Even with out Invoice Belichick within the combine, there was some severe star energy on this 12 months’s hiring cycle.
Former head coaches Pete Carroll and Mike Vrabel secured new alternatives, whereas closely coveted coordinators Ben Johnson, Aaron Glenn and Liam Coen earned their first probabilities to guide a group. Brian Schottenheimer, the son of longtime coach Marty Schottenheimer, and long-considered candidate Kellen Moore rounded out the hirings.
The Athletic polled 10 NFL personnel executives and coaches, asking them to evaluate every coach’s match and rank their prime 5 hires, with a first-place vote value 5 factors, a second place vote value 4 factors and so forth. Votes weren’t solicited from members of every coach’s new group to restrict subjective balloting.
Right here’s the way it shook out, with some evaluation on every rent to comply with.
1. Mike Vrabel, New England Patriots (48 factors)
The New England Patriots Corridor of Famer dominated this vote, proving how revered he’s by his friends.
Vrabel, who gained three Tremendous Bowls as a participant, served because the Tennessee Titans coach for six seasons earlier than being fired after the 2023 season. Contemplating the outcomes of this ballot, it’s extra stunning now in hindsight that Vrabel didn’t get an extended have a look at a head-coaching job throughout final season’s hiring cycle.
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Vrabel will command a extra disciplined tradition in New England after the group was caught in considerably of a purgatory final season, because it swung the pendulum too removed from Belichick’s type and struggled to remain the course throughout Jerod Mayo’s lone season in cost.
Proprietor Robert Kraft acknowledged Mayo was promoted too rapidly, so Kraft is banking on expertise this time round. It’s paramount to make the group extra aggressive after nailing the draft choice of quarterback Drake Maye.
“(Vrabel has been a) profitable head coach with bona fide management capability, which is underrated with the personalities in right this moment’s sport,” mentioned an government, who, like all sources on this story, was granted anonymity so he might converse candidly in regards to the coaches. “He’s actually organized situationally throughout the sport. His persona matches the northeast, the place they’re going to run the ball and play good protection. And he has a quarterback.”
2t. Ben Johnson, Chicago Bears (33 factors)
Johnson, who turns 39 in Could, has been the “it” candidate for a pair years after his dynamite performances because the Detroit Lions offensive coordinator.
Johnson was seen as being overly selective in the course of the 2024 hiring cycle, however there was a rising perception halfway by this previous season that he’d land with the Chicago Bears. The Lions offense led the league in scoring this season (33.2 factors per sport) below Johnson, however his problem shall be far better in Chicago the place he’ll have to raise extra than simply the offense.
One former head coach appreciated the rent, “If Johnson can carry Campbell’s program focus with him.”
The Bears have the items, assuming quarterback Caleb Williams can attain his potential. However don’t neglect, the Lions had been so dominant on offense as a result of that they had an elite line. The Bears nonetheless want to enhance to achieve that time, permitting a league-high 68 sacks in 2024.
With Johnson’s ingenuity, enhancements on the offensive line and a protection that ought to be no less than above common below coordinator Dennis Allen, there’s motive to love the match. However every department of the group nonetheless must show it has a unified imaginative and prescient. That hasn’t all the time been the case in Chicago.
“I’m nonetheless unclear on the match,” an government mentioned. “I simply suppose (Johnson) is intrigued by the quarterback and his bodily talent set.”
2t. Pete Carroll, Las Vegas Raiders (33 factors)
Carroll completed within the prime three in 9 ballots, proof the league is aware of what it might count on from the now-73-year-old coach.
And actually, that’s precisely what the Las Vegas Raiders want. Minority proprietor Tom Brady has maintained a guiding hand on the offseason path, and he understandably recognized the Raiders required a tradition shift. Carroll, who signed a three-year contract with a fourth-year group possibility, shall be a steadying presence even when his tenure is brief.
The tradition is necessary, however it is going to solely get the Raiders to this point if they’ll’t develop a quarterback. There’s perception Russell Wilson might be the stopgap possibility, although Brady shall be decided to seek out somebody who can carry out the positional duties as much as his normal.
“The roster is a methods away,” an government mentioned. “(Carroll’s) vitality, self-belief and talent to construct tradition goes to have a direct influence on a spot that hasn’t had it for a very long time. The wins may not be there for a pair years. It gained’t be three or 4 wins (per season), however in all probability seven or eight due to what he brings. I’d think about they get a veteran quarterback straight away, however have they got the time to take off with needing to get the gamers in place?”
4. Aaron Glenn, New York Jets (20 factors)
Glenn completed in the midst of the rankings, 13 factors behind the higher tier and 13 factors forward of the decrease tier.
He helped the Lions enhance from twenty third in factors allowed in 2023 to seventh in 2024 regardless of going through a frightening schedule and a mountain of accidents. The 52-year-old has been seen for years as a head-coaching candidate, and he developed a extra outstanding profile because the Lions morphed right into a league energy.
“Hell of a coach,” a former head coach mentioned.
Glenn is certainly one of three defensive-minded head coaches employed this cycle, however the different two (Vrabel and Carroll) had been retreads. Whereas the offensive minds are coveted for his or her potential to develop a quarterback, it appears defensive coaches are leaned upon to set the usual with the tradition within the constructing.
The New York Jets want that.
