So, it took about two weeks to fill four of the eight NFL head coaching vacancies. All four of the remaining jobs are filled in the last two days. On Wednesday the Philadelphia Eagles made perhaps the strongest statement of the coach-hiring season by prying Chip Kelly from his cushy college job at the University of Oregon. Earlier that same day the Chicago Bears hired Montreal Alouttes head coach Marc Trestman to replace Lovie Smith. The Jacksonville Jaguars closed the active day by hiring Seattle Seahawks defensive coordinator Gus Bradley. Yesterday, the Arizona Cardinals hired Indianapolis Colts offensive coordinator/interim coach Bruce Arians. It was an active couple of days. Especially compared to the slow trickle of coaching hires over the two weeks since the season ended.
A lot has been made of Chip Kelly's move to the NFL. He ran a very unique offense at Oregon. Most of the talking heads in the media expect Kelly to move that blueprint straight to the NFL. One thing that I've come to realize as a Cal fan watching the Oregon Ducks stampede the Pac-10/12 for the past four years is that Kelly is a terrific football coach. He's going to be that same bold coach but he's smart enough to know that what works great in college may not work as well in the NFL. He's going to bring some of the up tempo, spread offense that got him here but he's going to adapt to his new world.
Marc Trestman is an interesting hire. He's a coach that I thought would have had a head coaching job long before this. Bud Grant gave him his first NFL job with the Minnesota Vikings. That's how far back Trestman's NFL assistant coaching experience goes. After seeing the Bears press conference announcing Marc Trestman as their coach I have a hunch that his calm presence may have been what's kept him from getting a head coaching gig. NFL owners sometimes want to see energy and excitement coming form their potential head coach. That's why Mike Tomlin's wait to get a head coaching chance was so short. When he enters a room everyone knows it. He brings that energy. Current Vikings coach Leslie Frazier's very calm presence made have led to his long wait for a head coaching chance. He would likely still be waiting if he hadn't been named the interim coach during the 2010 season. He had an on-the-job interview that showed Vikings owner Zygi Wilf that he could lead the team. Trestman had to do his on-the-job interview in Canada. He finally gets his long deserved head coaching chance.
The hiring of Gus Bradley may have been the least talked about of the day. That should not be taken as an indication of the quality of the hire. For no particular reason, I like defensive-minded head coaches. The job that Bradley did with the Seahawks defense was remarkable. Each level of the defense, line, linebackers, secondary, complimented the others so well. I think that Bradley will do well in Jacksonville.
I find it interesting that it took Bruce Arians filling in for Chuck Pagano and leading the Colts to the playoffs to get the attention that he's deserved for a while. He's only been coaching since 1975. I figured that his work as offensive coordinator for the Pittsburgh Steelers would get him some head coaching attention. It's not like he hasn't been on a coaching unknown.
All of the head coaching jobs are now filled. For now.
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