Coach says Good bye: Pittsburgh Steelers Nick Sirianni confirms retirement rumor……

NFL coaching firings live updates and Bill Belichick rumors: Titans fire Mike Vrabel, latest news, candidates

Six teams have made head-coaching changes. Meanwhile, Belichick and Robert Kraft had an initial discussion Monday, league sources said.

Jeff Howe, Dianna Russini and The Athletic NFL Staff
January 10, 2024 at 1:47 am
NFL coaching firings live updates and Bill Belichick rumors: Titans fire Mike Vrabel, latest news, candidates
(Photo: Maddie Meyer / Getty Images)

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Jeff Howe
Jeff Howe
National NFL Insider

The latest on the Patriots and Bill Belichick: Could Josh McDaniels return?
The latest on the Patriots and Bill Belichick: Could Josh McDaniels return?
If Bill Belichick is able to retain his job, he might have New England Patriots nostalgia on his side.

The Patriots coach is meeting with owner Robert Kraft this week to discuss the direction of the franchise and whether Belichick will continue to be part of it. Kraft and Belichick had an initial discussion Monday, and the expectation is they’ll meet at least once more, league sources said. Kraft was not expected to reach a decision Monday.

Belichick will need to lay out a firm plan to dramatically improve the on-field product after the Patriots’ worst record (4-13) of Kraft’s ownership. Part of that plan may include a reunion with former Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, who is considered a candidate to return, sources close to the situation said.

McDaniels, who has worked with Belichick for two stints spanning parts of 19 seasons, was fired as head coach of the Raiders in October. McDaniels and Belichick have remained close, and McDaniels has long been one of Kraft’s favorite members of the organization.

The subpar offensive performance has been the biggest reason for the Patriots’ back-to-back sub-.500 records. Belichick put former defensive coordinator Matt Patricia in charge of the offense in 2022 and rehired former offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien in 2023. However, the Patriots finished 31st in scoring this season (13.9 points per game), their worst ranking since the NFL expanded to 32 teams in 2002.

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Josh McDaniels could return to Patriots if Bill Belichick stays
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Josh McDaniels could return to Patriots if Bill Belichick stays

Mark Cooper
January 8, 2024 at 3:16 pm

Mark Cooper
Staff Editor, News

Commanders make Ron Rivera firing official
Washington owner Josh Harris: “To deliver upon our ultimate goal of becoming an elite franchise and consistently competing for the Super Bowl, there is a lot to do and first we must establish a strong organizational infrastructure led by the industry’s best and most talented individuals. As such, we will conduct a thorough search process to ensure we find the right candidates to guide this franchise forward. I consider these decisions to be among the most critical I make for the franchise — attracting exceptional talent, empowering them to lead and holding them accountable. I look forward to being personally involved throughout this process.”

 

Dan Duggan
January 8, 2024 at 3:04 pm

Dan Duggan
Staff Writer, Giants

Giants fire special teams coach, O-line coach
Giants fire special teams coach, O-line coach
(Photo of Daboll: USA Today)

New York Giants coach Brian Daboll announced during his year-end news conference that the team had parted ways with special teams coordinator Thomas McGaughey and offensive line coach Bobby Johnson.

Let’s start with the coaches who were fired, first.

McGaughey seemed like a lock to be fired midway through what he described as an “up-and-down” season for his unit. Figuring out punt returner was one of the team’s biggest problems, as the Giants cycled through players before finally signing Gunner Olszewski to settle the position. Still, by end of the season, the unit actually graded out pretty well. The Giants special teams finished the season ninth in EPA.

McGaughey is respected by players and is a favorite of ownership. He had survived two head-coach changes in his second stint with the organization.

It would have been hard to justify retaining Johnson based on his unit’s results. There has been minimal development from any of the four offensive linemen picked in the past two drafts. Any excuses for Johnson would have started with injuries, but the Giants had four of their five Week 1 starters healthy for the second half of the season, and the group didn’t show enough progress. The Giants allowed 86 sacks, which is 20 more than any other team this season and the second most in NFL history.

Every head coach understands the importance of the offensive line coach, and Daboll handpicked Johnson to fill that role after working closely with him for three years in Buffalo. But even if Daboll’s preference was to stick with Johnson, there might have been pressure from above to make a change.

