Thursday’s “First Call” has a newsworthy twist on the potential courtship of Brian Flores back to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Another team is in the mix for Anthony Weaver. Andy Weidl has lots of competition to get the Atlanta Falcons general manager job.
And we find out if any teams in the NFL took a run at Indiana’s Curt Cignetti.
Eye on the competition
The Steelers are supposed to meet with Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver on Friday as a potential successor to Mike Tomlin as head coach.
However, Weaver is also being courted by Baltimore. Reportedly, the ex-Ravens player has also met with his former team for their head coaching vacancy.
Now we are learning that Weaver is getting interest from Buffalo. Dianna Russini of The Athletic is reporting that the Bills have submitted a request to interview him as well.
As the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers continue to show strong interest in Anthony Weaver for head coach, the Buffalo Bills have also submitted a request to interview the Dolphins’ defensive coordinator for head coach, per sources.
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) January 21, 2026
Miami’s defense wasn’t special in 2025. The unit was 22nd in the league in yards allowed at 348.8. It was 26th against the run at 132.4 yards yielded on the ground per game.
However, Weaver is believed to have strong leadership skills and is said to have potential head coaching CEO qualities that could resonate within a locker room.
So much for that
For those who were hoping that Brian Flores would become the Steelers’ defensive coordinator if he doesn’t get their head coaching job, that dream has died.
The Minnesota Vikings’ defensive coordinator has also interviewed for both the Steelers’ and Ravens’ top job. He was a defensive assistant here in 2022 and a former head coach of the Miami Dolphins.
Flores’ contract with Minnesota was set to expire at the end of the NFL calendar. However, the Vikings gave him a contract extension Wednesday.
FLO!!!
The #Vikings have signed Defensive Coordinator Brian Flores to a contract extension.
????: https://t.co/vQOhYZmNq6pic.twitter.com/LncdfXrgze
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) January 22, 2026
So that means if Flores doesn’t get a head coaching job, he’ll be staying in Minnesota.
“Brian has a unique ability to connect with players, understand their skill sets and put them in positions to maximize their impact on the field,” head coach Kevin O’Connell said in an organizational press release. “The identity of our defense is a reflection of his leadership and preparation. On a personal level, I’ve really valued the relationship we’ve built over the last three years, and that shared trust, alignment and high standard will continue to be critical to our success.”
ProFootballTalk.com reports that the Dallas Cowboys were going to make a hard run at Flores if he became a DC free agent and didn’t get a head coaching job.
Related
• U mad, bro?: Steelers fans express wide range of heated emotions after Mike Tomlin’s resignation
• Tim Benz: Concern over Mike Tomlin’s Steelers legacy is unnecessary … and James Harrison’s story shows why
• Madden Monday: Art Rooney II ‘wasted a decade,’ so expect the Steelers to ‘hire the wrong guy’
Who is the competition?
Steelers assistant general manager Andy Weidl might be looking for a promotion.
According to NFL.com, the Atlanta Falcons are considering Weidl for their vacant GM job. The Mt. Lebanon native was vice president of player personnel in Philadelphia before returning to Pittsburgh in 2022.
If Weidl is to be hired, though, there is a fairly stacked list of candidates that he will have to beat out.
Chiefs assistant GM Mike Bradway is on the list.
The #Falcons have requested to interview #Chiefs assistant GM Mike Bradway for their GM job, sources say.
A top lieutenant to GM Brett Veach, Bradway is next in a line of top KC personnel minds to explore a big job. pic.twitter.com/hRLyNtHQSb
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 21, 2026
Bears assistant GM Ian Cunningham and Texans assistant GM James Liipfert are also known to be on the Falcons’ wish list. San Francisco director of scouting and football ops Josh Williams was added Wednesday.
After firing Raheem Morris at the end of the season, Kevin Stefanski is going to be the head coach in Atlanta. He named former Brown offensive coordinator Tommy Rees as the OC for his staff with Falcons on Wednesday.
Nothing doin’
Some folks in Pittsburgh began to romanticize the idea of college national champion coach Curt Cignetti coming back to his native Pittsburgh.
But according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Indiana coach never got — or gave — much interest when it came to the NFL.
Schefter was on 97.1 WBNS in Columbus and said investigations into luring the Indiana coach away from Bloomington were minimal.
“He might’ve gotten one (call),” Schefter said at 40:30 of video below. “I’ve spoken to teams. I’ve brought up the name, and there was no traction. That doesn’t mean one of them couldn’t have reached out. They could have. But I never sensed that it was ever going to advance anywhere.”
It’s not clear if that one call came from Pittsburgh or not.
Prior to the Hoosiers’ victory over Miami in the national championship game, Cignetti told On3Sports.com, “I’m not an NFL guy. I made that decision a long time ago. I’ve always been a college football guy.”
Cignetti is 64 and has never coached in the NFL.