AFC East

The New York Jets have scheduled a second interview on Tuesday with former Detroit Lions senior director of player personnel and current Washington Commanders assistant general manager Lance Newmark, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Per that report, Newmark is "said to have a strong relationship with both Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn," both potential candidates for the Jets' head-coaching vacancy. The Jets are looking to hire both a general manager and head coach this offseason, with Newmark now among the frontrunners for the former.

Newmark spent 26 years with the Lions, with roles as an area scout (1999-04), national scout (2005-07), assistant director of college scouting (2008-14), director of college scouting (2015-16), director of player personnel (2016-21) and senior director of player personnel (2022-23). This past year, he served as the assistant general manager under Adam Peters in Washington, overseeing both the scouting and personnel departments.

The Jets have held a comprehensive search for a new general manager this offseason, interviewing Thomas Dimitroff, Jon Robinson, Jim Nagy, Louis Riddick, Alec Halaby, Ray Farmer, Mike Borgonzi, Mike Greenberg, Darren Mougey, Chris Spielman, Trey Brown, Ryan Grigson, Jon-Eric Sullivan and Brian Gaine, alongside Newmark.

The team has also cast a wide net seeking a new head coach, interviewing Glenn, Ron Rivera, Mike Vrabel (since hired by the New England Patriots), Rex Ryan, Matt Nagy, Mike Locksley, Steve Spagnuolo, Darren Rizzi, Jeff Ulbrich, Vance Joseph, Arthur Smith, Bobby Slowik, Brian Flores, Jeff Hafley, Joe Whitt Jr. and Josh McCown for their head-coaching vacancy. Johnson, however, is not among the potential candidates they've interviewed.

The Las Vegas Raiders have interviewed Johnson, however, and have also interviewed Newmark, a situation worth monitoring.

The Jets are looking for a complete re-haul after a horrid 5-12 season in 2024, despite the team bringing aboard a number of high-profile veterans in recent years like Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams. The quarterback position remains a major concern, with Rodgers declining and his future up in the air, while the Woody Johnson ownership remains something of a mess.

The team's next general manager will have quite the reclamation project to undertake, in other words, perhaps one reason why New York hasn't been shy about bringing in plenty of options during its selection process.

The New York Jets reportedly will hold a second interview with Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, according to Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL Network.

It will be Glenn's first in-person interview with a team after holding virtual interviews with a number of teams while the Lions were still in the postseason hunt.

Rapoport also reported that Glenn is expected to visit the New Orleans Saints.

Glenn, 52, was selected by the Jets in the first round of the 1994 NFL draft and spent eight seasons with the team as part of a 15-year NFL career that saw him register 41 interceptions and earn three Pro Bowl bids. He also had a cup of coffee with the Saints in the 2008 season, his final year as a player.

He then began his coaching career in 2012, starting as an assistant defensive backs coach for the Cleveland Browns, where he spent two seasons. He then was the defensive backs coach for the Saints between the 2016-20 seasons before taking over as the Lions' defensive coordinator in 2021.

Under Glenn, the Lions have never had a statistically great defense, though the team did finish seventh in the NFL in points allowed this past season, a minor miracle given the onslaught of injuries the team faced on that side of the ball.

Those injuries eventually caught up to Detroit, however, as the team gave up 45 points and 481 yards of offense against the Washington Commanders in Saturday's Divisional Round loss. It didn't help that the Lions turned the ball over five times, but it equally didn't help that they didn't force a single takeaway themselves.

It wasn't the best final performance for Glenn's defense to put on tape, but his reputation preceded the contest.

As for the Jets, they've held a comprehensive coaching search this offseason alongside their interest in Glenn, interviewing Ron Rivera, Mike Vrabel (since hired by the New England Patriots), Rex Ryan, Matt Nagy, Mike Locksley, Steve Spagnuolo, Darren Rizzi, Jeff Ulbrich, Vance Joseph, Arthur Smith, Bobby Slowik, Brian Flores, Jeff Hafley, Joe Whitt Jr. and Josh McCown for their head-coaching vacancy.

