NFL assistants balance playoff prep with job interviews

FILE - Philadelphia Eagles' Shane Steichen walks tot he field before an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 8, 2023, in Philadelphia. The Carolina Panthers have requested permission to interview four different NFL offensive coordinators for their head coaching vacancy, including Steichen, Buffalo’s Ken Dorsey, Detroit’s Ben Johnson and New York Giants’ Mike Kafka, according to a person familiar with the situation. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum, File)

FILE - New York Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka, left, and quarterback Daniel Jones (8) watch practices before a preseason NFL football game against the New York Jets, Aug. 28, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. The Carolina Panthers have requested permission to interview four different NFL offensive coordinators for their head coaching vacancy, including Kafka, Philadelphia’s Shane Steichen, Buffalo’s Ken Dorsey and Detroit’s Ben Johnson, according to a person familiar with the situation. (AP Photo/John Munson, File)

San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans before an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Jan. 8, 2023. The Carolina Panthers have requested permission to interview San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans and New England Patriots linebackers coach Jerod Mayo bringing the number of known candidates for the team’s head coaching vacancy to 10, according to a person familiar with the situation. The person spoke to The Associated Press on Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023, on condition of anonymity because the team does not make its coaching search public. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

FILE - Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey looks on prior to an NFL football game, Oct. 30, 2022, in Orchard Park, N.Y. The Carolina Panthers have requested permission to interview four different NFL offensive coordinators for their head coaching vacancy, including Dorsey, Philadelphia’s Shane Steichen, Detroit’s Ben Johnson and New York Giants’ Mike Kafka, according to a person familiar with the situation. (AP Photo/Bryan Bennett, File)