Category: Breaking

Bucs extend OC Liam Coen, no longer in running for Jaguars HC vacancy

The Bucs and Liam Coen agreed to an extension to take him out of the running for the Jaguars head coaching vacancy.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and general manager Jason Licht announced on Wednesday morning that a key member of the Bucs staff was being retained.

Adam Schefter of ESPN announced that the Bucs and Liam Coen agreed to an extension to take him out of the running for the Jaguars head coaching vacancy. The move will make Coen one of the highest-paid assistant coaches in the NFL in 2025.

Coen came to Tampa Bay in 2024 after the team lost Dave Canalas to the Carolina Panthers for their head coaching vacancy. Coen would join the Bucs after being with the Los Angeles Rams and improve the offense in nearly every category across the board.

The Bucs’ passing offense went from 17th to 3rd in the NFL, and their rushing attack went from last to fourth. This also led to Baker Mayfield’s career highs in passing yards (4,500) and touchdowns (41), Bucky Irving’s accumulation of over 1,500 yards of total offense as a rookie, and Mike Evans’s over 1,000 receiving yards in his 11th straight season.

The future is very bright for the Bucs offense under the direction of Liam Coen.

Vikings, Kevin O’Connell reach agreement on multi-year extension

The result of the team and Kevin O’Connell’s focus is they have agreed on a new multi-year extension for the Coach of the Year candidate.

Coming off a 14-3 year, Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell was heading into a contract year in 2025. The team and O’Connell never let any noise enter the room this past season, or the few weeks we are into the offseason.

The result of the team and Kevin O’Connell’s focus is that they have agreed on a new multi-year extension for the Coach of the Year candidate.

Adam Schefter of ESPN first reported the news on Tuesday afternoon.

O’Connell was hired by the Vikings in 2022 during a hiring cycle that has not been kind to his fellow coaches. Of the 10 coaches hired, just three remain, Todd Bowles and Mike McDaniel being the others.

His record in three seasons with the team is an impressive 34-17 but 0-2 in the playoffs. He has thrived in creating a locker room culture that brings in free agents and develops their offensive weapons.

With this long-term contract now secured, his next project will be helping J.J. McCarthy take the next steps in his development after the team selected him 10th overall in the 2024 NFL Draft.

On this day in history: Seahawks defeat the Packers in the NFC Championship

On this day in history: Seahawks defeat the Packers in the NFC Championship

The NFL playoffs are well under way, and while the Seattle Seahawks are not participating in them this year, their presence is still felt. The Seahawks went on quite the run under head coach Pete Carroll, enjoying the golden age of the franchise. In those glory years came plenty of iconic playoff moments, but perhaps the greatest was Seattle’s heroic comeback over the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship.

It is truly hard to believe this happened 10 years ago to the day. In many ways, it feels like a lifetime ago, and yet… just like yesterday.

The Seahawks were on the verge of defending their NFC crown from the previous year. The only thing that stood between them and repeating as conference champions was the team they beat to kick off the 2014 season: Aaron Rodgers’ Green Bay Packers. Seattle obliterated Green Bay to the tune of 36-16 in Week 1, but Pack were not so easy to dispatch the second time around.

Green Bay had the Seahawks offense in football Hell, shutting them out for nearly three full quarters as they had built a 16-0 lead that felt considerably wider than merely two scores. Seattle’s fortunes officially began to shift once punter Jon Ryan threw a touchdown pass on a fake field goal to Garry Gilliam to get the Hawks on the board. It was the jolt of life Seattle desperately needed.

The Seahawks trailed 19-7 late into the fourth quarter. Seattle had managed to cut it to 19-14 thanks to a Russell Wilson touchdown run. Still, the Seahawks’ hopes were entirely dependent upon a successful onside kick…

…which they got! The ball bounced through the hands (and facemask) of Packers tight end Brandon Bostick and into the waiting arms of Seattle receiver Chris Matthews. Suddenly, the Seahawks felt dangerous. Marshawn Lynch powered his way into the end zone and a miraculous Wilson pass to Luke Willson gave Seattle an unimaginable 22-19 lead.

