Tag: Fired

Seahawks part ways with offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer

The Seattle Seahawks have parted ways with offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer after the wild-card loss to the Los Angeles Rams.

The Seattle Seahawks are moving in a different direction offensively next season besides planning to just run the football more efficiently. Seattle has fired offensive coordinator, Brian Schottenheimer.

The Seahawks issued the news statement via Twitter on Tuesday afternoon.

“Brian Schottenheimer is a fantastic person and coach and we thank him for the last three years,” the tweet reads. “Citing philosophical differences, we have parted ways.”

Schottenheimer joined the Seahawks staff in 2018 and coached three full seasons in Seattle.

In other Seahawks’ personnel news . . . Seattle did extend executive VP/GM John Schneider’s contract through the 2027 NFL draft.

This story is continuing to develop.

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Philadelphia Eagles in search of a new coach after firing Doug Pederson

The Detroit Lions will have more competition in their head coaching search as the Philadelphia Eagles have fired Doug Pederson.

The Detroit Lions will have more competition in their head coaching search as the Philadelphia Eagles have fired Doug Pederson.

After finishing 4-11-1 this season, the Eagles ownership wanted to shed several coaches, including letting defensive coordinator, and former Detroit Lions head coach, Jim Schwartz exit without a new deal.

Pederson, who led the Eagles to a 2017 Super Bowl and has a 46-39-1 record with the Eagles, was reportedly being given time to right the ship. But conflicts with owner Jeffrey Lurie over staff choices forced things to a head.

Pederson was reported to have preferred to promote replacement coaches from within his staff, as well as bringing back Lions defensive coordinator Cory Undlin — who is likely to be let go in Detroit — as defensive coordinator, while Laurie was looking for larger sweeping changes.

With another head coaching position now available, the Lions will be competing with six other teams — the Philadelphia Eagles, Los Angeles Chargers, Atlanta Falcons, Jacksonville Jaguars, New York Jets, and Houston Texans — for a new coach.

Saints to face 3 first-year coaches in 2021 after Eagles fire Doug Pederson

The New Orleans Saints will play against first-year head coaches with the Philadelphia Eagles, New York Jets, and Atlanta Falcons in 2021.

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The specifics of the New Orleans Saints’ 2021 schedule haven’t been nailed down yet, though they do know their opponents. And at least three of the teams they’ll play against in 2021 will be managed by first-year head coaches now that the Philadelphia Eagles have parted ways with coach Doug Pederson.

That group includes the New York Jets and the Atlanta Falcons (in two games in the NFC South), who could hire a pair of former Saints assistants to fill their vacancies at head coach and general manager. The Jets fired coach Adam Gase after the 2020 regular season concluded, while the Falcons dismissed Dan Quinn midway through.

It’s easy to take Sean Payton for granted so deep into his Saints tenure, having been hired back in 2006; only New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick has held the position longer, dating back to 2000. But it sure is reassuring to see the Saints focused on advancing further into the playoffs each year when other franchises are shuffling the deck again.

Philadelphia Eagles fire head coach Doug Pederson after five seasons

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Breaking: Cowboys fire defensive line coach Jim Tomsula

The Dallas Cowboys are apparently purging their defensive staff. After word has surfaced the club has parted ways with defensive coordinator Mike Nolan, it appears more coaches are headed to Linked In in the very near future. Defensive line coach …

The Dallas Cowboys are apparently purging their defensive staff. After word has surfaced the club has parted ways with defensive coordinator Mike Nolan, it appears more coaches are headed to Linked In in the very near future. Defensive line coach Jim Tomsula came to Dallas with a tremendous reputation, but he was unable to get anymore out of the Cowboys’ group than what was expected.

In many ways, they regressed. Dallas attempted to run a hybrid 30-40 front, which took their premiere defensive player DeMarcus Lawrence out of his three-point comfort zone. Free agent signings Dontari Poe and Everson Griffen were huge disappointments and Dallas failed to develop fifth-round rookie Bradlee Anae to the point he was inactive for almost every game of the year. In the end, the Jones family had seen enough without wanting a repeat and Tomsula has been let go.

The Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy released a statement on both firings.

Tomsula has been an NFL coach since 2007, spending eight years as defensive line coach with the San Francisco 49ers where he was present for the early years of Aldon Smith’s career. He was a head coach for the 49ers for one season in 2015 and in 2017 joined Washington to coach their defensive line. For three years he’s dealt with numerous high-pedigree draft picks and had that group humming, but could not replicate the feat with Dallas’ group.

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Cowboys fire first-year DC Mike Nolan, former Saints linebackers coach

The Dallas Cowboys fired defensive coordinator Mike Nolan, who coach Mike Nolan hired away from the New Orleans Saints as an assistant.

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Woof. There were high hopes for Mike Nolan this time last year, when he received the opportunity for a promotion on a new coaching staff — moving up the ladder from his post as New Orleans Saints linebackers coach to  defensive coordinator for Dallas Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy. But he’s been let go after just one season in which his defense set some historic lows in Dallas.

