January 26, 2026
The Los Angeles Chargers officially hired former Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel as their new offensive coordinator, a source told Daniel Popper of The Athletic. McDaniel and the Chargers agreed on a deal almost a week ago, but he was still holding out hope of landing another head-coaching job. The Chargers will introduce McDaniel in the coming days as he takes over for previous OC Greg Roman. The Dolphins fired McDaniel after he led the team to a 7-10 record in 2025, and he immediately became a popular head-coaching candidate and potential OC around the league. He should bring some creativity to the Chargers' offense under head coach Jim Harbaugh after they fell short again in the Wild-Card round of the playoffs with a loss to the New England Patriots. The hiring of McDaniel should be good news for quarterback
Justin Herbert.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Daniel Popper
January 26, 2026
The Arizona Cardinals are interviewing former Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver a second time on Monday for their head-coaching job, sources told Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated. Weaver was a finalist for the head-coaching jobs with the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers this cycle, and he was also a finalist for the New Orleans Saints' head-coaching gig last year. The 45-year-old was the Dolphins' defensive coordinator the last two years and also worked for the Ravens from 2021 to 2023 under head coach John Harbaugh. Weaver could be an ideal fit for the Cardinals organization as they look to replace Jonathan Gannon. The Buffalo Bills are also in play for Weaver, but the Cardinals appear to be making the bigger push for him. The Bills seem to prefer an offensive-minded head coach to pair with quarterback
Josh Allen, so Weaver might be more of a long shot there.
--Keith HernandezSource: Sports Illustrated - Albert Breer
January 26, 2026
The Philadelphia Eagles have interviewed Miami Dolphins offensive coordinator Frank Smith for their offensive-coordinator job, a source told Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network. Smith has spent the last four years with the Dolphins, where he was voted the league's top OC in a 2023 NFL Players Association survey. The Eagles have had a tough time finding takers for their open OC role despite having plenty of talent on the offensive side of the ball. Smith did not call plays in Miami under former head coach Mike McDaniel, but he'd most likely have the opportunity to do that in Philly. The Eagles blew out the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl last year, but their offense went stagnant under first-year OC Kevin Patullo in 2025 and ranked 19th in points scored and 24th in total yards per game.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
January 26, 2026
Former Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott, who was surprisingly fired after his ninth year in Buffalo, is likely to take a year off from coaching, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. McDermott would be one of the top head-coaching candidates for any of the remaining NFL jobs, but to Rapoport's knowledge, he has not expressed interest in any of the openings around the league. Former QB
Philip Rivers was among those who interviewed for the Bills' vacant head-coaching job last week, but he has since withdrawn his name from the search. Quarterback
Josh Allen is firmly involved in the team's search for a new head coach and will have a big say on who the organization eventually goes with to replace McDermott. In his nine years as head coach, McDermott led Buffalo to eight playoff wins, but his failure to advance to the Super Bowl ultimately cost him his job.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
January 26, 2026
Jacksonville Jaguars offensive coordinator Grant Udinski has withdrawn his name from the Cleveland Browns' head-coaching search on the heels of agreeing to a new deal with the Jaguars, a source told Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network. Despite the agreement, Jacksonville is allowing Udinski to continue pursuing the head-coaching job with the Buffalo Bills. If he doesn't land the job in Buffalo, he will be back with head coach Liam Coen in Duval in 2026. Despite being only 30 years old, Udinski is already a legitimate head-coaching candidate. Udinski didn't call plays for the Jags offense in 2025, but he did help them finish sixth in scoring, 11th in total yards, and 12th in passing yards. Quarterback
Trevor Lawrence also had a career-high 29 touchdown passes and 38 total TDs, which was third in the NFL behind
Matthew Stafford and
Josh Allen.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Mike Garafolo
January 26, 2026
The Buffalo Bills are expected to reach out to Denver Broncos passing-game coordinator/quarterbacks coach
Davis Webb for their head-coaching job, sources told Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports. Webb, a former QB with the Bills, is a quick riser in the coaching ranks in the NFL and is also a strong candidate for the head-coaching job this cycle for the Las Vegas Raiders. Despite having no previous play-calling experience in the NFL, Webb could be an option in Buffalo because of his relationship with QB
Josh Allen. Webb was a backup for the Bills from 2019 to 2021 before getting his start in coaching in 2023 with the Broncos. It remains to be seen if Webb will get a head-coaching job this cycle, but there's no question that he's quickly become one of the best young, rising offensive-minded coaches in the league.
