NFL Coaching Carousel: Predicting Where the Top Candidates Land

The surprise firing of former Philadelphia Eagles Head Coach Doug Pederson on Monday has brought the number of head coaching vacancies in the National Football League to seven. While many teams’ fan bases have begun to look towards the draft and free agency as a means for hope, the harsh reality is that every single one of these teams has an even greater question in front of them: Who will lead their squad into next season and beyond?

Let’s use the official draft order to determine which coach best fits the job and makes the most sense for their given team.

Jacksonville Jaguars: Urban Meyer (Former Ohio State HC)

Meyer and the Jaguars have been flirting with each other for what has seemed like an eternity. The former Ohio State and Florida Head Coach reportedly began reaching out to coaches who would be interested in joining his staff after his interview with the Jags last week, yet things have recently slowed down due to Meyer’s uncertainty about taking the job.

Stylistically, Meyer is seemingly a great fit for the Jaguars, as his track record of developing and game planning to the strengths of his quarterbacks is undoubtedly evident. Alex Smith, Tim Tebow and Dwayne Haskins Jr. were all first-round picks after their time with Meyer, and with the Jaguars in the driver’s seat to land the coveted generational-type prospect Trevor Lawrence, Meyer could be their guy.

New York Jets: Robert Saleh (San Francisco 49ers DC)

The Jets’ General Manager Joe Douglas has made it very clear what type of coach he’s looking for to lead his team: a CEO-type head coach who can immediately come into Florham Park, New Jersey, and shift the organization’s culture. By every metric you can find, Saleh fits this bill to a tee. Since taking over as the Defensive Coordinator of the 49ers in 2017, Saleh has led his defense to the top of the NFL mountain. During the 2019 season, the 49ers defense ranked sixth in the league in forced turnovers, second in total defense, first in passing defense and fourth in sacks en route to a Super Bowl appearance. In a 2020 season that was riddled with injuries and Covid opt-outs, Saleh’s defense still managed to finish fifth in yards allowed and yards allowed per play, seventh in rushing yards allowed and fourth in passing yards allowed. A players’ coach who has a punch-you-in-the-mouth mindset, Saleh would fit perfectly with New York’s tough and gritty identity.

Atlanta Falcons: Joe Brady (Carolina Panthers OC)

With rumors swirling about a potential Joe Brady and Terry Fontonet pairing as head coach and General Manager in Atlanta, this pick comes as a no-brainer for the Falcons. Brady gained nationwide acclaim for his help in constructing LSU’s historic offense in 2019 and Joe Burrow’s winning of the Heisman and was quickly scooped up by Matt Rhule and the Panthers in early 2020. While his first season with Carolina didn’t amount to nearly as much success as he had with LSU, many prominent voices in league circles believe Brady has the chops to be a successful head coach. With Atlanta likely looking to draft a quarterback in the 2021 draft in preparation for the departure of 35-year-old Matt Ryan, Joe Brady would be crucial in the development of their next franchise centerpiece.

Philadelphia Eagles: Lincoln Riley (Oklahoma HC)

Jeffrey Lurie’s emphatic firing of Doug Pederson made one thing abundantly clear in Philadelphia: their plan is to stick with Carson Wentz for the foreseeable future. Having an advanced pedigree of developing superstar quarterbacks Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray and Jalen Hurts, Riley offers the Eagles with the best chance at revitalizing Wentz’s seemingly downward spiral of a career. While Riley has been rumored to join NFL teams as head coach the past couple of offseasons, no solid relationship has been able to form. Part of this is due to Riley’s seemingly perfect situation at Oklahoma, where he is paid $7.5 million per year to coach the Sooners and essentially be the king of Norman. If the Eagles want him, they’re going to have to spend some big-time cash.

Detroit Lions: Marvin Lewis (Former Cincinnati Bengals HC)

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported that the Lions “came away impressed” with Lewis after his head coaching interview a couple of weeks ago and that he is “in play” for the job. This move could make a lot of sense for Detroit, who seemingly haven’t been able to get any sort of continuity or success for over a decade. Lewis, who coached the Bengals from 2003 to 2018, has a wealth of experience in the league and knows how to be consistently competitive, which is a facet of Detroit’s game that they have been severely lacking in recent memory. With the departure of Matthew Stafford imminent and likely a full rebuild on the horizon, Lewis would be a great coach to weather the storm and get the most out of his players.

Los Angeles Chargers: Brain Daboll (Buffalo Bills OC)

The Chargers’ number one priority for the foreseeable future must be to continue to develop their young superstar quarterback Justin Herbert. The former Oregon Duck put up record-breaking numbers during his rookie campaign, and there is no better head coach to help continue his level of production than Daboll. Since joining the Bills as Offensive Coordinator in 2018, Daboll has facilitated the meteoric rise of Josh Allen, whose 2020 season cemented himself as a premier quarterback in the NFL. Daboll’s ability to construct an offensive scheme that allows Allen to get the most out of his arm and legs is undoubtedly impressive, and he can be brought in to tap into Herbert’s seemingly unlimited potential.

Houston Texans: Eric Bienemy (Kansas City Chiefs OC)

Let’s be honest, things in Houston could not be worse. With superstar quarterback Deshaun Watson reportedly growing increasingly unhappy with ownership and their inability to include him on key franchise decisions and former players Andre Johnson and Deandre Hopkins speaking out against the team, Owner Cal McNair is backed into a corner. Bienemy, who is reportedly Watson’s top pick for the job, brings along with him a wealth of experience and success with developing MVP-caliber players such as Adrian Peterson and Patrick Mahomes. While there are some concerns about Bienemy’s playcalling ability, which is something that Chiefs’ Head Coach Andy Reid does exclusively by himself, this hasn’t stopped former Andy Reid offensive disciples Doug Pederson and Matt Nagy from gaining head coaching positions in the past, and it shouldn’t for Bienemy either.