Thankfully, Ben Johnson is not on this list:
Who needs a head coach and who might the candidates be?
The season is almost over, which means the dark day known as Black Monday will only get closer and closer. A few head coaches will end up losing their jobs. Panthers head coach Matt Rhule and Colts head coach Frank Reich have already been let go this season and a few others could join them. Here are a few other teams that could be looking at a new head coach.
Denver Broncos: See the previous section. Watch the Thursday night game against the Colts. Or really just about any Broncos game this year. Nathaniel Hackett doesn’t appear to be the guy to coach this team past this season and the Broncos need to improve rapidly to get Russell Wilson back to playing productive football.
Arizona Cardinals: Kliff Kingsbury received a contract extension this year, but things have been trending down for too long in Arizona without any real sign of progress over the past year or so. To be fair to Kingsbury, general manager Steve Keim should be sent on his way as well if Kingsbury does get the boot.
Houston Texans: Hey man, sometimes the game is the game. Lovie Smith was set up to fail this season for a team that didn’t even really want to hire him in the first place. The Texans are lucky that NFL coaching jobs are extremely coveted and they’re likely to have the first pick in the draft because otherwise this would be a stay-away situation. They’re on the brink of having their third head coach in as many years.
New Orleans Saints: This is probably a dark horse option here, but Dennis Allen hasn’t really worked out. He’s a great defensive mind and play-caller, but at the same time, he’s failed the Saints as a head coach. Maybe the Saints can get Sean Payton back in the door with a little coaxing, but so far it appears that Allen has been a decisive downgrade for them.
There will undoubtedly be a team or two that surprise and make some cuts at the end of the season, but those seem like the clearer options for teams that will be looking for a new head man. Here are a few candidates to keep in mind as the coaching carousel picks up over the next two months in the NFL.
49ers defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans is arguably the hottest name on the head coaching market. (Photo by Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images)
DeMeco Ryans, 49ers defensive coordinator: Ryans has arguably been the best defensive coordinator in football since he took over for Robert Saleh last season. Two years of elite production will get him hired by someone looking to bring their defense into the modern age.
Shane Steichen, Eagles offensive coordinator: Jalen Hurts has outperformed the expectations of many this season and Steichen will get a huge chunk of credit. He’ll probably end up leading someone’s team next season.
Ejiro Evero, Broncos defensive coordinator: Ejiro Evero is a first-time defensive coordinator, but he’s the only piece of the Broncos coaching that actually works. Evero has done a great job keeping the Broncos defense engaged and productive during what has been a lost season.
Dan Quinn, Cowboys defensive coordinator: Dan Quinn has been on these lists for a few years now and he has another strong case to re-enter the head coaching ranks after leading Dallas’ defense to another top season.
Jonathan Gannon, Eagles defensive coordinator: Gannon leads what has been one of the best defenses in the NFL this season. Production usually gets people hired to head coaching positions and Gannon has been one of the best.
Lou Anarumo, Bengals defensive coordinator: It’s funny that Anarumo finds himself on this list because he wasn’t even the Bengals’ first or second option when they were looking at defensive coordinators. Still, he’s done a fine job as and should get a serious look at head coaching gigs after the season.