--Keith HernandezSource: FOX Sports - Jordan Schultz
January 26, 2026
Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady was in Las Vegas on Sunday for a second head-coaching interview with the Raiders, sources told Adam Schefter of ESPN. Brady interviewed with the Baltimore Ravens, Miami Dolphins, and Atlanta Falcons before they went with other options, and he's still in play for the head-coaching jobs with the Bills and Arizona Cardinals. In addition to Brady, the other finalists to take over for Pete Carroll in Vegas are Seattle Seahawks OC Klint Kubiak, Denver Broncos quarterbacks coach
Davis Webb, Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero, former Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel, and former New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll. The Raiders are fully expected to select quarterback Fernando Mendoza first overall in the 2026 NFL Draft, so they will most likely go with an offensive-minded head coach.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
January 26, 2026
Indiana wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. has officially declared for the 2026 NFL Draft, according to ESPN's Pete Thamel. He is one of five players from the College Football Playoff National Championship Game to submit written notice to the NFL informing them of his intention to forgo his collegiate eligibility. Cooper spent four seasons with the Hoosiers, collecting 115 receptions for 1,798 yards and 22 touchdowns in 42 career games. He had a breakout final season in Bloomington while catching passes from Fernando Mendoza, tallying 69 catches for 937 yards and 13 touchdowns. He added three carries for 73 yards and a touchdown as a runner. The Indianapolis native is currently projected as a third-round pick in April, making him an intriguing later-round option in dynasty rookie drafts.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Pete Thamel - ESPN
January 26, 2026
Former Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel is still in the running for the Las Vegas Raiders' head-coaching job, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. If McDaniel doesn't land another head-coaching job this cycle, he's expected to be the Los Angeles Chargers' new offensive coordinator to replace Greg Roman, who was fired after the 2025 season. McDaniel pulled out of the head-coaching searches for the Cleveland Browns and Buffalo Bills, but he's still in play in Vegas. The favorites for the Raiders' head-coaching job right now might be Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak and Denver Broncos quarterbacks coach
Davis Webb. The most likely scenario for McDaniel is that he heads to L.A. to run their offense next season. With the Raiders expected to take quarterback Fernando Mendoza first overall in the 2026 NFL Draft, they are looking for an offensive-minded head coach.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
January 26, 2026
The New York Giants hired former Tennessee Titans defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson as their new defensive coordinator on Sunday, sources told Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network. Wilson was the Titans' defensive coordinator for the last few years after previously working under John Harbaugh with the Baltimore Ravens as their defensive backs coach in 2023. Tennessee's defenses were nothing special in terms of points allowed in Wilson's two years running the unit, and he'll now head to New York and a Giants team that has much more talent on that side of the ball. In addition to Wilson, the G-Men are expected to hire former Ravens special teams coordinator Chris Horton for the same role on Harbaugh's staff. Wilson and Horton are the first coordinators hired by Harbaugh in his new position after 18 seasons in Baltimore.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Mike Garafolo
January 26, 2026
New England Patriots running back
Rhamondre Stevenson took on a workhorse role in his team's AFC Championship Game win over the Denver Broncos, recording 71 rushing yards on 25 carries. While Stevenson averaged a highly inefficient 2.8 yards per touch for the game, he was still a crucial piece in helping New England game-manage its way to a victory in snowy conditions in Denver. The Patriots finished the game with just 206 yards of total offense, so Stevenson accounted for over a third of his team's output. Stevenson also appears to have completely taken over the lead role in New England's backfield from rookie back
TreVeyon Henderson. After playing over 60% of the Patriots' offensive snaps in each of their first two postseason games, Stevenson played 94% of the team's snaps against Denver. Both New England backs now face a difficult matchup in the Super Bowl against the Seattle Seahawks, who finished the regular season ranked first among NFL defenses in yards per carry allowed (3.7). Still, Stevenson appears better positioned than Henderson to take on a high-volume role and should have his chances for production.