The Saints, meanwhile, have interviewed Mike Kafka, Anthony Weaver, Kellen Moore, Joe Brady and Rizzi and reportedly have interest in Kliff Kingsbury and Mike McCarthy as well, alongside their interest in Glenn.

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen pointed to the team's doubters as a source of motivation inside the locker room during halftime of Sunday's 27-25 win over the Baltimore Ravens.

The MMQB's Albert Breer spoke with Bills head coach Sean McDermott, who relayed what happened during the break.

"Before we went back out there, [Allen] just said, 'Hey, all we hear all week is we're not good enough, we're not big enough, strong enough,'" McDermott told Breer.

This was a steady theme throughout the week apparently.

Tim Graham of The Athletic reported members of the Bills defense "watched a reel of the naysayers and doubters and haters, talking trash about Buffalo and declaring Baltimore would win."

"We had a video," defensive tackle Jordan Phillips said. "Our highlight video this week was all the media people, talking s--t. 'They can't do this. They can't do that.' Our coaches suck. We're too small."

Phillips added that Buffalo's defense took it as a challenge that the Bills had forced 32 turnovers and was matched up against a Baltimore offense that had the third-fewest giveaways (11).

"That was our motto all week: Let's see who's better,' Phillips said.

The Bills, who were a slight betting underdog, proved to be the better team on the night but not by much.

Baltimore nearly erased an 11-point halftime deficit and was one Mark Andrew drop away from forcing overtime. The veteran tight end couldn't haul in a short pass from Lamar Jackson on a two-point conversion attempt.

The two-point conversion is no good 😳

📺: #BALvsBUF on CBS
📱: Stream on @NFLPlus and Paramount+ pic.twitter.com/s1DAo0tdm1

— NFL (@NFL) January 20, 2025

The Bills were pretty close to proving their haters right.

Following the Buffalo Bills' 27-25 victory over the Baltimore Ravens to advance to the AFC Championship game, Josh Allen had the highest of praise for rival quarterback Lamar Jackson.

"I've just got so much respect for him, the way he plays the game, he's a true competitor a true football player," Allen said after the game. "One of the greatest to ever step on the football field. So, nothing but love."

"One of the greatest to ever step on the football field."

Josh Allen has nothing but love for Lamar Jackson 🫶 #BALvsBUF pic.twitter.com/gMQ7qx6uq1

— NFL (@NFL) January 20, 2025

Allen posted 127 passing yards in the victory, completing 73 percent of his passes, along with two rushing touchdowns and no turnovers. Jackson threw for 254 yards with two touchdowns, completing 18-of-25 passes, while also adding one interception and one fumble for loss.

The two were battling MVP hype all season long, with Lamar holding the best quarterback rating at 77.3 and Allen right behind him, also at 77.3.

Despite Jackson's MVP-caliber play this season, his team's turnovers were costly in the loss. Following the game, Jackson was visibly frustrated, as the Ravens committed three turnovers compared to the Bills' zero.

.@HamlinIsland with the strip...@VonMiller with the recovery!!!!!!!!!!

📺: @NFLonCBS pic.twitter.com/oIryFGmcx5

— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) January 20, 2025

"Gotta hold on to the f--king ball. I'm sorry for my language," Jackson told reporters. "This s--t is annoying. I'm tired of this s--t."

Finishing the season 12-5, with a wild card playoff game under their belt, the Ravens will head into the offseason with strong incentives and clear areas for improvement. With a solid foundation and key players like Jackson, they'll look to address weaknesses and make necessary adjustments to build on their success for the next season.

Josh Allen brought up criticism that the Buffalo Bills faced throughout the 2024 season following the team's 27-25 divisional-round playoff win over the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday night.

"All year this team has heard, 'We got no talent. We're too small. We can't stop the run. We're not good enough to compete,'" Allen said in an interview after the game. "We've just put our head down and worked hard. I'm so proud of our defense. I'm so proud of our offense and special teams. What a complete win."

"All year this team has heard, 'We got no talent. We're too small. We can't stop the run. We're not good enough to compete.'

