It's not as easy as the Patriots made it look.
No, that's not a reference to six Super Bowl wins in 18 years. That means conducting a coaching search, especially this offseason when there are so many proven winners.
The Patriots just handed the reins to under-contract coach and coach Jerrod Mayo from Bill Belichick, but Belichick is testing the Falcons for size and waiting to see if the Cowboys have an opening. Jim Harbaugh, Pete Carroll, and Mike Vrabel can be selective when it comes to interviewing as these year's featured coordinators have multiple opportunities available.
Seven teams are still in the early stages of the elaborate process of conducting virtual interviews, and two of the NFC East's powerhouses could soon join them after a disappointing wild-card playoff loss.
The Steelers could have been the 10th team on the market and would have been a desirable landing spot due to the unparalleled stability of the job, but Mike Tomlin told players on Tuesday that he would return in 2024. NFL Network reported that he said he intended to do so.
In-person interviews will begin on Monday, with only four teams remaining in the playoffs, and the investigation will accelerate.
Teams must conduct in-person interviews with at least two external minority candidates before making a hire under the Rooney Rule.
Below are the pros and cons for each position, the candidates who will be interviewed (asterisks indicate interview requests have not yet been filled), and the potential candidates for each position after consulting with several NFL sources. This is an analysis of the Post.
vacancy
falcons
Interview list: Ravens DC Mike McDonald, Bengals OC Brian Callahan, 49ers DC Steve Wilkes, Panthers DC Ejiro Evero, Ravens assistant head coach/DL coach Anthony Weaver, former Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, Lions DC Aaron GlennRams DC Raheem MorrisLions OC Ben JohnsonRaiders interim head coach Antonio PierceMichigan head coach Jim Harbaugh.
Thin people: Owner Arthur Blank, 81, has ended any long-term effort to win with no Super Bowl contenders in the NFC South. He is seen as a player-friendly but hands-off owner, leaving football operations to general manager Terry Fontenot. A year after foolishly not offering franchise-tagged quarterback Lamar Jackson to stick with a rotation of Taylor Heinicke and Desmond Ridder, the Bears trade Justin Fields or a No. 1 draft pick. If he does, the Falcons would be the most likely trade partner. draft. They have one of the best offensive lines in the NFL and three offensive playmakers drafted with top-10 picks.
prediction: Belichick.
panthers
Interview list: Interim Head Coach Chris Tabor, Evero, McDonald, CallahanmorrisRavens OC Todd Monken, Ben JohnsonEagles OC Brian JohnsonBuccaneers OC Dave CanalesTexans OC Bobby SlowikCowboys DC Dan QuinnDolphins OC Frank Smith.
Thin people: The cliché goes, “There are only 32 jobs available, so don't turn down any of them.” However, this is something to avoid. Impatient owner David Tepper quickly pulled the trigger on Matt Rhule, who had $34 million left on his contract, then fired Frank Reich before the end of his first season. This competition is great for Ben Johnson, who is considered number one on the list. The Panthers have holes all over the place, and having acquired quarterback Bryce Young with the No. 1 overall pick in an all-in trade, they have limited resources to fill them. Young struggled as a rookie.
prediction: Smith.
seahawks
Interview list: quinnEveromorris,SmithslowwickGiants OC Mike KafkaRaiders DC Patrick Graham*.
Thin people: From the moment Pete Carroll was sidelined, losing has felt like a job for Quinn. Quinn won a Super Bowl as Carroll's defensive coordinator in 2013 and then led the Falcons to the big game again. General manager John Schneider was a shrewd drafter and aggressive trader with a spotty track record, so the Seahawks sit in no-man's land as a playoff contender, far from a championship contender. The NFC West is a conundrum, especially with no long-term answer at quarterback to feed a dynamic receiver trio. If Carroll remains as an advisor as advertised, it will be difficult to navigate the dynamics of looking over his shoulder. Former Titans head coach Mike Vrabel could soon join the list.
prediction: Quinn.
charger
Interview list: Interim head coach Giff Smith, OC Kellen Moore, Harbaugh, former Vikings head coach Leslie Frazier, Callahan, McDonald, Wilkes, Monken, Graham, Glenn.Ben JohnsonQuinnmorris.
