NFL Roundup: McDaniels, Patricia Back on the Job

Foxborough, Mass. — Patriots assistants Josh McDaniels and Matt Patricia said they were humbled to speak with NFL teams about head coaching vacancies over the weekend but have turned their attention to preparing for Saturday’s playoff matchup with the Texans.

New England’s offensive and defensive coordinators acknowledged on Monday that they had participated in interviews, but neither specified which teams they met with.

The San Diego Chargers said Saturday that they had completed an interview with Patricia, and the Los Angeles Rams had also planned to speak with both Patricia and McDaniels.

McDaniels, who was a head coach with the Denver Broncos in 2009 and 2010, said these latest interviews “will play out how it’s supposed to play out.”

Patricia has spent all 13 of his years in the NFL as a Patriots assistant. He said he was fascinated to learn about different organizations, but said his focus is now on Houston.

The Patriots had a bye last week, leaving Saturday as the only available day for NFL teams to speak with McDaniels and Patricia.

Coach Bill Belichick has previously voiced his support of both coordinators being candidates for head coaching jobs.

Jags Hire Marrone,Bring Back Coughlin

Jacksonville, Fla. — Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan hired Doug Marrone as head coach and brought back Tom Coughlin in a front-office role on Monday, according to a person familiar with the search process. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the team has not announced the hiring. ESPN first reported Marrone had been chosen to replace Gus Bradley, who was fired in late November after going 14-48 in three-plus seasons.

The Jaguars (3-13) also gave general manager Dave Caldwell a two-year contract extension, the person said. So Marrone, Coughlin and Caldwell are now signed through 2019, giving the new regime a three-year window to, at the very least, make Jacksonville relevant in the AFC South.

Coughlin, Jacksonville’s first coach and a winner of two Super Bowls in 12 seasons with the New York Giants, will serve as executive vice president of football operations. It’s unclear how much say Coughlin will have in the NFL draft and in free agency. Caldwell has been the primary decision maker in all personnel moves the last four years.

Niners Conduct Interviews

Santa Clara, Calif. — The San Francisco 49ers interviewed Washington offensive coordinator Sean McVay for the team’s vacant head coaching job and Carolina assistant general manager Brandon Beane for the GM job on Monday.

CEO Jed York met with McVay first and then sat down with Beane later as part of his cross-country interview tour to find replacements for fired coach Chip Kelly and general manager Trent Baalke following a 2-14 season that tied the worst mark in franchise history.

Steelers Assistant Charged With Assault

Pittsburgh — Former Pro Bowl linebacker and current Pittsburgh Steelers assistant coach Joey Porter was charged early Monday with assaulting a doorman at a bar and a police officer who intervened hours after the team’s wild card win over the Miami Dolphins.

The altercation happened at about 9:30 p.m. Sunday, following the Steelers’ 30-12 home victory over the Dolphins in the opening round of the NFL playoffs. Pittsburgh placed Porter on leave during a review.

The Steelers visit Kansas City in the divisional round of the playoffs next weekend.

According to a criminal complaint, Officer Paul Abel was working security at another nearby bar when he was told by an off-duty officer that the doorman at The Flats on Carson Street was being threatened by a Steeler.