The fireworks did not end there. Aaron Rodgers maneuvered Green Bay into position to kick a game-tying field goal to send it to overtime at 22-22. Fortunately for the Seahawks, they won the coin toss and got the ball first. Wilson had arguably the greatest play in his career when he found wide receiver Jermaine Kearse for the game-winning walk-off touchdown pass to send the Seahawks back to the Super Bowl.

This will forever be a moment in Seattle sports history no one will ever forget.

Seahawks to give 2nd interview to Grant Udinski for OC position

Seahawks to give 2nd interview to Grant Udinski for OC position

Things are heating up precipitously for the Seattle Seahawks in their search for an offensive coordinator. The team has already held interviews with Thomas Brown, Hank Fraley, and Byron Leftwich. Seattle is also hosting Klint Kubiak in person for a second interview. However, he is not the only one who has advanced to this next stage.

NFL Network insider Mike Garafolo originally broke the story that the Seahawks would be interviewing Minnesota Vikings assistant offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Grant Udinski for the job. Now, Garafolo is reporting Udinski will also interview in person on Friday.

Right now it seems Seattle has two clear paths they must decide between: experience versus potential. Kubiak has been an offensive coordinator and play caller for two franchises – the Vikings and Saints. Although, head coach Mike Macdonald mentioned previous experience with play calling was not a requirement for this job. If this is the case, then it would seem the Seahawks are certainly interested in the 28-year-old Udinski for the potential he could bring to the job.

We at Seahawks Wire will monitor this situation closely for any impending updates.

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Seahawks to hold 2nd in-person interview with Klint Kubiak for OC

Seahawks to hold 2nd in-person interview with Klint Kubiak for OC

The Seattle Seahawks could be narrowing in on their next offensive coordinator. It was reported on Thursday morning the Seahawks will host current New Orleans Saints offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak for a second in-person interview on Friday. Seattle already interviewed Kubiak earlier this week on Tuesday. The fact they are set to meet with him again only a few days later suggests things are getting serious between the two sides.

Kubiak was the offensive coordinator and play caller for the Saints last year, his only season in the Big Easy. With the team firing head coach Dennis Allen in November 2024, it makes sense why the Saints would be willing to let some of their in-house coaches seek employment elsewhere, as their next head coach will presumably want to bring in his own staff.

New Orleans was the second time Kubiak has held the position of offensive coordinator and play caller, as he was responsible for both during his one season (2021) with the Minnesota Vikings. While head coach Mike Macdonald has mentioned play calling experience was not a prerequisite for the position, it should be noted out of the four candidates the Seahawks have interviewed (Thomas Brown, Hank Fraley, and Grant Udinski being the other three), Kubiak is the only one who has been both a play caller and hired to begin a season as an offensive coordinator. Neither Fraley or Udinski have held either responsibility, and Brown only took over play calling duties once the Chicago Bears fired Shane Waldron.

It’s clear Kubiak brings experience to the position the other three do not possess as of right now. However, Kubiak does come with some concern. His Saints offense started the season nuclear-hot with their 2-0 start, but cratered and ended up as the 21st overall unit in the league. That being said, he was dealing with the dysfunction of the franchise and a quarterback situation clearly subpar to Seattle’s. Perhaps a change of scenery, personnel and stability will help Kubiak’s system flourish.

Oh, one final point: Kubiak was the passing game coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers in 2023. Although it was only one year, he does have familiarity with the NFC West and how to best attack its defenses. That certainly is not nothing.

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Brian O’Neill injury vs. Rams: Latest news on Vikings OT

In a disappointing Wild Card performance, the Minnesota Vikings have lost starting right tackle Brian O’Neill to an undisclosed injury.

Not much has gone right for the Minnesota Vikings in their Wild Card matchup against the Los Angeles Rams. History is repeating itself at the worst possible time. The Vikings started their season with a five-game win streak, then lost consecutive games against the Lions and Rams.

