Tag: coach

Mike McCarthy on wanting Aaron Rodgers back in Pittsburgh: ‘Definitely’

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Mike McCarthy offered no ambiguity when asked at his introductory press conference as the Steelers’ head coach whether he’d want Aaron Rodgers back in Pittsburgh.

“Definitely,” McCarthy told reporters Tuesday. “I don’t see why you wouldn’t.”

Rodgers was McCarthy’s quarterback when the latter coached the Green Bay Packers from 2006-18. Rodgers spent last season in Pittsburgh, though his future is unclear.

McCarthy said he has spoken with Rodgers, 42, who has said he wants to take time away to think before deciding whether to keep playing and where.

“Just like anything, knowing Aaron long enough, going through seasons, I think … when guys are up at that stage of their career, they need to step away and decompress and I think that’s very important,” McCarthy said. “The game is so emotional. What these men commit to and what they put into it — I think that time away is important.”

Rodgers still has tread on the tires if he chooses not to retire, evidenced by posting his 15th season with at least 3,000 yards and 20 touchdown passes for the AFC North champs in 2025, numbers McCarthy appears to have taken notice of.

“I was able to sit back and watch most of the Pittsburgh games on TV and I thought he was a great asset to the team,” McCarthy said Tuesday.

The Pittsburgh native is the Steelers’ fourth head coach since 1969. He will take over the post previously held by Mike Tomlin, who coached the team from 2007-25 before stepping down earlier this month.

Tomlin followed Super Bowl winner Bill Cowher, who coached from 1992-2006. Cowher came after four-time Super Bowl champion Chuck Noll, who held the job from 1969-91.

“I understand and embrace the responsibility, the privilege and the weight that comes with this stewardship. This city, this franchise, this fan base means the world to me because Pittsburgh’s my world and it’s just awesome to be back here,” McCarthy said in his opening remarks, quickly becoming emotional.

“My heart is full, my focus is singular and it’s time to bring another championship back to this great city.”

McCarthy, 62, did not coach in the NFL this season after compiling a 49-35 record — with three 12-win seasons — in Dallas from 2020-24. He went 125-77-2 with Green Bay and led the Packers to victory against the Steelers in Super Bowl XLV.

McCarthy spent four years as an assistant coach in college at Pitt before beginning his NFL coaching career.

Tomlin stepped down on Jan. 13, one day after the Steelers dropped a 30-6 decision to the Houston Texans in the AFC wild-card game in Pittsburgh. The loss was Tomlin’s seventh straight postseason defeat.

–Field Level Media

Reports: Philip Rivers to interview for Bills’ head-coaching job

Posted on | by Field Level Media

After coming out retirement to play three games at the quarterback position, Philip Rivers reportedly is throwing his hat toward one of the NFL’s vacant head-coaching jobs.

Multiple media outlets reported Rivers is interviewing for the Buffalo Bills’ opening on Friday.

Rivers is not alone. Former Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel also is meeting with the Bills on Friday, per The Athletic, with the expectation that he will become the offensive coordinator of the Los Angeles Chargers if he is not hired for any of the league’s available top jobs.

Rivers, 44, has been the head coach at St. Michael Catholic High School in Fairhope, Ala., since he announced his initial retirement from the NFL after the 2020 season.

NFL Network reported Rivers and Buffalo star quarterback Josh Allen have a strong friendship. Bills owner Terry Pegula noted this week that Allen will be involved in the coaching search on the heels of Sean McDermott’s firing.

Rivers came out of retirement last month after the Indianapolis Colts lost starting quarterback Daniel Jones to a season-ending injury. He made three starts — all losses — and was quick to note that he was returning to coach at the Alabama school where his son, Gunner, will be the senior quarterback in the fall.

Rivers was a Pro Football Hall of Fame semifinalist prior to embarking on the comeback. His candidacy now resets and he will next be eligible for induction in 2031 due to the five-year waiting period after retirement.

