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The Portland Trail Blazers coaching search immediately made headlines this off-season, as new owner Tom Dundon wanted to hire the cheapest head coach in the NBA. While it’s unclear how much salary the organization is willing to pay, targets are emerging in the search.

According to NBA insider Marc Stein, assistant NBA coaches Jared Dudley, Micah Nouri and Steve Hetzel are among the coaching candidates in whom Portland has interest. Portland-based reporter Sean Heikin also recently revealed that assistant Greg St. Jean is another target.

RELATED: Examples of Cheapness from Trail Blazers Owner Tom Dundon

Dudley is definitely the most familiar name to NBA fans. The 40-year-old former NBA champion played with seven different franchises from 2007-2021 before becoming an assistant coach after his retirement. After a few years on the Dallas Mavericks coaching staff (2021-25), he joined the Denver Nuggets coaching staff last season to work under David Edelman.

Nouri, age 52, has long been viewed as one of the top rising NBA coaching candidates. He began his coaching career with the Toronto Raptors (2009–13) and had stints with the Sacramento Kings (2013–15), Denver Nuggets (2015–18) and Detroit Pistons (2018–21), and he has been with the Minnesota Timberwolves since 2021 as a lead assistant.

Hetzel has been in the coaching ranks for more than a decade. He joined the Detroit Pistons in 2009 as a player development coach and has served as an assistant on NBA staffs with the Charlotte Hornets (2014–18), Orlando Magic (2018–21), Portland (2021–24), and he has worked with the Brooklyn Nets since 2024.

St. Jean began his career as a video coordinator with the Kings, working his way up to player development assistant (2014–15), then working with St. John’s and then the Los Angeles Lakers (2019–21, 2024–present), Mavericks (2021–23), and Suns (2023–24).

Notably, none of these targets in the Trail Blazers coaching search have head-coaching experience in the NBA. Although his salary has not been disclosed, it may reportedly be only a slight increase from the range Portland wanted to set for its next head coach ($1-2 million). Also, if other teams are also interested, it is more likely that other clubs will be willing to offer more money.

Matt Johnson is the senior NFL and college football editor for Sportsknot. His work including the weekly NFL and college… More about Matt Johnson

The San Francisco Giants have one of the highest payrolls in MLB this season, yet are still well below the .500 line in late May. This led to recent MLB trade rumors that the club would be sold this summer, but it may not be as aggressive as first reported.

Less than a week after USA TODAY’s Bob Nightengale reported that the Giants “would love to unload” Rafael Devers, Matt Chapman, Willie Adams and Jung Hoo Lee, FanSided’s MLB insider Robert Murray has refuted that information.

RELATED: MLB Power Rankings Week 7, see where the Giants land

The Giants front office is reportedly “optimistic” about all four players getting back on track. There are already promising signs of a turnaround from Devers, who entered MLB games today with a 1.078 OPS with 3 home runs in May.

Adams, the club’s only viable option at shortstop for the foreseeable future, has also been performing better recently. He has boasted a .333/.344/.367 triple-slash line in his last 30 at-bats, recording 5 RBI in that span.

RELATED: SF Giants reportedly have bold MLB Draft strategy

That doesn’t mean the Giants aren’t willing to be sellers at the MLB trade deadline. This is an option for the ruling, but it is not possible to completely gut the roster and move players signed to long-term deals by Buster Posey.

Instead, San Francisco will likely do what other vendors do in the summer. Pending free agents, from starting pitchers Robbie Ray and Tyler Mahle to second baseman Luis Aráez, will be made available. Such teams are always in need of pitching and infield help, so the Giants will have no shortage of suitors if they decide to move all three.

RELATED: San Francisco Giants player named as Cubs trade target

Matt Johnson is the senior NFL and college football editor for Sportsknot. His work including the weekly NFL and college… More about Matt Johnson

The San Francisco Giants made the first significant trade of the 2026 MLB season, dealing Gold Glove Award winner Patrick Bailey to the Cleveland Browns. In a season where a lot has already gone wrong, it appears there may be other steps to take.

USA TODAY’s Bob Nightengale reported that the Giants “would love to unload” first baseman Rafael Devers, third baseman Matt Chapman, shortstop Willie Adams and outfielder Jung Hoo Lee. This will be part of a “reboot” and redraft effort ahead of the 2026 MLB Draft.

RELATED: SF Giants reportedly have bold MLB Draft strategy

According to FanGraphs’ payroll tracking, the Giants have the 11th-highest payroll in MLB at $230 million. Despite investing over $200 million in the roster, San Francisco has the third-worst record in the National League (17–24) and the worst run differential in MLB (-42) through 41 games.

Will the Giants become sellers at the MLB trade deadline?

If the Giants are going to make another move a few months before the MLB trade deadline, a likely candidate to be dealt would be starting pitcher Robbie Ray. His contract is expiring and it appears he will hit MLB free agency. Dealing him would also save money, as more than half of his $25 million salary is still due this season.

RELATED: San Francisco Giants player named as Cubs trade target

After that, things become more suspicious. Adams is under contract through 2031, his age-35 season, with an average annual value of $26 million. Given his defensive limitations and only a .223/.304/.405 triple-slash line over his last 200 games, there will be a very thin market for him and San Francisco will need to cover a significant portion of the remainder.

