Mike McDaniel’s dance card is filling up this week.
Tom Pelissero of NFL Media reports that McDaniel is set to interview with the Falcons and Ravens this week about their head coaching vacancies. This comes after word on Sunday that he will interview with the Browns and last week’s word that he’ll meet with the Titans.
McDaniel spent the last four seasons as the Dolphins’ head coach and was on Kyle Shanahan’s staff with the 49ers before going to Miami. He moved to the 49ers with Shanahan after working on the Falcons’ staff in 2015 and 2016, which was the same time that new Falcons president of football Matt Ryan was the team’s quarterback.
McDaniel is also drawing interest from the Lions for their offensive coordinator vacancy and other teams looking for a change at that spot could also throw their hat in the ring for McDaniel’s services.
Browns Clips
Former Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel had an unhappy visit to Cleveland during the regular season and he’ll be hoping things go better when he meets with the team this week.
Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com reports that McDaniel will interview for the Browns’ head coaching job on Monday.
It will be the first interview for McDaniel since he was fired by the Dolphins last week. He is also slated to interview for the Titans’ vacancy on Wednesday.
McDaniel went 35-33 over four seasons in Miami. He took the Dolphins to the playoffs in his first two seasons, but they were 15-19 over the last two years.
Sean McVay’s assistant coaches have been popular targets in recent head coaching searches and this year’s cycle is no exception.
Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports that the Browns have requested an interview with Rams pass game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase. Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that the Raiders have done the same.
Scheelhaase drew interest as an offensive coordinator candidate last year, but remained with the Rams after being promoted to his current job. He joined the Rams in 2024 after serving as Iowa State’s offensive coordinator.
Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula’s name has also come up in head coaching searches and both men will be able to have virtual interviews ahead of the Rams’ divisional round game.
Starting this week, former Ravens coach John Harbaugh will attack the interview process with an enthusiasm unknown to mankind. And with leverage the NFL hasn’t seen in decades.
Harbaugh has multiple options for his next stop. He’s being selective. And he could end up having even more choices, based on what happens in Green Bay and (if the Bills lose today) Buffalo.
He’s in position to request a very large salary. He’s in position to seek control over the roster. He’s in position to ask for the team to let him hire a General Manager, even if it means firing the one they currently have.
That doesn’t mean everyone would do it. But it only takes one who is sufficiently desperate to give Harbaugh what he wants. And if Harbaugh gives a little on one term, he could get more on another.
Harbaugh also has another potential play, one that we addressed on PFT Live after the Ravens moved on. He could take a year off and work in TV, like Sean Payton did four years ago. It would make Harbaugh the odds-on, A-list candidate throughout the next season, hovering over every hot seat as the next coach, if the current coach gets fired.
If Harbaugh decides to wait, the hot spots for 2027 would be (possibly) the Jets, the Bills (if they don’t make a change this year), the Bengals, the Colts, the Chiefs (if Andy Reid decides to retire), the Cowboys, the Commanders, the Buccaneers, the Panthers, and the Saints.
Either way, Harbaugh’s effort to explore his next coaching job starts soon. And he could decide to take a job now, or to take a job later.
Last Saturday night, Marshawn Lynch dropped a pair of curse words on the ManningCast. The next day, a pair of Browns players paid homage to Lynch’s classic touchdown plunge.
This Saturday, the financial penalties were announced.
Browns linebacker Devin Bush received a $10,000 fine for a flying crotch grab at the tail end of a 97-yard interception return for a touchdown. Browns cornerback Sam Webb was fined $6,111 fine for the same move (albeit with less flair) to cap a 47-yard fumble return for a score.
They were the only Cleveland touchdowns in a 20-18 win over the Bengals.
Lynch famously broke out the move as the final flourish to the epic Beastquake run during a 2010 playoff win over the Saints. He later described the move as “grabbing my ding-ding sauce.” He was later fined multiple times for repeatedly doing it.
Former Ravens head coach John Harbaugh has heard from a lot of teams about their head coaching vacancies since being fired last week, but he isn’t planning to speak to all of them.
Harbaugh is expected to start interviewing with teams next week and he told Jay Glazer of Fox Sports that he is taking the weekend to narrow down the list of teams he is interested in meeting with about their openings. Harbaugh told Glazer that he expects that list to include three or four teams at the end of that process.
There’s no word about any teams that may have already made the cut and there’s a chance that there could be more openings once the first round of playoff games comes to an end with Monday’s game between the Steelers and the Texans.
Harbaugh’s plans will likely have a ripple effect on the entire head coaching cycle as teams that aren’t in the running for his services can move on while others wait to find out what Harbaugh’s next stop is going to be.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Mike Tomlin stepped down as head coach on January 13.
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.
The Ravens interviewed former Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski for their head coaching vacancy on Friday and the Browns will be spending time with a member of the 2025 Ravens coaching staff on Saturday.
