With the end of the NFL season approaching, this means that the annual purge of league coaches is about to kick in. When the season started in September, there were 32 top coaches wandering the NFL sides, but not all of them will return in 2021.
In fact, we already know three coaches who are definitely not coming back and they are Bill O’Brien, Dan Quinn and Matt Patricia, who were fired during the season. Three layoffs in the season was the highest number the NFL has seen since 2010, when four coaches were dismissed.
Going into the off-season of 2021, there may be up to six teams looking for a new coach and that number could jump even further if we see any surprise moves. We will be following the latest news as the teams start looking for the right coach. To keep you up to date on the latest layoffs, rumors and hires, be sure to keep track of the training tracker below.
Shoot: Bill O’Brien
Hired: TBD
O’Brien was the first coach to be fired this season and that change came in October, when the Texans decided to give him a bullshit after a 0-4 match that included defeats to Chiefs, Steelers and Ravens. Since then, Texans hired a research firm to help them find their new coach. According to ESPN.com, the research firm recommended Seahawks’ offensive coordinator, Brian Schottenheimer, as someone Houston should consider hiring. Houston is also believed to be eyeing the Chiefs’ offensive coordinator, Eric Bieniemy. Although the Texans did not formally interview any of these candidates, they conducted at least two interviews and these were with former NFL coaches Marvin Lewis and Jim Caldwell. Texans also have a vacant position at GM and the belief is that they will fill that role before hiring a new coach.
Shoot: Dan Quinn
Hired: TBD
Since Dan Quinn’s resignation in October, after a 0-5 start, the Falcons have been throwing tough things about who they can hire next. Since Quinn was fired, the team has formally interviewed only one candidate, interim coach Raheem Morris. According to NFL.com, the Falcons also appear to be keeping an eye on defense coordinators Todd Bowles (Buccaneers) and Brandon Staley (Rams), along with Titans offensive coordinator Arthur Smith. Although the Falcons have not yet scheduled an interview with any of these three, they have already two interviews for Monday. One of these interviews will be with 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, while the other will be with Chiefs’ offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy. Falcons will also be looking for a GM after firing Thomas Dimitroff.
Shoot: Matt Patricia
Hired: TBD
The Lions gave the NFL a Thanksgiving surprise when the team decided to fire Patricia just two days after the 41-25 loss to the Texans on Turkey Day. Since the resignation, the Lions have conducted only one interview in late December with former Bengals coach Marvin Lewis. According to Fox Sports, Lions will be interested in talking to several candidates, including interim coach Darrell Bevell, Chiefs’ offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, and 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh. Lions should also take a look at Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald, according to CBS Sports NFL Insider Jason La Canfora.
Shoot: Adam Gase
Gase tried to save his job with two big wins over Rams and Browns at the end of the season, but that was not enough to convince the Jets to keep him. Gase was fired on Sunday after just two seasons with the team, where he was only 9-23. With Gase out, don’t be surprised if the Jets look at college categories. When the vacancy was opened two years ago, they interviewed several college coaches before hiring Gase and it will not be surprising if they interview several other candidates from the college categories this time. Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports NFL Insider reported that the team could potentially end up showing interest in Northwestern’s Pat Fiztgerald and Florida’s Dan Mullen. The Jets can also go after Marvin Lewis due to his ties to current New York general manager Joe Douglas. Douglas also likes Ravens’ defensive coordinator, Wink Martindale, and it won’t be surprising if he came looking for him. Two other names to watch out for are offensive coordinators Brian Daboll (Bills) and Arthur Smith (Titans)
Shoot: Doug Marrone
When the Jaguars sacked general manager Dave Caldwell in November, it seemed like it was only a matter of time before they sack Marrone and that is exactly what happened on Monday. Marrone was fired in Jacksonville after a season in which the Jaguars finished 1-15 to win first overall choice in the NFL’s 2021 Draft. Jason La Canfora of the CBS Sports NFL Insider previously reported that if Marrone were fired, the Jags would seriously consider hiring former Ohio State coach Urban Meyer. According to NFL.com, Meyer and current OSU coach Ryan Day will be considered for the open position at Jaguars. One thing to remember about this job is that it is one of the most attractive in the NFL. Jacksonville is not only sitting in first overall choice in the 2021 draft, but the Jags also have a lot of limit space to work on next season, which means that a new coach – and a new GM – can change things in a beautiful way quickly.
Shoot: Anthony Lynn
The Chargers won their last four games of the season, but that was not enough to save Lynn’s job. Although Lynn led the team to the playoffs in 2018, the past two seasons have not been kind to the Chargers coach. Not only was he 11-21 in the past two years, but the Chargers also had the most defeats in a score during that period and many of them happened because of questionable training at the end of the game. With Justin Herbert on the list, this will be a coveted job and a name to watch for is Brian Daboll. Bills’ offensive coordinator went to high school with Chargers general manager Tom Telesco, and it won’t be a surprise if Telesco gets in touch in the near future.
Coaches are expected to return
Zac Taylor: While the Bengals are expected to make several changes to their coaching staff this off-season, Taylor will not be one of them. Not only will he have a close relationship with Joe Burrow, but he will also have a victory over the Steelers, which means a lot in Cincinnati. Basically, Taylor will definitely have at least another year to figure things out.
Doug Pederson: Despite a bad season, Pederson must keep his job. According to ESPN.com, Pederson will meet Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie on Tuesday, and during that meeting, they will talk about his vision for 2021. One of the main topics is likely to be Carson Wentz, who apparently does not wants to be more in Philadelphia. ESPN reported that Wentz demanded an exchange and a big reason for that is due to his broken relationship with Pederson.