The GM's, Coach's, Carousel

This is a good move. I'm surprised the Raiders did it.

 

New Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce is in the market for a new offensive coordinator.

According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Media, interim OC Bo Hardegree and most of the team’s offensive staff will not be retained for 2024.

Though the unit had some decent moments, Las Vegas’ offense struggled whether it was called by former head coach Josh McDaniels or Hardegree. The Raiders finished No. 23 in points and No. 27 in total yards. The unit did find plenty of success in the Week 15 thrashing of the Chargers, when the club scored 63 points. But that came just a few days after the Raiders lost to the Vikings 3-0.

Hargedree was hired as the team’s quarterbacks coach under McDaniels in 2022 and took over as offensive coordinator after McDaniels and former OC Mick Lombardi were fired midseason.

 

As expected, the Cowboys reportedly won’t extend the contract of head coach Mike McCarthy, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. This means that McCarthy will enter the final year of his contract in 2024.

Plenty of teams aren’t comfortable with a lame-duck coach. At some point, he loses authority over the locker room. If things aren’t going well, they’ll eventually conclude they don’t need to listen to a guy who won’t be back the next year.

“Jones said he believes that a person in the last year of a contract is challenged in a different way, and it often can bring out the best in people,” per the report. The truth could be that Jones simply doesn’t want to pay coaches to not work.

And so, while the Cowboys believe McCarthy is good enough to continue in the job, they’re not interested in making a commitment to him beyond 2024. That sets him up to be a free agent in 2025. If he does better than expected, McCarthy could (in theory) take another job with another team.

Jones apparently is willing to bet the under on that possibility. Jones likely believes that, after 2024, he’ll be able to decide whether to bring McCarthy back or to move on, without fear of him walking away.

NBC

 

Found the scapegoat...

 

He won't be able to use scapegoats to continue his career forever like some coaches. In fact they fail to get far next year and he'll likely be gone.

 

I don’t know why the Eagles coach would have any problems. He’s been to the playoffs three straight seasons with a SB appearance. They suffered a lot of injuries and it caught up with them. Injuries are a game changer and can’t be avoided no matter what rules they make.

 

Whole season was hubris.

 

Report: Bears working on deal to make Shane Waldron their new offensive coordinator

The Bears appear to have identified their next offensive coordinator.

Chicago is working toward a deal to hire Shane Waldron as offensive coordinator, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.

Waldron spent the last three seasons as the Seahawks’ offensive coordinator. Prior to that he spent three seasons as the Rams’ passing game coordinator and he has also spent time in Washington and New England, in addition to multiple college jobs.

Bears head coach Matt Eberflus fired offensive coordinator Luke Getsy after the season.

The big question in Chicago is which quarterback Waldron will be calling plays for. Justin Fields is the incumbent starter, but the Bears own the first overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft and may move on to USC quarterback Caleb Williams.

NBC

 

The Jaguars have found a new defensive coordinator.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Jacksonville is hiring former Falcons defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen for the role.

Nielsen joined Atlanta in 2023, replacing Dean Pees who had retired. The Falcons finished No. 11 in yards allowed and No. 18 in points allowed. But former head coach Arthur Smith was fired after a third consecutive 7-10 season. The Falcons then allowed assistants on staff to interview with other teams.

Nielsen, 44, was previously on New Orleans’ coaching staff from 2017-2020. He was the defensive line coach for the first four seasons before being promoted to assistant head coach/defensive line coach in 2021. He was named co-defensive coordinator/defensive line coach in 2022.

Jacksonville fired former defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell after the club finished No. 17 in points allowed and No. 22 in yards allowed in 2023.

 

Nick Sirianni's future with the Philadelphia Eagles appears to be secure.

Sirianni is scheduled to meet with the Philly media on Wednesday -- alongside general manager Howie Roseman -- a sign that he will be back as head coach for the 2024 season, NFL Network Insider Mike Garafolo reported on Monday.

Despite having led Philadelphia to three playoff berths in his three seasons in charge, Sirianni's status as the team's head coach came into question after the team lost five of its last six regular-season games ahead of a blowout playoff defeat to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to conclude Super Wild Card Weekend.

