The 2024 NFL Season is entering Week 12 and we have seen two coaches relieved of their duties: Jets Robert Saleh and Saints Dennis Allen. Last season seven teams found their new leader during the offseason (or in some cases, promotion from interim), so how many will find their guy this year?
The NFL is a cut throat business and if you don’t succeed, you won’t be around long. The NFL “no fun league” “not for long” league is true to it’s word – with the average NFL coaching tenure being around 3.5 seasons. Granted there are some like Mike Tomlin, John Harbaugh, and Andy Reid who have been around forever, but there is a revolving door with some teams. So who is going to be added to the list of fired coaches and who is going to replace them this offseason?
There is no need to talk about the two following since they have already been fired:
Robert Saleh – New York Jets
Replacement: Brian Flores – Minnesota Vikings Defensive Coordinator
Dennis Allen – New Orleans Saints
Replacement: Aaron Glenn – Detroit Lions DC
Predicted Firings:
Doug Pederson – Jacksonville Jaguars
Shad Khan, Jags owner, was quoted saying this is the best Jaguars team in the history of the franchise prior to this season. Doug Pederson and the “best team” have started the season with a 2-9 record. Trevor Lawrence is hurt and Mac Jones is starting, they have dealt with various other injuries to key players as well. When Pederson was hired, he was the former Super Bowl winning coach taking over for the absolute dumpster fire that Urban Meyer had left behind. He led the Jags to 9-8 season capped with a divisional round loss against the Super Bowl champion Chiefs in his first season in Jacksonville, followed it up with another 9-8 season last year. Unfortunately, Doug is going to be on his way out with Khan being a very progressive/quick triggered owner.
Replacement: Joe Brady – Buffalo Bills Offensive Coordinator (the crazy in NFL for years has been the up and coming offensive mind to come in and revamp your team. Trevor Lawrence is no where near what he was expected to be, could Brady point him in the right direction?)
Kevin Stefanski – Cleveland Browns
I called the Jaguars situation with Urban Meyer a dumpster fire… now we are saying the most known thing in sports: The Browns entire organization is a dumpster fire. They traded 3-1st round picks, 1-3rd round, and 2-4thround picks to the Texans for Deshaun Watson, who at the time hadn’t played for a season due to injury and sexual assault allegations. He has been a shell of his once MVP conversation-self. As a whole, the history of the Browns have just continued to be a complete joke, and unfortunately whoever takes the job is only fulfilling one thing – achieving their dream of being an NFL head coach. Stefanski is likely to add his name to the long list of failed head coaches in Cleveland, despite leading the Browns to two playoff appearances in his 5 seasons at the helm, including a 11-6 season last year. He is a product of circumstance, and the situation he was put into with Watson was made for failure.
Replacement: Kliff Kingsbury – Washington Commanders Offensive Coordinator (this dumpster fire of an organization will go for a young flashy hire to hopefully navigate through the millions of dollars worth of sexual assault cases)
Mike McCarthy – Dallas Cowboys
A hire that was built off of lies and deceit, Mike McCarthy lasting this long is Dallas is absolutely incredible. I don’t know if he has dirt on Jerry Jones, I don’t know if he has a non-fire clause in his contract, but the fact that Jerry has allowed McCarthy to continue to coach this team is shocking. But at the same time, it makes sense considering how long he allowed Jason Garrett to coach as well. His record shows otherwise at 45-31, but the lack of success in the playoffs with a roster that is built to contend now and has a QB who is paid like he is the best in the league – McCarthy time in Dallas is coming to a close.
Replacement: Bill Belichick (He will want to be the GM, which is the only thing making this move possibly falling through – Jerry would never give up GM role)
Zac Taylor – Cincinnati Bengals
Another coach who has a roster built for now, and can’t get the job done. After going 2-14 and 4-11-1 in his first two seasons, Taylor was on the hot seat headed into the 2021 season. Luckily for him, he lead the Bengals to a 10-7 record and an AFC championship before losing to the Rams in the Super Bowl. Since, he has made one playoff appearance and a last place division finish last year. With Joe Burrow and Jamarr Chase, the Bengals are expected to be Super Bowl contenders yearly, currently sitting at 4-7, with multiple games being close and unable to finish the win off… a direct reflection of coaching. Taylor’s Super Bowl appearance has bought him another 3 years in Cincy, but the shine has worn off.
Replacement: Ben Johnson – Detroit Lions Offensive Coordinator (one young offensive mind to the next to hopefully right the Joe Burrow ship)
Matt Eberflus – Chicago Bears
Possibly the most obvious firing this upcoming offseason is Eberflus. Coming into the season, the #1 pick Caleb Williams was slated to be the next NFL great, they had a defense behind him already, and countless weapons on offense with him… however they are 4-6 and STRUGGLING. Caleb Williams was about to be benched because he is regressing with the horrible coaching he is receiving, both offensive and defensive coordinators have been fired, and players are visibly giving up on the field of play (see DJ Moore’s walking off the field mid-play for example). Eberflus was never the right hire and the Bears refuse to do the right thing and move on from him. There was absolutely no reason he should have ever been able to be in the same building as Caleb Williams, because now the next coach is going to have to get the Eberflus stink off him.
Replacement: Drew Petzing – Arizona Cardinals Offensive Coordinator (looking at what he has done at his time in the desert, turning Caleb into a player like Kyler could be right up the Bears alley. The Bears never hire high profile coaches, which is why Petzing fits perfectly.)
Antonio Pierce – Las Vegas Raiders
Another coach who should have never been hired for this position, Antonio Pierce, should be let go in Las Vegas. The former interim coach had his tag removed and made head coach prior to this season after spending the previous 3 as an assistant on staff – winning over the players. Just because you are buddies with the players doesn’t mean you are going to be a good head coach. 2-8 this year with a cluster of QB’s, trading away best offensive player, and just continuing to “Raiders gonna Raider”, Pierce needs to see the door. Will Mark Davis pull the trigger after just hiring him? Will Tom Brady be in Davis’ ear telling him it’s time for him to go? Only time will tell.
Replacement: Mike Vrabel – He is buddies with Tom Brady and preaches toughness and grit, something the old school Raiders thrived off of, and I’m sure Mark Davis would like to get a couple more butts in seats with high profile hiring.
Brian Daboll – New York Giants
Daboll is just 1.5 seasons removed from his 2022 AP Coach of the Year award during his first season in New York, where the Giants went 9-7-1 and lost in the divisional round to the AFC Champion Eagles. Daboll has been cursed with bad ownership/GM decisions – letting Saquon Barkley walk this offseason, signing Daniel Jones to a mega deal as a below average player – just to point out the obvious. 17-26-1 isn’t going to cut it in a big market like NYC and it’s only a matter of time before Giants are looking for their guy yet again.
Replacement: Deion Sanders – Colorado Buffaloes Head Coach (When the Giants have a top pick and take Shedeur)
You are never supposed to talk about another man’s job when it comes to coaching sports, however sometimes it is too obvious not to.
Till Next Time,
Trevor
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