The Falcons have requested an interview with Buccaneers wide receivers coach Bryan McClendon, Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports reports.
The Falcons are seeking an offensive coordinator under new head coach Kevin Stefanski.
Atlanta also requested an interview with Cardinals passing game coordinator/wide receivers coach Drew Terrell.
McClendon has spent the past two seasons with the Bucs, his first NFL job.
He has worked in the college ranks for 17 seasons, mostly at Georgia but also at South Carolina and Oregon. He was interim head coach for the Ducks in 2021 and interim head coach for the Bulldogs in 2015.
McClendon was co-offensive coordinator or offensive coordinator during his four seasons (2016-19) with the Gamecocks.
The arrival of Robert Saleh in Tennessee makes the AFC South spicier, thanks to the presence of Saleh’s nemesis, Jaguars coach Liam Coen. The arrival of Kevin Stefanski in Atlanta makes the NFC South spicier, too.
It started when D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution posted a surprisingly aggressive tweet: “Falcons’ [coach] Kevin Stefanski had a dumpster fire at quarterback in Cleveland — Baker Mayfield and Deshaun Watson failed, which started a chain reaction to 11 other starters. QB Shedeur Sanders closed out last season with seven starts.”
Mayfield saw it, and responded.
“Failed is quite the reach pal,” Mayfield said. “Still waiting on a text/call from [Stefanski] after I got shipped off like a piece of garbage. Can’t wait to see you twice a year, Coach.”
Mayfield is right; it was and is a reach. Mayfield took the Browns to the postseason in 2020, leading them to the divisional round against the Chiefs. Kansas City narrowly escaped, 22-17.
In 2021, Mayfield played through injuries, and the Browns missed the playoffs. In early 2022, someone in Cleveland got the bright idea to mortgage the future for (and pay a king’s ransom to) Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson. The Browns traded Mayfield to the Panthers, who at the time were nearly as dysfunctional as the Browns have been for more than a decade.
Mayfield’s three years with the Buccaneers have proven that he’s not a “dumpster fire” quarterback. The Browns were the dumpster fire.
Now, the smoke has spread to Atlanta and Tampa Bay, where the perpetual chip on Mayfield’s shoulder has gotten a little bigger. And it’s awesome.
It looks like Mike McDaniel will not be the next head coach in Cleveland.
Tom Pelissero of NFL Media reports that McDaniel informed the team that he is withdrawing from their head coaching search. McDaniel interviewed with the team earlier this month and was slated to meet with them a second time on Wednesday.
McDaniel has also interviewed with the Raiders, Ravens, Falcons, and Titans since being fired by the Dolphins after Week 18. The Falcons and Titans have found their new head coaches, so McDaniel will not be landing either of those jobs.
There has also been offensive coordinator interest in McDaniel from teams like the Chargers and Buccaneers. Teams with new coaches could join them as they begin to fill out their coaching staffs, so there are still a lot of potential landing spots for McDaniel as the coaching carousel continues to turn.
The Browns had a second interview with their own defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz. Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken, Jaguars offensive coordinator Grant Udinski, and Rams pass game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase also remain in the mix in Cleveland.
The Buccaneers have found a new special teams coordinator.
Per NFL Media, veteran coach Danny Smith is joining Tampa Bay in the role.
Smith, 72, had been with the Steelers as the club’s special teams coordinator since 2013. But with Mike Tomlin stepping down as head coach, Pittsburgh gave its assistants permission to find roles elsewhere.
Smith has been serving as a special teams coordinator since 1995 when the Eagles hired him in the role. While he was Detroit’s tight ends coach from 1999-2000, he has since served as special teams coordinator for Buffalo (2001-2003), Washington (2004-2012), and Pittsburgh.
Smith replaces Thomas McGaughe, who was fired after spending 2024-2025 with the club.
The Buccaneers have lined up another candidate for their offensive coordinator opening.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that they will interview Bengals offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher for the role on Todd Bowles’ staff this week.
While it would be a lateral move, the Bengals are open to allowing Pitcher to move on because he does not call the plays in Cincinnati. Head coach Zac Taylor handles those duties for the Bengals.
Pitcher has been the coordinator for the last two seasons and has been on the Bengals’ staff since 2016.
The Bucs have already interviewed Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken, former Giants interim head coach Mike Kafka, former Titans head coach Brian Callahan, Lions passing game coordinator David Shaw, Cardinals qauarterbacks coach Israel Woolfork, Falcons offensive coordinator Zac Robinson, and former Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel.
