The GM's, Coach's, Carousel

Reports: Urban Meyer finalizing deal with Jaguars



Urban Meyer became the focus of the Jaguars head coaching search before they officially fired Doug Marrone earlier this month and it looks like the pursuit is nearing the finish line.

According to multiple reports, Meyer and the Jaguars are finalizing a deal for him to become the franchise’s sixth full-time head coach. Those reports indicate confidence that a deal will be done on Thursday.

Meyer was last on the sideline with Ohio State during the 2018 season and cited health reasons when he stepped down after winning the Rose Bowl. Meyer cited the same reasons when gave up the head coaching job at Florida after the 2010 season.

The Jaguars’ pursuit of Meyer suggests they’re not overly concerned about his health hindering him in a return to the sideline and are more interested in the success Meyer had at both schools. He won two national titles at Florida and another at Ohio State. Including stints at Utah and Bowling Green, Meyer has a 187-32 record as a college coach.

Jacksonville’s never had that kind of success, but the hope is that Meyer, the No. 1 overall draft pick, and a ton of cap space can lead to better days.

NBC

 

Report: Terry Fontenot favorite for Falcons G.M. job



The Falcons appear to have found their next General Manager.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that Saints assistant G.M. of pro personnel Terry Fontenot is the favorite to land the job. No deal is expected until after the Saints have been eliminated from the playoffs. They host the Buccaneers in the divisional round on Sunday.

Fontenot interviewed with the Falcons twice and it seems likely that who he’d hire as the team’s head coach was up for discussion at one or both of those interviews. The identity of that coach will be the next big development for the Falcons.

Rams director of college scouting Brad Holmes was mentioned as a finalist along with Fontenot in recent days. He’s also said to be among the leading candidates for the Lions opening.

Thanks to a rule adopted by the NFL to incentivize the development of minority candidates, the Saints will receive a pair of compensatory third-round selections once Fontenot’s hiring is official.

NBC

 

The Philadelphia Eagles are leaving no stone unturned in their search to replace coach Doug Pederson.

They are even interested in checking stones of division rivals.

The Eagles requested to interview Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported.

ESPN first reported the news.

Moore recently signed a three-year contract to remain the Cowboys offensive coordinator under Mike McCarthy. The former quarterback had been garnering interest from Boise State, his alma mater, for their head coaching gig.

In a statement announcing the new contract earlier this month, Moore noted the building blocks in Dallas for his reason to remain with the club.

"We are building something special here in Dallas," he said at the time. "I'm thankful to the Jones family and Mike McCarthy for providing me with the opportunity to coach these special players. I am excited for us to put it all together and finish the job."

The Eagles are casting a wide net in their coaching search, which included meeting Panthers offensive coordinator Joe Brady. Philly also has interview requests out for Buccaneers defensive coordinator Todd Bowles, Patriots inside linebackers coach Jerod Mayo, 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, and Titans offensive coordinator Arthur Smith. Moore is a new name on the candidate circuit.

The Cowboys generated 513 yards and scored 37 points in the Week 16 thumping of the Eagles to end Philly's playoff chances. Perhaps that encounter has owner Jeffrey Lurie interested in speaking with Moore in person.

 

Report: Steelers won’t renew OC Randy Fichtner’s contract



Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said on Wednesday he understands that “we better make some changes in what we do” after losing five of their final six games, including the 48-37 drubbing by the Browns that knocked them out of the playoffs last Sunday night.

One of those changes is reportedly coming at offensive coordinator. Tom Pelissero of NFL Media reports that Randy Fichtner will not have his contract renewed for the 2021 season.

Fichtner joined the Steelers as the wide receivers coach in 2007 and became the quarterbacks coach in 2010. He added offensive coordinator to his title after Todd Haley left following the 2017 season and dropped the quarterbacks coach title this season.

The Steelers ranked 12th in points scored and 24th in yards this season, but struggled to move the ball on the ground all season and had wholesale issues as they sputtered to the finish line in the regular season.

Defensive coordinator Keith Butler’s contract is also up, so the Steelers could wind up making changes on both sides of the ball after a year that had an unhappy ending.

NBC

 

Lions agree to terms on 5-year deal with Brad Holmes as new GM

The Detroit Lions have agreed to terms on a five-year deal with Los Angeles Rams Director of College Scouting Brad Holmes as their new general manager, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero reported, per sources informed.

****more to come****

 

I don't know what to think about this. He certainly had success in the college ranks, but coaching in the NFL is an entirely different animal.

His biggest strengths in college were building competent coaching staffs and recruiting. There's no question in my mind that he will assemble a pretty damn good staff in Jacksonville. But, what I don't know is was his success at recruiting due to knowing how to recruit or who to recruit? If it's the later, that should translate to the NFL.

