National Football League

National Football League

The Miami Dolphins don't yet have their defensive coordinator in place, but a position coach who was under new coach Jeff Hafley in Green Bay will now be joining the staff. The Dolphins are hiring Ryan Downard as defensive backs coach, according to a league source Monday night.

That'd be dope in general as a room and just for morale as an offensive piece, [with] the tight end being one of the focal points in it," Pitts said ( via Schultz on X). The tight end clarified that he had a significant role under Arthur Smith and Raheem Morris, but he expected an "enhanced role" if he sticks in Atlanta for the long haul.

So much promise, so many hopes and the biggest of football dreams eluded the Denver Broncos on Sunday, coach Sean Payton said, because the offense didn't do enough when it had momentum before the snow rolled in off the Rocky Mountains.

"I feel like we're live in South Boston right now!"

"Before the season even started here, I knew that he wanted an opportunity to have his own show. He's been a head coach. He was Coach of the Year [in 2018 with Chicago Bears]. All the things I've said about him I still feel [that way] about him."

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Jacksonville Jaguars offensive coordinator Grant Udinski has pulled his name from consideration for the Cleveland Browns' head coaching position but is still pursuing the Buffalo Bills' job, a league source told ESPN's Adam Schefter on Monday. Udinski, who interviewed with the Bills on Sunday, has also agreed to a new contract with the Jaguars that includes a raise for the 2026 season if he is not hired as the Bills' head coach, the source told Schefter.

SEATTLE -- After the Los Angeles Rams' 31-27 loss to the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Championship Game, quarterback Matthew Stafford declined to answer if he would be back next season. Stafford, 37, just completed his 17th NFL season. He is under contract through the 2026 season after he and the Rams agreed to a reworked contract last February. "I can't generalize six months of my life ten minutes after a loss," Stafford said. "So I appreciate the guys in this locker room a whole hell of a lot. Everybody that helped me and helped our team be the success that we were this year. And that's all I'll answer for you."

The Super Bowl is set, which also means picks 1-30 are locked in, with only the Seahawks' and Patriots' selection spots yet to be decided. In my latest 2026 NFL Mock Draft, Fernando Mendoza is locked in at number one, but how many QBs will go in Round 1? Plus, the Bears will look to add to their defensive line. Will they get that help at 25th overall?

Aukerman is not a choice that will cause Falcons fans to party, but that would probably be true of any special teams coordinator. What he does bring to the table is a raft of experience-Aukerman has been coaching special teams off and on in the pros and college since 2003 and has been either an assistant or head special teams coordinator in the NFL since 2012-and a pretty solid history in those roles.