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Vikings | Head Coach Kevin O'Connell Gets Contract Extension Tue Jan 21, 04:45 PM
The Vikings and Head Coach Kevin O'Connell have agreed to a multiyear contract extension, the team announced Tuesday.
| Footballguys view: O'Connell was set to enter the final season of his original contract with the club. "Kevin is exactly who we believed him to be when we named him as our head coach -- an innovative play-caller, an excellent communicator, and a strong leader who motivates and connects with his players," Vikings owner/president Mark Wilf said in a team statement. "He has helped establish a culture that positions us for sustained success, and he will continue to set the standard we need as we pursue a championship for Vikings fans." O'Connell said, "It is an absolute honor to continue leading the Minnesota Vikings." Talks are also ongoing with the Vikings and general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah on an extension as the club looks to keep the O'Connell-Adofo-Mensah combo together, Rapoport and Pelissero reported. |
Jaguars | Jacksonville closing in on Liam Coen? Tue Jan 21, 03:38 PM
Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Liam Coen is scheduled to have a second interview with the Jacksonville Jaguars regarding their head coaching vacancy on Wednesday, Jan. 22. There is speculation that the Jaguars feel strongly enough about Coen that he will be offered the job on Wednesday if the interview goes well.
| Footballguys view: Coen, 39, just completed his first year with the Buccaneers, helping the club finish No. 3 in total yards and No. 4 in points en route to winning the NFC South. Profootballtalk.com notes that if the Jaguars hire Coen, it will be the second time in two years that a Bucs offensive coordinator is in the building for just one season before departing to be a head coach. Dave Canales was hired as the Panthers head coach last offseason after spending a year with Tampa Bay. Bucs head coach Todd Bowles has had Byron Leftwich, Canales, and Coen as his offensive coordinators in his three seasons at the helm. Tampa Bay Times staffer Rick Stroud also raises the possibility that the Bucs could offer Bowles a position in the front office and hire Coen to take his place, noting that the club effectively did so with Bruce Arians stepping down as head coach in March 2022 in favor of Bowles. Stay tuned. |
Patriots | Marcus Brady met with New England Tue Jan 21, 03:06 PM
Los Angeles Chargers passing game coordinator Marcus Brady recently interviewed with the New England Patriots regarding their offensive coordinator vacancy, according to a source.
| Footballguys view: As SI.com noted, Brady has been in the NFL landscape since 2018. He started his coaching career with the Indianapolis Colts as a quarterbacks coach, then became offensive coordinator for two seasons from 2021-22. Then-head coach Frank Reich was the play-caller for Indianapolis during Brady's tenure. Following his short stint in Indianapolis, Brady arrived with the Philadelphia Eagles for a season as a senior offensive assistant in 2023, then made his way to Los Angeles. Last week, head coach Mike Vrabel's Patriots interviewed Thomas Brown for the position held by Alex Van Pelt during No. 3 overall pick Drake Maye's rookie campaign. |
Colts | Lou Anarumo locked in as Indy's DC Tue Jan 21, 02:46 PM
Updating a previous report, Lou Anarumo officially signed an undisclosed contract to become the new defensive coordinator of the Indianapolis Colts on Tuesday, Jan. 21.
| Footballguys view: Anarumo joins the Colts after spending the last six seasons (2019-2024) as the Cincinnati Bengals' defensive coordinator. With the Bengals, Anarumo fielded defenses that consistently made things difficult for opposing quarterbacks. Cincinnati's defense in 2024 finished top 10 in the NFL in interceptions, pick-sixes, and passes defensed; defensive end Trey Hendrickson led the NFL with 17.5 sacks. Anarumo's Bengals defense in 2022 held opponents to 20.1 points per game and a 58.9 completion percentage, the lowest rate in the NFL. In 2021, Anarumo helped push the Bengals to the Super Bowl by holding Cincinnati's opponents to 20.5 points per game. He'll replace Gus Bradley, who was fired after a complete collapse against the Giants in the regular-season finale, highlighting an overall failure to develop drafted talent. |
Patriots | Terrell Williams on New England's radar Tue Jan 21, 02:32 PM
Detroit Lions defensive line coach Terrell Williams is of interest to the New England Patriots, who are reportedly targeting him to be the new defensive coordinator, according to a source. Williams served under new Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel when both of them were with the Tennessee Titans from 2018 to 2023.
| Footballguys view: Detroit will need a new defensive coordinator if Aaron Glenn leaves to become a head coach, and Williams has a history with both Vrabel and Lions coach Dan Campbell. Williams began his NFL coaching career in 2012 with the Raiders. He went to the Dolphins in 2015 as the defensive line coach and landed with the Titans in 2018. Vrabel promoted Williams to assistant head coach in 2023. Another Vrabel assistant in Tennessee, current Miami Dolphins outside linebackers coach Ryan Crow, is also in the mix here. |
Packers | Christian Watson unlikely to begin 2025 on time Tue Jan 21, 02:23 PM
Green Bay Packers WR Christian Watson (knee) is not likely to be recovered from his torn anterior cruciate ligament by the time the 2025 season starts, according to ESPN.com's Rob Demovsky.
