
It’s firing season in the NFL! We’re keeping track of all the news and rumors here as teams make moves.
The NFL regular season is just about over. By the end of the day Sunday, Dec. 30, all 12 playoff teams and the seeding order will have been decided. It’s a new season for those dozen teams. More than a few of the league’s other teams will embark on a second season too — firing and hiring season.
Two teams, the Browns and the Packers, already fired their head coaches. The Jets and Bucs followed suit on Sunday. As many as four others, maybe more, could join them within 24 hours. Some of those teams will be replacing their general managers as well. Even more of the NFL’s 32 franchises could be spinning on the coaching carousel looking to replace coordinators and assistant coaches.
It’s going to get real busy, real fast, so we’ll be keeping track of the latest news and rumors as teams start making changes. Keep checking back.
Arizona Cardinals
Steve Wilks is going to join the illustrious group of NFL coaches fired after one season, a group that includes Jim Mora, Jim Tomsula, Chip Kelly and more. Wilks’ fate was decided before his team’s Week 16 loss to the Rams, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.
If Wilks goes, the question is whether or not general manager Steve Keim goes too. He’s been the team’s GM since 2013, presiding over some shaky drafts and ruinous free agent decisions (Hi, Sam Bradford). Keim is not expected to be fired, according to Kent Somers of Arizona Central. Fans are not pleased with the possibility of Keim’s return.
Dec. 24: Peter King reported that the team has interest in recently depose Packers coach Mike McCarthy, and McCarthy reportedly has some interest in the job himself.
Dec. 31: Wilks reportedly told his staff Monday morning that he would not be coaching, Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network reported. The Cardinals made it official shortly after.
Dec. 31: The Cardinals will interview Rams QB coach Zac Taylor, Chiefs OC Eric Bieniemy, and Saints assistant Dan Campbell.
Dec. 31: The Cardinals also fired OC Byron Leftwich and DC Al Holcomb.
Jan. 1: Recently fired Dolphins coach Adam Gase will interview with the Cardinals on Wednesday.
Jan. 1: The Cardinals will interview former Texas Tech head coach Kliff Kingsbury.
Jan. 2: Bieniemy has decided not to interview with the Cardinals.
Jan. 4: Former Lions and Colts coach Jim Caldwell completed his interview with the Cardinals.
Jan. 5: USC won’t let Kliff Kingsbury interview with the Cardinals, and now Kingsbury might resign.
Atlanta Falcons
Head coach Dan Quinn isn’t expected to go anywhere, but there have been rumors that both coordinators, OC Steve Sarkisian and DC Marquand Manuel, could pay the price for the team’s disappointing season.
Dec. 27: Or maybe not. ESPN’s Josina Anderson reported that the team’s rash of injuries on both sides of the ball could give the coordinators another shot next season.
Dec. 29: Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network said Saturday that Sarkisian was “seriously at risk” for losing his job, along with Manuel.
Dec. 31: The Falcons fired Sarkisian, Manuel, and special teams coach Keith Armstrong. Quinn will take over defensive coordinator duties, while former Texans and Broncos coach Gary Kubiak could be a candidate for the OC job. Former Seahawks OC Darrell Bevell will also interview for the position.
Jan. 1: Dirk Koetter, freshly unemployed, will interview for a familiar position: Falcons OC.
Jan. 2: Mike Mularkey, another former Falcons OC, and another former NFL head coach, interviewed for his old job.
Baltimore Ravens
After slumping into their Week 10 bye after a 4-5 start, rumors about John Harbaugh’s future with the team started to swirl. Since then, the combo of Harbaugh and rookie QB Lamar Jackson have turned the Ravens into a playoff contender, saving Harbaugh’s job in the process.The Ravens put out a statement prior to their Week 16 win over the Chargers that Harbaugh would be back in 2019, the final year of his contract with the team. So far, there’s been no talk of an extension, and a lot of people think Harbaugh would be fine playing out his final year in Baltimore then seeing what the market holds in 2020.