We've just put our head down and worked hard." - @JoshAllenQB (via @NFLonCBS) pic.twitter.com/EUS8POhzC4

— NFL (@NFL) January 20, 2025

The Bills sat at 3-2 through five weeks, but they went on to win 10 of their final 12 regular-season games to secure an AFC East title and clinch a playoff spot for the sixth consecutive season.

Buffalo took down the Denver Broncos in the wild card round before defeating Baltimore on Sunday.

The Ravens nearly tied the game late in the fourth quarter, scoring a touchdown with just over one minute left in regulation after trailing by eight points. A two-point conversion attempt fell incomplete after a pass from Lamar Jackson was dropped by Mark Andrews.

The two-point conversion is no good 😳

📺: #BALvsBUF on CBS
📱: Stream on @NFLPlus and Paramount+ pic.twitter.com/s1DAo0tdm1

— NFL (@NFL) January 20, 2025

Allen didn't have a big day through the air, as snow intermittently fell throughout the game. He finished 16-of-22 for 127 yards without a touchdown or an interception. The 28-year-old scored twice on the ground, rushing for 20 yards on 10 attempts.

During the regular season, Allen put together an efficient year while earning his third straight Pro Bowl nod. He completed 63.6 percent of his throws for 3,731 yards and 28 touchdowns while recording a career-low six interceptions.

Allen will now look to stay sharp in the AFC Championship Game, as the Bills will travel to battle the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs are a familiar face, as three of Buffalo's previous four playoff defeats occurred against Kansas City.

Allen made sure to cherish the win over the Ravens first, calling out critics after the victory.

Josh Allen is undoubtedly in his MVP era after the Buffalo Bills' 27-25 divisional playoff victory over the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday.

With home-field advantage, Allen completed 16-of-22 passes for 127 yards and two rushing touchdowns, leading his team to the AFC Championship Game, where they will face the Kansas City Chiefs.

Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes -- the only QBs to meet more frequently in the postseason are Tom Brady and Peyton Manning pic.twitter.com/3tNKNhZGQz

— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) January 20, 2025

The Ravens, led by Lamar Jackson, endured a heartbreaking end to their season. Jackson completed 18-of-25 passes for 254 yards, two touchdowns, one interception and lost one fumble.

Fans were once again captivated by Allen's incredible performance, taking to social media to praise the MVP hopeful while also expressing excitement for the upcoming game against the Chiefs:

Josh Allen.

Taking over this football game.

Like he's done all year.

— Henry McKenna (@henrycmckenna) January 20, 2025

Josh Allen is an alien.

— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) January 20, 2025

MVP chants are going in Highmark. The award is based off the regular season, which is great for Lamar Jackson considering Josh Allen is looking way more like an MVP in this game.

— Giana Han (@giana_jade) January 20, 2025

What a monster wing for the #Bills
The Ravens did their part helping out, but Buffalo made a number of big plays throughout this game. None bigger than Terrel Bernard at the end of the game.

They deserve this trip to Kansas City.

— Thad Brown (@thadbrown7) January 20, 2025

Next Sunday will mark the fourth time in five seasons that the Chiefs and Bills have met in the playoffs.

Kansas City has won each of the prior three matchups.

— Field Yates (@FieldYates) January 20, 2025

For the first time since the 2020 season, the Bills are headed to the AFC Championship Game.

Bills vs. Chiefs next Sunday.

Giddy up.

— Joe Buscaglia (@JoeBuscaglia) January 20, 2025

That wasn't the MVP duel we expected from Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson. But it was one hell of a game from everybody involved.

And now, yet again, Josh Allen gets a crack at Patrick Mahomes in the postseason.

— Henry McKenna (@henrycmckenna) January 20, 2025

That's a tough ending for the Ravens.

Bills vs Chiefs should be fun.

— Lily Zhao (@LilySZhao) January 20, 2025

That’s a hell of a football game!! Big time AFC Chip on deck!

— Ryan Clark (@Realrclark25) January 20, 2025

And so we meet again… pic.twitter.com/txJwlKKYwH

— Hayley Lewis 👑 (@HayleyLewis_) January 20, 2025

Bills-Chiefs playoff matchup pic.twitter.com/kDmEUuamJJ

— Marcel Louis-Jacques (@Marcel_LJ) January 20, 2025

Both teams came out firing, each finding the end zone on their opening possessions.

Baltimore struck first as Rashod Bateman hauled in a 16-yard touchdown pass from Jackson, giving the Ravens a 7-0 lead. Buffalo answered with a methodical, nearly six-minute drive capped off by a rushing touchdown from Ray Davis.

A costly mistake from Jackson on the next drive—an interception by Taylor Rapp—could have swung momentum heavily in Buffalo's favor, but the Ravens managed to weather the storm.

Allen took control in the second quarter, scoring two rushing touchdowns to push the Bills to a 21-10 lead at halftime.

QB1 takes it himself!

📺: @NFLonCBS pic.twitter.com/E3KoB39L6B

— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) January 20, 2025

Playoff @JoshAllenQB!

📺: @NFLonCBS pic.twitter.com/BFXozvs4Vv

— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) January 20, 2025

A scoreless third quarter from the Bills was exactly what the Ravens defense needed to produce, as they managed to put up a 9-0 quarter thanks to a field goal from Justin Tucker and a five-yard rush from Derrick Henry.

Bills kicker Tyler Bass nailed a 51-yard field goal to start the fourth quarter and added another with just less than 3:30 remaining, giving the Bills a one-score lead following a fumble by Ravens tight end Mark Andrews that was stripped by Terrel Bernard.

TB IN THE CLUTCH!!!

📺: @NFLonCBS pic.twitter.com/Q4yPvYIyCx

— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) January 20, 2025

A last-ditch effort by the Ravens came in the form of an Isaiah Likely touchdown pass from Jackson, bringing the game within two. However, a failed two-point attempt sealed the deal, as the Bills regained possession and were able to let the clock expire.

Newly-hired New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel is adding another candidate to his list of potential offensive coordinators.

The Patriots interviewed Chicago Bears interim head coach and offensive coordinator Thomas Brown for the open position on Tuesday, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

The #Patriots spent this past Tuesday interviewing #Bears interim coach and OC Thomas Brown for their vacant OC job under new coach Mike Vrabel, sources say.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 17, 2025

The Patriots and Vrabel agreed to a multiyear contract last weekend, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

The team now needs to replace former offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt, who was fired alongside former head coach Jerod Mayo following the Patriots' 4-13 finish to the 2024 season.

Vrabel has previously been tied to Josh McDaniels, who served on the Patriots' coaching staff from 2012 to 2021 before spending two seasons as head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders.

When asked about McDaniels on Tuesday in an appearance on WEEI's The Greg Hill Show (h/t Pats Fans' Ian Logue,) Vrabel said, "Yeah, I'm going to look at every possible candidate that I feel like can help us."

"We're going to start that process today, this afternoon, and visit with some great coaches, and then we'll see where things go," Vrabel continued. "That's all three phases."

When asked if McDaniels was on his list: "Yeah, it's a long list. Yeah, there's a long list. I've had a relationship with Josh, and I've had relationships with other offensive coaches and defensive coaches that we're going to interview and want to bring in here."

The Patriots reportedly previously interviewed Brown ahead of the 2024 season before going with Van Pelt in his stead.

This offseason, Brown has reportedly received interest from the Seattle Seahawks, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.

The Seahawks may have since decided to go in a different direction, with Minnesota Vikings assistant coach Grant Udinski and New Orleans Saints offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak reportedly already having returned for second interviews.

Brown has also interviewed with the Bears for their head coaching vacancy. He was promoted twice during the 2024 season, climbing from passing game coordinator to offensive coordinator and ultimately taking over as interim head coach following Matt Eberflus' midseason firing.

But after leading the Bears to a 1-4 record as head coach, Brown faces tough competition to keep his position in Chicago on a permanent basis. The Bears have completed or requested head coaching interviews with at least 18 candidates, per ESPN's Courtney Cronin.

New England Patriots executive vice president of football business Robyn Glaser informed the team of her plans to resign on Friday, according to ESPN's Mike Reiss.

Glaser had been with the Patriots since 2007 and was principally responsible for all league business and legal relations during her tenure, per Reiss.

On Sunday, New England hired Mike Vrabel as its next head coach after he previously served in the same role for the Tennessee Titans from 2018-23.

Vrabel finished with a 54-45 record in six years with the Titans, making three playoff appearances which included a trip to the AFC Championship Game during the 2019 season.

The Patriots' head coaching vacancy opened after they fired Jerod Mayo on Jan. 5. Mayo was with New England for one season following the departure of legendary head coach Bill Belichick, as the team finished No. 4 in the AFC East at 4-13.

Glaser took on a larger role with the team during Mayo's brief tenure, as she became a senior adviser to him while continuing to handle oversight and management of all football department budgets, expenditures and capital expenses (via Reiss).

She worked "closely with ownership," according to Andrew Callahan and Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald.

Former two-time Pro Bowl defensive back Devin McCourty, who spent all 13 years of his career in New England, called Glaser "one of the best" people from his time with the team on social media.

One of the best ppl from my time in NE and still a good friend of mine. https://t.co/69k79LDOKJ

— Devin McCourty (@devinmccourty) January 17, 2025

The Patriots will be looking to improve upon a 2024 campaign in which they struggled on both sides of the ball, owning the league's third-worst scoring offense. They also allowed 24.5 points each week, representing the NFL's No. 22 scoring defense.

As Vrabel looks to fill out his coaching staff, New England will also undergo changes to its front office.

The New York Jets head coaching position comes with some negative connotations.

Mike Sando of The Athletic reported that the Jets vacancy is viewed as the "toughest job" available due to the owner situation and the intense media market.

"This is seen as the toughest job because of an impulsive owner (Woody Johnson) and an unforgiving, relentless media market," Sando wrote. "The next coach also must figure out what to do at quarterback, where Aaron Rodgers remains under contract but could retire."

An executive also told Sando that the franchise's extensive interview list signals that the team does not have a clear path for the position.

"I don't know what you do for the Jets," the executive told Sando, "and looking at their interview list, I'm not sure they know either."

New York went 5-12 in 2024 despite significant expectations. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers returned after missing all of 2023 bar a few snaps with a torn Achilles and was not able to elevate the team to new heights. His future with the franchise is cloudy and his departure would result in a combined $49 million in dead cap hits in 2025 and 2026 if designated as a post-June 1 cut.

The future of wide receiver Davante Adams is also uncertain as the Jets could part ways with the star, leaving an $8.3 million salary cap hit. The roster should still have several core pieces, but the presence of owner Woody Johnson also complicates the process.

Johnson has caught negative attention throughout the season due to his heavy involvement in football operations, including rumors of his son's presence in team meetings and relying on Madden ratings to make decisions. While he has denied those rumors, the presence of them could give potential coaches pause.

The Jets have interviewed a wide array of candidates, including Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, Minnesota Vikings quarterback coach Josh McCown and Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith. Whoever they hire, New York will hope they can lead the team to the postseason for the first time since 2010.

The New York Jets are considering a former veteran quarterback in their head coaching search.

Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports reported that the Jets will hold a virtual interview on Friday with Minnesota Vikings quarterbacks coach Josh McCown to discuss their head coaching vacancy.

The Jets also completed an interview with Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores on Friday.

McCown just finished his first season as the Vikings quarterbacks coach and served as the Carolina Panthers quarterbacks coach in 2023. He played 16 seasons in the NFL.

McCown played in 102 games and made 76 starts in his NFL career. He compiled an overall record of 23-53 while throwing for 17,731 yards with 98 touchdowns and 82 interceptions. He spent 2017 and 2018 with the Jets, starting 16 games for the franchise.

McCown was a candidate for the Houston Texans in 2021 and 2022 but the team opted to hire David Culley and Lovie Smith respectively. His stint as the Panthers quarterbacks coach saw limited development for then-rookie Bryce Young but his work with Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold, a former teammate of his with the Jets, revitalized his stock.

New York has had an extensive coaching search, with other notable candidates being Detroit Lions defensive quarterback Aaron Glenn, recently hired New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel and former Tennessee Titans head coach Arthur Smith. The Jets are coming off of a 5-12 season and have numerous roster questions heading into 2025.