Doug Pederson‘s run with the Jaguars has come to an end. As expected, the veteran head coach was fired on Monday, a team announcement confirmed.

“I strongly believe it is possible next season to restore the winning environment we had here not long ago,” a statement from owner Shad Khan reads (h/t NFL.com). “I will collaborate with General Manager Trent Baalke and others, within and close to our organization, to hire a leader who shares my ambition and is ready to seize the extraordinary opportunity we will offer in Jacksonville.”

[RELATED: Jags HC Candidates Emerge; Team Open To Hiring Executive VP]

As Khan’s statement notes, Baalke will remain in place for 2025. The former 49ers GM has been at the helm of the Jaguars since 2021, predating Pederson’s arrival. The collective struggles the pair has endured over the past two years led many to believe sweeping changes could be made this offseason. Leading up to ‘Black Monday,’ however, it remained unclear which way Khan was leaning. While many around the league predicted Baalke would be dismissed, the news of Pederson’s firing comes as no surprise.

Jacksonville went 9-8 in Pederson’s first year with the team, and a run to the divisional round of the playoffs offered optimism he and quarterback Trevor Lawrence would be able to string together a sustained run of success. Things took a downward turn last year, though, with a second-half collapse leaving the team out of the playoffs. Pederson thus increasingly found himself on the hot seat as the 2024 campaign progressed.

Khan made it clear he had high expectations for the Jaguars based on their roster, but the team started 0-4. A playoff berth was therefore out of reach early, and Pederson found himself among the coaches in danger of being fired midway through the campaign. Khan remained patient on that front, as he generally has during his ownership tenure. Still, signs continued to point to a dismissal after the campaign, the most recent being assistants on Pederson’s staff admitting they expected major changes to be made.

With a 4-13 season in the books (leaving Pederson with an overall mark of 22-29 in Duval County), that has now proven to be the case. The Jaguars join the Jets, Saints, Bears and Patriots as teams in need of a new coach, and Khan – who has not been in contact with potential candidates yet – will begin his latest search. Interestingly, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero of NFL Network notes the Jags’ next coach will report directly to Khan, not Baalke.

Reports of a rift between Baalke and Pederson emerged in September, so a coaching change bringing with it a new power structure in the organization is a notable development. With Lawrence on the books long term, finding a coach capable of maximizing his potential will be an obvious priority (although that was, of course, also the case when Pederson was hired). While Baalke is safe for now, he will no doubt remain the subject of scrutiny moving forward.

Pederson, 56, spent five seasons at the helm of the Eagles. That stretch included a Super Bowl championship, and after only a one-year absence following his Philadelphia dismissal he took another HC gig with Jacksonville. It will be interesting to see how he proceeds during the 2025 hiring cycle as one of the most experienced coaches on the market.

The Patriots did not wait for ‘Black Monday’ to arrive when making the decision to fire Jerod Mayo. His tenure as head coach ended after only season, and New England is now one of five teams in need of a new coach.

Interview requests have started coming out, and the Patriots are set to meet with Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson. The most sought-after candidate in the 2025 cycle will have a number of other suitors, but the Patriots have of course been heavily linked to Mike Vrabel. The former New England linebacker is, to no surprise, considered the top name to watch as the team’s search takes place.

[RELATED: Patriots To Retain Eliot Wolf, Front Office Staff]

Tom E. Curran of NBC Sports Boston notes it is “safe to presume” Vrabel is the top option for the Patriots as they seek out Mayo’s replacement. Meanwhile, Mike Giardi of the Boston Sports Journal adds six executives from around the league believe Vrabel will wind up being hired by New England. The former Titans coach spent much of the 2024 campaign as a consultant with the Browns, but his contract recently expired, leaving him free to interview with interested teams.

That has already seen Vrabel meet with the Jets, a team which has expressed interest in adding experience on the sidelines and in the front office. Fox Sports’ Peter Schrager reports that interview went “very well,” and the Patriots could have competition from inside and outside the AFC East as a result. The Saints have been named as a team to watch regarding a Vrabel interview, while the presence of Tom Brady fueled a recent report stating the Raiders’ top option to replace Antonio Pierce would be Vrabel. At this point, though, Pierce remains in place as Vegas’ coach.

Vrabel played 14 years in the NFL, including eight with the Patriots. The three-time Super Bowl champion is held in high regard by owner Robert Kraft and New England’s front office; as such, connections have long been made between the two. Vrabel, 49, was in charge of the Titans from 2018-23 in a stretch which included Coach of the Year honors in 2021.

