Aug 19, 2021; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

Reports: Josh McDaniels returning for third stint as Pats’ OC

Josh McDaniels is heading back to New England for his third tour as the Patriots’ offensive coordinator, several reports said Tuesday.

McDaniels, 48, will take over an offense quarterbacked by rising sophomore Drake Maye on new coach Mike Vrabel’s first staff in Foxborough, Mass.

McDaniels spent 2001-08 and 2012-21 on the Patriots’ staff in a variety of roles, first rising to the offensive coordinator post in 2006. He was a part of all six Super Bowl titles of the Bill Belichick era.

He is also known for a pair of failed stints as a head coach. He was fired by the Denver Broncos 12 games into his second season with the team in 2010 and had history repeat itself eight games into his second season leading the Las Vegas Raiders in 2023.

McDaniels did not coach anywhere in 2024, with Sports Illustrated reporting that he spent the year “evolving” his offense after spending time around various NFL and college teams.

In his most recent season as New England’s offensive coordinator, 2021, the Patriots ranked sixth in the NFL in scoring and 15th in yards per game. That was Mac Jones’ rookie year, when he was named a Pro Bowler; he regressed in the following years without McDaniels and was eventually traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Maye, 22, threw for 2,276 yards, 15 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in 13 appearances (12 starts) as a rookie after being selected No. 3 overall in the 2024 draft.

The Patriots went 4-13 and fired Jerod Mayo after one season as their coach following Belichick.

–Field Level Media

Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson watches a play against Tennessee Titans during the second half at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024.

Take 5: Early candidates to be Saints’ next head coach

The New Orleans Saints became the second team to get a head start on the NFL coaching carousel by firing Dennis Allen on Monday.

He follows Robert Saleh, who was let go by the New York Jets last month. Allen’s departure appeared imminent as the Saints dropped their seventh consecutive game on Sunday following two wins to begin the season.

Special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi will serve as the team’s interim head coach for the remainder of the season, and here are five early candidates to become the Saints’ next head coach in the offseason.

5. Mike Vrabel, Browns Consultant
Vrabel, 49, is spending this season as a consultant for Cleveland after parting ways with Tennessee last offseason. The NFL’s Coach of the Year in 2021, Vrabel spent six years at the helm of the Titans. He is highly respected in league circles and is expected to be on the short list for several vacancies this offseason.

4. Aaron Glenn, Detroit Lions Defensive Coordinator
As impressive as the Lions’ offense is, Glenn has been doing an outstanding job leading the defense, which has continued to befuddle opponents following the devastating injury to pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson. Detroit is allowing an average of 357.1 yards per game, but a solid portion of that is coming in garbage time of blowout victories. The Lions are allowing only 18.5 points per game, good for sixth in the NFL entering Monday night.

Glenn, 52, has ties to the Saints’ franchise. After closing his playing career with a season in New Orleans in 2008, he returned to serve as the team’s defensive backs coach from 2016-20 before taking the reins of the Lions’ defense. The big hurdle in a potential third stint in New Orleans could be the team’s interest in an offensive-minded head coach following the failed Allen tenure.

3. Joe Brady, Buffalo Bills Offensive Coordinator
Brady has been lauded for his work with Josh Allen & Co. since taking over midseason in 2023. Despite deal away Stefon Diggs last offseason and Allen working with a mediocre group of wide receivers, Buffalo is fifth in the NFL averaging 28.9 points per game.

Brady also has strong ties to New Orleans, working as an offensive assistant for the Saints from 2017-18 before moving on to become the passing game coordinator for LSU the following season. After two years as the Carolina Panthers’ offensive coordinator, Brady moved on to Buffalo in 2022. He would potentially become the youngest head coach in the NFL, having just turned 35 in September.

2. Todd Monken, Baltimore Ravens Offensive Coordinator
Sticking with the offensive-minded theme, Monken currently oversees the NFL’s fourth-ranked offense in terms of total yards and No. 2 scoring offense at 31.4 points per game. Monken, 58, is a longtime offensive coordinator at the pro and college levels. He came to Baltimore last season after running Georgia’s offense for three years, winning a pair of national titles in the process.

Monken began his coaching career at Division II Grand Valley State in 1989 and has served stints at Notre Dame, Oklahoma State and LSU in addition to the Jacksonville Jaguars, Tampa Bay Bucs and Cleveland Browns.

