NFL insider notebook: Top head coach and coordinator candidates entering 2022

Final week I took a superb, lengthy have a look at the highest GM candidates for this yr’s cycle.

This week … you guessed it … it’s going to be head coaches, offensive coordinators and defensive coordinators. I enlisted an identical set of coaches, executives, brokers and league sources in an nameless polling over this previous week-plus to domesticate the very best listing I may.

There may all the time be surprises, nevertheless it does not really feel like there’s going to be a ton of head-coaching turnover this season. The Raiders and Jaguars will clearly have new head coaches. The Bears will likely be out there for one, and the Vikings might. And regardless of what their respective fan bases could also be calling for, I am advised the Giants and Panthers will likely be standing pat this offseason.

All that mentioned, this is the listing in alphabetical order.

Head coach candidates

Eric Bieniemy, Chiefs OC: He is been handed over two straight offseasons (and you possibly can argue three) for HC jobs. Bieniemy is a key a part of what the Chiefs have going.

Todd Bowles, Buccaneers DC: Bowles has been on the controls of the league’s greatest rush protection since 2019 after 4 years because the Jets head coach.

Jim Caldwell: The previous Colts and Lions head coach ought to have been on each crew’s listing final yr and will stay on these lists this cycle.

Brian Daboll, Payments OC: He helped flip Josh Allen right into a MVP runner-up and quarter-billion greenback man. Many across the league have been surprised he did not get the Chargers job final season.

Matt Eberflus, Colts DC: Eberflus leads probably the most opportunistic protection within the NFL that simply shut down Invoice Belichick’s Pats.

Leslie Frazier, Payments DC: The previous Vikings head coach was a finalist for the Texans’ gig final yr.

Jerry Grey, Packers DBs coach/passing sport coordinator: Grey may wind up being a prime DC identify if a head coach job does not occur. He confirmed what he may do when he took over for Joe Barry within the Packers’ win towards Arizona.

Nathaniel Hackett, Packers OC: Aaron Rodgers loves him, and Hackett helped Blake Bortles to the AFC title sport.

Vance Joseph, Cardinals DC: The previous Broncos head coach has the Cardinals as a prime 10 protection in scoring and yards this season.

Byron Leftwich, Buccaneers OC: Leftwich ought to get a number of interviews this cycle and is able to lead.

Mike McDaniel, 49ers OC: McDaniel is a Shanahan disciple who’s collaborated with Kyle to seek out inventive methods to get playmakers the ball.

Josh McDaniels, Patriots OC: How issues went down in Indianapolis may give a number of crew house owners justifiable pause. He will not simply leap at any provide, although, contemplating how good he has it in New England.

Kellen Moore, Cowboys OC: Do not let the present Dak Prescott droop confuse you. Moore will get a superb look from groups this cycle.

Raheem Morris, Rams DC: Morris pulled the weird responsibility of teaching either side of the ball in Atlanta earlier than the crew made a turnaround with him as interim head coach in 2020.

Kevin O’Connell, Rams OC: The previous NFL QB has been at Sean McVay’s facet the final two years.

Doug Pederson: This Tremendous Bowl-winning coach took the yr off and must be a candidate for Jacksonville’s opening.

Dan Quinn, Cowboys DC: He is whipped that struggling protection into kind in only one yr.

Offensive coordinator candidates

Joe Brady: The previous Panthers OC was let go after lower than two years on the place, however he is already gotten calls and will very nicely reclaim an OC spot in a couple of weeks.

Ronald Curry, Saints QB coach: In a single season he is coached Jameis Winston, Taysom Hill and Trevor Siemian to a 7-7 file to this point.

Ken Dorsey, Payments QB coach/passing sport coordinator: Dorsey has been the point-person for Cam Newton and Josh Allen throughout their respective prime seasons.

Josh Gattis, College of Michigan OC: Named the highest assistant coach within the nation this yr, Gattis has put collectively a formidable resume in only a decade in teaching.

