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Heavy.com
How Brian Flores Would Revolutionize Washington’s Defense
The Minnesota Vikings in 2025 blitzed at a league high 44.3%, nearly 11% higher than the next closest team.
This is because Brian Flores enjoys utilizing “two-deep” and “four-deep” fire zone blitzes, according to [podcaster Brett] Kollmann. Kollmann explains how this is uncommon compared to how the majority of the league blitzing out of what is known as a “three-deep” fire zone.
While not trying to go too deep into the weeds about what all this means, just understand that Brian Flores’ defensive scheme is incredibly unique and relies on blitzing.
His scheme also utilizes a linebacker’s ability to cover the middle of the field and the backend’s ability to negate big plays. The additional pressure forces opposing quarterbacks to release the ball quickly and allows the linebackers to make a lot of tackles underneath. Despite Minnesota ranking second in the team sack percentage this season, their leading sacker is tied for only the 25th most in the league.
Flores’s defense relies on collective effort and a scheme that is used to disrupt offenses and could play perfectly into Washington’s hands.
When it comes to the NFC East, while the Vikings struggled against the Eagles early in the season, Brian Flores held Dak Prescott to 294 yards passing with no touchdowns and held Jaxson Dart to just 33 yards passing and an interception.
Commanders.com
Quinn: consistency a key piece of RBs success in 2025
Croskey-Merritt led the team with 805 rushing yards and eight touchdowns, the latter of which was the second-most for a rookie running back. Rodriguez set career highs in nearly every category, rushing for 500 yards on 112 attempts and six touchdowns (he had 86 carries for 420 yards and four touchdowns for his career prior to the 2025 season).
McNichols — the veteran of the group — had 417 total yards on 75 touches, including a career-long 60-yard touchdown. The Commanders chose not to have a true starting running back, electing instead to use all three players in a way that highlighted their skill sets. That approach — a growing trend around the league — was important to the group’s success, Quinn said.
“Blitz pickup, running game, third down; all that matters,” Quinn said. “And at that position, you better be tough, and these guys, they are tough.”
The Commanders have several decisions to make at the running back position if they want to keep that dominance going in 2026. Croskey-Merritt is the only player at the position not on an expiring contract, which means they will need to either draft or sign players in free agency. There are a few players on the market who could help elevate the group, but whoever they pick will have a high standard to meet next season.
Riggo’s Rag
Understanding Jayden Daniels 2026 slump is a key to re-establishing his dominant rookie-season play
As Washington Commanders fans watched Drake Maye and Caleb Williams lead their teams to playoff victories on wild-card weekend, it only makes a narrative that’s been brewing all season long all the more uncomfortable.
This was supposed to be the Commanders. This was supposed to be Jayden Daniels. The gem of the 2024 NFL Draft quarterback class.
Welcome to the NFL. Life changes fast. And we all need to accept it.
No matter how you slice Daniels’ second season, it was a disappointment. The slump happened. He couldn’t stay on the field, and that matters.
Even when he was, Daniels wasn’t his rookie self. His numbers regressed across the board, and flaws in his profile were exposed. Visibly, he didn’t have the same effortless command of the offense he had in 2024.
His completion percentage went from 69 to 60.6. Meanwhile, reducing his scramble rate was supposed to be a focus in Year 2. Instead, it rose by nearly three percentage points.
Commanders.com
Full history of the No. 7 overall pick
The Washington Commanders hold the No. 7 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, giving them a chance to draft one of the best players available. Here’s a look at the full history of the pick dating back to 1936 [Note: for this excerpt, I have only included picks back to 2000].
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Bleeding Green Nation
Kevin Patullo has been either demoted or fired as Eagles offensive coordinator
The Philadelphia Eagles officially announced they are making an offensive coordinator change; Kevin Patullo will NOT serve in that role next season.
The team issued a statement by head coach Nick Sirianni explaining the reasoning behind ‘his’ decision:
“I have decided to make a change at offensive coordinator. I met with Kevin [Patullo] today to discuss the difficult decision, as he is a great coach who has my utmost respect. He has been integral to this team’s success over the last five years, not only to the on-field product, but behind the scenes as a valued leader for our players and organization. I have no doubt he will continue to have a successful coaching career.”
“Ultimately, when we fall short of our goals that responsibility lies on my shoulders.“
Though Sirianni’s statement alludes to Patullo potentially being gone, it’s not yet clear if Patullo will remain on staff.
NFL insider Mike Garafolo notes that the Eagles might retain him as [do] Jeff McLane [and] Adam Schefter.
