2025-26 NFL Thread

[GB Warrior]

A shining example of why records (and stats for individual players) don't always tell the story.

Canales did an incredible job with the team everyone expected to be one of the bottom 3-4 teams in the NFC again. Meanwhile, Morris treaded water at best with a talented young team and then imploded midseason.

Personally I think Morris was toast as soon as they choked away a lead and lost to the Jets to lose a 6th of their last 7 games.  And with Fontenot getting the ax, no brainer.

In other news, Stefanski fired.  I think he'll get another job quickly

I don't know what to make of Stefanski. He's a really good coach, no doubt about it. Seeing Florio postulate that the Packers would dump MLF for him is mostly clickbait but it's an interesting exercise. It's been years since I think Stefanski has had a CHANCE to be a good coach. But it's been long enough that I wonder if teams will be cautious.

[Pakuni]

Pete Carroll is one and done.
Wouldn't be a surprise is Aaron Glenn soon follows suit.

[Billy Hoyle]

Pete Carroll is one and done.
Wouldn't be a surprise is Aaron Glenn soon follows suit.

The Jets would have to have competent leadership for that to happen.

[jesmu84]

Pete Carroll is one and done.
Wouldn't be a surprise is Aaron Glenn soon follows suit.

Depends how Madden 27 grades Glenn

[Pakuni]

The Jets would have to have competent leadership for that to happen.

Wild that a team led by a former CB became the first in NFL history to have zero interceptions in a season.

[GB Warrior]

Depends how Madden 27 grades Glenn

He'd be their best corner

[Pakuni]

Jonathan Gannon out in Arizona.
That's a franchise really in need of a reset, but can they find someone to take Kyler off their hands? And with the Raiders and Jets picking in front of them, will there be a QB for them to draft?

[JWags85]

I don't know what to make of Stefanski. He's a really good coach, no doubt about it. Seeing Florio postulate that the Packers would dump MLF for him is mostly clickbait but it's an interesting exercise. It's been years since I think Stefanski has had a CHANCE to be a good coach. But it's been long enough that I wonder if teams will be cautious.

My two close friends that are Browns fans think he's a really good coach, agree that the front office hasn't helped him, but they do feel like he mailed it in the last 2 years and was needlessly stubborn/inflexible. Thought it was blatantly obviously he never wanted nor liked Sanders and managed him very poorly as a result.  They didn't think it was some conspiracy but rather just a stubborn coach preference and misalignment with the front office.

And neither were Sanders fanboys or champions, they just thought Gabriel was terrible with no potential and wanted a realistic look at Sanders in a lost season.  The sentiment was basically "if we saw Stefanski coaching Sanders like he did with Baker early on, it would have been a totally different QB.  Not necessarily a very good one, but something to build on"

So that I think may give some teams pause, not necessarily because of Sanders, but Stefanski being stubborn and apathetic in a tough situation

[JWags85]

Jonathan Gannon out in Arizona.
That's a franchise really in need of a reset, but can they find someone to take Kyler off their hands? And with the Raiders and Jets picking in front of them, will there be a QB for them to draft?

There are plenty of hires that look bad in hindsight, but Gannon looked like a terrible choice from the jump, largely due to what it felt like the Cardinals needed.

As for QBs, depends if Simpson's leaving I guess?

It's a weird draft for QBs because it's very thin at the top, even if Simpson comes out.  But in the early 2nd day rounds, you have Allar and Nussmeier who were both projected top 10 picks who fell off a cliff this year.

But they need a coach and QB solution before they waste MHJ anymore than already has happened

[GB Warrior]

My two close friends that are Browns fans think he's a really good coach, agree that the front office hasn't helped him, but they do feel like he mailed it in the last 2 years and was needlessly stubborn/inflexible. Thought it was blatantly obviously he never wanted nor liked Sanders and managed him very poorly as a result.  They didn't think it was some conspiracy but rather just a stubborn coach preference and misalignment with the front office.

