The Annual Head Coaching Churn

There are six teams currently taking part in the annual head coaching churn.

1. Atlanta Falcons

2. Houston Texans

3. Detroit Lions

4. New York Jets

5. Jacksonville Jaguars 

6. Los Angeles Chargers

The Atlanta Falcons, Houston Texans, and Detroit Lions fired their head coaches during the season. It wasn’t long after the final game game of the season that the New York Jets, Jacksonville Jaguar, and Los Angeles Chargers did the same with their head coaches. No team wants to be a part of the head coach hiring cycle but it’s preferable to sticking with something that wasn’t working. It also gives fans of the teams looking for a head coach some hope. 

This hiring cycle is a little different than most. The interviews so far have been of the virtual variety. It’s an easier process for the candidates that are coaching in the playoffs. The warm, cuddly, getting-to-know-you nature of the in-person interview is for another time. Teams will get their new head coaches but it’ll probably be at a slower pace than previous years. 

If I was a fan of a team looking for a new head coach, I’d be thrilled if my team focused their search on some of these coaches.

David Shaw, Stanford Head Coach

Matt Campbell, Iowa State Head Coach

Brian Daboll, Buffalo Bills Offensive Coordinator

Arthur Smith, Tennessee Titans Offensive Coordinator 

Tony Elliott, Clemson Offensive Coordinator

Matt Eberflus, Indianapolis Colts Defensive Coordinator

Eric Bieniemy, Kansas City Chiefs Offensive Coordinator

Todd Bowles, Tampa Bay Buccaneers Defensive Coordinator

Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern Head Coach

Robert Saleh, San Francisco 49ers Defensive Coordinator

The above isn’t really in order of preference but I’d start a search with a run at Stanford’s David Shaw. Teams have often called on Shaw but he’s damn happy at that Junior University. As a Cal alum, I’d be thrilled if a team could pry him away from Stanford. If I was a fan of the team doing the prying I’d be doubly thrilled. He’s a terrific football coach. 

Some might think it a gamble to go after college head coaches. There’s been mixed results but I don’t think that the success or failures of the past predict the success or failures of the future. I just think that David Shaw, Matt Campbell, and Pat Fitzgerald are excellent football coaches. I think that they’d be successful at any level. It’d surprise me if Shaw or Fitzgerald left for the league. I wouldn’t be surprised if Campbell left. 

I’m curious about Tony Elliott. It’s quite a leap to go from college coordinator to NFL head coach. Who knows? A team might become so intrigued by his potential that they take the plunge with him. Elliott’s definitely a coach to watch. 

Some combination of the following offensive and defensive coordinators are on the interview list of all six teams. 

Brian Daboll

Arthur Smith

Matt Eberflus

Eric Bieniemy 

Todd Bowles 

Robert Saleh

Bowles is the only one with head coaching experience. It was the New York Jets so it didn’t go great. My guess is that Daboll, Smith, Bieniemy, and Saleh will fill four of the head coach openings. 

If I were to guess the other two new head coaches, I’d guess that one will go with a former head coach like Marvin Lewis. I’d guess that the other one will go with a surprise choice much like the Pittsburgh Steelers did when they hired Mike Tomlin.

We’re in the annual head coaching churn. It’s an intriguing time and helps fill the football drama between the playoff games.