The Browns announced that Todd Monken will be interviewing with the team. Monken spent the last three seasons as the offensive coordinator in Baltimore.
Monken also spent the 2019 season running the offense for the Browns. He spent three seasons at the University of Georgia before returning to the NFL with the Ravens. Monken has been the Bucs’ offensive coordinator and he was the head coach of Southern Miss from 2013-2015.
Browns offensive coordinator Tommy Rees and defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz interviewed with the team on Thursday. Bengals offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher and Seahawks defensive coordinator Aden Durde interviewed on Friday.
Browns defensive end Myles Garrett set the single-season sack record during the 2025 season and he also became one of three unanimous choices for the Associated Press All-Pro team.
All 50 voters selected Garrett as one of their choices at edge rusher in this year’s voting. Those voters also unanimously selected Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua and Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba for this year’s first team.
Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford got the nod over Drake Maye at quarterback, which opens up the possibility of a split with MVP for the second straight season. Stafford got 31 votes while the Patriots quarterback got 18 with Bills quarterback Josh Allen getting the other one.
Stafford joins kicker Gary Anderson as the only players to be named a first-team All-Pro for the first time in their 17th season or later.
The full All-Pro teams appear below:
First team
Offense
Quarterback — Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams
Running Back — Bijan Robinson, Atlanta
Fullback — Kyle Juszczyk, San Francisco
Wide Receivers — Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams; Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle; Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati
All Purpose — Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco
Tight End — Trey McBride, Arizona
Left Tackle — Garrett Bolles, Denver
Left Guard — Joe Thuney, Chicago
Center — Creed Humphrey, Kansas City
Right Guard — Quinn Meinerz, Denver
Right Tackle — Penei Sewell, Detroit
Defense
Edge Rushers — Myles Garrett, Cleveland; Will Anderson Jr., Houston; Micah Parsons, Green Bay
Interior Linemen — Jeffery Simmons, Tennessee; Zach Allen, Denver
Linebackers — Jack Campbell, Detroit; Jordyn Brooks, Miami
Cornerbacks — Derek Stingley Jr., Houston; Quinyon Mitchell, Philadelphia
Slot cornerback — Cooper DeJean, Philadelphia
Safeties — Kyle Hamilton, Baltimore; Kevin Byard, Chicago
Special Teams
Placekicker — Will Reichard, Minnesota
Punter — Jordan Stout, Baltimore
Kick Returner — Ray Davis, Buffalo
Punt Returner — Chimera Dike, Tennessee
Special Teamer — Devon Key, Denver
Long Snapper — Ross Matiscik, Jacksonville
Second team
Offense
Quarterback — Drake Maye, New England
Running Back — James Cook, Buffalo
Fullback — Patrick Ricard, Baltimore
Wide Receivers — George Pickens, Dallas; Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit; Chris Olave, New Orleans
All Purpose — Bijan Robinson, Atlanta
Tight End — Kyle Pitts, Atlanta
Left Tackle — Trent Williams, San Francisco
Left Guard — Quenton Nelson, Indianapolis
Center — Aaron Brewer, Miami
Right Guard — Chris Lindstrom, Atlanta
Right Tackle — Darnell Wright, Chicago
Defense
Edge Rushers — Brian Burns, New York Giants; Danielle Hunter, Houston; Aidan Hutchinson, Detroit
Interior Linemen — Leonard Williams, Seattle; Cameron Heyward, Pittsburgh
Linebackers — Devin Lloyd, Jacksonville; Ernest Jones IV, Seattle
Cornerbacks — Patrick Surtain II, Denver; Devon Witherspoon, Seattle
Slot cornerback — Derwin James, Los Angeles Chargers
Safeties — Jessie Bates III, Atlanta; Talanoa Hufanga, Denver; Xavier McKinney, Green Bay (Hufanga and McKinney were tied for the second-team spot)
Special teams
Placekicker — Brandon Aubrey, Dallas
Punter — Michael Dickson, Seattle
Kick Returner — Kavontae Turpin, Dallas
Punt Returner — Marcus Jones, New England
Special Teamer — Del’Shawn Phillips, Los Angeles Chargers
Long Snapper — Andrew DePaola, Minnesota
Mike McDaniel is beginning to line up interviews as he looks for his next stop.
According to Tom Pelissero of NFL Media, the Titans will interview McDaniel for their head coaching vacancy next Wednesday.
McDaniel was just fired by the Dolphins on Thursday after going 35-33 in the regular season from 2022-2025. He was also 0-2 in the postseason.
The Browns are also reportedly interested in speaking with McDaniel about their head coaching vacancy.
Tennessee has cast a wide net when it comes to candidates, with interviews scheduled with recently fired head coaches Kevin Stefanski and Raheem Morris as well as Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy. Among several others, the club has also put in a request to interview Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, who previously served as Tennessee’s OC under former head coach Mike Vrabel.
