January 20, 2026

Super-Bowl-winning coach Mike McCarthy will interview on Wednesday with the Pittsburgh Steelers for their head-coaching job, sources told Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network. McCarthy was a candidate for the Tennessee Titans' head-coaching job before withdrawing his name on Monday morning. He has turned other inquiries down as well and is focused firmly on the Steelers' gig, where he's considered a strong candidate to replace long-time head coach Mike Tomlin. McCarthy is from Pittsburgh and could help the Steelers bring future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who will be a free agent in March, back to the Steel City for one more season. With McCarthy, Pittsburgh would be getting a head coach who has won 61% of his games over 18 seasons in the NFL. He took a year off from coaching in 2025 after being fired by the Cowboys, but McCarthy is ready to get back into coaching.--Keith Hernandez
Source: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero

January 20, 2026

According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Tom Pelissero, and Mike Garafolo, the Tennessee Titans are expected to name Robert Saleh as their franchise's next head coach. Entering 2025, Brian Callahan had head coaching duties but was removed from his role following a 1-5 start. In 2024, Callahan did not find much success as well, leading the Titans to a 3-14 record. Tennessee then turned to interim Mike McCoy for the remainder of the season, and he led them to two victories over their last 11 contests. Saleh served as San Francisco's defensive coordinator in 2025, but had previously served as a head coach with the New York Jets. Across 56 games with the Jets, Saleh posted a modest 20-36 record but typically had an elite defense. In 2022 and 2023, the Jets allowed the fourth and third-fewest yards, respectively, but were held back by their offense. Over two stints as the 49ers' defensive coordinator (2017-2020, 2025), Saleh saw similar success, as the team typically boasted one of the sport's top defensive units. In 2019, they allowed the second-fewest yards and third-fewest total points. This past season, despite dealing with numerous injuries, the San Francisco defense allowed the 13th-fewest total points and was dominant against the run, allowing the 11th-fewest rushing yards per game. The defensive-minded coach will be a great fit for a Titans squad that allowed 28.1 PPG (fifth-highest in the sport) last season.--Andy Smith
Source: Ian Rapoport

January 19, 2026

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua had some clutch catches to move the chains in Sunday's snowy Divisional Round win over the Chicago Bears, but he didn't exactly go off for fantasy managers in playoff leagues. Nacua caught five of his 10 targets for 56 yards while rushing the ball twice for six yards in the overtime victory. It was the 24-year-old's third-lowest yardage total of the year, and he failed to find the end zone for the first time since Dec. 14 against the Detroit Lions. Nacua had 10 receptions for 111 yards and a touchdown in last week's Wild-Card win over the Carolina Panthers. He's one of the best all-around players in the NFL and will take on the division-rival Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Championship this Sunday. The last time he faced Seattle in Week 16, Nacua went off for 12 catches, a season-high 225 yards, and two touchdowns. Nacua will most likely bounce back against Seattle.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Pro Football Reference

January 19, 2026

NFL Network's Tom Pelissero thinks there are three teams to watch as potential landing spots for former Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott as he seeks his next head-coaching opportunity. McDermott is 51 years old, so Pelissero reasons that the veteran coach won't be looking for a rebuild, but rather a situation where he will have the chance to contend immediately. Pelissero mentions the Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Ravens, and Tennessee Titans as the three teams to watch for McDermott. Although the Titans are in more of a rebuild, they have a young quarterback and a new stadium, and they've been aggressively pursuing some big names for the job. Pelissero thinks it would be more of a long shot to see McDermott go somewhere like Las Vegas or Arizona. In McDermott's nine years in Buffalo, he led the team to the playoffs eight times, but he was never able to get all the way to the Super Bowl.--Keith Hernandez
Source: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero

January 19, 2026

NFL Network's Tom Pelissero mentions Denver Broncos quarterbacks coach Davis Webb as a potential head-coaching candidate for the Buffalo Bills to replace Sean McDermott, who was fired on Monday. Webb was a backup QB for several seasons in Buffalo and has a really close relationship with current QB Josh Allen. Pelissero mentioned that league sources are getting the sense that Buffalo will hire an offensive-minded head coach. Current head coach Joe Brady will be a candidate to be promoted, but Pelissero is unsure if he is "the" candidate for the job. It wouldn't be a surprise if former Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel's name comes up as the Bills search for McDermott's replacement this offseason. Even though Baltimore's and Pittsburgh's head-coaching jobs have yet to be filled, the Bills' opening is now at the top of the list for most attractive head-coaching jobs in the NFL, primarily because of Allen.--Keith Hernandez
Source: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero

January 19, 2026

The Pittsburgh Steelers are scheduled to meet on Tuesday with Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores about their head-coaching job, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. In the three years that Flores has been the DC for the Vikings, he has elevated the unit to a top-10 defense. Flores spent the 2022 season as an assistant coach under head coach Mike Tomlin, and he's always been considered a potential replacement for the future Hall of Fame coach. Flores also had a short stint as the head coach for the Miami Dolphins, so he does have previous head-coaching experience, even though it was brief. The respected defensive mind is also a head-coaching candidate for the Baltimore Ravens, while the Washington Commanders interviewed him for their DC job. If Flores doesn't get a head-coaching job this cycle, he'll likely return to Minnesota.--Keith Hernandez
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter

January 19, 2026

San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh is scheduled for an in-person second interview on Tuesday for the Arizona Cardinals' head-coaching job, sources told Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network. Saleh interviewed for the Tennessee Titans' head-coaching job on Monday. If he doesn't come out of Tennessee with a contract, he'll get on a plane and head to Arizona. In total, Saleh has met with four different teams for their head-coaching jobs after leading a 49ers defense in 2025 that ranked 13th in points allowed, which is amazing considering how many injuries they had to key players. In his short run as the head coach of the New York Jets, Saleh went just 20-36, but he's still a very respected coach around the league and has a good shot to land another head-coaching gig this cycle.--Keith Hernandez
Source: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero

January 19, 2026

Terry McCormick of TitanInsider.com writes that "it sure feels like" former Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy is the "front-runner" for the head-coaching job with the Tennessee Titans. Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley was a finalist for the Titans' job, but he was just hired to be the next head coach of the Miami Dolphins. Tennessee was also interviewing San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh for the job on Monday. Nagy worked for the Chiefs from 2013-17 before leaving to become the head coach of the Chicago Bears. He returned to KC in 2022 to serve as the offensive coordinator. One of the big reasons why Nagy is the top head-coaching candidate for the Titans is his relationship with general manager Mike Borgonzi, who previously worked in the Chiefs' front office.--Keith Hernandez
Source: TitanInsider.com - Terry McCormick

January 19, 2026

When asked about the status of offensive coordinator Nick Caley, Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans said on Monday that he'll use the week to evaluate the coaching staff, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 Sports. Caley, who replaced Bobby Slowik in the role, was in his first year on the job in Houston. The Texans' offense started sluggish but picked things up in the second half of the season as they went on a long winning streak to close out the year. The Texans ranked 13th in points per game (23.8), 18th in total yards per game (327), 14th in passing yards per game (218.1), and 22nd in rushing yards per game (108.9). It was by no means an excellent offensive showing, but the Texans held their own, especially without having running back Joe Mixon (foot, ankle) all year. Quarterback C.J. Stroud's collapse in the postseason was alarming, though.--Keith Hernandez
Source: KPRC 2 Sports - Aaron Wilson

January 19, 2026

Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans said on Monday that he's "excited" to see wide receiver Tank Dell (knee) back on the field for the 2026 season, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 Sports. Dell missed the entire 2025 season after tearing his ACL, MCL, and LCL in Week 16 of 2024. The 26-year-old spent all of 2025 rehabbing after having multiple surgeries to fix his knee. Dell's timeline to return to football activities is unknown, so we don't know exactly yet whether he'll be ready for training camp in the summer, preseason, or the start of the 2026 campaign in the fall. The former third-round pick is fortunate to even have the chance to play football again after his devastating knee injury, so expecting him to become fantasy relevant in his final year under contract might be a stretch, especially after the Texans added wideouts Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel in the 2025 NFL Draft.--Keith Hernandez
Source: KPRC 2 Sports - Aaron Wilson

