Three coach vacancies in the NFL are already open, and another three or four may soon be. Although this happens every year, coaching research is different depending on the team looking for a new guy to take charge.
Some clubs are looking for a veteran professional coach, like Washington and Dallas did after last season with Mike McCarthy and Ron Rivera. Others are looking for rising assistants and coordinators – Joe Judge of the Giants and Kevin Stefanski of the Browns fit in there.
Or the NFL teams turn to the college ranks, which Carolina did for Matt Rhule, who was also coveted by several other franchises.
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The league hopes that more minority coaches will have a chance at the openings in Houston and Atlanta, where, coincidentally, African-Americans Romeo Crennel and Raheem Morris are currently interim coaches. He even expanded the Rooney Rule, designed to provide more opportunities for minority candidates for coaching, general manager and other executive positions.
The most important thing, of course, is finding the right fit.
“The most important thing is that you can get everyone to agree on the way you want to do things, or you have to fit in the way they do things,” says Hall of Fame coach Tony Dungy. “The biggest problem in Dallas, for example, there is a culture there that you may not be able to change much because it’s already defined. Think of Oakland when Al Davis was alive. He generally didn’t hire people from outside, and when he did it, Mike Shanahan didn’t do well. When he signed Jon Gruden, it didn’t go well at the beginning.
“So these are conversations that you need to have as a head coach.”
Negotiations have started for Texans, hawks and lions. Soon, we can expect the Jets to be made with Adam Gase and the Jaguars to launch Doug Marrone. Two openings from AFC West are possible if the Chargers split from Anthony Lynn and the Broncos dismiss Vic Fangio.
So there can be surprises, with a coach walking away unexpectedly. Should Andy Reid retire if the Chiefs, now the best NFL team, repeat themselves as Super Bowl champions? Does Bill Belichick not appreciate the reconstruction work ahead of him in New England, now that the Patriots are also fighting Tom Brady in Tampa?
As we approach the completion of a 2020 season impacted by the pandemic, here’s a look at the three teams on the training carousel and the two most likely to board in early January.
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HOUSTON
One of the most disappointing teams this season, the Texans fired Bill O’Brien, by far their most successful coach, after a 0-4 start. O’Brien was fired for both his failures and general manager – who didn’t think DeAndre Hopkins’ switch to Arizona would backfire on Houston? – how your trainer fights.
Texans have an excellent Deshaun Watson as a defender. He doesn’t have enough help, though, and the list’s changes carousel hasn’t helped. Despite having JJ Watt healthy and playing very well, the defense is a mess.
The best route from Houston may be a defense coach who hires a creative offensive coordinator.
ATLANTA
There is a lot of talent in the attack, although hiring Todd Gurley did not work well. Matt Ryan remains a solid quarterback and Calvin Ridley has emerged as a top receiver. But the O line has been irregular (to be kind).
Another team with defensive problems, the Falcons need a major update in the secondary and pass rush. Morris did a good job of getting things up, although Atlanta is very fragile in games played.
As in Houston, a defense technician like Robert Saleh of San Francisco makes sense. But Dan Quinn, too, and the Falcons collapsed after the collapse of the Super Bowl.
DETROIT
You have to feel for Matthew Stafford, a real problem that has been destroyed by mismanagement as much as by a poor technician. Whether he is still in Detroit in 2021 or elsewhere, Lions would be wise to find someone with experience as an NFL head coach.
Of course, this is what they had in Jim Caldwell, who made 36-30 in four seasons. Matt Patricia was 13-29-1 before being fired last month.
JACKSONVILLE
Don’t laugh, but this is an attractive job. Yes, the Jaguars hit rock bottom under the direction of Tom Coughlin (fired last December), Dave Caldwell and Marrone. They will probably have the general choice number 1 – Hello, Trevor Lawrence – and have a lot of salary cap space. There is a good base of young players.
The Jags could go in a number of directions by a coach, and seeing them turn to an important college guy like Rhule wouldn’t be a surprise. But first-rate professional assistants like Eric Bieniemy from Kansas City, Brian Schottenheimer from Seattle and Brian Daboll from Buffalo would make sense.
NEW YORK JETS
Gase’s two-year season began with a 7-9 season, in which the Jets and QB Sam Darnold made late strides. So 2020 became a disaster in which the team looked helpless, Darnold stagnated or regressed – it’s hard to say due to all the injuries – and the talent base has shrunk significantly. Even the Jags seem to have a stronger cast.
The Jets should turn to a former NFL coach with a pedigree; no, we didn’t say Jim Harbaugh, who is probably not leaving Michigan. They need a QB guru as well, and someone who can handle the complications that come with working for this organization.
And thanks to actually winning a game, Lawrence is almost certainly not on the way.