| Footballguys view: The Packers opted not to add any receivers last offseason, hoping Watson, Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed, and Dontayvion Wicks would continue to develop along with QB Jordan Love. With the group failing to take the next step and Watson expected to miss a chunk of time, the Packers could target the position early in the NFL Draft. GM Brian Gutekunst is open to adding to the position, whether it's through the draft, a trade, or free agency, saying, "[If] that makes some sense for us, we'll certainly look to do that, but we're also looking for these guys to continue to grow and hopefully grow into that space." |
Bengals | Al Golden likely in driver's seat for DC job Tue Jan 21, 02:10 PM
Notre Dame defensive coordinator Al Golden is expected to officially interview for the defensive coordinator job with the Cincinnati Bengals on Wednesday, Jan. 22. According to multiple sources, head coach Zac Taylor 'has long held' Golden as the leading candidate in the search.
| Footballguys view: The Bengals fired Lou Anarumo after the team failed to make the playoffs for a second straight year, and his replacement will be responsible for a complete overhaul of the staff and potentially the defensive roster. Golden had served as Cincinnati's linebackers coach during the 2020 and 2021 seasons, and his position group played a significant role in the team's Super Bowl run that last year. The 55-year-old has spent the previous three seasons with Notre Dame, building their defense into one of the best in college football. The Irish ranked as the fifth-best defense in yards allowed last year, and in 2024, they ranked fourth in passing defense (169.4 passing yards allowed per game) and scoring defense (tied, 15.5 points per game allowed). |
Bears | Ben Johnson officially in charge in Chicago Tue Jan 21, 02:09 PM
Updating a previous report, Detroit Lions office coordinator Ben Johnson signed an undisclosed contract to become the new head coach of the Chicago Bears on Tuesday, Jan. 21.
| Footballguys view: Johnson, known for his innovative playcalling, has coached the Lions to top-10 offenses the past two seasons, including second overall and No. 1 in points scored in 2024. More to the point, the Lions averaged at least 26 points per game in each of Johnson's three seasons at the helm. The Bears have had four such seasons in the entire Super Bowl era (1985, 2006, 2013, and 2018). While there are issues on the offensive line, expecting Johnson to maximize the abilities of Caleb Williams, DJ Moore, Rome Odunze, and other components here is reasonable. |
Colts | Anthony Richardson set to work with biometric expert Tue Jan 21, 02:00 PM
Indianapolis Colts QB Anthony Richardson told ESPN.com's Stephen Holder that he expects to work with biometric expert Chris Hess this offseason. Buffalo Bills QB Josh Allen recently credited Hess as being 'the most influential person in my mechanical career' after Hess refined some parts of Allen's throwing motion during the early part of his pro career.
| Footballguys view: It's all part of a bigger effort by Richardson to demonstrate he can be the quarterback the Colts need him to be. According to ESPN.com's Stephen Holder, no one, including the Colts, wants to consider the alternative. Improvement is imperative after Richardson regressed as a passer in 2024. Though he had only a small sample size as a rookie (four games), his completion percentage dropped more than 11 percentage points from his first season (59.5 percent) to his second (an NFL-low 47.7 percent). His turnovers jumped, too, with his interception rate rising from 1.2 percent to 4.5 percent. There were also ambiguous issues with Richardson's off-field preparation, which GM Chris Ballard acknowledges contributed to the QB's midseason two-game benching. Given the circumstances, bringing a legitimate contender in to compete with Richardson makes sense. We'll continue to watch for more. |
Anthony Richardson player page
Seahawks | Hank Fraley meeting with Seattle again Tue Jan 21, 01:31 PM
Detroit Lions offensive line coach Hank Fraley is participating in a second interview for the offensive coordinator vacancy with the Seattle Seahawks on Tuesday, Jan. 21.
| Footballguys view: The Seahawks' first meeting with Fraley was virtual, but with Detroit knocked out of the playoffs, Fraley is free to interview in person. A former NFL lineman who reached a Super Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles, Fraley has only ever been an assistant or head offensive line coach. He's been with the Lions coaching staff since 2018, preceding current head coach Dan Campbell. Seattle will also have second interviews with former New Orleans Saints offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak and Minnesota Vikings assistant OC/assistant quarterbacks coach Grant Udinski. |
Patriots | Ryan Crow beckoned by New England Tue Jan 21, 01:01 PM
Miami Dolphins outside linebackers coach Ryan Crow is of interest to the New England Patriots, who requested permission to interview him for their defensive coordinator vacancy on Tuesday, Jan. 21.
| Footballguys view: Crow, who joined the Dolphins for the 2024 season, spent the previous six seasons working under new Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel with the Titans. He was a defensive assistant and an assistant special teams coach before moving on to the outside linebackers role for his final three seasons in Nashville. |
Cowboys | Brian Schottenheimer to interview for top job Tue Jan 21, 10:59 AM
Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer will interview for the Cowboys head coaching position.
| Footballguys view: The 51-year-old Schottenheimer joined Dallas in 2022 as a coaching analyst. He's been the playcaller for the last two seasons. Schottenheimer has extensive assistant coaching experience. His first NFL job came in Washington as QB coach in 2001 under his father, Marty Schottenheimer. Since then, he's worked as a QB coach or OC for seven organizations. Schottenheimer has never been a head coach or interim. If Jerry Jones landed on Schottenheimer, it would provide some continuity for Dak Prescott and the offense after Mike McCarthy's exit -- even if it wouldn't generate much enthusiasm from the fan base. |
Jets | Aaron Glenn could be hired by NYJ Tuesday Tue Jan 21, 09:10 AM
Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn will have his second interview for the New York Jets' head coaching spot Tuesday, Jan. 21, and the Jets' goal is to keep him from leaving the building, according to sources.
