Dec 4, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Washington Redskins outside linebackers coach Greg Manusky against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. Photo Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
The Washington Redskins decided to stay in-house for their new defensive coordinator by promoting outside linebackers coach Greg Manusky to the position, according to multiple reports Sunday.
Redskins coach Jay Gruden fired Joe Barry on Jan. 6 after his second year as defensive coordinator in Washington (8-7-1), which saw its 28th-ranked defense in yards allowed taken to task in late-season losses to the Dallas Cowboys, Arizona Cardinals, Carolina Panthers and New York Giants.
Manusky will be Gruden’s third defensive coordinator in four seasons. It will be the 50-year-old Manusky’s fourth stint as a DC.
Prior to joining the Redskins last year, Manusky held defensive coordinator positions with the San Francisco 49ers (2007-2010), the San Diego Chargers (2011) and the Indianapolis Colts (2012-2015). He began his coaching career in Washington as linebackers coach in 2001.
The Redskins also fired defensive backs coach Perry Fewell and defensive line coach Robb Akey after the disappointing season.
–The Green Bay Packers lost three players to injuries in the first half of the NFC Championship Game against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday.
Safety Micah Hyde left in the second quarter with a shoulder injury and left guard Lane Taylor was forced out shortly before halftime because of a knee injury.
The Packers earlier lost reserve safety Kentrell Brice with a shoulder injury suffered while making a tackle on the opening kickoff.
Green Bay came into the game with five players listed as questionable because of injuries, but wide receivers Jordy Nelson, Davonte Adams and Geronimo Allison, safety Morgan Burnett and cornerback Quentin Rollins all played.
–The Pittsburgh Steelers downplayed an early Sunday morning incident when a fire alarm was pulled at the team hotel in Boston.
None of the players or coaches had to evacuate their rooms after the alarms went off around 3:40 a.m. ET.
The Steelers will play the New England Patriots on Sunday night in the AFC Championship Game at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass.
Burt Lauten, the Steelers’ director of communications, told NFL Network that quiet was restored within minutes of the alarm sounding. When firefighters arrived, they determined it was a false alarm and cleared the scene.
Massachusetts State Police apprehended and charged a man who pulled the fire alarm.
Dennis Harrison, 25, of East Boston, has been charged with disorderly conduct, disturbing the peace and pulling a false fire alarm at the Steelers’ airport hotel, according to a statement from state police.
Later Sunday morning, fire alarms also went off at Gillette Stadium as sprinklers came on in the concession area, which led to a partial evacuation of mostly media and stadium workers.
–Chip Kelly, the former head coach in Philadelphia and San Francisco, reportedly could be in line to replace Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan, who is expected to become the next coach of the 49ers.
Jay Glazer of FOX Sports reported Sunday that the Falcons have lined up three candidates to take the job, including the man that Shanahan would replace with the 49ers. Glazer reported that Kelly is one of the potential additions to Falcons head coach Dan Quinn’s staff.
NFL rules give Shanahan the opportunity to have a second interview with the 49ers next week should the Falcons advance to the Super Bowl.
Kelly, 53, was fired by the Eagles less than three seasons into his tenure as head coach in December 2015 but remained out of work only one month before the 49ers hired him last January.
Kelly was fired at the end of the 2016 season after the 49ers finished 2-14 in his lone year in San Francisco.
