening off the list. This is shaping up to be a potentially quiet year in terms of number of coaches fired, but there should still be a good amount of action. One man still on the hot seat is the Jaguars head coach Doug Marrone. The latest reporting indicated the Jags were leaning toward keeping Marrone and GM Dave Caldwell, and we have more info to back that up now. Tony Khan, the team’s EVP and son of owner Shad Khan, is expected to take on an increased role in the organization, according to Albert Breer of SI.com.

That’s good news for Marrone and Caldwell, since Breer writes that the younger Khan has a good relationship with both. He further adds that “things are trending toward” the duo “surviving the weekend.” Tom Coughlin, the team’s head of football operations, was fired recently and has been taking the brunt of the blame for the organization’s spiral.

Here’s the latest from around the league:

  • There’s been a lot of speculation that Browns head coach Freddie Kitchens could be one and done, as Cleveland has been a dumpster fire all year long. Breer writes that Browns owner Jimmy Haslam initially seemed inclined to keep him around for a second year, but that recently Haslam has “kept his cards closer to the vest.” Even if Kitchens survives, Breer says he expects there to be significant changes to his staff. It’s been “an open secret that offensive coordinator Todd Monken hasn’t been happy” this season, he reports. How the Browns fare in Week 17 against the 1-14 Bengals could go a long way in determining Kitchens’ future.
  • Everyone that Breer has talked to indicated that the Panthers are going to conduct an extensive search for Ron Rivera’s replacement. Notably, Breer has learned that the search is expected to include a college coach or two. Baylor coach Matt Rhule and Oklahoma coach Lincoln Riley have been two college coaches heavily linked to NFL jobs recently. New owner David Tepper is looking to put his stamp on the team, and it’ll be very interesting to see which direction he heads. He’s been very keen on analytics, so a younger offensive-minded hire wouldn’t be surprising. Further, Breer writes to “keep an eye out” for Josh McDaniels and the Panthers. The Patriots offensive coordinator nearly took the Colts’ job two cycles ago, and will be a hot name again this time around. Whoever the Panthers hire “will have considerable say over the football operation, in areas like strength-and-conditioning, training and video,” Breer reports.
  • Speaking of the Patriots, Nick Caserio isn’t the only exec in their building who could get poached. Breer speculates that McDaniels could try to lure pro personnel director Dave Ziegler with him if he leaves to become a head coach. Given that Caserio and director of college scouting Monti Ossenfort are both on expiring contracts, Breer thinks the Pats might work hard to retain Ziegler.
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