NFL 2025 Offseason

[Isgrimnur]

NFL Black Monday live updates: Latest rumors, news, analysis on coach firings

With Week 18 wrapping up Sunday and the playoff picture complete, four teams already find themselves with vacancies in their top jobs: the New York Jets, New Orleans Saints, Chicago Bears and New England Patriots.
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The Chicago Bears are moving forward with their coaching search by requesting an interview with Arizona Cardinals offensive coordinator Drew Petzing, according to multiple reports.
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The New England Patriots are moving quickly after firing Jerod Mayo on Sunday, as the team has requested an interview with Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, according to multiple reports.
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The Patriots have been widely linked to former Tennessee Titans coach and New England standout Mike Vrabel, but Johnson could also be a strong candidate given the need to support Drake Maye after the quarterback's promising rookie season.

Jets owner Woody Johnson has to find both a new GM and head coach this offseason and wasted little time in making requests Monday for employees of postseason-bound teams.
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With the Giants in desperate need of a quarterback, owner John Mara was asked about the timeline regarding the future of GM Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll if the team selects a rookie signal-caller in the draft and whether his commitment to them extended beyond next season.

"I understand the question, but I'm not going to put any kind of time limit on it," Mara replied.
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A strong finish to the season could not save Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, as Cincinnati let him go Monday after a 9-8 season that ended with the team missing the playoffs for the second straight season, according to multiple reports.
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Black Monday began in earnest with perhaps the most obvious move of the offseason: the Jacksonville Jaguars moving on from head coach Doug Pederson.

[ImLawBoy]

[url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/n ... 480241007/]NFL
The Chicago Bears are moving forward with their coaching search by requesting an interview with Arizona Cardinals offensive coordinator Drew Petzing, according to multiple reports.

I got a news flash on my phone that they've also already put in requests to interview both Lions coordinators. The paper also reported that they'd give the current interim head coach an interview, but the results on the field since he took over all that I need to say, "Thank you for your service, and good luck in your future endeavors."

[naednek]

I'm just waiting for the niners to fire Moody

[ImLawBoy]

I'm just waiting for the niners to fire Moody

Get rid of him so the Bears can pick him up and we can counter the Curse of Robbie Gould with your new Curse of Jake Moody! I thought he was working through a leg injury that may have added to his issues. He was amazing as Michigan's kicker in college, so I have a soft spot for him.

[Scuzz]

[url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/n ... 480241007/]NFL
The Chicago Bears are moving forward with their coaching search by requesting an interview with Arizona Cardinals offensive coordinator Drew Petzing, according to multiple reports.

I got a news flash on my phone that they've also already put in requests to interview both Lions coordinators. The paper also reported that they'd give the current interim head coach an interview, but the results on the field since he took over all that I need to say, "Thank you for your service, and good luck in your future endeavors."

ESPN is reporting the Bears have asked the Cowboys for permission to talk to McCarthy, although that may not be necessary as his contract is up in Dallas.

[ImLawBoy]

I think since this morning I've seen that the Bears are planning on interviewing nearly every OC and DC in the NFL (plus McCarthy, for some weird reason). I'm not being filled with confidence by this shotgun approach.

[El Guapo]

I think they should really go with an outside of the box candidate and pick Jeff V.

[LawBeefaroni]

[url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/n ... 480241007/]NFL
The Chicago Bears are moving forward with their coaching search by requesting an interview with Arizona Cardinals offensive coordinator Drew Petzing, according to multiple reports.

I got a news flash on my phone that they've also already put in requests to interview both Lions coordinators. The paper also reported that they'd give the current interim head coach an interview, but the results on the field since he took over all that I need to say, "Thank you for your service, and good luck in your future endeavors."

He took over a team in total disarray and managed to beat the Packers in the season finale. And more importantly, he's cheap!

[EvilHomer3k]

I think since this morning I've seen that the Bears are planning on interviewing nearly every OC and DC in the NFL (plus McCarthy, for some weird reason). I'm not being filled with confidence by this shotgun approach.

