We’re almost at the end of the NFL coaching carousel. Only the Saints have a vacancy in their head coach position right now. How well have the openings been filled this offseason?
The best head coach on the market went to the team that needed him most. The Bears were a good HC away from playoff contention, and they bit the bullet to get their guy – a rare positive move from a questionable organization. Johnson has modernized the game, especially on offense, and it’s a tell that Chicago is finally playing to win rather than not to lose.
Grade: A+
The Jaguars are in a peculiar spot. They lost a chance at Ben Johnson and Robert Saleh because Trent Baalke was still the GM. Coen would’ve also shied away if the Jags didn’t axe the GM. Liam Coen won’t be a bad coach by any means, but the fact that it took a head coach vacancy to fire the GM rather than the 25-43 record he held is another reason this team is in purgatory.
Coen will make a lot of money, but consider this: the Jags have a young QB talent under center, a Pro Bowl rookie receiver, and two top-10 picks as edge rushers, and it still won’t be enough for a playoff spot.
Grade: C+
Glenn has clarified that he isn’t just a defensive-minded coach. He is an NFL-caliber head coach that can change the mentality of a football team. The Jets desperately need someone aggressive who can change the culture of their program, and Glenn will do a good job of that.
It also means that Aaron Rodgers will likely be back with the Jets next season, which could be what holds the Jets back. Overall, however, it is an excellent selection from a franchise needing one.
Carroll has the best resume out of anyone here; he’s a Super Bowl champion and has a lasting legacy on the game of football. The problem is that his style is dated. Old-school football can only get you so far, and the Raiders are not a team that can get over that hump with their roster woes and a competitive division.
Grade: C-
This pairing made the most sense, without a doubt. Vrabel knows the Patriot Way; he’s brought it with him in every step of his career. The fans in Foxboro love him. His players love him. The front office loves him. With a young, promising QB under center, the Patriots hit a home run.
Grade: A
Schttenheimer is a product of Mike McCarthy, plain and simple. Nathaniel Hackett was a product of Matt LaFleur, which was horrible for the Broncos. This will be another example of that. He has no head coaching experience, and he’s 54 years old. It’s been that way for a reason, which will rear its ugly head within a few years.
Grade: D-
McCarthy is the strongest candidate for the Saints. While he’s a tremendous offensive mind and has the savvy to win the locker room, there isn’t too much to build around right now. Derek Carr is the equivalent of empty calories, and it puts your team in a weird spot, even with Alvin Kamara and Chris Olave.
Spencer Rattler has shown that he is far from ready, so the Saints are stuck. Plus, like Carroll, McCarthy struggles to get over the hump; it’ll be a competitive division next year, and the Saints are on the outside looking in right now.
(Potential) Grade: C+
Hopefully, this coaching cycle sticks for some time; the amount of turnover with coaches these days is bad for the sport, so let’s pray these are the right guys to lead these teams and get excited for another season of great football.
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