Vincent Frank
As much as a half dozen teams will be looking to fill head coaching vacancies around the NFL in the coming weeks. And the rumor season has already started to get going just mere days after some former coaches were handed their pink slips on Monday.
Instead of focusing on the rumors that have been swirling around and interviews set to take place, we thought it made sense to give you our ideal fit for each team that is currently looking for a head coach. Just keep in mind that most of these are based on our views of the best fits, not actual rumors floating around.
Atlanta Falcons: Adam Gase, Offensive Coordinator, Denver Broncos
Courtesy of USA Today: Adam Gase is seen as an up-and-coming offensive mind.
After showing signs of success under a defensive-minded head coach in Mike Smith over the past seven seasons, it might be time for the Falcons to focus on bringing in an offensive guy that will help Matt Ryan progress under center. Say what you want about the embattled signal caller, but he has performed pretty well the past two seasons with everything else falling apart around him.
Gase might not be a sexy pick. Some will conclude that he’s riding the coattails of one Peyton Manning. And while that may very well be true, his experience in a near flawless offensive system in Denver could go a long way in making the Falcons offense one of the most feared in the NFL.
As is the case with every coaching candidate that centrally focuses on one area, Gase would have to either retain Mike Nolan as the team’s defensive coordinator or build a strong staff on that side of the ball from outside the Falcons organization. However, this seems to be a really nice fit for both parties.
Chicago Bears: Dan Quinn, Defensive Coordinator, Seahawks
After a largely unsuccessful two-year stretch that focused on building up what was a struggling Bears offense under quarterback savant Marc Trestman, it’s time that this team gets back to its roots. Quinn is highly regarded around NFL circles as a great defensive mind. Some may conclude that an ape could lead the Seattle Seahawks to a top-ranked defense, but Quinn’s defensive scheme is among the best in the game. After all, there’s a reason Pete Carroll picked him to replace former defensive coordinator Gus Bradley prior to the start of the 2013 season.
Outside of his success in the Pacific Northwest, Quinn’s experience speaks for itself. He was the San Francisco 49ers defensive line coach in 2003 and 2004 before taking on the same role with the Miami Dolphins in 2005 and then the New York Jets in 2007. He also led the Florida Gators defense to complete domination in the SEC in 2011 and 2012 before taking over as the Seahawks coordinator.
Oakland Raiders: Rex Ryan, Former New York Jets Head Coach
Courtesy of USA Today: Ryan’s coaching style would do wonders in Oakland.
These Oakland Raiders need some attitude. And it’s not that much of a secret that Ryan’s personality fits tightly in with the past success of this franchise. As we continue to hear names like Pat Shurmur an Eric Mangini thrown around the coaching opening in Oakland, one thought has crossed my mind. When did the Raiders start to believe that they were less than other teams in the NFL? When did they start this process of ignoring the fact that they boast one of the most storied histories in the league? It’s time that Mark Davis and Co. come to the conclusion that the Raiders are back and that they can compete with the San Francisco 49ers of the world for the best potential head coaching candidates.
In terms of Ryan, you don’t need me to tell you how much success he has had as both a defensive coordinator and a head coach in the NFL. Players show up and give 100 percent for him every single minute of the day. He’s an inspirational leader and someone that can cross generational lines to reach out to the young players on a team. That would be huge for a Raiders organization that has been missing this since Jon Gruden was traded.
Any team that hires Ryan would then need him to build a strong offensive coaching staff and remain completely hands-off as it relates to that side of the ball. This would only be magnified by the presence of young quarterback Derek Carr in Oakland.
New York Jets: Josh McDaniels, Offensive Coordinator, New England Patriots
Teams will know relatively early in the interview process whether McDaniels has matured from his short stint as the Denver Broncos head coach in 2009 and 2010. If he has, there is little doubt that Bill Belichick’s understudy will once again find himself in line for a head coaching gig.
To say that the Jets have been an absolute dumpster fire on offense over the past decade would be an understatement. Some of that had to do with Rex Ryan inability to find competent offensive coaches, but a lot of that had to do with an inept front office philosophy. Now that the Jets have completely rid themselves of a weak front office, it’s time that the organization itself starts to focus on offense. Say what you want about McDaniels, but he sure the heck knows what he’s doing from a schematic standpoint.
San Francisco 49ers: Mike Holmgren, Former NFL Head Coach
Courtesy of ESPN: A homecoming for Holmgren would work wonders for San Francisco.
In the unlikely scenario that San Francisco actually shows interest in its former offensive coordinator, Holmgren would likely accept the job without thinking twice about it. This is his home. He grew up in San Francisco. He coached high school football in San Francisco. He worked under Bill Walsh in San Francisco. And his potential bosses in San Francisco have not moved on from that successful era, especially if you had the “pleasure” of listening to the press conference the team gave on Monday.
Some may call Holmgren a retread, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. He’s a man that has had a ton of success as a COACH in the NFL and would only take this gig with an understanding that he wouldn’t be involved in the construction of the team’s 53-man roster. And at this stage in his life, especially being a San Francisco native, I am pretty sure Holmgren would be okay with this.
It’s also important to understand that bringing Holmgren in would enable San Francisco to build one of the best staffs in football. His reach around the league is undeniable, and there would be a ton of great minds kicking down the door to join Holmgren in Santa Clara. That much is for sure.