Trading Devers would at least open up first base for top prospect Bryce Aldridge and create a more viable path for Casey Schmidt to get an at-bat in every game. However, since being traded to San Francisco he has compiled only a .237/.330/.438 triple-slash line.

Chapman, meanwhile, is under contract through 2030, when he will make $25.166 million per year as a 37-year-old third baseman. Lee, who has a .692 OPS this season, is owed $22 million annually over the next two seasons and then has a player option for 2028.

In all likelihood, San Francisco won’t have much luck trading Devers, Lee, Adams or Chapman, and a deal is also unlikely as all four hitters are struggling at the plate. If the team continues to struggle, Ray, starting pitcher Tyler Mahle and outfielder Harrison Bader are potential trade candidates.

Matt Johnson is the senior NFL and college football editor for Sportsknot. His work including the weekly NFL and college… More about Matt Johnson

Immediately following the 2026 NFL Draft, one of the focuses turns to how the rookie class will perform in the upcoming season. There are some compelling NFL Rookie of the Year candidates this year, with some similarities to last year’s class that make for a meaningful comparison.

At this time a year ago, Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty was the heavy favorite to win NFL Rookie of the Year, with Tennessee Titans quarterback Cam Ward behind him. who won? Carolina Panthers wide receiver Tetaroa McMillan, neither Jeanty nor Ward finished in the top five in voting.

We’re keeping that in mind as we dive into ranking the 2026 NFL Rookie of the Year candidates ahead of the summer.

1. Jeremiah Love, RB, Arizona Cardinals

We’ve seen discussion about the Arizona Cardinals’ depth with Tyler Allger, Trey Benson and James Conner. The latter two are irrelevant when you use the third overall pick on a running back, and Alger is clearly going to be a situational back for Arizona. Jeremiah Love’s skill set is similar to Bijan Robinson’s, with both having the ability to make explosive runs and impact the passing game like a receiver.

Arizona has also upgraded its interior offensive line this season with Isaac Seumalo and Chase Bissontis, so there should be some running lanes for Love. We’ve seen Robinson (1,463) and Jeanty (1,321) eclipse 1,300 scrimmage yards in their rookie seasons, and that seems like a reasonable goal for Love. Plus, considering this isn’t the strongest group of Rookie of the Year candidates, this could be enough for him to win.

RELATED: 2026 Dynasty Positional Rankings

2. Carnell Tate, WR, Tennessee Titans

The best bet to win Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2026, at least for now, is Tennessee Titans wide receiver Carnell Tate. Although he’s a bit overshadowed by the presence of Wan’Dale Robinson, who signed a $70 million contract this offseason and is a favorite of offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, we still like the situation with the Tennessee Titans.

Tate is a great route-runner who has a nice set of skills that translate immediately to the NFL and could make him a favorite target for Cam Ward. Tate McMillan needed only 1,014 receiving yards and 7 touchdowns last time out to win Rookie of the Year, and if Ward completes 550-plus pass attempts with a 62-plus percent completion rate, a 1,000-yard season is more than possible for Tate. He may also be the only rookie receiver to surpass that mark.

3. Casey Concepcion, WR, Cleveland Browns

We liked what the Cleveland Browns did in the 2026 NFL Draft, and we wouldn’t be at all surprised if Casey Concepcion wins Rookie of the Year honors after the upcoming season. While Jerry Jeudy will still have a role in Todd Monken’s offense, he doesn’t provide the playmaking ability with the football in his hands that Concepcion brings to the table. Monken can also open up Concepcion quickly on down routes, and we’re confident these are the types of throws Shadeur Sanders can hit consistently with good timing and touch.

We believe it is possible for Concepcion to have over 800 receiving yards with 5 touchdowns in his rookie season. What elevates him even higher in our ranking of Rookie of the Year candidates is his explosive ability as a returner. If he can take one back to the house and be one of the NFL’s best returners, it’s possible for Roy to win.

RELATED: Best 2026 NFL Draft Classes

4. Jordan Tyson, WR, New Orleans Saints

Durability is our primary issue when including Jordan Tyson among the NFL Rookie of the Year candidates in 2026. The New Orleans Saints made him the 8th overall pick, and he will complement Chris Olave well in this offense. However, his pre-draft process was also a bit shaky due to a hamstring injury, which confirmed long-standing concerns about his injury history.

If Tyson plays all 17 games, he could be the perfect choice to win the ODI. Although he won’t see as many targets as Olave, playing the No. 2 role also means drawing less defensive attention and getting more favorable cornerback matchups. Tyson has a very good chance to lead all rookies in receiving touchdowns, and could have over 900 receiving yards to go with it.

5. Fernando Mendoza, QB, Las Vegas Raiders

It already seems clear that Kirk Cousins ​​will be the Las Vegas Raiders starting quarterback in Week 1. This is a reasonable approach, as the franchise wants to make sure that Fernando Mendoza is ready to run Andrew Janko’s offense and be under center when he makes his first start. However, this does hurt his Rookie of the Year chances slightly.