Tennessee reached the playoffs three straight seasons under Vrabel, but the last two years of his tenure resulted in a combined record of 13-21. Brian Callahan was brought in last offseason as a replacement, and while the Titans bottomed out to the point of landing the top pick in the upcoming draft he appears safe to coach at least one more year. Given the relative dearth of known commodities in the 2025 coaching cycle, Vrabel’s stock remains high.

It will be interesting to see if the Mayo firing is quickly followed by a serious Vrabel pursuit. Kraft could be cautioned against bringing in another ex-player in the wake of Mayo’s struggles, but for now it would come as no surprise if he were to take that route again.

In the build-up to ‘Black Monday,’ the Colts and Dolphins issued statements confirming they will not make head coaching or general manager changes. The Giants have joined them in that respect.

“Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll will continue in their respective roles with the organization,” owner John Mara said in a statement (via ESPN’s Jordan Raanan). “As disappointing as the results of the season have been, [co-owner] [Steve] Tisch and I remain confident in the process that Joe and Brian have implemented and their vision for our team.”

[RELATED: Giants Open To Resolving QB Need With Rookie, Veteran]

As a result, Daboll will continue as head coach with Schoen still entrusted to handle general manager duties. Both have been in place since 2022, but the Giants’ rebuild has not gone according to plan. Daboll in particular helped his stock during his debut season in New York by helping lead the team to the divisional round of the playoffs. He earned Coach of the Year honors in light of the Giants’ surprising success, but it was clear transitioning to a new core would remain a multi-year process. The past two seasons have not seen the progress ownership was seeking, however.

A 6-11 run last campaign fell short of expectations, but ahead of the 2024 season Mara said a playoff berth was not required for it to be considered a success. In spite of that, the Giants’ struggles led to speculation at least one of Daboll or Schoen could be let go during the year. Mara offered a vote of confidence in October, although many around the league still figured changes could be coming at least once the season was offer. Mara made it clear the two former Bills staffers would be evaluated separately, and it would have come as no surprise if a few days took place before a decision was made. Instead, the team has quickly endorsed its in-house options.

Daboll, 49, was one of the top candidates in the 2022 hiring cycle based on his work with the Bills as offensive coordinator. He and OC Mike Kafka have both handled play-calling duties over recent years, and the latter’s job status has been a talking point amidst the uncertainty surrounding New York’s staff. Daboll called plays in 2024, and it will be interesting to see if Kafka is retained (and what his role will be if so) for next year.

Schoen’s tenure has been defined in no small part by the four-year, $160MM extension given to quarterback Daniel Jones in 2023. That deal paved the way for Saquon Barkley‘s franchise tag season last year and his eventual departure, something which drew the ire of Mara. That is especially the case since Jones is no longer with the team. Finding a new quarterback will be priority No. 1 this offseason, and Mara cited the play of the 2024 rookie class as a reason to continue relying on Schoen to add to the teams’ nucleus.

Mara did add (via Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post), to little surprise, that his patience has nearly run out. While the term on Daboll and Schoen’s deals runs past 2025, their futures are certainly not assured over the long term. A major step forward next season will be expected; failing that, changes on the sidelines or in the front office will again be a distinct possibility.

Five teams have made coaching changes so far during this year’s cycle. Here are the candidates connected to each of the now-HC-needy franchises. If more teams make changes, they will be added to the list.

Updated 1-6-25 (10:23pm CT)

Chicago Bears

• Bill Belichick, head coach (North Carolina): Expressed interest
• Joe Brady, offensive coordinator (Bills): Mentioned as candidate
• Thomas Brown, interim head coach (Bears: Interview expected
• Pete Carroll, former head coach (Seahawks): Interested in job
• Brian Flores, defensive coordinator (Vikings): Interview requested
• Aaron Glenn, defensive coordinator (Lions): Interview requested
• Ben Johnson, offensive coordinator (Lions): Interview expected
• Mike Kafka, offensive coordinator (Giants): Interview requested
• Kliff Kingsbury, offensive coordinator (Commanders): Interview expected
• Mike McCarthy, head coach (Cowboys): Interview requested
• Todd Monken, offensive coordinator (Ravens): Interview requested
• Drew Petzing, offensive coordinator (Cardinals): Interview requested
• David Shaw, senior personnel executive (Broncos): Interview requested
• Arthur Smith, offensive coordinator (Steelers): Interview requested
• Mike Vrabel, former head coach (Titans): Mentioned as candidate
• Anthony Weaver, defensive coordinator (Dolphins): Interview requested