Owner Jeffrey Lurie has decided to stay the course with Sirianni, though major changes to Sirianni's staff have already begun. NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero reported on Sunday that Sirianni had fired defensive coordinator Sean Desai, who saw his role diminished at the end of the season when assistant Matt Patricia assumed play-calling duties.

Sirianni replaced Doug Pederson in 2021 and led a quick turnaround for a club that went 4-11-1 in 2020.

 

Jim Harbaugh is expected to meet with Chargers again

Falcons request second interviews with Mike Macdonald, Anthony Weaver

Steelers, Raiders request to talk to Rams assistant Zac Robinson

Chargers to interview Dawn Aponte for General Manager

Raiders also have second interviews with Champ Kelly, Ed Dodds

 

Falcons might regret letting Nielsen walk

Nice get for the Jags

 

Titans plan to hire Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan as head coach

 

Report: Brian Johnson will not return as Eagles offensive coordinator

The Eagles will now need two coordinators.

Per Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer, Brian Johnson will not return to the team as offensive coordinator.

Johnson had just completed his first year as the team’s OC after two seasons as Philadelphia’s quarterbacks coach. But while the Eagles finished No. 7 in points and No. 8 in yards, the unit was marred by inconsistency, particularly down the stretch. The Eagles scored just nine points in their wild-card round loss to the Buccaneers.

Quarterback Jalen Hurts’ interceptions also went up from six in 2022 to 15 in 2023.

Johnson had received some interest in the head coaching market, interviewing with the Falcons and receiving requests from the Panthers and Titans.

The Eagles have also reportedly parted ways with defensive coordinator Sean Desai and senior defensive assistant Matt Patricia as the team looks to reshape its coaching staff after dropping six of seven games to end the year.

NBC
____________
__________________________

I also heard Angus and Malcom Young are happy to hear this. They want Brian Johnson to be fully dedicated to the band.

 

Chargers, Jim Harbaugh reportedly “in striking distance”

As the Chargers continue to look for a new coach, several big names have been linked to the job. One of them could soon be getting it.

Per Mike Garafolo of NFL Media, the Chargers and Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh are in “striking distance” of getting a deal done.

Harbaugh wanted the job last year, but it wasn’t open. He’s currently interviewing for the job a second time. As one league source tells PFT, “He wants it.”

On one hand, that’s obvious. On the other hand, he has a great job at Michigan — and a big offer on the table for an extension. The Falcons also have interviewed Harbaugh.

The question of money has lingered over the situation. Some have suggested Harbaugh wants more than the Chargers will pay. Others say that’s premature and “posturing.”

At some point, Harbaugh needs to make a decision. Especially with other big-name coaches connected to the job. Former Titans coach Mike Vrabel has interviewed for the job. Earlier today, we heard that former Seahawks coach Pete Carroll is making a behind-the-scenes push for consideration.

The Chargers also are looking for a General Manager. They entered the process with no preconceived ideas as to how the football operations will be structured, or whether the G.M. or the coach will be hired first.

NBC
___________
_________________________

Michigan scrambling to see how much money they have in their piggy bank.

 

Bears announce Shane Waldron as their new offensive coordinator

The Bears announced the hiring of Shane Waldron as their new offensive coordinator. He leaves Seattle after three seasons as the Seahawks’ offensive coordinator.

“We are excited to add Shane to our coaching staff,” coach Matt Eberflus said in a statement. “I also want to thank all the candidates we spoke to throughout the interview process. This was a very exhaustive search, but in the end I’m grateful the journey led us to Shane. He is a great teacher and communicator with a diverse coaching background among some of the game’s most elite head coaches. I look forward to partnering with him as we build out the rest of the staff and get him started here.”

Under Waldron, the Seahawks finished No. 16, No. 9, and No. 17 in points scored along with No. 20, No. 13, and No. 21 in total yards.

Before heading to the Pacific Northwest, Waldron was with the Rams from 2017-20 under head coach Sean McVay. He began as the team’s tight ends coach before being promoted to passing game coordinator in 2018. He added quarterbacks coach to his duties in 2019 before going back to passing game coordinator in 2020.

“I appreciate this opportunity given to me by coach Eberflus and [General Manager] Ryan Poles,” Waldron said in a statement. “We can’t wait to get to work at a franchise with such a storied history and passionate fan base.”

 

Its official... he's in.