The Bills are casting a wide net when it comes to searching for their next head coach. But not wide enough to encompass the man who won six Super Bowls with a division rival.
Per a source with knowledge of the situation, the Bills are not interested in Bill Belichick.
At one level, it’s surprising. If the Bills are going to interview someone like Philip Rivers for the job, why not kick the tires on the Tar Heels head coach? At a not-much-deeper level, Belichick has morphed from GOAT in a good way to goat in the usual sense.
He’s currently regarded as radioactive by most NFL teams looking for coaches. And he has only himself to blame, thanks to the bizarre distractions he created in North Carolina over the past year and his open hostility toward his long-time employer in New England. Any NFL owner who would be inclined to hire Belichick would have to assume that, eventually, some of that same venom will be directed to his next former team.
Before it even gets to that, the current employees of the football operation would have to worry about Belichick showing up and taking over, firing long-time employees and bringing in his own people (like Lombo). That’s what apparently derailed Belichick’s candidacy with the Falcons in 2024, after he was fired by the Patriots.
And so here we are. Three full hiring cycles. One interview for Bill Belichick. And no indication that he’ll ever have another chance to chase Don Shula — or to fend off Andy Reid — on the all-time wins list.
Falcons Clips
The Titans would like to speak to one of Robert Saleh’s assistants with the Jets about joining Saleh in Tennessee this season.
Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reports that they have requested an interview with Falcons pass game coordinator Mike Rutenberg for their defensive coordinator position.
Rutenberg was the linebackers coach for the Jets during Saleh’s three-plus years as the team’s head coach and he joined the Falcons’ staff along with former Jets defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich last year. Ulbrich will stay with Atlanta under Kevin Stefanski, but Rutenberg could move on to a new role.
Texans defensive backs coach Dino Vasso is also a candidate for the defensive coordinator job in Tennessee.
Arthur Smith is headed to the college level.
According to multiple reports, Smith is finalizing a deal to become Ohio State’s offensive coordinator.
Smith, 42, had received interest from the Cardinals and Titans for their dad coaching vacancies this month. He was also up for at least one offensive coordinator role in the league.
But Smith instead will head to the college level, where he’ll work under head coach Ryan Day. Smith joins another former NFL head coach on staff, as Matt Patricia is the program’s current defensive coordinator.
Smith had spent most of his career with Tennessee before becoming Atlanta’s head coach in 2021. The Falcons went 7-10 in each of Smith’s three seasons.
This is not Smith’s first college coaching job, as he began his career as a graduate assistant for North Carolina before heading to Ole Missin 2010 as a defensive intern/administrative assistant.
The Falcons’ search for a new General Manager is set to take several steps forward on Friday.
Albert Breer of SI.com reports that the team will hold four interviews with candidates for the position. Bears assistant GM Ian Cunningham, 49ers director of scouting and football operations Josh Williams, Eagles senior personnel director Joe Douglas, and Chiefs assistant GM Mike Bradway will all be meeting with the team.
Cunningham and Williams interviewed with the team for their president of football job before Matt Ryan was hired earlier this month.
The Falcons interviewed Steelers assistant GM Andy Weidl and Texans assistant GM James Liipfert on Thursday. There have not been any reports of other candidates in the mix, so the team’s hire may be coming soon.
The Falcons have completed another interview for their General Manager position.
They announced that they have met with Steelers assistant GM Andy Weidl. They also interviewed Texans assistant GM James Liipfert earlier in the day.
Weidl has been with the Steelers since the 2022 season. He was previously the vice president of player personnel for the Eagles and worked as a scout for the Steelers before joining the Eagles in 2016.
The Falcons have also requested interviews with Bears assistant GM Ian Cunningham, 49ers director of scouting and football operations Josh Williams and Eagles senior personnel director/advisor to the GM Joe Douglas.
With Matt Ryan installed as president of football and Kevin Stefanski at head coach, the Falcons have moved on to their search for a new General Manager.
That process includes a candidate who has held the job for another team in the past. Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports reports that they have requested an interview with Eagles senior personnel director/advisor to the GM Joe Douglas.
Douglas joined the Eagles last year and was fired as the Jets’ GM during the 2024 season. Douglas had been in that job since 2019 and he also worked for the Eagles before getting the job with the Jets.
The Falcons interviewed Texans assistant GM James Liipfert for the job on Thursday.
The Falcons announced some new additions to their coaching staff as well as some staff members that new head coach Kevin Stefanksi is retaining.
