With so much going on around the NFL right now and the Super Bowl in the rearview mirror, here are the latest news and rumors around the league from PFN National NFL Insider Aaron Wilson. Make sure to continue to check back here as we update you with the most recent NFL news and rumors on February 15, 2022.
NFL News and Rumors: Dolphins hiring Darrell Bevell
The Miami Dolphins are expected to hire former Jacksonville Jaguars interim coach and offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell as their passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach, according to league sources not authorized to speak publicly.
A former Detroit Lions interim coach, Minnesota Vikings and Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator, and four-year starting quarterback at Wisconsin, Bevell has had multiple players follow him to another team, including Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre with the Minnesota Vikings and Tarvaris Jackson, Sidney Rice, and Percy Harvin with the Seattle Seahawks. Bevell was a strong advocate of drafting Russell Wilson after working him out at his pro day. Seattle won Super Bowl XLVII with Bevell operating as offensive coordinator.
Seattle’s offense ranked in the top 10 in scoring in each of Bevell’s four years as offensive coordinator. Additionally, they were among the top four teams in rushing offense annually. Among the Pro Bowl selections Bevell coached: Hall of Fame guard Steve Hutchinson, Matt Birk, former NFL MVP Adrian Peterson, Favre, Doug Baldwin, Marshawn Lynch, Jimmy Graham, Kenny Golladay, and Frank Ragnow.
Bevell’s time in Jacksonville
Bevell, who has a good reputation in NFL circles as a high-character individual, built a strong relationship with Jaguars rookie quarterback and former top overall pick Trevor Lawrence. The Jaguars had a rough season, beset by off-field drama involving former coach Urban Meyer, including viral videos of him with a younger woman at a restaurant in Columbus, Ohio.
The team was impacted by Meyer’s disagreements with the coaches regarding offensive philosophy and his tendency to blame others and not work the long hours he demanded from his staff, according to sources. Furthermore, injuries to key players like Travis Etienne, the benching controversy involving starting running back James Robinson, and an inexperienced roster didn’t help matters. Bevell went 1-3 as interim coach after the Jaguars fired Meyer, with the team finishing 3-14 overall.
NFL News and Rumors: Patriots promote Matt Groh
The New England Patriots have replaced Dave Ziegler, the Las Vegas Raiders’ new general manager, by promoting Matt Groh.
Groh was named director of player personnel Tuesday after working for the Patriots for 12 seasons. In 2021, he served as the college scouting director.
Joining the AFC East franchise in 2011 as a scouting assistant, Groh was an area scout for six seasons. He was then a national scout for two seasons before being promoted again.
Groh attended the Senior Bowl along with Eliot Wolf after the Raiders hired Ziegler along with offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, Las Vegas’ new head coach.
Groh is from a football family
The Massachusetts native is the son of Al Groh. Now retired, Al Groh was the head coach at Wake Forest (1981-1986) and Virginia (2001-2009), posting an all-time record of 85-92. While at Virginia, Groh took home Atlantic Coast Conference Coach of the Year twice (2002 and 2007).
In between those stops, Groh coached in the NFL, winning a Super Bowl with the New York Giants under Bill Parcells. Furthermore, he was a head coach for the New York Jets for one season and went 9-7 in 2000. Most recently, Groh was a defensive coordinator at Georgia Tech in 2012.
While Al Groh may be the most well-known of the family, Matt’s brother Mike is the receivers coach for the New York Giants.
Matt Groh played collegiately at Princeton and has a law degree from Virginia. He previously was the wide receivers coach for the Indianapolis Colts. He has also been an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Rams, Chicago Bears, and Jets.
NFL News and Rumors: Seahawks finalize coaching staff
The Seattle Seahawks finalized their coaching staff, promoting Clint Hurtt to defensive coordinator and naming former Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Sean Desai their associate head coach/defensive assistant and Karl Scott defensive passing game coordinator and secondary coach.
The Seahawks named former Jacksonville Jaguars receivers coach Sanjay Lal their offensive passing game coordinator/receivers coach.
“It’s great to get everybody in the building for the first time together with our new staff and the new outlook that we have for the season,” Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said. “The fresh start feels exciting, and we’re looking forward to guys stepping up into their roles. The newness with Clint taking over on defense and working together with an old friend of his in Sean Desai gives us a really exciting outlook for the future. Being able to bring in a guy the caliber of Karl Scott to take over the secondary, we’re very fortunate to have landed him as the passing game coordinator.”
The Seahawks named Andy Dickerson offensive line coach and added the run game coordinator title for running backs coach Chad Morton. The rest of the staff includes senior offensive assistant Nate Carroll, quarterbacks coach Dave Canales, assistant defensive line/defensive ends coach Aaron Curry, assistant receivers coach Brad Idzik, assistant quarterbacks coach Kerry Joseph, assistant defensive backs coach DeShawn Shead, assistant defensive line/defensive tackles coach Damione Lewis, and quality control coach/defense Will Tukuafu.
NFL News and Rumors: Jaguars hire Deshea Townsend as defensive passing game coordinator
Former Chicago Bears secondary coach Deshea Townsend has finalized a deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars as their defensive passing game coordinator-secondary coach, according to league sources not authorized to speak publicly.
The Minnesota Vikings were set to hire Townsend and will now have to move on to other options as he heads to the AFC South, per sources.
Townsend is a former NFL player and Pittsburgh Steelers fourth-round draft pick. He’s also been an assistant defensive backs coach for the Arizona Cardinals and New York Giants.
A former All-SEC defensive back at Alabama, Townsend also coached cornerbacks at Mississippi State University and for the Tennessee Titans. He finished his career with 21 interceptions, 3 touchdowns, and 15.5 sacks.