The Bears have been on a coaching/QB carousel for the last 10 years. I don't think it matters who they hire he's going to inherit a QB he didn't want and likely won't work in his system. 2 years and they'll be looking at another first round QB. A year later they'll fire their coach.

[ImLawBoy]

[url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/n ... 480241007/]NFL
The Chicago Bears are moving forward with their coaching search by requesting an interview with Arizona Cardinals offensive coordinator Drew Petzing, according to multiple reports.

I got a news flash on my phone that they've also already put in requests to interview both Lions coordinators. The paper also reported that they'd give the current interim head coach an interview, but the results on the field since he took over all that I need to say, "Thank you for your service, and good luck in your future endeavors."

He took over a team in total disarray and managed to beat the Packers in the season finale. And more importantly, he's cheap!

He took over a team in total disarray and, notwithstanding the Packers game, they got considerably worse. Under Eberflus, they were in games and then found spectacular ways to lose them, often through gross coaching malpractice. After Eberflus was fired, the gross coaching malpractice remained, but they weren't blowing close games because they were getting blown out from the start.

Can't count out "He's cheap!" as an important factor when talking about the McCaskeys, though.

[ImLawBoy]

I think since this morning I've seen that the Bears are planning on interviewing nearly every OC and DC in the NFL (plus McCarthy, for some weird reason). I'm not being filled with confidence by this shotgun approach.

The Bears have been on a coaching/QB carousel for the last 10 years. I don't think it matters who they hire he's going to inherit a QB he didn't want and likely won't work in his system. 2 years and they'll be looking at another first round QB. A year later they'll fire their coach.

I think offensive minded coaches would love the idea of Williams. I'd love to see the creativity of Ben Johnson combined with Williams's skills - I think they're a strong match that could break that cycle.

(I'm ignoring the Bears' QB curse, of course.)

[EvilHomer3k]

(I'm ignoring the Bears' QB curse, of course.)

You mean this one?

[ImLawBoy]

La la la . . . I can't hear you.

[Pyperkub]

I'm just waiting for the niners to fire Moody

Fired the Special Teams coach instead.

Which may also fix Moody's issues, especially after the injury, but it was obvious in the preseason when the Niners looked like they had no clue what to do with the new kickoff rules that he might be in trouble.

[Pyperkub]

Jets owner Woody Johnson has to find both a new GM and head coach this offseason and wasted little time in making requests Monday for employees of postseason-bound teams.

By new GM, you mean new QB, right?

Funny how the Jets were better without Rodgers the last couple of years, than they were with him this year.

I don't know if Saleh will get another HC chance

Spoiler:

the NFL certainly tends towards white head coaches getting far more retread opportunities than non-white ones

, but I think he should get some looks.

[Jeff V]

I got a news flash on my phone that they've also already put in requests to interview both Lions coordinators. The paper also reported that they'd give the current interim head coach an interview, but the results on the field since he took over all that I need to say, "Thank you for your service, and good luck in your future endeavors."

He beat the Packers though. Generally that's good for a 5 year contract at least.

[Isgrimnur]

Mike McCarthy will not return as Cowboys HC as sides could not agree on new deal

McCarthy's five-year tenure with the Cowboys ends with a 49-35 regular-season record and a 1-3 playoff ledger.
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The Bears requested to interview him last week, however, Dallas declined the request as it fell during the team's exclusive negotiating window. The Saints are also expected to have interest, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Monday.

[Jaymann]

Don't the Jets have an opening?

[Jaymann]

The Bears got their guy. Ben Johnson, architect of one of the best offenses in football, comes to Chicago and the franchise known for its offensive ineptitude to be its 19th head coach.

[Pyperkub]

I think since this morning I've seen that the Bears are planning on interviewing nearly every OC and DC in the NFL (plus McCarthy, for some weird reason). I'm not being filled with confidence by this shotgun approach.