Retaining Patullo could create an awkward dynamic inside the building for him and the new offensive coordinator. A clean break seems best for everyone involved.
In any case, the Eagles are either firing or demoting Sirianni’s right-hand man that he originally brought with him to Philly five years ago. Patullo served under the “pass game coordinator” title in 2021-2022 before being bumped up to “pass game coordinator and associate head coach” from 2023-2024 prior to his offensive coordinator promotion in 2025. Sirianni and Patullo previously overlapped together on the Indianapolis Colts from 2018-2020.
The Eagles will now conduct interviews and start the process of finding Patullo’s replacement — their fifth offensive coordinator in as many years — for the vacant position. After previous instances of unsuccessfully hiring from within the organization, the team’s efforts will likely be focused on hiring an external candidate with considerably more play-calling experience this time around.
Bleeding Green Nation
Eagles will reportedly consider Kliff Kingsbury, Kevin Stefanski for offensive coordinator job
It wasn’t immediately clear if Kevin Patullo would ultimately be leaving the organization, or if he was just removed from his role, but either way, they need a new playcaller.
It was good that Nick Sirianni, and assuredly Howie Roseman and Jeffrey Lurie, made the decision quickly, because there’s already nine head coaching vacancies throughout the NFL and there’s going to be a lot of candidates to sort through.
Reports emerged mere hours after the news broke about Patullo, with one from Josina Anderson suggesting the team will be prioritizing former Commanders OC Kliff Kingsbury and former Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski — both are expected to nab head coaching jobs this cycle, but if not, those two would be among the candidates.
[S]ome other names thrown around have included Brian Daboll and Todd Monken.
Blogging the Boys
Jim Leonhard would give the Cowboys their own version of Brian Flores
Flores’ contract with Minnesota officially expires Wednesday, meaning he would be free to interview anywhere regardless of whether or not it’s a lateral move. That said, Flores does not seem likely to make a lateral move, especially to Dallas, for several reasons we previously outlined.
But the Cowboys don’t need Flores. They have another name, whom they’ve already interviewed, that would be just as good: Jim Leonhard.
Between the short lifespans that student athletes have before graduating (or transferring) and the myriad of different schemes a defense can face from week to week, coaches have to be able to do what works rather than focus on doing things “their way.”
That’s a mindset Leonhard spends nearly 15 minutes explaining in this coaching clinic he hosted back in 2021, early into his tenure as the Badgers defensive coordinator. It’s also a mindset Leonhard frequently put on display at Wisconsin, as he utilized a wide variety of unique formations to confuse quarterbacks and take advantage of his varying personnel over the years.
Since getting to the NFL, this has continued. In much the same way that Flores was exposed to Narduzzi’s scheme, Leonhard has now been exposed to Vance Joseph, currently the Broncos’ defensive coordinator. Joseph is well-traveled, but much of his scheme comes from Wade Phillips, a legendary defensive mind.
Leonhard’s background is all about adaptability. It’s a core tenet of who he is as a coach and how he runs a defense, even in his role as pass game coordinator. Much like Flores, Leonhard is the kind of cerebral defensive wizard who relishes chances to pull one over on opposing quarterbacks, and it’s why he can be the Cowboys’ own version of Flores.
Big Blue View
John Harbaugh watch: Where things stand in the NY Giants coaching search
O’Connor reported that Harbaugh remains “very interested” in the Giants’ job, with the Falcons expected to be the biggest threat. Atlanta recently hired Matt Ryan as president of football, but has yet to replace fired general manager Terry Fontenot.
ESPN’s Jordan Ranaan listed the things Harbaugh is said to be looking for:
- Strong quarterback situation. The Giants have Jaxson Dart. The Falcons have Michael Penix coming off a third ACL injury.
- Draft capital. The Giants have the fifth pick in the 2026, but no third-round pick. The Falcons do not have a first-round pick, and don’t select until No. 48.
- Salary cap space. Over The Cap currently shows the Giants with just more than $5 million in space based on an estimated 2026 cap of $295.5 million. That will grow when the Giants make a handful of salary cap cuts. New York is expected to have more than $100 million in 2027 cap space. The Falcons currently have an estimated $22 million in 2026 cap space.
- Ownership, management structure and general manager. The Giants will score well here, despite what fans may think of Schoen. There have been no reports that Harbaugh would be reluctant to work with the Giants’ GM. O’Connor recently told Big Blue View that Harbaugh has “tremendous respect” for John Mara. Ranaan also reported that John Mara, who is battling cancer, has been well enough to participate in coaching interviews held at the Giants’ facility.
