It feels like we say this every day, but Friday could be big for the current head coach and general manager search. The news and rumor mill around the NFL has been churning for well over a month now and there’s still not a single hire. Several teams are now performing their final interviews, while others are conducting second interviews.
The names of Eric Bieniemy and Kevin O’Connell are two to look out for today, but Leslie Frazier will also have the chance to put his name in the frame in Chicago.
Update: Joe Schoen has been hired as the GM of the New York Giants. Meanwhile, former-Giants head coach Ben McAdoo has been hired as the offensive coordinator for the Carolina Panthers.
NFL News and Rumors Today
At some point, all these rumors around the NFL have to turn into hard news. This has collectively been the most patient hiring cycle we have seen in the NFL. That is not to say it is a bad thing. Historically, NFL teams have rushed to make hires at the crucial GM and HC spots and it typically ends badly. Hopefully, the more patient nature of the current search results in hires that remain in their roles for more than just a year or two.
Chicago Bears
Fired: Matt Nagy (HC), Ryan Pace (GM)
Scheduled/requested HC interviews:
Dennis AllenSaints defensive coordinatorTuesday, Jan. 25
Todd BowlesBuccaneers defensive coordinatorSaturday, Jan. 22
Jim CaldwellFormer Colts, Lions head coachSaturday, Jan. 15
Brian DabollBills offensive coordinatorSunday, Jan. 16
Matt EberflusColts defensive coordinatorMonday, Jan. 17 (first); Monday, Jan. 24 (second)
Brian FloresFormer Dolphins head coachFriday, Jan. 14
Leslie FrazierBills defensive coordinatorFriday, Jan. 21
Nathaniel HackettPackers offensive coordinatorSaturday, Jan. 15
Byron LeftwichBuccaneers offensive coordinator
Doug PedersonFormer Eagles head coachWednesday, Jan. 12
Dan QuinnCowboys defensive coordinatorSaturday, Jan. 22
Scheduled/requested GM interviews:
Kwesi Adofo-MensahBrowns vice president of football operationsThursday, Jan. 13
Morocco BrownColts director of college scoutingMonday, Jan. 24
Ran Carthon49ers director of player personnelWednesday, Jan. 19
Ed Dodds – Withdrew from considerationColts assistant general managerMonday, Jan. 17
Glenn CookBrowns vice president of player personnelWednesday, Jan. 12
Ryan PolesChiefs director of player personnel
Jeff IrelandSaints assistant general managerFriday, Jan. 14
Champ KellyBears assistant director of player personnelThursday, Jan. 13
Omar KhanSteelers vice president of football and business administration
Reggie McKenzieDolphins senior personnel executiveThursday, Jan. 20
Monti OssenfortTitans director of player personnelSaturday, Jan. 15
Joe Schoen – Hired by the GiantsBills assistant general managerSunday, Jan. 16
Eliot WolfPatriots director of scoutingTuesday, Jan. 18
The latest: The Bears will continue their search on Friday. They have interviews for both positions lined up across the weekend and early next week. On Friday, they will interview former Minnesota Vikings head coach and current Bills defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier.
Featured StoryPFN 2021-22 NFL All-Pro Team: Rams, Chiefs, Cowboys, and Titans all dominate the voting
Their second interview with Matt Eberflus on Monday could be crucial. However, he also completed a second interview with the Jaguars Thursday, so he could yet be hired before that interview takes place.
Denver Broncos
Fired: Vic Fangio (HC)
Scheduled/requested interviews:
Eric Bieniemy Chiefs offensive coordinatorFriday, Jan. 21
Brian CallahanBengals offensive coordinatorThursday, Jan. 20
Jonathan GannonEagles defensive coordinatorWednesday, Jan. 19
Luke GetsyPackers QB coach/passing game coordinatorFriday, Jan. 14
Aaron GlennLions defensive coordinatorThursday, Jan. 13
Nathaniel Hackett Packers offensive coordinatorThursday, Jan. 13
Jerod MayoPatriots LB coachWednesday, Jan. 19
Kellen MooreCowboys offensive coordinatorTuesday, Jan. 18
Kevin O’ConnellRams offensive coordinatorThursday, Jan. 20
Dan QuinnCowboys defensive coordinatorTuesday, Jan. 18
The latest: Friday will see the Broncos interview their final candidate that has been publicly requested. Eric Bieniemy has been a hot name in previous cycles but has yet to be hired. Could Friday be the day he secures a head coaching role with an AFC West rival? Today may provide more clarity into the Broncos’ potential direction in their search. Even if it is not Bieniemy who is hired, we could hear whether any of the 10 candidates will have second interviews over the weekend or early next week.
