NFL head coach candidates to know

[XXVIII-III]

Per nfl.com

One year ago, there were eight NFL head-coaching vacancies, and a whopping 34 coaches that we know of interviewed (or declined an interview) for those jobs. Each team has its own criteria, so the candidate list for one team may be totally different from that of another.

Keeping in mind the possibility that there could be fewer openings this year, here's the (relatively) short list of names most likely to come up as interview targets this time around, listed alphabetically within each category, based on dozens of recent conversations with NFL executives and other people familiar with the search process. (Note: It does not include any current head coaches who have not yet been fired.)

FORMER NFL HEAD COACHES

 

Dennis Allen, New Orleans Saints defensive coordinator, age 47: Despite shepherding the Saints' defense from one of the NFL's worst to its current domination, Allen's name has hung below the radar since his stint as head coach of the talent-starved Raiders (he went 8-28 from 2012 to '14). But Allen impressed in his interview with the Dolphins last year, has a lot of fans in the league and could be back in the spotlight.

Jim Caldwell, Miami Dolphins consultant, 64: Always a respected figure in the NFL world, Caldwell's tenure in Detroit (going 36-28 with two playoff appearances from 2014 to '17) looks better in retrospect. He also produced two playoff seasons in Indianapolis (going 26-22 from 2009 to 2011) before Peyton Manning's neck surgeries ruined his last year with the Colts. Caldwell has told people his health has improved since he took a leave of absence from his full-time job with the Dolphins in July. Similar to Bruce Arians, who previously dealt with health issues before being hired by the Buccaneers last offseason, a team probably would want to give Caldwell a physical before hiring him. But the desire is there. He interviewed for four jobs (Jets, Browns, Cardinals, Packers) last year.

Leslie Frazier, Buffalo Bills defensive coordinator, 60: The former Vikings coach (he went 21-32-1 with one playoff trip from 2010 to '13) is once again in charge of a top-notch unit, helping the Bills reach the playoffs. Frazier has a talent for getting the best from people in the toughest situations. Interviewing with the Colts two years ago got him back in the game, and that interest could increase this year.

Marvin Lewis, Arizona State special advisor, 61: Rejuvenated after a year in the college game with his friend Herm Edwards, the former Bengals coach (he went 131-122-3 with seven playoff appearances from 2003 to 2018) is another whose work likely went underappreciated. He would never be a splash hire, but another place in need of a cultural overhaul, such as Washington (where Lewis was assistant head coach/defensive coordinator in 2002), could be a fit, if Lewis is motivated to get back in.

Mike McCarthy, former Green Bay Packers coach, 56: A rare available Super Bowl-winning head coach, McCarthy worked on his craft with a small group of coaches and continued studying the game during his year away, and he already has a 360-degree team-building plan mapped out for 2020. His .618 career winning percentage (125-77-2), nine playoff appearances in 13 seasons (including eight in a row) and reputation for developing quarterbacks make him a strong candidate. He interviewed for only one job (Jets) a year ago, rebuffing interest from several other teams. The Panthers interviewed McCarthy on Sunday.

Josh McDaniels, New England Patriots offensive coordinator, 43: A little more distance from the infamous false start in Indianapolis seems to have helped the cause for McDaniels, who interviewed for only one job (Packers) last year. McDaniels' expertise with the quarterback position is always in need. He has turned down numerous opportunities since his abbreviated run as head coach in Denver (going 11-17 from 2009 to '10). Now, with the Tom Brady era winding down in New England, is this the year he takes one?

Raheem Morris, Atlanta Falcons assistant head coach/secondary, 43: Out of sight and out of mind after his underappreciated stint in Tampa (17-31 from 2009 to '11), Morris is in the news this year because he helped turn around the Falcons' defense after Dan Quinn shuffled his staff midseason. Morris is older and more mature since those days with the Bucs, when he got the head job at age 32. There's buzz.

 

 

 

Ron Rivera, former Carolina Panthers head coach, 57: After an in-season ouster by the slumping Panthers, Rivera has emerged as one of the hottest names based on his track record and how he dealt with the variety of issues that arose. Carolina made four playoff appearances and a Super Bowl trip over his nine seasons (76-63-1). He's known as a leader and program builder. Rivera's background is on defense, so his choice of offensive coordinator figures to be important.