| Footballguys view: This will be Glenn's second interview with the Jets, having completed a virtual meeting with the team in the midst of the Lions' playoff run. He had interview requests from six of the seven teams with a head coach vacancy and has second interviews scheduled with the Jets and Saints, with Glenn set to visit New Orleans next if Tuesday's interview doesn't lead to a hiring. That said, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport contends that while the deal isn't done and there are still details to discuss, Glenn could be named the head coach by the end of the day if everything goes well. Stay tuned. |
Aaron Glenn player page
Ravens | Derrick Henry terrific after contact Tue Jan 21, 12:47 AM
Baltimore Ravens RB Derrick Henry recorded 909 rushing yards after contact this season, which led the league in that category. He also led the lead with 42 broken tackles during the season.
| Footballguys view: To be fair, Henry, who racked up 1,921 yards and 16 touchdowns this season, was good in general. The 31-year-old 247-pounder also recorded two of the 20 fastest speeds on runs this season. He hit 21.72 mph on an 81-yard run against the Buccaneers in Week 7 and 21.46 mph on a 51-yard Week 5 run in Cincinnati. Henry finished the season as RB4 with 19.3 fantasy points per game. Expect to pay up in drafts this summer. |
Derrick Henry player page
Eagles | Saquon Barkley able to find running room Tue Jan 21, 12:46 AM
Philadelphia Eagles RB Saquon Barkley recorded 1,328 rushing yards before contact during the regular season, which led the NFL in that category.
| Footballguys view: This isn't a huge surprise with Barkley working behind Footballguy Matt Bitonti's top-ranked run-blocking offensive line. His overall totals also bear this out. While Barkley fell short of Eric Dickerson's regular-season rushing record when he sat against the Giants, NBCSports.com notes that he now has a chance at the overall single-season rushing record, including regular-season and playoff games. With 2,005 regular-season rushing yards and now 324 in two playoff games, Barkley has 2,329 rushing yards this year. That's third-most in a season behind Denver Broncos great Terrell Davis's 2,476 in 1998 and 2,331 in 1997. So Barkley needs 148 rushing yards the rest of the way for the most ever in a season. |
Saquon Barkley player page
Lions | Jared Goff very successful on play action Tue Jan 21, 12:45 AM
Detroit Lions QB Jared Goff led the NFL with 2,060 passing yards on play action passes during the regular season.
| Footballguys view: Goff had a career-high 37 touchdown passes, 12 interceptions, and a career-high 111.8 passer rating, the second-best in the NFL, for a Detroit team that went 15-2, earned the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs, and led the NFL in scoring. But his four-turnover game against the Commanders in the Divisional Round playoff loss will leave plenty of questions about him going forward. Those questions will be compounded by the departure of offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, who will reportedly become head coach of the Bears. Can Goff continue to improve under a different offensive coordinator? We'll find out, but on the whole, Goff was excellent last year. If the Lions can excel post-Johnson, Goff will be a reason why. |
Jared Goff player page
Texans | No timetable for Tank Dell Tue Jan 21, 12:44 AM
Houston Texans WR Tank Dell (knee) does not have a timetable for his return at this point since it is too early in his recovery, according to head coach DeMeco Ryans.
| Footballguys view: Dell's season ended on Dec. 21 in Kansas City, as the receiver suffered a severe knee injury. It's been a slow process for Dell. He underwent his first of several surgeries on Wednesday, nearly a month after he suffered the injury. The receiver dislocated his knee and damaged his meniscus in addition to suffering a torn ACL, MCL, and LCL after a collision in the end zone with teammate Jared Wayne. He faces a long road back, one that is expected to keep him out through the 2025 season, given the extent of the injuries and multiple surgeries required to repair the damage. |
DeMeco Ryans player page
Tank Dell player page
Jets | Aaron Rodgers struggled with drops in 2024 Tue Jan 21, 12:44 AM
New York Jets QB Aaron Rodgers had 39 of his passes dropped this season, which led the NFL in that category.
| Footballguys view: Coming off Achilles surgery, Rodgers started every game for the Jets and passed for 3,897 yards, 28 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. In addition to the dropped passes, Rodgers dealt with a change at head coach and offensive coordinator. It remains to be seen if Rodgers plays in 2025, and if he does, if it will be for the Jets. Appearing on Pat McAfee's show last week, Rodgers explained that he met with Jets owners Woody and Christopher Johnson about his future and that he knows it'll hinge on the hires they make. "It's gonna come down to the G.M. and coach any myself and whether we all want to do a dance together or if it's not in the cards," Rodgers said. We'll be watching for more on that. |
Aaron Rodgers player page
Rams | Copper Kupp to continue playing Tue Jan 21, 12:43 AM
Los Angeles Rams WR Cooper Kupp said he plans to continue his playing career and hopes to stay with the Rams but does not know what the team will do this offseason.