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ESPN
Mike Tomlin steps down as Steelers coach, ending 19-year run
Tomlin, 53, is not expected to coach elsewhere in 2026, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The Steelers announced Tomlin’s decision Tuesday afternoon, saying his track record “will likely never be duplicated.”
An unconventional hire when he took over the head coach position in 2007 following a one-year stint as the Minnesota Vikings’ defensive coordinator, Tomlin had near-instant success in Pittsburgh.
At 36, he won Super Bowl XLIII in his second season and, at the time, was the youngest head coach to raise the Lombardi Trophy. (Sean McVay was a younger 36 when his Rams won Super Bowl LVI in February 2022.) Tomlin returned to the Super Bowl a year later but fell to Rodgers’ Green Bay Packers. Tomlin never made it back in his final 15 seasons as head coach.
Known for his hard-hitting defenses and continuing the Steelers’ organizational tradition of dominant run games, Tomlin struggled to find consistency at quarterback following Ben Roethlisberger’s retirement in 2022.
Tomlin said in a statement that he decided to step down “after much thought and reflection.”
Because Tomlin resigned while still under contract, the Steelers will retain his coaching rights and could negotiate compensation if he returns to an NFL sideline before the end of the 2027 season.
Front Office Sports
Get Ready for the Mike Tomlin TV Sweepstakes
“Every network will offer him a job,” one source predicts.
“Tomlin probably will have five media offers. Every network will offer him a job,” predicts the source. “He could be the one guy every network makes an offer to. You have a successful coach, number one, a good communicator, number two.”
That is if Tomlin doesn’t have a destination in mind already. ProFootballTalk wrote the 53-year-old may have a media offer in hand. “Every network will want him,” writes PFT.
Tomlin was pulling down roughly $16 million a year as Steelers coach. The question now is whether he’d want to be a game analyst like Tom Brady of Fox, Troy Aikman of ESPN, and Tony Romo of CBS. That’s where the big money lies. Brady pockets an eye-popping $37.5 million a year, while Aikman and Romo earn $18 million annually from ESPN and CBS.
Or Tomlin could look for a soft landing in sports media with a once-a-week studio analyst gig. In that case, the bidding would likely start at $5 million to $8 million, according to longtime football writer Gary Myers.
- CBS: A seat just opened up next to Cowher on The NFL Today with the departure of Matt Ryan to the Falcons. After moving J.J. Watt to game analyst, the grandaddy of all NFL studio shows is down two cast members. But does new CBS Sports chief David Berson want to have two former Steelers coaches on the same show?
- Fox: Tomlin could slide perfectly into former Cowboys coach Jimmy Johnson’s seat on Fox NFL Sunday. He’s got the Super Bowl pedigree and the experience to chop it up with Terry Bradshaw & Co. But Fox has been giving more on-air reps to Rob Gronkowski this season. Does it want to upset the show’s chemistry?
- ESPN: As a rule, big bosses Jimmy Pitaro and Burke Magnus look into every potential star who comes on the market. There have been growing rumors Rex Ryan has the itch to return to coaching. Tomlin would be the perfect replacement for the former Jets coach on Sunday NFL Countdown and Monday’s Get Up with Mike Greenberg. Did we mention Scott Van Pelt’s Monday Night Countdown doesn’t have a coach in its cast? Tomlin could be another Nick Saban–like coup for the worldwide leader.
- Amazon Prime Video: The real wild card here. Tomlin would add some needed coaching gravitas to Prime’s freewheeling pregame and postgame shows. Prime boss Jay Marine told FOS he wants a Super Bowl. Who better than a Super Bowl–winning coach to call the first streamer-only Big Game?
- Netflix: Don’t forget about them. Netflix just hired Elle Duncan away from ESPN for a wide-ranging sports hosting role. Both Fox and ESPN have shut the door on streamers borrowing their on-air talent. So look for Netflix to hire more full-time sports media talents.
- NBC: The network also likes to tinker with the cast of Football Night in America. Tomlin could be a breakout new star on the pregame show hosted by Maria Taylor.
The Athletic (paywall)
Who will be the Steelers’ next head coach? Possible candidates to replace Mike Tomlin
For just the fourth time since the Steelers hired legendary coach Chuck Noll in 1969, the franchise is in the market for a head coach.
Let’s take a look at some of the potential candidates to replace Tomlin.
Marcus Freeman, Notre Dame head coach (39 years old)
Recently, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reported that the Steelers had internal discussions about Freeman as they contemplated the possibility of Tomlin stepping away. It’s a move that would make sense in many ways.
Like Tomlin, Freeman is a young, defensive-minded head coach known for building a strong culture.