We’re also taking into account the recent history of Offensive Rookie of the Year winners. Jaden Daniels and CJ Stroud both made the playoffs and posted QB ratings over 100 in 15 games when they earned the honor in their respective years. We don’t necessarily believe Mendoza will be that successful in his first year, nor are the Raiders in a good position to make such a big jump.

6. Jadarion Price, RB, Seattle Seahawks

One thing working against the Seattle Seahawks running back Jadarion Price is that taking him in Round 1 is already viewed negatively by voters. It was a reach, and the Seahawks front office raised expectations for him by getting to that spot. Recognizing this, the opportunity in Seattle is attractive.

The Seahawks offensive line ranked eighth in ESPN run-block win rate (73 percent) in 2025, so there should be some running lanes for Price. He’s a very good starting back, and with Zach Charbonnet recovering from a torn ACL in the playoffs, the path is clear for Price to become the primary ball-carrier early in the season. We’re not sure if he’ll put up the numbers this season to overtake any of the big names who will play more prominent roles.

RELATED: NFL Power Rankings, evaluating teams after the 2026 NFL Draft

Matt Johnson is the senior NFL and college football editor for Sportsknot. His work including the weekly NFL and college… More about Matt Johnson

A new rumor suggests that a pair of elite NBA coaches have already become the Portland Trail Blazers’ official replacements for Chauncey Billups.

There were dark clouds over the trail blazers They had their season hanging from day one when former head coach Billups was implicated in a wild POKEr-rigging plan. However, interim head coach Tiago Splitter did an impressive job controlling the drama. Leading them to a 42-40 record and their first trip to the playoffs since 2021.

A major reason for this is former Washington Wizards lottery pick Deni Avdija having a career year. The 25-year-old leads the team in scoring (24.2 ppg) and dropped 41 in their play-in win last week. His series with the San Antonio Spurs should be fun while it lasts, but either way, Splitter has earned the chance to keep his job permanently. However, it seems that hasn’t impressed his boss Tom Dundon.

The team’s new owner has developed a negative reputation among Blazers fans in just one month of his ownership, with some financially conservative – or cheap – decisions. They opted to save money by not having two-way players travel for their first two playoff games on the road. They will not be giving away free t-shirts for their home postseason matchups this week. And Dundon also reportedly doesn’t want to pay his next head coach more than $1.5 million annually.

Michael Malone and Tom Thibodeau turned down Trail Blazers jobs?

Additionally, he tried and failed to secretly search for a new head coach and general manager. According to The Athletic, Dundon once approached Denver Nuggets coach Michael Malone as well as former New York Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau about becoming his next head coach.

Malone had to fill the same role in college for ACC powerhouse North Carolina. And the report said Thibodeau “is no longer a candidate.” The Trail Blazers still have a rebuilding roster with a lot of potential. Both have shown the ability to consistently turn a team into playoff contenders. However, each has an impressive resume, and $1.5 million per year wouldn’t even come close to securing their services.

One has to assume that if Dundon didn’t want to be paid more than that per year, both proven veteran NBA coaches immediately passed on the idea when the contract figures came out. While Dundon doesn’t seem to be impressed enough with Splitter to make him the full-time head coach, he does seem to be the best option for them.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

The New Jersey Devils on Thursday named Sunny Mehta as their new general manager.

Mehta, 48, returns to the organization where he led the NHL’s first full-time hockey analysis department. The move follows the firing of previous GM Tom Fitzgerald following a disappointing season in which the Devils were eliminated from playoff contention.

Mehta, a native of Wyckoff, New Jersey, previously served as the Devils’ director of hockey analytics from 2014 to 2018. Born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, he grew up in the area, played varsity hockey at Ramapo High School, and has a long association with the franchise.

He left the Devils to join the Florida Panthers in 2020 as Vice President of Hockey Strategy and Intelligence, later being promoted to Assistant General Manager and Head of Analytics in 2023. At Florida, Mehta contributed to back-to-back Stanley Cup championships in 2024 and 2025.

In a statement following his appointment, Mehta said: “This is a dream come true for a kid from New Jersey who grew up watching Devils practices just 20 minutes away in Totowa. After meeting David Blitzer, Josh Harris, Bob Myers and other members of the organization, I knew this was where I wanted to be.

“Thank you to Vinny Viola, Bill Zito, and the entire Florida Panthers organization for a wonderful six years and for giving me the opportunity to take the next step in my professional career. New Jersey has a tremendous young core that wants to get back to being a contender, a complement of young assets and draft picks, and a passionate fan base hungry for success. I was fortunate enough to watch the New Jersey Devils lift three Stanley Cups and am excited to work to return to that level. “I am.”

Mehta’s background includes a master’s degree in data science and prior experience as a professional poker player and musician. He consulted with the Phoenix Coyotes in 2010 before joining the Devils.

Ownership, led by David Blitzer and Josh Harris, sees their analytics-driven approach and championship experience as key to rebuilding contention around the team’s young core, including assets and draft capital. The appointment signals a data-centric shift in hockey operations.

Despite belief that the Devils may also be interested in hiring a president of hockey operations, Mehta performs those duties as well.

There has been no immediate decision yet on head coach Sheldon Keefe.

James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on SportsNote and … More about James Nicholls

Liverpool have identified Inter Milan’s Nicolo Barella as a transfer target for the summer.

