The NFL coaching carousel is in full spin, and this year, it’s pulling in some of college football’s most respected assistants. One of the first dominoes to fall came on Jan. 25, when Mike Mickens informed Notre Dame he was leaving his post as the Fighting Irish’s defensive pass game coordinator and defensive backs coach to join the Baltimore Ravens in a similar role. Mickens had also drawn interest from the Dallas Cowboys, but it was Baltimore that secured his services.
That move kicked off a wave of college-to-NFL transitions we’ve come to expect around this time of year. The Los Angeles Chargers followed by hiring Chris O’Leary, who had been Western Michigan’s defensive coordinator, while the Buffalo Bills made a pair of additions: Oklahoma co-defensive coordinator Jay Valai and Minnesota edge rushers coach Bobby April. And by all accounts, this is just the beginning.
Several more college assistants are generating buzz as NFL teams continue to fill out their staffs. Among the names being discussed: Colorado defensive coordinator Robert Livingston, USC defensive line coach Eric Henderson, and Georgia outside linebackers coach Chidera Uzo-Diribe.
Livingston, 40, is an intriguing candidate. He spent nearly a decade with the Cincinnati Bengals before joining Deion Sanders’ staff at Colorado, and he’s already interviewed with the Cowboys. He’s also believed to be a candidate in Denver, where the Broncos are looking to replace Jim Leonhard, who just took the defensive coordinator job with the Bills.
Then there’s Henderson, who arrived at USC in 2024 but brings NFL experience from previous stints with the Rams and Chargers. He interviewed with the Cowboys before they ultimately hired Marcus Dixon, formerly of the Minnesota Vikings, but Henderson remains on the radar for multiple NFL teams.
Georgia’s Uzo-Diribe is another name to watch. He’s reportedly in the mix for the Cowboys’ outside linebackers coach role, as is Texas Tech’s C.J. Ah You, who is also in conversations with the Pittsburgh Steelers about a potential job.
And the list doesn’t stop there. Akron head coach Joe Moorhead, Indiana co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Chandler Whitmer, and Miami’s defensive pass game coordinator Zac Etheridge have all come up in discussions as possible NFL targets.
It’s a reminder that the NFL’s hiring cycle doesn’t wait around for college football’s traditional timelines. While National Signing Day used to serve as a sort of finish line for assistant coaching moves, that’s no longer the case.
With the Early Signing Day now in December, colleges are making their moves earlier - and the NFL is swooping in shortly after.
Coordinator Watch
The New York Jets are still sorting out their offensive coordinator search, and several veteran names are in the mix. Frank Reich, who’s had head coaching stops in both Indianapolis and Carolina, is under consideration, as are longtime play-caller Darrell Bevell and former Ravens and Rams OC Greg Roman. All three bring different flavors of offensive philosophy, and the Jets are clearly weighing experience heavily in this decision.
In Pittsburgh, the Steelers were eyeing Saints quarterbacks coach Scott Tolzien for their offensive coordinator vacancy, but Tolzien has decided to remain in New Orleans. That keeps the Steelers’ search alive as they look to reshape their offensive identity.
Meanwhile, in Las Vegas, there’s some chatter around Leslie Frazier as a potential fit for the Raiders’ defensive coordinator job. Frazier, a former head coach in Minnesota and a seasoned defensive coordinator, spent the last two seasons as Seattle’s assistant head coach. That connection to new Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak - who also came from Seattle - makes him a logical candidate.
Zach Orr Drawing Interest
One name that keeps popping up in multiple conversations is Zach Orr. The former Ravens linebacker turned defensive coordinator has been a hot commodity since parting ways with Baltimore.
The Cowboys, Giants, and Chargers have all shown interest in Orr for high-ranking defensive positions. He even interviewed for the Chargers’ defensive coordinator job before they went with O’Leary.
Orr’s rise as a coach has mirrored the intensity he brought to the field during his playing days. After two seasons leading the Ravens’ defense, teams clearly believe he’s ready for a major role - and possibly even more responsibility down the road.
As NFL staffs continue to take shape, expect more college names to surface and more familiar NFL faces to land in new places. The line between the college and pro games continues to blur, and in today’s football world, coaching talent is as portable as ever.