| Footballguys view: "Who knows what is going to happen?" Kupp said. "A lot of stuff is out of my control. I don't have any clarity on what that's gonna look like. Obviously would love to be in L.A. but I don't know what that is gonna look like." Kupp finished the regular season with 67 catches for 710 yards and six touchdowns in 12 games. As The Athletic's Jordan Rodrigue noted, the veteran wideout's targets dwindled during the back stretch of the regular season and into the playoffs. He had four catches on nine targets over the last three regular-season games, was targeted once for one catch against Minnesota in the wild-card round, and caught five passes on seven targets against the Eagles on Sunday. In his 14 games (including the postseason), Kupp had 10 or more targets just four times and eight or more targets six times. Kupp finished the season as WR36, but his per-game average (14.6 points) ranked 23rd. |
Cooper Kupp player page
Packers | Josh Jacobs productive after contact Tue Jan 21, 12:42 AM
Green Bay Packers RB Josh Jacobs recorded 737 rushing yards after contact during the 2024 regular season. He also recorded 35 broken tackles during the season.
| Footballguys view: In his first season in Green Bay, Jacobs ran for 1,329 yards and 15 touchdowns on 301 carries and caught 36 passes for 342 yards and one touchdown. The 15 rushing touchdowns were a career-high for Jacobs, and his receiving TD was the first of his career. The former Raider finished the season as RB5 (through Week 17) with an average of 18 fantasy points per game. He'll be in the RB1 conversation again next year, with Footballguy Dave Kluge advising readers that a talented back with ideal usage on a good offense shouldn't slip any lower than the top half of Round 2 in drafts this year. |
Josh Jacobs player page
Titans | John Fassel joining staff Tue Jan 21, 12:39 AM
Former Dallas Cowboys special teams coordinator John Fassel has agreed to terms with the Tennessee Titans to become their new special teams coordinator, according to sources.
| Footballguys view: Fassel will replace Colt Anderson, who held the job for one season. Fassel joined Mike McCarthy with the Cowboys in 2020, but the contracts of the entire staff were not renewed. Fassel also has coached the special teams of the Ravens (2005-07), Raiders (2008-11) and Rams (2012-19). He was the interim head coach for the Rams after the firing of Jeff Fisher in 2016, and the team went 0-3 to close out the year. |
Bears | Chicago Finalizing Deal To Hire Ben Johnson As Head Coach Mon Jan 20, 03:51 PM
The Bears are finalizing a deal to hire Ben Johnson as their head coach, sources tell NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. Johnson is set to fly there soon, and contract parameters are in place. Barring a last-minute snag, the Lions OC lands with an NFC North rival.
| Footballguys view: Multiple outlets are reporting the news, with Pelissero and ESPN's Adam Schefter both reporting that Johnson has already been lining up staff, and former Saints head coach Dennis Allen is a prime candidate to be Johnson's defensive coordinator in Chicago. Johnson has been a hot head coaching candidate for the last couple of years but passed on previous opportunities to leave the Lions. As Profootballtalk.com suggested, it seems the chance to work with quarterback Caleb Williams while remaining in the familiar confines of the NFC North was enough of a lure to get him to move on. Reports last week indicated that the Raiders were also pursuing Johnson for their head coaching vacancy, but Vegas will now have to move in a different direction as they look for Antonio Pierce's successor. |
Caleb Williams player page
Colts | Lou Anarumo to be next DC Mon Jan 20, 03:42 PM
Former Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo has been hired by the Indianapolis Colts to be their new defensive coordinator, according to sources.
| Footballguys view: The Colts fired Gus Bradley after the end of the regular season. That's also when the Bengals dismissed Anarumo. He was hired in Cincinnati along with head coach Zay Taylor in 2019 and helped the team make it to the Super Bowl after the 2021 season, but the Bengals defense struggled the last two years. The Colts hope a change of scenery leads to a return to better results for Anarumo. |
Eagles | No update on Jalen Hurts Mon Jan 20, 03:41 PM
Philadelphia Eagles QB Jalen Hurts (knee) injured his knee during the Divisional Round playoff game, but the team does not have an update on his status at this point. Head coach Nick Sirianni said he is confident that Hurts will do everything he can to play in the NFC Championship game.
| Footballguys view: As CBSSports.com suggested, the Eagles will likely not have Hurts at 100 percent when they take the field against the Commanders on Sunday. Hurts showed his limitations playing through the issue in the win over the Rams. He was 3 of 3 for 19 yards after he was hurt in the third quarter. Hurts had one carry for -1 yards and took two sacks, including a safety where he was holding onto the ball too long. Having him as an added threat in the run game has been a huge plus for this offense. We'll be following Hurts' progress closely in the days leading up to Sunday's NFC Championship game. |
Jalen Hurts player page
Saints | New Orleans Setting Up In-Person Interview With Mike McCarthy Mon Jan 20, 03:39 PM
The Saints are setting up an in-person interview with Mike McCarthy, per source. Logistics are still being set. Weather and all that has to be worked around, but the goal is this week.
| Footballguys view: McCarthy was the Saints' offensive coordinator under head coach Jim Haslett from 2000 to 2004. He spent one year in the same job with the 49ers before becoming the Packers head coach. He was 125-77-2 in Green Bay and won a Super Bowl before being fired during the 2018 season. McCarthy was 49-35 with the Cowboys. As Profootballtalk.com notes, the Saints have started setting up second, in-person interviews with candidates that they have already interviewed remotely. However, McCarthy might not need a second round if the team likes what it hears whenever the two sides can get together. |
Lions | Ben Johnson to take his time Mon Jan 20, 02:30 PM
Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson is expected to take his time weighing his options with multiple teams showing interest in hiring him as their next head coach, and it's not a lock he will even interview with each interested franchise. The Las Vegas Raiders, Chicago Bears and Jacksonville Jaguars have shown strong interest in hiring Johnson.