David Aldridge
January 8, 2024 at 3:02 pm

David Aldridge
Senior Columnist, NBA

I think you can expect Bob Myers to be around the Commanders for a while, not just during the search process. Not to run the team, but to be a part of how Josh Harris puts his football operations group together.

Ben Standig
January 8, 2024 at 2:46 pm

Ben Standig
Staff Writer, Washington Commanders

Former Warriors GM Bob Myers, Vikings GM Rick Spielman to help Commanders in searches
The Commanders have added former Golden State Warriors GM Bob Myers and former Minnesota Vikings GM Rick Spielman to assist the ownership group in their search for a head coach and new head of football operations, team sources confirmed.

Joseph Person
January 8, 2024 at 2:34 pm

Joseph Person
Staff Writer, Panthers

Panthers fire GM Scott Fitterer after 3 seasons
“As we move forward with the new direction for our franchise, I have made the decision that Scott Fitterer will no longer serve as our general manager,” Panthers owner David Tepper said. “I appreciate Scott’s efforts and wish the best for him and his family.”

Mike Jones
January 8, 2024 at 2:30 pm

Mike Jones
Staff Writer, NFL

Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson will be a popular name this coaching cycle
The 37-year-old Ben Johnson’s name remains on the lips of many NFL front-office members. He has impressed and intrigued officials around the league with his creativity and open-mindedness, which helped the Lions go 12-5 and lock up their first division title in 30 years.

NFL head coaching candidates: Ben Johnson, Jim Harbaugh, Dan Quinn and other hot names
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NFL head coaching candidates: Ben Johnson, Jim Harbaugh, Dan Quinn and other hot names

Ben Standig
January 8, 2024 at 2:27 pm

Ben Standig
Staff Writer, Washington Commanders

Commanders fire Ron Rivera, setting the stage for what’s next
The Washington Commanders fired Ron Rivera on Monday, team sources said, starting a new era for a franchise far removed from its Super Bowl glory days.

Rivera, the seventh and final head coach hired by controversial former owner Dan Snyder, oversaw a disastrous 4-13 campaign that concluded with eight consecutive defeats.

The decision by managing partner Josh Harris, whose ownership group purchased the franchise from Snyder in July, was anticipated for weeks — if not from the start of the season, barring an impressive campaign that didn’t materialize. Rivera, 61, finished 26-40-1 — one playoff appearance — over four seasons, none concluding with a winning record.

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Commanders fire Rivera, hire ex-Warriors, Vikings GMs to advise searches

January 8, 2024 at 2:10 pm

Chad Graff
Staff Writer, Patriots

Bill Belichick’s tone and comments this morning surprised me. He sounds like a man who wants to keep coaching the Patriots and is willing to make changes (potentially giving up GM duties) to keep that job.

Is that enough for Robert Kraft? We’ll see.

January 8, 2024 at 1:53 pm

Chad Graff
Staff Writer, Patriots

Would Bill Belichick consider relinquishing GM duties?
Belichick: “I’m for whatever collectively we decide as an organization is the best thing to help our football team.”

Bill Belichick on what’s next
Bill Belichick said it “might be a series of meetings” with Robert Kraft, ones that loom and will ultimately decide whether Belichick returns as Patriots head coach.

Belichick added: “You work for the team you’re working for until somebody tells you different.”

Bill Belichick on his future: “I’m under contract. I’m going to do what I always do which is come in and work hard. …

“As far as any decision or direction for next year, it’s way too early for that.”

January 8, 2024 at 1:41 pm

Chad Graff
Staff Writer, Patriots

Bill Belichick speaking Monday morning
Bill Belichick: “Not anywhere close to what our expectations and standards are. Obviously, things need to be fixed.”

January 8, 2024 at 1:30 pm

Ben Standig
Staff Writer, Washington Commanders

Commanders get a win for the future in season-finale loss to Cowboys — Will it include Ron Rivera?
“We’re No. 2” never felt so good.

The Washington Commanders’ expected loss to the Dallas Cowboys — the 38-10 final provided an appropriate blowout capper on the lost season — was a win for the future. The setback dropped them into a tie for the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft with the New England Patriots and Arizona Cardinals at 4-13. Washington claimed the strength of schedule tiebreaker. Giddy-up.

The franchise that hasn’t solved its long-term quarterback problem for 30 years has another crack at addressing the most critical position in professional sports, thanks to the draft class makeup — three passers project as top 5-to-10 picks, including Washington native and USC’s Caleb Williams.