FIRST-TIMERS

 

Eric Bieniemy, Kansas City chiefs offensive coordinator, 50: The former NFL running back has climbed the coaching ranks over 18 years, spending the last two as Andy Reid's right-hand man with the Chiefs' high-powered offense. Bieniemy had interviews for four jobs (Jets, Dolphins, Bengals, Bucs) and turned down a fifth (Cardinals) last year. He figures to be in the mix again.

Dan Campbell, New Orleans Saints assistant head coach/tight ends, 43: A 10-year NFL veteran as a player who learned a lot from Bill Parcells, his coach when he played for the Cowboys, Campbell is heavily involved in the Saints' running game and addresses the team weekly on opponent looks, keys to victory, etc. He'd need to hire strong coordinators and focus on setting the program. Campbell, who served as interim head coach in Miami in 2015, interviewed with the Colts two years ago and the Browns, Cardinals and Packers last year.

Brian Daboll, Bills offensive coordinator, 44: Few can beat Daboll's resume, which includes five Super Bowl rings over two stints as a Patriots assistant plus a national title on Nick Saban's staff on Alabama. Now, Daboll is grooming young QB Josh Allen, who has been a breakout star for the playoff-bound Bills.

Matt Eberflus, Indianapolis Colts defensive coordinator, 49: This year's sleeper, Eberflus is a 27-year NFL/college assistant who has a ton of supporters in the league. He commands fast, disciplined football from his players. The Browns interviewed him last year.

Don "Wink" Martindale, Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator, 56: A longtime linebackers coach, Martindale was promoted to DC before the 2018 season and has guided one of the NFL's top defenses two years in a row, despite significant roster turnover. He's highly regarded by players.

Greg Roman, Ravens offensive coordinator, 47: One of the architects of the 49ers' unique scheme in which Colin Kaepernick thrived, Roman is doing it again in Baltimore with NFL MVP front-runner Lamar Jackson. No one questions Roman's offensive acumen. He's a unique personality who teams will want to get to know better.

 

 

 

Robert Saleh, San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator, 40: A charismatic personality that players love and believe in, Saleh has re-envisioned the Cover 3 scheme he learned under Pete Carroll in Seattle and later Gus Bradley in Jacksonville, implementing Wide 9 principles, split-safety defenses and creative third-down looks and blitzes. He'll need to hire the right offensive coordinator, but all the tools are there.

Brian Schottenheimer, Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator, 46: The son of long-time NFL coach Marty Schottenheimer has found a home with the pound-it Seahawks in his third stop as OC. Russell Wilson rightfully gets a lot of credit, but Schottenheimer plays a big role in helping that unit go.

Nick Sirianni, Colts offensive coordinator, 38: The Colts' post-Andrew Luck struggles notwithstanding, Sirianni is well-regarded within the league, has a lot of energy, knows offense and holds players accountable. He turned down a chance to talk to the Brownsabout their opening in January, feeling he needed to focus solely on the Colts' Divisional Round game. But Sirianni is ready to interview this time.

Arthur Smith, Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator, 37: In his ninth season with the Titans, Smith was an obscure name until Mike Vrabel promoted him from tight ends coach after last season. He has taken advantage, impressing with his even-keeled demeanor and work with a revitalized Ryan Tannehill.

Kevin Stefanski, Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator, 37: In his 14th season with the Vikings, for whom he's filled various roles, Stefanski is popular with players and impressed enough to get a second interview for the Browns job in January after just a three-game interim stint as Minnesota's play-caller. Now in the full-time OC role, Stefanski has presided over Kirk Cousins' best season.

COLLEGE COACHES

 

Tony Elliott, Clemson offensive coordinator/running backs coach, 40: A one-time industrial engineer, Elliott now calls plays for one of the nation's dominant college programs. Could a college OC really make the leap to head coach? It wouldn't be a surprise for some team to at least explore it.

Urban Meyer, former Ohio State head coach, 55: Meyer's name began circulating when he publicly expressed interest in the Cowboys job (and a chance to reunite with former Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott) during a radio interview. Clearly, Dallas would look into it. But Meyer (187-32, three national championships in 17 seasons at four schools) has also recently told political reporter Brit Hume that he didn't see himself back coaching so soon. This one is wait-and-see.

Dan Mullen, Florida head coach, 47: There is enough buzz that Mullen (89-51 in 11 seasons at two schools) has publicly commented about a possibility. And his work with current Cowboys QB Dak Prescott while at Mississippi State helped pave the way for his NFL success, which those in the league took notice of. It's likely a long shot, but a Cowboysinterview wouldn't stun anyone.

