Friday, January 17, 2025

NFL Head Coach and General Manager Tracker

The annual NFL Head Coach and General Manager Churn continues to churn. One of the six teams looking for a new head coach has found one. None of the three teams looking for a new general manager has found one. Interviews are a daily event until all of the positions are filled. Here’s where each of the teams are in their various searches. 

Chicago Bears
Fired Head Coach Matt Eberflus midseason

Head Coach Interview Requests:
Thomas Brown, Bears Interim HC
Matt Campbell, Iowa State HC
Pete Carroll, former Seahawks HC
Brian Flores, Vikings DC
Marcus Freeman, Notre Dame HC
Aaron Glenn, Lions DC
Ben Johnson, Lions OC
Mike Kafka, Giants OC
Kliff Kingsbury, Commanders OC
Mike McCarthy, former Cowboys HC
Todd Monken, Ravens OC
Drew Petzing, Cardinals OC
Ron Rivera, former Commanders and Panthers HC
David Shaw, former Stanford HC
Arthur Smith, Steelers OC
Adam Stenavich, Packers OC
Mike Vrabel, former Titans HC
Anthony Weaver, Dolphins DC

Dallas Cowboys
Head Coach Mike McCarthy’s contract was not renewed

Head Coach Interview Requests:
Leslie Frazier, Seahawks Assistant HC
Kellen Moore, Eagles OC
Robert Saleh, former Jets HC

Jacksonville Jaguars
Fired Head Coach Doug Pederson

Head Coach Interview Requests:
Joe Brady, Bills OC
Liam Coen, Buccaneers OC
Brian Flores, Vikings DC
Aaron Glenn, Lions DC
Patrick Graham, Raiders DC
Ben Johnson, Lions OC
Todd Monken, Ravens OC
Kellen Moore, Eagles OC
Robert Saleh, former Jets HC
Steve Spagnuolo, Chiefs DC

Las Vegas Raiders
Fired Head Coach Antonio Pierce and General Manager Tom Telesco

Head Coach Interview Requests:
Pete Carroll, former Seahawks HC
Aaron Glenn, Lions DC
Ben Johnson, Lions OC
Vance Joseph, Broncos DC
Todd Monken, Ravens OC
Robert Saleh, former Jets HC
Steve Spagnuolo, Chiefs DC

General Manager Interview Requests:
Chad Alexander, Chargers Assistant GM
John Spytek, Buccaneers Assistant GM
Jon-Eric Sullivan, Packers VP of Player Personnel
Sheldon White, Steelers Director of Pro Scouting

New England Patriots 
Fired Head Coach Jerod Mayo

Hired Mike Vrabel

New Orleans Saints
Fired Head Coach Dennis Allen midseason

Head Coach Interview Requests:
Aaron Glenn, Lions DC
Mike Kafka, Giants OC
Kliff Kingsbury, Commanders OC
Mike McCarthy, former Packers and Cowboys HC
Kellen Moore, Eagles OC
David Shaw, former Stanford HC
Anthony Weaver, Dolphins DC

New York Jets
Fired Head Coach Robert Saleh and General Manager Joe Douglas midseason 

Head Coach Interview Requests:
Joe Brady, Bills OC
Brian Flores, Vikings DC
Aaron Glenn, Lions DC
Jeff Hafley, Packers DC
Vance Joseph, Broncos DC
Mike Locksley, Maryland HC
Josh McCown, Vikings QB Coach
Matt Nagy, Chiefs OC
Ron Rivera, former Panthers and Commanders HC
Darren Rizzi, Saints interim HC
Rex Ryan, former Jets and Bills HC
Bobby Slowik, Texans OC
Arthur Smith, Steelers OC
Steve Spagnuolo, Chiefs DC
Jeff Ulbrich, Jets Interim HC
Mike Vrabel, former Titans HC
Joe Whitt, Commanders DC

General Manager Interview Requests
Mike Borgonzi, Chiefs Assistant GM
Trey Brown, Bengals Senior Personnel Executive 
Thomas Dimitroff, former Falcons GM
Ray Farmer, Rams Senior Personnel Executive 
Brian Gaine, Bills Assistant GM
Mike Greenberg, Buccaneers Assistant GM
Ryan Grigson, former Colts GM
Alec Halaby, Eagles Assistant GM
Darren Mougey, Broncos Assistant GM
Jim Nagy, Reese’s Senior Bowl Executive
Lance Newmark, Commanders Assistant GM
Louis Riddick, ESPN Analyst
Jon Robinson, former Titans GM
Chris Spielman, Lions Special Assistant
Jon-Eric Sullivan, Packers VP of Player Personnel