He spent 16 seasons with the Chargers (13 in San Diego, three in Los Angeles) and one season (2020) with the Colts before his initial retirement.

Rivers ranks sixth all-time in passing TDs (425) and eighth in passing yards (63,984) in NFL history.

–Field Level Media

Falcons interview Antonio Pierce for coaching vacancy

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Former Las Vegas Raiders coach Antonio Pierce on Friday became the ninth candidate to interview for the Atlanta Falcons’ head coaching vacancy.

Currently an NFL studio analyst for CBS, Pierce joined the Raiders’ staff in 2022 as linebackers coach, then served as interim head coach in 2023 before becoming head coach in 2024. He went 9-17 at the helm and was fired after a 4-13 campaign in 2024.

Pierce, 47, was on the Arizona State coaching staff from 2018-21 in various roles following a four-year stint (2014-17) as head coach of Long Beach (Calif.) Poly High School.

During his nine-year NFL career as a linebacker with Washington (2001-04) and the New York Giants (2005-09), Pierce won Super Bowl XLII with the Giants.

Along with Pierce, the Falcons have also interviewed Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, former Ravens head coach John Harbaugh (reportedly hired to coach the New York Giants), former Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski, former Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel and Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver, as well as Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak and defensive coordinator Aden Durde.

–Field Level Media

Jason Witten named Oklahoma tight ends coach

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Oklahoma officially introduced Dallas Cowboys great Jason Witten as its new tight ends coach on Thursday.

It is the first collegiate coaching position for Witten, who replaces Joe Jon Finley on Brent Venables’ staff.

Witten, 43, was an 11-time Pro Bowl tight end for the Cowboys (2003-17, 2019) and Las Vegas Raiders (2020).

“I love football and I love teaching the game, and Oklahoma is as prestigious a college football program as there is in the country,” Witten said. “So I’m thankful to Coach Venables for the opportunity to work together. It’s been clear to me from the outset that he’s one of the best leaders of men in football. And he has the pieces in place to compete for championships, so I’m excited to work under him. … It’s a tremendous opportunity and I’m proud to be a Sooner.”

Since 2021, Witten has been the head coach at Liberty Christian School outside Dallas, where his son, Cooper, is ranked as the No. 1 linebacker in the Class of 2027 by the 247Sports composite rankings.

“When you talk about Jason Witten you start with the impeccable human being he is,” Venables said. “That’s as a competitor, a leader, a coach, a dad, a husband. He’s one of those rare people who represents incredibly high character, integrity and excellence. He’s a tremendous communicator blessed with unbelievable interpersonal skills. That’s who he was as a leader in the locker room as a player, and you can see the impact and influence he had as a head coach at the high school level at Liberty Christian. He’s really special in that regard.”

A two-time All-Pro, Witten caught 1,228 passes for 13,046 yards and 74 touchdowns in 271 games and was named the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year in 2012.

A third-round pick by Dallas out of Tennessee in the 2003 NFL Draft, Witten is the Cowboys’ all-time leader in receptions (1,215) and receiving yards (12,977) and ranks second in touchdowns (72), one behind Dez Bryant.

Witten is a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026, his first year of eligibility.

–Field Level Media

Reports: Browns seek to interview Rams’ Nate Scheelhaase

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The Cleveland Browns have requested to interview Los Angeles Rams pass-game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase for their vacant head coaching position, multiple outlets reported Sunday.

Scheelhaase, 35, is in his second season with the Rams offense, which led the NFL in scoring, passing yards and total offense during the regular season.

Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford led the NFL in passing yards (4,707) and touchdowns (46) this season, and Los Angeles wideout Puka Nacua led the league in receptions (129) and was second in receiving yards (1,715).

Scheelhaase played quarterback at Illinois from 2010-13. He coached at Iowa State from 2018-23, the final year as the offensive coordinator.