 

He certainly hasnt been wasting any time in putting a staff together. He's been on that for a week or two, so I like his work ethic and enthusiasm.

I was wondering also if he will translate well into the NFL ranks... big difference in attitudes and tempermants between the pro's and collegiate athletes.

 

The Steelers confirmed the report that offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner will not have his contract renewed on Wednesday and they also announced that two other members of Mike Tomlin’s staff will be moving on.

Offensive line coach Shaun Sarrett and defensive backs coach Tom Bradley will join Fichtner in not getting new contracts for the 2021 season.

“I want to thank all three of the coaches for their commitment and dedication to the Pittsburgh Steelers,” Tomlin said in a statement. “They have all played integral roles in our success and I am appreciative of their efforts. Personally, Randy and I have been in Pittsburgh since I hired him in 2007, but our relationship began well before that. He has been a friend of mine for years and wish his family nothing but the best, and I am eternally grateful for our relationship both on and off the field.”

Sarrett was on the Steelers staff since 2012 and became the offensive line coach when Mike Munchak left for Denver in 2019. Bradley spent the last three years in Pittsburgh.

NBC

 

49ers DC, Robert Saleh hired as new Jets Head Coach.

 

It’s official.

The Jaguars’ search for a new coach focused on Urban Meyer. He has accepted the job.

The team announced the hire on Thursday.

“This is a great day for Jacksonville and Jaguars fans everything,” owner Shad Khan said in a statement. “Urban Meyer is who we want and need, a leader, winner and champion who demands excellence and produces resulted. While Urban already enjoys a legacy in the game of football that few will ever match, his passion for the opportunity in front of him here in Jacksonville is powerful and unmistakable. I am proud to name Urban Meyer the new head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars.”

Meyer, 56, has no NFL coaching experience in a career that began in 1985. He was, however, wildly successful at the college level.

Whether that success becomes duplicated at the NFL level remains to be seen. Many already wonder whether he’ll become the next Nick Saban, an impeccable college coach who quickly realizes that the pro game presents much greater parity and much stiffer challenges when it comes to putting together a great team.

Meyer becomes the seventh coach in franchise history. Only one — Tom Coughlin — finished his tenure with a winning record.

NBC

 

The Carolina Panthers have a new General Manager.

The team announced Thursday night they Seattle Seahawks co-director of player personnel Scott Fitterer has accepted an offer to become their new G.M. Fitterer joins the Panthers on a five-year deal.

“We went through a thorough process and it was a great final four. We thought Scott was the best fit for the organization,” Panthers owner David Tepper said in a statement.

Tennessee Titans director of player personnel Monti Ossenfort, San Francisco 49ers vice president of player personnel Adam Peters, and Kansas City Chiefs Chiefs assistant director of player personnel Ryan Poles were the other finalists for the job.

Fitterer has been with the Seahawks since 2001 when he initially joined the team as an area scout. Under head coach Pete Carroll and G.M. John Schneider, Fitterer has served as the team’s director of college scouting and as the co-director of player personnel along with Trent Kirchner.

Fitterer has received several interviews for G.M. vacancies in the past few years and now gets a new opportunity with the Panthers.

NBC

 

Report: Dan Campbell the favorite to become Lions head coach



It looks like one more head coaching vacancy is off the board.

Saints assistant head coach/tight ends coach Dan Campbell is the favorite to become the next Lions head coach, according to a report from NFL media’s Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero.

Campbell interviewed with the Lions on Monday. He’s not able to have a second interview with Detroit, which hired Brad Holmes to be its G.M. on Thursday, until the Saints’ season is over.

A former tight end in the league from 1999-2009, Campbell has been with the Saints since 2016. Before that, he was the Dolphins tight ends coach from 2011-2015, spending the last 12 games of the 2015 season as Miami’s interim head coach. The Dolphins were 5-7 under Campbell.

Campbell spent three seasons with the Lions as a player from 2006-2008.

The Lions were reportedly going to meet with Buccaneers defensive coordinator Todd Bowles on Friday, but called off the meeting, per NFL media’s Mike Garafolo. Campbell emerging as the favorite was part of the reason why.

NBC

 

Report: Duce Staley interviewing for Eagles’ job today



Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie said the day he fired Doug Pederson that he expected Duce Staley to be a candidate for the job. How serious a candidate is the question.

Staley, the assistant head coach and running backs under Pederson, is in Palm Beach, Florida, today interviewing with Lurie for the job, John Clark of NBC Philadelphia reports.

Staley, 45, played for the Eagles from 1997-2003 and joined the team’s coaching staff in 2011. He has served on the staffs of Andy Reid, Chip Kelly and Pederson.

