February 18, 2026
The New England Patriots have promoted inside linebackers coach Zak Kuhr as their full-time defensive coordinator, sources told Adam Schefter of ESPN. Kuhr was hired as the team's inside linebackers coach last season, but he took over as the defensive play-caller in Week 2 after defensive coordinator Terrell Williams was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Williams was cleared to return last week, according to head coach Mike Vrabel, and he was elevated to a higher-ranking role on the coaching staff. The 37-year-old Kuhr drew rave reviews from Williams at Super Bowl LX, and the Patriots' defense was instrumental in helping them get to the big game. Coaching assistant Vinny DePalma is expected to take over Kuhr's former position as inside LBs coach. The Pats' defense allowed the fourth-fewest points per game (18.8) and eighth-fewest total yards per game (295.2) during the 2025 regular season.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
February 18, 2026
ESPN's Adam Schefter and Field Yates report that the San Francisco 49ers will play a regular-season game in Melbourne, Australia, a home regular-season game in Mexico City, and have a schedule that includes two cross-country road games at the Atlanta Falcons and the New York Giants in 2026. The 49ers' opponent for the Mexico City game has yet to be announced, but they will square off against the division-rival Los Angeles Rams in Australia. San Francisco was eliminated by the Seattle Seahawks, who went on to win Super Bowl LX, in the Divisional Round of the postseason in a 41-6 rout. It was an impressive feat for the Niners to even make it to the playoffs last season, considering all the key players who missed extensive time due to injuries for them. Led by head coach Kyle Shanahan and quarterback
Brock Purdy, the 49ers will be Super Bowl contenders going into 2026, although their schedule certainly won't do them any favors.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter and Field Yates
February 16, 2026
The Cleveland Browns are hiring Atlanta Falcons passing-game coordinator Mike Rutenberg as their new defensive coordinator on Monday, sources told the NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. Rutenberg will bring a lot of energy to Cleveland after previously working under Robert Saleh and Jeff Ulbrich. He'll have big shoes to fill as he replaces former DC Jim Schwartz, who resigned after not being named the Browns' head coach. Rutenberg has a solid base to build around with Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett leading the charge on the defensive line, but it will also be his first gig as a defensive coordinator in the NFL. Before coaching with the Falcons, Rutenberg coached with the San Francisco 49ers in 2020 and with the New York Jets from 2021 to 2024. The Falcons' defense ranked 13th in passing yards allowed and 13th in net yards per attempt last year under Rutenberg.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
February 15, 2026
The Cleveland Browns are conducting in-person interviews with the Houston Texans' Cory Undlin and the Atlanta Falcons' Mike Rutenberg for their defensive-coordinator position this weekend, a source told Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer. Head coach Todd Monken could name his defensive coordinator in the next day or two. Undlin is Houston's defensive passing-game coordinator and has worked with the team since 2023. Before that, he was the secondary coach for the San Francisco 49ers, and he was also the Detroit Lions' defensive coordinator in 2020. Rutenberg is the Falcons' pass-game coordinator. Before joining Atlanta in 2025, he worked under defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich for four seasons as the linebackers coach with the Jets. Cleveland is looking to replace Jim Schwartz, who resigned after he was not named the Browns' head coach.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Cleveland Plain Dealer - Mary Kay Cabot
February 15, 2026
The Las Vegas Raiders are expected to promote run-game coordinator/defensive-line coach Rob Leonard to defensive coordinator, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter on Saturday. Leonard, who has worked directly with disgruntled All-Pro defensive end Maxx Crosby, has been a D-line coach since 2023. The Raiders will also retain Joe Woods as defensive passing-game coordinator, sources told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. Vegas finished 25th in points allowed (25.4) and 14th in total yards allowed (317.8) under former DC Patrick Graham and head coach Pete Carroll, while opponents converted 46.3% of their third-down attempts. The Raiders were solid against the run, though, allowing 3.9 yards per carry, which ranked fourth-best in the NFL. Leonard spent a season as an outside linebackers coach for the Baltimore Ravens in 2022 before joining the Raiders. He also coached for the Dolphins from 2019 to 2021 and for the New York Giants from 2013 to 2018.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
February 13, 2026
The Las Vegas Raiders requested to interview Los Angeles Rams assistant head coach and passing-game coordinator Aubrey Pleasant for their defensive-coordinator job, a source told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. The Raiders will interview Pleasant on Friday. In addition to the Raiders, Pleasant has interviewed for the same job with the Arizona Cardinals and Cleveland Browns this cycle. Pleasant joined the Rams in 2023 as their defensive backs coach before being promoted to assistant coach. He played safety at Wisconsin from 2005 to 2008 before getting into coaching. Before joining the Rams, Pleasant had coaching stints with the Browns, Commanders, Lions, and Packers. The Rams' defense finished in the top 10 in points allowed in 2025 and also ranked 12th in yards per attempt allowed under Pleasant.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
February 13, 2026
The Arizona Cardinals are expected to retain defensive coordinator Nick Rallis under new head coach Mike LaFleur, sources told Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports. Rallis was the defensive coordinator under previous head coach Jonathan Gannon for the last three seasons, and he will remain in Arizona under LaFleur in 2026. The 32-year-old was the youngest DC in the NFL when he was hired by the Cardinals three seasons ago. Although Gannon shouldered most of the blame, the Cardinals had one of the worst defenses in the league under Callis in two of the last three years. Arizona's defense allowed the fourth-most points per game (28.7), the sixth-most total yards per game (357.7), the ninth-most passing yards per game (230.8), and the eighth-most rushing yards per game (126.9) under Callis during the regular season in 2025.
