Reports: Bears set to hire Lions OC Ben Johnson as head coach

Johnson will take over a Bears team that floundered to last-place finish in the NFC North this season after winning four of its first six games.

Chicago lost 10 straight after its promising start, including a 23-20 defeat at Detroit on Thanksgiving Day that led to the firing of coach Matt Eberflus on Nov. 29.

Johnson became available to hire after the top-seeded Lions’ surprising 45-31 home loss to the Washington Commanders in a divisional round game Saturday night.

The 38-year-old was one of the most coveted head coaching candidates this season.

His creative playcalling, which includes a deep bag of gadget plays, has helped Detroit sustain one of the league’s most potent offenses.

In each of Johnson’s three seasons as offensive coordinator, the Lions finished among the NFL’s top five in total yards and points per game.

Detroit boasted the league’s top scoring offense this season (33.2 ppg) and finished second in total yards per game (409.5). Their 564 points this season were a franchise record, as were their 15 regular-season wins.

Johnson will aim to improve a Bears offense that managed the fewest yards (284.6) and tied for the fourth-fewest points per game (18.2) last season with rookie quarterback Caleb Williams, the top overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft.

Reports: Colts hiring former Bengals DC Lou Anarumo for same role

The Indianapolis Colts are hiring Lou Anarumo as defensive coordinator, according to multiple media reports on Monday.

Anarumo, 58, served the past six seasons as DC in Cincinnati before the Bengals fired him on Jan. 6.

Cincinnati went 9-8 and won its last five games but missed the playoffs. The Bengals finished the season 25th in total defense (348.3 yards per game) and tied for 25th in points allowed (25.5 per game).

The Colts fired defensive coordinator Gus Bradley, 58, on Jan. 6 after three seasons. The defense allowed 25.1 points per game (24th) and 361.2 yards per game (29th).

Anarumo was the Bengals’ defensive coordinator from 2019-24, a role he also served as interim with Miami in 2015. He was the Dolphins’ defensive backs coach in 2014-17, and coached the New York Giants’ defensive backs in 2018.

Dan Campbell: Lions will be back ‘stronger’

Dan Campbell might lose a coach or two during the ongoing NFL hiring cycle, but he remains confident the Lions have the foundation to be back stronger next season to compete for the Super Bowl.

“We talk about that core. That core group is still intact — and we’ve signed some back, some are up on contracts and that’ll be ongoing. But, yeah, we absolutely do,” Campbell said Monday of whether the Lions’ window is still open. “I think the most important thing is you want to know you’ve got your culture, you’ve got your identity, and you’ve got players that fit into that, and we’ve got that. And we’ve got players in every pivotal position you can ask for to have success and those guys are made the right way, so, absolutely, our window is open.”

Detroit claimed the No. 1 seed in the NFC for the first time in franchise history. But the Lions were blown out by the Washington Commanders, 45-31, on Saturday night at Ford Field. The abrupt end to a season in which the Lions were 15-2 is a difficult reality for Campbell and many of his players who felt the sting of a season-ending loss in the NFC Championship at San Francisco a year ago.

“We met two of those goals this year and, in a sense, went above and beyond what we were a year ago,” Campbell said. “But yet, we didn’t get any further and man, that’s disappointing. But it also eats at me. That drives me. That motivates me.”

Campbell said of the season finish: “We’re going to come back stronger, we’re going to learn from this, and it’s just more fuel on the fire, is what it is.”

The Lions re-signed multiple core players last offseason with new deals for quarterback Jared Goff, offensive tackle Penei Sewell and wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown.

While there are personnel holes to be filled, Campbell also has a coaching staff in flux. Offensive coordinator Ben Johnson has three known interviews for head-coaching vacancies and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn is a popular candidate, too. Campbell said he reminded players and coaches there is a “next man up” mentality regardless of what happens with his top lieutenants.

With a 27-7 regular-season record the past two seasons, the win-now approach for the franchise won’t change, Campbell said. He is prioritizing making certain Goff’s comfort level in the offense doesn’t decline.

“We’re not going to allow that to happen,” Campbell said. “Does it hurt to lose those guys? Absolutely. They’re a part of what we’ve been here. They’ve been here for four years and they’re one of the major reasons why we’ve been able to get to where we’ve been.

“We came out of the dump and got to where we’re at, so I will forever be grateful for those guys and our team will. And is it a loss? Absolutely, it’d be a loss, but yet we move forward. This train rolls on and I’ll find the next best guys for us.”

Report: Aaron Glenn to have second Jets interview

The New York Jets will have a second, in-person interview with Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, NFL Network reported Monday.

Glenn, 52, conducted a virtual interview with the Jets regarding their head coaching vacancy on Jan. 9. He is also expected to meet in person with the New Orleans Saints.

