NFL notebook: 3 more HC vacancies reportedly filled

The Browns are reportedly promoting offensive coordinator Freddie Kitchens to
head coach, with an official announcement expected soon. Kitchens, 44,
replaces Hue Jackson, who was fired in October after compiling a 3-36-1
record.

After parting ways with Jackson, the Browns promoted Kitchens from running
backs coach to offensive coordinator and named defensive coordinator Gregg
Williams as interim head coach. Williams has been relieved of his duties and
is no longer with the team.

In eight games with Kitchens as offensive coordinator, Mayfield threw for
2,254 yards, 19 touchdowns and eight interceptions and was sacked just five
times.

--In Denver, multiple outlets reported that Broncos president John Elway and
Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Vic Fangio agreed to a contract that would
see Fangio succeed Vance Joseph as the team's head coach.

Fangio, 60, met with the team Monday, a day after the Bears lost to the
Philadelphia Eagles 16-15 in the wild-card playoffs. He has 32 years of NFL
coaching experience, including 18 years as a defensive coordinator, but never
has been a head coach.

The Bears had the No. 3 total defense under Fangio this season and allowed
17.7 points per game, the best mark in the league.

--The New York Jets will hire former Miami Dolphins head coach Adam Gase for
its head-coaching vacancy, multiple outlets reported.

Gase, 40, was fired Dec. 31 after three seasons in Miami, where he went 23-25
while battling a wealth of injuries, including to quarterback Ryan Tannehill.
Before going to the Dolphins, Gase served as offensive coordinator of the
Denver Broncos (2013-14) and the Chicago Bears (2015).

ESPN reported Jets quarterback Sam Darnold approved of Gase after the two
spoke via FaceTime on Monday.

--Los Angeles Chargers defensive tackle Brandon Mebane returned to practice
but revealed that his newborn daughter, Makenna, passed away last Thursday at
a children's hospital in Omaha, Neb. She was born prematurely on Nov. 12 with
a heart defect.

Mebane, 33, was away from the team for most of December in order to be with
his wife, Amena, and two older children.

A defensive captain, Mebane reportedly plans to play in Sunday's playoff game
against the New England Patriots.

--The NFL and NFL Players Association released a statement claiming that
Carolina Panthers safety Eric Reid was not targeted by the league's
performance-enhancing drug testing program, despite the large number of tests
he underwent in his abbreviated season.

The league and union hired an investigator to look into Reid's claims that his
seven drug tests in three months weren't random but related to a collusion
grievance he'd filed against the league pertaining to his inability to sign
with a team after joining then-teammate Colin Kaepernick in his anthem
protest.

--Chargers running back Melvin Gordon sat out practice due to a knee injury,
giving him extra rest as he hopes to play Sunday against the Patriots.

Meanwhile, tight end Hunter Henry was a full participant in his first practice
since being activated off the reserve/physically unable to perform list on
Monday.

--New Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians said offensive
coordinator/pass-game coordinator Byron Leftwich will call plays in 2019, and
he also announced the hiring of ex-Jets head coach Todd Bowles to be his
defensive coordinator.

--The Minnesota Vikings announced they are retaining Kevin Stefanski to be
their offensive coordinator after he didn't land the Cleveland Browns'
head-coaching gig. Stefanski, 36, served as the team's interim offensive
coordinator for the final three games of last season after the firing of John
DeFilippo.

--The Atlanta Falcons named Ben Kotwica special teams coordinator, a day after
naming Dirk Koetter offensive coordinator and Mike Mularkey tight ends coach.
Kotwica, 44, held the same position each of the last five seasons with
Washington.

--The Jacksonville Jaguars announced the signing of running back Thomas Rawls
to a reserve/futures contract. Rawls, 25, appeared in one game with Cincinnati
in 2018 and was waived in October. He was with Seattle from 2015-17 and ran
for 1,336 yards in that time. Last month, the Jaguars voided the guarantees on
Leonard Fournette's contract after he was suspended for a fight during a game
in Buffalo.

--Kansas City Chiefs safety Eric Berry's status for Saturday's playoff game
against the Indianapolis Colts is uncertain after he missed practice with a
lingering heel issue. Berry had practiced on a limited basis Tuesday after
missing the regular-season finale, but he sat out Wednesday. Head coach Andy
Reid did not voice any concerns about Berry's status earlier this week, but
defensive coordinator Bob Sutton indicated the situation is up in the air.

--Former Minnesota Vikings head coach Brad Childress resigned as coach of the
Atlanta Legends of the Alliance of American Football just one month before the
team's inaugural game. There is speculation Childress could land an assistant
job in the NFL.

--New York Jets tight end Chris Herndon pleaded guilty to a charge of driving
while intoxicated, stemming from a multi-car crash in June in Rockaway
Township, N.J. Under the NFL's personal-conduct policy, he could be suspended
at least two games in 2019.

--Field Level Media