 

 

 

Lincoln Riley, Oklahoma head coach, 36: He's very high on the radar of the Jones family, in the event the Cowboys miss the playoffs and Jason Garrett is on the way out. Few college coaches have had as much success with the quarterback, and Riley (36-5 in three seasons) is popular among NFL people for that. The only question: Would he actually leave?

Matt Rhule, Baylor head coach, 44: Rhule nearly had the Jets' job last year until issues arose with former GM Mike Maccagnan, who tried to dictate his staff. He also interviewed with the Colts two years ago. A one-time Giants assistant, Rhule (47-42 in seven seasons at Temple and Baylor) remains high on the radar for his leadership and how he lifted Baylor from the abyss in just a few years.

David Shaw, Stanford head coach, 47: The white whale of the college coaching world, Shaw (86-34 in nine seasons) could have had several coveted and high-profile jobs by this point if he had wanted. He never even has entertained it. However, some believe this is the year he'd actually consider it, with Stanford having a down year and several key players in the transfer portal.

OTHERS ON THE RADAR

 

Todd Bowles, Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive coordinator, 56; Gus Bradley, Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator, 53; Tom Cable, Oakland Raiders offensive line coach, 55; Bill Callahan, Washington Redskins interim coach, 63; Matt Campbell, Iowa State coach, 40; Pete Carmichael Jr., Saints offensive coordinator, 48; David Culley,Ravens assistant head coach/receivers/passing game coordinator, 64; Jack Del Rio,former Raiders coach, 56; John DeFilippo, Jacksonville Jaguars offensive coordinator, 41; George Edwards, Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator, 52; Perry Fewell, Carolina Panthers interim head coach, 57; Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern coach, 45; James Franklin, Penn State coach, 47; Josh Gattis, Michigan offensive coordinator, 35; Mike Groh, Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator, 48; Jay Gruden, former Redskins coach, 52; Nate Hackett, Packers offensive coordinator, 40; Jim Harbaugh, Michigan coach, 56; Joe Judge, Patriots special teams coordinator/wide receivers coach, 37; Byron Leftwich,Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator, 39; Jerod Mayo, Patriots linebackers coach, 33; Mike McDaniel, 49ers run game coordinator, 36; Todd Monken, Cleveland Brownsoffensive coordinator, 53; Mike Munchak, Denver Broncos offensive line coach, 59; Ken Norton Jr., Seahawks defensive coordinator, 53; Kevin O'Connell, Redskins offensive coordinator, 34; Chuck Pagano, Chicago Bears defensive coordinator, 59; Mike Pettine,Packers defensive coordinator, 53; Kris Richard, Dallas Cowboys passing game coordinator/defensive backs coach, 40; Steve Spagnuolo, Chiefs defensive coordinator, 60; Dave Toub, Chiefs assistant head coach/special teams coordinator, 57; Mel Tucker,Colorado coach, 47; Shane Waldron, Los Angeles Rams pass game coordinator, 40.

[Pacific_Falcon]

In a way, Rivera would be an interesting choice. He's seen our players and current coaches from the opponents' side of things quite a bit, so he might be a step ahead of other candidates in terms of figuring out what to do with whom. Also interesting point about how well he dealt with what has been a seemingly turbulent locker room at times. Pretty sure he would send Koetter packing, but not sure he would bring in someone much better. The Colts' OC is intriguing but I think we have a small window, and need someone with more experience.

[FalconJim]

Interesting! 

But the only one that jumps out at me, with the experience you want, and a proven winning record, plus a guy who has worked with a similar QB as Matt Ryan, is Mike McCarthy!  Roman would be the only other coach that interests me --- 




 

[Colin_Pernett]

Buzz on Raheem? Pretty interesting 

[primetime]

3 minutes ago, Colin_Pernett said:

Buzz on Raheem? Pretty interesting 

No way they fire Quinn to replace internally. If he goes it will be an external hire (Rivera, McCarthy, etc)

Edited December 27, 2019 by primetime

[ike barn87987]

The perfect combo of GM/HC would be Mike Borgonzi and Nick Sirianni. They were together in KC and Borgonzi is a hot name who comes from the Chris Ballard tree, who is with Sirianni now in Indy. Borgonzi’s brother Dave is also with Sirianni in Indy. If Sirianni becomes HC I can see John Pagano as his DC. Pagano knows all about the AFC. He has also coached Bruce Irvin. That could be a reunion. Should have never let him leave anyway. As far as OC I see Ken Whisenhunt or Mike McCoy. Or we can just make Knapp the OC. Borgonzi was also at BC with Ryan. I think he would love to have a franchise QB and a owner like AB.

