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    NFL News and Rumors Today: Will longtime New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton retire?

    In today's NFL news and rumors, the number of teams needing a head coach may grow again, based on NFL Network's report regarding Sean Payton.

    Two full weeks into the NFL offseason, we still don’t have a single head coach hired. Only one of the four general manager positions had been filled as dawn broke on Divisional Round Sunday. And with NFL Network’s bombshell report regarding Sean Payton’s future, there are indications that the pool of teams in need of a coach could still grow. We go through it all in the latest NFL news and rumors.

    NFL News and Rumors Today

    The understanding for a while now has been that eight of the 32 teams need a new coach. But that assumption could need revision. Payton has coached the Saints since 2006, but there are whispers he may not be coming back for a 17th season.

    Chicago Bears

    Fired: Matt Nagy (HC), Ryan Pace (GM)

    Scheduled/requested HC interviews:

    • Dennis Allen
      Saints defensive coordinator
      Tuesday, Jan. 25
    • Todd Bowles
      Buccaneers defensive coordinator
      Saturday, Jan. 22
    • Jim Caldwell
      Former Colts, Lions head coach
      Saturday, Jan. 15
    • Brian Daboll
      Bills offensive coordinator
      Sunday, Jan. 16
    • Matt Eberflus
      Colts defensive coordinator
      Monday, Jan. 17 (first); Monday, Jan. 24 (second)
    • Brian Flores
      Former Dolphins head coach
      Friday, Jan. 14
    • Leslie Frazier
      Bills defensive coordinator
      Friday, Jan. 21
    • Nathaniel Hackett
      Packers offensive coordinator
      Saturday, Jan. 15
    • Byron Leftwich
      Buccaneers offensive coordinator
    • Doug Pederson
      Former Eagles head coach
      Wednesday, Jan. 12
    • Dan Quinn
      Cowboys defensive coordinator
      Saturday, Jan. 22

    Scheduled/requested GM interviews:

    • Kwesi Adofo-Mensah
      Browns vice president of football operations
      Thursday, Jan. 13
    • Morocco Brown
      Colts director of college scouting
      Monday, Jan. 24
    • Ran Carthon
      49ers director of player personnel
      Wednesday, Jan. 19
    • Ed Dodds – Withdrew from consideration
      Colts assistant general manager
      Monday, Jan. 17
    • Glenn Cook
      Browns vice president of player personnel
      Wednesday, Jan. 12
    • Ryan Poles
      Chiefs director of player personnel
      Friday, Jan. 21 (first); Tuesday, Jan. 25 (second)
    • Jeff Ireland
      Saints assistant general manager
      Friday, Jan. 14
    • Champ Kelly
      Bears assistant director of player personnel
      Thursday, Jan. 13
    • Omar Khan
      Steelers vice president of football and business administration
    • Reggie McKenzie
      Dolphins senior personnel executive
      Thursday, Jan. 20
    • Monti Ossenfort
      Titans director of player personnel
      Saturday, Jan. 15
    • Joe Schoen – Hired by the Giants
      Bills assistant general manager
      Sunday, Jan. 16
    • Eliot Wolf
      Patriots director of scouting
      Tuesday, Jan. 18

    The latest: The Bears have not committed to hiring a general manager before a head coach. It would be a surprise if they went that route but not unprecedented.

    And considering their second meeting with Poles isn’t until later this week, the Bears could find themselves in a weird spot if they love Eberflus and feel like they need to act quickly to prevent him going somewhere else.

    Denver Broncos

    Fired: Vic Fangio (HC)

    Scheduled/requested interviews:

    • Eric Bieniemy 
      Chiefs offensive coordinator
      Friday, Jan. 21
    • Brian Callahan
      Bengals offensive coordinator
      Thursday, Jan. 20
    • Jonathan Gannon
      Eagles defensive coordinator
      Wednesday, Jan. 19
    • Luke Getsy
      Packers QB coach/passing game coordinator
      Friday, Jan. 14
    • Aaron Glenn
      Lions defensive coordinator
      Thursday, Jan. 13
    • Nathaniel Hackett 
      Packers offensive coordinator
      Thursday, Jan. 13
    • Jerod Mayo
      Patriots LB coach
      Wednesday, Jan. 19
    • Kellen Moore
      Cowboys offensive coordinator
      Tuesday, Jan. 18
    • Kevin O’Connell
      Rams offensive coordinator
      Thursday, Jan. 20
    • Dan Quinn
      Cowboys defensive coordinator
      Tuesday, Jan. 18

    The latest: The Broncos will likely begin setting up second interviews with their finalists very soon, if they haven’t already. The candidates that make the most sense? Quinn (who has to still be seen as the front-runner for the job), Hackett (particularly if Aaron Rodgers wants a change), and Gannon.

