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Could the Cleveland Browns circle back to Sean McDermott for their vacant head coach position? The Buffalo Bills surprised the industry Monday morning by firing McDermott, less than 48 hours after they lost 33-30 to the Denver Broncos in the AFC Divisional Round. McDermott, 51, interviewed for the Browns job in 2016 before the owner Jimmy Haslam ultimately hired Hue Jackson, who infamously went 3-36-1 in parts of three seasons in Cleveland before he was fired midway through the 2018 campaign. McDermott Fired After 9 Seasons With Bills After being spurned by the Browns, McDermott — the Carolina Panthers’ defensive coordinator from 2011-2016 — landed in Buffalo, where he helped turn around one of the NFL’s most crestfallen franchises. In McDermott’s first season at the helm, the Bills went 9-7 and qualified for the postseason for the first time in 18 years. The Bills went 6-10 the next season, with Josh Allen as a rookie, but then followed that campaign with seven consecutive trips to the AFC playoffs. Altogether, the Bills went 98-50 and won five AFC East titles under McDermott, plus 8-8 in the playoffs. But the team’s inability to reach the Super Bowl ultimately led to his dismissal. “Sean helped change the mindset of this organization and was instrumental in the Bills becoming a perennial playoff team,” Bills owner Terry Pegula said Monday in a statement. I respect all the work, loyalty and attention to detail he showed for this team and the community.” Who Will Be the Browns Next Coach? Here Are the Candidates: McDermott has already expressed his desire to continue coaching, and with seven vacancies throughout the NFL — not including the Bills — he stands a pretty good shot at landing another job. As of Monday, the Browns had conducted interviews with at least eight known candidates: Jaguars offensive coordinator Grant Udinski, Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, Rams pass game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase, Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken, Seahawks defensive coordinator Aden Durde, Bengals offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher, and recently fired Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel, as well as both of their own coordinators: Tommy Rees (offense) and Jim Schwartz (defense). Kevin Stefanski was fired earlier this month after six seasons at the helm. He went 45-56 and made two trips to the playoffs, winning AP Coach of the Year both times (2020, 2023). While the Browns have already scheduled second interviews with some candidates, it wouldn’t be surprising to see them gauge McDermott’s interest based on their past. Like Heavy Sports's content? Be sure to follow us. This article was originally published on Heavy SportsThe post Browns History with Sean McDermott Resurfaces After Bills Firing Amid Head Coach Search appeared first on Heavy Sports.

Dustin Poirier shared his perspective on the upcoming interim UFC lightweight title fight between Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett. Poirier’s insight carries weight, having fought Gaethje twice and observing what Pimblett is capable of inside the octagon.The interim lightweight title bout headlines UFC 324, set for this Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. UFC 324 also marks the promotion’s new era on Paramount+. The winner of Gaethje vs. Pimblett will earn a title unification bout against reigning lightweight champion Ilia Topuria.Much has been made about how the what could unfold when the two meet inside the octagon. ‘The Highlight’ enters with extensive championship fighting experience, while ‘The Baddy,’ faces the biggest test of his career.During his appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, Poirier offered his prediction for the UFC 324 main event. He said he favors Gaethje to pull off what oddsmakers consider an upset win.Poirier cited Gaethje’s experience in grueling fights as the key advantage over Pimblett.“I just think [Gaethje’s] been in those 25-minute fights. He’s been in dogfights before. I think Paddy is gonna have a tough time stopping him on the feet, and I don’t think Paddy’s gonna be able to get him down,” Poirier said. “Justin is just a bigger puncher and he’ll put himself in harm’s way to land one of those shots. It’s tough to stay away from that for 25-minutes.”Dustin Poirier Predicts Justin Gaethje Finishes Paddy PimblettDustin Poirier also predicted the method of victory for the UFC 324 main event between Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett.Poirier believes that Gaethje is a much better striker and that it will be on full display against Pimblett. ‘The Diamond’, who lost to Gaethje by knockout in their second bout, expects him to finish Pimblett the same way.Poirier expressed confidence in Gaethje’s knockout potential, saying he even plans to wager money on that outcome. Now that he is retired, Poirier is allowed to wager money on fights he feels strongly about.