The Italy international initially moved to the Serie A team on loan from Cagliari in 2019 and joined them permanently a year later.

He could move on after this season and Liverpool has emerged as an option.

Barella has been a regular player for the Italian club and has scored 26 goals and provided 62 assists in 326 appearances. This includes one goal and eight assists in 36 games this season.

His Serie A statistics per game this season are as follows:

• big opportunities were created [season]:14
• Main pass: 2.3
• perfect pass [season]:86%
• Tackle: 1.7
• Possession won (final third): 0.7
• Ball recovered: 4.7
• Duel won: 3.5

Arne Slott’s side are showing interest in bringing the midfielder to the Premier League.

Liverpool’s plan to reduce prices

InterLive.it Report that the Nerazzurri have all players available for sale except Lautaro Martínez and Francesco Pio Esposito.

This means that stars like Nicolo Barella could say ‘goodbye’ in the next window and they will have no shortage of options.

Regardless of the future of Arne Slot, Liverpool are looking to improve their midfielder next season. They see the Italian as an ‘ideal candidate’ and will attempt to bring him to Anfield.

Inter Milan value the 29-year-old at more than €60 million, and the Reds find that price too high. To reduce the price, the Merseyside club will include two of their players as part of the deal.

The title of the report states: ‘Inter, an all-Italy swap: two for one with Barella’. Slot side Federico Chiesa and Giovanni Leoni are being offered loan deals.

Chiesa has not performed well since leaving Juventus for Liverpool in August 2024. In January, Sport Witness broadcast news Due to interest from his old club, but no move in the winter market.

The 28-year-old attacker could be on the move and a return to Italy in the summer appears to be the most viable option.

fcinter1908 Inter Milan are reportedly thinking about Leone, who left Parma for Liverpool last August. The 19-year-old centre-back suffered a serious injury on his debut in September and has been sidelined since then.

San Siro Club has always given importance to youth and will continue to do so. The outlet clarified that this is their own information and said ‘Not entirely indifferent to a possible return to Italy.’

For now, Leoni is a consideration for Inter Milan, who could pursue a loan move, perhaps with an option to buy.

Barela’s contract information, price and agent information

Nicolo Barella has a contract until 2029 and his value is as per transfer marketIs €50m. He is represented by agent Alessandro Beltrami.

The midfielder turned 29 in February. Therefore, Liverpool offering plus money to two of their players may not be a good deal for them.

Who will win NBA MVP? As the 2025-26 NBA season nears its conclusion, Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic’s recent excellence has made a splash in the race. Although it is still largely a two-man battle, this year’s NBA MVP rankings will be very interesting.

With only a few weeks left in the regular season, let’s dive into our latest top five in the NBA MVP race today.

1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder

Winning back-to-back MVPs requires complete dominance by a star player on one of the league’s best teams. With Shai Gilgeous-Alexander declining in the running for the No. 1-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder, he should join Nikola Jokic (2021-22), Giannis Antetokounmpo (2019-20) and Stephen Curry (2014-16) as back-to-back NBA MVP winners. In win share per 48 minutes, which is often a strong indicator of who will win MVP, Gilgeous-Alexander (.333) leads Jokic (.319) by a significant margin. To put SGA’s WS/48 into perspective, it would be the second-highest in a single season, behind only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (.3399) in 1971–72. Since the reigning MVP returned from his injury, Oklahoma City is 9-0 with him in the lineup. He averaged 29.9 points, 7.7 assists, 4.6 rebounds and 2.2 steals per game with only 2.1 turnovers per game, and he posted a 57.3 percent effective field goal percentage. Leading the team with the best record in the NBA is just icing on the cake for his MVP candidacy.

READ MORE: 2026 NBA Mock Draft Ahead of March Madness

2. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic arguably should have been a four-time NBA MVP if not for SGA’s phenomenal season a year ago and voters deciding to give the award to Joel Embiid two years ago. Since returning from injury, Jokic has averaged 26.2 points, 13.4 rebounds, 9.9 assists, 1.6 steals and 1 block per game with a .567 eFG. He has returned to his usual form and has had more triple-doubles (27) than the players second (Jalen Johnson, 13) and third (Josh Giddy, 12) this season despite missing significant time with a knee injury. Unfortunately for Jokic, Denver has also only posted a 10-12 record since his return and will enter the weekend in sixth place in the Western Conference. Team success means something and as impressive as Jokic has been, the time missed due to injury along with Denver’s record put him below SGA.

3. Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs

The San Antonio Spurs won a combined 57 games over the past two seasons heading into the 2025-26 campaign. With a healthy Victor Vembanyama, this team is already ranked 52nd and is headed for its best season in a decade. Let’s also keep in mind that he just turned 22 in January, and this is only the second time in three years that he’s played more than 50 games. Since he rejoined the starting lineup in San Antonio after returning from injury, Wembanyama has averaged 24.5 points, 11 rebounds, 3 blocks, 2.7 assists and 1.2 steals per game. He has also averaged 2.4 three-pointers per game during this run, in which the Spurs have compiled an unprecedented 25–6 record in the last 31 games with Wembanyama in the lineup. He’s also going to win Defensive Player of the Year. The NBA MVP award won’t be his this season, but we’re probably just a year away from him winning both DPOY and MVP.