Tennessee Titans
Fired General Manager Ran Carthon

General Manager Interview Requests:
Matt Berry, Seahawks Senior Director of Player Personnel
Matt Borgonzi, Chiefs Assistant GM
Ian Cunningham, Bears Assistant GM
Thomas Dimitroff, former Falcons GM
Ed Dodds, Colts Assistant GM
Terrance Gray, Bills Director of Player Personnel
Catherine Hickman, Browns Assistant GM/VP of Football Operations
Reggie McKenzie, former Raiders GM 
John Spytek, Buccaneers Assistant GM
Jon-Eric Sullivan, Packers Vice President of Player Personnel



Thursday, January 16, 2025

Minnesota Vikings Sign 13 Players To Futures Contracts

Whether it comes in not making the playoffs or losing in the playoffs, there’s often a feeling of disbelief when a season comes to a disappointing end. For me, the end of a Minnesota Vikings doesn’t start to feel real until they start signing players to reserve/futures contracts. They did that yesterday. 

The Vikings signed 13 players to reserve/futures contracts. 11 of the 13 players were on the Vikings practice squad during the season.

Brett Rypien, QB
Zavier Scott, RB
Lucky Jackson, WR
Thayer Thomas, WR
Henry Byrd, G
Marcellus Johnson, OT
Leroy Watson, OT
Jonathan Harris, DL
Travis Bell, DL
Max Tooley, LB
Gabriel Murphy, OLB

Gabriel Murphy is the key signing here. Originally signed as an undrafted free agent last spring, he was a standout in training camp. He was playing so well that it was forcing good, but tough, roster discussions. Unfortunately, an injury put Murphy on injured reserve for most of the season. That put those tough roster decisions off for a later date. Upon his return for the last quarter of the season, he was an occasional game day activation and saw some playing time. He’s a promising football player and it’s a good thing that his return for another season is secure. 

The Vikings looked to the rosters of other teams for two of the 13 reserve/futures signings. 

Kahlef Hailassie, CB
Reddy Steward, CB

Kahlef Hailassie spent the past two seasons with the Cleveland Browns. He may have caught the attention of Vikings decision-makers when the team scrimmaged with the Browns during training camp. Undrafted last spring, Reddy Steward spent his rookie season with the Chicago Bears. He played in one game. 

Reserve/futures contracts are contracts that secure players in the moment but are more for the future. In the case of the 13 players signed yesterday by the Vikings, the contracts are for the 2025 season. For now, they are secure on a Vikings reserve list and can’t negotiate with other teams. The only limit to the number of players signed to reserve/futures contracts is the 90-man roster limit of the following season. For the players, it takes away the potential uncertainty of free agency. For the teams, it’s a mechanism to fill out the bottom of the roster. While the players involved usually have a long road to NFL stardom, gems can be found. Gabriel Murphy might be one of those. 



Wednesday, January 15, 2025

2025 NFL Draft Order (so far)

The Minnesota Vikings playoff run ended about four weeks too soon. Sadly, it’s now the offseason for them. With the Wild Card round of the playoffs now done, 24 picks are set in the 2025 NFL Draft.

2025 NFL Draft Order

1.   Tennessee Titans
2.   Cleveland Browns
3.   New York Giants
4.   New England Patriots
5.   Jacksonville Jaguars
6.   Las Vegas Raiders
7.   New York Jets
8.   Carolina Panthers
9.   New Orleans Saints
10. Chicago Bears
11. San Francisco 49ers
12. Dallas Cowboys
13. Miami Dolphins
14. Indianapolis Colts
15. Atlanta Falcons
16. Arizona Cardinals
17. Cincinnati Bengals 
18. Seattle Seahawks
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
20. Denver Broncos
21. Pittsburgh Steelers
22. Los Angeles Chargers
23. Green Bay Packers
24. Minnesota Vikings 

With the early exit from the playoffs, the Vikings secured the 24th pick in the first round. For anyone that watched the team’s final two games, it’s real clear that the interior of the offensive line is in dire need of improvement. It’s not the only need. Here’s a real early look at the Vikings needs heading into the offseason. 

Interior offensive line
Defensive line
Cornerback
Running back
Safety

I believe that at least one guard will be priority #1 in free agency. Trey Smith of the Kansas City Chiefs is a dream addition. The Vikings simply can not skip through another season with low-budget attempts at filling their interior offensive line. Center Garrett Bradbury has his strengths. Smarts, agility, and quickness are among them. Size and strength aren’t. Perhaps larger and more skilled guards on either side will maximize his strengths and minimize his weaknesses. At least, that’s the hope. Otherwise, all three positions need to be fixed. 

Currently, the Vikings hold only three draft picks (a first and two fifths). That meager number should be helped a bit by a third-round compensatory pick. With limited draft capital and significant salary cap space, I expect the Vikings to be very active in free agency. They have a fairly large number of free agents. Of those, cornerback Byron Murphy Jr, and safety Cam Bynum are the closest to must re-signs. Hopefully, both are back. If they are, cornerback and safety become less of a need. 