Glenn’s season ended Saturday when the top-seeded Lions lost 45-31 to the visiting Washington Commanders in an NFC divisional playoff game.

Glenn was a first-round pick (12th overall) by the Jets in 1994. The three-time Pro Bowl defensive back played the first eight of his 15 NFL seasons with New York and later worked as a scout for the franchise from 2012-13.

He has been Detroit’s defensive coordinator since 2021 following stints as a defensive backs coach with the Saints (2016-20) and Cleveland Browns (2014-15).

The Jets fired head coach Robert Saleh after a 2-3 start this season and went 3-9 under interim coach Jeff Ulbrich.

Bengals name Scott Peters new offensive line coach

The Cincinnati Bengals named Scott Peters their new offensive line coach on Monday.

Peters, 46, replaces Frank Pollack, fired by the Bengals on Jan. 6.

Peters was the O-line coach in New England this past season but was out of a job when the Patriots fired head coach Jerod Mayo after one season. Peters is a former assistant offensive line coach for the Cleveland Browns (2020-23).

The Bengals also named Michael McCarthy assistant offensive line coach. McCarthy, 39, was Peters’ assistant in New England.

Quarterback Joe Burrow was sacked 48 times in 2024 after Cincinnati allowed 50 total sacks in 2023.

Eagles, Chiefs Super Bowl favorites; sportsbooks smiling after Lions’ loss

Sportsbooks took a partial victory lap following the elimination of the Detroit Lions, Super Bowl favorites entering the divisional playoff with the highest handle and ticket percentage for most major operators in that futures market.

The Lions were bounced from the NFC field by the Washington Commanders, who were a 10-point underdog by kickoff on Saturday night. Money shifted to Washington as the number grew ahead of the game and it paid off in a 45-31 win. The Commanders had a moneyline of anywhere between +376 to +430 and wound up in their first NFC Championship game since 1991.

“The Lions losing was a great result for the futures market at BetMGM. On top of knocking our biggest liability out of the running, the Commanders win also ruined the popular chalk money line parlay of Lions, Chiefs, and Ohio State,” Christian Cipollini, BetMGM trading manager, said Monday.

After wins at Tampa Bay and Detroit, the Commanders are ticketed for a third road game this weekend and their third matchup this season with NFC East division rival Philadelphia. The Eagles and Commanders split two entertaining games in the regular season.

FanDuel lists the Eagles as 5.5-point favorites Monday and the Commanders are fourth of the remaining four teams in the Super Bowl futures odds market. Kansas City is a 1.5-point favorite over the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship at ESPN Bet and Fan Duel.

BetMGM moved the Eagles from +400 to win the Super Bowl last week to current +180 odds, overtaking the Lions as the favorite.

The Chiefs went from +350 last week to +240, narrowly ahead of the Bills. Buffalo went from +400 to +250 and the Commanders moved from +3000 at kickoff of the Lions’ game to +700 at BetMGM. FanDuel lists Washington at +750, the Eagles as the favorite at +180 and Kansas City (+220) ahead of the Bills (+250).

The most popular exact result Super Bowl matchup on the board at FanDuel and Draft Kings is the Chiefs beating the Eagles (+380), just ahead of the Eagles beating the Chiefs (+410).

Like Washington to keep it rolling? Consider the Commanders to beat the Chiefs (+1300) or Bills (+1600) at Fan Duel.

Washington rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels is +700 in the Super Bowl MVP futures market, fifth behind Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (+550) and quarterback Jalen Hurts (+400) and co-favorites Bills quarterback Josh Allen and Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (+280) at Draft Kings.

Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce is sixth at +2800.

Report: Mike Kafka, Anthony Weaver get 2nd interviews with Saints

The New Orleans Saints are hosting New York Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka for a second interview for their head coaching job Tuesday, while Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator will get a second look later this week, NFL Network reported.

Kafka, 37, will get a longer look in New Orleans after being a finalist for Seattle’s opening last winter. Weaver is again a finalist after bids with Washington and Atlanta a year ago. His second interview will be Wednesday, per the report.

Kafka has no experience leading an NFL team, but he has been the head coach for collegiate showcases in each of the past two seasons: the East-West Shrine Bowl on Feb. 1, 2024, and the upcoming Feb. 1 Senior Bowl.

He has been New York’s offensive coordinator since 2022 and added the title of assistant head coach on Brian Daboll’s staff in 2024.

The Giants finished 18th, 29th and 30th in the NFL in total offense from 2022-24 under Kafka.

A journeyman NFL quarterback who spent time with seven teams from 2010-15, Kafka joined Andy Reid’s staff in Kansas City in 2017 and moved his way up to quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator from 2020-21.

Weaver, 44, is in his first season as defensive coordinator with the Dolphins. He was a position coach on that side of the line with the New York Jets (2012), Buffalo Bills (2013), Cleveland Browns (2014-15), Houston Texans (2016-19) and Baltimore Ravens (2021-23) before becoming the Texans’ DC in 2020.

