Latest NFL Rumors, Trade Buzz and Coaching Reports Following Week 18

The NFL offseason is officially on.

Well, it is for a big chunk of the football world, at least.

The curtains closed on the 2025 campaign Sunday with its significance carrying through the very last play of the very last game—a missed field goal that granted the Pittsburgh Steelers the AFC North title and the final ticket to the playoff party. Just like that, 18 of the league's 32 teams immediately went into offseason mode, filling up the news wire and rumor mill with no hesitation.

We're here to dissect the latest rumblings and reports.

Coaches Out in Atlanta, Cleveland

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While it's never totally clear where the swords will land on Black Monday, there's an understanding in the coaching world that those cuts are coming. And they certainly have already.

On Sunday, the Atlanta Falcons fired both Raheem Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot, per ESPN's Adam Schefter. On Monday, the Cleveland Browns split from head coach Kevin Stefanski.

More changes could be coming, but that's already four vacancies that need filling after the Tennessee Titans and New York Giants both made mid-season subtractions.

As for the most recent moves, Morris was let go after guiding Atlanta to 8-9 records during his two seasons at the helm, while Stefanski had a losing record during four of his six seasons in Cleveland.

Aaron Rodgers Sticking Around for Another Season?

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The Steelers were hoping to see immediate returns on their offseason investment in Aaron Rodgers, and he delivered. The 42-year-old didn't exactly set the stat sheet ablaze (24 touchdown passes against seven interceptions), but he still did just enough to help Pittsburgh claim its first division title since 2020.

The question now is the veteran signal-caller might consider running it back with this bunch for what would be his 22nd NFL season. And it sounds like there's a chance it could happen.

"The Steelers have been open to Aaron Rodgers returning for another year," ESPN's Jeremy Fowler revealed on SportsCenter on Saturday. "That's been the feeling throughout the season. They've been happy with the way things have gone. They've felt he's held up physically for the most part."

As Fowler admitted, it could "probably" be months until anything gets decided, but bringing Rodgers back could have merit. Beyond having a reliable player at such a critical position, Pittsburgh could potentially have a valuable mentor, too, if it takes a quarterback early in the upcoming draft.

Minnesota Mulling Quarterback Change?

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Very little went according to plan for the Minnesota Vikings during J.J. McCarthy's first season as their starting quarterback. In fact, things went so awry that the No. 10 pick of the 2024 draft, who had more interceptions (12) than touchdown passes (11), may not get a second crack at it.

McCarthy will stay with the Vikings, "but that doesn't guarantee he'll be the starter," per The Athletic's Dianna Russini. The reporter added the Vikings will be eyeing "established options via trade or free agency to strengthen its quarterback room."

ESPN's Kevin Seifert chimed in as well, reporting that Vikings likely have "a renewed interest in adding a starting-caliber veteran to pair and possibly compete with McCarthy." Seifert added that the 2025 plan included pairing McCarthy with Daniel Jones, but "the Vikings had misread Jones' level of interest in their scheme and culture," and he wound up seeing the Indianapolis Colts as the best "fit."

One rocky—and, perhaps notably, injury-impacted—season doesn't have to be career-defining for McCarthy, but his role in the franchise's future certainly seems less defined than it did coming into the campaign. His long-term outlook feels totally unknown, so it would make sense for Minnesota to seek out more stability alongside him.