Jacksonville Jaguars

• Joe Brady, offensive coordinator (Bills): Mentioned as candidate
• Liam Coen, offensive coordinator (Buccaneers): Mentioned as candidate
• Ben Johnson, offensive coordinator (Lions): Mentioned as candidate

New England Patriots

• Ben Johnson, offensive coordinator (Lions): Interview expected
• Mike Vrabel, former head coach (Titans): Viewed as frontrunner

New Orleans Saints

• Joe Brady, offensive coordinator (Bills): Interview requested
• Aaron Glenn, defensive coordinator (Lions): Interview requested
• Mike Kafka, offensive coordinator (Giants): Interview requested
• Kellen Moore, offensive coordinator (Eagles): Interview requested
• Matt Nagy, offensive coordinator (Chiefs): Mentioned as candidate
• Mike Vrabel, former head coach (Titans): Rumored candidate
• Anthony Weaver, defensive coordinator (Dolphins): Interview requested

New York Jets

• Bill Belichick, head coach (North Carolina): Showed interest; meeting never scheduled
• Joe Brady, offensive coordinator (Bills): Interview requested
• Brian Flores, defensive coordinator (Vikings): Interview requested
• Aaron Glenn, defensive coordinator (Lions): Interview requested
• Brian Griese, quarterbacks coach (49ers): Interview requested
• Vance Joseph, defensive coordinator (Broncos): Interview requested
• Josh McCown, quarterbacks coach (Vikings): Interview requested
• Matt Nagy, offensive coordinator (Chiefs): Interview requested
• Ron Rivera, former head coach (Commanders): Interviewed
• Rex Ryan, former head coach (Bills): To interview 1/7
• Bobby Slowik, offensive coordinator (Texans): Interview requested
• Arthur Smith, offensive coordinator (Steelers): Interview requested
• Jeff Ulbrich, interim head coach (Jets): To interview
• Mike Vrabel, former head coach (Titans): Interviewed 1/3

The Bears have been busy sending out head coaching interview requests Monday. To no surprise, most of their targets are currently coordinators on their respective teams. One staffer who still holds the title of head coach is on Chicago’s radar, however.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Todd Archer report the Bears have sought permission to speak with Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy. The team is currently awaiting word from Dallas on whether or not he will be made available for an interview. That, in turn, obviously depends on whether or not McCarthy will receive a new contract from the Cowboys.

Jerry Jones elected not to fire McCarthy after the Cowboys lost in the wild-card round last year, but he cited that continued lack of postseason success as a reason not offer an extension. The former Packers Super Bowl winner has thus spent 2024 as a lame duck coach who has received several votes of confidence from Jones and his players in spite of Dallas’ disappointing campaign. Jones and McCarthy (who could also draw interest from the Saints) are set to meet later today as uncertainty surrounds their future.

Even if McCarthy winds up being unavailable, other staffers are on the Bears’ radar. They include Todd Monken, as noted by NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. Monken is in his second season as the Ravens’ offensive coordinator, and he has drawn praise for helping lead Lamar Jackson to his most productive season to date. Baltimore became the first team in NFL history to surpass 4,000 passing yards and 3,000 rushing yards in a season this year (h/t Pro Football Network), so Monken could receive looks from several teams.

Taking a step forward on offense will be a clear priority for the Bears in 2025; to no surprise, the team is looking into several coaches with a background on that side of the ball. Steelers OC Arthur Smith has also received a slip, per Schefter. Smith received interest from the Jets prior to the 2024 season, and New York has requested a head coaching interview with the former Falcons boss. Smith’s first year at the helm of Pittsburgh’s offense has produced inconsistent results through the air, but as expected the team has been relatively strong in the run game.

The latest defensive candidate to receive an interview request is Brian Flores, Schefter reports. The former Dolphins HC spent one year as the Steelers’ linebackers coach in 2022 and has since worked as the Vikings’ defensive coordinator. Flores, 43, has helped his stock with his time in Minnesota and an intra-divisional move to the Bears recently emerged as a possibility. The Jets’ initial set of interview requests also includes Flores, though, so Chicago will have competition if the team targets him.