The Saints’ search has also included in-person interview with interim coach Darren Rizzi, who went 3-5 following the firing of Dennis Allen. New Orleans has had virtual interviews with offensive coordinators Kellen Moore and Joe Brady of the Philadelphia Eagles and Buffalo Bills, respectively.

Rams’ Matthew Stafford noncommittal about NFL future

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford acknowledged Sunday that “it sure feels like” he has football left in him, but the 16-year veteran and one-time Super Bowl winner wasn’t ready to commit himself to 2025.

Stafford had just thrown for 324 yards and two touchdowns in snowy Philadelphia, and had a comeback attempt fall just short in a 28-22 loss to the Eagles in a division-round playoff game. The Rams reached the Philadelphia 13-yard line in the final minute before the drive stalled.

“As far as my future goes, I mean, it’s 30 minutes after our last game, so I’ll take some time to think about it. I feel like I was playing some really good ball,” Stafford told reporters afterward. The quarterback, who will turn 37 years old on Feb. 7, is under contract for two more seasons.

Stafford later said he enjoys competing and didn’t sound ready to retire.

“I love being in those moments. Sure as hell not afraid of them. And competed my (expletive) off and it didn’t go the way I wanted to today. Next time I’m out there, line it up. Let’s do it again.”

Coach Sean McVay, who guided the Rams to the Super Bowl title after the 2021 season, Stafford’s first in Los Angeles, sounded equally disinterested in talking about the quarterback’s future.

“I’m not really interested in talking about anything as it relates to next year,” McVay said. “Right now, I’m just appreciative of this team.”

The coach’s comments certainly made it clear he has full confidence in Stafford, who played his first 12 seasons with the Detroit Lions before he was dealt to Los Angeles in March 2021 for two first-round draft picks, a third-round pick and quarterback Jared Goff.

“(Stafford) put us in a position to win that football game. That’s who he is, and I’m not at all surprised. We all had the expectation with him leading the way that we were going to win that game,” McVay said.

The coach added that he and the team “didn’t see it going any other way than us winning that game 29-28.”

In 222 career regular-season games, Stafford has completed 63.4 percent of his passes for 59,809 yards and 377 touchdowns, both good for 10th in league history.

Eagles, Chiefs open as conference championship favorites

The Philadelphia Eagles emerged from their dramatic divisional playoff win with significant injury questions, but also as the title favorite among the remaining for teams.

The Eagles are the +180 favorite at DraftKings to win Super Bowl LIV ahead of Kansas City at +240 as the Chiefs chase a three-peat.

Philadelphia survived a late rally from the visiting Los Angeles Rams to win 28-22 in snowy conditions on Sunday. The Eagles were installed as a 4.5-point favorite by DraftKings at home against the Washington Commanders for the NFC Championship. Philadelphia is a 5.0-point favorite at some other sportsbooks, including BetRivers.

That’s despite quarterback Jalen Hurts playing through a left leg injury suffered in the second half of Sunday’s win over the Rams.

“It was a tough game, a challenging game,” Hurts said after the game. “I was able to finish the game, and we’ll see how the week goes.”

The Eagles’ Super Bowl odds shortened thanks in part to their upcoming opponent, with NFC East rival Washington taking out the No. 1-seeded Detroit Lions on Saturday. Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels will attempt to continue the Cinderella run, with the Commanders holding by far the longest title odds remaining at +650.

The fourth and final team to join the conference championship fray was Buffalo, which survived a heavyweight battle at home against Baltimore on Sunday night. After Josh Allen was able to outduel fellow MVP candidate Lamar Jackson, he has now booked another highly anticipated playoff date against the Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes.

The Bills have slightly longer Super Bowl odds than the Chiefs at +270, with No. 1-seeded Kansas City installed as a slight 1.5-point favorite by DraftKings and BetRivers for the AFC Championship Game. The teams also met for the AFC title in the 2020 season, when the Chiefs emerged as a 38-24 winner.

Bills S Taylor Rapp injures hip, out vs. Ravens

Buffalo Bills safety Taylor Rapp exited Sunday’s AFC divisional playoff game against the visiting Baltimore Ravens with a hip injury.

Rapp was injured in the second quarter and initially termed questionable to return. He was ruled out midway through the third quarter.

Rapp was hurt during a play in which he was on the ground when hit by teammate Damar Hamlin. He was in visible pain when carted off the field with 6:13 left in the second quarter.

Rapp, 27, intercepted Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson in the first quarter. He had two tackles.

In the regular season, Rapp had 82 tackles and two interceptions. He is in his second season with the Bills after playing his first four campaigns with the Los Angeles Rams, who selected him in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft out of Washington.