It’s that point of the 12 months the place a handful of NFL groups are trying—or are about to be trying—for his or her subsequent chief on the sidelines.
Discovering a brand new coach who will instantly make a optimistic influence isn’t any straightforward activity. Simply ask the New England Patriots, who employed Jerod Mayo earlier than this season solely to fireplace him on the conclusion of the marketing campaign following a 4-13 end.
New England already went out and acquired its man in Mike Vrabel, although, and the Chicago Bears additionally began planning for the long run by bringing in former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson as their subsequent coach.
Nonetheless, loads of robust teaching candidates are on the market. Listed below are three of the most effective:
Kellen Moore, Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator
Philadelphia is making ready for the NFC Championship Recreation thanks largely to Moore, who has introduced out the most effective in almost the entire Eagles’ weapons on offense.
Operating again Saquon Barkley introduced his profession again to life by speeding for a league-leading 2,005 yards and 13 touchdowns in the course of the common season; quarterback Jalen Hurts’ dual-threat capabilities had been on full show (32 whole TDs) and Philadelphia averaged 27.2 factors per recreation.
For any crew in want of a raise offensively, Moore is an ideal possibility. His identify has been thrown round in head-coaching talks ever since he was the Dallas Cowboys’ offensive coordinator from 2019-22, and it would lastly be time for the 36-year-old to tackle some extra tasks.
Todd Monken, Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator
Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken on the sector earlier than the sport towards the Washington Commanders at M&T Financial institution Stadium. Obligatory Credit score: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Photographs Not like Moore, Monken already has some head-coaching expertise below his belt; it simply got here on the collegiate stage.
Monken was at Southern Miss for 3 seasons (2013-15), main the Golden Eagles to a 13-25 file. He’s been within the NFL ever since other than a stint at Georgia, the place he served as OC and quarterbacks coach from 2020-22.
One of many extra skilled names on the market, Monken, 58, was supposedly gaining some critical traction with the Bears earlier than they landed Johnson. Now it seems like Jacksonville may very well be the place Monken is headed ought to he select to maneuver on from the Ravens. The Jaguars fired coach Doug Pederson on Jan. 6.
Mike McCarthy, former Dallas Cowboys coach
Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy walks off the sector after the sport at Financial institution of America Stadium. Obligatory Credit score: Bob Donnan-Imagn Photographs Dallas letting McCarthy go earlier this month was a transfer that everyone noticed coming for years.
The Cowboys had incessantly underperformed throughout McCarthy’s 5 seasons on the helm, particularly as soon as the playoffs rolled round. Dallas reached the divisional spherical simply as soon as and misplaced, additionally getting bounced within the wild-card spherical twice.
Everyone appears to have a powerful opinion on McCarthy—and most aren’t optimistic—however the 61-year-old does have 174 regular-season victories to his identify together with 11 wins within the postseason and a Tremendous Bowl ring.
Prefer it or not, McCarthy gained’t keep unemployed for lengthy. It’s solely a matter of time earlier than a crew comes and scoops him up, and who is aware of? Possibly a recent begin permits him to higher his status.