“Yeah, I think that Justin stops [Pimblett],” Poirier told The Ariel Helwani Show. “Every now and then [I partake in sports betting]. I’m definitely gonna partake in that [fight]. Yeah, [I’m going with Gaethje by knockout].” Poirier Says Pimblett Winning Would Be Ideal Outcome for UFCPoirier also discussed the business implications of the fight outcome. He noted that Pimblett would be more marketable if he won instead of Gaethje.During his appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, Poirier noted that Gaethje doesn’t have many fights left in his career. Because of that, Pimblett winning the interim lightweight champion gives the UFC more options.“Probably [would be ideal for the UFC if Pimblett won]. Justin’s talking about retirement,” Poirier said. “Paddy’s still young and they can continue to build him. There’s a bunch of fights we haven’t seen with Paddy. So, it’s more marketable if Paddy wins [at UFC 324].”Additionally, Pimblett already has a rivalry with lightweight champion Ilia Topruia. The two faced off in the octagon after Topuria won the title, so that unification bout could generate significant interest. Like Heavy Sports's content? Be sure to follow us. This article was originally published on Heavy SportsThe post Dustin Poirier Predicts Gaethje vs. Pimblett Outcome Ahead of UFC 324 appeared first on Heavy Sports.

Just when the vacant head coach jobs were shrinking, another one opened up.The Buffalo Bills announced that they will be parting ways with head coach Sean McDermott after nine seasons with the organization.McDermott’s dismissal comes after the Bills lost to the Denver Broncos, 30-33, marking the eighth time the Buffalo Bills have fallen out of the playoffs without reaching the Super Bowl in the nine seasons McDermott has been with the team.Looking forward, the Bills will need someone with big shoes to fill in for the former head coach.Rams Coordinator Top Option For New HC Job GettyA trust member of the Los Angeles Rams coaching staff may be on his way out It would be a lot of pressure to replace Sean McDermott in Buffalo.The Bills only had one losing season during his nine-year tenure and made it to the playoffs 8 of times at the helm of the team. The former AFC East head coach accrued an overall coaching record of 98 wins and 50 losses.To replace someone of his caliber, the Bills would need someone who has the winning experience to fill his role.CBS Sports’ Jordan Dajani released a list of the top five options who could be a good option to replace McDermott, naming Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Chris Shula as one of the options.“The grandson of NFL legend Don Shula is one of the hottest candidates this coaching cycle, and someone Buffalo should take a look at as well. Chris Shula has been on Sean McVay’s staff since his first season as the Rams’ lead man back in 2017, working in multiple capacities such as linebackers coach, pass game coordinator and defensive backs coach before receiving the promotion to defensive coordinator,” Dajani wrote.“Last year, Jared Verse, Braden Fiske, Byron Young and Kobie Turner combined for 226 pressures — which ranked second-most among any foursome in the NFL… The Rams also recorded 16 sacks in the playoffs that year, which were the most in a two-game span in NFL postseason history. In 2025, Shula’s unit recorded the third-most pressures (274) and fourth-highest pressure percentage (41.7%).”The Rams’ defense was one of the best this season, with Chris Shula calling the plays, only allowing 20.4 points per game, the 10th-lowest in the NFL.As an upcoming coach, leading a playoff-experienced Bills would be a good first landing spot for Shula.The Rams’ DC has been receiving serious head coaching options around the league, meaning the Bills would have to swoop in quickly to get their guy.Top Option Could Be Familiar Face For Buffalo GettyThe Buffalo Bills could have a frontrunner for their vacant head coaching job With no time to waste in finding a new head coach, the Buffalo Bills may have a frontrunner who has a history with the team.According to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, a name that keeps popping up for the next HC for the Bills is former offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, holding the role from 2018 to the 2021 seasons. According to Russini, Josh Allen “loves” Daboll and pairing them up again would see the Bills’ offense be one of the best in the league.In his last two seasons as offensive coordinator with the Bills, before taking the New York Giants head coaching job, the Buffalo offense had the second (31.3) and third-highest (28.4) points per game.The 2020 season was also Allen’s best passing season as a professional, throwing for 4,544 yards and 37 pass touchdowns, both career highs in a season.If the Bills were to bring Daboll as head coach, or even as offensive coordinator, it wouldn’t take much time for Josh Allen to get accustomed to the playbook.Like Chris Shula, Daboll has been receiving head coaching and offensive coordinator interest, forcing Buffalo to move fast. Like Heavy Sports's content? Be sure to follow us. This article was originally published on Heavy SportsThe post Longtime Rams Coach Named Top Option For Bills Head Coach Job appeared first on Heavy Sports.

