Sunday, Jan. 22.
Panthers Interview Familiar Face
Bills offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey interviewed with the Carolina Panthers for their head coach opening on Saturday, NFL Media reported.
In his first year as the Bills’ offensive coordinator and play caller, Dorsey kept the train rolling with Josh Allen. Dorsey has actually spent time with the Panthers before, as he was their quarterbacks coach during their most recent Super Bowl run in 2015. Dorsey is a former NFL quarterback, who played in the league from 2003 till 2008.
The Panthers paused their interview process after a player on Charlotte FC, also owned by Panthers owner David Tepper, died in a boating accident on Jan. 20. Dorsey was the first interview since the Panthers restarted their hiring process.
Jets Expand Offensive Coordinator Search
Bills quarterbacks coach Joe Brady interviewed with the New York Jets for their opening at offensive coordinator, NFL Media reported. However, Brady is reportedly unlikely to leave Buffalo.
After helping LSU win the national title with Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson and others, Brady was hired as the offensive coordinator for the Carolina Panthers. He held that position for 28 games before being fired in 2021. Given his success in working with two of the best young quarterbacks in the NFL, expect Brady’s name to be popular in the coaching cycle for years to come.
Saturday, Jan. 21
Defensive Coaches Getting Looks
A pair of popular names this hiring cycle can both add another NFC team to their list of suitors. The Arizona Cardinals did an online interview with Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn for their open head coaching position on Saturday, while the Vikings have put in a request to speak with Steelers LB coach Brian Flores for their defensive coordinator spot. Both reports came via NFL Media.
Quinn has been a popular name for team’s seeking a head coach, after the Cowboys’ defense finished seventh and fifth the last two seasons in points allowed. He spoke with both the Broncos and Colts on Friday for their jobs, and joins an almost double-digit list of candidates Arizona is considering to replace Kliff Kingsbury.
One of the other names who has interviewed with the Cardinals for their head coach position is Flores himself, who has had multiple teams interested in him as their next defensive coordinator. Minnesota follows the Falcons in expressing interest in the former Miami head coach, and Flores also spoke with the Browns about their coordinator job, though Cleveland went with another candidate.
Friday, Jan. 20
Colts Conduct Series of Interviews
The Colts completed head coaching interviews with three candidates on Friday, owner Jim Irsay announced. Interviewing with the team were Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan, Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, and Packers special teams coordinator Rick Bisaccia.
Callahan started to gain some traction as a candidate after the Bengals finished seventh in points per game in 2021 and 2022. He is in his fourth season calling the Bengals’ offensive plays and has helped Joe Burrow become one of the NFL’s premier passers. Bisaccia has served as an assistant head coach for multiple NFL teams, and in 2021 with the Raiders became the first interim head coach to take his team to playoffs in nearly a decade.
Quinn is the only one of the three with head coaching experience, having led the Atlanta Falcons from 2015-2020. In two seasons running the Cowboys’ defense, Dallas has been a top-10 unit in points allowed.
The trio joins a crowded group of potential candidates who have interviewed for the Colts’ job, including interim coach Jeff Saturday, Eagles offensive coordinator Shane Steichen, and Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn.
Texans Interview Former Pro Bowler Ryans
The Houston Texans interviewed one of the team’s brightest alumni and one of the hottest coaching candidates of the hiring cycle on Friday, speaking with 49ers defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans about their open head coaching position, the team announced.
Ryans, who has also received interest from the Broncos, Colts, and Cardinals for their head coach jobs, spent the first six of his 10 NFL seasons as a member of the Texans, winning Defensive Rookie of the Year and making two Pro Bowls and one All-Pro team.
Shortly after retiring, Ryans joined the 49ers’ coaching staff, and has spent the last two seasons as the team’s defensive coordinator. Under Ryans the team had a top-five defense in 2021, and was the NFL’s best in terms of yards and points allowed this season.
Chargers Begin Offensive Coordinator Search
The Chargers requested to interview Rams pass game coordinator and quarterbacks coach Zac Robinson for their open offensive coordinator position, NFL Media reported.
Robinson, a former NFL quarterback, is considered a strong candidate to replace Joe Lombardi, who was fired on Tuesday after Los Angeles’ disappointing postseason exit. Robinson worked with coach Brandon Staley on the Rams in 2020, so the two are familiar with each other.
The 33rd Team analyst Matt Cassel believes potential offensive coordinators should be lining up to take the Chargers’ job.
