New NFL Coaches in '09

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Feb 10, 2009

New NFL Coaches in '09

Eric Mangini

Fired after three seasons as the New York Jets coach, Mangini didn't take long to find another gig. A former Browns ball boy, Mangini replaces Romeo Crennel, who was canned after the Browns' disappointing 4-12 season.

Josh McDaniels

The Broncos stunned the football world when they fired two-time Super Bowl-winning coach Mike Shanahan after 14 seasons. They replaced him with McDaniels, 32, who had previously served as the Patriots offensive coordinator. He is thought to be one of the brightest young minds in the game.

Jim Schwartz

The first-ever 0-16 season predictably cost Rod Marinelli his job with the Lions. Enter Schwartz, who finally gets his chance to be a head coach after eight seasons as the Titans defensive coordinator.

Jim Caldwell

No surprise here. When Tony Dungy retired after the Colts' playoff loss, Caldwell slipped into the head coach's office as was pre-planned by the team last offseason. Caldwell has been with the Colts for seven seasons, the final four as assistant head coach.

Todd Haley

Leveraging the Cardinals' impressive run to Super Bowl XLIII, Haley left his gig as Arizona's offensive coordinator to replace Herm Edwards as the Chiefs head coach. Haley inherits a Kansas City team that went 2-14 in 2008.

Rex Ryan

After firing Eric Mangini immediately following the season, the Jets waited until after the Ravens were eliminated in the AFC championship game to pluck defensive coordinator Ryan to fill their position. Ryan is the son of Buddy Ryan, who served on the Jets staff from 1968 to `75.

Tom Cable

Cable, then the offensive line coach, was Oakland's interim choice to replace Lane Kiffin, who was fired in the middle of the 2008 season. After the team showed improvement and won its final two games to close out the season, the Raiders lifted the interim tag from Cable's title.

Mike Singletary

Singletary's passion and intensity as interim coach prompted San Francisco executives to make him the permanent replacement for Mike Nolan, who was fired seven games into last season.

Jim Mora

Mora was named head-coach-in-waiting last offseason, when Mike Holmgren made it known the 2008 season would be his last. Mora was previously a head coach for the Atlanta Falcons and takes over a Seahawks' squad that missed the playoffs for the first time in five seasons.

Steve Spagnuolo

A hot coaching commodity after leading the Giants defense the past two seasons, Spagnuolo was snapped up by the Rams. He replaces interim coach Jim Haslett, who took over after Scott Linehan was fired in the middle of the 2008 season.

Raheem Morris

It was quite the offseason for Morris. After spending 2008 as the Bucs secondary coach, Morris was first promoted to defensive coordinator then, after Tampa surprisingly fired Jon Gruden, he was promoted again to head coach.