| Footballguys view: Johnson went into this hiring cycle as one of the most sought-after candidates. He remains that, even as the list of teams in contention for his services have narrowed. Despite initial speculation that Johnson would view a team's quarterback situation as the most important selling point, more recently, opinion has shifted to suggest alignment with the general manager and front office were priorities. While he won't rush, a decision will come. Stay tuned. |
Chiefs | Not Clear If Mecole Hardman Will Be Activated For Championship Game Mon Jan 20, 01:51 PM
The Chiefs are coming up on the deadline to activate receiver/returner Mecole Hardman off of injured reserve. But head coach Andy Reid said in his Monday video conference that Kansas City hasn't decided whether or not Hardman will be brought back to the 53-man roster. "I haven't made any decisions on that yet, but he's worked hard to try and get himself back," Reid said. "We'll see how that all works out."
| Footballguys view: Hardman was designated to return from IR during the last week of the regular season. Hardman was a limited participant in practice all last week. In 12 games this season, Hardman caught 12 passes for 90 yards and took five carries for 62 yards with a touchdown. He also averaged 10.2 yards per punt return and 26.4 yards on five kick returns. Last year, Hardman caught the walk-off, game-winning touchdown in Super Bowl LVIII. |
Mecole Hardman player page
Lions | Dan Campbell could look to outside candidates for coordinators Mon Jan 20, 10:59 AM
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell said he'd be open to looking outside of the organization to replace offensive coordinator Ben Johnson or defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn if they took head coaching jobs.
| Footballguys view: Make no mistake, there are in-house candidates. The list includes Lions passing game coordinator Tanner Engstrand, assistant head coach/running backs Coach Scottie Montgomery, and offensive line coach Hank Fraley. But any of those three could leave to become offensive coordinator for current Lions OC Ben Johnson or DC Aaron Glenn if/when they take head coaching jobs. Some potential outside candidates mentioned in recent days are Broncos senior offensive assistant Pete Carmichael and Buffalo QBs coach Ron Curry, both of whom worked alongside Campbell on Sean Payton's staff in New Orleans. |
Dan Campbell player page
Rams | Matthew Stafford undecided on future Mon Jan 20, 09:14 AM
Los Angeles Rams QB Matthew Stafford said he would take some time before deciding on his NFL future, following the playoff loss to the Philadelphia Eagles Sunday, Jan. 19, but he added that he 'sure feels like' that he has football left in him.
| Footballguys view: Stafford, 36, has two years remaining on his contract, one he and the Rams worked to adjust heading into training camp this season. Rams coach Sean McVay declined to answer a postgame question Sunday about Stafford's future, saying, "I'm not really interested in talking about anything as it relates to next year. Right now, I'm just appreciative of this team." Though Stafford said he hadn't made any decisions about his future, when recounting the end of the game, he spoke about the next time he was on the field. "I love competing," he said. "It didn't go the way I wanted to today. Next time I'm out there, line it up. Let's do it again." Stafford's return would offer continuity for those invested in Puka Nacua and the other offensive pieces in Los Angeles. We'll watch for more on this. |
Matthew Stafford player page
Saints | Mike Kafka to have another Saints interview Mon Jan 20, 09:06 AM
New York Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka will have a second interview with the New Orleans Saints Tuesday, Jan. 21, for their head coaching vacancy.
| Footballguys view: The Saints have completed initial interviews with Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady, and Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, among others. Mike McCarthy also emerged as a candidate after his departure from the Dallas Cowboys. In addition to Kafka,l Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver is also getting a second interview. We'll continue to watch for more. |
Mike Kafka player page
Saints | Anthony Weaver to have second Saints meeting Mon Jan 20, 09:04 AM
Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver will have a second interview for the New Orleans Saints head coaching vacancy Wednesday, Jan. 22.
| Footballguys view: Another candidate getting a second interview for the Saints job this week, according to Pelissero, is New York Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka. As SI.com's Alain Poupart notes, Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn has been considered one of the front-runners for the opening, and that still should apply even after his defense fell short in a loss to Commanders rookie Jayden Daniels in the NFC divisional round upset loss at Ford Field on Saturday night. Among others who have interviewed for the position is Darren Rizzi, who finished 2024 as New Orleans' interim head coach after Dennis Allen was fired. Weaver is also among the more than a dozen candidates to interview to become head coach of the Chicago Bears, the latest candidate being former Tennessee Titans running back Eddie George. |
Anthony Weaver player page
Bills | Buffalo powers into title game Sun Jan 19, 09:46 PM
Buffalo Bills QB Josh Allen completed 16 of his 22 passes for 127 yards, and he rushed 10 times for 20 yards and two touchdowns in a 27-25 win over the Baltimore Ravens in the Divisional Round. RB James Cook rushed 17 times for 67 yards, and RB Ray Davis added four carries for 29 yards and a score. WR Khalil Shakir had six catches for a team-high 67 yards, and TE Dalton Kincaid had one catch for 11 yards. WR Keon Coleman gained five yards on his line reception, and WR Amari Cooper was held without a catch. S Damar Hamlin registered a team-high eight tackles, including two tackles for loss and a sack.