    Houston Texans

    Fired: David Culley (and offensive coordinator Tim Kelly)

    Scheduled/requested interviews:

    • Brian Flores
      Former Dolphins head coach
      Friday, Jan. 14
    • Jonathan Gannon
      Eagles defensive coordinator
      Tuesday, Jan. 18
    • Joe Lombardi
      Chargers offensive coordinator
      Saturday, Jan. 15
    • Kevin O’Connell
      Rams offensive coordinator
    • Josh McCown
      Former NFL QB
      Thursday, Jan. 20
    • Hines Ward
      Florida Atlantic special assistant to the head coach
      Saturday, Jan. 15

    The latest: The Texans’ weird coaching search plods on. After waiting a few days to decide to fire Culley, they’ve taken their time in identifying his replacement. Yet, their search has not included many of the big names that have become familiar this cycle.

    The Athletic reports that the Texans are “working to set up” a second interview with Gannon. But what if Nick Caserio really wants to take a chance on McCown?

    Jacksonville Jaguars

    Fired: Urban Meyer (HC)

    Scheduled/requested interviews:

    • Darrell Bevell
      Jaguars interim head coach
      Tuesday, Jan. 11
    • Todd Bowles
      Buccaneers defensive coordinator
      Friday, Jan. 3 (Jan. 7 has also been reported)
    • Jim Caldwell
      Former Colts and Lions head coach
      Tuesday, Jan. 4
    • Matt Eberflus
      Colts defensive coordinator
      Saturday, Jan. 15 (first); Thursday, Jan. 20 (second)
    • Nathaniel Hackett
      Packers offensive coordinator
      Friday, Jan. 14
    • Byron Leftwich
      Buccaneers offensive coordinator
      Friday, Jan. 7
    • Kellen Moore
      Cowboys offensive coordinator
      Friday, Jan. 7
    • Bill O’Brien
      Alabama offensive coordinator
      Thursday, Jan. 13
    • Doug Pederson
      Former Eagles head coach
      Thursday, Dec. 30
    • Dan Quinn
      Cowboys defensive coordinator

    The latest: Now that the Packers are toast (after one of the biggest choke jobs in recent memory), we expect a team to move on Hackett relatively soon. It’s conceivable that the Jaguars have been waiting on a second interview with Green Bay’s OC before making any decision.

    Las Vegas Raiders

    Resigned: Jon Gruden (HC)

    Scheduled/requested HC interviews:

    • Jerod Mayo
      Patriots LB coach

    Scheduled/requested GM interviews:

    • Trey Brown
      Bengals scout
      Friday, Jan. 21
    • Ed Dodds
      Colts assistant general manager
    • Champ Kelly
      Bears assistant director of player personnel
      Thursday, Jan. 20
    • Dave Ziegler
      Patriots director of player personnel
      Friday, Jan. 21

    The latest: After a very late start to the process, the Raiders finally seem to be making headway, at least in their GM search. Ziegler and Brown became the latest to interview for Mike Mayock’s old job. The Raiders’ coaching search, however, still seems to be in its infancy. Among the potential candidates is Josh McDaniels, according to Pro Football Talk.

    Miami Dolphins

    Fired: Brian Flores (HC)

    Scheduled/requested interviews:

    • Thomas Brown
      Rams assistant head coach
      Friday, Jan. 21
    • Brian Daboll
      Bills offensive coordinator
      Sunday, Jan. 16
    • Leslie Frazier
      Bills defensive coordinator
      Sunday, Jan. 16
    • Vance Joseph
      Cardinals defensive coordinator
      Friday, Jan. 21
    • Mike McDaniel
      49ers offensive coordinator
      Wednesday, Jan. 19
    • Kellen Moore
      Cowboys offensive coordinator
      Thursday, Jan. 20
    • Dan Quinn
      Cowboys defensive coordinator
      Thursday, Jan. 20

    The latest: Stephen Ross’ private jet is back in Palm Beach after a busy week that included stops in the Bay Area (presumably for McDaniel) and Denver (for Joseph). Sunday’s a pivotal day in Miami’s search. If the Bills lose to the Chiefs, any team that wants could make an offer to Daboll or Frazier.

