The coaching carousel is still going round, with the Patriots being first off the board with the hiring of Mike Vrabel on Sunday. The Jets, Bears, Raiders, Saints and Jaguars are still interviewing candidates, while Mike McCarthy is out as the Cowboys’ head coach. Team owner Jerry Jones isn’t wasting time finding his replacement, either. By Monday night, he had reportedly spoken with Colorado coach Deion Sanders about the position. And the Cowboys are scheduled to interview former Jets head coach Robert Saleh and Eagles coordinator Kellen Moore Yahoo Sports’ Jori Epstein confirmed.
Follow along with Yahoo Sports as we track the latest coaching news and look toward the divisional round.
Speaking of playoffs …
NFL wild-card Sunday ended with a bang — or rather, a doink — as the Washington Commanders beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and became the only wild-card team over the weekend to win on the road.
Technically the Los Angeles Rams were the home team in their relocated Arizona game, and they handily beat the Minnesota Vikings on Monday night.
So the Rams, Texans, Ravens, Bills and Eagles all advanced to the divisional round, ending the seasons of the Chargers, Steelers, Broncos, Packers and Vikings, respectively.
Here’s a look at this weekend’s divisional-round matchups:
Saturday, Jan. 18
Kansas City Chiefs vs. Houston Texans: 4:30 p.m. ET
Detroit Lions vs. Washington Commanders: 8 p.m. ET
Sunday, Jan. 19
Rams vs. Philadelphia Eagles: 3 p.m. ET
Buffalo Bills vs. Baltimore Ravens: 6 p.m. ET
Live41 updates
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NFL Divisional Round schedule
For more on the NFL divisional round schedule, click here.
- Fri, January 17, 2025 at 1:02 AM GMT+5:30
Zay Flowers misses Ravens practice (again) with knee injury
For the second day in a row, Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers did not practice on Thursday. Per multiple reports, Flowers was the only Raven who did not hit the practice field on Thursday.
Flowers, who suffered a knee injury in Week 18, missed out on Baltimore’s Wild Card win over the Steelers, and looks poised to miss out on the divisional round against the Buffalo Bills this weekend. Playing without their Pro Bowl receiver will a tough blow for the Ravens, who have to travel to play a red-hot Buffalo team away.
- Thu, January 16, 2025 at 10:48 PM GMT+5:30
Eagles OC Kellen Moore to speak to Cowboys
Moore is in his first season with the Philadelphia Eagles, and has familiarity with Jerry Jones and the Cowboys after playing there for three seasons and then serving as quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator from 2018-2022.
Moore has been requested to be interviewed for head coaching jobs with the Jacksonville Jaguars and New Orleans Saints.
The Cowboys have requested to interview Eagles OC Kellen Moore for their head coach opening, source confirms to @YahooSports.
Former Dallas backup QB, QB coach & four-year OC highly regarded in Dallas and around league. I’ll have a full article up soon with more…
— Jori Epstein (@JoriEpstein) January 16, 2025
- Thu, January 16, 2025 at 9:03 PM GMT+5:30
Busy weekend coming up for Brian Flores
A big few days loom for #Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores, one of the top candidates. He has 3 head coach interviews set up:– #Jets on Friday.– #Jaguars on Friday.– #Bears on Saturday.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 16, 2025
- Thu, January 16, 2025 at 8:57 PM GMT+5:30
Jets to interview Texans’ OC Bobby Slowik on Thursday
The Texans are currently preparing for Saturday’s Divisional Round game against the Kansas City Chiefs, so Slowik’s interview will be done virtually.
The Jets have already spoke to Aaron Glenn, Matt Nagy, Rex Ryan, Ron Rivera, and Steve Spagnuolo, among others so far in their search for a new head coach.
Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik is scheduled to interview virtually later today with the Jets for their head coach vacancy, source tells @NFLonCBS. The Texans are wrapping up their work week this afternoon with a Saturday game ahead.
— Jonathan Jones (@jjones9) January 16, 2025
- Thu, January 16, 2025 at 10:46 AM GMT+5:30
Jags interview Liam Coen
The Jaguars announced late on Wednesday night that they have completed an interview with Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Liam Coen for their top job.
Coen spent this past season with the Bucs, and was the Los Angeles Rams’ offensive coordinator in 2022. He held the same position at Kentucky in both 2021 and 2023.
We have completed an interview with Liam Coen for our Head Coach vacancy.
— Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) January 16, 2025
- Thu, January 16, 2025 at 7:32 AM GMT+5:30
Report: Cowboys request to speak with Seahawks assistant Leslie Frazier
From ESPN’s Todd Archer on the Cowboys’ head coaching search:
The Cowboys have an interview with former Jets coach Robert Saleh scheduled for later in the week, a source said.