| Footballguys view: The Bills defense forced three turnovers. Buffalo intercepted Ravens QB Lamar Jackson once, forced a fumble on Jackson, and forced a fumble on TE Mark Andrews. In addition to Allen's TD runs, Davis ran for his first career postseason TD. As effective as Allen was at converting first downs and running the clock, NFL.com's Eric Edholm notes their two long drives in the fourth quarter only netted six points. On fourth-and-goal from the Baltimore 2-yard line with 3-plus minutes left, Bills head coach Sean McDermott opted to kick a field goal, keeping it a one-possession game. Both approaches almost cost the Bills a spot in the AFC Championship Game. Still, Buffalo will travel to face the Kansas City Chiefs on Jan. 26. with a trip to Super Bowl LIX on the line. This marks the fourth time in the last five seasons that the Bills and Chiefs will meet in the playoffs. |
Amari Cooper player page
Josh Allen player page
Damar Hamlin player page
Dalton Kincaid player page
Ravens | Baltimore comes up short against Buffalo Sun Jan 19, 09:28 PM
Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson completed 18 of his 25 passes for 254 yards, two touchdown and an interception in a 27-25 loss to the Buffalo Bills in the Divisional Round. Jackson also ran six times for 39 yards and a lost fumble, and RB Derrick Henry had 16 carries for 84 yards and a score. TE Isaiah Likely had four catches for a team-high 73 yards and a score, and WR Rashod Bateman had four catches for 66 yards and a touchdown. TE Mark Andrews finished with five receptions for 61 yards and lost a fumble.
| Footballguys view: Playing without Zay Flowers (knee), the Ravens silenced the Buffalo crowd with a 16-yard score from Bateman on third down of Baltimore's opening drive. But Buffalo responded quickly on offense before their defense came on strong. The Bills forced three turnovers on the night, including two on Jackson and one crucial fumble from Andrews -- his first since 2019 -- in the fourth quarter. Andrews had a chance at redemption on the Ravens' final drive on a two-point conversion that could have tied the game, but he juggled and dropped the ball in the end zone. Scrutiny of Jackson's playoff performances will only increase as he fell to 3-5 in the postseason. Baltimore fell to 5-8 in the divisional round, including 1-4 in its last five. |
Derrick Henry player page
Mark Andrews player page
Lamar Jackson player page
Rashod Bateman player page
Cowboys | Dallas, Robert Saleh complete HC interview Sun Jan 19, 08:25 PM
Updating a previous report, the Dallas Cowboys and former New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh completed an interview Saturday, Jan. 18 for the team's vacant head coaching position.
| Footballguys view: Saleh went 20-36 in just under four seasons as the Jets head coach after being fired following Week 5 this season. However, his side of the football (defense) was never really the issue in New York. After having the league's worst defense in 2021, Saleh's squads were top-five total defenses in each of his last three seasons. |
Jets | Gang Green finishes interview with Joe Whitt Jr. Sun Jan 19, 06:52 PM
Washington Commanders defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. completed his interview for head coach vacancy with the New York Jets on Sunday, Jan. 19.
| Footballguys view: Whitt's stock continues to rise after his defense did enough to slow down the Lions juggernaut offense to pull off a huge upset Saturday. Whitt has never been a head coach at any level and this is his first year as a defensive coordinator after he was reunited with Dan Quinn, who he coached under in Dallas and Atlanta. |
Bears | Chicago completes interview with Eddie George Sun Jan 19, 06:50 PM
Updating a previous report, Tennessee State University head coach Eddie George completed an interview with the Chicago Bears for their vacant head coach position Sunday, Jan. 19.
| Footballguys view: There was a report that the Bears were going to interview some unconventional candidates for their head coach job, and George certainly qualifies. Mike McCarthy is considered one of the favorites to get the job along with Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, but the fact that the team interviewed George could be a sign that they haven't settled on a final choice to make an offer to yet. |
Eddie George player page
Eagles | Philly headed for NFC Championship Game Sun Jan 19, 06:19 PM
The Philadelphia Eagles topped the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Divisional Round playoff game, as QB Jalen Hurts completed 15-of-20 passes for 128 yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions. Hurts ran seven times for 70 yards and a score, while RB Saquon Barkley rolled up 205 rushing yards and two scores on 26 carries. TE Dallas Goedert led the way with four receptions for a team-high 56 yards, with Barkley adding four grabs for 27 yards. WR DeVonta Smith had four catches for 21 yards, and WR A.J. Brown was limited to two receptions for 14 yards. RB Kenneth Gainwell ran once for 10 yards, and had a 10-yard catch. DL Jalen Carter had five total stops, three solo tackles, two sacks, two tackles for loss, a pass defensed and a game-high three quarterback hits, while PK Jake Elliott made 3-of-3 field goals with 10 points, although he missed twice on three point-after attempts.
| Footballguys view: Barkley and the run blocking were the key to win, with two long touchdown runs keying the offense. Jalen Hurts also had a long touchdown to open the scoring on a day when he wasn't asked to do very much as a passer, but did absorb seven sacks, including one in the end zone. The Eagles will host Washington next week in the NFC title game. They split the season series 1-1, although Jalen Hurts was knocked out of the game they lost very early with a concussion and Kenny Pickett actually kept them in the game until the very end. |
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Rams | Los Angeles comes up short in Philly Sun Jan 19, 06:15 PM
The Los Angeles Rams were eliminated by the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Divisional Round. QB Matthew Stafford completed 26-of-44 passes for 324 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions, while running for five yards with one fumble lost. RB Kyren Williams had 19 carries for 106 yards, also had a lost fumble in the snow and ice. WR Puka Nacua ended up with six receptions for 97 yards on 14 targets, while WR Demarcus Robinson added three grabs for 74 yards, and WR Cooper Kupp snagged five balls for 61 yards on seven targets. TE Tyler Higbee ended up with seven receptions for 54 yards and a touchdown on 10 targets, and TE Colby Parkinson had two catches for nine yards and a score. DE Jared Verse had four solo stops, two sacks and three tackles for loss with two quarterback hits, while DT Neville Gallimore had a sack for a safety.