The Washington Commanders must now remove Jeff Ulbrich from their list of defensive coordinator candidates. On January 19, the Atlanta Falcons confirmed they are retaining Ulbrich as defensive coordinator. Team owner Arthur Blank discussed the matter with atlantafalcons.com, stating:“Jeff Ulbrich, in my view, did a really fine job for us this year,” Blank said. “Certainly look at the record of sacks. And just the overall performance of the defense was definitely better than it’s been in the past.”As a result, Washington finds itself looking for their new defensive coordinator. On January 6, head coach Dan Quinn fired defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. The day before, offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury and the team went their separate ways. As a result, head coach Dan Quinn will need to hire two new coordinators.Atlanta Falcons Keep Jeff Ulbrich as DC, Commanders Continue SearchDespite Atlanta finishing 8-9, its defense played a role in the franchise winning five of its last seven games. Throughout the season, the team allowed fewer than 200 passing yards ten times. Atlanta heavily invested in bolstering their pass rush last offseason. They spent two first-round picks on edge rushers Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr. The duo combined for 16 sacks. Meanwhile, 36-year-old Von Miller paced the Commanders with nine.With Ulbrich no longer available, Washington will shift focus to other candidates. Their recent interview with Minnesota defensive coordinator Brian Flores appears likely to end with Flores remaining with the Vikings, if he doesn’t get a head coaching job. The next candidate under consideration is former Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon. Gannon is reportedly eyeing a coordinator job to restore his reputation after finishing his tenure in Arizona with a 15-36 record.Gannon utilizes a quarters defense that can feature five players near the line of scrimmage to counter spread offenses. His scheme is adaptable for both 4-3 and 3-4 formations, focusing on the defensive backfield. GettyFormer Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon surveys field after a December 21, 2025 game. Scott Brings Secondary Approach to the Field with Passing Game FocusAnother candidate for Washington is Karl Scott, Seattle Seahawks‘ passing game coordinator and defensive backs coach. Seattle allowed just 292 points in 2025, the fewest in the league. Their pass defense excelled, surrendering less than 200 yards 11 times, and only Baker Mayfield in Week 5 and Matthew Stafford in Week 16 surpassed 300 passing yards against them. However, Scott has never called defensive plays, as his focus has been on concepts and position groups rather than overall playcalling. Only 14.6% of the Seahawks’ defensive drives have ended in a TD Best in the NFL 🤯 pic.twitter.com/tOImwheYwu — PFF (@PFF) January 19, 2026https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsGraham’s Defenses Center Around Active Linebacker PlayAnother coach in the mix is Patrick Graham, formerly of the Las Vegas Raiders, who could fit Quinn’s aggressive approach. Graham, a Bill Belichick disciple, has adapted those teachings into his own system. Known for generating pressure, he prefers to free up linebackers by employing at least two large defensive linemen to fortify the line of scrimmage.This tactic also prevents guards from engaging linebackers, allowing them to move freely, stuffing the run, blitzing, and dropping back into coverage. Linebacker Devin White exemplified this approach, tallying 174 tackles in 2025, with 95 solo. GettyFormer Las Vegas Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham fires up his team before a January 5, 2026 game Washington must address a defense that allowed 26.5 points per game last season. Opponents did not hesitate to attack through the air. Bringing in a new coordinator has the potential to revitalize the defense and restore its ability to close out games, as demonstrated in 2024. Like Heavy Sports's content? Be sure to follow us. This article was…

