play1:03Rich Eisen: J.J. McCarthy looked awful at times vs. BearsRich Eisen evaluates the pros and cons of J.J. McCarthy’s performance in a loss to the Bears
play0:57Rex Ryan praises Broncos’ defense in win vs. ChiefsRex Ryan joins “Get Up” and evaluates the Broncos’ defense after their win over the Chiefs.
Jeremy FowlerCloseJeremy Fowlersenior NFL national reporterJeremy Fowler is a senior national NFL writer for ESPN, covering the entire league including breaking news. Jeremy also contributes to SportsCenter both as a studio analyst and a sideline reporter covering for NFL games. He is an Orlando, Florida native who joined ESPN in 2014 after covering college football for CBSSports.com.Follow on XDan GrazianoCloseDan Grazianosenior NFL national reporterDan Graziano is a senior NFL national reporter for ESPN, covering the entire league and breaking news. Dan also contributes to Get Up, NFL Live, SportsCenter, ESPN Radio, Sunday NFL Countdown and Fantasy Football Now. He is a New Jersey native who joined ESPN in 2011, and he is also the author of two published novels.Follow on XNov 19, 2025, 06:15 AM ET
Rich Eisen: J.J. McCarthy looked awful at times vs. BearsRich Eisen evaluates the pros and cons of J.J. McCarthy’s performance in a loss to the Bears
Rex Ryan praises Broncos’ defense in win vs. ChiefsRex Ryan joins “Get Up” and evaluates the Broncos’ defense after their win over the Chiefs.
What are you hearing on potential returns for Joe Burrow and Jayden Daniels this season?
Who is the hottest name on the head coaching market right now?
As we prepare for Week 12 of the 2025 NFL season, insiders Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano have been making calls to sources around the league for the latest news and buzz on key situations — including some nuggets that might matter for fantasy football.
Additionally, we have the latest on the head coaching carousel. The Titans and Giants already made changes, but who else is on the hot seat with seven weeks left in the season? And who are the hottest names to watch as potential candidates for interviews? It’s all here, as our national reporters answer big questions and empty their notebooks heading into Week 12.
Graziano: I’m pretty sure the way this season has unfolded has thrown the Commanders for a loop. They did not see a 3-8 record coming. So this bye week offers a chance to reset and make some longer-lens decisions without having to prepare for a game. Daniels will lobby to get back on the field as soon as he can, and the fact that the injury he’s dealing with right now isn’t to his legs or his throwing arm certainly offers grounds for encouragement.
ESPN’s Kevin Seifert put it best Monday: The Vikings’ two goals — competing for championships and developing a young quarterback — are cannibalizing each other.
Graziano: That’s my question, looking ahead. The schedule eases out a bit and McCarthy should have a chance to show improvement over the final seven weeks of the season (and beyond, if they rebound and make the playoffs). But if he doesn’t, what do they do in the offseason? Bring in a veteran mentor? Bring in a veteran for competition, the way the Colts did with Jones for a struggling Anthony Richardson Sr. this past offseason? Look to draft a potential replacement?
Rich Eisen evaluates the pros and cons of J.J. McCarthy’s performance in a loss to the Bears
People I talk to also are watching the situation in Cincinnati with Taylor, and potentially Cleveland with Kevin Stefanski (who I think would be a candidate in other places if the Browns were to decide to let him go). The easy answer a few weeks ago would have been Mike McDaniel, but he survived the firing of GM Chris Grier, and the Dolphins are playing hard for him. Do you get the sense McDaniel can still salvage his job?
Either way, something has to change with the offense and playcaller Chip Kelly, whose name could surface for college jobs again. The 30th-ranked offense is a tough watch, especially when it involves the act of handing off the ball.
Fowler: This cycle feels different than the past one, which featured two clear-cut standouts in Ben Johnson and Mike Vrabel. Those two quickly turned around Chicago and New England, respectively. This cycle is far more wide open.
But there aren’t a ton of places right now where a playcalling offensive coordinator — who isn’t also the head coach — is having the kind of success that lands interviews. Could teams start looking beyond the coordinator positions to position coaches with potential, such as Josh McCown in Minnesota. He has been on head coach interviews in the past and is well regarded. McCarthy turning it around in these final weeks of the season would help his case.
Fowler: Yes, this seems like the ideal year to explore young change-of-pace options beyond the trendy coordinator names. McCown’s a good one. And Broncos quarterbacks coach Davis Webb, Jaguars offensive coordinator Grant Udinski, Panthers offensive coordinator Brad Idzik and Rams passing game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase come to mind in that mold.