The Bears have already sought out interviews with Aaron Glenn (Lions), Mike Kafka (Giants), Drew Petzing (Cardinals) and Anthony Weaver (Dolphins). That group includes an even split of offensive and defensive coaches, and the latest additions to the list include a mix of backgrounds and experience. Finding the right fit to develop Caleb Williams will be critical for general manager Ryan Poles, and his search process will include looking into several outside candidates.

Deshaun Watson will remain on the books for the Browns in 2025, but it remains to be seen when he will be healthy enough to play. The much-maligned quarterback’s recovery from an Achilles tear has taken an unwanted turn.

Browns general manager Andrew Berry said on Monday (via Tom Pelissero of NFL Network) that Watson encountered a setback in his rehab process. As a result, a second Achilles surgery may be required. Especially if that proves to be the case, Watson’s timeline to return to action will be significantly pushed back.

The 29-year-old tore his Achilles in October, bringing an end to his third season with Cleveland. The ailment represents the second in a row which prevented him from playing a full campaign (something of note considering the 11-game suspension which began his Browns tenure, of course). Just like years past, 2024 did not go according to plan in terms of on-field production, although Cleveland did not consider benching him prior to the injury. The team used Jameis Winston, Dorian Thompson-Robinson and Bailey Zappe at quarterback to close out the year, and changes under center can be expected.

Berry noted this latest Watson development is unlikely to affect the Browns’ plans at the QB spot this offseason (h/t Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal). Competition for the starting gig has already been expected – quite possibly by adding a rookie in the first round of the draft – and further uncertainty regarding Watson’s 2025 availability could point the team in that direction. Cleveland is on track to select second overall in April.

Given the fully guaranteed nature of Watson’s pact, cutting or trading him is not feasible. To no surprise, another restructure was worked out recently, further delaying the point at which the Browns will meet major cap issues by releasing the three-time Pro Bowler. Watson’s cap hits for 2025 and ’26 remain $72.94MM at this point, with several void years in place. As noted by Spotrac, the restructure likely sets up a post-June 1 release in 2027.

In the meantime, improved play under center will be a key goal for the franchise. Berry, along with head coach Kevin Stefanski, will remain in place for 2025. One day after their season ended, though, the Browns did move on from offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey as well as offensive line coach Andy Dickerson. Replacing both represents a notable task, and with Winston and Zappe on track for (in the latter’s case, restricted) free agency, an overhaul under center could be in store. Watson was previously set for a training camp return, per cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot, but now that will no longer be the case.

The Bears were busy requesting HC interviews today, with a number of coordinators and former NFL head coaches garnering interest. The team is thinking a bit outside the box with their latest candidate, as NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that the organization requested an interview with Broncos senior personnel executive David Shaw.

While Shaw most recently worked in an NFL front office, he’s no stranger to the sideline. Shaw spent more than a decade coaching at Stanford, including a 12-year stint as their head coach. He had a successful start to his head coaching career, guiding the Cardinal football team to six AP top-20 rankings through his first seven years at the helm. Stanford also made eight-straight bowl appearances, but the team struggled a bit during Shaw’s final seasons at the school.

Between 2019 and 2022, the team went only 14-28, including a 6-18 showing during his final two seasons. Following the conclusion of the 2022 campaign, Shaw resigned from his position. He resurfaced this past offseason when he joined the Broncos as a front office executive.

While Shaw made a name for himself in the college ranks, he also has coaching experience in the NFL. He had stints as QBs coach with both the Raiders and Ravens, and he also served as Baltimore’s wide receivers coach. Shaw has also been a mainstay in recent head coaching searches, interviewing for gigs with the Chargers, Titans, and Broncos over the past two years.

The list of candidates for the Bears head coaching job continues to grow. Just today, the team requested interviews with 10 candidates: Lions OC Ben Johnson and DC Aaron Glenn, Giants OC Mike Kafka, Cardinals OC Drew Petzing, Dolphins DC Anthony Weaver, Ravens OC Todd Monken, Steelers OC Arthur Smith, Vikings DC Brian Flores, and Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy.

After requesting his release from the Cowboys in pursuit of a playoff run, Ezekiel Elliott has landed with a postseason squad. The veteran running back is signing with the Chargers practice squad, per Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz.

[RELATED: Cowboys Release Ezekiel Elliott]

Elliott attracted interest from a handful of playoff-bound teams, according to Schultz. The running back ultimately chose the Chargers because he liked the fit alongside coach Jim Harbaugh and quarterback Justin Herbert. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport adds that there’s hope that Elliott can get “up to speed quickly” and contribute to his squad in the playoffs.

