Jacksonville Jaguars coordinator Anthony Campanile jets to Arizona, pursuing the Cardinals' head-coaching vacancy after a busy interview week.
Anthony Campanile and the Arizona Cardinals on Wednesday surprised NFL watchers and perhaps the Jacksonville Jaguars, as the Jags defensive coordinator is reportedly flying to Glendale for a second interview for the Cards' head-coach opening.
Campanile on Monday interviewed with the Baltimore Ravens to replace John Harbaugh, though he is reportedly not a finalist for the job.
He had a virtual interview on Saturday with the Miami Dolphins as they continue their search to replace Mike McDaniel, who was fired on Jan. 8. McDaniel on Tuesday was hired as the new offensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Chargers, under head coach Jim Harbaugh.
Neither Campanile nor the Cardinals organization released news of the Cards holding an initial meeting with the Jags' assistant. The team is flying Campanile in Wednesday night for a second, in-person meeting, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapaport.
The Ravens ousted their coach Harbaugh on Jan. 6 after 18 years, which included winning Super Bowl XLVII, six AFC North titles, four AFC Championship appearances.
Harbaugh on Jan. 20 was hired to take the helm of the New York Giants.
At the same time the Jaguars try to sit tight while their celebrated defensive coordinator seriously considers leaving Jacksonville after one season, the team's offensive coordinator, Grant Udinski, is also busy riding the coaching carousel this offseason.
Udinski is expected to have a second interview in the coming days with the Cleveland Browns, after first meeting with team officials on Saturday.
Though it appears the Browns have a legitimate interest in Udinski, the team already had a second interview on Monday with its own defensive coordinator, Jim Schwartz, who is rumored to be first in line to take over for Kevin Stefanski, the two-time NFL Coach of the Year who was ousted on Jan. 5.
Stefanski on Saturday was hired as the new coach of the Atlanta Falcons.
Schwartz, the mastermind behind Cleveland's fearsome defense for the past four years, looks to have benefited from two recent developments -- the Buffalo Bills firing head coach Sean McDermott on Monday, and former Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel eschewing the Browns' pursuit of him in order to accept the offensive coordinator position under Los Angeles Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh. McDermott's ouster vaulted the Bills' vacancy to the top of head-coach hopefuls' wish list, given QB Josh Allen's presence and the talent collective that's already in place in Buffalo.
The NFL currently has six teams looking for a new head coach. The Las Vegas Raiders and Pittsburgh Steelers in addition to the Cardinals, Ravens, Bills and Browns. The league had seen a rash of 10 head coach vacancies during and after the season, but in addition to the Giants and the Falcons, two other teams have since made hires.
The Dolphins on Tuesday hired Jeff Hafley, the now former defensive coordinator for the Green Bay Packers; and the Tennessee Titans on Monday hired Robert Saleh, the two-time defensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers.
Saleh previously had been hired away to coach the New York Jets, who he led from 2021 to 2024 until he was let go and returned to the Niners under coach Kyle Shanahan.
Campanile was reportedly on the Titans' wish list for interviews after the season ended. Tennessee was the first NFL team to fire its coach this season, ousting Brian Callahan on Oct. 13 after the team started 1-5. Interim coach and once-offensive coordinator Mike McCoy was among the reported 15 candidates the Titans interviewed to fill the permanent position. Saleh and the Titans have not indicated who will be hired as the team's next offensive coordinator -- or who will fill what is presumed to be the many other openings created in the wake of Callahan's firing and Saleh's takeover.
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