1. Ben Johnson, Lions Offensive Coordinator
Yes, Bill Belichick might be the biggest name available this offseason but no one is shaping up to be more sought after than Johnson. The Lions “only” have the seventh-ranked total offense in the league but Detroit is regularly blowing opponents out on the strength of an offense that leads the NFL with an average of 32.3 points per game.

How interested Johnson is in the Saints’ job could depend upon where New Orleans stacks up at the end of the season in terms of landing one of the top QBs in the draft and which other vacancies become available.

–Field Level Media

Sep 24, 2023; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick chats with New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh pre game at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images

Jets Next Head Coach Odds: Bill Belichick tops lengthy list

Taking on the pressure of being the head coach of the New York Jets is not for the faint of heart, and speculation began to run rampant immediately after Robert Saleh was fired just five games into the season.

At least one sportsbook is already offering odds on who will be patrolling the Jets’ sideline come Week 1 of next season. The list of more than 50 names is topped by none other than Bill Belichick, who guided division rival New England to six Super Bowl titles.

Belichick, 72, reportedly wants to coach next season, and he’ll potentially have his pick among several openings that could be created over the next few months. SportsBetting.ag had previously listed Dallas and Jacksonville as the leading candidates to hire Belichick, followed by Philadelphia.

The Jets were tied for the fifth-shortest odds to hire Belichick just two weeks ago, but he is now the +200 favorite to ultimately replace Saleh. Defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich will have a dozen games to build his case to earn the job permanently, but he is not among the favorites by the sportsbook.

“He is a tough coach who has the respect of the coaches and the players on this team,” owner Woody Johnson said of Ulbrich. “I believe he along with the coaches on this staff can get the most out of our talented team and attain the goals we established this offseason.”

The second-shortest odds belong to another experienced head coach with Patriots ties. Former New England linebacker Mike Vrabel parted ways with the Tennessee Titans after last season. Similar to Belichick, Vrabel was considered for other head coaching vacancies last offseason before ultimately joining the Cleveland Browns as a consultant.

Vrabel was installed at +500 behind Belichick after news of Saleh’s firing broke on Tuesday, but those odds had shortened to +425 just a few hours later. Meanwhile, Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson had held steady as the third favorite at +600.

JETS NEXT HEAD COACH ODDS*
Bill Belichick (+200)
Mike Vrabel (+425)
Ben Johnson (+600)
Bobby Slowik (+800)
Todd Monken (+1000)
Joe Brady (+1100)
Aaron Glenn (+1400)
Matt Nagy (+1400)
Arthur Smith (+1600)
Adam Stenavich (+1800)
Teryl Austin (+1800)
Brian Flores (+2000)
Jeff Ulbrich (+2000)
Bobby Babich (+2500)
Jesse Minter (+2500)
Kliff Kingsbury (+2500)
Nick Sorensen (+2500)
Zac Robinson (+2500)
Brian Schottenheimer (+3300)
Dan Pitcher (+3300)
Jim Schwartz (+3300)
Kellen Moore (+3300)
Wes Phillips (+3300)
Greg Roman (+4000)
Jim Bob Cooter (+4000)
Klint Kubiak (+4000)
Liam Coen (+4000)
Shane Waldron (+4000)
Vic Fangio (+4000)
Chris Shula (+5000)
DeMarcus Covington (+5000)
Drew Petzing (+5000)
Ejiro Evero (+5000)
Frank Smith (+5000)
Gus Bradley (+5000)
Jeff Hafley (+5000)
Mike Kafka (+5000)
Mike LaFleur (+5000)
Zach Orr (+5000)
Lane Kiffin (+10000)
Lincoln Riley (+10000)
Matt Rhule (+10000)
Nathaniel Hackett (+10000)
Patrick Graham (+10000)
Ron Rivera (+10000)
Steve Sarkisian (+10000)
Pete Carroll (+15000)
Deion Sanders (+25000)
Jim Harbaugh (+25000)
Nick Saban (+25000)
Rex Ryan (+25000)
Tony Romo (+25000)
Joe Namath (+500000)
*SportsBetting.ag odds provided for entertainment purposes only.

Despite having four-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers at the helm, the Jets rank 27th in total offense (286.6 yards per game) and 25th in scoring (18.6).