Following a one-season stop in New England, Elliott returned to the Cowboys this past offseason. With Tony Pollard no longer in the picture, there was hope that the long-time Dallas star could once again lead the backfield. The veteran saw a somewhat significant role to begin the season, including the season opener when he ran for 40 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries.

As the season went on, Elliott found himself definitively behind Rico Dowdle on the depth chart. The veteran generally struggled when he was on the field, as his 3.1 yards-per-carry represented a new career-low. Elliott also faced discipline in November for his “habitual tardiness,” leading to his Week 9 absence. With the Cowboys firmly out of the playoff picture entering the final week of the season, Elliott requested and was granted his release as he pursued an opportunity with a playoff team.

He’ll find that opportunity in Los Angeles, where the Chargers have navigated a new RB corps in 2024. J.K. Dobbins recently returned to his RB1 role after missing four weeks with a sprained knee, but fellow RB Gus Edwards is currently nursing his own ankle issue. Hassan Haskins and rookie Kimani Vidal have filled in admirably at times for the Chargers throughout the 2024 campaign, but considering Dobbins’ injury history, some extra depth certainly won’t hurt.

Of course, expectations have to be managed for the team’s newest addition. Even as Elliott found the end zone 12 times during the 2022 campaign, the RB was already showing signs of decline, leading to the Cowboys bailing from his six-year, $90MM extension. He didn’t look a whole lot better during his lone season with the Patriots, and he hit a new low this season with only 295 yards from scrimmage. The Chargers are set to take on the Texans this Saturday, so it may be unrealistic for Elliott to earn the team’s trust in less than a week. If the Chargers win their Wild Card matchup and Edwards is still sidelined, then Elliott could potentially play a goal-line role for the team in later rounds.

Today’s practice squad moves:

Denver Broncos

• Signed: OL Will Sherman

Houston Texans

• Signed: CB Anthony Averett

Today’s minor moves:

Chicago Bears

• Released: RB Royce Freeman

Dallas Cowboys

• Re-signed: QB Will Grier, LB Darius Harris

Indianapolis Colts

• Re-signed: RB Tyler Goodson, LB Segun Olubi

Miami Dolphins

• Re-signed (two years): CB Jason Maitre

New Orleans Saints

• Re-signed: K Charlie Smyth

A number of impending free agents quickly re-signed with their current organizations today. While these players aren’t shoo-ins for roster spots in 2025, they are attached to actual NFL contracts (vs. reserve/futures contracts, which would need to be converted into real contracts if a player makes a 53-man roster).

In addition to hanging on to kicker Charlie Smyth today, the Saints also had to deal with some notable details on a previously-agreed-upon contract. The NFL rejected the team’s contract to safety Travion Fluellen, per Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston. The organization later revised the agreement, bumping the contract from a two-year pact to a three-year pact. It’s uncertain why the league rejected the initial deal, although it could be due to Fluellen’s status as a former UFL player.

With the regular season having come to an end, many teams have started signing players to reserve/futures contracts. This allows organization to retain (routinely) young, practice squad players. Here are the latest reserve/futures contracts:

Arizona Cardinals

• WR Andre Baccellia, CB Jaden Davis, CB Darren Hall, OL Matthew Jones, WR Tejhaun Palmer, TE Bernhard Seikovits, DL Ben Stille

Atlanta Falcons

• DT Junior Aho, WR Phillip Dorsett, RB Elijah Dotson, WR Dylan Drummond, G Joey Fisher, G Jovaughn Gwyn, DB Lamar Jackson, QB Emory Jones, DE Khalid Kareem, WR Jesse Matthews, DB Benny Sapp III, OT Tyrone Wheatley Jr.

Carolina Panthers

• RB Emani Bailey, G Ja’Tyre Carter, TE Dominique Dafney, LB Kenny Dyson, LB Thomas Incoom, WR T.J. Luther, TE Jordan Matthews, WR Dax Milne, C Andrew Raym, G Brandon Walton

Chicago Bears

• OL Theo Benedet, OL Chris Glaser, WR John Jackson, LB Carl Jones, DL Jamree Kromah, QB Austin Reed, OL Ricky Stromberg, WR Samori Toure, TE Joel Wilson

Cleveland Browns

• G Javion Cohen, S Trey Dean, DE Marcus Haynes, OT Roy Mbaeteka, TE Tre’ McKitty, OT Julian Pearl, DE Elerson Smith, K Andre Szmyt, OT Lorenzo Thompson

