With the final week of the NFL's regular season coming this weekend, let's go ahead and look to see what teams will be looking for new head coaches next week.
ALREADY OPEN
Carolina Panthers: The Panthers job is already open when Frank Reich was fired midway through his first season in Charlotte. But is this a desirable job? After all, the last three head coaches have been fired mid-season, including each of the last two years. Owner David Tepper seems to have taken the Daniel Snyder role of hated NFL owner by fans and whomever gets this job knows they are stuck with turning around Bryce Young and won't have a first round pick to bring in top talent in the draft.
Las Vegas Raiders: The Raiders are an interesting case since they fired Josh McDaniels mid-season and interim head coach Antonio Pierce has done a fantastic job filling in. Will he get the job, though?
Los Angeles Chargers: The Chargers finally dismissed Brandon Staley, but this will be one of the more desirable jobs on the market. You have an elite quarterback and talent on the roster (there are some cap issues that need to be addressed), but expect big names to be tied to this gig.
PROBABLY FIRED
Atlanta Falcons: The Falcons may have gotten the less out of their talent this season, which falls on Arthur Smith. They've yet to find a quarterback, but there could be some available this offseason ... meaning that if job did open up then they would need to marry the coach and the QB.
Washington Commanders: The Commanders organization will be getting a hard reset. That's no surprise. New owner Josh Harris' top job since taking over the franchise this summer is to dump everything that had to do with Daniel Snyder (that could include the name). Ron Rivera took over in 2020 as the franchise was hitting its lowest point. Not just COVID, but the name change, and being the positive face for a team that had to deal with 25 years of Snyder's transgressions. It is hard to win games during that, and Rivera didn't. It won't be just Rivera who will get the axe -- expect the front office to be overhauled as well. Harris will get to begin to create the organization in the way he wants.
PROBABLY NOT
Chicago Bears: It seems as if Matt Eberflus will be back in Chicago next season, especially if the Bears will stick with Justin Fields as their quarterback. That isn't a mutual exclusive scenario, though, as Eberflus could be back and Chicago elects to move on from Fields and use the top overall pick on Caleb Williams.
New Orleans Saints: This looks like a we-will-try-this-one-more-year deal in New Orleans. Maybe we get a final shot at Dennis Allen and Derek Carr before blowing this thing up for 2025. Of course, the Saints have an outside shot at winning the NFC South which could strengthen Allen's hold on this job. This, to me, is the most 50/50 chance a move gets made.
Tennessee Titans: If Mike Vrabel comes available, he will be scooped up by somebody. He's done a great job in Nashville, even if their record this season is dismal. This may be more of a divorce if anything even happens. If certain jobs open up that are interested in Vrabel, maybe it would be time for the Titans to let go of their coach in a trade and move on to the future of the franchise. I just don't see that happening.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: If Tampa Bay chokes away their shot at the NFC South, Bowles is a candidate to get fired. The entire NFC South is in jeopardy, so losing a win-and-in opportunity against the lowly Panthers will be detrimental to Bowles chances to stay on.
New York Jets: If Aaron Rodgers wants Robert Saleh there, he's staying.
Dallas Cowboys: The only way I can see Jerry Jones moving on from Mike McCarthy is if he epically collapses in the playoffs. Even then, he's probably safe.
Pittsburgh Steelers: There is no way anyone with any sense would feel the Steelers should move on from Mike Tomlin. But if Mike Tomlin wants to move away from the Steelers?
Seattle Seahawks: Let me say this: Pete Carroll only leaves Seattle on his own terms. There is no way they will fire him after this season. None. But Carroll is no spring chicken and there will be a day where he decides to hang it up so every year there is that possibility. I strongly feel that won't be this season. He looks like he's been having fun and his teams are playing with the same toughness they always have.
SPECIAL CASE
New England Patriots: I would expect the Patriots and Bill Belichick to divorce this offseason, but I don't see Robert Kraft to actually fire him. Belichick has actually done an okay job coaching this year, but his job as general manager has been horrible. It's been over two decades and may just be time to move on. But Belichick has a lot of value and Kraft would likely trade Belichick instead of a) letting him get away for nothing and b) not have the awkwardness of actually firing the coach that brought you six Super Bowl trophies.
No comments:
Post a Comment