Houston Texans
Fired: David Culley (and offensive coordinator Tim Kelly)
Scheduled/requested interviews:
Brian FloresFormer Dolphins head coachFriday, Jan. 14
Jonathan GannonEagles defensive coordinatorTuesday, Jan. 18
Joe LombardiChargers offensive coordinatorSaturday, Jan. 15
Kevin O’ConnellRams offensive coordinator
Josh McCownFormer NFL QBThursday, Jan. 20
Hines WardFlorida Atlantic special assistant to the head coachSaturday, Jan. 15
The latest: The Texans do not appear to be in a rush. So far, they have interviewed five candidates and plan to meet with O’Connell. A date has yet to be set but will likely depend on how things play out with the Rams over the weekend. Unless dominoes start to fall quickly for the Texans, we may not see them make a hire until the calendar rolls over to February.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Fired: Urban Meyer (HC)
Scheduled/requested interviews:
Darrell BevellJaguars interim head coachTuesday, Jan. 11
Todd BowlesBuccaneers defensive coordinatorFriday, Jan. 3 (Jan. 7 has also been reported)
Jim CaldwellFormer Colts and Lions head coachTuesday, Jan. 4
Matt EberflusColts defensive coordinatorSaturday, Jan. 15 (first); Thursday, Jan. 20 (second)
Nathaniel HackettPackers offensive coordinatorFriday, Jan. 14
Byron LeftwichBuccaneers offensive coordinatorFriday, Jan. 7
Kellen MooreCowboys offensive coordinatorFriday, Jan. 7
Bill O’BrienAlabama offensive coordinatorThursday, Jan. 13
Doug PedersonFormer Eagles head coachThursday, Dec. 30
Dan QuinnCowboys defensive coordinator
The latest: There was some expectation (hope even) that the first domino in this search would fall Thursday. However, the Jaguars did not make Eberflus their head coach after his second interview — at least, not yet. Whether both sides wanted to sleep on it or if we may yet see the Jaguars doing further interviews, we could find out sometime today.
Las Vegas Raiders
Resigned: Jon Gruden (HC)
Scheduled/requested HC interviews:
Jerod MayoPatriots LB coach
Scheduled/requested GM interviews:
Trey BrownBengals scout
Ed DoddsColts assistant general manager
Champ KellyBears assistant director of player personnelThursday, Jan. 20
Dave ZieglerPatriots director of player personnelFriday, Jan. 21
The latest: The early indications are that the Raiders will get their general manager in place first and then look to hire the head coach. They will complete their second interview for the GM role today, but it is unlikely we hear anything conclusive about their plans for either position until next week at this point.
Miami Dolphins
Fired: Brian Flores (HC)
Scheduled/requested interviews:
Thomas BrownRams assistant head coachFriday, Jan. 21
Brian DabollBills offensive coordinatorSunday, Jan. 16
Leslie FrazierBills defensive coordinatorSunday, Jan. 16
Vance JosephCardinals defensive coordinatorFriday, Jan. 21
Mike McDaniel49ers offensive coordinatorWednesday, Jan. 19
Kellen MooreCowboys offensive coordinatorThursday, Jan. 20
Dan QuinnCowboys defensive coordinatorThursday, Jan. 20
The latest: The show rolls on in Miami with two interviews scheduled for Friday. Vance Joseph is the more familiar of the two names on the docket for today. Still, given the success of coaches coming from under the wings of Sean McVay and Kyle Shanahan, Thomas Brown should not be discounted as a sleeper candidate.
Minnesota Vikings
Fired: Mike Zimmer (HC), Rick Spielman (GM)
Scheduled/requested HC interviews:
Todd BowlesBuccaneers defensive coordinatorFriday, Jan. 21
Nathaniel HackettPackers offensive coordinatorSunday, Jan. 16
Kellen MooreCowboys offensive coordinator
Jonathan GannonEagles defensive coordinatorThursday, Jan. 20
Raheem MorrisRams defensive coordinator
Kevin O’ConnellRams offensive coordinatorFriday, Jan. 21
Dan QuinnCowboys defensive coordinator
DeMeco Ryans49ers defensive coordinatorWednesday, Jan. 19
Scheduled/requested GM interviews:
Kwesi Adofo-MensahBrowns vice president of football operationsMonday, Jan. 17
Brandon BrownEagles director of player personnelTuesday, Jan. 18
Glenn CookBrowns vice president of player personnelThursday, Jan. 20
Monti OssenfortTitans director of player personnelSunday, Jan. 16
Ryan PolesChiefs director of player personnelTuesday, Jan. 18
Catherine RaîcheEagles vice president of football operationsMonday, Jan. 17
John SpytekBuccaneers vice president of player personnelThis week
Eliot WolfPatriots player personnel consultantThursday, Jan. 20
The latest: It is set to be another intriguing day in Minnesota. Interviews with Bowles and O’Connell are confirmed for today, and the Vikings requested second interviews with both Ryan Poles and Kwesi Adofo-Mensah for their GM position.
New York Giants
Fired/retired: Joe Judge (HC), Dave Gettleman (GM)
Hired:Â Joe Schoen (GM)
Scheduled/requested HC interviews:
Dan QuinnCowboys defensive coordinator
Scheduled/requested GM interviews:
Ran Carthon49ers director of pro personnelMonday, Jan. 17
Ryan CowdenTitans vice president of player personnelFriday, Jan. 14
Quentin HarrisCardinals vice president of player personnelThursday, Jan. 13
Joe HortizRavens director of player personnelSaturday, Jan. 15
Monti OssenfortTitans director of player personnelFriday, Jan. 14
Adam Peters49ers assistant general managerMonday, Jan. 17 (first), Thursday, Jan. 20 (second)
Ryan PolesChiefs executive director of player personnelThursday, Jan. 13 (first), Wednesday, Jan. 19 (second)
Joe SchoenBills assistant general managerWednesday, Jan. 12 (first), Tuesday, Jan. 18 (second)
Adrian WilsonCardinals vice president of pro personnelWednesday, Jan. 12
The latest: Just before 12 PM ET, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garofolo reported that the Giants have identified Bills assistant GM Joe Schoen as their next GM. Per Rapoport, they will begin working on a deal. Once that’s done, the head coach search will likely kick into high gear before candidates start getting hired elsewhere.