Dec. 22: PFT speculated that the Ravens’ announcement could signal the team’s willingness to trade Harbaugh, should a team that coveted him want to offer up draft picks, etc. The Broncos and Jets were two teams said to have been interested in Harbaugh if the Ravens gave him the boot.
Dec. 30: At least one team will consider calling the Ravens to see if they’d be willing to trade Harbaugh, according to Adam Schefter. The Dolphins and the Broncos are two teams reportedly considering a trade for Harbaugh, if the Ravens are interested, according to Pro Football Talk.
Jan. 6: The Ravens reportedly want Harbaugh back, even as a pair of teams work to pry him out of Baltimore.
Jan. 6: Harbaugh doesn’t think he’s going anywhere, as he told reporters after the Ravens’ Wild Card loss to the Chargers, but he’s not 100% sure.
Buffalo Bills
The Bills went from a playoff team to 6-10, mostly thanks to a moribund offense that was 30th in points and yards. Their defense, on the other hand, finished the season No. 2 overall. So it’s not surprise that their coaching changes have come on the offensive side.
Jan. 1: The Bills fired offensive line coach Juan Castillo.
Jan. 2: Wide receivers coach Terry Robiskie won’t be back, either.
Jan. 3: Special teams coordinator Danny Crossman, who had been with the Bills longer than any current coach, is also out.
Carolina Panthers
The Panthers were on fire during a 6-2 start to the season, and then the wheels came off. Riverboat Ron’s team lost seven straight games headed into Week 17, fueling speculation that new owner David Tepper might use the occasion to find a new coach.
They fired a pair of defensive coaches in early December, and Rivera took over the defensive play calling duties.
Dec. 23: Head coach Ron Rivera is expected to keep his job for 2019, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network.
Dec. 29: If Steve Wilks is fired by the Cardinals, as expected, he is one possibility to return to his old job coaching the defense with the Panthers, according to Rapoport.
Jan. 4: The Panthers parted ways with wide receivers coach Lance Taylor (someone get Steve Smith on the phone).
Cincinnati Bengals
And that’s it for the Marvin Lewis era in Cincy. He’s gone.
Dec. 27: ESPN’s Josina Anderson reports that the Bengals’ injuries this season are likely to help give Lewis some cover. She expects him to be coaching there in 2019.
Dec. 29: Lewis could retire, says the NFL Network. He and owner Mike Brown will meet the Tuesday after the season ends to discuss his future.
Dec. 30: Jay Glazer of Fox Sports says Lewis is going to be fired.
Dec. 31: Lewis is out. He informed his coaching staff of the decision on Monday morning.
Dec. 31: Lewis endorsed Hue Jackson to replace him (don’t do it, Bengals). Other in-house candidates include special teams coach Darrin Simmons and OC Bill Lazor.
Dec. 31: The Bengals have also contacted outside candidates, like Rams QB coach Zac Taylor and Rams TE coach Shane Waldron.
Dec. 31: The club is also interested in Patriots OC Josh McDaniels.
Jan. 1: Vance Joseph will get an interview with the Bengals just days after being fired by the Broncos. Joseph spent two seasons in Cincinnati as the DBs coach.
Jan. 2: The highly popular Eric Bieniemy, currently OC for the Chiefs, will meet with the Bengals.
Jan. 2: Well, Hue Jackson is getting his head coaching interview in Cincinnati.
Jan. 3: Josh McDaniels won’t be interviewing with the Bengals.
Jan. 3: The Bengals added a new candidate after McDaniels declined to be interviewed: Bucs OC Todd Monken.
Cleveland Browns
Hue Jackson was fired in October. Defensive coordinator Gregg Williams got bumped up to be the interim head coach, and Freddie Kitchens went from coaching the running backs to running the offense. It worked too, raising questions of whether or not the pair might stick around or if another team could snap up Kitchens for their head coaching job.
Dec. 27: One name that has popped up in connection with the Browns is Patriots OC Josh McDaniels.