The team has requested to speak with Seattle assistant head coach Leslie Frazier, according to multiple sources. Frazier was Minn. head coach, plus a long-time DC.
— Todd Archer (@toddarcher) January 16, 2025
- Thu, January 16, 2025 at 6:32 AM GMT+5:30
Mike McCarthy’s interview is complete
The Bears’ interview with Mike McCarthy is officially over. McCarthy flew to the Chicagoland area meet the Bears on Wednesday, just two days after he split with the Dallas Cowboys. It was the team’s second in-person interview.
- Thu, January 16, 2025 at 4:19 AM GMT+5:30
Ravens bring back WR Diontae Johnson on waivers
Diontae Johnson has been claimed on waivers by the Baltimore Ravens one day after he parted ways with the Houston Texans, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Johnson joined the Texans on Dec. 26 after being waived by the Ravens. He played one regular season game and one playoff game for Houston, recording three receptions for 24 yards in those two games.
“Unfortunately, it didn’t work out,” said Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans. “We are onto the Chiefs.”
Why would the Ravens bring Johnson back, especially if he’s ineligible to play again this season? Johnson cannot technically join Baltimore until after the Super Bowl and since he’s an unrestricted free agent this offseason he can potentially earn the Ravens an extra draft pick in 2026 if he signs with another team through the NFL’s compensatory pick formula.
Read more here.
HOUSTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 25: Wide receiver Diontae Johnson #18 of the Houston Texans stands on the sidelines during the national anthem prior to an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, at NRG Stadium on December 25, 2024 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Brooke Sutton/Getty Images)
- Thu, January 16, 2025 at 4:03 AM GMT+5:30
Does Bill Belichick’s recent hire at UNC end the return to NFL talk?
I think we can shut the door on Belichick back-door bailing on North Carolina for any NFL job this cycle. I don’t see him bringing in guys like Prief from the NFL and then not being there with them. https://t.co/ZOB4xEknec
— Charles Robinson (@CharlesRobinson) January 15, 2025
- Thu, January 16, 2025 at 12:57 AM GMT+5:30
Zay Flowers did not practice with the Ravens on Wednesday, signaling questionable status
The Baltimore Ravens might be without a major player this weekend as they face the Buffalo Bills, with receiver Zay Flowers missing practice again this week. Flowers, who has been out since suffering a knee injury in Week 18, reportedly did not practice on Wednesday, per The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec.
Although the chances of Flowers playing on Sunday had been somewhat slim, his absence on Wednesday is not a great sign for his potential return. If Flowers is healthy by this weekend, it will be a major boost for the Ravens when they travel to Buffalo; if not, Baltimore may have to adjust without their leading receiver, just like it did in the team’s win over the Steelers last weekend.
- Thu, January 16, 2025 at 12:47 AM GMT+5:30
Eagles ban fan who verbally assaulted female Packers fan in viral video
The Philadelphia Eagles have reportedly banned the fan whose verbal assault of a female Packers fan went viral last weekend, per multiple reports.
The Packers fan and her fiancé, who posted the video on social media, told NBC Philadelphia that the interaction with the Eagles fan had started off relatively playful but that his comments got increasingly worse. The Eagles won the game 22-10 and advanced to the divisional round of the playoffs.
The fan has been reportedly banned from future Eagles games, while the Philadelphia organization will send Packers merchandise to the fan as an apology for the incident. The consulting firm where the fan worked, BCT Partners, posted a social media statement on Tuesday saying that they had fired him from his job.
- Wed, January 15, 2025 at 11:28 PM GMT+5:30
Bears interviewing Mike McCarthy in person on Wednesday
Mike McCarthy will be the Bears’ second in-person interview, and it seems they’re rolling out the red carpet for the former Cowboys coach, per ESPN.
From me and @KalynKahler: Per a league source, the Chicago Bears are conducting their in-person interview with Mike McCarthy this afternoon, their second known candidate to interview in person after Ron Rivera did on Sunday. McCarthy flew from Dallas to Wheeling, Ill. in private…
— Courtney Cronin (@CourtneyRCronin) January 15, 2025
- Wed, January 15, 2025 at 10:22 PM GMT+5:30
Cowboys will interview Robert Saleh for Mike McCarthy’s old job
Former Jets head coach Robert Saleh is drawing quite a bit of interest from teams with vacant head coach jobs. The latest team? The Cowboys, who parted ways with Mike McCarthy on Monday.
Yahoo Sports’ Jori Epstein reported that the Cowboys will be interviewing Saleh soon, though no time has been set just yet. The Raiders and Jaguars also reportedly have interest in Saleh.