CBS Sports reported that Saleh was “seriously contemplating” firing offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett before Johnson made his own move. It’s possible Hackett may not keep play-calling duties with Ulbrich in charge.

“We’re gonna take a deep dive on that in the next 36 hours and look at every possibility,” Ulbrich said. “I do not see changes in necessarily titles and positions. As far as responsibilities and the process itself, we’re gonna take a hard look at that.”

Saleh, 45, compiled a 20-36 record with no playoff appearances in 56 games since taking over the Jets in 2021. New York last made the playoffs in the 2010 season, losing in the AFC Championship Game for the second straight year.

–Field Level Media

Oct 8, 2023; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA;  New England Patriots linebackers coach Jerod Mayo during the second half against the New Orleans Saints at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

Next Patriots coach odds pulled after huge Jerod Mayo action

Within an hour of releasing odds on who will succeed Bill Belichick as the New England Patriots’ head coach, a sportsbook was forced to pull them down after a rush of action on Jerod Mayo.

Mayo opened as the -350 favorite by SportsBetting.ag. When those odds shortened to -700 within an hour, the book pulled the market down.

Mayo, 37, was a first-round pick by the Patriots in 2008 and spent all eight of his NFL seasons playing for Belichick as one of the game’s top inside linebackers. He later joined Belichick’s staff as the position coach and has worked with New England’s inside linebackers for the past five years.

He’s a logical choice to fill Belichick’s legendary shoes and would provide continuity for the franchise. So, too, would Mike Vrabel. The 48-year-old played eight seasons for the Patriots and offers something significant that Mayo’s resume lacks – head-coaching experience.

Vrabel, fired as Tennessee’s head coach earlier this week, was being offered at +250 by the book to replace Belichick. Vrabel is expected to be on the short list for several of what is now eight head-coaching vacancies around the NFL.

The next shortest odds belonged to Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson at +400. No one else had shorter than the +1400 odds placed on Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien.

And what about Belichick’s future?

The six-time Super Bowl winning coach said he is “excited for the future” on Thursday and the 71-year-old is expected to draw interest for multiple openings as well.

NFL Network and ESPN reported at least three teams have serious interest in him. NFL Network reported the Atlanta Falcons, who fired Arthur Smith on Sunday, will be at the head of the line to talk to Belichick and would be willing to give him full control of the football operation as a coach, general manager and vice president.

The Falcons were installed as the +100 favorite to hire Belichick. Atlanta has a deep-pocketed owner in Arthur Blank, but questions at quarterback that must be addressed — especially considering the struggles the Patriots have endured at the position since Tom Brady departed.

BILL BELICHICK NEXT TEAM ODDS
Atlanta Falcons (+100)
Washington Commanders (+300)
Tennessee Titans (+400)
Carolina Panthers (+700)
Los Angeles Chargers (+800)
Las Vegas Raiders (+900)
Seattle Seahawks (+2500)

(Odds provided for entertainment purposes only. SportsBetting.ag is not a regulated sportsbook in the United States).

–Field Level Media

Dec 24, 2023; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik smiles before the game against the Cleveland Browns at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Take 5: Titans candidates to replace Mike Vrabel

The Tennessee Titans find themselves in a precarious spot as they enter one of the more intriguing head coaching cycles in recent memory.

Mike Vrabel, who was fired Tuesday, took the team to three playoff appearances in six seasons, including an AFC Championship Game. The team could also be parting ways with franchise running back Derrick Henry, who is a pending free agent, and got to see quarterback Will Levis attempt 255 passes before injuries ended his rookie season.

Tennessee will also be competing in a coaching cycle that will include at minimum Washington, Las Vegas, Atlanta, Carolina and the Los Angeles Chargers.

How attractive the Titans’ situation is remains to be seen. Here are five candidates controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk and general manager Ran Carthon may consider to replace Vrabel.

5. Jim Harbaugh, Michigan
Fresh off leading the Wolverines to the national title on Monday, Harbaugh is expected to be heavily sought-after by several NFL teams. However, would the Titans be appealing? The Chargers, for example, have an established franchise quarterback in Justin Herbert. Meanwhile, Washington would provide Harbaugh an opportunity to be close to his brother, John, in Baltimore without competing in the same conference.