It’s obviously a disappointment for the Cowboys, and for Nolan. He was well-respected in New Orleans and did a terrific job revitalizing the linebacker corps after a near-decade of mediocrity, coaching up draft prospects like Alex Anzalone and turning then-journeymen like Demario Davis into All-Pros.

But maybe he’s at his best as a position coach. His track record with the Saints speaks for itself. Even when shorthanded due to injuries, his squad won games with Manti Te’o and Craig Robertson starting at linebacker. It’s just a shame things didn’t work out when more responsibilities were on his plate, much less during as chaotic a year as one marred by COVID-19.

So what’s next for Nolan? It’s too soon to say, but he has options. His protégé Michael Hodges turned in a solid first year as the full-time position coach after working as Nolan’s assistant for some time, so it feels unlikely he’d get demoted so soon.

He could maybe return to New Orleans and work as a senior defensive assistant, which is a title they’ve used before for experienced hands like Peter Giunta.

Or maybe Nolan gets back into broadcasting with NFL Network. Whatever move he makes next, he probably won’t do so quickly. After such a hectic season, maybe he’s looking forward to a breather.

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Breaking: Cowboys fire DC Mike Nolan after historically bad season

The Dallas Cowboys weren’t coy, and on Friday made the move many expected. After a lackluster performance by their defense which featured some of the worst statistical measures of any team in the franchise’s 60-year history, the club has fired …

The Dallas Cowboys weren’t coy, and on Friday made the move many expected. After a lackluster performance by their defense which featured some of the worst statistical measures of any team in the franchise’s 60-year history, the club has fired defensive coordinator Mike Nolan.

Hired from most recently being a linebacker’s coach for the New Orleans Saints, Nolan was head coach Mike McCarthy’s pick to get the most out of an underachieving defense. Instead, the club fell to rock bottom, allowing more points (473) than any unit in club history. They gave up more passing touchdowns (34) than any other year and at one point enjoyed a historically bad pace for run defense.  During the course of the season, Dallas had anonymous players rip the defensive coaching staff as “totally unprepared” and as being “just not good at their jobs.” The man in charge of that effort is no longer employed by the team.

Earlier on Friday, McCarthy was noncommittal when asked about Nolan’s future with the club.

“Well, that’s what we’re working on. We’re working on all the coaches, frankly. That’s what this process is about. You’ve got to take the emotion out of the disappointment of what 6-10 is, regardless of COVID and all the other challenges. I think it’s important to put everything on the table, and that’s what this process is.”

The Cowboys will now begin their search for a new DC, which could include current advisor George Edwards, who was Mike Zimmer’s coordinator in Minnesota for several years with the Vikings.

The club could also look outside the organization. What will be interesting is how many of the position coaches will remain with the club.

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Scott Shanle on Gregg Williams’ ill-advised blitz: ‘Can’t tell you how many times we ran that’

The Jets fired defensive coordinator Gregg Williams after a game-losing blitz, which didn’t surprise former Saints linebacker Scott Shanle.

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New York Jets defensive coordinator Gregg Williams shocked the football world on Sunday when he called a cover zero all-out blitz in the final seconds against the Las Vegas Raiders, having put an undrafted rookie cornerback on first-round Olympic-quality athlete Henry Ruggs III with the game on the line. Ruggs predictably smoked his opponent on a vertical route, and the lack of safety help over the top set him up for the game-winning touchdown catch.

It was enough to cost Williams his job, as well as the ire of nearly everyone in the NFL’s orbit. But New Orleans Saints fans weren’t surprised at the poor decision by Williams, who served as their team’s D.C. from 2009 to 2011. Neither was former Saints linebacker Scott Shanle, who played under Williams.

What’s a little odd is that Shanle defended his old coach, saying on Twitter: “Can’t tell you how many times we ran that pressure but had cornerbacks smart enough not to bite on a double move.”

Shanle also pointed to the obvious — noting that the Jets are probably firing everyone are what’s shaping up to be an 0-16 season, meaning Williams chose to go down fighting with an on-brand reckless blitz rather than a safer, more conventional approach.

But Williams has lost so many games with bad decisions like this that you’d think he had learned his lesson; the Saints’ 2011 divisional round classic ended with a similar play call in which San Francisco 49ers tight end Vernon Davis cut between the zones to catch a game-winning touchdown pass with Saints safety Roman Harper trailing in coverage.

So, yeah, Shanle is recalling correctly that the Saints ran a lot of these all-out blitzes, betting that the pressure would get home before the quarterback could finish his drop and get a pass off. But too often Williams’ aggression worked against him, and in one case it cost the Saints a Super Bowl bid. Maybe he just remembers it differently.