Just in: The Cowboys will interview former Jets HC Robert Saleh for their head-coaching opening, source confirms to @YahooSports
— Jori Epstein (@JoriEpstein) January 15, 2025
- Wed, January 15, 2025 at 10:00 PM GMT+5:30
Jared Goff is impressed with Jayden Daniels’ rookie season
This weekend, the Detroit Lions will take on the Washington Commanders in the Divisional Round. Lions quarterback Jared Goff has been scoping out the competition — Washington quarterback Jayden Daniels — and has been impressed by what he’s seen this year.
When asked about the Commanders’ rookie quarterback in a press conference on Tuesday, Goff said that he found Daniels’ success in his rookie year “extremely impressive.”
“Very impressive for anyone that young to do what he’s doing,” Goff said. “(It) doesn’t look like he is a rookie, it doesn’t look like he feels like a rookie. It feels like he understands the moment and is comfortable in it, and our job on defense is to try to make him uncomfortable. It’s been a challenge for a lot of teams this year, but I’m excited to see what they do.”
- Wed, January 15, 2025 at 9:40 PM GMT+5:30
Matt LaFleur “concerned” about Romeo Doubs suffering his second concussion
Packers wide receiver Romeo Doubs suffered a head injury during Green Bay’s wild card loss this weekend — his second concussion this season, just weeks after returning to the field.
During a postseason press conference on Tuesday, Green Bay head coach Matt LaFleur told reporters that he was “concerned” about Doubs’ health moving forward.
“I’m concerned, absolutely,” LaFleur told reporters. “But I haven’t talked to our medical people. I haven’t sat down with them about whether there’s long-term concern, but anytime a guy gets two concussions, I can’t help but be concerned by that.”
- Wed, January 15, 2025 at 9:10 PM GMT+5:30
Colts to host NFL’s first regular season game in Berlin, Germany
The Colts will host the game next season at Berlin’s Olympic Stadium.
This news comes just a few days after the NFL announced the Cleveland Browns, Jacksonville Jaguars and New York Jets will be the host teams for the NFL’s yearly games in London. There will also be a 2025 regular-season game played in Madrid, Spain, for the first time.
This will be the Colts’ third international game in recent years and second in Germany. In 2016, they were the designated away team against the Jacksonville Jaguars for a game in London at Wembley Stadium. Then in 2023 they played the New England Patriots at Deutsche Bank Park in Frankfort.
Read more here.
- Wed, January 15, 2025 at 9:08 PM GMT+5:30
Vance Joseph to meet with Jets about head coaching job
Joseph, the current Denver Broncos defensive coordinator, has been a head coach once in the NFL when he was in charge of the Broncos from 2017-2018. In two seasons as head coach of the Broncos, he led them to an 11-21 record and did not make the playoffs.
After he was fired as Broncos head coach, he was hired to lead the Arizona Cardinals’ defense before returning to the Broncos in 2023 as their defensive coordinator.
#Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph will interview today with the #Jets for their head coach vacancy, per source.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 15, 2025
- Wed, January 15, 2025 at 9:05 PM GMT+5:30
Arthur Smith to interview with Bears, Jets for head coaching job
The current Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator and former Atlanta Falcons head coach.
Smith led the Falcons to a 7-10 record in each of his three seasons in charge. Atlanta did not make the playoffs under Smith.
Former Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy will interview with the Chicago Bears today. Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith will also meet with Chicago and the New York Jets over the next couple days.
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) January 15, 2025
- Wed, January 15, 2025 at 9:36 AM GMT+5:30
Jerry Jones on a ‘solo mission’ in coaching search?
Jerry Jones and Jason Witten share a moment at the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson at AT&T Stadium on Nov. 15, in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images for Netflix © 2024)
NFL Network’s Jane Slater dropped some interesting thoughts on the Dallas Cowboys’ search for a new head coach after the departure of Mike McCarthy. In the nearly 3-minute long clip posted on X, Slater said about Jerry Jones:
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“It sounds like Jerry’s a bit on a solo mission” in the job hunt. Calls, however, haven’t been made to offensive coordinators Kellen Moore (Eagles) and Kliff Kingsbury (Commanders), and University of Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian.
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Jason Witten and Jones have had contact in recent weeks. There’s belief that Jones wanted Witten to be “an heir apparent of sorts” on McCarthy’s staff.
A lot to unpack here. Been on the phone non stop here is what I’ve gathered from Deion to Witt to Kellen. Jerry is currently on a solo mission. No official interviews or calls even placed to some. Here is what I have gathered for you. #CowboysHCSearch pic.twitter.com/9OzVVwy7Cz
— Jane Slater (@SlaterNFL) January 15, 2025
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