4. Luka Doncic, Los Angeles Lakers

Nico Harrison is hurting right now and with the way Luka Doncic has played recently, the Los Angeles Lakers look like NBA Finals contenders. During this eight-game winning streak, Doncic has averaged 40.9 points, 8.9 rebounds, 7.4 assists and 2.4 steals per game. He’s accomplishing all this while shooting 50.2 percent from the field, making 6.1 three-pointers per game and even averaging 8 free-throws per contest. Oh, even sweeter for Los Angeles, he’s playing passive defense. Doncic, the NBA’s leading scorer, has made 83 three-pointers (5.2 3PM per game) and scored 561 points (35.1 PPG) in his last 16 contests. We’re not ready to include him among the top three NBA MVP candidates because it’s a season-long award, but his performance was by far the best we’ve seen from him during the regular season.

RELATED: LeBron James gives high praise to Luka Doncic

5. Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics

Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham is likely to miss the remainder of the regular season due to a bad lung, putting him under the 65-game threshold for NBA MVP consideration. This moved Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown to fifth place. Let’s take you back to the preseason: With many projecting Boston to win anywhere between 38-42 wins, some were wondering if the team would reset this season. Evolving into a superstar for the Celtics, Brown has had a career year. Boston is going to finish with over 50 wins and will likely be the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference. He has scored more than 30 points in 19 games this season with six 40-pointers. If you don’t have Brown as a top-five finalist for MVP, assuming Cunningham is ineligible, we have to assume you have Joe Mazzulla as NBA Coach of the Year. It’s either or both, neither.

Matt Johnson is the senior NFL and college football editor for Sportsknot. His work including the weekly NFL and college… More about Matt Johnson

Th-th- That’s all friends. The Toronto Maple Leafs have shown us who they are in three miserable performances after the Olympic break. They are in last place again in the Atlantic Division, going 14–5 in three losses to the Panthers, Lightning and Senators.

That three-game winning streak going on hiatus? A distant memory. Coincidentally, the same can be said about their nine-year playoff appearance streak. They remain eight points behind the wild card. According to MoneyPuck, Toronto only has a 1.2% chance of making the postseason dance. That’s (marginally) better than only five other teams: the Devils, Blackhawks, Blues, Rangers and Canucks.

The Leafs can now focus on doing what needs to be done – selling almost anything over the next six days, not limited to Friday’s trade deadline. With the barren state of their property cupboards, they need to re-stock big time.

More than a dozen Leafs are now on the trade block

Insider Elliotte Friedman said on Hockey Night in Canada Saturday night that almost everyone is at the table…well, About Everyone.

The buzz now about the Maple Leafs is that they will expand the scope of what they will consider. Now, I don’t think it’s (Auston) Matthews or (William) Nylander or anything like that. But like I said, the buzz around them is that they’re expanding their ideas about what they can consider. They’re talking a little more about term players.

In other words, it’s not just pending unrestricted free agents like Bobby McMann and Scott Lawton. In fact, there are at least 13 leaves on the Daily Faceoff’s latest trade board. According to Matt Larkin, the list looks like this, in order of trade possibility:

• Bobby McMann
• simon benoit
• Scott Laughton
• brandon carlo
• Jarnkrok Street
• Oliver Ekman-Larsen
• nick robertson
• max domi
• Matthias Maccelli
• Anthony Stolarz
• nicholas roy
• Morgan Reilly
• troy stitcher

Reilly, with his no-move clause and $7.5M AAV, appears to be more of an offseason discussion. All of those names have very reasonable cap hits and could be easily moved.

Are there any leaves there? Will not done be dealt with?

Perhaps it would have been easier to list players who are not expected to be dealt. If we go by the daily faceoff table, those names will be as follows:

• auston matthews
• William Nylander
• Matthew Neese
• John Tavares
• Easton Cowan
• Jake McCabe
• chris tanev
• dakota joshua
• Joseph Voll
• dennis hildeby

The list seems long, but the fact is that all but four of them have no-move or no-trade clauses. Additionally, in the cases of Tanev and Joshua, injury concerns would deter any potentially interested parties. There are also reports circulating that Woll is actually the more likely candidate to move among the goaltenders, as his trade value is much higher than Stolarz at this point.

All hands on deck, as the good ship the Maple Leaf is on a arduous voyage over the next six days. Perhaps even more difficult than the five months before this.

The best NFL coaching candidates in 2023 are a sign of the direction the league is headed. While there are plenty of brilliant minds on the offensive side of the ball available, the 2022 NFL season also put the spotlight on brilliant defensive coordinators and outstanding leaders.

While the Carolina Panthers and Indianapolis Colts became the first NFL teams looking for a new coach, others will join them. It’s going to be another active coaching carousel and this year’s list of the top NFL coaching candidates offers a variety of options for front offices and owners.

Related: NFL coaches fired

As we did with our candidates list in 2022, we’re also focusing on other vacancies. There are multiple openings for general managers across the league and there is a deep pool of NFL GM candidates to explore. Likewise, coaches looking to fill out their staff for the 2023 season have a strong array of NFL coordinator candidates to choose from.