4. Ben Johnson, Lions OC
Johnson, 37, is one of the hottest names in the NFL coaching circle after leading Detroit’s offense for the past two seasons. He’s expected to interview for multiple openings this offseason and like Harbaugh, Tennessee will likely have to compete with potentially more attractive suitors if the Titans go after Johnson. With Levis showing potential in his first partial NFL season, bringing in a coach who can aid in his development will be a priority — whether that’s a head coach or an offensive coordinator.

3. Frank Smith, Dolphins OC
Coach Mike McDaniel calls the plays for the Dolphins, but Smith is considered another rising offensive mind. Miami led the league in total yards during the regular season and finished second in scoring. Smith, 42, has already been contacted for a potential interview with the Panthers. He broke into the NFL as an assistant for Sean Payton in New Orleans in 2010 and has spent time with the Bears, Raiders and Chargers before joining McDaniel’s staff last year.

2. Dan Quinn, Cowboys DC
As a highly respected coordinator with previous NFL head coaching experience, Quinn is also expected to draw interest from several teams. That includes the Panthers, Chargers and Commanders, who reportedly already have plans to interview Quinn at the end of next week. The 53-year-old led the Falcons to a Super Bowl in five-plus seasons as Atlanta’s coach, and Quinn could be viewed as the best fit to quickly return the Titans to competitive status in the AFC South.

1. Bobby Slowik, Texans OC
Carthon worked in San Francisco’s front office when Slowik was on the 49ers’ staff under coach Kyle Shanahan. Slowik moved to Houston with new Texans coach DeMeco Ryans, and has been credited with aiding the immediate success of rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud. Slowik, 36, has only one year of play-calling experience under his belt, but Houston did win the AFC South with Stroud throwing for 23 touchdowns against just five interceptions.

–Field Level Media

Dec 31, 2023; Houston, Texas, USA; Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel reacts after a play during the first quarter against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Reports: Mike Vrabel, Titans to decide future in meeting this week

Meetings with team ownership and general manager Ran Carthon are scheduled this week to determine the fate of head coach Mike Vrabel with the Tennessee Titans.

According to reports, Vrabel isn’t a lock to return, bringing headwinds of finality to the regular-season finale Sunday in Nashville against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Titans (5-11) entered Week 18 as the only AFC South team eliminated from the playoffs.

The game is expected to be the last in a Titans uniform for quarterback Ryan Tannehill, and it could be the end of running back Derrick Henry’s time with the team.

Both players are in the final years of their contracts and Carthon, hired in January 2023, inherited Vrabel as a head coach.

Vrabel, a former linebacker in the NFL and All-American defensive lineman at Ohio State, has been linked to potential openings elsewhere, most prominently as a possible replacement with the New England Patriots if Bill Belichick exits Foxborough. Vrabel, 48, played for the Patriots from 2001-08 and was on three of the team’s Super Bowl championship rosters. He’s a member of the Patriots Hall of Fame.

Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk chose Carthon as GM over Vrabel’s favored in-house candidate, vice president of player personnel Ryan Cowden. There is no known divide between Carthon and Vrabel since the two were paired atop the team’s power structure, however.

Hired in 2018, Vrabel has a 55-48 record, including 2-3 in the playoffs, entering Week 18, but the Titans are 5-18 in the past 23 games. Tennessee lost the final seven games of the 2022 season.

Vrabel’s contract runs through 2025, with a team option for 2026.

–Field Level Media

Oct 13, 2023; London, United Kingdom; Craig Aukerman special teams coach during Tennessee Titans practice session at The Grove, Watford for their upcoming NFL London game. Mandatory Credit: Peter van den Berg-USA TODAY Sports

Titans fire special teams coordinator

The Tennessee Titans fired special teams coordinator Craig Aukerman on Monday and replaced him with Tom Quinn.

The move comes less than 24 hours after the Titans allowed two blocked punts — one that was returned for a touchdown and another that resulted in a season-ending injury to punter Ryan Stonehouse. The Titans later missed an extra point in the fourth quarter before absorbing an overtime loss to the Indianapolis Colts.

“There’s no real precedent to anything,” Titans head coach Mike Vrabel said in announcing the move Monday. “I try to get a feel for what’s best and what’s needed.”

Aukerman joined the Titans in 2017 as an assistant special teams coach.

