The Minnesota Vikings have found a defensive coordinator. Brian Flores, most recently on the Pittsburgh Steelers coaching staff, will succeed Ed Donatell.
Minnesota Vikings: With Brian Flores, the Minnesota Vikings are adding an interesting coach to their coaching staff. As – unofficial – defensive coordinator for the New England Patriots, the 41-year-old has already won a Super Bowl. He had previously won three Super Bowls as an assistant coach to Bill Belichick. He then moved to the Miami Dolphins as head coach, where he went at odds after three years. Last season, Flores was employed by the Pittsburgh Steelers as an assistant defensive coach and linebacker coach.
Carolina Panthers: Ejiro Evero is the name of the new defensive coordinator. The 42-year-old found a new job just a day after his release from the Denver Broncos. Evero has been in the NFL since 2011, gaining experience with the San Francisco 49ers, Green Bay Packers, Los Angeles Rams and finally as defensive coordinator for the Denver Broncos. In Carolina he faces a talented defense around previous first-round picks like Brian Burns (defensive end) and Jaycee Horn (cornerback).
Denver Broncos: Sean Payton is the new head coach of the Denver Broncos. Quarterback Russell Wilson’s team goes to great lengths for the services of the 59-year-old coach. With Payton still under contract with the New Orleans Saints, the Broncos are sending a first-round pick from the upcoming draft (29th position) and a second-round pick from the 2024 draft to Louisiana. In return, a 2024 third-round pick goes from the Saints to the Broncos. Payton had last paused a year as a coach.
Houston Texans: DeMeco Ryans is the new head coach of the Houston Texans. The 37-year-old was defensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers for two years. In the third year of upheaval, the Texans are relying on a young face on the sideline, after David Culley and Lovie Smith were only considered temporary solutions in the last two years before they took office.
DeMeco is all of H-Town right now. Good night 😌 pic.twitter.com/eEyJPYOilX
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) February 1, 2023
Los Angeles Chargers: Kellen Moore, freshly released from the Dallas Cowboys, will succeed Joe Lombardi as offensive coordinator. Moore had last looked after Quarterback Dak Prescott’s Cowboys offense since 2019. Lombardi had previously held the LA position since 2021 and has now had to vacate his locker following the playoff debacle against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Miami Dolphins: The Dolphins are making Vic Fangio the most expensive defensive coordinator in the league, according to NFL reporter Tom Pelissero. The 64-year-old was unsuccessful as head coach of the Denver Broncos until 2021, but is considered a defensive genius. He previously built the best defense in the NFL as defensive coordinator for the Chicago Bears in 2018. Fangio receives a three-year contract with a one-year option.
The #Dolphins have agreed to terms with Vic Fangio on a deal that makes him the NFL’s highest-paid coordinator, per sources.
It’s a 3-year deal with a 4th-year team option. Fangio, the former #Broncos coach, is one of football’s best defensive minds. Huge get for Mike McDaniel. pic.twitter.com/ynCK2BB2xC
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 29, 2023
Los Angeles Rams: Mike LaFleur is the Rams’ new offensive coordinator. The 35-year-old was recently fired from the same position with the New York Jets. He was previously the passing game coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers and on the staffs of the Atlanta Falcons and Cleveland Browns. LaFleur succeeds Liam Coen, who was only allowed to design the offensive for one season for the Rams.
Atlanta Falcons: The Atlanta Falcons have found a new defensive coordinator in their own division and have signed Ryan Nielsen. The 43-year-old has worked his entire coaching career, since 2005, on the defensive side of the ball. Most recently, he was co-defensive coordinator for the New Orleans Saints. Nielsen succeeds Dean Pees, who at the age of 73 has declared his coaching career over for the third time.
Our Nielsen rating just went up
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) January 27, 2023
New York Jets: Nathaniel Hackett will be the offensive coordinator for the New York Jets attack. Hackett was fired as head coach of the Denver Broncos in December. The 43-year-old previously worked successfully in the same position as Aaron Rodgers at the Green Bay Packers. Rodgers is also rumored to be a quarterback for the Jets.
New England Patriots: Bill O’Brien celebrates his return to the New England Patriots. The 53-year-old worked for the Patriots from 2007 to 2011 and has extensive experience as quarterback coach and offensive coordinator. O’Brien fills the officially vacant post on the Patriots’ coaching staff that Matt Patricia unofficially filled last season.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The Buccaneers have pulled the ripcord at Byron Leftwich. In 2020, still present as the creative head of the title offensive by Tom Brady, the past two seasons seemed very bland. The concepts no longer seemed coordinated, the run game in particular was completely uninspired. Two years ago, the 43-year-old was traded as a future head coach, now he is unemployed.
Baltimore Ravens: A small era for the Ravens comes to an end. After four years, the franchise and its offensive coordinator parted ways. The dismissal leaves question marks, the 50-year-old built a very productive offense with a manageable staff this season – until Lamar Jackson injured himself. After that, backup Tyler Huntley couldn’t implement the system as successfully and Baltimore’s season was over. Still, the Ravens were just a fumble away from advancing in the playoffs against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Tennessee Titans: The Tennessee Titans’ new general manager is Ran Carthon. The 41-year-old was most recently Director of Player Personnel for the San Francisco 49ers. Carthon succeeds Ryan Cowden at the Titans, who last took over the job on an interim basis from Jon Robinson.
Arizona Cardinals: The Arizona Cardinals have announced Monti Ossenfort as general manager, succeeding Steve Keim, who resigned due to health reasons. The 44-year-old has worked for the Tennessee Titans as Director of Player Personnel for the past three years.
Cleveland Browns: Jim Schwartz is the new defensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns. Schwartz returns to Ohio after 28 years, where he worked as a scout from 1993 to 1995. As a DC, Schwartz won the Super Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2017 season. Schwartz succeeds the released Joe Woods at the Browns.
Vacant positions:
- Arizona Cardinals: Head Coach
- Baltimore Ravens: Offensive Coordinator
- Dallas Cowboys: Offensive Coordinator
- Indianapolis Colts: Head Coach und Offensive Coordinator
- New England Patriots: Defensive Coordinator
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Offensive Coordinator
- Tennessee Titans: Offensive Coordinator
- Washington Commanders: Offensive Coordinator