A very early hypothetical Vikings free agency:

Re-sign:
Byron Murphy Jr., CB
Camryn Bynum, S

Sign:
Trey Smith, G
Milton Williams, DT
another guard

I’m not sure if that’s financially feasible but something close to this dream free agency would give the Vikings draft flexibility at #24. 

24 is eight spots too early. I was hoping that these offseason thoughts would be necessary for another month. 


Tuesday, January 14, 2025

Vikings - Rams

There was a Wild Card playoff game played last night. Minnesota Vikings at Los Angeles Rams. It was originally scheduled to be played at Sofi Stadium. The terrible fires in Southern California forced the game to be moved to the home stadium of the Arizona Cardinals. Only one of the teams appeared to have adjusted to the changes and showed up for the game. With a score of 27-9, the Rams are moving on to the Divisional Round. The Vikings are heading home and left to wonder how it all went so wrong. 

That was a brutal way to end a fun season. The Vikings won 14 games and lost four games. In a peculiar twist, they lost to only two teams. They lost to the Detroit Lions and Rams over four days in October. They lost to the Lions and Rams over eight days in January. Other than that, the Vikings were a perfect 14-0. The games in October were competitive. The Lions needed a late field goal to win. The Rams needed a late, famously missed facemask penalty to secure the win. The games in January were not competitive. Over the last eight days, the Vikings lost to the Lions and Rams by a combined score of 58-18. 12 of those 18 points were from field goals. After a regular season of scattered explosive plays and robust scoring, the Vikings offense ended the season exposed, vulnerable, and inept. 

The Vikings won 14 games as a team. A fun team. It isn’t right to point fingers over the failures of the last eight days. Still, it’s inevitable. Sam Darnold was solid and often brilliant in leading the Vikings through a fun 14-3 regular season. He was signed last offseason to be a placeholder this season. First-round pick J.J McCarthy was supposed to take over next season. Darnold’s strong, months-long play was forcing a re-think of that plan. I expect that his play over the past two games has put an end to that re-think. The scattered, scared play that plagued his early years with the New York Jets and Carolina Panthers reappeared. Over eight days, he looked nothing like the quarterback of the previous four months. But it wasn’t all Darnold. The offensive line hasn’t been a strength all season. Things got even worse after left tackle Christian Darrisaw was lost for the season against the Rams in October. Over the last two games, the offensive line has been a sieve. Calling the interior of the offensive line a sieve would be generous. Darnold has been under siege. The Rams sacked him a playoff-record nine times. The Vikings won 14 games as a team. While it’s easy to point fingers, they lost these past two games as a team. 

Still, moving forward, priority #1 for the Vikings is an overhaul of the interior of the offensive line. I also think that Darnold’s play behind the woeful line makes the decision to move to McCarthy a little easier. 

Troy Aikman said during the broadcast that a playoff loss wrecks a season. He’s wrong. A playoff loss, especially a brutal playoff loss, stings. It’ll sting for a while. Unfortunately, I know the feeling well. About a half century of it. I’ve enjoyed my lifetime of Vikings football. I enjoyed this season. The 2024 Minnesota Vikings were a very fun team. This disappointing loss takes nothing away from that. Now, I look forward to the 2025 Minnesota Vikings. 


Monday, January 13, 2025

Minnesota Vikings Postseason History

Tonight, the Minnesota Vikings will play the Los Angeles Rams in the Wild Card Round of the NFL Playoffs. It will be their 32nd appearance in postseason. Sadly, the Vikings have never won that final game. Here’s a look at their postseason history.

Playoff Record Summary:
Appearances: 32
Games: 52 games, 21-31
Wild Card Round: 15 games, 7-8
Divisional Round: 23 games, 10-13
Conference Championship: 10 games, 4-6
Super Bowl: 4 games, 0-4

1968:
Divisional: @ Baltimore Colts, lost 14-24

1969:
Divisional: Los Angeles Rams, won 23-20
Conference Championship: Cleveland Browns, won 27-7
Super Bowl: Kansas City Chiefs, lost 7-23

1970:
Divisional: San Francisco 49ers, lost 14-17

1971:
Divisional: Dallas Cowboys, lost 12-20

1973:
Divisional: Washington Redskins, won  27-20
Conference Championship: @ Dallas Cowboys, won 27-10
Super Bowl: Miami Dolphins, lost 7-24

1974:
Divisional: St. Louis Cardinals, won 30-14
Conference Championship: Los Angeles Rams, won 14-10
Super Bowl: Pittsburgh Steelers, lost 6-16