Thin people: Is this the job of the moment, or is it a rebuild? Either way, one option is best in both situations. What will the Chargers do with Khalil Mack, Joey Bosa, Keenan Allen, and Mike Williams (all of whom are at least $32 million in salary cap), with their star-studded roster underperforming and their chance to win a championship closed? have to decide. The Chargers are also searching for a GM, but who will make the final decision on a coach? Owner Dean Spanos doesn't usually spend money on big-time coaches, but there are plenty of big-time coaches in the AFC West. There is. But the trump card is the chance to work with Pro Bowl quarterback Justin Herbert, 25, at least through 2029.
prediction: Herbaugh.
Commander
Interview list: ben johnsonGlennmorrisweaverMcDonald'sQuinnslowwick*.
Thin people: Here we have Pencil, a young offensive innovator. This is a logical move when a manager is almost certain to draft the franchise's No. 2 overall quarterback. New owner Josh Harris has at least three years of coaching experience with his NBA and NHL franchises, which would be considered patience in this day and age. He won't hesitate to jump into his league-high $75.3 million in cap space, according to overthecap.com. New general manager Adam Peters came from the 49ers and was exposed to the magic of a number of bright young assistants who were influenced by head coach Kyle Shanhan. Slowik, who began his career as an assistant in Washington, is next in line.
prediction: Slowwick.
titans
Interview list: Callahan, Pearce, McDonald, Kafka, GlennBen JohnsonQuinnslowwickBrian JohnsonPanthers OC Thomas Brown.
Thin people: Owner Amy Adams Slank fired two people, GM Jon Robinson during the 2022 season and head coach Mike Vrabel last week, in an effort to advance to the next level, and most of them were successful. . GM Ran Carson could end up competing with manager Peters for many of the same candidates due to their shared background as co-workers with the 49ers. The highly in-demand promotion of Johnson to Lions offensive coordinator midway through the 2022 season coincided with the resurgence of Jared Goff. The Titans have $71 million in salary cap space but no real offensive identity after parting ways with Derrick Henry. Will 2023 second-round pick Will Levis become a franchise quarterback?
prediction: Ben Jonson.
Raiders
Interview list: Frazier, former Seahawks DC Chris Richard.
Thin people: The Raiders' initial focus was on finding a general manager. With Pierce (5-4 record) available for another interview, they were on the back burner when it came to retaining their interim coach. Owner Mark Davis made the mistake of not hiring the last successful interim head coach, Rich Bisaccia, in 2022, but he can't just let Harbaugh go to the Chargers without gauging interest. It won't happen, right? Defensive star Maxx Crosby reportedly could request a trade if someone other than Pierce is used. All-Pro receiver Davante Adams could also be dealt. It doesn't matter that they don't have a franchise quarterback. The Raiders need to get this hire right in order to establish a fan base in Las Vegas.
prediction: Earrings.
It might open soon
cowboys
Head coach: mike mccarthy
Thin people: Like Blank, Jerry Jones is an 81-year-old owner who feels he is fighting Father Time to bring the Cowboys back to their glory days. He needs a coach with the same urgency. There's a lot of speculation about Belichick, but who will have the final say on the roster when Jones, Belichick and a few other greats crowd together? A balanced roster with a No. 1 scoring offense and a No. 5 defense has won three consecutive 12-win seasons thanks to executive Will McCray's outstanding draft performance. So which manager will be able to break through to the top in the postseason? He's a Super Bowl winner, but I'm surprised he's currently unemployed.
prediction: Carol.
eagles
Head coach: Nick Sirianni
Thin people: Sirianni's behavior, yelling at rival fans and mocking opposing players, looked typical of Philadelphia in good times, but when he couldn't stop the team from collapsing (1-6 in overtime) and the locker room from collapsing. He looked like a clown. One season removed from the NFC Championship, expectations for his successor will be sky-high. Jason Kelce is the first of the “core four” to retire, the defense needs a complete makeover, and quarterback Jalen Hurts has regressed. Above all, teams need structure and accountability.
prediction: Vrabel.