January 19, 2026

When asked whether he expects a future with running back Joe Mixon (foot, ankle) on Monday, Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans said, "As of right now, I don't know that," according to Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle. Mixon didn't play at all during the 2025 season, yet the Texans managed to make the playoffs for the third straight year without him. The 29-year-old's future in Houston depends entirely on the health of his foot/ankle going into next season. From a contractual perspective, Mixon is with the team through the 2026 season. Veteran Nick Chubb opened the year as Houston's primary running back before rookie Woody Marks took over in the second half. Even if Mixon recovers this offseason and is ready to go for the season opener this fall, he won't be guaranteed to get the RB1 job back with Marks around.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Houston Chronicle - Jonathan M. Alexander

January 19, 2026

Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald said that running back George Holani (hamstring) could come off Injured Reserve to join the team this week as they prepare to face the division-rival Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Championship game on Sunday, according to The Athletic's Michael-Shawn Dugar. "George is an option, yeah. We'll see how it goes this week," Macdonald said. The Seahawks could use Holani the rest of the playoffs after it was announced on Monday that Zach Charbonnet (knee) tore his ACL in Saturday's Divisional Round win over the San Francisco 49ers. Velus Jones Jr. saw six carries for 10 yards after Charbonnet was injured, but he was sent back to the practice squad on Monday. If Holani isn't available to play this weekend, the Seahawks will have the option of elevating either Jones or Cam Akers to serve as Kenneth Walker III's backup against the Rams.--Keith Hernandez
Source: The Athletic - Michael-Shawn Dugar

January 19, 2026

Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald said the plan with quarterback Sam Darnold (oblique) this week will be day-to-day to see how he's doing, according to Curtis Crabtree of FOX 13 Seattle. "Balancing making sure we get enough reps at the proper tempo, with the proper looks, you know, and getting Sam the reps that he needs," Macdonald said. Darnold played through a questionable tag in the Divisional Round win over the San Francisco 49ers after injuring his left oblique in practice on Thursday. The 28-year-old wasn't needed all that much in the 41-6 blowout win, and he finished 12-for-17 passing for 124 yards and a touchdown. He will most likely be on the practice report this week and may not be full go, but it would be a surprise if he's not ready to play this Sunday in the NFC Championship versus the division-rival Rams. Darnold will most likely have to throw the ball much more in that one to keep up with L.A.'s potent offense.--Keith Hernandez
Source: FOX 13 Seattle - Curtis Crabtree

January 19, 2026

NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports that the Kansas City Chiefs plan to bring back Chicago Bears running backs coach Eric Bieniemy as their offensive coordinator, according to sources. The Chiefs are looking to replace Matt Nagy, who is no longer under contract and is in the head-coaching mix around the league. Bieniemy was a valued member of head coach Andy Reid's staff from 2013-22 and helped the Chiefs win two Super Bowl championships. Bieniemy was KC's offensive coordinator from 2018 until leaving to join the Washington Commanders' staff in 2023. The Chiefs never finished worse than sixth in scoring during Bieniemy's time as the Chiefs' OC. Under Nagy in 2025, the Chiefs had their worst offensive showing since the arrival of quarterback Patrick Mahomes. How well they bounce back in 2026 will depend a lot on the health of Mahomes.--Keith Hernandez
Source: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero

January 19, 2026

The Miami Dolphins are expected to hire Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley as their next head coach, Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network reported. Hafley was a front-runner for the job after the Dolphins hired former Packers vice president of player personnel Jon-Eric Sullivan as their new general manager. The 46-year-old was the defensive coordinator for the Packers for the last two seasons. In his first year with Green Bay, the Packers' defense finished sixth in points allowed and fifth in yards allowed. The unit dropped to 11th in points allowed and 12th in yards allowed, respectively, in 2025. Before joining the Packers, Hafley coached defensive backs with Tampa, Cleveland, and San Francisco from 2012-18, and he was a head coach for Boston College from 2020-23. Hafley will be tasked with trying to change the culture in Miami after two straight losing seasons.--Keith Hernandez
Source: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero