NFL Player News

Koonce (6'3/250) Through his first three seasons of play, Koonce improved his sack total each year. He started with just one as a freshman, then three as a sophomore, then had a breakout 2019 junior season with nine. This year’s delayed, short season has not allowed him the same chance to continue the trend, but he still has three sacks through a handful of games this year. At 6-foot-3 and 250-pounds, Koonce has good size for the position and earned a top-15 pass-rush grade per Pro Football Focus last season.

Bieniemy joins Ben Johnson’s staff in Chicago amidst a complete retool of the coaching ranks. He coached for the UCLA Bruins in 2024 after a one-year stint as the offensive coordinator for the Commanders and a five-year stint with the Chiefs during the early portion of Patrick Mahomes’ career. The hiring appears to be a leap of faith by the Bears after Bieniemy was fired after just one season in each of his previous two positions across multiple levels, with Bieniemy now looking to reestablish a coaching presence in the NFL.

Foote was interviewed by the Lions to fill their vacant defensive coordinator position but told reporters he will be returning to the Buccaneers in 2025 after the Lions promoted from within to fill the position.

Choice played for the Cowboys for four seasons early in his career before joining the collegiate coaching ranks as a running backs coach. The Cowboys have now interviewed him for the same position, which would be his first look at coaching at the NFL level.

Hewitt was with the Ravens since the 2012 season and worked his way up from the defensive backs coach to the assistant head coach and defensive pass game coordinator before not being asked to return for the 2025 season. He immediately found a new home for the retooling Colts after the franchise cleaned house in the defensive coaching ranks this offseason. Hewitt also got defensive coordinator interviews this offseason but was unable to land the position.

The 12-year veteran and six-time Pro Bowler finds himself back in the Super Bowl for the second time in three seasons as the Eagles look to spoil Kansas City’s bid for a three-peat. Johnson struggled through a myriad of injuries in the middle of his career but has remained relatively healthy for each of the previous four seasons, potentially adding to his decision to return for his 13th season in 2025.

Stenavich reportedly interviewed with the Seahawks before this and is evidently interested in making a lateral OC move. Stenavich has helped produced highly successful Packers offenses, serving as the Packers’ OC over the last three seasons.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the Chargers are unwilling to allow Lal to jump ship for a division rival. Lal helped the Chargers get all the productivity they could out of a shallow wide receiver corps in 2024 and they undoubtedly hope he can continue to maximize talent for them moving forward. Lal notably coached under Pete Carroll for three seasons with the Seahawks.

This will be Washington’s fourth stint as an NFL DL coach. He previously served as the Bears’ DC in 2024 and operated as the Bills’ assistant head coach and DL coach before that. Washington will now work with a highly talented Jets defensive line as the team attempts to rebound from a lost 2024 season.

Should the hire come to fruition, Rizzi will reunite with Sean Payton, who hired Rizzi as the Saints’ special teams coordinator back in 2019. Rapoport notes “Rizzi has been the favorite in Denver for some time, though the Broncos will conduct a full and complete search for their new ST coordinator.”

This is a situation to monitor closely. Baun leads all Eagles defenders in both solo tackles (136) and tackles for loss or no gain (19). The star linebacker has a little over a week to rehab the injury. Next week’s injury report should help clarify the injury’s severity.