The team officially named Tommy Rees as offensive coordinator. They have hired Jacqueline Roberts as manager of coaching operations.
The Falcons are retaining senior defensive assistant Dave Huxtable, assistant offensive line coach Nick Jones and running backs coach Michael Pitre.
Rees joins the Falcons after two seasons with the Browns, where he served as the team’s tight ends coach/pass game specialist in 2024 before being promoted to offensive coordinator before the 2025 season.
Rees assumed play-calling duties from Stefanski in Week 10 last season.
Roberts joins the Falcons after spending the past two seasons with the Browns. She originally joined the club as a team logistics intern in 2024, before being promoted to coordinator of coaching logistics in 2025. Roberts also assisted with coaching operations at the 2025 Senior Bowl.
The Falcons announced the completion of an interview with a General Manager candidate on Thursday.
They have met with Texans assistant GM James Liipfert. It is the first interview that the Falcons have announced for the position.
Liipfert has been with the Texans since 2018 and was promoted to his current position last year. He was previously the director of college scouting and he worked with Texans GM Nick Caserio while in the Patriots’ organization from 2009-2017.
The Falcons have also requested interviews with Bears assistant GM Ian Cunningham and 49ers director of scouting and football operations Josh Williams.
The Buccaneers have made it official with Zac Robinson, announcing the club has hired him as offensive coordinator on Thursday.
“We are excited to welcome Zac Robinson as our next offensive coordinator,” head coach Todd Bowles said in a statement released by the team. “Zac is one of the bright offensive minds in our game, and during the interview process, I was very impressed with his plan for getting the most out of the talent we have on that side of the ball. He has a very good understanding of the strengths of our top offensive players from his time in the division the past two years and I am very confident in his ability to teach and develop our young players.”
Robinson replaces Josh Grizzard, who served one year as the team’s OC after Liam Coen departed the franchise to become Jacksonville’s head coach.
Robinson will be the team’s fifth different offensive coordinator over the last five seasons following Byron Leftwich, Dave Canales, Coen, and Grizzard.
The 2025 regular season has come to an end and 14 teams will be moving on to the postseason in pursuit of a Super Bowl title.
For some of the 18 teams who have played their final games, attention will now shift to finding new head coaches and/or General Managers to help their own bids for success in the future. This tracker will keep tabs on who has been let go and who is in the mix for the vacancies around the league.
Arizona Cardinals: Fired head coach Jonathan Gannon on January 5. Expected to interview Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph. Requested interviews with 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh and Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver. Requested interview with Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak. Requested interview with Patriots passing game coordinator Thomas Brown. Set to interview Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy on January 9. Expected to interview Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur. Requested interview with Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley. Requested interview with Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula. Scheduled to interview Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter on January 13. Requested interview with Texans defensive coordinator Matt Burke. Requested interview with Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith. Interviewed former Falcons coach Raheem Morris in person. Scheduled to interview LaFleur on January 16. Scheduled for second interview with Saleh for January 20. Interviewed Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady on January 20. Scheduled second interview with Jaguars defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile for January 22. Scheduled second interview with Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver for January 25. Scheduled second interview with LaFleur for January 26 and January 27. Announced LaFleur as their head coach on February 1.
Atlanta Falcons: Fired head coach Raheem Morris and General Manager Terry Fontenot on January 4. Requested interviews with Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak and Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver. Expected to speak with former Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski. Requested interview with Bears assistant GM Ian Cunningham. Requested interview with Panthers executive vice president Brandt Tilis as well as Lions COO Mike Disner for their president of football operations job. Requested interview with 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh. Completed interviews with Disner and Tilis for the president of football operations job. Completed interview with 49ers director of scouting and football operations Josh Williams for the president of football ops job. Completed interview with Bears assistant GM Ian Cunningham for the president of football ops job. Hired Matt Ryan as president of football on January 10. Interviewed Kubiak and Weaver on January 10. Interviewed Seahawks defensive coordinator Aden Durde on January 10. Interviewed Stefanski on January 11. Requested interview with Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero. Requested interview with Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley. Set to interview former Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel on January 12. Announced completed interview with former Ravens HC John Harbaugh on January 12. Completed interview with McDaniel. Requested interview with Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter. Expected to interview former Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce. Interviewed Hafley on January 15. Scheduled to interview Pierce on January 16. Scheduled to interview Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady on January 18. Conducting second interview with Stefanski on January 17. Hired Stefanski as their new head coach on January 17. Requested G.M. interviews with Steelers assistant G.M. Andy Weidl, Cunningham, Texans assistant G.M. James Liipfert, and 49ers director of scouting and football operations Josh Williams. Interviewed Weidl on January 22. Interviewed Liipfert on January 22. Requested interview with Eagles senior personnel director Joe Douglas. Interviewed Cunningham, Williams, Douglas and Chiefs assistant GM Mike Bradway on January 23.
