NFL Player News

49ers DC Robert Saleh is meeting with the Titans this afternoon and giving his final sales pitch. McCormick adds that Packers DC Jeff Hafley may get “full-court press[ed]” by the Dolphins this afternoon before he can get to Tennessee. Nagy and the Titans have been a rumored pair for a long time — it was one of the first names to emerge after the firing of Brian Callahan. Perhaps the sudden availability of Sean McDermott will get the Titans to keep things cool for a bit — it sure doesn’t feel like anyone else is as imminently interested in hiring Nagy as they are, as the Titans are the only place so far we have with a reported second interview for the former Chiefs OC. Or perhaps this is going to wrap up in short order. Stay tuned.

Tierney has spent much of his career with new Titans offensive coordinator Brian Daboll. Starting as an offensive analyst under Daboll at Alabama, Tierney followed him to the Bills as offensive assistant, and then the Giants as quarterbacks coach. He now arrives in Tennessee to partner with Daboll again to develop 2025 No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward.

Warhop will follow new Browns head coach Todd Monken from Baltimore to Cleveland. He has held the role of OL coach for three decades across nine teams. He previously coached in Cleveland from 2009 to 2013.

McDermott crossed paths with Bucs GM Jason Licht nearly two decades ago when both men were with the Eagles. It’s unclear what role the Bucs had in mind for McDermott, but it’s a moot point. He is expected to take the year off and evaluate potential openings in 2027. We fully expect him to find another job as a head coach at that time.

Minshew was initially believed to have suffered a torn ACL in Week 16. The issue would have sidelined him for much of 2026, if not the entire season. Per Schefter, it was just a bone bruise that did not require surgery. Minshew did not suffer any long-term damage from the injury. Minshew will head into free agency with a clean bill of health. At just 29 years old, Minshew should have no issues finding another backup gig in the spring.

Babich will also hold the title of secondary coach. He joins the Packers after serving two years as the Bills’ DC. Babich previously interviewed for the Packers’ DC opening but chose to stay in Buffalo for a promotion. He will work under Jonathan Gannon in Green Bay.

Pelissero said Ventrone, widely seen as one of the NFL’s best special teams coaches, is not expected to stay on with new Cleveland head coach Todd Monken, who will presumably clean house and bring in his own coaches for 2026. The Rams in 2025 had what was by most measures the worst special teams unit while the Steelers were mostly middle of the pack in special teams metrics. Ventrone’s Browns allowed the seventh most yards per kickoff return and the fifth most yards per punt return in 2025.

Former Ravens OC Todd Monken got the Browns head coaching job on Wednesday after an extensive search, and after it appeared the Browns were set to promote Schwartz to the top job. Rapoport said the Browns “would like to retain Schwartz, who is under contract. The respected DC may have other plans. He’s coveted.” It looks like Schwartz will coach elsewhere in 2026 after being passed over, though there’s a chance he stays with Cleveland under Monken. Schwartz’s Browns offense in 2025 allowed the league’s fourth lowest success rate and third lowest EPA per play.

A dark horse to land the New York DC job, Duker, 36, will take over one of the NFL’s worst defenses in 2026 after a season of coaching the Miami secondary. Duker worked with Jets head coach Aaron Glenn when both were in Detroit from 2021 to 2023. Duker will be tasked with improving a New York defense that last year became the first defense in NFL history to not record a single interception. The Jets in 2025 allowed the league’s third highest EPA per play. No team was worse against the pass.

Monken, after coaching one of the NFL’s most efficient offenses over the past three seasons, will take over as Cleveland’s head coach after the team had several coaching candidates withdraw their name from consideration in recent days. Monken, 59, was the Browns offensive coordinator back in 2019, when the team ranked 22nd in most yards and points. He’s also served as OC for the Bucs. “By choosing Monken,” Russini said, “the Browns select a respected offensive mind with experience.” It’s not known whether Monken will retain Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, who was a candidate for the top job.

Leonhard, a former Bills safety, has spoken to Buffalo about the team’s defensive coordinator opening. Now he’s getting interest from Jim Harbaugh and the Chargers, who lost defensive coordinator Jesse Minter to the Ravens this month. In LA, Leonhard would take over a stellar defensive group that last year allowed the league’s seventh lowest yards per play and the fifth lowest offensive success rate. Only three defenses allowed a lower EPA per rushing attempt than the Bolts.