The NFL's upcoming coaching carousel lacks a Ben Johnson- or Mike Vrabel-level presence. Barely a month out, no slam dunks look to be heading to the upcoming market. The makeup of said market also figures to create some complicated decisions among ownership and, in certain situations, within front offices.
A breakdown of the NFL's offensive coordinator list does not reveal a candidate on Johnson's level or even where Shane Steichen was as a 2023 HC aspirant. Flaws and negative stock fluctuations abound among this year's OC ranks. Some of the coordinators for successful teams are unrealistic candidates, and the some of the NFL's top-shelf quarterbacks are tied to play-callers whose value has not climbed since rides on the 2025 HC carousel.
Hiring an offensive-oriented coach represents the most logical path to sustained success. A glance at recent Super Bowls highlights this path. That team's quarterback, in most cases, will not lose his play-caller if an offense-based candidate is hired. That creates vital stability. QB success has provided teams a playoff fast-pass for ages, while defense carries more volatility. Having your HC be the offensive play-caller is not a must-have, as the Eagles have shown by advancing to Super Bowls with two different OCs under CEO leader Nick Sirianni. Then again, this Eagles period also show the value of a long-running play-caller.
The performances of Kevin Patullo and Brian Johnson have underwhelmed, with the former (Jalen Hurts' fifth play-caller as a pro) commanding a cascade of boos in Philadelphia's Black Friday loss to Chicago. The value Ben Johnson has brought the Bears reinforces how a proven play-caller with leadership chops can change a franchise's direction.
Nagy “dragging Mitch Trubisky”?? How about Vic Fangio’s top 5 defense that year dragging Nagy? He won Coach of the Year because Fangio’s defense saved his a$$ with a league leading number of TOs on the other team’s side of the fifty… Nagy’s a clip board holder who has Mahomes as his QB.
CLE has a top 5 defense this year, and isn’t being dragged to the playoffs. Nagy had a respectful record as HC with a very raw QB who turned out to be career backup. Many coordinators claim successes on their resume, whether or not they had anything to do with it. Nagy has an impressive resume; multiple SBs, working with Andy Reid and Spagnolo, play calling, a positive W/L record as HC, and taking a raw QB to the playoffs.
You can have Nagy, signed every Bears fan.
Plus… What are you talking about? Who cares what Cleveland is or isn’t doing? My comment was about the 2018 Bears. I watched every game. Fangio saved Nagy’s a$$. Again, without Mahomes, he’s just an OC, not a HC.
You still have to score points. Nagy coaxed a good season out of raw Trubisky in 2018. My point is a good defense doesn’t always take you to the playoffs. You can hate on Nagy, but his resume is pretty good.
Half of coordinators, be they offensive or defensive, fail as head coaches so there is really no advantage to choosing one over the other. Player talent is the common denominator to success so having a top GM is where you have to start.
The number of worthy head coaching candidates seems pretty paltry this year, thus you should probably expect some previous failures to be given another shot (Vance Joseph?). I also wouldn’t be surprised to see some college coaches give interviewing a shot seeing as how NIL and the transfer portal has ruined the college game.
“NIL and the transfer portal has ruined the college game.”
Lol I needed a laugh. Good one.