| Footballguys view: The Rams came very close to an incredible comeback and showed that they can play in the cold and snow despite being from Los Angeles. They were able to slow down a relentless Eagles pass rush with a no huddle drive after falling behind 28-15 late in the fourth quarter and then got into the red zone on a potential game-winning last second drive. The Rams were on the brink of giving up on the season and trading Cooper Kupp before a win over the Vikings turned their season around. Their defense finished strong and the team is very young and should be the favorites to win the division next season. The biggest offseason question is whether the team will pay Kupp the $5 million guarantee of a $7.5 million roster bonus on March 15. Kupp is also due $12.5 in non-guaranteed salary next season. Ballyhooed sixth round rookie Jordan Whittington would move into Kupp's role if the Rams decide to move on from him. |
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Panthers | Jonathon Brooks undergoes surgery Sun Jan 19, 04:33 PM
Carolina Panthers RB Jonathon Brooks (knee) underwent surgery last week to repair his anterior cruciate ligament injury. He is expected to miss the entire 2025 season.
| Footballguys view: There's a real chance we don't see Brooks play next season. Chuba Hubbard's ADP is probably too low. |
Bengals | Mike Gesicki may be too expensive Sun Jan 19, 04:24 PM
Cincinnati Bengals impending free-agent TE Mike Gesicki likely will be too expensive for the Bengals to re-sign this offseason, in the opinion of BengalsWire's Chris Roling.
| Footballguys view: Gesicki will follow in the footsteps of Hayden Hurst and CJ Uzomah in turning a chance to play with Joe Burrow into a big contract. Fourth round pick Erick All had the look of an instant starter before going down with a torn ACL this year, so he'll be in the mix to start if his rehab goes well. The Bengals also took a very athletic pass-catching tight end, Tanner McLachlan, in the sixth round. He should be added in deep dynasty leagues. |
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Commanders | Samuel Cosmi likely to miss rest of postseason Sun Jan 19, 12:05 PM
Updating a previous report, Washington Commanders OG Samuel Cosmi (knee) is scheduled to undergo an MRI exam Sunday, Jan. 19. According to multiple sources, Cosmi's knee injury appears serious enough that it will cause him to miss the NFC Championship Game Sunday, Jan. 26, and possibly Super Bowl LIX, if the Commanders advance.
| Footballguys view: The Eagles pass rush was a big reason that they were able to advance to host Washington in the NFC Championship, so this could be consequential. Cosmi has been one of the best guards in the league over the last two seasons. The four year, $74 million extension he signed right before the season may end up being a big bargain even with this injury - which has been confirmed to be a torn ACL. |
Lions | Amik Robertson undergoes successful surgery Sun Jan 19, 11:09 AM
Updating previous reports, Detroit Lions CB Amik Robertson (arm) underwent successful surgery on his broken humerus Sunday, Jan. 19, according to a source. He is expected to be ready for offseason workouts.
| Footballguys view: Robertson signed with the Lions as a free agent in the offseason and became a key part of the secondary. He finished the regular season with 50 tackles, eight passes defensed, and three forced fumbles. As Profootballtalk.com notes, Robertson signed a two-year deal, so he'll remain in Detroit as the Lions pick up the pieces from a crushing end to a season with so much promise. |
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Commanders | Washington torches Detrout to advance Sun Jan 19, 12:06 AM
Washington Commanders QB Jayden Daniels completed 22 of his 31 passes for 299 yards and two touchdowns, and he ran 16 times for 51 yards in a 45-31 win over the Detroit Lions in the Divisional Round. RB Brian Robinson Jr. had 15 carries for 77 yards and two scores, and RB Austin Ekeler finished with 47 rushing yards on six carries to go with 41 receiving yards. WR Terry McLaurin caught four passes for 87 yards and a touchdown, and WR Dyami Brown had six grabs for a team-high 98 yards. TE Zach Ertz ended with five catches for 28 yards and a score. S Jeremy Chinn led the defense with a team-high 12 tackles, and DE Dorance Armstrong logged a pair of sacks.
