Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn reside as two of the top coaching candidates still available. Six head-coaching vacancies remain around the league, but that figure could drop very soon.
When speaking to the media on Monday, Lions head coach Dan Campbell admitted there is a strong possibility of both Johnson and Glenn departing during this year’s hiring cycle.
Such a scenario would leave Detroit in need of a new offensive and defensive coordinator for 2025, while other staffers could leave as well by following Johnson and Glenn to their new destinations. Nothing is imminent on that front, but Campbell knows he will likely be short-handed soon.
"I would expect to lose both, but I haven’t been told anything," Campbell said, via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. "I just, I’ve got a feeling, but I am prepared to lose both."
Johnson has been strongly linked to the Raiders, although the Jaguars and Bears remain in play as well. Glenn’s presumed top suitors have been the Jets and Saints throughout the interview process, and to no surprise, both teams have lined up an in-person meeting with him.
With the hiring cycle likely to heat up over the coming days, both staffers (whom Campbell has publicly endorsed as logical head-coaching targets for outside teams) will be worth watching closely.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter, as well as NFL Network’s Peter Schrager, note Johnson and Glenn could each have a head-coaching gig lined up by the middle of this week. That would fall in line with current expectations since they are both free to speak with teams at any time over the coming days. Coaches still involved in the playoffs, by contrast, cannot meet with suitors this week.
Interestingly, Campbell added that in the event Johnson departs, quarterback Jared Goff will have input in the search for a new OC. The former Rams No. 1 pick has enjoyed plenty of production with Johnson in Detroit, something highlighted by the $53M-per-year extension he is currently attached to. Campbell noted duplicating the setup in place with Johnson will be a key goal in the (hypothetical) search for his replacement.
"This thing is set up for Goff to have success with our playmakers," Campbell said. "[Amon-Ra] St. Brown, our running backs, the O-line, the whole deal. Jamo [Jameson Williams]. And so I want to keep that in place. I want to keep our terminology in place, and I want to make sure that Goff is comfortable, cause he’s playing at a high level."
To no surprise, Campbell left the door open to both internal promotions and external hires when speaking about potentially needing to fill the void left by his coordinators. It remains to be seen if either path will be necessary, but no one would be surprised at this point if several new faces were on the sideline for the Lions next year.
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The Green Bay Packers’ blockbuster trade to acquire Micah Parsons from the Dallas Cowboys altered the landscape of the NFL, and raised the expectations in Titletown for 2025 and beyond. Parsons immediately bolsters the Packers’ pass rush and, opposite Rashan Gary, has the potential to be a true difference-maker on a roster built to make a deep playoff run. Micah Parsons fired up after Packers trade While those inside the league both resoundingly praised general manager Brian Gutekunst and the Packers while lampooning Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, Parsons’ reaction of pure joy may have been best of all. Parsons has plenty of reason to celebrate between the change of scenery and the fact that he’ll collect $188 million with $120 million fully guaranteed on his new contract with the Packers. The All-Pro will also get the chance to exact some revenge on Jones and his former team when the Packers take on the Cowboys on Sunday Night Football in Week 4.
