NFL head-coach openings buzz: Rumors, candidates, interviews - ESPN

Four NFL coaching spots have been filled, but four more remain open as we gear up for the conference championship games. The Patriots got the ball rolling by promoting Jerod Mayo to fill Bill Belichick's shoes, and then the Raiders gave interim coach Antonio Pierce the full-time gig, and the Titans chose to bring in Brian Callahan to replace Mike Vrabel. Most recently, the Chargers hired former Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh on Wednesday night. That leaves the Falcons, Seahawks, Commanders and Panthers.

NFL insiders Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano dove in on those four situations, making calls around the league for the latest intel. Which direction might those teams go? Who are the favorites in each spot? Who is interviewing? And when could we know where Belichick and Vrabel might land? It's all here, as Dan and Jeremy empty their notebooks with everything they've heard on the NFL's coaching landscape.

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Falcons | Seahawks
Commanders | Panthers

Graziano: I had been told late last week by people close to this situation to expect a resolution between the Falcons and Belichick on Monday or Tuesday of this week. Obviously, that didn't happen. But as of Wednesday evening, my understanding is that Belichick to the Falcons remains a possibility, perhaps even the most likely scenario.

There are hurdles to clear, though, in terms of what the organizational structure would look like under Belichick. Longtime Falcons team president Rich McKay is a very powerful figure in that organization and a trusted lieutenant of team owner Arthur Blank. His role likely would be reduced if Belichick came to town, and there's also a feeling that Belichick would bring a lot of his own people for positions up and down the organization.