Head Coaching Interviews, Panthers Hit Pause, Vikings Fire Ed Donatell, and Other NFL Bullets

Happy Friday! I always greet the kids with an exuberant “Happy Friday” chant when I get them up for school on Fridays. Of course, they shudder at the amount of “Dad Joke” vibes it gives off, which is half the fun for me. Let’s get this day started, so we’re all that much closer to a weekend of playoff football. But before the football gets going, some teams have some housekeeping to do with head coaching interviews today.

  • The Arizona Cardinals are expected to interview Broncos defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero today. Evero has been interviewed or requested for an interview by all five teams looking for a new head coach.
  • Brian Callahan has an interview with the Indianapolis Colts today. Callahan is the Bengals’ offensive coordinator. Callahan has spent time with the Raiders and Lions as a quarterbacks coach and started his career in Denver in 2010 as a coaching assistant.
  • Also getting a look today, Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn will interview with the Broncos and Colts today, virtually.
  • 49ers defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans will interview with the Texans for their vacant head coaching position today.
  • The Carolina Panthers were supposed to interview Sean Payton for their head coaching position today. However, owner David Tepper has postponed the search process in the wake of the passing of Charlotte FC soccer player Anton Walkes. Tepper owns Charlotte FC in addition to the Carolina Panthers.
  • The Minnesota Vikings have fired defensive coordinator Ed Donatell. Donatell spent just one season in Minnesota, coming on with head coach Kevin O’Connell last offseason. The Vikings allowed 388.7 yards and 25.1 points per game this season and ranked 30th and 31st, respectively.
  • Donatell was previously a defensive coordinator in Denver, Atlanta, and Green Bay.
  • The Vikings went 13-4 this season and won the NFC North, but they did it with an NFL-record 11 one-score wins. The defense allowed Daniel Jones to have the best game of his career in their Wild Card loss to the Giants last week.
  • Here’s the statement from the VIkings:
  • The Buccaneers also made some coaching changes on Thursday, firing offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich and a bevy of other assistants. Here’s the complete list of assistant coaches fired in Tampa Bay:
  • The Ravens and Dolphins also parted ways with coordinators. Baltimore said goodbye to offensive coordinator Greg Roman after four seasons. Miami parted ways with defensive coordinator Josh Boyer.
  • In addition to parting ways with Roman, the Ravens clarified where they stand with Lamar Jackson. GM Eric DeCosta and head coach John Harbaugh said that Jackson is staying in Baltimore.
  • Harbaugh went as far as saying that there was a “200 percent chance” that Jackson remains a Raven. More on that:
  • Tickets are flying for the potential AFC title game between the Chiefs and Bills at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. According to a press release, season ticket holders purchased 50,000 tickets on day one.
  • Before I get ready to get out of here and start working on divisional round previews, I’ll share a story we ran this morning:
  • Additionally, Luis has some updates on Bears assistant coaching interview requests:
  • Some Friday fun from Tab!
  • written by

    Patrick grew up in Chicago's Bridgeport and Garfield Ridge neighborhoods before moving to the Western Suburbs of Chicago before eventually relocating to the Las Vegas area with his family in 2023. He started with Bleacher Nation in 2021 and has spent time as a Staff Writer and on the Chicago Blackhawks beat. He is currently a writer and editor at Bleacher Nation covering the Chicago Bears and the NFL at large and the author of the Bleacher Nation Newsletter. Patrick is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA).

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