Fins to interview Campanile for defensive coordinator opening
The Dolphins plan to interview linebackers coach Anthony Campanile this week for their defensive coordinator opening, NFL Network reported Monday.
Campanile, the first known in-house candidate for the vacancy, has coached Miami’s linebackers for the past three seasons.
Before joining the Dolphins, Campanile, 40, served as a college assistant for several years at Rutgers, Boston College and Michigan, where he also coached linebackers. He has never been a defensive coordinator in the NFL but spent one season as a co-defensive coordinator at Boston College, and also spent time as an offensive coordinator and defensive coordinator at Don Bosco Prep in New Jersey. Campanile was a four-year player at Rutgers from 2001 to 2004.
The Dolphins fired Josh Boyer as defensive coordinator on Jan. 19 and dismissed three assistants. NFL Network also previously reported Miami has submitted a request to interview Sean Desai. Desai, 39, was the Chicago Bears’ defensive coordinator for the 2021 season and spent this past season as an associate head coach with the Seattle Seahawks.
Elsewhere, the Washington Commanders on Monday announced they are interviewing Dolphins associate head coach/ running backs coach Eric Studesville for their offensive coordinator opening. Studesville held the title of co-offensive coordinator for Miami during the 2021 season. He was retained by head coach Mike McDaniel and stripped of the coordinator role but given the associate head coach title.
— DANIEL OYEFUSI
ELSEWHERE
Chiefs: Coach Andy
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Reid said Monday that
Patrick Mahomes will play in Kansas City’s AFC title game against the Bengals, and that the high ankle sprain the All-Pro quarterback sustained against the Jaguars last weekend is less severe than the one he played through during the 2019 season opener.
“He’s going to play,” Reid told a group of local reporters. “That’s his mindset.”
Mahomes was hurt in the first quarter of Saturday’s win over Jacksonville when pass rusher
Arden Key landed heavily on his right ankle. Mahomes finished the drive but was hobbling badly, and Reid and the training staff forced him to get an X-ray — it came back negative — and do some agility testing at halftime before allowing him back in the game.
In the meantime, backup Chad Henne led the Chiefs on a 12-play, 98yard touchdown drive in the 27-20 victory.
Mahomes played well in the second half, but the Chiefs dramatically altered their offense to account for his reduced mobility.
Mahomes rarely went under center and threw almost exclusively from the pocket, rather than scrambling to buy time and make the many offschedule throws that have made him so dynamic over the years.
He still threw for 195 yards and two touchdowns, including the eventual clincher with about 7 minutes to play.
Mahomes said afterward that his ankle felt better than expected and he vowed to play in the AFC title game — the fifth consecutive one hosted by Kansas City and a rematch of last year’s game won by Cincinnati in overtime.
“Pain is pain,” Mahomes said. “You’re going to have to deal with it.”
LATE SUNDAY 49ers 19, Cowboys
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12: Two more interceptions from Dak Prescott.
Another missed extra point by Brett Maher.
Some bizarre play-calling at the end of the game.
It all added up to another playoff exit for Dallas and more questions about what needs to be done to get them over the hump.
Prescott had two turnovers and led only one touchdown drive and the Cowboys fell short of the NFC title game for the 12th straight postseason trip, losing to host San Francisco in the divisional round.
“I felt we were in a good situation to come in here and win this thing,” owner Jerry Jones said. “Frankly, I wouldn’t say surprised, I would say just real disappointed that we maybe couldn’t make something happen.”
A franchise that won three Super Bowl titles in a four-year span early in Jones’ tenure is now known mostly for playoff flops.