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LaPorta continued his recent stretch of increased involvement through the air after a relatively slow start to the season, by his lofty standards. Both teams struggled to move the football with any consistency in the first half, but the Lions surged after the break on the backs of three second half touchdowns from running back Jahmyr Gibbs. The commanding victory held quarterback Jared Goff to just 33 pass attempts, which kept LaPorta, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and Jameson Williams all at seven or eight targets on the evening. The win clinches the No. 1 seed, the only playoff bye, and home field advantage for the Lions as they prepare for the Super Bowl journey.

Monken will be a popular name on the head coaching vacancy circuit after he led the Ravens to a league-high in yards and the third most points, along with the second best offensive success rate. The Jaguars could very well lean toward an offensive-minded head coach who could help revive Trevor Lawrence’s career following his disastrous 2024 season, which was marred by injury. The Jags are also requesting head coaching interviews with Robert Saleh and Kellen Moore, among others.

Brady, who has received interest from the Saints for their head coaching job, might have his pick of head coaching opportunities after leading the Bills to a hyper productive 2024 season in which they had the league’s second highest EPA per play. Brady would be tasked with figuring out how to help Caleb Williams become a viable NFL starter after his disappointing rookie season (only Will Levis and Anthony Richardson had a lower drop back EPA than Williams). Brady’s work with Josh Allen could go a long way in convincing the Bears he’s the guy for them.

Moore is going to be a popular name in head coaching searches over the next few weeks. The Saints have also requested a head coaching interview with Moore after he guided the Eagles offense to the sixth highest EPA per play and the 13th best offensive success rate, fueled by a nearly historic campaign from Saquon Barkley. In Jacksonville, Moore would be tasked with reviving Trevor Lawrence’s career after a horrendous 2024 season and developing Brian Thomas into an elite NFL wideout following his tremendous rookie campaign.

Saleh, fired by the Jets back in October after he went 20-43 over three and a half seasons, is among eight coaches Jacksonville wants to interview for its head coaching vacancy. Saleh would be an upset pick over names like Ben Johnson, Aaron Glenn, and Todd Monken, though the Jaguars could be seeking a players coach and a defensive specialist who could improve a Jags defense that was one of the league’s worst in 2024. Saleh, 45, should see another head coaching opportunity after he was railroaded by Jets ownership this year.

The Jets are set to interview a plethora of candidates for their open GM job. That includes Gaine, who has worked in the Buffalo front office since 2019, first as a senior personnel advisor and then as an assistant GM under Brandon Beane. In New York, Gaine would take over a roster in flux and a likely teardown job under whoever the team hires as its next head coach.

Tennessee was 9-25 over Carthorn’s two seasons as GM. Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk said in a statement that she was concerned not only with the team’s win-loss record over the past two years, but the “long-term future should we stay the course.” Carthorn in 2023 was victorious in a power struggle with former Titans head coach Mike Vrabel and was promoted to executive vice president. He then used the 33rd pick in the 2024 NFL Draft to take Will Levis, who was one of the NFL’s worst quarterbacks in 2024 and appears to be a career backup at best. Carthorn’s front office also made curious signings like Tony Pollard and Calvin Ridley in the offseason. Carthorn will likely land with another front office, though his days as a general manager are probably over.

It’s hardly a guarantee that Johnson, one of the best and most respected offensive play callers in the NFL over the past few seasons, would even take the Jets head coaching job if it were offered to him. Perhaps Jets ownership knows this and doesn’t want to waste time on the charade of Johnson taking on such a thankless head coaching job after he’s been patient in waiting for the right opportunity. The Jets are likely to hire a retread head coach — they’re interviewing former Jets head coach Rex Ryan Tuesday — who can make the team at least somewhat respectable in 2025 and beyond.

Jacksonville won’t be able to interview Coen until next week, as the Bucs are preparing to take on the Commanders in the first round of the NFL playoffs. Coen did a masterful job with the Tampa offense in 2024. The Bucs ranked fifth in EPA per play in 2024, with Baker Mayfield posting the league’s fifth best drop back success rate on this way to a career-best 4,500 yards and 45 touchdowns. Coen’s offense was particularly effective with screens and short area passes. It’s an element of the passing attack that could help Trevor Lawrence get his career back on track after a miserable 2024 campaign. In Jacksonville, Coen would scheme up plays for Brian Thomas, one of the most promising wideouts in recent memory.

Glenn, one of the league’s best defensive coordinators over the past four years, could have his choice of head coaching jobs depending on how quickly these teams move to fill their coach openings. Glenn, 52, would inherit a horrendous Jaguars defense if he took that job, while the Jets and Bears jobs would come with decent-to-excellent defensive units. The Lions could end up losing both of their coordinators if Glenn lands a head coaching job and OC Ben Johnson leaves for a head coaching gig this offseason.

Vrabel, who was passed over for head coaching jobs last offseason, will also interview with the Jets for their head coaching vacancy. Vrabel went 54-45 over six years with the Titans, running one of the most conservative offenses in the NFL and largely failing to adopt to the modern NFL. The Saints would represent a total rebuild project for Vrabel, 49. In Chicago, Vrabel would inherit Caleb Williams in Chicago after Williams’ borderline disastrous rookie campaign. Only Anthony Richardson and Will Levis had lower EPAs per play than Williams in 2024.