Adam Peters has already disposed of one draft pick under his leadership. The Washington Commanders won't hesitate to send more to the fringes if they aren't meeting the required standard. Peters is a ruthless roster builder. The general manager doesn't adopt any sentiment to his decision-making process, and always puts the team's best interests at the forefront. Anyone needing further proof of just how far he will go should examine his approach to wide receiver Terry McLaurin's contract standoff. There were some hidden signs when Peters trimmed down his roster from 90 to the required 53. A loud message was sent in no uncertain terms to one draft pick who is still fighting for relevancy entering Year 2 of his professional career. Commanders need more from Ben Sinnott, or they'll seek it from Colson Yankoff Flashing for Ben Sinnott won't be enough this time around. The 2024 second-round selection didn't make much of an impact as a rookie. Washington had the luxury of bringing him along gradually thanks to the presence of Pro Bowler Zach Ertz and John Bates, who is emerging as one of the league's most dominant blockers at the position. Ertz and Bates are both back. More is expected of Sinnott, but another anonymous preseason did nothing to diminish concerns about just how much he is ready for. Actions speak louder than words. Most fans thought the Commanders might only take three tight ends onto the squad this year, especially with the surplus of wide receivers. Peters had something else in mind, keeping Colson Yankoff on the team and moving forward with only five wideouts. Yankoff deserves his spot. He rose from obscurity as an undrafted free agent last year, and the progress has been notable this offseason. The UCLA product also flashed a lot more than Sinnott when opportunities came his way. That hasn't given him the No. 3 tight end spot just yet, but the highly-touted prospect would be wise to raise performance levels to cement his status. The Commanders still think Sinnott has something to offer. He demonstrates impressive qualities as a blocker and boasts enough athleticism to make his presence felt in the passing game. But there will come a time when potential is not enough. Sinnott must deliver on his pre-draft promise. It doesn't matter that he was a second-rounder and Yankoff didn't hear his name called. If the unheralded player outperforms the one with loftier expectations, that's all part of the business. The time to step up has arrived for Sinnott. And the added urgency is there for all to see. More Commanders news and analysis
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers hit a roadblock this week as he tried to improve the receiver corps before Week 1. Veteran wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling said Rodgers recruited him before he signed with the San Francisco 49ers practice squad on Wednesday. He believes the 49ers are better for his career. "It was between here and Pittsburgh," Valdes-Scantling said. "Obviously, I have a great relationship with Aaron Rodgers over there. And he wanted me back over there. So it was a toss-up, 50/50. And I had to weigh my options and see which one I wanted to do, which was going to be better for my career at this point, and I was excited about it." While Rodgers was a draw for the two-time Super Bowl champion, Valdez-Scantling cited familiarity with the 49ers scheme as preferable to playing for the quarterback who threw him passes during his first four seasons in the league with the Green Bay Packers. The miss was an unusual setback for Rodgers, who was successful in recruiting pass-catchers to join him with the New York Jets. Receivers Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb joined Rodgers in New York before the 2023 season during the "Green Bay East" migration. The Jets traded for Davante Adams in 2024. The 41-year-old quarterback seems to be losing some of his influence before his 21st season in the league. The Jets' 5-12 record last season might have something to do with it. The Steelers have concerning depth at wide receiver behind DK Metcalf. Valdez-Scantling most certainly would have been used at some point for Pittsburgh in the regular season. Rodgers might have to prove he can win early in the regular season before a free agent takes a chance on Pittsburgh.
A Pittsburgh Steelers legend has revealed his prediction for who will come out of the AFC this season, but he didn't pick in favor of his former team. Per Newsweek's YouTube channel, Hall of Fame quarterback Terry Bradshaw stated that he believes the Baltimore Ravens will finally break through in the playoffs and earn a trip to the Super Bowl while also stating that the Steelers "aren't ready" to make such a run. "It's not gonna be the [Kansas City] Chiefs," Bradshaw said. "I think Baltimore-Buffalo in the [AFC] Championship Game. I think Baltimore's gonna get over the hump this year. I'm pulling for Pittsburgh, always will. I don't think they're ready yet. Cincinnati, I don't think their defense is good enough yet. It's Cincinnati, it's Kansas City, it's Buffalo, Baltimore. Then you've got Pittsburgh with Aaron Rodgers. They could shock some people. Don't hold me to this, I'm going Baltimore." The Ravens have been in position to contend for a Lombardi Trophy with Lamar Jackson at the helm for over half a decade at this point, but they've continuously fallen short in the postseason. Despite the fact that we've seen the franchise make the championship game just once since 2018, however, Baltimore rightfully remains a popular pick to win the AFC North and run the gauntlet during the playoffs with one of the best rosters in the league and a perennial MVP candidate in Jackson. Pittsburgh has also profiled as a playoff contender year in and year out under head coach Mike Tomlin, but the team hasn't been a true challenger for the AFC crown since the tail end of Ben Roethlisberger's prime in the late 2010s. The Steelers did a lot of work this offseason to put themselves in position to snap their six-game playoff losing streak, but it may not be enough to vault themselves past the likes of the Ravens, Chiefs and Bills. Aaron Rodgers is the organization's best signal caller since Roethlisberger hung up his spikes following the 2021 campaign, but he's no longer at the same level as Jackson, Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen or even Joe Burrow. Pittsburgh's additions of Jalen Ramsey, Jonnu Smith and Darius Slay, among others, have also improved their chances of finally advancing in the playoffs, but the team still isn't a favorite to emerge as the AFC's representative in the Super Bowl when it's all said and done.
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