As the NFL offseason progresses, six teams remain in search of head coaches: the Baltimore Ravens, Pittsburgh Steelers, Buffalo Bills, Arizona Cardinals, Cleveland Browns, and Las Vegas Raiders. Recent hires have shifted the coaching landscape, most notably with the Miami Dolphins appointing Jeff Hafley and the Tennessee Titans selecting Robert Saleh.
Coaching Changes and Insights
Matt Nagy has opted not to renew his contract with the Kansas City Chiefs, positioning himself for a head coaching opportunity. Eric Bieniemy will take over as the offensive coordinator for the Chiefs, a role he held from 2018 to 2022. The coming weeks will clarify Nagy’s future career path.
Potential candidates for the remaining head coaching positions are as follows:
- Jesse Minter, Defensive Coordinator, Los Angeles Chargers
- Vance Joseph, Defensive Coordinator, Denver Broncos
- Brian Flores, Defensive Coordinator, Minnesota Vikings
- Grant Udinski, Offensive Coordinator, Jacksonville Jaguars
- Davis Webb, Passing-Game Coordinator, Denver Broncos
- Nate Scheelhaase, Passing-Game Coordinator, Los Angeles Rams
- Mike LaFleur, Offensive Coordinator, Los Angeles Rams
- Chris Shula, Defensive Coordinator, Los Angeles Rams
- Brian Daboll, Former Head Coach, New York Giants
- Jim Schwartz, Defensive Coordinator, Cleveland Browns
- Klint Kubiak, Offensive Coordinator, Seattle Seahawks
- Mike McDaniel, Former Head Coach, Miami Dolphins
- Kliff Kingsbury, Former Offensive Coordinator, Washington Commanders
- Ejiro Evero, Defensive Coordinator, Carolina Panthers
Market Dynamics
The competitive landscape for head coaching jobs is shaped by the performance of remaining teams in the playoffs. Candidates like Joseph, Kubiak, Scheelhaase, Webb, LaFleur, and Shula may attract second interviews, but teams may exercise patience due to a limited pool of candidates.
Mike McDaniel’s future looks bright, with interest from several teams in need of an offensive coordinator. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, with their favorable division and talented roster, appear to be a prime candidate for McDaniel’s signature style of play.
Predictions for Remaining Teams
Each of the six teams is evaluating their options closely:
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Top Candidates: Chris Shula, Brian Flores, Nate Scheelhaase
While the Steelers may lack some roster attraction, the team’s prestige remains strong. A decision will likely come down to comparisons of Flores’s reputation and the potential of Rams coaches.
Cleveland Browns
- Top Candidates: Grant Udinski, Nate Scheelhaase, Jim Schwartz
The Browns’ decision may pivot towards the offensive acumen of Udinski or Scheelhaase, or the retention of Schwartz.
Arizona Cardinals
- Top Candidates: Vance Joseph, Mike LaFleur
Joseph’s prior connections and experience with the franchise position him strongly in this search.
Las Vegas Raiders
- Top Candidates: Jesse Minter, Davis Webb
Minter could capitalize on his Michigan connections, and Webb’s QB experience provides an intriguing option for the Raiders.
Buffalo Bills
- Top Candidates: Brian Daboll, Davis Webb
The Bills’ future direction remains uncertain following the firing of Sean McDermott. Both Webb and Daboll have solid ties to the team.
Baltimore Ravens
- Top Candidates: Jesse Minter, Klint Kubiak, Nate Scheelhaase
The Ravens must weigh their options carefully, especially considering potential shifts towards a quarterback-centric strategy.
As the situation develops, all eyes will be on how these coaching vacancies are filled in the coming weeks as NFL teams seek to strengthen their futures.
