Inside:\u00a0Today:\u00a0Breakout coaches from all 32 teams<\/a>, plus: The NFL weighs in on the grass vs. turf debate \ud83d\udc40, and Derrik Klassen explains how Mike Evans changes the 49ers.<\/p>\n This article is from The Athletic\u2019s NFL newsletter. Sign up here<\/a> to receive it directly in your inbox. It\u2019s free to subscribe.\u00a0<\/p>\n Coaches on the rise<\/p>\n Three specific coaches seem likely to be poached in 2027, but you should get familiar with\u00a0all 32<\/a>:<\/p>\n The three most likely to be head coaches soon? I\u2019d point to:<\/p>\n 1. Chris Shula, Rams DC. He led the league\u2019s second-lowest-paid defense to a top-10 finish last season and has since added future HOFer Myles Garrett and lockdown corner Trent McDuffie. The\u00a0grandson of the legendary Don Shula<\/a>\u00a0will get his opportunity soon. Arrow up.<\/p>\n 2. Davis Webb, Broncos OC.\u00a0\u201cAt the NFL Scouting Combine in February, league people said Webb is sharp and extremely confident taking on offensive play calling for the first time,\u201d said Jourdan. If Webb is good enough for Sean Payton to hand over the play calling reigns, the 31-year-old who was playing for the Giants in January 2023 is nearly ready to run a team.<\/p>\n 3. Aden Durde, Seahawks DC.\u00a0Jourdan\u2019s sources were surprised Durde, who hails from England and\u00a0has a remarkable story<\/a>, did not get more head coaching interest. Same. As Mike Macdonald\u2019s right-hand man, Durde might not call plays for Seattle\u2019s defense but is deeply involved in everything else. Another strong season makes his poaching feel inevitable.<\/p>\n A few other names \u2014 including young offensive coordinators Nate Scheelhaase (Rams) and Grant Udinski (Jaguars) \u2014 are also among the top HC candidates.\u00a0Jourdan\u2019s\u00a0full story has details on them all<\/a>.<\/p>\n Grass vs Turf, pt. II: Readers vote, NFL counters<\/p>\n Monday\u2019s newsletter covered\u00a0players\u2019 unhappiness<\/a>\u00a0with artificial turf.<\/p>\n George Kittle was one of many with an opinion.\u00a0I also asked for\u00a0your\u00a0opinions, specifically on whether you\u2019d accept lower pay in exchange for no more artificial turf, if you were an NFL player. The numbers were \u2026 uneven.<\/p>\n Grass with lower pay: 92 percent If you voted in that poll, know that you are more similar to NFL players than you realize; 92 percent of players polled by the NFLPA likewise preferred grass.<\/p>\n But there\u2019s more to the story.<\/p>\n After I hit send, someone who works with the NFL reached out. Stef Goodsell, a media contact, said that the NFLPA injury data I cited is \u201coutdated,\u201d and that \u201clast season was the third year in a row with no statistically significant difference in injury rates between artificial turf (0.43) and grass (0.42) on time-loss non-direct contact injuries.\u201d Those numbers are notable and probably under discussed.<\/p>\n Contact or non-contact, the only way we get reliable data is by looking at a wide range of years, since each team plays so few games each season.<\/p>\n So I\u2019m scheduling a call with the NFL\u2019s field director, Nick Pappas, to learn more about that methodology, because I think we all deserve a simple answer here:\u00a0Are players more likely to be injured on turf fields?\u00a0<\/p>\n What else should I ask Pappas?\u00a0Please share your questions here<\/a>.<\/p>\n \ud83c\udf99 \u2018TAFS\u2019: Mike Evans, 49er<\/p>\n This week\u2019s \u201cThe Athletic Football Show\u201d was one of my favorites. The subject:\u00a0breakout players in new schemes<\/a>.<\/p>\n This captures big names with new play callers, like the Cardinals\u2019 third-year receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., plus players that changed teams, like 49ers receiver Mike Evans. (Quick aside: Anyone else surprised at how naturally the word \u201c49ers\u201d pairs with \u201cMike Evans\u201d? Just me?)<\/p>\n First, here\u2019s the full list of players and schemes covered:<\/p>\n And here\u2019s Derrik Klassen on how Evans benefits Brock Purdy and could unlock the 49ers\u2019 scheme:<\/p>\n \u201cKyle Shanahan hasn\u2019t really had an X receiver like this in a very long time. Evans\u00a0allows them to do this scheme change because he\u00a0can be your slant runner. He can be your deep dig runner if you want him to. He can win the \u2018we want to throw a goal line fade to a guy.\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cI think this fits Brock Purdy\u2019s skill set better. Purdy is not that good of a deep thrower. Sometimes he struggles to drive the ball and leaves up some floaters. How do you still make that work? You go and get Mike Evans, who, if the ball is down there 40 yards down the field, he\u2019s gonna go find it.\u201d<\/p>\n The full episode is a good one.\u00a0Watch it here<\/a>. And then go draft Purdy as your late-round fantasy quarterback.<\/p>\n Extra Points<\/p>\n \ud83d\udcd3\u00a0Fantasy kit.\u00a0It\u2019s about time you start prepping for upcoming drafts, as you again need to remind colleagues, friends and acquaintances that you are better than them.\u00a0Our draft kit has everything you\u2019ll need<\/a>.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udc40 Streameast?\u00a0If you recognize the name, you know it as one of the largest players in the world of illegal streaming, with an annual audience of over 1.6 billion. Two Egyptian nationals, a doctor and an engineer, were sentenced to prison<\/a>\u00a0for it.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udeaa ESPN layoffs.\u00a0The gigantic network\u00a0parted ways with NFL analyst Ryan Clark<\/a>\u00a0earlier this week, before also laying off Tom Pelissero, Stephania Bell and\u00a0many, many others<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u25b6\ufe0f Most-clicked:\u00a0Puka Nacua is one of\u00a032 players with the most on the line in 2026<\/a>.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udceb Enjoyed this read? Sign up here<\/a> to receive The Athletic\u2019s free NFL newsletter in your inbox.\u00a0<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/17b07cbe59bf449285498a3bca143503-edited-image-1784813629084.jpg\"\/)
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\nArtificial turf, more money: 8 percent<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/42bcc41ed25043a5a108dbf9ec1d1a72-edited-image-1784809548905.jpg\"\/)
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