Let’s dive into the best head coach, general manager and coaching candidates in 2023.

NFL coaching candidates

DeMeco Ryans, San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator

NFL coaching candidates are getting younger and more recognizable each year. DeMeco Ryans, age 38, became a defensive quality control coach just two years after retiring from the NFL. The two-time Pro Bowl selection quickly climbed the coaching ladder, receiving a promotion to inside linebackers coach (2018-’20) and then replacing Robert Saleh as the San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator. Needless to say, he is doing a phenomenal job with this group.

Ryans’ defensive play-calling played an instrumental role in San Francisco’s playoff run last season. He already brings the defensive mind and ability to make adjustments that teams need to prioritize. Just as importantly, his track record as a player and coordinator demonstrates his leadership and communication, which are crucial to fulfilling the ‘CEO’ role for a head coach. Ryans is among our favorite NFL coaching candidates and it would be a surprise if he isn’t hired.

Shane Steichen, Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator

Nick Sirianni rightfully gets a lot of credit for the Philadelphia Eagles’ success. After all, the head coach has far exceeded expectations and proven that he was the perfect target for the role. However, it’s important to remember that Shane Steichen has a massive role in the offense.

Sirianni described this summer how involved Steichen is with everything Philadelphia does offensively. He started calling plays late in the 2021 season, playing a pivotal role in the Eagles’ offense taking off. It’s a change that carried over into 2022 with Philly boasting one of the top offenses all season.

Interest in Steichen will go beyond his work in Philadelphia. He served as the Los Angeles Chargers’ offensive coordinator in 2020, working alongside Justin Herbert in a record-setting rookie season. Combine his work with Herbert and Jalen Hurts, that’s a future NFL head coach.

Ejiro Evero, Denver Broncos defensive coordinator

Many of the decisions made by Nathaniel Hackett in 2022 warranted a lot of scrutinies. However, the move to hire Ejiro Evero as the defensive coordinator worked out perfectly. Taken from the Sean McVay coaching tree, Evero’s work with the Denver Broncos defense this season is outstanding.

A year after the Broncos ranked 20th in Total DVOA (3%) with Vic Fangio at the helm, Denver now ranks seventh in defensive DVOA (-10.6%) this season. Opponents have averaged just 4.8 yards per play with a 31.9% third-down conversion rate, despite Denver’s defense spending so much time on the field because of its lackluster offense.

There are certainly some risks in hiring a head coach coming off his first season as a defensive coordinator, with Brandon Staley serving as an example. However, Evero’s success and his time spent learning from Fangio, Mike McCarthy and McVay should provide him with more stamps of endorsements than some of the other top NFL coaching candidates.

Jerod Mayo, New England Patriots inside linebacker coach

Selected with the 10 pick in the 2008 NFL Draft, Jerod Mayo became a central figure in the Patriots’ defense and someone Belichick trusted like few others. It’s why a few years after he played his last snap in 2015, Mayo was on Belichick’s coaching staff working with the linebackers. By 2021, he was receiving head-coaching buzz and that league-wide interest has ramped up since.

 NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported last year that Mayo made a strong impression on the Eagles’ brass during his head-coaching interview in 2021. He turned that into meetings with the Denver Broncos and Las Vegas Raiders in 2022.

Mayo has spent years with some of the brightest minds in football and he still brings the work ethic, leadership and mind for the game that made him an All-Pro linebacker. Effectively serving as New England’s co-defensive coordinator, he is now overseeing one of the best units in football. He offers all the qualities the best NFL coaching candidates offer and he’ll only be 37 next year.

Ken Dorsey, Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator

NFL teams seeking a head coach love finding someone who can build a strong rapport with the quarterback. It’s undeniably one of the most important relationships in professional sports and it’s crucial to find a balance between challenging the face of the franchise and supporting them.

Ken Dorsey has played an influential role in the development of quarterback Josh Allen. The perennial NFL MVP candidate has publicly lauded his play-caller and quarterbacks coach on multiple occasions and the Bills’ locker room gravitates toward their offensive coordinator because of his attitude. Dorsey also proved to be an instrumental voice during Cam Newton’s best years.

“(Dorsey) is an extremely hard and efficient worker. He made my life as easy as possible. Not only is he a hard worker, but he has a vibrant killer instinct. He’s a known proven winner over the years.”

Cam Newton on former quarterbacks coach Ken Dorsey (H/T Bills Wire)

As for the Bills’ offensive production, it ranked sixth in Football Outsiders’ Offene Weighted DVOA and is the third-best passing offense by DVOA. Buffalo averaged 410.8 total yards and 27.8 points in its first 12 games with 286 first downs and a league-high 51.8% third-down conversion rate.

NFL teams waited far too long to hire Brian Daboll as a head coach. While Dorsey might not be the next Daboll, owners and general managers will surely want to take a shot on him very soon. If he isn’t hired in 2023, Dorsey will be one of the top NFL coaching candidates in 2024.

Eric Bieniemy, Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator

Eric Bieniemy is one of our top NFL coaching candidates every year. Unsurprisingly, there’s a new reason provided during every coaching carousel as to why he wasn’t fired. Among them, teams were concerned about off-field issues that happened in 1991 and 2001. He is also held under scrutiny because he was on Colorado’s coaching staff when multiple players faced rape allegations.