The Titans (4-8) play at Miami (9-3) next week on “Monday Night Football.”

–Field Level Media

Oct 15, 2023; London, United Kingdom; Tennessee Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill (17) throws the ball against the Baltimore Ravens in the first half during an NFL International Series game at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Same injury, different year for Titans QB Ryan Tannehill (ankle)

Ryan Tannehill has an ankle injury similar to what he initially suffered in 2022, Tennessee Titans coach Mike Vrabel said Monday.

With the Titans heading into their bye week, Vrabel said Tannehill “will get treatment around the clock” in the hopes he’ll be ready to face the Atlanta Falcons on Oct. 29.

“This will be a big week to see how he progresses and then we’ll make a decision on his availability next week,” Vrabel said.

If Tannehill is not ready in time, Vrabel did not say whether the Titans would start second-year pro Malik Willis or rookie Will Levis at quarterback.

Tannehill left the third quarter of Sunday’s 24-16 loss to the Baltimore Ravens in London with a right ankle injury. Willis, No. 2 on the depth chart ahead of Levis, subbed in and went 4-for-5 passing for 74 yards.

Tannehill missed two games last season with an ankle injury, returned, re-injured it and wound up on injured reserve.

He has completed 62.0 percent of his passes this season for 1,128 yards, two touchdowns and six interceptions.

He is the Titans’ starter as long as he is healthy, Vrabel said.

–Field Level Media

Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis (8) throws during a joint practice with the Minnesota Vikings in Eagan, Minn., Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2023.

Titans QB Will Levis questionable for Saturday’s game vs. Vikings

Rookie quarterback Will Levis left Tennessee Titans practice early with an injury, coach Mike Vrabel said Thursday, and his status for Saturday’s preseason game at the Minnesota Vikings is up in the air.

The Titans did not disclose the extent of the injury other than to say it was a lower-body issue. Vrabel said Levis headed to the locker room with trainers late in Thursday’s practice.

The second-round pick (No. 33 overall) is battling Malik Willis for the No. 2 quarterback role behind starter Ryan Tannehill.

In the preseason opener against the Chicago Bears, Willis got the start and went 16-for-25 passing for 189 yards and an interception. Levis followed with a 9-of-14 performance for 85 yards and a pick.

Levis was a popular quarterback prospect coming out of Kentucky, with many analysts projecting him to be selected in the top 10. Instead, he slid out of the first round, allowing Tennessee to draft a player general manager Ran Carthon said they’d targeted.

In 24 games over the past two seasons at Kentucky, Levis racked up 5,233 passing yards with a 65.7 completion percentage, 43 touchdowns and 23 interceptions.

–Field Level Media

Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk laughs with Jeb Johnston as the team gets ready to face the Jacksonville Jaguars at Nissan Stadium Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022, in Nashville, Tenn.

Nfl Jacksonville Jaguars At Tennessee Titans

Titans GM search focused on collaboration with coach Mike Vrabel

General manager candidates for the Tennessee Titans’ vacancy must be ready to collaborate with head coach Mike Vrabel.

Owner Amy Adams Strunk began the search for Jon Robinson’s replacement in December. Robinson was fired Dec. 6.

“I’d like to have a GM as soon as possible, but we’re not going to rush the process just to get someone in as quickly as possible,” Strunk told the team’s website. The way we have it planned right now is we have two rounds, and we’re going to see where these interviews take us.”

Head coach Mike Vrabel’s job appears to be safe following a 7-10 finish.

The Titans used more players on their 53-man roster this season than any other team. With the division and a playoff spot on the line in Week 18, Tennessee started Josh Dobbs, who was signed off the Detroit Lions’ practice squad on Dec. 21. The loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars ended the Titans’ three-year run as division champs.

Strunk said the team has an experienced individual working as a consultant as part of the search. The interview process eventually will include Vrabel’s input.

“We want someone who is an exceptional talent evaluator, exceptional at roster building, and someone who is an excellent decision-maker,” Strunk said. “I also want someone who is a collaborator, someone who is able to find and build consensus to get to the best answers for the team, someone who is open to innovation and evaluating talent beyond the traditional avenues. Just really a talented person in all areas. But more than anything I want someone that can collaborate – that is super important to me, being able to find this person who can collaborate so we’re all working together, rowing the same direction.”

–Field Level Media