NFL coaching tracker, wild-card news: Bill Belichick reportedly isn’t interested in NFL return after Raiders’ reported interest

Live50 updates

• Thu, January 9, 2025 at 6:28 AM GMT+8

  What’s next for Mike McCarthy in Dallas?

• Thu, January 9, 2025 at 3:58 AM GMT+8

  49ers promote Klay Kubiak to OC

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  #49ers plan to promote Klay Kubiak to offensive coordinator. Kyle Shanahan will continue to be the play caller but Kubiak will add the title of OC, per Shanahan.

  — Nick Wagoner (@nwagoner) January 8, 2025

  

• Thu, January 9, 2025 at 3:51 AM GMT+8

  Report: Bill Belichick isn’t interested in NFL return

  

  Bill Belichick appears to understand the assignment in the college game: Always. Be. Crootin’.

  The Athletic’s Diana Russini reported that the North Carolina head coach isn’t interested in returning to the NFL, a response to an NFL Network’s report that teams have reached out to Belichick about coaching in the pros again.

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  Bill Belichick has no plans to return to the NFL, per sources.
  I’m told his sole focus is on coaching and recruiting for North Carolina, as he continues building the Tar Heels’ future. He’s recruiting today in New Jersey.

  — Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) January 8, 2025

   

• 

  Thu, January 9, 2025 at 1:46 AM GMT+8

  Report: NFL teams are reaching out to Bill Belichick

  

  We may be about to find out just how committed Bill Belichick is to coaching North Carolina in 2025.

  According to the NFL Network, “multiple” NFL teams have approached Belichick about their coaching vacancies. And one of those teams is the Las Vegas Raiders, where Tom Brady is a minority owner.

  But Brady has been in touch with Belichick recently as the Raiders weighed the future of head coach Antonio Pierce, who was fired on Tuesday after going 4-13 in his lone season as the full-time head coach. Brady and Belichick won six Super Bowls together with the Patriots, and sources say Brady believes the situation in Las Vegas requires a coach of Belichick’s expertise and stature to establish a sustainable winning program.

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• Thu, January 9, 2025 at 1:11 AM GMT+8

  Jalen Hurts returning to practice ahead of Sunday’s matchup with Green Bay

  Jalen Hurts hasn’t played since sustaining a concussion early in the Eagles’ Week 16 game against the Washington Commanders. As recently as Monday, Hurts was still in concussion protocol.

  But things are apparently looking up, as Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said Hurts will practice on Wednesday. The Eagles take on the Packers in the wild-card round on Sunday at 4:30 p.m. ET. Over the last few weeks, Kenny Pickett filled in for Hurts until Pickett went down with an injury in Week 17. Then Tanner McKee started the Eagles’ Week 18 game against the Giants.

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  #Eagles coach Nick Sirianni says Jalen Hurts will practice today.

  — Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) January 8, 2025

• Wed, January 8, 2025 at 11:04 PM GMT+8

  Saints will reportedly interview Mike Kafka, Aaron Glenn on Friday

  For a full list of who is interviewing for which head-coaching vacancies, click here.

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  The @Saints will interview Giants OC Mike Kafka tomorrow and Lions DC Aaron Glenn on Friday for their head-coaching job, sources say. Interim coach Darren Rizzi will interview next week.

  The team has been in touch with Mike Vrabel, too.

  — Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) January 8, 2025

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  Wed, January 8, 2025 at 10:51 AM GMT+8

  49ers reportedly part with DC Nick Sorensen

  The San Francisco 49ers are parting with defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen, according to multiple reports. He’s the second coordinator let go by the 49ers after they fired special teams coordinator Brian Schneider on Monday.

  San Francisco’s decline on defense played big role in its disappointing 6-11 season. After ranking third in the NFL allowing 17.5 points per game in 2023, the 49ers allowed 25.6 points per game in 2024, good for 29th in the league.

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  Nick Sorensen won’t return as the #49ers defensive coordinator in 2025, per league source. Niners ranked 29th in NFL in points allowed after they were third in 2023.