The Browns interviewed Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken on Saturday, and they previously interviewed Cincinnati Bengals OC Dan Pitcher and Seattle Seahawks defensive coordinator Aden Durde.

Their own offensive and defensive coordinators, Tommy Rees and Jim Schwartz, respectively, also have interviewed for the job.

Cleveland fired Kevin Stefanski after a 5-12 season in 2025. Stefanski was 45-56 with two playoff appearances in six seasons with the Browns.

–Field Level Media

Report: Raheem Morris to meet with Giants, Cards, Titans

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Former Atlanta Falcons coach Raheem Morris has a full dance card with three in-person coaching interviews scheduled over the next eight days, multiple outlets reported Wednesday.

Morris, 49, will reportedly sit down with the New York Giants, Arizona Cardinals and Tennessee Titans to discuss their head coaching vacancies.

The Falcons parted ways with Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot following Sunday’s season-ending 19-17 win against the New Orleans Saints. It was the fourth straight victory for Atlanta (8-9), which finished in a three-way tie atop the NFC South but did not make the playoffs due to tiebreakers.

Morris was 17-31 as head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2009-11. He was 4-7 as Atlanta’s interim coach in 2020, and 16-18 over the past two seasons. His combined record is 37-56 with no playoff appearances.

–Field Level Media

Tom Brady, college teammate lead Raiders’ search for 15th coach since 2000

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If ever there was a doubt that Tom Brady is a minority owner of the Raiders in name only, principal stakeholder Mark Davis set the record straight in kickstarting the search for the franchise’s 15th coach since the turn of the century.

Brady, approved for a minority stake in the Raiders by the NFL last season, was at the team facility to coordinate with the front office as Las Vegas charts a course for 2026. The first step was firing Pete Carroll, who finished 3-14 in his lone season, the league’s worst record.

“Moving forward, general manager John Spytek will lead all football operations in close collaboration with Tom Brady, including the search for the club’s next head coach,” Davis said Monday in a brief statement.

But the message was loud and clear: Brady is driving the decisions in Las Vegas, a franchise with a cumulative 21-47 record since the end of the 2021 season.

Private and public consternation from NFL owners arose when the league signed off on Brady’s ownership with the Raiders while also having access to assistant coaches and players during game-week production meetings for his other job as game analyst for Fox Sports.

Brady also holds sway in the next massive decision awaiting the Raiders: how to invest the No. 1 overall draft pick. Brady has been highly complimentary of Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, the Heisman Trophy winner for the undefeated Hoosiers who is currently the betting favorite to be the top pick in April.

The Raiders haven’t had the No. 1 draft pick since 2007. They drafted LSU quarterback JaMarcus Russell, who was a bust under then-head coach Lane Kiffin.

Davis didn’t have to introduce Spytek and Brady, who were college teammates at Michigan. Spytek, previously assistant general manager with the Buccaneers, was also instrumental in bringing Brady to Tampa Bay as a free agent in 2020.

“We see football similar,” Spytek said. “We don’t see it the same. We have plenty of discussions and disagreements, and I’m not afraid to tell him that. I think that’s kind of why he likes me. But I do believe that we see things similar. We’ve both had a lot of success seeing it that way, and I think we know what we’re after, and it’s up to us now to go find it.”

The Raiders’ head coaches (including interim coaches) since 2000: Pete Carroll (2025), Antonio Pierce (2023-24), Josh McDaniels (2022-23), Rich Bisaccia (2021), Jon Gruden (2018-21, 1998-2001), Jack Del Rio (2015-17), Tony Sparano (2014), Dennis Allen (2012-14), Hue Jackson (2011), Tom Cable (2008-10), Lane Kiffin (2007-08), Art Shell (2006), Norv Turner (2004-05) and Bill Callahan (2001-02).

–Field Level Media

Reports: Mike McCarthy, Antonio Pierce on NYG interview list

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Former Giants linebacker Antonio Pierce and franchise nemesis Mike McCarthy are among candidates on New York’s interview list as the franchise searches for a new head coach, according to reports.