The Bears have been on a coaching/QB carousel for the last 10 years. I don't think it matters who they hire he's going to inherit a QB he didn't want and likely won't work in his system. 2 years and they'll be looking at another first round QB. A year later they'll fire their coach.

I think offensive minded coaches would love the idea of Williams. I'd love to see the creativity of Ben Johnson combined with Williams's skills - I think they're a strong match that could break that cycle.

(I'm ignoring the Bears' QB curse, of course.)

Wish granted!

[El Guapo]

Not a knock on Ben Johnson, but it feels like talented assistants on great teams have like a 20% success rate in becoming successful head coaches.

[pr0ner]

Not a knock on Ben Johnson, but it feels like talented assistants on great teams have like a 20% success rate in becoming successful head coaches.

Or they're masked by their head coaches (look at Eric Bieniemy, and he hasn't even been given a head coaching shot yet!).

[El Guapo]

Not a knock on Ben Johnson, but it feels like talented assistants on great teams have like a 20% success rate in becoming successful head coaches.

Or they're masked by their head coaches (look at Eric Bieniemy, and he hasn't even been given a head coaching shot yet!).

I saw an interview with Belichick recently where he talked about how vastly different the job of head coach is from that of being an offensive / defensive coordinator. That your primary job as head coach is managing personnel combined with a bazillion other things that you don't need to worry about when you are a coordinator.

[ImLawBoy]

Not a knock on Ben Johnson, but it feels like talented assistants on great teams have like a 20% success rate in becoming successful head coaches.

Is that a different success rate from new head coaches coming from other scenarios? I don't think anyone but the most rosy-eyed Bears fans or hot take sports hosts are saying that this is a no lose hire, but it still strikes me as a smart move given the options. I mean, the Bears could have hired a retread like McCarthy or Carroll, but that comes with its own set of risks. Yes, he'll have to learn on the fly how to run the whole dang show instead of just the offense, but the word I've heard is that he's looking at former head coaches to fill his coordinator roles, which seems like a smart way to get some experience on the sidelines. Given the success he's had with Lions, where it seems like it's truly his offense and he's not just a figurehead running the head coach's offense, I think it's a smart hire. He seems like the right kind of coach to pair with Williams.

Next step - competent O line!

[Isgrimnur]

Bills fans raise over $100K for diabetes research to support Ravens player who dropped crucial pass

Ravens fans expressed their anger anyway, flooding Andrews' Instagram account with resentful comments. His last post was for National Diabetes Awareness Month in November, where Andrews discussed the continuous glucose monitoring system he uses to treat his Type 1 diabetes.
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A GoFundMe campaign was started by a Bills fanpage to raise at least $5,000 for a Type 1 diabetes charity in Andrews' name.
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That goal was surpassed within hours, and as of Thursday evening, the GoFundMe page has raised more than $100,000.
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Andrews addressed the GoFundMe in a heartfelt Instagram post Thursday about the loss.
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He highlighted the love and encouragement in spite of the negativity, including those donating to the Breakthrough T1D organization the Bills fans fundraised for.

"Even when the moment seems darkest, perspective can reveal that there’s still a lot of light in this world," Andrews wrote.

[Hrothgar]

NFL fines Joe Mixon $25,000 for something he didn’t say

Surely, they'll apologize.

Nope:

NFL revises Joe Mixon fine from what he didn’t say, to what he did say

[El Guapo]

Not a knock on Ben Johnson, but it feels like talented assistants on great teams have like a 20% success rate in becoming successful head coaches.

Is that a different success rate from new head coaches coming from other scenarios? I don't think anyone but the most rosy-eyed Bears fans or hot take sports hosts are saying that this is a no lose hire, but it still strikes me as a smart move given the options. I mean, the Bears could have hired a retread like McCarthy or Carroll, but that comes with its own set of risks. Yes, he'll have to learn on the fly how to run the whole dang show instead of just the offense, but the word I've heard is that he's looking at former head coaches to fill his coordinator roles, which seems like a smart way to get some experience on the sidelines. Given the success he's had with Lions, where it seems like it's truly his offense and he's not just a figurehead running the head coach's offense, I think it's a smart hire. He seems like the right kind of coach to pair with Williams.