    Minnesota Vikings

    Fired: Mike Zimmer (HC), Rick Spielman (GM)

    Scheduled/requested HC interviews:

    • Todd Bowles
      Buccaneers defensive coordinator
      Friday, Jan. 21
    • Nathaniel Hackett
      Packers offensive coordinator
      Sunday, Jan. 16
    • Kellen Moore
      Cowboys offensive coordinator
    • Jonathan Gannon
      Eagles defensive coordinator
      Thursday, Jan. 20
    • Raheem Morris
      Rams defensive coordinator
      Friday, Jan. 21
    • Kevin O’Connell
      Rams offensive coordinator
      Friday, Jan. 21
    • Dan Quinn
      Cowboys defensive coordinator
    • DeMeco Ryans
      49ers defensive coordinator
      Wednesday, Jan. 19

    Scheduled/requested GM interviews:

    • Kwesi Adofo-Mensah
      Browns vice president of football operations
      Monday, Jan. 17
    • Brandon Brown
      Eagles director of player personnel
      Tuesday, Jan. 18
    • Glenn Cook
      Browns vice president of player personnel
      Thursday, Jan. 20
    • Monti Ossenfort
      Titans director of player personnel
      Sunday, Jan. 16
    • Ryan Poles
      Chiefs director of player personnel
      Tuesday, Jan. 18 (first); Wednesday, Jan. 26 (second, tentative)
    • Catherine Raîche
      Eagles vice president of football operations
      Monday, Jan. 17
    • John Spytek
      Buccaneers vice president of player personnel
      This week
    • Eliot Wolf
      Patriots player personnel consultant
      Thursday, Jan. 20

    The latest: The Vikings could make a decision shortly on general manager. News emerged Friday that Poles and Adofo-Mensah will meet with the team for a second time next week.

    New Orleans Saints

    Fired/retired: N/A

    Scheduled/requested HC interviews: N/A

    The latest: Ian Rapoport reports that not only has Sean Payton been noncommittal about returning in 2022, he’s been basically unreachable. Payton has been on vacation for more than a week and not exactly checking his messages, per the report.

    The strain of the past season could convince Payton to take a year off to recharge. Then, when (if?) he decides to return, he could weigh his options. If Payton steps away, Saints defensive coordinator Dennis Allen would be an obvious candidate — if not the front-runner.

    New York Giants

    Fired/retired: Joe Judge (HC), Dave Gettleman (GM)

    Hired: Joe Schoen (GM)

    Scheduled/requested HC interviews:

    • Lou Anarumo
      Bengals defensive coordinator
      Sunday, Jan. 23
    • Brian Daboll
      Bills offensive coordinator
      Friday, Jan. 21
    • Leslie Frazier
      Bills defensive coordinator
      Saturday, Jan. 22
    • Dan Quinn
      Cowboys defensive coordinator
      Monday, Jan. 24

    Scheduled/requested GM interviews:

    • Ran Carthon
      49ers director of pro personnel
      Monday, Jan. 17
    • Ryan Cowden
      Titans vice president of player personnel
      Friday, Jan. 14
    • Quentin Harris
      Cardinals vice president of player personnel
      Thursday, Jan. 13
    • Joe Hortiz
      Ravens director of player personnel
      Saturday, Jan. 15
    • Monti Ossenfort
      Titans director of player personnel
      Friday, Jan. 14
    • Adam Peters
      49ers assistant general manager
      Monday, Jan. 17 (first), Thursday, Jan. 20 (second)
    • Ryan Poles
      Chiefs executive director of player personnel
      Thursday, Jan. 13 (first), Wednesday, Jan. 19 (second)
    • Joe Schoen
      Bills assistant general manager
      Wednesday, Jan. 12 (first), Tuesday, Jan. 18 (second)
    • Adrian Wilson
      Cardinals vice president of pro personnel
      Wednesday, Jan. 12

    The latest: Schoen has wasted no time diving into the Giants’ search — meeting Sunday with Anarumo, the third candidate to interview with New York — but he might already have a candidate in mind. He has long ties to Daboll, who will likely spend the next week preparing for the Cincinnati Bengals or beginning a new job. It’s hard to see how no one hires him this cycle.

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