Pierce was head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders for parts of two seasons and went 9-17. He played linebacker for the Giants from 2005-09.

McCarthy, the former Cowboys and Packers coach, is expected to be a candidate for multiple openings. He was not retained at the end of the 2024 season by Dallas, which promoted offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer to fill the opening.

Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo and Giants interim coach Mike Kafka are also expected to be candidates for the Giants’ job, ESPN reported.

Kafka is 1-5 since being named interim head coach following the firing of Brian Daboll. Daboll was 20-40-1 and was dismissed after a 2-8 start to the 2025 season.

Joe Judge was the team’s coach from 2020-21 and went 10-23 and before that Pat Shurmur had a 9-23 record from 2018-19.

–Field Level Media

Ohio promotes DC John Hauser to head coach

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Ohio University promoted defensive coordinator John Hauser to head coach on Friday, three days after he led the Bobcats to victory in the Frisco Bowl.

Hauser, 45, was named interim coach after Ohio fired head coach Brian Smith for cause on Dec. 17. Hauser guided Ohio to a 17-10 win against UNLV on Tuesday in Frisco, Texas.

It is the first head coaching position for Hauser, a Columbus, Ohio, native who just completed his fourth season on the Bobcats’ coaching staff.

“We are thrilled to announce John Hauser as our next head football coach. John is committed to developing our team while continuing to build on the strong foundation. The success is evident since he arrived on campus in 2022,” athletic director Slade Larscheid said.

“Over the past four seasons, Ohio football has won 40 games, and John is a key piece in all that goes into our winning program. Additionally, he’s a proven leader, and his focus will be on the student-athlete experience, both on and off the field. We look forward to John and his family making an immediate impact for Ohio University and Bobcat football.”

The Bobcats finished 9-4 this season, improving to 40-14 since the start of the 2022 campaign. Hauser coached the safeties that season, was promoted to defensive coordinator in 2024 and added associate head coach duties in 2025.

“I am grateful to President Lori Gonzalez and Director of Athletics Slade Larscheid for the opportunity to lead this team and for their belief in what we can accomplish together. I’d like to thank our players, alumni and fans for the support they have shown this program and for the pride they bring to Ohio University,” Hauser said.

“This is a special place for my family and me, and we are proud to be part of a community that cares so deeply about Ohio University and its football program. I look forward to hitting the ground running with the team as we look to build on the program’s tradition of success in 2026 and beyond.”

Hauser has also coached at Miami (Ohio), The Citadel, Wayne State and Northern Illinois, dating back to 2003.

–Field Level Media

Reports: Michigan focuses on Utah’s Kyle Whittingham

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Michigan’s coaching search is focused on outgoing Utah coach Kyle Whittingham, multiple outlets reported on Friday.

Whittingham, 66, announced earlier this month that he is stepping down after 21 seasons as the Utes’ head coach. He led Utah to a 177-88 record over his tenure, earning one Mountain West Conference Coach of the Year award (2008) and two Pac-12 Coach of the Year honors in 2019 and 2021.

His farewell appearance with No. 15 Utah (10-2) will be against Nebraska (7-5) in the Las Vegas Bowl on New Year’s Eve.

“The time is right,” Whittingham said, noting that he wasn’t retiring from coaching. “The opportunity to guide so many talented young men as they pursued their goals — both on and off the field — has truly been a blessing.”

According to ESPN, top Michigan officials will discuss Whittingham’s candidacy on Friday and a deal could happen “in the near future” if he is approved.

Michigan fired head coach Sherrone Moore with cause on Dec. 10 for having an extramarital relationship with a subordinate in the football program.

Interim coach Biff Poggi will lead the No. 18 Wolverines (9-3) against No. 13 Texas (9-3) in the Citrus Bowl on New Year’s Eve in Orlando.

–Field Level Media