“I like that dude,” an government mentioned of Glenn. “His press convention, that’s precisely who he’s — the way in which he got here throughout, he’s assured, clever, genuine, will set the tradition from a management standpoint. I simply don’t know if anyone can win there due to the setup. He’s bought the boldness and persona to carry that group collectively.”
Glenn has discovered from some high quality leaders. Carroll, then the Jets head coach, drafted Glenn within the first spherical in 1994. Glenn additionally performed for Invoice Parcells and coached below Sean Payton and Dan Campbell.
Glenn’s background is spectacular. However can he lead the Jets out of a 14-year playoff drought and navigate change — beginning with a call on quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ future — for a company that desperately wants it?
“The protection shall be higher,” the chief mentioned. “However can they work out the quarterback state of affairs? If they’ll repair the (offensive) entrance, they’ll run the ball and play good protection and seem like a Parcells groups or a Detroit group with that mannequin.”
5. Kellen Moore, New Orleans Saints (7 factors)
The previous left-handed QB has been seen as a head-coaching candidate for a half decade, and the Philadelphia Eagles all the time appear to have a manner of progressing their coordinators alongside that path. Frank Reich, Shane Steichen and Jonathan Gannon even have jumped from Eagles coordinator to move coach since 2018.
“He’ll carry a few of the Philly program with him,” a former head coach mentioned.
Moore’s highlight light in recent times. He surprisingly cut up with the Dallas Cowboys in 2023, and he joined Brandon Staley’s Los Angeles Chargers employees that bought worn out a 12 months in the past. After navigating some early season turbulence in Philly, Moore leaned on working again Saquon Barkley and a dominant offensive line to assist the Eagles win the Tremendous Bowl.
Think about, Moore’s offenses had been within the prime three in move makes an attempt in 2020 (Cowboys) and 2023 (Chargers), however they had been first in rush makes an attempt and final in move makes an attempt this season. That’s the mark of a coach who leans into his group’s strengths.
“All they’ve carried out this 12 months is run the ball,” an government mentioned. “He had a popularity popping out of Dallas as being pass-happy, so this reveals me he can run an offense to suit their strengths, which is cool to see. I’m simply involved in regards to the roster and cap state of affairs. It’d look so much prefer it did with (Allen).”
The Saints are $54 million over the cap, in response to Over The Cap. Whereas it’s not uncharted territory for the Saints, it’s nonetheless a problem for a brand new coach who shall be taking up a group that hasn’t made the playoffs since 2020 and desires a long-term reply at quarterback and a youthful, extra reasonably priced core.
6. Liam Coen, Jacksonville Jaguars (5 factors)
After proving himself as a play caller on the NFL degree, Coen solidified his standing as a head-coaching candidate earlier than the Jaguars aggressively stole him from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Nonetheless, Coen got here up surprisingly brief on this vote.
One critic pointed to Coen’s lack of expertise with the protection as a sure problem as a first-time head coach. He’s additionally bounced between the NFL and school, twice leaping from the Los Angeles Rams to the College of Kentucky earlier than touchdown in Tampa. Whereas job hopping is the norm in that enterprise, there was concern about how that would influence Coen’s employees hires.
An government countered that argument, although.
“Jacksonville has carried out a very nice job,” the chief mentioned. “The top coach is one factor, however trying on the staffs, Grant Udinski shall be an excellent OC. He simply doesn’t have play-calling expertise. He’s a rising star. Shane Waldron is actually organized and good. They’re stacking good, younger coaches. The DC (Anthony Campanile) is spectacular. It’s one factor to have the pinnacle coach, however he’s bought to have good folks round him, or it doesn’t matter.
“Liam’s unknown is his capability to deal with the duties as a head coach. However as a play caller, having the very best quarterback (among the many seven vacancies), I can see them making an enormous leap. If they’ll discover somebody to get on the identical web page as him making personnel conditions, they’re going to take off.”
Quarterback Trevor Lawrence was clearly an enormous draw. Now the Jaguars should rent a common supervisor who shares Coen’s imaginative and prescient.
7. Brian Schottenheimer, Dallas Cowboys (4 factors)
Regardless of his final title, the 51-year-old has stored a low profile, which made Dallas Cowboys proprietor Jerry Jones’ choice to advertise him stunning. Schottenheimer had been on former head coach Mike McCarthy’s employees for 3 seasons earlier than taking the highest job.
“He’s a superb coach,” a coach mentioned. “The group will enhance.”
Schottenheimer has been an offensive coordinator in 5 of his final seven seasons within the NFL, first with the Seattle Seahawks (2018-20) earlier than his final two seasons in Dallas. He led top-10 scoring offenses in 4 of these years as OC, with the exception being this season with the Cowboys when quarterback Dak Prescott bought injured.
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“He’s underrated,” an government mentioned. “He has the power to be a greater head coach than coordinator. He’s assured. He has a imaginative and prescient for who he needs to be and the way he needs to play, and he’ll be capable of talk that throughout the group.”
There shall be loads of star energy at Schottenheimer’s disposal, however he’ll want higher harm luck to achieve success with such a top-heavy roster. He figures to take pleasure in time, too. All 5 Cowboys coaches since 2000 have gotten no less than three full seasons on the job.
(Images of Mike Vrabel and Brian Schottenheimer: (Billie Weiss and Ron Jenkins / Getty Pictures)