Edited December 27, 2019 by ike barn87987

[Duff_Man]

Wow. James Franklin listed. He seems like a perfect college coach and not a pro guy.

[1989Fan]

42 minutes ago, Duff_Man said:

Wow. James Franklin listed. He seems like a perfect college coach and not a pro guy.

 James Franklin is a great recruiter but a bad coach. Luckily you can usually  win in college with talent despite coaching. He is a rah rah guy and a college coach only IMO

i don’t think he has ever called a snap w QB under center...it’s maddening.

Obrien was a better coach, but he found out quick he hated the recruiting and politics of college football and came back to the NFL

[Draftnut57]

I'd have to pick Colts OC Nick Sirinianni  ,38 years old,, this would be a great get for our HC and O#.  Bring him home AB & TD.   So we can get more TDS. A Great O# is your best D#,,,  Staying on the field with the O# wears down opposing D#..  It's not rocket science ... It's called Horse sense.

 I will add one more thing,, If we can't get this Coach, I just hope we can get the best OC possible.. There are a few other sharp minds in that list.. Hope we stick to the best OC that are young enough to be here for a long time.

[Flying Falcon]

Roman needs a mobile, scrambling QB. Not a statue.

[Draftnut57]

2 minutes ago, Flying Falcon said:

Roman needs a mobile, scrambling QB. Not a statue.

I personally think we should stick to traditional QB,, Those running QBs end up on IR way to many times.. He's the Captain of the Ship. If he goes down,, your whole season is over.

[Flying Falcon]

2 minutes ago, Draftnut57 said:

I personally think we should stick to traditional QB,, Those running QBs end up on IR way to many times.. He's the Captain of the Ship. If he goes down,, your whole season is over.

It didnt with Bridgewater.  And he's not a scrambler.

[D.B.N.]

16 minutes ago, Draftnut57 said:

I personally think we should stick to traditional QB,, Those running QBs end up on IR way to many times.. He's the Captain of the Ship. If he goes down,, your whole season is over.

You have the wrong stigma about "mobile qb"... we want a QB who is able to throw first or when things break down extend plays/scramble. Justin Fields will be the best QB out of the 2021 draft and he needs to be a falcon. 

[Draftnut57]

39 minutes ago, Flying Falcon said:

It didnt with Bridgewater.  And he's not a scrambler.

But in your post above this post  you said you wanted a Scrambler..????   

[Draftnut57]

24 minutes ago, D.B.N. said:

You have the wrong stigma about "mobile qb"... we want a QB who is able to throw first or when things break down extend plays/scramble. Justin Fields will be the best QB out of the 2021 draft and he needs to be a falcon. 

Well sure... A atheletic QB is a must..  Run when he has to,, But only when he has to. He needs to be a Pass first and Pass fast.. Get rid of the ball ASAP,,  Those quicker plays are much better not only on the QB , but for success  also.

[Duff_Man]

1 hour ago, 1989Fan said:

 James Franklin is a great recruiter but a bad coach. Luckily you can usually  win in college with talent despite coaching. He is a rah rah guy and a college coach only IMO

i don’t think he has ever called a snap w QB under center...it’s maddening.

Obrien was a better coach, but he found out quick he hated the recruiting and politics of college football and came back to the NFL

I always hated what Bill O'Brien did to the team. I mean, I get it, but it was still crappy.

[RHEC]

35 minutes ago, WhenFalconsWin said:

HC's for after next seasons failure

Let's be honest, Blank isn't going to fire Quinn or TD next season either.

[Club212]

On our radar? We didn't invest in one....Back to MEDIOCRE

[Flying Falcon]

1 hour ago, Draftnut57 said:

But in your post above this post  you said you wanted a Scrambler..????   

Correct. Someone who can move the pocket. Bridgewater isnt a scrambler, but he can move the pocket. And I said, "Roman needs a mobile, scrambler." All his QBs he worked with were/are mobile and/or scramblers.