Dec. 29: Do not expect Williams to be the coach here in 2019. According to Ian Rapoport, Williams isn’t even considered a front runner for the job. Among the possibilities the Browns are expected to explore there’s McDaniels, McCarthy, Patriots defensive coordinator Brian Flores and Colts defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus.
Dec. 30: Both Jay Glazer and Ian Rapoport reported that Gregg Williams will be out after the season. Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot thinks that both Harbaugh brothers could be in play for the Browns’ head coaching job.
Dec. 30: The Arizona Republic’s Bob McManaman says it’s already a done deal that former Packers coach Mike McCarthy will be the Browns’ next head coach, though Cabot reported that the Browns have simply “reached out” to McCarthy.
Dec. 31: Adam Schefter reports that the Browns have requested permission to interview Brian Flores, Patriots defensive coordinator.
Dec. 31: The Browns will interview Freddie Kitchens for the head coaching job, Mary Kay Cabot reported. They’ll also give Gregg Williams a formal interview and then chance to explain why his 5-3 record as interim head coach qualifies him for the full-time job. The Browns confirmed they will interview both.
Dec. 31: Recently fired Dolphins coach Adam Gase is also reportedly in the mix, which will go over very smoothly with former Miami WR Jarvis Landry, who is now the Browns’ WR1.
Dec. 31: Saints tight ends coach Dan Campbell, who once led the Dolphins to a 5-7 record as interim head coach, is getting an interview with Cleveland.
Dec. 31: The Browns must like what the Colts are doing. They’ve requested interviews with both of the Colts’ coordinators: OC Nick Sirianni and DC Matt Eberflus.
Dec. 31: Vikings interim OC Kevin Stefanski will also get an interview for the Browns’ head coaching job.
Dec. 31:The Browns have shown interest in former Colts/Lions coach Jim Caldwell, though as of now, there’s no formal request for an interview.
Jan 1: Mike McCarthy will officially interview with the Browns.
Jan. 2: Interim head coach Gregg Williams got his formal interview with the club, as did Jim Caldwell.
Jan 3: Other teams are trying to poach OC Freddie Kitchens, who will get his chance to interview for the Browns’ head coaching job next week. Even if he doesn’t get the job, Cleveland would want its new coach to have the opportunity to retain Kitchens.
Jan. 3: The Browns completed their interview with Kevin Stefanski.
Dallas Cowboys
Jason Garrett isn’t going anywhere, not with the Cowboys headed to the playoffs. The Jones family likes Garrett, but they’ve made it clear that they expect the team to be contenders. On the other hand, there could be moves among Garrett’s staff.
Dec. 29: Offensive coordinator Scott Linehan could get the boot, according to Ian Rapoport.
Denver Broncos
Vance Joseph made a pretty good case for why the Broncos should fire him back in Week 9 when he made one of the worst coaching decisions of his short career (and there are a lot to choose from). But then the Broncos went on a three-game win streak and had the easiest path to an AFC Wild Card bid. That would have made it impossible for John Elway to fire him. Nope. Joseph’s Broncos went out and lost the next three, kicking them firmly out of postseason contention. As expected, they fired Joseph the day after the season ended.
Dec. 17: It says a lot that someone let it be known that the Broncos almost hired Mike Shanahan a year ago.
Dec. 22: The Broncos had been one of the teams said to be interested in John Harbaugh should the Ravens fire him. That hope got shot down when the Ravens announced he’d be back.
Dec. 29: It’s not out of the question that Joseph sticks around. However, one possibility in that scenario is that Elway brings in his old pal Gary Kubiak to run the offense, according to Rapoport. That seems like it’d be a huge problem since Kubiak has been the head coach there before and his presence and connection with Elway would undercut the head coach.
Dec. 31: He’s out. Fired.
Dec. 31: Schefter reports that the Broncos have requested permissionto interview Brian Flores and former Titans head coach and Steelers OL coach Mike Munchak.
Dec. 31: The Broncos have asked to interview Bears DC Vic Fangio, though it’ll have to wait with his team set to play on Wild Card Weekend.
Dec. 31: Don’t expect the Broncos to go back to the Adam Gase well or the Mike Shanahan well. Former coach Gary Kubiak could be an OC candidate, however.
Dec. 31: John Elway denied the Broncos were looking to bring back Mike Shanahan, but he didn’t deny they’d be willing to trade draft picks for a coach. If so, John Harbaugh could be a candidate. Right now, though, that doesn’t look likely.
Dec. 31: Rams quarterbacks coach Zac Taylor will have the chance to convince Elway he’s the right guy to dig the Broncos’ offense out of its current hole.
Dec. 31: The team is expected to interview former Colts coach Chuck Pagano, though it has not formally requested to do so yet.
Jan. 2: Pagano will be the first candidate to interview with the Broncos, followed by Taylor, Munchak, Flores, and Fangio.
Jan. 5: Mike Munchak, who already met with the Broncos, has a lot of interest in the job.
Jan. 6: Gary Kubiak is a major part of the Broncos’ rebuilding plans; the club isn’t allowing him to interview for OC jobs anywhere else in the league.
Detroit Lions
Matt Patricia’s first year in Detroit has been disappointing enough to make people think that maybe Jim Caldwell wasn’t such a bad coach after all. But Patricia isn’t going anywhere. He’s only in his first season, and he and the general manager, Bob Quinn, are both former Belichickians.
But there could be changes among the coordinators, most likely offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter, who predates Patricia and whose contract is up after this season.
Jan 1: Yep, Jim Bob Cooter is out.
Green Bay Packers
The Packers fired Mike McCarthy after an embarrassing home loss to the Arizona Cardinals in Week 13. Joe Philbin took over as the interim coach. Whoever they end up hiring inherits a pretty good situation, one ripe for a quick turnaround in 2019. However, that person is going to have to do more for Aaron Rodgers than McCarthy did.
Dec. 3: Is Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels in the mix? He could be, according to Yahoo’s Charles Robinson.
Dec. 24: Northwestern’s Pat Fitzgerald was mentioned by MMQB’s Albert Breer as another possibility in Green Bay.
Dec. 26: The team got a pair of early interviews out of the way, sitting down with former Colts head coach Chuck Pagano and former Colts and Lions head coach Jim Caldwell.
Dec. 29: The Packers are interested in Fitzgerald, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. He was hired by current Packers president Mark Murphy while Murphy as the athletic director at Northwestern.
Dec. 30: The Packers are going to kick the tires on both New England’s coordinators, asking for permission to interview Josh McDaniels and Brian Flores as they turn over every single stone in their coaching search.
Dec. 31: Saints tight ends coach Dan Campbell, who once led the Dolphins to a 5-7 record as interim head coach, will be interviewing in Green Bay as well.
Dec. 31: Steelers OL coach Mike Munchak will interview with the Packers, in addition to the Broncos.
Dec. 31: Titans OC Matt LaFleur will also get a chance to impress Green Bay’s brain trust.
Jan. 3: Pat Fitzgerald won’t interview with the Packers— or any other NFL team.
Jan. 4: Brian Flores is set for his interview with the Packers, his second of four interviews in a two-day span.
Jan. 4: Next up for Adam Gase: an interview with the Packers.
Jan. 5: The Packers were busy Saturday, interviewing Bucs OC Todd Monken, Saints OC Pete Carmichael, and Saints assistant head coach Dan Campbell.
Jacksonville Jaguars
No team disappointed more this season than the Jaguars, a play away from a Super Bowl bid last place in the AFC South. It wasn’t supposed to be this way. But really, is anyone surprised that this happened when the team decided to sign Blake Bortles to an extension? The team’s performance in 2017 likely bought head coach Doug Marrone and GM Dave Caldwell another season, at least. Both are expected to keep their jobs for 2019, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network.
But there will be some coaching changes in Jacksonville. The team fired offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett in November, so they’ll be in the market for a prodigious offensive mind (hopefully) to help turn things around ... hopefully a new quarterback too.