--Will BradySource: ESPN.com
January 26, 2026
Seattle Seahawks quarterback
Sam Darnold had one of the best games of his career in his team's NFC Championship Game victory over the Los Angeles Rams, completing 25 of 36 pass attempts for 346 yards and three touchdowns without committing a turnover. The 28-year-old shook off his past demons against the Rams defense, which forced him into six interceptions across two regular-season matchups. Darnold will now have a chance to lead Seattle in the Super Bowl against the New England Patriots. New England's pass defense has been elite so far this postseason, holding opponents to just 415 total passing yards across three games. However, the Patriots have also been aided by some bad weather and faced backup quarterback
Jarrett Stidham in their AFC Championship Game win over the Denver Broncos. If Darnold plays the way he played in the NFC Championship Game in the Super Bowl, he should have a chance to post another stellar stat line.
--Will BradySource: ESPN.com
January 26, 2026
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver
Jaxon Smith-Njigba was one of the stars of his team's NFC Championship Game victory over the Los Angeles Rams, recording 10 catches for 153 yards and a touchdown on 12 targets. The 23-year-old bounced back from a relatively disappointing performance in the Divisional Round against the San Francisco 49ers, in which he was held to just three receptions for 19 yards and a touchdown on four targets. In the Super Bowl, Smith-Njigba will face the New England Patriots. New England's pass defense has been completely dominant so far this postseason, allowing a total of 415 passing yards through three games. However, the Patriots have not exactly faced a murderer's row of opposing offenses, including the backup quarterback-led Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship Game. Regardless of opponent, Smith-Njigba has been arguably the best wide receiver in the NFL this season and carries elite production upside into the Super Bowl.
--Will BradySource: ESPN.com
January 26, 2026
New England Patriots wide receiver
Stefon Diggs recorded a team-high five receptions on six targets in the AFC Championship Game, but was held to just 17 receiving yards in a win over the Denver Broncos. In fairness to Diggs, there was very little pass-game success for any player on either team in the snowy conditions in Denver on Sunday. Patriots quarterback
Drake Maye finished the game with just 86 passing yards on 21 attempts. Still, Diggs has had a relatively quiet postseason so far, recording 11 catches for 73 yards and a touchdown on 17 targets across three games played. He also played just 47% of New England's offensive snaps against Denver, fewer than fellow Patriots wideouts
Mack Hollins and
Kayshon Boutte. Diggs will face another tough matchup in the Super Bowl against the Seattle Seahawks, who finished the regular season ranked first in the NFL in yards per pass attempt allowed (6.0). The veteran wide receiver should get his chances to contribute, but his production ceiling appears to be somewhat limited heading into the Super Bowl.
--Will BradySource: ESPN.com
January 26, 2026
New England Patriots quarterback
Drake Maye certainly did not have his best game as a passer in his team's AFC Championship Game win over the Denver Broncos, completing 10 of 21 pass attempts for 86 yards and taking five sacks. However, the 23-year-old rushed for 65 yards and a touchdown on 10 attempts and did not commit a turnover after coughing up five turnovers over New England's first two postseason games. Given the snowy conditions in Denver and the fact that the Broncos' offense was without QB1
Bo Nix (ankle), it made sense for Maye and the Patriots to opt for a more conservative approach. He will likely be forced to take a few more chances in the Super Bowl against the Seattle Seahawks, who have scored a combined 72 points across two games so far this postseason. Seattle finished the regular season ranked first in the NFL in yards per pass attempt allowed (6.0), so Maye has a difficult task ahead of him.
--Will BradySource: ESPN.com
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