After those losses, the Vikings reeled off nine straight wins before again losing to the Lions. Now, with 12 minutes to go in the fourth quarter, it looks like the Vikings are on their way to losing, embarrassingly, to the Rams once again.

To add insult to injury, the Vikings have lost their starting right tackle, Brian O’Neill, at the start of the fourth quarter. On a scramble by quarterback Sam Darnold, O’Neill appeared to take a shot to the head from Rams’ EDGE rusher Jared Verse.

Brian O’Neill injury update

After the blow to the head, O’Neill was looked at by the Vikings’ training staff and was able to leave the field under his own power. After being evaluated in the medical tent on the sidelines, O’Neill was seen heading back to the Vikings’ locker room, ostensibly for further evaluation.

How long will O’Neill be out?

According to Vikings’ beat writer Ben Goessling, O’Neill is being evaluated for a concussion. If O’Neill is cleared, he should return to the game. If not, he’ll be out for the remainder of the game — and what looks like the Vikings’ season.

Vikings offensive line depth chart

With O’Neill out of the game and back in the team’s locker room, reserve offensive tackle David Quessenberry has stepped in to take over right tackle duties. Quessenberry has seen action in several games for the Vikings this season on both sides of the line.

California wildfires force NFL to have contingency plan for Vikings-Rams

While state officials and other agencies monitor the fire for their job, the NFL is doing its part to ensure safety of everyone involved.

The NFL, like the rest of the world, is watching the horrific events unfold in Southern California as the wildfires rage on. Despite the work of many first responders and brave volunteers, the fires remain uncontained, and there is a potential for them to approach Los Angeles.

While state officials and other agencies monitor the fire for their job, the NFL is doing its part to ensure its players, fans, officials, and stadium workers are safe.

In the event that the fires force a relocation of Monday Night’s Wild Card matchup between the Rams and Vikings, the NFL has an alternate location selected. The Arizona Cardinals and their State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona will be hosting the game if it cannot be held in Los Angeles.

The NFL, in a statement released on Wednesday night, stated that they will “continue to prepare to play the Vikings-Rams game as scheduled at SoFi Stadium.”

 

Mina Kimes of ESPN also shared a map for locals, which gives a better idea of the fire and its possible direction. The map also provides updates on calls and incidents within the affected areas. 

As they continue to monitor the situation in California, we will be sure to update you as the NFL continues to remain on top of the situation. If you are reading this and are in the area affected, we implore you to listen to local and disaster officials and follow their instructions.

Seahawks defeat Rams 30-25, end the season on a high note

Seahawks defeat Rams 30-25, end the season on a high note

With the playoffs out of reach, all that was left for the Seattle Seahawks were moral victories, but they did achieve them! Seattle ends the 2024 season with a 30-25 victory over the Los Angeles Rams, and earned several key milestones along the way in the process.

The Seahawks ended the year 10-7, making this their first season with double-digit wins since the 2020 campaign. It also means Mike Macdonald became the first head coach in franchise history to win 10 games in his first year as top man. Seattle also tied the franchise-best road record by going 7-1 away from home this year. While a trip to the postseason would have been preferable to all of this, there is still plenty of positives for the Hawks to hang their hats on.

As I predicted earlier Sunday morning, the Rams were absolutely going to make the Seahawks earn it. Seattle going in as 7.5 point favorites felt like fool’s gold to the max, and it turned out to be the case. The Seahawks, despite dominating most of the first half, struggled in the second, and needed yet another heroic comeback from an injured Geno Smith to escape with a win.

Seattle’s defense melted down ever since the opening two punts from the Rams. After those two, LA scored 10 points, threw an interception, then proceeded to score on four-straight drives. They eventually took a 25-24 lead with under five minutes to play.

Smith then engineered an eight-play, 65 yard drive to regain the lead. Smith found tight end Noah Fant for his 4th passing touchdown of the day, which became a career-best for the veteran quarterback. It is only fitting he had four touchdown passes on a day when he also set a new single-season Seahawks passing yard record at 4,320 yards.