| Footballguys view: As NFL.com notes, Daniels has impressed all season, but Saturday's win over Detroit. Daniels was excellent in last week's wild-card win over Tampa Bay, but he was sensational in this contest. The rookie signal-caller didn't turn the ball over and never really seemed fazed by the stage he was playing on. Washington head coach Dan Quinn trusted his young quarterback so much that he went for it four times on fourth down. Daniels helped the Commanders convert three of those. They also scored four touchdowns on four trips inside the red zone. Washington seemed like a fun story when the postseason began, as the upstart team shocked everyone with its immediate success. Now, the Commanders are playing in their first NFC Championship Game in 33 years, and they have a realistic shot of winning that game. |
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Lions | Detroit can't keep up with Washington Sun Jan 19, 12:06 AM
Detroit Lions QB Jared Goff completed 23 of his 40 passes for 313 yards, a touchdown and three interceptions in a 45-31 loss to the Washington Commanders in the Divisional Round. He also lost a fumble. RB Jahmyr Gibbs rushed 14 times for 105 yards and two touchdowns and caught six passes for 70 yards. RB David Montgomery added seven carries for 28 yards, and WR Jameson Williams had a 61-yard touchdown run to go along with one catch for 19 yards. WR Amon-Ra St. Brown had eight catches for 137 yards, and TE Sam LaPorta added six grabs for 51 yards and a score. LB Jack Campbell finished with a team-igh 14 tackles, and LB Alex Anzalone logged 13 tackles, including 12 solo stops.
| Footballguys view: Turnovers were the story of the night. Most notable were a pick-six, a fumble in scoring range, and another interception in the end zone, all by Goff to close the first half. Jameson Williams added another interception on a trick play, and Goff added a fourth INT to close the contest. Going forward, there will be change. Offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn could get head coach jobs and leave Dan Campbell needing to refresh a coaching staff that staff has been remarkably stable given the team's success in recent years. We'll all be watching how the Lions handle those potential departures, assuming they come to pass. |
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Chiefs | KC moving on to AFC Championship game Sat Jan 18, 07:42 PM
Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes went 16-for-25 for 177 yards and one touchdown against the Houston Texans in the Divisional Round playoff game. He also rushed for 14 yards on seven carries during the game. RB Kareem Hunt rushed for 44 yards and one touchdown on eight carries, while RB Isiah Pacheco rushed for 18 yards on five carries. TE Travis Kelce caught seven passes for 117 yards and one touchdown on eight targets, WR Xavier Worthy caught five passes for 45 yards on six targets and WR DeAndre Hopkins was targeted one time during the game and finished with zero receptions.
| Footballguys view: Mahomes was under duress for most of the game, but he was able to find Kelce in the end zone once. The Chiefs rested their starters in Week 18, so there might have been some rust for the entire team to shake off in this game. Going forward, the Chiefs will have to be sharper as they'll face either the Ravens or the Bills in the AFC Championship Game. |
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Texans | Houston unable to defeat defending champs Sat Jan 18, 07:35 PM
Houston Texans QB C.J. Stroud went 19-for-28 for 245 yards, zero touchdowns and zero interceptions against the Kansas City Chiefs in the Divisional Round playoff game. He also rushed for 42 yards on six carries during the game. RB Joe Mixon rushed for 88 yards and one touchdown on 18 carries while also catching two passes for 12 yards. WR Nico Collins caught five passes for 81 yards on eight targets, TE Dalton Schultz caught four passes for 63 yards on four targets and WR Xavier Hutchinson caught four passes for 52 yards on six targets.
| Footballguys view: The Texans put up a fight against the Chiefs, but they were unable to stop them late in the game as they pulled away. Stroud kept firing downfield even though he seemed to be under near-constant pressure in the fourth quarter. Collins came up huge on some key targets, even though the Chiefs were trying to take him away. Mixon had his usual workload and produced at an expected level. After shocking some with a win in the Wild Card Round, HC Demeco Ryans and the Texans should hold their head high with the way this season went down. |
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Falcons | Jeff Ulbrich to become new DC Sat Jan 18, 07:27 PM
New York Jets interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich agreed to terms with the Atlanta Falcons Saturday, Jan. 18, to become their new defensive coordinator, according to sources.
| Footballguys view: Ulbrich has previous working experience with Falcons HC Raheem Morris, and he'll get a chance to improve the Falcons defense. Morris and Ulbrich worked together for five seasons in Atlanta under Dan Quinn. Ulbrich's defense with the Jets was not great, but he should be able to get things on track now that he's back in Atlanta. |
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Jets | Tyler Conklin may not return Sat Jan 18, 06:22 PM
New York Jets impending free-agent TE Tyler Conklin may not return to the Jets next season since he could receive a bigger offer from another team during free agency, in the opinion of ESPN.com's Rich Cimini.
| Footballguys view: Conklin might have a larger-than-expected market for his services. He's gotten over 70 targets and caught over 50 passes each of the last four seasons. Conklin is your traditional "Y" tight end who can be on the field as a blocker and receiver. |
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Jets | Allen Lazard may be on bubble Sat Jan 18, 06:11 PM
New York Jets WR Allen Lazard is a candidate to be released this offseason since he is scheduled to count $13.2 million against the salary cap next season, in the opinion of ESPN.com's Rich Cimini.
| Footballguys view: Lazard has a dead cap number of $6.5 million in 2025. As the team looks for a new quarterback, they might decide to get rid of all the guys that came in with Aaron Rodgers. On the market, Lazard may not be able to match the number he's set to make from the Jets in 2025. |
Bears | Caleb Williams has minor procedure Sat Jan 18, 04:13 PM
Chicago Bears QB Caleb Williams (hand) recently had a cyst removed from his right hand but will be fine moving forward.
| Footballguys view: Williams is looking for a better season - with better coaching - in 2025. He's talented as a passer and can use his legs to attack a defense. However, the Bears need the coaching staff to maximize his skill set and keep pressure away from him as much as possible. It's all about 'fit' in the NFL, and the top priority for the Bears is to find that with Williams. |