Strangely, Urban Meyer wasn’t held to the same standard for coaching at a program with massive cultural problems and a lack of discipline. Legal issues more than a decade ago also didn’t prevent Mike Vrabel from landing a job nor did sexual assault charges in 1996 mean Matt Patricia couldn’t become a bead coach.

We’ve also seen reports that teams have concerns because Bieniemy isn’t the Chiefs’ primary play-caller. Coincidentally, that didn’t seem to keep Nick Sirianni, Dan Campbell, Zac Taylor or Nathaniel Hackett from landing jobs.

Bieniemy is an integral part of the Chiefs’ offense with Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes raving about his work ethic, football mind and his impact on the team. There are no legitimate excuses as to why Bieniemy shouldn’t be a head coach.

Jonathan Gannon, Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator

Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon certainly has a lot of talent to work with. As we’ve seen countless times over the years, some NFL coaches fail to take advantage of situations like this. Ganoon is seizing on his opportunity.

The 39-year-old served as the Colts’ defensive backs coach before following Sirianni to Philadelphia, immediately becoming the defensive coordinator. While he went through some growing pains as a first-year defensive play-caller, he is doing excellent work in 2022.

• Philadelphia Eagles defensive stats (2022): -11.7% Total DVOA (6th), 18.8 PPG allowed (8th), 296.4 total ypg allowed (2nd), 50% red-zone conversion rate (6th), 4.7 yards per play

Gannon interviewed with Denver in 2021, viewed as a rising NFL coaching candidate at the time. With the defensive improvements Philadelphia has made tied to Gannon’s glowing reputation around the league and his defensive mind, he’ll be an NFL head coach very soon. As for how he views the game, the Eagles captured it perfectly in a sit-down interview with him.

Ben Johnson, Detroit Lions offensive coordinator

Off the national radar just a year ago, Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson was just beginning to settle in as the play-caller. Dan Campbell made a late-season switch, with Campbell making the rare jump from tight ends coach to Detroit’s offensive strategist. Look at how dramatically the offense improved after the change.

It’s not a fluke. Entering Week 14, the Lions are ninth in FO’s Total Offense DVOA, striking a perfectly balanced offense. Detroit is averaging 369.1 total yards per game (7th in NFL), it leads the NFL in red-zone touchdown rate (73.9%) and ranks 10th in third-down conversion percentage (42.8%). He is doing all of this with Jared Goff at quarterback.

Dan Quinn, Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator

Dan Quinn will be an NFL head coach in 2023. The 52-year-old is extremely well-liked by players, is respected by executives and coaches on his staff seems to enjoy working for him. Even if you removed what he is doing right now in Dallas from the evaluation, he’d be among the best NFL coaching candidates in 2023.

• Dan Quinn coaching record: 43-42, 3-2 in NFL playoffs

What makes it a near certainty that he’ll be hired is how close he came in 2021. A finalist for the Broncos’ position that went to Hackett, Quinn crushed interviews. After just one season as the Cowboys’ defensive coordinator in 2021, teams saw more than enough to believe he deserved a second chance as a head coach. Now, the Cowboys’ defense is even better and the differences between before he took over vs now are staggering.

Yes, everyone knows what happened with the Atlanta Falcons. The team blew its chance at a Super Bowl and never quite recovered. In Quinn’s final years, he was overseeing a roster that was falling apart and everyone simply needed a rest. Give him the right offensive coordinator and Quinn will do well overseeing a defense and serving as the CEO on the sideline.

Kellen Moore, Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator

Almost every team with an NFL coaching vacancy this past offseason interviewed Kellen Moore. The Broncos, Jacksonville Jaguars, Miami Dolphins, Minnesota Vikings and each of them came away impressed by Moore’s football IQ and ingenuity (Tom Pelissero). Now in his third year as the Cowboys’ offensive coordinator, Moore has more of the experience he lacked previously.

A cursory look at the Cowboys’ statistics offensively won’t generate intense excitement. However, the 355.9 total ypg and 27.8 ppg averages are weighed down from when Cooper Rush started at quarterback. Keep in mind, though, Moore’s play-calling in that stretch still resulted in four wins, 128.4 rushing yards per game, a 35% third-down conversion rate and the team scored 20-plus points in each of those games.

With Prescott back under center, the Cowboys lead the NFL in Estimated Offensive Points per Game (39.0) and rank second in total ypg (424.3) in the last three weeks. On the year, Dallas ranks seventh in third-down conversion rate (44.2%) with the third-highest touchdown rate in the red zone (73%). Moore will need an experienced coaching staff around him, but he has all the making of an NFL head coach.

Jim Harbaugh, Michigan Wolverines head coach

NFL teams aren’t going to take what Jim Harbaugh is saying publicly as gospel. The Michigan Wolverines head coach is already being looked into by team executives before the season even concludes. Harbaugh is denying any interest in leaving Michigan, but he said it with a caveat and he previously stated there is unfinished business in the NFL.