Dec. 30: Jaguars owner Shad Khan said that Doug Marrone, Tom Coughlin and general manager Dave Caldwell are safe for the 2019 season.
Statement from owner Shad Khan. pic.twitter.com/ZVozbEcR26
— #DUUUVAL (@Jaguars) December 30, 2018
Dec. 31: The Jaguars did fire a few positional coaches: Tyrone Wheatley, who was in charge of a dysfunctional running backs room, as well as Perry Fewell (secondary), Pat Flaherty (OL), and Marion Hobby (DL).
Miami Dolphins
Despite a 7-9 record, there was some speculation that Gase would be spared. He was not. The Dolphins fired him Monday morning after the season ended.
The team is expected to move on from quarterbackRyan Tannehill, which means a new coach will get the chance to pick his own QB.
Dec. 26: Instead, the Dolphins will be making changes in the front office. Mike Tannebaum, the vice president of football operations, is expected to be fired, according to Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald.
Dec. 29: Owner Stephen Ross is not happy with the state of things, and Gase could pay the price. There is reportedly a “legitimate possibility” that Gase ends up fired. If that happens, he’ll be a top candidate for other coaching vacancies, according to the NFL Network.
Dec. 31: Gase may be back, but maybe not before Ross checks to see if he can get either Jim or John Harbaugh to be his team’s next coach, according to Peter King.
Dec. 31: Gase was fired.
Dec. 31: The Dolphins have asked for permission to interview Patriots de facto defensive coordinator Brian Flores.
Dec. 31: Longtime NFL defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, currently with the Bears, will interview with the Dolphins.
Dec. 31: Add the Dolphins to the list of teams that will interview Steelers OL coach Mike Munchak.
Dec. 31: The Dolphins have also been in touch with Chiefs OC Eric Bieniemy, arguably the hottest name on the coaching market.
Dec. 31: Cowboys passing game coordinator and defensive backs coach Kris Richard will also be getting an interview in South Beach.
Jan. 4: Brian Flores’ first of four interviews will start with the Dolphins.
Jan. 4: The Dolphins will be the first team to interview Saints DC Dennis Allen.
Jan. 4: A new candidate emerges in the Dolphins’ head coach search — Baltimore head coach John Harbaugh, who would have to be acquired via trade.
Jan. 7: Bears’ DC Vic Fangio won’t interview with Miami after all.
Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings made one change during the season, at offensive coordinator. Interim OC Kevin Stefanski is expected to be offered the job on a full-time basis. However, Stefanski is not under contract after this season, so he could be fielding other offers, according to Rapoport.
Dec. 31: Despite a rough finish that pushed Minnesota out of the playoffs, the Vikings will retain head coach Mike Zimmer.
Jan. 2: Good news for Bengals fans: Hue Jackson is a candidate for the Vikings’ OC job.
New England Patriots
Bill Belichick isn’t going anywhere ... but his highly-regarded assistants might be.
Jan. 7: Reports suggest New England could be targeting USC OC Kliff Kingsbury to replace Josh McDaniels should the sought-after coordinator leave for a head coaching job.
New York Jets
It’s hard to believe, four seasons later, that Todd Bowles won 10 games in his first year (2015) as the Jets head coach, thanks in part to a little bit of the old FitzMagic. Little did we know that the team’s choke job in a Week 17 loss with the playoffs on the line that season would set the tone for the rest of Bowles’ 24-40 tenure there. The opinion of the league’s most well-informed insiders is that Bowles is as good as gone as soon as the season ends.
It was reported on Saturday, Dec. 29, that Bowles will be fired right after the team’s Week 17 game on Sunday.
Dec. 24: There is apparently some concern among coaching candidates that the structure of the Jets’ leadership, i.e. with Mike Maccagnan staying around as GM, could scare off some potential replacements.
Dec. 24: Chris Johnson, the son of owner Woody Johnson, shot down rumors that the team was interested in Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh.