--Keith HernandezSource: CBS Sports - Matt Zenitz
February 12, 2026
The New England Patriots have moved defensive coordinator Terrell Williams to a high-ranking role on the coaching staff, according to NFL.com's Ian Rapoport. Williams joined Mike Vrabel's coaching staff as the defensive coordinator prior to the 2025 season, but he stepped away from the organization in September for prostate cancer treatment. Linebackers coach Zak Kuhr assumed defensive play-calling duties for the remainder of the season, including the Patriots' Super Bowl run, and he's reportedly "a top candidate" to replace Williams as the defensive coordinator. Williams is now cancer-free and will remain a key member of the Patriots' staff in 2026, albeit in a different role. New England's defense allowed the eighth-fewest yards during the regular season, as well as the fewest yards per game during the playoffs.
--Andersen PickardSource: Ian Rapoport
February 12, 2026
The Cleveland Browns have requested an interview with Houston Texans passing-game coordinator Cory Undlin for their defensive-coordinator job, a source told Mark Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer. The Browns interviewed Atlanta Falcons' defensive passing-game coordinator Mike Rutenberg for the DC job on Wednesday. Cleveland was hoping to keep Jim Schwartz as their defensive coordinator, but he resigned after being passed over for the head-coaching gig. Whoever takes over the Browns' offense will have plenty to work with, namely Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett. The 54-year-old Undlin has been in Houston since 2023 after following head coach DeMeco Ryans from San Francisco. He worked under Schwartz with the Eagles from 2016 to 2019 as a defensive backs coach and also worked on the Jaguars' staff alongside new Browns head coach Todd Monken from 2009 to 2010.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Cleveland Plain Dealer - Mary Kay Cabot
February 12, 2026
The Las Vegas Raiders are hiring former Tennessee Titans interim head coach Mike McCoy as their assistant head coach, sources told Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network. The 53-year-old spent four years as the head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers and will be an experienced addition to first-time head coach Klint Kubiak's staff in 2026. McCoy went 27-37 in his time with the Chargers before serving as an offensive coordinator for the Denver Broncos in 2017 and the Arizona Cardinals in 2018. He then was the Jacksonville Jaguars' quarterbacks coach for three seasons before he was hired by the Titans last year as a senior offensive assistant. McCoy will be Kubiak's right-hand man next season and will also have input on the offense, although Kubiak plans to call the plays. He will also help in the development of Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who is expected to be the first overall pick in this year's NFL Draft.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
February 11, 2026
The Carolina Panthers hired former Miami Dolphins quarterbacks coach and passing-game coordinator Darrell Bevell as associate head coach/offensive specialist on Wednesday, sources told NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. Bevell is a long-time respected NFL assistant coach who will bring a wealth of experience to head coach Dave Canales' staff as Carolina looks to take another step forward after making the postseason in 2025. Canales was the Seattle Seahawks' wide receivers coach when Bevell was the offensive coordinator, so the two have worked together before. The Panthers are hoping that the addition of Bevell will help quarterback
Bryce Young take the next step in his development after Carolina's offense ranked only 26th in EPA per play and 18th in success rate last season.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
February 9, 2026
The Las Vegas Raiders officially agreed to an undisclosed five-year deal with new head coach Klint Kubiak on Monday, a source told Adam Schefter of ESPN. The Raiders had to wait to officially name Kubiak as their next head coach until after Super Bowl LX. He will get to work quickly after helping lead the Seattle Seahawks to a Super Bowl victory over the New England Patriots on Sunday. Kubiak is the fourth head coach for the Raiders in the last four seasons, but they are hoping that he'll bring some stability to the role as the team looks to rebuild. They have the No 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft and are fully expected to select Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza. Kubiak will be crucial in the development of Mendoza, the 2025 Heisman Trophy winner.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
February 9, 2026
Los Angeles Rams assistant head coach and passing-game coordinator Aubrey Pleasant will interview for the defensive-coordinator jobs with the Arizona Cardinals and Cleveland Browns, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. Pleasant has worked with five different teams (Rams, Washington Commanders, Browns, Detroit Lions, and Green Bay Packers) since starting his NFL coaching career back in 2013, but he has never been a defensive coordinator. The more attractive job is definitely in Cleveland, where the reigning Defensive Player of the Year resides in pass-rusher Myles Garrett. Pleasant was also interviewed for the Los Angeles Chargers' defensive-coordinator position this offseason before they chose Chris O'Leary for the gig. He has spent the last three seasons in L.A. coaching under Sean McVay.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
February 9, 2026
The Cleveland Browns have requested permission to interview New York Giants assistant coach Charlie Bullen for their defensive-coordinator job, a source told Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network. Bullen is also in the mix for the defensive-coordinator position with the Arizona Cardinals. He took over as the Giants' interim DC last season when the team fired Shane Bowen, but he was unable to land the full-time DC gig after John Harbaugh took over as the new head coach. Bullen has 13 years of coaching experience in the NFL, but he's never been a defensive coordinator. He got his start as a defensive assistant with the Miami Dolphins in 2012. The Browns are looking for a new DC after Jim Schwartz resigned because he was passed over for the head-coaching opening. Cleveland's defense already has a strong base to work with, including Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Mike Garafolo
February 9, 2026
Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator confirmed on Sunday after winning Super Bowl LX over the New England Patriots that he will be the next head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders, according to NFL Network. "Hell yeah, I'm going [to Las Vegas.]" Kubiak said. The 38-year-old and the Raiders began finalizing an agreement a week ago, but no official announcement could be made until after the Super Bowl. Kubiak will be the third head coach in Vegas in three seasons and the fifth head coach since the moved to Vegas in 2020. He will take over for Pete Carroll, who went 3-14 in his lone season with the Raiders. Kubiak will likely be counted on to mold Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who is expected to be selected by the Raiders with the first overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Kubiak's work with
Sam Darnold in 2025 got the Raiders' attention.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network
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