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Notre Dame football: Clark Lea rumor season begins after Vanderbilt fires coach

Notre Dame defensive coordinator will be a hot name in coaching searches this off-season and the job at his alma mater became open Sunday.

Well, you can officially start “Clark Lea Watch 2020” is it came a few weeks earlier than we even expected it to officially come this football season.

Vanderbilt, fresh off another awful showing on Saturday, losing to Missouri 41-0 and falling to 0-8, fired head coach Derek Mason on Sunday.

What does that happen to do with anything in regards to Notre Dame defensive coordinator Clark Lea, you ask?

Lea is going to be one of the hottest coaching candidates for perhaps a Power Five job at a middle to lower term program traditionally this off-season.

Lea is also a graduate of Vanderbilt where he was a fullback on the football team from 2002-2004.

Naturally, the easy link to draw is that Lea would be interested in being the coach to save his alma mater from the depths of football hell they’re currently in.

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However, some basic logic tells you it’s hard to imagine this would be a two-foot putt for Lea to take if he were to be eventually offered the Vanderbilt opening.

One key reason why is not only the disaster that Vanderbilt football currently is but simply being in the SEC and the problems that bring.

That’s not to say it can’t be done as James Franklin had success at Vanderbilt before taking the Penn State job but it’d be an incredible undertaking at this point with cards stacked against you in terms of recruiting in your own conference.

Having gone there I’m certain Lea is aware of such matters.

I’ve said for a while that if Lea wants to be a head coach then he’s going to get that opportunity before much longer.

Now what can Notre Dame do to try and sway his decision?

You can back up the Brinks truck and offer an incredible pay raise but if his dream is to be a head coach, you’re not going to change that, not that Brian Kelly and Notre Dame’s staff would want to.

The link between Lea and Vanderbilt makes plenty of sense but the fit for Lea seems far-fetched for someone taking on their first potential head coaching job right now.

I fully expect Lea to be offered a head job this off-season but I have trouble thinking of some of the potential openings, that he’ll see this one as a destination job, even if he did go to college there.

Lions have fired coach Matt Patricia and GM Bob Quinn

Detroit Lions have fired coach Matt Patricia and GM Bob Quinn

The Detroit Lions announced that they have fired coach Matt Patricia and general manager Bob Quinn. Patricia was the Lions coach of just under three seasons and had a 13-29-1 record.

Quinn was hired in 2016 after Ernie Accorsi was tasked by the Ford family to execute a search for the ideal person to run their organization. Accorsi recommended Quinn and he was hired in January.

Quinn inherited a coach with a winning record in Jim Caldwell, who took the Lions to the playoffs in their first year together, unfortunately losing to the Seattle Seahawks. In year two, Caldwell finished 9-7 yet again, but missed the playoffs and was let go that offseason.

After the 2018 Super Bowl, Quinn was swift in hiring his longtime friend in Patricia and it took him two years before he was able to reach nine wins.

This is the first big move new principal owner Shelia Ford Hamp has made since she took over a controlling role. And her second was elevating offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell to interim coach.

It’s too early to tell who will take over for Quinn, but Jimmy Raye III has been a long time GM in waiting and he could get the nod.

Hamp is expected to meet with the media later today.

Falcons fire Dan Quinn, Thomas Dimitroff after 0-5 start

The New Orleans Saints will face the Atlanta Falcons on Nov. 22, but the Falcons will be without coach Dan Quinn or G.M. Thomas Dimitroff.

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The New Orleans Saints suspended their best player after he punched a teammate at practice, but they aren’t even the most dysfunctional team in the NFC South. After going winless through the first five weeks of the 2020 season, the Atlanta Falcons announced Sunday evening that both head coach Dan Quinn and general manager Thomas Dimitroff have been relieved of their duties.

It ends a 13-year tenure for Dimitroff as the team’s shot-caller; while his biggest move was a blockbuster trade to acquire wide receiver Julio Jones, he also hit on draft picks like quarterback Matt Ryan, defensive tackle Grady Jarrett, and LSU Tigers linebacker Deion Jones.

And as for Quinn: he leaves Atlanta with a 43-42 regular season record as head coach, and a 3-2 postseason record (including a loss in Super Bowl LI, when his team lost after leading 28-3 late in the third quarter). He went 4-6 against the Saints since taking the Falcons job back in 2015.

So where do things go from here? The Falcons’ season is effectively over, and it isn’t immediately clear who will be named interim head coach, though defensive coordinator Raheem Morris is a logical pick. Team president and CEO Rich McKay will take over football operations in Dimitroff’s place, so there will be some continuity at the top.

But the Falcons are 0-5 and can’t spiral much further down to rock bottom. Expect the NFC South title race to be whittled down further to a three-team race between the 3-2 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 3-2 Carolina Panthers, and 2-2 Saints — who have a shot at improvement on Monday night. The Saints will see the new-look Falcons next on Nov. 22, playing them twice in three weeks (with a road trip against the Denver Broncos sandwiched in-between).

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