The Eagles interviewed Staley for the head coaching job in 2016 before hiring Pederson. Staley also was a candidate for the offensive coordinator position before the 2018 season when the Eagles hired Mike Groh.

The Eagles have requested permission to talk to Bucs defensive coordinator Todd Bowles, Patriots inside linebackers coach Jerod Mayo, Cowboys offensive coordinator Kellen Moore and Titans offensive coordinator Arthur Smith about the job. They already have interviewed Panthers offensive coordinator Joe Brady.

NBC

 

Looks like Arthur Smith to the Falcons.

‘bout time that dude caught a break.

 

Meyer needs a staff around him and this is what its boiling down too...

• Scott Linehan, former LSU passing game coordinator and Cowboys OC -- favorite
• Joe Cullen, Ravens defensive line coach -- planned

 

Brian Daboll appears to be the favorite for Chargers head coaching job



Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll may be the next head coach of the Chargers.

Daboll has emerged as the favorite for the Chargers, vacancy, according to reports from both the Orange County Register and ESPN.

The Chargers can’t officially hire Daboll until the Bills’ postseason is over, and Chargers General Manager Tom Telesco may have hinted at his interest in Daboll when he said the team would be patient about finding the right coach.

Telesco and Daboll went to high school together, so they have a long history together.

If Daboll does become the Chargers’ head coach, he’s going to a place where the franchise quarterback is in place in Justin Herbert. And the Chargers will hope Daboll can have the same success with Herbert that he’s had with Josh Allen in Buffalo.

NBC

 

Doug Pederson has spoken to Seahawks about OC opening



Doug Pederson spent the last five years battling the Seahawks in the NFC, but he could join them for the 2021 season.

Tom Pelissero of NFL Media reports that Pederson has spoken to the Seahawks about their offensive coordinator vacancy. Pederson was fired as the head coach of the Eagles on Monday and the Seahawks fired Brian Schottenheimer the next day.

When Pederson was dismissed, there were six other head coaching vacancies around the league and there was some thought that he could become a candidate for one or more of those openings. Three of those teams have announced hires, however, and the Lions and Chargers have reportedly settled on choices still coaching in the playoffs, which leaves the Texans as the only possible landing spot at that level.

The Seahawks have also spoken to another recently fired head coach about the coordinator spot. Anthony Lynn and Pederson are the only publicly identified candidates at this point.

NBC

 

That's amazing how they pulled that off I thought he was done finished retired guess not

 

Charlie Strong will join Urban Meyer as Jaguars assistant head coach



Jaguars coach Urban Meyer, who has no NFL playing or coaching experience, has hired a right-hand man who has (checks notes) no NFL playing or coaching experience, either.

Per multiple reports, former Louisville, Texas, and South Florida coach Charlie Strong will join Meyer as the assistant head coach. He’s also expected to coach a position on the team’s defense.

Meyer and Strong spent five years together at Florida, where Meyer was the head coach and Strong served as defensive coordinator.

The Jaguars are taking a calculated risk by entrusting the team to a head coach with so little NFL experience. If it works (like it did for Jimmy Johnson in Dallas 30 years ago), It will be great. If it doesn’t, they can move on and try again with another coach. Like they’ve done for more of the last 20 years or so, since firing Tom Coughlin, the only coach in team history with a winning record.

NBC

 

Eagles to interview Josh McDaniels, put in request with Eric Bieniemy for head coaching gig

The Philadelphia Eagles' coaching search continues to spread its wings far and wide.

Add two more high-profile names to the discussion.

NFL Network's Mike Garafolo reported Saturday that the Eagles requested permission to interview Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy and will interview Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels this weekend, per sources informed of the situation.

With Bieniemy's Chiefs in the postseason, the Eagles would have to wait until K.C.'s playoff run is over before conducting that interview.

The Eagles mark the first time a team has been interested in McDaniels during this coaching cycle. After leaving the Colts in the lurch in 2018, interest in the Patriots OC has waned.

Philly would be an intriguing landing spot for McDaniels, particularly if the new coach's main objective is to help revive Carson Wentz's career.

If the Eagles wait to interview Bieniemy, he'd be a celebrated choice among fans as the right-hand man of Andy Reid, who remains popular in the city.


In addition to Bieniemy and McDaniels, the Eagles requested interviews with Bucs DC Todd Bowles and Cowboys OC Kellen Moore, have a planned interview with Patriots linebackers coach Jerod Mayo, and they have completed an interview with Panthers OC Joe Brady. Philly was also in the discussion with Robert Saleh, who was hired by the New York Jets, and Arthur Smith, who landed the Atlanta Falcons job.

NFL.com