Dallas Cowboys

• G Jack Anderson, DB Luq Barcoo, DT Denzel Daxon, WR Kelvin Harmon, LB Brock Mogensen, WR Jalen Moreno-Cropper, DB Troy Pride Jr., LB Luiji Vilain, WR Seth Williams

Indianapolis Colts

• RB Salvon Ahmed, LB Austin Ajiake, LB Liam Anderson, QB Jason Bean, S Marcel Dabo, CB Alex Johnson, G Atonio Mafi, TE Sean McKeon, WR D.J. Montgomery, DE Durrell Nchami, TE Albert Okwuegbunam, DT Pheldarius Payne, G Josh Sills, WR Laquon Treadwell

Las Vegas Raiders

• DE David Agoha, OT Gottlieb Ayedze, CB M.J. Devonshire, CB Keenan Isaac, WR Shedrick Jackson, WR Tyreik McAllister, DE Ovie Oghoufo, C Will Putnam, LB Brandon Smith, RB Isaiah Spiller, OT Dalton Wagner, WR Kristian Wilkerson

New York Giants

• K Jude McAtamney, DL Ross Blacklock, C Bryan Hudson, C Jimmy Morrissey, DL Casey Rogers

New York Jets

• OL Zack Bailey, RB Zach Evans, T Obinna Eze, TE Zack Kuntz, G Kohl Levao, QB Adrian Martinez, LB Jackson Sirmon, WR Brandon Smith, DB Tre Swilling, WR Easop Winston

San Francisco 49ers

• DL Jonathan Garvin, OL Sebastian Gutierrez, DL Tarron Jackson, OL Zack Johnson, CB Chase Lucas, S Jaylen Mahoney, QB Tanner Mordecai, OL Drake Nugent, WR Terique Owens, TE Mason Pline, WR Trent Taylor

Seattle Seahawks

• DT Quinton Bohanna, CB Ryan Cooper, LB Michael Dowell, CB Tyler Hall, C Mike Novitsky, DE Kenneth Odumegwu, S Ty Okada, WR Cornell Powell, LB Jamie Sheriff, LB Tyreke Smith, CB Damarion Williams

Tennessee Titans

• DT McTelvin Agim, DT Abdullah Anderson, LB Curtis Bolton, OL Chandler Brewer, DT Isaiah Iton, CB Gabe Jeudy-Lally, OLB Kyron Johnson, WR Stanley Morgan, TE Thomas Odukoya, S Gervarrius Owens, T Isaiah Prince, RB Jabari Small

Ernest Jones is officially set to hit free agency, but that doesn’t necessarily mean he’s done in Seattle. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported this past weekend that the Seahawks and the impending free agent linebacker have “amicably paused discussions” on an extension.

It was a busy 2024 campaign for Jones. The Rams informed the former third-round pick that he would not be extended in 2024, and his camp subsequently received permission to negotiate a trade. While Jones didn’t request a trade out of Los Angeles, the Rams quickly sent him to the Titans. The linebacker lasted only a few months in Tennessee before getting shipped to Seattle, where he ended the season.

Per Rapoport, Jones “would love to return” to the Seahawks for the 2025 campaign, and the reporter adds that the two sides could resume contract talks at any time. For what it’s worth, both camps recently expressed optimism that a deal could eventually get done. Following the team’s season finale yesterday, Jones said the two sides “just gotta get there” in terms of contract value (per Michael-Shawn Dugar of The Athletic). Meanwhile, head coach Mike Macdonald told reporters that “you’ve got to just trust the process” while expressing confidence “that we’re going to see a lot of Ernest for years to come” (per Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times).

The Seahawks didn’t trade for Jones with the intent of making him a rental, with ESPN’s Brady Henderson noting that the team made sincere efforts to extend the player before the end of the season. However, there seemed to be a recent understanding that a deal wouldn’t be resolved until March. Condotta also notes that the team intentionally traded a fourth-round pick (along with Jerome Baker) for the player, with the front office understanding that they could recoup a fourth-round compensatory selection if the player earns a contract worth at least $12MM per year.

Jones played almost every defensive snap for Seattle after joining the team in late October. He ultimately collected 94 tackles in 10 games for the Seahawks, with Pro Football Focus giving him one of the highest positional grades for his run defense. He’ll be joining a relatively deep free agent linebackers class that also includes the likes of Dre Greenlaw, Nick Bolton, and Bobby Wagner.

