The GM's, Coach's, Carousel

Exit stage Leftwich? Sorry... I couldnt resist.

Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles said a couple of days ago that there was no decision about offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich’s future with the team, but the Bucs have now made that decision and it will result in a change in Tampa.

Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports that the Bucs have fired Leftwich. That move was widely expected after the Bucs finished 25th in points scored during the regular season and flamed out offensively again in their playoff loss to the Cowboys.

Stroud reports that the team is parting ways with a number of other assistants as well.

It’s a steep fall for Leftwich, who was up for head coaching jobs at this point last year and was reportedly in talks for the job with the Jaguars before they pivoted to Doug Pederson. The 2023 season was Leftwich’s fourth running the offense in Tampa and they won a Super Bowl in 2020, but it was also his first without Bruce Arians as the head coach and the team wasn’t nearly as successful as they’d been in Leftwich’s previous seasons at the rudder.

The search for a new coordinator in Tampa will be impacted by uncertainty at the quarterback position. Tom Brady is set for free agency and has given no indication that he’s planning to return, so anyone taking the job will do so without a clear idea of who will be filling the most important spot on the unit.

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We need at least one good oline men to sure up the line. We need a good CB and dline help. With picks 17, 32, and 49 we should be able to get help in all three of those areas. Plus FA should help with us actually having some cash to spend.

 

Greg Roman out as Ravens offensive coordinator



There’s another vacancy at offensive coordinator.

Greg Roman has stepped down as the Ravens offensive coordinator to pursue other opportunities, he and the organization announced on Thursday.


“After visiting with coach [John] Harbaugh and after huddling with my family, I have decided that now is the right time to move on from the Ravens so that I can explore new challenges and opportunities,” Roman said in a statement, via Ian Rapoport of NFL Media. “My family would like to thank [Ravens owner] Steve Biscotti for the opportunity to be a part of this elite organization and for being the first class leader that he is.

“I would also like to thank John Harbaugh, who I respect as much as any head coach I have worked alongside. I learned a lot working for John and will carry those lessons forward. I also watched our management team Dick, Sashi, Ozzie, Eric and many others run a sports franchise as smoothly and as well as one can be run. and I appreciate them allowing us to always remain focused on winning. Thanks also to the great coaches and tremendous support staff too many to name. A special thanks to all the players I coached here; they bought in and let it rip, and inspired me every day.

“And Baltimore fans are, quite simply, amazing. I’ll truly miss Baltimore, but at the same time I am excited to attack my next opportunity with focus and passion.”

Roman had been with the ravens since 2017, first serving as senior offensive assistant and tight ends coach. He was promoted to offensive coordinator in 2019 and helps lead quarterback Lamar Jackson to his MVP season.

“Greg has led the development and success of a record-setting offense in Baltimore for several seasons,” Harbaugh said in a statement released by the team. “He is a tremendous football coach, as well as family man and person.

“Greg devised and led our offense to no fewer than 26 historical NFL and franchise achievements. He established an identity for our offense. We are grateful for Greg’s great work and abilities, and we wish him and his wonderful family the utmost happiness going forward.”

The 2022 Ravens finished No. 16 in total yards and No. 19 in points scored. The club was also second in rushing with 2,720 yards.

Roman also served as San Francisco’s offensive coordinator from 2011-2014 and Buffalo’s OC from 2015-2016. With so many coordinator positions open around the league, Roman may have options for his next stop.

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Roman leaving could indicate Lamar is out in BAL.

 

Agreed. Kind of the same like situation is occurring in Tampa Bay... they have cleaned house on the offensive side of things, so that might be an indicator Tom Brady is gone for '23.

 

Brady isn’t retiring I bet he goes to the Dolphins.

 

The Vikings have fired defensive coordinator Ed Donatell.

Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell announced the move today, a day after declining to answer whether Donatell would return.


“Today I informed Ed Donatell we will be going in a different direction at defensive coordinator in 2023,” O’Connell said in a statement. “While this was a difficult decision because of the tremendous respect I have for Ed as a person and coach, I believe it is the right move for the future of our football team. I want to thank Ed for his commitment to the vikings this past season, for the positive impact he had on our players and coaches and for his role in helping me as a first-year head coach lay this foundation.”

The 65-year-old Donatell is a longtime NFL defensive coordinator who will surely have offers if he wants to join another coaching staff, but his one year in Minnesota ended up with a disappointing playoff loss and a pink slip.

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Vikings are kicking the tires on Brian Flores now... requested interview.

 

The Vikings are looking to New Orleans as they try to find a new defensive coordinator.

Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that the team has requested an interview with Saints co-defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen for the opening on Kevin O’Connell’s staff. The Vikings fired Ed Donatell late last week.

Nielsen has been with the Saints since becoming their defensive line coach in 2017. He continued working with that group after getting bumped up to co-defensive coordinator along with defensive backs coach Kris Richard when Dennis Allen became the head coach in New Orleans in 2022.

The Vikings have also requested an interview with Steelers linebackers coach Brian Flores and they’ll likely be adding more names to the list of candidates in the days to come.

Schefter adds that Nielsen is also expected to interview with the Falcons after Atlanta requested an interview with him as part of their defensive coordinator search.

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Dolphins, Vikings request interviews with Sean Desai

Seahawks assistant head coach Sean Desai is drawing interest from teams looking for a new defensive coordinator.

Desai was on the list of candidates in Cleveland before the Browns hired Jim Schwartz and a couple of other teams would like to speak with him about their vacancies. Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that the Dolphins and Vikings have both requested interviews with Desai.