Brian Flores, Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator (44)
Shortly after the Miami Dolphins fired Flores after a three-year run during which he compiled a 24-25 record, he brought a lawsuit against the NFL alleging a pattern of racist hiring practices by teams and racial discrimination during the interview process.
At the time, he was somewhat of a pariah when the Pittsburgh Steelers opened their doors to Flores, hiring him as a senior defensive assistant and linebackers coach for the 2022 season. The move helped Flores get back on track, and now, after three years as the Minnesota Vikings’ defensive coordinator, he’s one of the hot names in this coaching cycle.
Jesse Minter, Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator (42)
When Jim Harbaugh bolted for Los Angeles after his national championship run with the University of Michigan, he took his defensive coordinator, Minter, with him.
In his first NFL season, Minter coordinated the top NFL defense, as the Chargers limited opponents to a league-low 17.7 points per game. This season, they ranked ninth in points allowed (20.0), fifth in yards per game (285) and fifth in turnovers forced (26).
Klint Kubiak, Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator (38)
In some ways, the Steelers are looking for a coach because they failed to identify and develop Ben Roethlisberger’s successor. GM Omar Khan has been stockpiling draft picks in an effort to land the future of the franchise.
Having an offensive-minded head coach could make a lot of sense in a world where football isn’t played the way it was in the 1970s anymore.
Arthur Smith, Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator (43)
Smith’s first stint as an NFL head coach ended after three years and a 21-30 record in Atlanta, during which the Falcons never made the playoffs and never achieved a winning record.
Two years later, he already has one interview lined up next week with the Tennessee Titans for their vacant head coaching position. That may be a bit of a surprise to some in Pittsburgh who watched Smith’s offense finish 26th in yards per game (313) and 19th in points scored (21.8) in 2024, and 25th in total offense (305 yards per game) and 15th in points scored (22) this season.
ESPN
Bills’ Tyrell Shavers played with torn ACL in 2nd half vs. Jaguars
The Buffalo Bills have lost yet another wide receiver for their postseason run as Tyrell Shavers suffered a torn ACL in Sunday’s 27-24 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars in the AFC wild-card round.
Bills coach Sean McDermott said Tuesday that Shavers played the second half Sunday on his torn ACL, which he suffered in the second quarter on a punt return. As he came off a block, Shavers immediately pulled up and began limping and then was looked at by athletic trainers on the field. Shavers came back to play 21 offensive snaps in the final two quarters but did not return to special teams.
The Bills also lost Gabe Davis to a torn left ACL in the game, and fellow wide receiver Joshua Palmer was placed on injured reserve last week with a lingering ankle injury.
That leaves Buffalo with only three available receivers on the active roster — veteran Brandin Cooks, Khalil Shakir and Keon Coleman — as it prepares to play in Denver on Saturday against the top-seeded Denver Broncos. Curtis Samuel (elbow) had his practice window opened from injured reserve Tuesday and was listed as a full participant in the team’s walk-through practice.
Senior Bowl
NFL.com
2026 Senior Bowl roster reveal: Three things you need to know
3) Receivers ready for launch
There might not be many potential No. 1 wide receivers in the 20206 NFL Draft class at large. But there are a lot of talented complementary receivers, and Fabianich believes the Senior Bowl crop can showcase several of them.
“It’s a nice mix of Zs, a nice mix of Xs and slots — and we have some absolutely wicked slot receivers this year,” Fabianich said. “I think it’s just a really good group with some sleepers in it who I think are really going to blow up big time here.”
Fabianich singled out Texas A&M’s KC Concepcion as one of the leaders in the clubhouse, who boasts “strong physical traits, separation quicks and (is) great with the ball in his hands,” Fabianich said.
Want a speed guy? The Senior Bowl recently added Mississippi State’s Brenen Thompson, who could be one of the fastest players in college football. Fabianich thinks Thompson can run a 40-yard dash in the 4.25-second range.
Some of the top slot options include Missouri’s Kevin Coleman Jr. and SMU’s Romello Brinson, whom Fabianich thinks will surprise people in Mobile.
Ole Miss’ Harrison Wallace, Notre Dame’s Malachi Fields and Baylor’s Josh Cameron are more physically gifted players who also could gain some traction. Fabianich said Fields is “built like a Greek God” and he is mesmerized by Cameron’s ability to return punts in a nearly tight-end-sized frame.
Sleepers in the group include Georgia State’s Ted Hurst and Wisconsin’s Vinny Anthony II, whom Fabianich feels was held back by the Badgers’ QB play the past few years.
