One coaching domino down, plenty of NFL ripples to digest.

In a thin field of head-coaching candidates with only a few “tentpole” candidates carrying a wealth of head-coaching experience, Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Matt LaFleur is set to become the Green Bay Packers’ choice. It is a move that surprised a multitude of league sources who have monitored the field, many of whom had pegged either New England offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels or former Miami Dolphins head coach Adam Gase as the leading candidates to pair with quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Not only were some head-coaching candidates surprised at LaFleur being offered the Packers job Monday, even the Titans were apparently caught off guard. One team source told Yahoo Sports the shared belief in the building was LaFleur would likely be returning as the team’s coordinator in 2019.

View photos Matt LaFleur, pictured with Titans QB Marcus Mariota, will reportedly become the Packers’ new head coach. (AP) More

Now that won’t happen, leaving the Titans to find quarterback Marcus Mariota’s fourth offensive coordinator in five years. That was just one revelation in the LaFleur hire. Among the others:

1. Josh McDaniels is staying in New England for 2019

Going back as far as late November, there were indications McDaniels would be interested in pursuing the Packers job if it opened. And when Mike McCarthy was fired, some other NFL assistants had already indicated to McDaniels’ camp they would be interested in joining him if he were to land in Green Bay. Now it looks like McDaniels’ only tangible head-coaching option has evaporated, much to the surprise of some close to him.

And now? The Cleveland Browns have discussed McDaniels internally, but their only formal interview request from the Patriots staff was for defensive assistant Brian Flores. Partially because Flores is a far more unknown commodity inside the Browns organization, which previously courted McDaniels in a past coaching search. But also because there is concern over how McDaniels would fit with the Browns’ current structure, which includes shared power between chief strategist Paul DePodesta and general manager John Dorsey.

The end result is McDaniels will remain in New England next season, where he is believed to be the highest-paid coordinator in the NFL.

“The book is closed,” McDaniels told reporters on Tuesday morning about interviewing for a head coaching position. “I’m completely focused on the Chargers [Patriots’ next playoff opponent] and our season, finishing strong, and I’ll be here moving forward.”

2. LaFleur could challenge Aaron Rodgers but not threaten power structure

So what did Green Bay get in LaFleur? First, a take from inside the Titans. A team source described LaFleur as “smart, funny, charismatic and personable” and “someone who can definitely win an interview.”

He’s also “an acquired taste for some who might think he’s a little arrogant or demanding, kind of like [San Francisco 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan].” Also, LaFleur is said to be “not afraid to let personnel know when something is lacking on the offensive roster.” According to the source, LaFleur was also a guy who rallied the offensive roster after the Week 8 bye, running a balanced attack under less-than-ideal injury circumstances.

All of that sounds like head-coach material, which the Titans believed he was, albeit with some thinking he would have another year or two of play-calling under his belt before this kind of job offer materialized. Another league source outside the Titans added that quarterback Kirk Cousins clicked with LaFleur a great deal when the two worked together with the Washington Redskins, with Cousins seeing LaFleur as a close extension of onetime Washington offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan. Add that LaFleur also has earned admiration from Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay and former Houston Texans head coach Gary Kubiak, and he has no shortage of respected backers in the league.