Desai joined the Seahawks in 2022 after spending the 2021 season as the defensive coordinator for the Bears. He was the safeties coach for two seasons and a defensive quality control coach for six seasons before moving up to that job in Chicago.

The Vikings have also requested interviews with Steelers linebackers coach Brian Flores and Saints co-defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen. No other candidates have been identified for the Dolphins, but it’s safe to say that Flores won’t wind up on the list in Miami.

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Jets to interview Klint Kubiak Sunday

Four teams will be competing in the playoffs on Sunday and others will be working on ways to get themselves into a future postseason.

The Jets are in the latter category and they’ll continue their hunt for a new offensive coordinator. Tom Pelissero of NFL Media reports that they will interview Klint Kubiak for the post.


Kubiak was the passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the Broncos last season. He spent part of the year as the team’s offensive play caller and had the same responsibility while serving as the Vikings offensive coordinator in 2021.

Kubiak worked under Nathaniel Hackett in Denver and Hackett has also spoken with the Jets. The AFC East club has also interviewed Eagles pass game coordinator Kevin Patullo, former Colts offensive coordinator Marcus Brady, Eagles quarterbacks coach Brian Johnson, Browns pass game coordinator/wide receivers coach Chad O’Shea, and Patriots tight ends coach Nick Caley.

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Brian Flores will interview for Cardinals coaching job on Monday



Despite a landmark lawsuit against the NFL and multiple teams, former Dolphins coach and current Steelers assistant Brian Flores could be back as a head coach after only one year.

Per multiple reports, Flores will interview for the Cardinals’ vacancy on Monday.


Last Monday, we noted that the NFL grapevine was connecting Flores to Arizona, for two important reasons. One, as a coach, he’s the exact opposite of Kliff Kingsbury. And teams who fire a coach routinely look for the exact opposite to replace him. Two, with Flores suing the league and with the Cardinals facing a claim in that same action from former head coach Steve Wilks, hiring Flores would be good for the overall position in the litigation — and in turn good for business.

And, yes, football is business.

There’s another angle for the Cardinals to consider. If they interview Flores and don’t hire him, they’d better have a solid and persuasive explanation for passing on him. Last year, the Texans got an invitation to the Flores lawsuit after interviewing him, making him one of three finalists, and then going off the board to hire Lovie Smith.

Many continue to be confused about the inability of a business to shun someone who has sued that business and/or one of its partners. The laws against employment discrimination also prevent retaliation against those who exercise their rights against employment discrimination.

To avoid the same fate as the Texans, the Cardinals would have to hire someone who would be clearly and obviously better than Flores.

Finally, the Cardinals have, since last Monday, hired former Patriots executive Monti Ossenfort to serve as the General Manager. Flores worked for eleven years in New England, He and Ossenfort are very well versed in the Patriot Way.

So there are plenty of reasons to seriously consider Flores. Barring a disastrous interview and/or a decision to make a big splash for someone like Sean Payton, Flores will be an extremely viable candidate — and quite possibly the next coach of the team.

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Report: Sean Payton to have second interview with Broncos this week



Sean Payton met with the Broncos last week and it appears there’s more for the two sides to discuss.

Jeff Duncan of the New Orleans Times-Picayune reports that Payton will have a second interview with the Broncos on Wednesday. It’s the first report of a candidate getting a second interview in Denver, although Mike Klis of KUSA reported late last week that the plan was to have one to three finalists back in for further conversations.


Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn interviewed with the Broncos last Friday to wrap up the first round of interviews for Denver. They’ve also spoken with their defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero, former Lions head coach Jim Caldwell, former Stanford head coach David Shaw, Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris, 49ers defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans, and Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh. Harbaugh was withdrawn his name from consideration.

Payton has also interviewed with the Texans and he had a scheduled interview with the Panthers last Friday postponed. That meeting was rescheduled for Monday.

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Interesting in Denver. Im not positive, but second interviews mean there just might be some real serious interest between both parties. If i were to venture a bet, the %'s of hire after a second interview are probably high.

Also, last week QB Wilson personally reach out to Payton... might have done some good.

 

Doesn’t Orleans get some compensation for Payton?

 

Yes the Saints hold a lot of the cards here on where he ends up.

Probably gonna have to give up the SF 1st rounder at a minimum to get him, pretty steep but worth it if they believe he’s the guy to untrack Russ.

You’d have to believe they have at least the framework of a deal in place with NO if they’re going to another round of interviews…would be pretty embarrassing to get the point of wanting to hire him and having the Saints torpedo things.

 

Payton can leverage some push back that would help, but it still likely costs a high pick in this draft.

Denver has SF's pick in the first round, so I wouldn't be surprised to see them offer that up along with one of their thirds in exchange for Payton, the Saints fourth and the 5th NO acquired from PHI.

 

Patriots hire Bill O’Brien as offensive coordinator



Bill O’Brien is returning to New England to try to revitalized the Patriots’ offense.

O’Brien will be the Patriots’ new offensive coordinator, according to ESPN.


This will be O’Brien’s second stint as the Patriots’ offensive coordinator, a title he previously had in 2011. He also spent 2007-2010 with the Patriots in various offensive assistant roles.

For the last two seasons, O’Brien has been the offensive coordinator at Alabama. Before that he was head coach of the Texans, and before that head coach at Penn State.

Last year the Patriots didn’t have anyone with the title of offensive coordinator, but the primary offensive coordinator duties were handled by Matt Patricia, and the result was a disaster. This year head coach Bill Belichick will hope that a return of O’Brien can represent a return to the days when the Patriots were the NFL’s premiere franchise.

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After all the firing, we got some hiring.

 

Too bad they can’t trade him for ~$75MM in cap space…