NFL Player News

NFL Insider Jordan Schultz said Seahawks OC Klint Kubiak and Broncos pass game coordinator and QB coach Davis Webb have come up “a lot” as top candidates, while adding that Chargers DC Jesse Minter “has come up as well.” Schultz also notes that Raiders co-owner Tom Brady has been “calling a number of Seahawks games of late,” giving Kubiak repeated opportunities to audition for the role live in front of one of the Raiders’ top decision makers.

Reading between the lines, it doesn’t sound like Dolphins OC Frank Smith will return in 2026. He got interviews with the Panthers and Seahawks for their head-coaching vacancies in 2024 and had a four-year run of success with the Dolphins despite not ever calling players under Mike McDaniel. Smith could be an intriguing staff addition with Miami’s success running the football last year for a number of teams, be it as an OC or a run-game coordinator.

Skipper spent time on the Cowboys, Broncos, Patriots, Raiders and Colts’ practice squads after entering the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2017. He was signed to the Texans’ active roster in 2019 before signing on with the Lions later that year. Although he bounced between the Lions’ active roster and other practice squads after that, the six-plus seasons spent on the Lions’ active roster ultimately define his career. He caught a nine-yard touchdown pass against the Bills in Week 15, 2024.

Liipfert spent nine years serving in various scouting roles with the Patriots (2009-2017) before signing on with the Texans. As the Texans’ assistant general manager, he specifically operates as the director of college scouting.

The Titans recently hired defensive-minded head coach Robert Saleh, who will implement his own defensive scheme. Wilson held the Titans’ defensive coordinator role for the past two seasons. He has coached in the NFL since 2012.

The deal has not yet been finalized, but multiple national and local reporters are saying the Cowboys want to bring him aboard, so we expect it to be finalized soon enough. Parker, 34, has studied under Eagles DC Vic Fangio, in his current roles, for the past two seasons. He spent the 2022-2023 seasons as the Broncos’ defensive backs coach, notably working under Broncos DC Vance Joseph in his second season with the team.

The Broncos’ Empower Field at Mile High is located one mile above sea level, which can present problems for certain individuals. Barmore has previously been placed on the reserve non-football illness list and been limited at practice due to blood clots. The disruptive interior defender ranks second on the team with 56 quarterback pressures.

In a span of three days, Minter and former Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel have withdrawn from the Browns’ head-coaching sweepstakes. Both individuals had advanced to the second round of interviews. Shortly after Minter canceled today’s meeting, former Browns head coach and current Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski rehired former Browns offensive coordinator Tommy Rees. Collectively, all three moves reflect poorly on the Browns’ organization in an “it’s not me, it’s you” type of way. NFL Insider Jordan Schultz reports that Minter is believed to be in serious consideration for other head-coaching jobs. He interviewed with the Ravens for a second time yesterday, which reportedly “went very well.”

Daboll previously interviewed for the Titans’ head coach opening, but that job has been taken by Robert Saleh. The Bills’ job is now the only head coaching gig for which Daboll is still in the running. He has, however, received plenty of interest as an offensive coordinator. The Athletic’s Dianna Russini recently reported that he could still land in Tennessee as their OC. The Eagles are also interested in Daboll as an OC, meaning he should get to at least call plays for a team in 2026.

Rees interviewed for the Browns’ vacant head coaching job but did not receive a second meeting with the team. His days in Cleveland were numbered after the team chose to go in a different direction at head coach. The good news for Rees is that his former boss, Kevin Stefanski, just so happened to be looking for an offensive coordinator for his new job as Atlanta’s head coach. As expected, Stefanski is bringing several Browns staffers with him to the Falcons. It’s unclear who will call plays for Atlanta in 2026. Stefanski initially called plays for the Browns but eventually handed those duties off to Rees late in the 2025 season. Neither play-caller found much success, though Cleveland’s abhorrent quarterback room played a major part in that failure.

Johnson received several offensive coordinator interviews following C.J. Stroud’s breakout rookie season. That was all the way back at the end of the 2023 season. Stroud regressed in 2024 and the Texans fired OC Bobby Slowik. Johnson was a candidate to replace him, but the team ultimately chose an outside voice in Nick Caley. With Stroud playing better this year, there is again some interest in Johnson as an OC. Johnson would join a Miami team without any answers at quarterback. Tua Tagovailoa is expected to be released and the team doesn’t have a high enough pick in the draft to land a premier rookie quarterback. It wouldn’t be surprising to see Johnson stick in Houston for another year in search of better opportunities next offseason.