The Colts are moving on from their veteran defensive coordinator. Jim Irsay announced Monday that the team is not bringing back Gus Bradley.

The former Jaguars HC and four-time NFL DC had been in Indianapolis for the past three seasons. Despite having worked with Shane Steichen with the Chargers as well, he will not come back for Steichen’s third Colts campaign. This comes two weeks after the Colts allowed 45 points to a 2-13 Giants team starting Drew Lock; that loss eliminated Indianapolis from the playoff race.

[RELATED: Colts To Retain Steichen, GM Chris Ballard]

Bradley had been rumored to be on the hot seat, with SI.com’s Albert Breer suggesting he would be the fall guy after a tough year on defense. Indy stuck with Bradley despite poor defensive numbers last season, and the former Pete Carroll assistant is back on the market. Bradley, 58, has been either a defensive coordinator or head coach since 2009. Seahawks, Chargers, Raiders and Colts DC assignments have sandwiched a woeful Jaguars HC tenure.

Hired to be part of Frank Reich‘s staff in 2022, Bradley could not turn the Colts into an upper-crust defense. Matt Eberflus had Indy as a top-10 scoring unit three times from 2018-21; Bradley has been unable to lead this unit inside the top 20. After back-to-back 28th-place finishes, Bradley’s troops checked in 24th this season. This may be a crossroads point for the veteran assistant, though he has enjoyed success prior to his Indiana stay.

Bradley and Steichen overlapped with the Bolts from 2017-20, with the former heading to Los Angeles after his Jacksonville ouster. Bradley exited Florida with the fourth-worst win percentage (.226) in NFL history. Hue Jackson and Steve Spagnuolo check in below Bradley on that all-time list; the latter’s number with the Rams has hurt him on the HC market, despite a wildly successful Chiefs DC tenure. Bradley has been unable to match Spagnuolo’s Kansas City coordinator work, but he has been regularly sought after since the Jaguars firing.

Anthony Lynn hired Bradley in 2017, while Jon Gruden picked him up after Lynn’s 2020 ouster. As the Raiders cleaned house in 2022, Bradley found his way to Indianapolis. Bradley’s best work remains his 2012 Seahawks defense, which booked him the Jags job and set him up for other DC opportunities down the road. Seattle led the league in scoring defense in 2012, with that defensive system later aiding Dan Quinn and Kris Richard. Bradley’s zone-based system peaked a bit ago, however, and the Colts are set to go in a different direction.

The Colts played almost all of this season without JuJu Brents, a former second-round pick who was supposed to be the team’s top outside corner, and all of it without EDGE starter Samson Ebukam. The latter was part of the Colts setting an Indianapolis-era franchise record with 51 sacks last season. Ballard has also taken criticism for a largely inward-only approach on his roster. That blueprint has largely failed to pay off, but while Ballard will see more time, Bradley is out.

While the Patriots are set to revamp their coaching staff, it sounds like the front office will be staying intact. During his press conference today, owner Robert Kraft revealed that executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf and his staff will be sticking around for the 2025 campaign (via Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald). Wolf and top front office executive Alonzo Highsmith will also be involved in the team’s head coaching search (via Kyed).

As the Patriots navigated a post-Bill Belichick era, they chose Wolf as the leader of their new-look front office. The executive did have one major hit during his first year at the helm, with third-overall pick Drake Maye appearing to be a foundational piece. However, the front office drew criticism for the rest of their draft class, and Kraft acknowledged that the team needs stronger performances from rookie-contract players if they hope to return to contention.

“Our drafts have not been good for a while,” Kraft said (via Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.com). “If you want to compete long term and be good in this league, you’ve got to have good drafts because those rookie contracts allow you to go out and get the people you need to surround people. It looks like we lucked out; we maybe have two quarterbacks. But I think we’ll hopefully see a big improvement this year.”

While the likes of Wolf and Highsmith are expected to keep their jobs, Albert Breer of SI.com expects there to still be significant changes to the front office operations. After Belichick was responsible for running so many aspects of the front office for years, the organization was left with an antiquated approach when the dust settled following the iconic coach’s ouster. Breer opines that the Krafts put the front office at a disadvantage by not providing the same resources as other NFL teams, with the writer suggesting that ownership could look to “add elements of analytics and sport science” to their operations.