  — Eric Branch (@Eric_Branch) January 8, 2025

• Wed, January 8, 2025 at 8:29 AM GMT+8

  Bears reportedly plan to interview Pete Carroll for head coach vacancy

  Despite candidates like Mike McCarthy being off the table, the Chicago Bears are interviewing a wide range of potential head coaches. Reportedly among those is former Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll, with the Bears planning to interview the Super Bowl-winning coach on Thursday, per ESPN’s Dan Graziano.

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  Bears plan to interview former Seahawks coach Pete Carroll for their vacant head coach job Thursday, sources tell me and @JFowlerESPN

  — Dan Graziano (@DanGrazianoESPN) January 8, 2025

• Wed, January 8, 2025 at 8:22 AM GMT+8

  Dallas Cowboys reportedly deny permission for Chicago Bears to interview Mike McCarthy

  One day after requesting permission to interview Mike McCarthy, the Bears have reportedly gotten their answer from the Cowboys: a firm no, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

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  ESPN Source: The Dallas Cowboys denied permission to the Chicago Bears to interview their head coach Mike McCarthy.

  — Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 8, 2025

• 

  Wed, January 8, 2025 at 5:44 AM GMT+8

  Tom Brady to be part of Raiders’ coaching search

  Despite his job with Fox and the fact that he’ll call the Super Bowl in just a few weeks, Tom Brady will play a role in the Raiders’ search to find a replacement for Antonio Pierce. He will reportedly be part of the process interviewing candidates.

  Brady owns a piece of the Raiders, and will how have to deal with a clear conflict of interest as he calls his first playoffs as an analyst.

  For more on Tom Brady’s role in the Raiders’ search, click here.

• 

  Wed, January 8, 2025 at 5:16 AM GMT+8

  Daniel Jones makes Vikings’ active roster

  Daniel Jones is officially on the Vikings’ active roster. Jones, who was released by the New York Giants earlier this season after losing his job as the starter there, was moved up to the Vikings’ active roster on Tuesday.

  Jones will now back up Sam Darnold throughout the playoffs, starting on Monday when they travel to Southern California and take on the Los Angeles Rams. As a result, the Vikings waived quarterback Brett Rypien on Tuesday.

  For more on Daniel Jones’ move with the Vikings, click here.

• 

  Wed, January 8, 2025 at 4:43 AM GMT+8

  Raiders fire head coach Antonio Pierce

  By the end of last season, Antonio Pierce had rallied the Las Vegas Raiders during a successful stint as interim coach and got the chance to replicate that success as the permanent head coach this season.

  He couldn’t.

  The Raiders started 2-12 and it was clear that Pierce wouldn’t last another season. Pierce was fired on Tuesday afternoon, the team announced. General manager Tom Telesco will keep his job.

  Pierce was supposed to be an interim coach getting the Raiders through the remainder of a tough 2023 season after Josh McDaniels was fired. Pierce was a former NFL linebacker who had less than two full seasons of NFL coaching experience, as a linebackers coach. But the players quickly took to his leadership style and he brought energy and confidence to a Raiders franchise that needed it. A win at the Kansas City Chiefs on Christmas was a huge factor in team owner Mark Davis deciding to give Pierce the job on a permanent basis.

  Not much of the momentum carried over. The Raiders had quarterback issues, which didn’t help. They traded their star receiver, Davante Adams. The Raiders went 2-2, including a victory against the Baltimore Ravens, but lost 10 straight games after that. They got a couple wins late in the season, but it was too late for it to matter for Davis and his decision on his 2025 head coach.

  For more, read here.

• 

  Wed, January 8, 2025 at 2:58 AM GMT+8

  Lions CB Terrion Arnold avoids serious injury

  Good news for the Lions. Starting cornerback Terrion Arnold is considered day-to-day with a foot contusion after being carted off the field during Sunday’s season-finale win over the Vikings, NFL Network reports. X-Rays on his foot were negative.