Next step - competent O line!

I dunno. Not saying it's a bad hire (almost certainly the best hire on the table I think), it's just that the failure rate always seems so high.

[Jaymann]

LOL, the Raiders hire Pete Carroll as head coach.

[pr0ner]

Double LOL at the Cowboys job being so toxic they hired Brian Schottenheimer and didn't interview, well, any real name candidates.

[Isgrimnur]

Never going to change while Jerry is alive.

[Pyperkub]

Heh. Washington fans ecstatic that he's out...

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/dan- ... st-minute/

Dan Snyder reportedly 'f----ng hates' seeing Commanders win, 'threatened to kill' sale of team at last minute

[Jaymann]

I kinda hope Arrogant Rodgers sticks around for this (per ESPN):

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Completing their leadership overhaul, the New York Jets hired Darren Mougey as their general manager Saturday.

Mougey, a longtime Denver Broncos scout and executive who became their assistant general manager in 2022, will team with newly hired coach Aaron Glenn -- a brain trust with no previous experience in their new positions. It's a bold pairing by the Jets, who are trying to reboot after a turmoil-filled season and a 14-year playoff drought.

Emphasis mine.

[Pyperkub]

LOL, the Raiders hire Pete Carroll as head coach.

And get Chip Kelly as OC

The Las Vegas Raiders have made their final coordinator hire ahead of the 2025 NFL season.

Last week, the franchise hired Pete Carroll to take the role of head coach. Now, Carroll has a key position filled on staff: offensive coordinator.

I actually think the Raiders are doing well, at least better than they have in a long time. Carroll is a perfect Raiders Coach, save for the age - does he still have the juice? I think he might, at least for a couple of years.

[Jeff V]

Not a knock on Ben Johnson, but it feels like talented assistants on great teams have like a 20% success rate in becoming successful head coaches.

Is that a different success rate from new head coaches coming from other scenarios? I don't think anyone but the most rosy-eyed Bears fans or hot take sports hosts are saying that this is a no lose hire, but it still strikes me as a smart move given the options. I mean, the Bears could have hired a retread like McCarthy or Carroll, but that comes with its own set of risks. Yes, he'll have to learn on the fly how to run the whole dang show instead of just the offense, but the word I've heard is that he's looking at former head coaches to fill his coordinator roles, which seems like a smart way to get some experience on the sidelines. Given the success he's had with Lions, where it seems like it's truly his offense and he's not just a figurehead running the head coach's offense, I think it's a smart hire. He seems like the right kind of coach to pair with Williams.

Next step - competent O line!

Yeah, all those Superbowl championships he won with the Lions. And he inherited a QB who made it to the Superbowl. He didn't develop a QB, and he didn't take a prime offense to the promised land. He is suspiciously someone who was at the right place at the right time, but what's done is done, we'll see what happens. If he hires the right supporting cast, then maybe he won't suck so bad.

But yeah, offensive line. They need to go crazy in the FA market, and hopefully get a stud in the draft. Drafting Jimbo Covert in 83 enabled the solid offense in 85.

[Isgrimnur]

Why Eli Manning didn't make the cut for the HOF Class of 2025

Manning's case was complicated. He has two incredible playoff runs, two Super Bowl wins over the New England Patriots and two Super Bowl MVPs. There are also some gaudy stats that include being top 10 all time in passing yards (57,023) and touchdowns (366) when he retired following the 2019 NFL season and an incredible track record of durability -- Manning never missed a game in his 16-year career because of injury.