• Jim Harbaugh NFL record: 44-19-1

The coaching record speaks for itself. While he left San Francisco on bad terms, clashing with the brass, he remains well-regarded for everything he brings to a team. There is a danger in Harbaugh wanting significant input, effectively a shadow role as general manager, so he can build the roster his way. It’s a move that rarely works out, but it can work with the right partner in the front office. One thing is for certain, Harbaugh is one of the best NFL coaching candidates if he entertains a return once more.

Shane Bowen, Tennessee Titans defensive coordinator

For NFL teams seeking a young defensive-minded coach, Tennessee Titans’ defensive coordinator Shane Bowen has accelerated the coaching ladder quickly. He started as a student assistant at Georgia Tech and then served as a grad assistant (2010-’11), learning under Paul Johnson.

After one season as a grad assistant on Urban Meyer’s staff at Ohio State, Bowen spent the next three years at Kennesaw State before making the jump to the NFL in 2016 with the Houston Texans (2016-’17) before becoming the Titans’ outside linebackers coach.

In his first season as Tennessee’s defensive coordinator (2021), the Titans had the fifth-lowest blitz rate (21.3%) in the NFL, but finished ninth in sacks (43) and pressures (169). Tennessee finished the 2021 season ranked eighth in Football Outsiders’ Weighted DVOA. A year later, Bowen’s unit is top-12 in Weighted DVOA despite losing Harold Landry before Week 1.

Leslie Frazier, Buffalo Bills defensive coordinator

Leslie Frazier went through the interview cycle in 2021, meeting twice with the New York Giants and once with the Miami Dolphins. Ultimately, the 63-year-old remained in Buffalo as its assistant head coach and defensive coordinator.

Renowned for his defensive acumen, experience and leadership, Frazier’s history of coaching defenses speaks for itself. Buffalo rated No. 3 in Weighted DVOA in 2021 and is No. 5 this season. The Bills also ranked third in nY/A in 2018 and 2019.

Frazier has experienced the recent trend of NFL teams and coaching search firms giving preference to those who work with quarterbacks.

” I think it’s very narrow-minded to only see the head coach as an offensive guy because you have a young quarterback. You need the right leader in that role because you’ve got to be able to handle multiple responsibilities, not just call offensive plays. I just think that’s a misguided approach, but I’m not the guy doing the hiring.”

Leslie Frazier on teams prioritizing NFL coaching candidates on the offenside side (H/T Pro Football Talk)

However, that could see a shift in 2023. Scoring is down significantly this year (23.0 to 21.9 PPG), marking the first time since 2017 that the NFL scoring average dipped below 22. Frazier, who has coached in the NFL since 1999, has the relationships around the league to build an offensive coaching staff that will complement what he brings.

2023 NFL head coach candidates

• Chris Horton, Baltimore Ravens special teams coordinator
• Mike Kafka, New York Giants offensive coordinator
• Richard Hightower, Chicago Bears special teams coordinator
• Brian Callahan, Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator
• Byron Leftwich, Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator
• Bubba Ventrone, Indianapolis Colts special teams coordinator
• Shane Waldron, Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator
• Byron Leftwich, Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator
• Sean Payton, former New Orleans Saints head coach

NFL coordinator candidates 2023

While the primary focus of the 2023 NFL coaching carousel is on head coaches, this is also an active time for coordinators. Whether it’s a head coach looking to fill out his staff or a team looking to hire a new defensive coordinator or offensive coordinator. There are plenty of intriguing names to know.

These are the names to know right now. We’ll provide profiles of each up the candidates and add additional coordinator prospects in the weeks ahead.

Offensive Coordinators

• Brian Johnson, Philadelphia Eagles quarterbacks coach
• Joe Brady, Buffalo Bills quarterbacks coach
• Ben Bloom, Cleveland Browns run game coordinator
• Brian Hartline, Ohio State passing game coordinator
• Alex Golesh, Tennessee offensive coordinator
• Stump Mitchell, Cleveland Browns run game coordinator
• Jerrod Johnson, Minnesota Vikings assistant quarterbacks coach
• Marcus Brady, former Indianapolis Colts offensive coordinator
• Pep Hamilton, Houston Texans offensive coordinator

Defensive Coordinators

• Sean Desai, Seattle Seahawks assistant head coach
• Ryan Crow, Tennessee Titans outside linebackers coach
• Demarcus Covington, New England Patriots defensive line coach
• Christian Parker, Denver Broncos defensive backs coach
• Marquand Manuel, New York Jets defensive backs coach
• Patrick Graham, Las Vegas Raiders defensive coordinator
• Bobby Babich, Buffalo Bills linebackers coach
• Aden Durde, Dallas Cowboys defensive line coach

NFL GM candidates 2023: Future NFL general managers

No NFL team has fired their general manager during the 2022 regular season. Those decisions will likely come on Black Monday, when both head coaches and general managers are fired. For now, we’ll provide a list of NFL GM candidates in 2023 with profiles coming early this offseason.

• Louis Riddick, ESPN NFL analyst and former team executive
• Joe Horitz, Baltimore Ravens director of player personnel
• JoJo Wooden, Los Angeles Chargers director of player personnel
• Jacqueline Davidson, Tampa Bay Buccaneers senior director of football research
• Jeff Ireland, New Orleans Saints assistant general manager