Still, things weren’t going to be done there. After a failed two-point conversion play, the Rams had a chance to embarrass Seattle with a game-winning drive. LA made it all the way to the Seahawks’ nine-yard line where they faced a 4th-and-3. Backup Jimmy Garoppolo, who passed for 334 yards, threw his final ball of the game too low and it was broken up.

The Seahawks now head into another offseason filled with plenty of questions and difficult decisions to be made. But for one last moment before all that begins, the team can revel in victory before preparing for the 2025 campaign.

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First half recap and highlights: Seahawks lead 17-13 over Rams

First half recap and highlights: Seahawks lead 17-13 over Rams

The Seattle Seahawks may be not be competing for a spot in the postseason, but they sure are playing as if they were. Or, at the very least, playing to make sure they achieve history, incentives and pride on the way out. Against a Rams team resting starters and indifferent to playoff seeding, the Seahawks are living up to head coach Mike Macdonald’s idea of “finishing the right way.”

Seattle started the game with a punt on their opening drive, which ensured the team went the entire season without scoring a touchdown on an opening possession. However, since then, the Seahawks had little trouble getting the scoring going. After forcing a punt from the Rams, Seattle went on a five-play, 60-yard drive which ended with Geno Smith finding wide receiver Jake Bobo for his first score of the year.

Los Angeles punted again, and the Seahawks decided they wanted to improve on their previous drive. Seattle took seven plays this time, but went 70 yards and found the end zone once more. For all the frustration at times with both quarterback Geno Smith and DK Metcalf, the pair reminded everyone why the Seahawks should not be so quick to move off either this coming spring.

The Rams were eventually able to find the end zone for the first time of the afternoon, as Jimmy Garoppolo found Tyler Higbee for a touchdown to cut Seattle’s lead to 14-10. The Seahawks did manage to build it back up to a full touchdown lead, as Jason Myers nailed a 56-yard field goal, continuing to build history for the franchise.

Los Angeles attempted to answer back, but their next drive lasted all of three plays before Garoppolo’s pass was intercepted by safety Julian Love. Seattle did not do anything with the extra possession, but another highlight for Seattle’s top safety is always welcome.

Of course, the most important aspect of this game for the Seahawks is if certain players will be able to meet key milestones. Geno Smith stands to make the most, earning up to $6 million in contract escalators tied to performance. Here is where they stand after one half of football:

  • $2 million if Smith eclipses 4,282 passing yards (Smith has 130, only needs 56 more)
  • $2 million if Smith has better than 69.7555% completion percentage for the year (Smith has completed 78.6% of his passes today, and has 70.2% on the year)
  • $2 million if the Seahawks win 10 games (they currently lead 17-13)

Additionally, second-year wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba is chasing history as well. Tyler Lockett holds the franchise record for most receptions in a single season with 100, as he reached that mark in 2020. JSN has two catches on three targets, and will need three more to set a new record.

The Seahawks will get the ball to start the second half. Los Angeles did cut into Seattle’s lead with a 58-yard field goal right before the second quarter came to a conclusion.

Be sure to keep following @TheSeahawksWire and @KoleMusgrove23 on Twitter for more live updates, analysis and highlights during the game.

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Mike Evans ties record with 11th straight season with 1,000 receiving yards

It took a lot longer than many had expected coming into Sunday, but eventually, the Bucs were able to help Mike Evans tie history. 

It took a lot longer than many had expected coming into Sunday, but eventually, the Bucs were able to help Mike Evans tie history. After Bucky Irving scored for the Bucs with less than two minutes to go, we weren’t sure Evans would have a chance at history.

Luckily for Evans and the Bucs, they would get the ball back one more time before the game ended. It was then they would get one last catch to Evans to tie the record.

Only the all-time great Jerry Rice had ever recorded 11 straight seasons of 1,000-yards receiving in a career coming into Sunday. Mike Evans now joins him in the history books as the only other player in the history of the NFL to accomplish such a feat.

You are able to watch the moment below and the reaction from his teammates says it all.