NFL Rumors: Latest Buzz Surrounding Top 2016 Head Coach Candidates

Josh McDaniels is interested in the Tennessee Titans job, but he may not even get a chance to speak with the Tennessee brass.

The New England Patriots offensive coordinator is linked to some head coaching vacancies, but coaching Marcus Mariota is one of his top priorities, per ESPN's John Clayton (via ESPN.com). Things could change on that front.

Also, the Cleveland Browns may be ready to wrap up their coaching search by stealing a division rival's coordinator away.

Here's your latest buzz in the NFL coaching world.

Browns Want to Hire Hue Jackson

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported early Monday afternoon that Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Hue Jackson was planning to interview with the New York Giants to become their next head coach.

That may not happen.

Rapoport later reported the Browns are planning to make a "big push" to make Jackson their next head coach and want to strike a deal some time soon.

Jackson has been linked to almost all of the open coaching vacancies around the league, including the San Francisco 49ers, according to the San Francisco Chronicle's Eric Branch, and Giants.

Jackson's track record the last two seasons in Cincinnati has been solid, coaching a Bengals offense that's finished in the top half of the league in points per game each year.

Cincinnati finished seventh in points scored in 2015.

Jackson only has one year of head coaching experience, but it was a good year in 2011 with the Oakland Raiders finishing 8-8. Jackson was fired in the offseason and replaced by Dennis Allen, who went 8-28 as the coach of the Raiders.

One Browns player who would like to see Jackson coaching the Browns is his former quarterback in Oakland and receiver in Cincinnati, Terrelle Pryor, per Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com:

"

Every day when I woke up (in Oakland), I was like, 'man, I get to go to work.' I wasn't even playing in 2011 when Hue was head coach, and you don't always feel a part of things. But Hue made it fun every single time.

He was such a great speaker and he'd get guys fired up and it was just so motivating.

It would be great [a] choice, I can tell you that.

"

Jackson has proven to be a solid head coach, but he was never given a fair opportunity. If the Browns go all-in, they need to trust Jackson will need time to turn this franchise around. 

Josh McDaniels Interested in Titans Job, Focused on Patriots 

Clayton reported on Jan. 6 that McDaniels has shown interest in the Titans job.

While that is still an option, McDaniels reassured reporters on Monday in a conference call that he is not focused on current job openings, and is preparing for Saturday's divisional-round matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs.

“I’m focused on the Chiefs, and there’s nothing to report,” McDaniels said, per Patriots.com. “I’m excited for this week right now and don’t really have anything to add to it.

McDaniels has not been a head coach since 2010 with the Denver Broncos. Since that time, he's been the offensive coordinator for the St. Louis Rams and is in his second stint with the Patriots.

Given the right kind of talent, McDaniels can be a good coach. In his first year with the Broncos in 2009, Denver started the season 6-0 before losing eight of the next 10. Kyle Orton was the quarterback of that team, for what it's worth.

A talented offensive coach like McDaniels could be the kind of coach Mariota needs. After all, he did call plays with Tom Brady as his quarterback.

But Wait...Mike Mularkey is the Front-Runner in Nashville?

Hold the phone on the McDaniels talk, however. If he wants the Tennessee job, he better set up an interview soon.

Rapoport is reporting that the Titans plan to interview interim coach Mike Mularkey later this week to become the permanent Tennessee head coach.

Mularkey went 2-7 in the nine games he spent as the interim, filling in for the fired Ken Whisenhunt after a 1-6 start. The Titans hold the No. 1 pick in the 2016 NFL draft.

Rapoport has noted that Mularkey is being considered by the Titans, and that there's a legitimate chance he can be retained.

"Mularkey is well-liked by (owners) the Adams family, that is one thing, and they really appreciate the kind of work he's done with Marcus Mariota," Rapoport said, per NFL.com's Kevin Patra. "They've lost a couple games at the end of the season, but all of that was without their rookie quarterback."

That first sentence is key. The new coach better be someone that Mariota is comfortable with. Although the Titans went 1-6 under Whisenhunt, the firing was questionable because it seemed to halt progress he and Mariota created.

It's an attractive job, and one that needs some continuity. Mularkey has that familiarity with the organization, and that may be what's best for Tennessee for right now.