Dec. 27: The team has interest in both Mike McCarthy and Jim Caldwell, according to Sports Illustrated, two former head coaches who have experience grooming young QBs, something the Jets value as they look to build around Sam Darnold.
Dec. 29: Maccagnan isn’t going anywhere, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network.
Dec. 30: As expected, Bowles was fired.
Dec. 31: If Jim Harbaugh isn’t coming east, Eric Bieniemy might be. The Jets have requested permission to interview the Chiefs’ OC.
Dec. 31: The Jets will also interview former Seahawks DC, and current Cowboys DBs coach, Kris Richard.
Dec. 31:Add another name to the interview list: Todd Monken, the Bucs’ current OC and former Southern Miss head coach.
Dec. 31: The Jets have interest in Jim Caldwell, but they haven’t requested an interview yet.
Dec. 31: Iowa State coach Matt Campbell declined an interview request from the Jets.
Jan. 1: Former Green Bay head coach Mike McCarthy is getting an interview in New York.
Jan. 1: Former Texas Tech head coach and current USC offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury will get an opportunity to interview with the Jets.
Jan. 2: The Jets are one of four teams that will interview Bieniemy.
Jan. 2: Adam Gase will get another shot with another AFC East team, interviewing with the Jets less than a week after getting fired by the Dolphins.
Jan. 4: The Jets have shown interest in Baylor coach Matt Rhule, though it might not be anything beyond that right now.
Jan. 5: Adam Schefter reported that USC is denying the Jets permission to interview Kliff Kingsbury. As a result, Kingsbury could resign.
Jan. 5: Mike McCarthy officially interviewed with the Jets — and he could be the favorite.
Oakland Raiders
The Raiders don’t have a head coaching search with Jon Gruden still having nine years left on his contract, but they do need a general manager after firing Reggie McKenzie. NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo said that NFL Network’s Mike Mayock has come up in discussions and he’s already interviewed with Oakland for the gig.
A strong candidate has emerged in the #Raiders’ GM search: Mike Mayock. Sources tell me and @RapSheet the @nflnetwork draft analyst has interviewed with Oakland. He’s one of a few, as the Raiders have kept their interviews quiet. But he’s firmly in the mix.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) December 30, 2018
Dec. 31: It’s done. The Raiders are hiring Mayock to be their next general manager, Adam Schefter reported Monday morning.
Jan. 2: The Raiders aren’t just moving on from Reggie McKenzie. They also fired McKenzie’s No. 2, Joey Clinkscales.
Jan. 3: Ryan Grigson, who didn’t fare so well as Colts general manager, will reportedly meet with the Raiders about a front office gig. Raiders fans aren’t thrilled about it.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Jan. 4: Linebackers coach Joey Porter, who helped drop Marvin Lewis to 0-7 in the playoffs by running onto the field and drawing a key unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the Bengals back in 2017, will not return to the team in 2019.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Buccaneers fired Koetter right after their season concluded with a 34-32 loss to the Falcons. Earlier in the day it was reported that the team would be bringing back quarterback Jameis Winston in 2019 to be their expected starter.
Dec. 24: McCarthy’s name has been mentioned as a possibility in Tampa too.
Dec. 27: It’s not out of the question that Koetter might be back next season.
Dec. 30: Koetter is fired.
Dec. 31: Former Cardinals coach Bruce Arians told Ian Rapoport he “would listen” if the Bucs reached out.
Dec. 31: There hasn’t been much from the Bucs so far, but one name that has piqued their interest is Chiefs OC Eric Bieniemy.
Jan. 1: The Bucs have asked to interview Vikings DC George Edwards.
Jan.2: Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly has drawn interest from Tampa Bay, according to reports.
Jan. 2: One of Bieniemy’s first interviews will be with the Bucs.
Jan. 2: Kris Richard, another popular coaching candidate, will also interview with the Bucs after the Cowboys play the Seahawks.
Jan. 5: Former Cardinals coach Bruce Arians met with the Bucs and could be a favorite to land the job.
Jan. 6: Arians-to-Tampa reports are picking up more steam.