Baltimore Ravens: Fired head coach John Harbaugh on January 6. Requested interviews with Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver and Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak. Set to interview Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph and quarterbacks coach/pass game coordinator Davis Webb on January 8. Set to interview Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy on January 11. Set to interview Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores the week of January 12. Requested interview with 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh. Completed an interview with Webb on January 8. Requested interview with Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady. Interviewed Kubiak on January 9. Interviewed former Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski on January 9. Interviewed Nagy on January 11. Requested interview with Rams pass game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase. Set to interview former Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel. Scheduled interview with former Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury on January 12. Scheduled interview with Weaver on January 12. Requested interview with Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter. Requested interview with Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz. Interviewed Flores on January 13. Interviewed Schwartz on January 14. Interviewed Minter on January 14. Scheduled to interview Saleh on January 18. Interviewed McDaniel on January 15. Scheduled to interview Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula on January 16. Scheduled to interview Scheelhaase on January 16. Announced interview with Brady on January 18. Announced interview with Saleh on January 18. Interviewed Jaguars defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile on January 19. Scheduled for second interview with Weaver on January 20. Expected to interview Broncos special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi. Set for second interview with Brady. Expected to have a second interview with Minter. Hired Minter on January 22.
Buffalo Bills: Fired head coach Sean McDermott on January 19. Scheduled interview with Commanders running backs coach/run game coordinator Anthony Lynn for January 24. Expected to interview their offensive coordinator Joe Brady and former Giants head coach Brian Daboll. Requested interview with Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo. Requested interview with Jaguars offensive coordinator Grant Udinski. Completed interview with Brady on January 21. Scheduled to interview Udinski on January 25. Completed interview with Daboll on January 22. Requested interview with Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver. Scheduled to interview Weaver on January 24. Interviewed former Chargers and Colts quarterback Philip Rivers on January 23. Interviewed Weaver on January 24. Interested in interviewing Broncos quarterbacks coach/pass game coordinator Davis Webb. Interviewed Udinski on January 25. Interviewed Webb on January 26. Requested an interview with Rams pass game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase. Interviewed Scheelhaase on January 26.
Cleveland Browns: Fired head coach Kevin Stefanski on January 5. Requested interview with Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken. Requested interview with Seahawks defensive coordinator Aden Durde. Requested interview with Bengals offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher. Will interview Browns offensive coordinator Tommy Rees on January 8. Will interview defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz on January 8. Will interview Durde and Pitcher on January 9. Requested interview with Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter. Interviewed Monken on January 10. Requested interview with Rams pass game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase. Set to interview former Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel on January 12. Requested interview with Jaguars offensive coordinator Grant Udinski. Scheduled to interview Scheelhaase on January 16. Scheduled a second interview with Schwartz on January 18. Interviewed Minter on January 16. Interviewed Udinski on January 17. Scheduled for second interview with Monken on January 20. Set for second interviews with McDaniel, Minter, Scheelhaase, and Udinski. Completed second interview with Schwartz on January 19. McDaniel withdrew from consideration on January 20. Completed second interview with Monken on January 20. Held second interview with Udinski on January 23. Interviewed Commanders running backs coach/run game coordinator Anthony Lynn on January 24. Udinski withdrew from consideration on January 26. Completed second interview with Scheelhaase on January 26. Hired Monken on January 28.
Las Vegas Raiders: Fired head coach Pete Carroll on January 5. Expected to interview Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph. Requested interview with Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak. Requested interview with Broncos quarterbacks coach/pass game coordinator Davis Webb. Scheduled to interview Webb on January 7. Set to interview Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy on January 8. Scheduled to interview Joseph on January 8 and Kubiak on January 9. Set to interview former Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski on January 8. Requested interview with Rams pass game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase. Expected to interview Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur. Requested interview with Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero. Requested interview with Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley. Requested interview with Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula. Requested interview with Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter. Completed interviews with Minter and Evero. Scheduled to interview LaFleur on January 16. Scheduled to interview Scheelhaase on January 16. Interviewed Hafley on January 15. Scheduled to interview former Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel on January 19. Scheduled second interview with Evero for week of January 19. Scheduled interview with former Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel on January 19. Scheduled second interviews with Minter and Hafley. Interviewed Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady and 49ers offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak on January 18. Completed second interview with Minter on January 20. Completed second interview with Evero. Interviewed former Giants head coach Brian Daboll on January 24. Expected to interview Webb a second time. Completed second interview with Brady on January 26. Completed second interview with Webb on January 26. Completed second interview with Daboll on January 27. Reportedly set to hire Klint Kubiak after Super Bowl LX.