Luke Getsy, Packers QB coach/passing sport coordinator: He is been with Inexperienced Bay since 2019 and could be in line to imagine the OC gig there if Hackett leaves.

Pep Hamilton, Texans QB coach/passing sport coordinator: Hamilton has been in a position to information Andrew Luck and Justin Herbert. Arduous to consider he isn’t an OC proper now.

Mike Kafka, Chiefs QB coach/passing sport coordinator: The triumvirate of Andy Reid, Bieniemy and Kafka has the Chiefs’ offense buzzing once more.

Zac Robinson, Rams assistant QB coach: His solely teaching expertise is three years with McVay in L.A., however he may get some seems to be.

Bobby Slowik, 49ers offensive passing sport specialist: He comes from a household of coaches and has had his arms on rather a lot in that group.

Frank Smith, Chargers OL coach/run sport coordinator: Earlier than becoming a member of the Chargers he was the place coach for Darren Waller in Vegas.

Duce Staley, Lions assistant HC/RB coach: The previous Eagles nice joined Dan Campbell’s workers this yr and has been prepared for an OC job.

Defensive coordinator candidates

Teryl Austin, Steelers senior defensive assistant/secondary coach: The longtime defensive assistant was one of many names most repeated to me for this train.

James Bettcher, 49ers senior defensive assistant/run sport specialist: He is carved out a task in San Francisco after being DC with the Cardinals and Giants.

Al Holcomb, Panthers defensive run sport coordinator: The previous Cardinals DC has a Panthers protection permitting simply 4.1 yards per carry this season.

Jim Leonhard, College of Wisconsin defensive coordinator: The previous security has been a star coordinator at Wisconsin and turned down a possibility with the Packers final season.

Jerod Mayo, Patriots ILB coach: Mayo may simply be on the pinnacle coach listing after interviewing for the Eagles gig final season.

Aubrey Nice, Lions DBs coach/passing sport coordinator: He is navigated nicely a making an attempt season with a younger and injured secondary.

Kris Richard, Saints DBs coach: Richard made his identify in Seattle earlier than going to Dallas. He now oversees a stingy Saints defensive backfield.

Jay Rodgers, Chargers OLB coach/run sport coordinator: A former school assistant who’s proven promise on the defensive facet of the ball.

Eric Washington, Payments DL coach: Washington was Carolina’s DC earlier than becoming a member of Sean McDermott in Buffalo, and he operates one of many deepest DLs in all of soccer.

Joe Whitt Jr., Cowboys secondary coach/defensive passing sport coordinator: He is been paired with Dan Quinn the previous few years and has coached up Trevon Diggs.

Christmas tune listing

As a result of the pocket book this week is stuffed with lists, why not add yet one more?

As you and your loved ones collect around the tree and xmas log, ensure you’re taking part in these tunes as they’re the top-five biggest Christmas songs of all time.

“This Christmas” — Donny Hathaway

“God Relaxation Ye Merry Gents” — Barenaked Girls (feat. Sarah McLachlan)

“The Christmas Track” — Nat King Cole

“All I Need For Christmas Is You” — Mariah Carey

“I Noticed Mommy Kissing Santa Claus” — The Jackson 5

This listing is closing for 2021 and we’ll contemplate changes in 2022.

Week 16 picks

A really strong 12-4 week in your man right here brings me to 150-73-1 on the yr. I took the Niners on Thursday night time. With all of the COVID points going across the league, I might prefer to formally reserve the fitting to alter my picks from when that is revealed Friday morning till kickoff. Savvy?

Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
TV: CBS | Stream: Paramount+ (click here)

I do not like that Lamar Jackson has hardly practiced previously half-month. Now that there is tape on Tyler Huntley, I feel the Bengals win this.

The choose: Bengals

Payments at Patriots

Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
TV: CBS | Stream: Paramount+ (click here)

Invoice Belichick has the cheat code. The worst factor that might have occurred to the Payments heading into this sport was the Patriots shedding to the Colts within the style that they did.

The choose: Patriots