As the Indianapolis Colts begin to embark on the 2026 NFL season, their priority will be to establish the roster for the upcoming year. The Colts have several notable key free agents, but arguably the most important is their quarterback, who ended the season on injured reserve. Daniel Jones is coming off one of his best seasons, one in which he set career highs in completion percentage (68%), yards per completion (8.1), passer rating (100.2), and QBR (63.3). His breakout year projected him to land a massive contract extension with Indy in the offseason, especially once the Colts presumably doubled down on him by trading their next two first-round picks away for Sauce Gardner. However, as Colts fans are aware, Jones’s revelation season would be stalled by a fractured fibula, and then completely halted by a torn Achilles. Now what once seemed as a forgone conclusion is surrounded by slight uncertainty; however, the Colts remain confident that Jones’ future is still in Indy.Colts Remain Confident Jones Will Be Ready for 2026While the injury has slightly muddied the waters around Jones’ future in Indianapolis, the quarterback continues to progress well through his rehab and has received advice on how to handle recovery properly. Stephen Holder published an article stating that Aaron Rodgers has been a person that Jones has been in contact with throughout his recovery. The former four-time MVP notoriously ruptured his Achilles tendon when he was with the New York Jets. While recovering from an Achilles is no easy feat, Jones remains laser-focused on trying to come back at full strength. GettyIndianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones threw for 3,101 yards and 19 touchdowns across 13 games in 2025. At the end of the year, media availability, Jones opened with, “For me, it’s about getting this Achilles right, and attacking the rehab. Making sure I’m doing everything I need to do to come back at full speed.” He proceeded to state that he expects to be ready by training camp. When reporters followed up by asking about his thoughts on returning to the Colts, Jones answered candidly. “I’d love to be back here. I’ve enjoyed being here, working with the coaching staff here, with the players. I think it’s a great organization,” Jones said.He also acknowledged that there is a business side to address, but he sounds hopeful that his representation and the team will figure it out. Colts general manager Chris Ballard echoed similar sentiments about Jones’ availability and confidence in his return to the team next season on 93.5/107.5 The Fan. When asked if the Colts view Jones as the long-term answer of the future, Ballard replied, “I’m looking at him both, near and long. And I think that helps us,” Ballard stated. “I mean, I’ve been very stated about like when you’re chasing the quarterback all the time, it makes it very hard. Like your margin for error really shrinks down. And I feel very good about Daniel Jones and where he’s at, where he’s going. Yes, he’s got the Achilles, but I think Daniel Jones has got a really bright future here in Indianapolis. And look, there is some comfort knowing that, ‘Okay, we know we’ve got a guy that’s proven, that’s done it, and done some really good things.’ So, that does give you some confidence.”Ballard’s comments center around the difficulty he’s had to find a quality fit for the team at the most important position. With mutual interest expressed, the team now has to look at their options for what a deal could look like. Colts Have Two Main Options on Jones’ ExtensionThe Colts’ options are to either sign Jones to a long-term contract or potentially franchise tag him. The franchise option would put Jones on a one-year prove-it deal that would cost the team around $46 million for 2026. Market value has a long-term extension estimated at around $44.6 million across four years, if Indy decides to go that direction.Either way, it is unlikely that the Colts allow Jones to hit the open market and raise his…