And neither were Sanders fanboys or champions, they just thought Gabriel was terrible with no potential and wanted a realistic look at Sanders in a lost season.  The sentiment was basically "if we saw Stefanski coaching Sanders like he did with Baker early on, it would have been a totally different QB.  Not necessarily a very good one, but something to build on"

So that I think may give some teams pause, not necessarily because of Sanders, but Stefanski being stubborn and apathetic in a tough situation

You've convinced me. Perfect Packer.

[Pakuni]

There are plenty of hires that look bad in hindsight, but Gannon looked like a terrible choice from the jump, largely due to what it felt like the Cardinals needed.

As for QBs, depends if Simpson's leaving I guess?

It's a weird draft for QBs because it's very thin at the top, even if Simpson comes out.  But in the early 2nd day rounds, you have Allar and Nussmeier who were both projected top 10 picks who fell off a cliff this year.

But they need a coach and QB solution before they waste MHJ anymore than already has happened

Pete Thamel is reporting that Simpson likely comes out, and what happened to Nussmeier this year is a factor in that decision. You could throw Cade Klubnik into that discussion as well. Rough year for the projected top QBs (Nussmeier, Arch, Klubnik, Allar, Leavitt, Iamaleava).

But I don't see Simpson as a top 3 pick with the way his season ended. If the Jets pass on a QB at #2, I could see them taking him with their second first (#16), but unless he's amazing in the predraft process, I wonder if that's his ceiling. Could see him going to Pittsburgh, Cleveland or the Rams later in the first.

This year's QB crop definitely won't match 2024, but with Mendoza and Moore at the top, it's much better than last year and at least on par with 2023 (Bryce Young, CJ Stroud).

[JWags85]

Pete Thamel is reporting that Simpson likely comes out, and what happened to Nussmeier this year is a factor in that decision. You could throw Cade Klubnik into that discussion as well. Rough year for the projected top QBs (Nussmeier, Arch, Klubnik, Allar, Leavitt, Iamaleava).

But I don't see Simpson as a top 3 pick with the way his season ended. If the Jets pass on a QB at #2, I could see them taking him with their second first (#16), but unless he's amazing in the predraft process, I wonder if that's his ceiling. Could see him going to Pittsburgh, Cleveland or the Rams later in the first.

This year's QB crop definitely won't match 2024, but with Mendoza and Moore at the top, it's much better than last year and at least on par with 2023 (Bryce Young, CJ Stroud).

I completely forgot about Klubnik.  Another interesting case.  He was so mediocre his first 2 years, given he was the consensus top QB in the class, that it sort of overshadowed him being good QB the last 2 years.  But

[Dish]

I have zero feel for Bears/Packers, other than I think the one outcome that won't happen is the Bears win by 14+ points. Chicago's defense has been atrocious and even with a depleted roster, I fully expect Green Bay to take full advantage. Packers are 14/24 on third down's against the Bears in their two games against one another and I expect the Packers offensive gameplan to be pinpoint.

One thing that has been not working as well for the Bears since the Eagles game has been their run game. If I were the Bears and I won the toss on Saturday night, I'd take the ball first and really try to establish the run. In yesterday's game against Detroit, the Bears second possession didn't happen until the second quarter (both because they couldn't get off the field defensively and because their first possession was 3 and out).

[JWags85]

I have zero feel for Bears/Packers, other than I think the one outcome that won't happen is the Bears win by 14+ points. Chicago's defense has been atrocious and even with a depleted roster, I fully expect Green Bay to take full advantage. Packers are 14/24 on third down's against the Bears in their two games against one another and I expect the Packers offensive gameplan to be pinpoint.

One thing that has been not working as well for the Bears since the Eagles game has been their run game. If I were the Bears and I won the toss on Saturday night, I'd take the ball first and really try to establish the run. In yesterday's game against Detroit, the Bears second possession didn't happen until the second quarter (both because they couldn't get off the field defensively and because their first possession was 3 and out).