  A first-round rookie, Arnold started 15 games during the regular season. He tallied 10 passes defended and 60 tackles while allowing a 55.6 completion percentage on 90 targets thrown in his direction.

  Arnold’s status is a relief in Detroit for a Lions defense that’s been decimated by season-ending injuries to key players, including Pro Bowl pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson. Detroit secured the No. 1 seed in the NFC despite those injuries, and Arnold will have an extra week to recover thanks to the Lions’ first-round bye in the playoffs.

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  #Lions first-round CB Terrion Arnold, who was carted off the field on Sunday night, is now considered day-to-day with a foot contusion, sources say.

  X-Rays were negative and Arnold did tell @davebirkett, “I’m playing” after the game. Further testing showed that’s possible. pic.twitter.com/dDk0muBPtc

  — Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 7, 2025

• Tue, January 7, 2025 at 11:43 PM GMT+8

  Titans fire GM Ran Carthon after 2 years

  The Titans have the No. 1 pick in the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft, but a new general manager will be in charge of making it. The team announced Tuesday morning that they have fired GM Ran Carthon just two years into a six-year contract.

  Head coach Brian Callahan will stay on.

  Read more here.

• Tue, January 7, 2025 at 10:01 PM GMT+8

  Mike Vrabel will reportedly interview for Bears HC job on Wednesday

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  The Bears will interview former Titans head coach Mike Vrabel tomorrow, per source.

  — Doug Kyed (@DougKyed) January 7, 2025

• Tue, January 7, 2025 at 9:18 PM GMT+8

  49ers reportedly fire special teams coordinator

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  The #49ers have fired special teams coordinator Brian Schneider, sources tell ESPN.

  — Nick Wagoner (@nwagoner) January 7, 2025

• 

  Tue, January 7, 2025 at 10:51 AM GMT+8

  Ezekiel Elliott to the Chargers

  Ezekiel Elliott is headed to the playoffs after all. The longtime Cowboys running back has signed a deal to land on the Los Angeles Chargers’ practice squad ahead of the postseason.

  The goal, according to the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, is to get him ready quickly and hopefully join their active roster. The Chargers will take on the Texans in the first round on Saturday.

• 

  Tue, January 7, 2025 at 9:19 AM GMT+8

  Bears request interview with former Stanford coach David Shaw

  Add another candidate to the Bears’ head coaching search. The team has requested to interview David Shaw, currently a personnel executive with the Broncos and former Stanford head coach.

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  The #Bears have requested to interview former #Stanford coach and currently #Broncos Senior Personnel Executive David Shaw for their vacant HC position, source said.

  — Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 7, 2025

  Shaw coached Stanford for 12 seasons, compiling a 96–54 record with five first-place finishes in the Pac-12 North division. NFL quarterbacks Andrew Luck and Davis Mills were among the players he developed. Shaw also had assistant coaching stints with the Eagles, Raiders and Ravens before joining Jim Harbaugh’s staff as offensive coordinator, also coaching wide receivers and running backs.

  The Saints are also reportedly interested in interviewing Shaw, according to NFL Network’s Jane Slater.

• 

  Tue, January 7, 2025 at 8:08 AM GMT+8

  Colts fire DC Gus Bradley

  The Colts are sticking with Shane Steichen next season, but he’ll have a new defensive coordinator. The team fired Gus Bradley on Monday afternoon.

  Bradley spent the last three seasons as the team’s defensive coordinator.

  “I’m appreciative of Gus and the commitment he made to the Colts,” Steichen said in a statement. “He is a man of great character, and I have the utmost respect for him. I felt like we needed to move in a different direction. I wish Gus and his family all the best moving forward.”

• 

  Tue, January 7, 2025 at 6:29 AM GMT+8

  Rex Ryan confident he’s going to be the next Jets coach

  Rex Ryan is not only confident he’s going to become the next head coach of the Jets, but he believes he can reign in Aaron Rodgers.

  “If he’s back, it ain’t gonna be the country club, show up whenever the hell you want to show up,” Ryan said. “That ain’t gonna happen. I’ll just leave it at that.”