The biggest obstacle, according to some voters in the room, was that Manning was never really in the discussion as the best player at his position for a chunk of his career. He had Hall of Fame moments -- including taking down Bill Belichick and Tom Brady twice on the biggest stage -- but not necessarily a Hall of Fame career otherwise.

"In the interest of full transparency, I voted for Eli Manning and spoke up for him at our meeting. I believe Manning beating the Patriots twice in the Super Bowl with two-minute drives and being named Super Bowl MVP each time, along with currently being 11th all time in touchdown passes and yardage, presents a convincing résumé," Hall of Fame voter Gary Myers said.

"To get selected in the future, the voters must get past that Manning was never All-Pro or regular-season MVP and realize he played when those spots were not so available, playing in an era with Tom Brady, Peyton Manning and Drew Brees."

Myers went on to say: "Eli's record was just .500, but Dan Fouts was only two games over .500 and Warren Moon was only one game over .500 -- but neither made it to the Super Bowl. In fact, Moon never made it to a conference championship game. Fouts and Moon were each first-ballot Hall of Famers."

[Jaymann]

Congrats to Antonio Gates, a no brainer HoF inductee. The big question is will Philip Rivers make it next year. With no super bowl appearances it seems unlikely given the snub to Eli Manning, but stranger things have happened.

[Kurth]

Why Eli Manning didn't make the cut for the HOF Class of 2025

Manning's case was complicated. He has two incredible playoff runs, two Super Bowl wins over the New England Patriots and two Super Bowl MVPs. There are also some gaudy stats that include being top 10 all time in passing yards (57,023) and touchdowns (366) when he retired following the 2019 NFL season and an incredible track record of durability -- Manning never missed a game in his 16-year career because of injury.

The biggest obstacle, according to some voters in the room, was that Manning was never really in the discussion as the best player at his position for a chunk of his career. He had Hall of Fame moments -- including taking down Bill Belichick and Tom Brady twice on the biggest stage -- but not necessarily a Hall of Fame career otherwise.

"In the interest of full transparency, I voted for Eli Manning and spoke up for him at our meeting. I believe Manning beating the Patriots twice in the Super Bowl with two-minute drives and being named Super Bowl MVP each time, along with currently being 11th all time in touchdown passes and yardage, presents a convincing résumé," Hall of Fame voter Gary Myers said.

"To get selected in the future, the voters must get past that Manning was never All-Pro or regular-season MVP and realize he played when those spots were not so available, playing in an era with Tom Brady, Peyton Manning and Drew Brees."

Myers went on to say: "Eli's record was just .500, but Dan Fouts was only two games over .500 and Warren Moon was only one game over .500 -- but neither made it to the Super Bowl. In fact, Moon never made it to a conference championship game. Fouts and Moon were each first-ballot Hall of Famers."

As much as I hate the Giants and enjoyed watching the Eagles torture Eli over the years, he’ll always be a hero to me for beating Brady and the Patriots in those two SBs. I think he should have been a first ballot HOF inductee.

[RunningMn9]

I think the idea of Eli being a first ballot HOF inductee is absolutely absurd. For almost his entire career, he was outside the Top 10 in terms of QBs of his era. Two great playoff runs. Piled up volume stats because he was durable. I don’t believe he belongs in the HOF at all. For a year at least, I am vindicated.

[RunningMn9]

And also, congratulations to Josh Allen on his first MVP.

[Kurth]

I think the idea of Eli being a first ballot HOF inductee is absolutely absurd. For almost his entire career, he was outside the Top 10 in terms of QBs of his era. Two great playoff runs. Piled up volume stats because he was durable. I don’t believe he belongs in the HOF at all. For a year at least, I am vindicated.

Well, good thing you’re not a HOF voter!

I think he should get in just because he was 2 for 2 winning over Brady in the Super Bowl. That’s enough for me. Plus, throwing his impressive stats out the window because they were “volume stats” and disregarding his Ironman ability to never miss a game seems rather cavalier.

Also, his faces. Eli deserves to be in the HOF just by virtue of his incredible faces.