The thinned-out offensive pool helps Kafka, who should have opportunities leaguewide and could push for the Giants job full time with a strong finish. Seattle’s Klint Kubiak has made an impression with the Seahawks attack, as have Indianapolis’ Jim Bob Cooter and Tampa Bay’s Josh Grizzard. Baltimore’s Todd Monken has interviewed for several jobs in recent years.
To me, though, Dan, the emerging defensive pool is really intriguing. I expect Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter to be on teams’ radar, as well as Rams’ DC Chris Shula. A name to file away: Seattle’s Aden Durde, a British minority candidate. I also wouldn’t be shocked to see Indy’s Lou Anarumo interview in New York, which showed interest in him in 2022.
Rex Ryan praises Broncos’ defense in win vs. Chiefs
Rex Ryan joins “Get Up” and evaluates the Broncos’ defense after their win over the Chiefs.
Graziano: The Bengals plan to give Burrow more work in practice this week than he got last week. He has said he’s targeting the Thanksgiving Day game against the Ravens, which is of course next Thursday. A lot of the answer here will depend on how his toe responds to the work he’s getting in practice. But from what I’ve been told, so far, so good. If he doesn’t make it back for Thanksgiving, the Bengals would still have a couple of more days after that left on his 21-day practice window to activate him for the Week 14 game in Buffalo.
Fowler: Burrow produces at an elite level when healthy but has also missed significant portions of three different seasons since 2020. So returning to play — even if the playoffs are out of reach — could help build confidence and momentum for both the player and team. Maybe the Bengals opt to save him for 2026, but I could see him playing this season. With Cincinnati in danger of a third consecutive season without a playoff berth, coach Zac Taylor would welcome Burrow’s return. After all, the Bengals’ organization could be taking a hard look at the operation in the offseason as a hopeful season turns sour. With owner Mike Brown turning 90 in August, expect executive vice president Katie Blackburn to play a pivotal role in the direction of the franchise.
Fowler: The accuracy is a concern. There’s no hiding from that. Balls are sailing, and that affects the entire offense. McCarthy needs to hit the layups. The Vikings will be working to help him find more consistency as a thrower. From a developmental standpoint, the team still believes in his work ethic and skill set — he’s “made of the right stuff,” as coach Kevin O’Connell said Monday. Minnesota really has no choice but to work through this and help McCarthy manage the growing pains. Carson Wentz underwent season-ending shoulder surgery, and Max Brosmer has potential but is an undrafted free agent. Perhaps Brosmer would get a shot if McCarthy were a middle-round pick, but I just don’t see that happening in the short term.
Graziano: They sure are, as Kevin lays out well, and you can see some of the frustration from the other players on the offense. Justin Jefferson slamming his helmet on the sideline isn’t something you see very often. I think that’s a big part of the concern the Vikings have — keeping everything together around McCarthy as he endures the growing pains. I don’t believe they’ve seriously considered going to Brosmer, who as you mentioned probably needs even more seasoning than McCarthy. The Wentz injury has really deprived them of any serious alternative even if they wanted to sit McCarthy to let him catch his breath.
And I agree that Minnesota still does believe in him, and it points to his fourth-quarter efforts in the games against the Bears as proof that he has the right kind of stuff in him. But he’s obviously missing too many throws, and by way too much. A scout with another team told me this week that McCarthy’s throwing at only one speed — all fastballs — and attributed that to trying to be the hero in a situation where he knows his team is counting on him to help it win. The general sense I get from inside the Vikings’ building and out is that he just needs time and reps. The problem is, as Kevin writes, the plan was to compete this year while McCarthy ramped up, and his sluggish development is keeping them from doing so.
Fowler: Most NFL storylines pale in comparison to the Vikings’ recent quarterback journey. They could have had a variation of Sam Darnold, Daniel Jones and Aaron Rodgers quarterbacking the team. Those passers are a combined 21-9 on the season. The Vikings’ thinking — which is typically correct when a rookie quarterback is on the books — is to load up the roster with support on both sides of the ball, hoping to contend for a Super Bowl with the starter on a rookie-scale deal. As a result, the Vikings lead the league with a $344.9 million payroll. But all of this is contingent on the young quarterback showing progress. Right now, Minnesota has the next seven games to cash in on that investment — or possibly pivot to a new plan.