Miami Dolphins: Fired General Manager Chris Grier on October 31. Fired head coach Mike McDaniel on January 8. Requested interviews with 49ers vice president of player personnel Tariq Ahmad, Eagles assistant GM Alec Halaby, Rams assistant GM John McKay, Packers vice president of player personnel Jon-Eric Sullivan, and 49ers director of scouting and football operations Josh Williams on January 5. Requested interview with 49ers assistant GM RJ Gillen on January 5. Requested interview with Chargers assistant GM Chad Alexander. Announced a final four of Alexander, Sullivan, Williams and their interim GM, Champ Kelly. Set to interview Alexander and Sullivan January 8. Hired Sullivan as their GM on January 9. Interviewed Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak on January 10. Requested interview with Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley. Requested interview with Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula. Requested interview with Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard. Requested interview with Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter. Interviewed former Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski on January 13. Requested interview with Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham. Requested interview with Jaguars defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile. Interviewed Hafley on January 14. Scheduled to interview Minter and Saleh on January 15. Completed interviews with Minter and Saleh on January 15. Scheduled to interview Shula on January 16. Scheduled second interview with Hafley for January 19. Interviewed Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady on January 18. Interviewed Graham and Sheppard on January 19. Hired Hafley as the 12th full-time head coach in team history on January 19.
New York Giants: Fired head coach Brian Daboll on November 10. Expected to speak with former Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski. Expected to interview Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph. Requested interview with Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo. Requested interview with Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak. Scheduled interview with former Cowboys and Packers head coach Mike McCarthy for January 13. Set to interview Stefanski on January 7. Completed interview with interim head coach Mike Kafka on January 7. Set to interview former Falcons head coach Raheem Morris on January 8. Set to interview Giants Super Bowl winning linebacker and former Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce on January 8-9. Requested interview with Broncos special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi. Set to interview Rizzi on January 10. Requested interview with Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula. Requested interview with Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter. Interviewed former Ravens head coach John Harbaugh on January 14. Finalizing deal with Harbaugh on January 14. Announced Harbaugh as their new head coach on January 17.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Mike Tomlin stepped down as head coach on January 13. Requested interview with Rams pass game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase. Requested interview with Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula. Requested interview with Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores. Requested interview with Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver. Requested interview with Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero. Requested interview with 49ers offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak. Scheduled to interview Shula on January 16. Scheduled to interview Scheelhaase on January 16. Scheduled to interview Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley on January 17. Expected to speak to former Cowboys and Packers head coach Mike McCarthy. Expected to have in-person interviews with Flores and Weaver. Scheduled to interview McCarthy on January 21. Completed interview with Flores on January 20. Interviewed Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter. Had second interview with Weaver on January 23. Hired McCarthy on January 24.
Tennessee Titans: Fired head coach Brian Callahan on October 13. Requested interview with Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy on January 5. Requested interviews with Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph and Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo on January 5. Requested interview with Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo on January 5. Will reportedly interview former Falcons head coach Raheem Morris later in the week of January 5. Expected to speak with former Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski. Scheduled interviews with Stefanski for January 10 and with Morris for January 11. Scheduled interview with Anarumo for January 7. Scheduled interview with Nagy for January 8. Expected to interview Joseph. Scheduled interview with Spagnuolo on January 8. Requested interview with 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh. Requested interviews with Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley and Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith. Requested interviews with Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter and Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula. Scheduled interview with former Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel for January 14. Interviewed Stefanski on January 10. Scheduled to interview former Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon on January 18. Scheduled to interview former Giants head coach Brian Daboll on January 16. Scheduled to interview Hafley on January 13. Scheduled to interview Minter on January 13. Interviewed McDaniel and Smith on January 14. Scheduled to interview Saleh on January 18. Scheduled to interview former Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy on January 17. Scheduled second interview with Hafley for January 20. Set for second interview with Nagy. Scheduled for in-person interview with Saleh on January 19. Completed second interviews with Nagy and Saleh. Finalizing deal with Saleh on January 20.
