The NFL Has Seats Availabe in Coach: Predicting Who Will Fill Each Job
Pete Carroll is gone in Seattle. Mike McCarthy could be out in Dallas with a loss to Green Bay. The NFL’s annual game of musical chairs has begun, who will be sitting where?
The available head coaching pool is the best in years, which may drive more teams to let go of the head coach if their desired candidate is interested.
Jim Harbaugh – He will want more than $15 million per year, a great quarterback, and the Kyle Shanahan setup with personnel control above his GM. That puts the Chargers at the top of his list.
Owner Dean Spanos must decide if he’s willing to spend the money and cede personnel control. He well might, Spanos is facing sharp criticism and the way he can deflect that is to buy name armor, “Hey I hired Jim Harbaugh don’t blame me.”
Dallas loves names but Harbaugh knows Jerry Jones won’t give up personnel power. Washington is focused on hiring a GM first, and Seattle has a sharp GM. The Raiders could give Harbaugh money and power but that’s a fallback option.
Prediction: Chargers
Bill Belichick – He and the Patriots have mutually agreed to part ways, according to Adam Schefter. Belichick is looking for the best opportunity to win, his goal is to pass Don Shula on the all-time wins list. Belichick is decidedly not a fan. He trails Shula by 16 wins, so he’ll need at least two seasons. Dallas wins a ton of games, but Belichick and Jones are an unlikely pairing of planet-sized egos.
If the Eagles move on from Nick Sirianni, I could see Belichick going to Philadelphia provided he’s willing to let go of personnel control in exchange for wins. If the Chargers can’t make it work with Harbaugh, they could give Belichick a call. The Giants could decide to make a run if Belichick is on the market.
Prediction: Eagles
Nick Sirianni – If the Eagles flame out and lose the wild card game to Tampa the players may be making a statement that they want Sirianni gone. If so, who would roll the dice on him? New Orleans is overdue to move on from Dennis Allen but to fire Allen over a player mutiny and then hire Sirianni? Atlanta could kick the tires, but their focus is elsewhere.
Prediction: Only fitting that the NFL’s studio gangster doesn’t land a job and goes to – the studio. Karma carries a 2x4.
Ben Johnson – He has reportedly said he wants $15 million per year but his agent disputes that. Carolina has courted him for more than a year. Every team with an opening will be interested.
Johnson grew up in Asheville and went to college at the University of North Carolina, so the Panthers should have an edge in landing him. His call if he wants to partner with David Tepper and Bryce Young. If not, Washington and New England have the picks to draft a franchise quarterback.
Prediction: Panthers
Mike Macdonald – The most innovative coordinator on the market. He’s reportedly a top target for Washington and that makes sense for both sides.
Prediction: Washington, team name to be changed this off-season. Redtails would be a wise nod to the extensive African-American population in the region.
Dan Quinn – He’s rumored to be the top choice in Seattle. Seahawks Team Chair Jody Allen is legally obligated to sell the team within a few years so she’s taking more of a caretaker approach. Quinn is a Seattle alum so it all fits.
If Dallas can’t land Harbaugh, Belichick, or Johnson, Jones may decide Quinn is the best call as an in-house candidate who understands the team culture aka understands Jones calls all the shots.
Prediction: Seahawks
Mike Vrabel – New England reportedly decided weeks ago to move on from Belichick so they already had a target in mind, with linebackers coach Jerod Mayo the rumored choice. Vrabel’s release was unexpected, I doubt he was in New England’s thinking then, but he is now. Mayo is said to be the leading candidate with Vrabel and Minnesota defensive coordinator Brian Flores also being considered. Vrabel also fits the profile in Seattle.
Prediction: The Patriots either go with Mayo or promote him to defensive coordinator and hire Vrabel as head coach.
Bobby Slowik – He's had a great year in Houston with C.J. Stroud. The advice from DeMeco Ryans is to be selective. Dallas may be looking for an offensive mind, but Jones hiring a rookie coach seems unlikely.
Prediction: Slowik follows Ryans’ advice and stays in Houston for a year.
Eric Bienemy – Atlanta reportedly prefers an offensive mind, the fantasy football owners who had Bijan Robinson probably celebrated when Arthur Smith was fired. The Falcons will likely want to talk with Slowik and Johnson, Miami offensive coordinator Frank Smith, and they just requested to interview Steve Wilks.
Prediction: Falcons
Aaron Glenn – The Detroit defensive coordinator was requested for an interview in Tennessee and he’d be a great fit for a team that needs a reboot but has playoff expectations. Tennessee may also want to talk with the Niners' Steve Wilks.
Prediction: Titans
Antonio Pierce – The players want him back and the Raider defense was excellent under Pierce. Harbaugh says no, the NFL would have to give the ok for a Jon Gruden return, so I think that leads to Pierce coming back.
Prediction: Raiders
That leaves the Dallas job open if McCarthy is fired. Jones wants a name that will work with him. Harbaugh, Belichick, and Johnson go elsewhere. Nick Saban was tired of the transfer portal and NIL, but if Jones makes it worth his while could Saban return to the NFL? Makes for a fun story. I can see Jones asking. If Saban says no, Jones probably evaluates internal candidates.