While many of these subtle changes will take place behinds the scenes, the Patriots’ search for their next head coach will be very public. Ownership is expected to be heavily involved in the search, as are the aforementioned front office executives. Breer notes that the team isn’t expected to hire a search firm to assist in the process.

As we await word on the team’s interview process, we’ll starting to hear some details about Mayo’s sudden firing, with Tom E. Curran of NBCSports Boston noting that the final four games of the season played a significant role in the decision. Curran says the past month was “untenable,” and while the team didn’t initially anticipate moving on from their first-year head coach, the “disorganization became too much to take.”

Kraft himself told reporters that he went back and forth on the decision over the past month. Ultimately, the owner believed the squad showed regression throughout the 2024 campaign, with Kraft citing the season-opening win over the Bengals as the high point of the year. Kraft also revealed that Mayo didn’t know about his impending firing prior to the season finale; the head coach ended up guiding his squad to victory while also compromising the team’s chances at the first-overall pick (links via Kyed).

While a new head coach will presumably look to bring on their own staff, there’s still a chance a few key assistants stick around. Offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt didn’t get a whole lot of production from his unit in 2024, but the coach did earn praise for his handling of Maye’s development. If Van Pelt is ultimately canned by the Patriots, Breer believes the coach could land back in Cleveland, where he served as OC between 2020 and 2023.

Like the Jets as a whole, Sauce Gardner did not live up to expectations this season. The two-time All-Pro was not selected to the Pro Bowl, as the Jets plummeted to 5-12 despite regular playoff expectations. The team still has some extension matters to navigate.

The three first-round picks the team made in 2022 — Gardner, Garrett Wilson, Jermaine Johnson — are now extension-eligible, as is starting running back Breece Hall. While the Aaron Rodgers matter may overshadow everything else (player-wise, at least) until he is off the Jets’ roster, the franchise still has a number of matters to sort out involving its rookie-contract contingent.

[RELATED: Rodgers Not Expected To Garner Heavy FA Interest]

Wilson is not believed to have seen eye-to-eye with Rodgers, and rumors about a trade request continue to surface. The Jets will have new decision-makers ticketed to deal with the Wilson matter soon — a number of GM and HC interview requests went out today — but Gardner is a more accomplished player who is also free to sign a new deal now. Unlike Wilson, Gardner has made his long-term wishes known.

“I want to be part of this for a long time,” Gardner said, via ESPN.com’s Rich Cimini. “I want to be part of the change in this organization.”

This comes after a host of reports tabbed Woody Johnson (and his sons) as being overly involved in personnel decisions, creating more instability for the franchise that has the NFL’s longest active playoff drought — at 14 seasons. The team found a gem in Gardner, however, despite his slight step backward in Year 3. The former No. 4 overall pick is a two-time first-team All-Pro, already rocketing to the top fifth-year option tier — which doubles as the franchise tag value — at corner. The Jets will pick up that option by May, giving them two more years of control.

The physical corner has long been deemed a big-picture priority, while slot defender Michael Carter already signed his extension. With Carter signed and the Jets — barring a drastic approach change from the next front office — eyeing a Gardner extension, D.J. Reed appears close to gone. The former 49ers and Seahawks CB’s three-year deal expires in March, and he has already alluded to testing the market. Reed expanded on that stance recently.

“Obviously, in this league, it’s about winning,” Reed told the New York Post’s Bridget Reilly. “But, you could go to a good organization, you think is a good organization, and the year you go there, they’re not winning. I think it’s deeper than just winning. I think it’s just being in a stable organization that has a winning culture and just being in a good environment, a healthy environment.”

Even the most ardent of Jets backers would have a difficult time classifying it as a stable organization presently, and with Carter and Gardner higher priorities, Reed appears set to hit the market again. He will follow the likes of Chidobe Awuzie and Kendall Fuller as a corner seeking a third payday in free agency. Both did fairly well, Awuzie especially (via a three-year, $36MM deal) in 2024. Reed, who is playing out a three-year deal worth $33MM, turned 28 in November and has been a regular starter for five seasons. The ex-Seahawk regular graded as Pro Football Focus’ No. 29 overall corner in 2024; Gardner ranked 32nd, per the advanced metrics site.

Gardner, 24, has a new cornerback market to survey after the paydays went out to Patrick Surtain and Jalen Ramsey last summer; both topped $24MM per year on a market that had been stuck at $21MM AAV for more than two years. Reed will not be targeting that, but the proven starter should be able to do well on the open market in his late 20s.