Since 2011, home teams that lost their last regular season game are 22-5 in their playoff opener.  That's encouraging.

Dish, any thought on Johnson seemingly going extra vanilla on purpose with schemes and formations yesterday?  Not necessarily throwing the game, but caring less about the outcome and more about giving GB less film/material going into the playoffs?  Just something I thought about given how "un-Bears" like they looked most of the game from a scheme/strategy persepective.

[tower912]

Their is already 16 games of tape.

[Scoop Snoop]

Their is already 16 games of tape.

There are.

[GB Warrior]

The bears should turn Caleb into Jimmy G and run the ball 50 times against the corpse of the Packers DL

[tower912]

There are.

Bad me.

[Dish]

Since 2011, home teams that lost their last regular season game are 22-5 in their playoff opener.  That's encouraging.

Dish, any thought on Johnson seemingly going extra vanilla on purpose with schemes and formations yesterday?  Not necessarily throwing the game, but caring less about the outcome and more about giving GB less film/material going into the playoffs?  Just something I thought about given how "un-Bears" like they looked most of the game from a scheme/strategy persepective.

I thought it was curious, and seemed that way from the get go yesterday. It had the feel of a hybrid pre-season/regular season game from the Bears. I really don't understand why they committed to man coverage most of the game and stayed in it. It was just odd.

I give Ben Johnson a lot of credit for player development and his role in that (at least on the offensive side). He still does a lot of odd things that I really don't understand though. He wastes too many downs inside the 10 still (to my liking). The amount of times they've come out flat and lifeless is catching up with them.

[MU82]

The Athletic's Dianna Russini says the Vikings might already have seen enough of McCarthy.

"Minnesota plans to explore established options via trade or free agency to strengthen its quarterback room," she said. Little is off the table in terms of how aggressive the Vikings will be, according to multiple team and league sources.

[tower912]

Because there is an abundance of good QBs currently sitting the bench. 

Cousins would be a good fit.

[WhiteTrash]

I thought it was curious, and seemed that way from the get go yesterday. It had the feel of a hybrid pre-season/regular season game from the Bears. I really don't understand why they committed to man coverage most of the game and stayed in it. It was just odd.

I give Ben Johnson a lot of credit for player development and his role in that (at least on the offensive side). He still does a lot of odd things that I really don't understand though. He wastes too many downs inside the 10 still (to my liking). The amount of times they've come out flat and lifeless is catching up with them.

That's fair, but Bears fans are talking football, and not draft, in January. 

I've been beaten down over the years, so "just happy to be here" applies to me.

[WhiteTrash]

The Athletic's Dianna Russini says the Vikings might already have seen enough of McCarthy.

"Minnesota plans to explore established options via trade or free agency to strengthen its quarterback room," she said. Little is off the table in terms of how aggressive the Vikings will be, according to multiple team and league sources.

Rodgers?

[MUBurrow]

The Athletic's Dianna Russini says the Vikings might already have seen enough of McCarthy.

"Minnesota plans to explore established options via trade or free agency to strengthen its quarterback room," she said. Little is off the table in terms of how aggressive the Vikings will be, according to multiple team and league sources.

"That would be dope."

[Pakuni]

The Athletic's Dianna Russini says the Vikings might already have seen enough of McCarthy.

"Minnesota plans to explore established options via trade or free agency to strengthen its quarterback room," she said. Little is off the table in terms of how aggressive the Vikings will be, according to multiple team and league sources.

She also wrote this:

"Though Minnesota is open to bringing in veteran competition for the 22-year-old, O'Connell and general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah have no plans to move on from the quarterback they traded up to draft less than two years ago. McCarthy's continued development will be a central storyline for the Vikings as they enter an offseason filled with questions surrounding their aging and expensive roster."

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6936695/2026/01/03/nfl-rumors-news-coach-carousel-black-monday-2026/