1975:
Divisional: Dallas Cowboys, robbed 14-17

1976:
Divisional: Washington Redskins, won 35-20
Conference Championship: Los Angeles Rams, won 24-13
Super Bowl: Oakland Raiders, lost 14-32

1977: 
Divisional: @Los Angeles Rams, won 14-7
Conference Championship: @Dallas Cowboys, lost 6-23

1978: 
Divisional: @Los Angeles Rams, lost 10-34

1980:
Divisional: @Philadelphia Eagles, lost 16-31

1982:
Wild Card: Atlanta Falcons, won 30-24
Divisional: @Washington Redskins, lost 7-21

1987:
Wildcard: @New Orleans Saints, won 44-10
Divisional: @San Francisco 49ers, won 36-24
Conference Championship: @Washington Redskins, lost 10-17

1988:
Wildcard: Los Angeles Rams, won 28-17
Divisional: @San Francisco 49ers, lost 9-34

1989:
Divisional: @San Francisco 49ers, lost 13-41

1992:
Wild Card: Washington Redskins, lost 7-24

1993:
Wild Card: @New York Giants, lost 10-17

1994:
Wild Card: Chicago Bears, lost 18-35

1996:
Wild Card: @Dallas Cowboys, lost 15-40

1997:
Wild Card: @New York Giants, won 23-22
Divisional: @San Francisco 49ers, lost 22-38

1998:
Divisional: Arizona Cardinals, won 41-21
Conference Championship: Atlanta Falcons, lost 27-30

1999:
Wild Card: Dallas Cowboys, won 27-10
Divisional: @Los Angeles Rams, lost 37-49

2000:
Divisional: New Orleans Saints, won 34-17
Conference Championship: @New York Giants, lost 0-41

2004
Wild Card: @Green Bay Packers, won 31-17
Divisional: @Philadelphia Eagles, lost 14-27

2008:
Wild Card: Philadelphia Eagles, lost 14-26

2009:
Divisional: Dallas Cowboys, won 34-3
Conference Championship: @New Orleans Saints, lost 28-31

2012:
Wild Card: @Green Bay Packers, lost 10-24

2015:
Wild Card: Seattle Seahawks, lost 9-10

2017:
Divisional: New Orleans Saints, won 29-24
Conference Championship: @Philadelphia Eagles, lost 10-27

2019:
Wild Card: @New Orleans Saints, won 26-20
Divisional: @San Francisco 49ers, lost 10-27

2022:
Wild Card: New York Giants, lost 24-31

2024: 
   ?


Sunday, January 12, 2025

My Time All - Time Los Angeles Rams Team

In advance of Minnesota Vikings games I’ve been selecting All-Time teams of that week’s opponent. The Vikings play the Los Angeles Rams tomorrow night in the Wild Card Round of the NFL Playoffs. It’s the second time this season that the two teams have played. The Vikings lost to the Rams in an October Thursday night game. Hopefully, this big game has a better result. To avoid doing something I’ve already done here’s something different. This is an All-Time Los Angeles Rams team made up of players that played during my time as a Vikings fan. 

Offense

Quarterback 
Kurt Warner

Running Back
Marshall Faulk

Fullback
Cullen Bryant

Wide Receivers
Harold Jackson
Isaac Bruce

Tight End
Tyler Higbee

Tackles
Orlando Pace
Jackie Slater

Guards
Tom Mack
Dennis Harrah

Center
Rich Saul

Defense

Defensive Ends
Jack Youngblood
Kevin Carter

Defensive Tackles
Merlin Olsen
Aaron Donald

Linebackers
Kevin Greene
Jack Reynolds
Isaiah Robertson

Cornerbacks
LeRoy Irvin
Jerry Gray

Safeties
Nolan Cromwell
Dave Elmendorf

Special Teams

Kicker
Jeff Wilkins

Punter
Johnny Hekker

Returner
Az-Zahir Hakim


Saturday, January 11, 2025

Flea Flicker Wild Card Predictions

The NFL Playoffs kick off today. Here are some guesses at the Wild Card games.

Minnesota Vikings @ Los Angeles Rams
Pick: Vikings
The Vikings must rebound from their worst game of the season. 

Denver Broncos @ Buffalo Bills
Pick: Bills
The Broncos got into the playoffs by beating the “B” team of the Kansas City Chiefs. They’ll get no such help from the Buffalo Bills.

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Baltimore Ravens
Pick: Ravens
The Ravens roll.

Los Angeles Chargers @ Houston Texans
Pick: Texans
I’m not sure if the Texans ever played to the expectations many had for them this season. Here’s a guess to them finally playing close to those expectations.

Green Bay Packers @ Philadelphia Eagles
Pick: Packers
This is a prediction to get the Vikings a home game in the Divisional round. 

Washington Commanders @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Pick: Commanders
This is a further attempt to get the Vikings a home game.