Miami Dolphins – Fired GM Chris Grier
- Prediction: Hire Tom Hayden as GM (Director of College Scouting for the Houston Texans)
This would be an interesting hire as Tom as been the chief person for scouting in the College ranks since 2023 where Houston has nabbed franchise players QB CJ Stroud, EDGE Will Anderson, CB Kamari Lassiter, Jalen Pitre, and others.
Dallas Cowboys – Fired DC Matt Eberflus
- Prediction: Hire Karl Scott as DC (Defensive Passing Game Coordinator/Defensive Backs coach for the Seattle Seahawks)
This would be a sneaky good hire for the Cowboys who could use a strong defensive mind against the pass. While the Cowboys were one of if not the worst defenses against the pass in the NFL, the Seahawks were the best at stopping the pass with them allowing a league-low 6.0 yards per attempt and picking off 18 passes (good for 5th best in the league) and only allowing 20 touchdown passes (tied for 6th best in the league).
Arizona Cardinals – Fired HC Jonathan Gannon
- Prediction: Hire Mike LaFleur as HC (Offensive Coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams)
The brother of Green Bay Packers HC Matt LaFleur, should be a popular name for teams looking to hire a bright offensive mind to lead their team. Mike has been the OC for the Rams for 3 years now and they have arguably had a top 5 offense in each of those years, and the best passing offense this year, led by QB Matt Staffords monstrous season of 4707 passing yards and 46 passing touchdowns. If they want to revie QB Kyler Murray’s career, this might be the way to do it!
Las Vegas Raiders – Fired HC Pete Carroll, Offensive Coordinator Chip Kelly, Special Teams Coordinator Tom McMahon
- Prediction: Hire Klint Kubiak as HC (Seattle Seahawks OC), Andrew Janocko as OC (Seattle QB coach), and Devin Fitzsimmons as STC (Seattle Assistant STC)
Seattle’s coaching staff is getting purged which is the price you pay when you have an out-of-nowhere successful season. As is the norm, if a guy gets hired as HC from one team, he brings guys that he is familiar with from the same team to serve in upgraded roles. Presumed #1 pick QB Fernando Mendoza will get a brilliant offensive mind to work with while the team builds towards their franchise QB.
Cleveland Browns – Fired HC Kevin Stefanski
- Prediction: Hire John Harbaugh as HC (long-time former Baltimore Ravens HC)
In a shocker on Tuesday, the Baltimore Ravens fired HC John Harbaugh after 18 years and a Super Bowl win with the team. Harbaugh is easily a top-5 coach in the league if not higher. I think the Browns could benefit from such an experienced coach who is familiar with the division, and John gets a chance to stick it to his old team.
Atlanta Falcons – Fired HC Raheem Morris, and GM Terry Fontenot
- Prediction: Hire Klay Kubiak as HC (San Francisco 49ers OC), and Brian Hampton as GM (San Francisco Assistant General Manager)
Why not get a 2 for 1 from one of the more consistently successful teams in the NFL? Another Kubiak gets hired as HC to work with Kirk Cousins again or to help build up young QB Michael Penix. Brian Hampton gets upgraded to General Manager with his new team after helping build one of the more stronger teams in the league.
Los Angeles Rams – Fired STC Chase Blackburn
This was bound to happen after the Rams Special Teams unit played a huge role in 3 losses this season:
- 58- yard punt return touchdown given up to Seattle
- Kicker Harrison Mevis misses a potentially game-winning FG against Seattle
- Eagles block a game-winning field goal
- The 49ers block an extra point in Week 5
Too many mistakes to be made on that side of the ball. Simply put.
- Prediction: Hire Joe Hastings as STC (Indianapolis Colts Sr. Assistant Special Teams)
Indy enjoyed a strong Special Teams unit this season with strong performances from their kickers Spencer Shrader until he went on IR, and then mid-season veteran pickup Blake Grupe who went perfect from field goals and extra points, all while nailing a career long 60 yard field goal against Seattle on the road! Ashton Dulin was also a great kick-off returner, averaging over 32 yards per return and enjoying a career tying return of 55 yards. The Shoe also also had the second highest FG%, the 5th most field-goals made, and 2nd highest kick-off return average. Joe Hastings gets upgraded to oversee the Rams Special Teams squad.
New York Jets – Fired DC Steve Wilks
The Jets were a dumpster fire on both sides of the ball this year, finishing 3-14, but it didn’t help that the Jets Jets Jets! also were the only team to not record an interception this season. I thought this wasn’t even possible. You have 17 games to pick off one pass and you can’t do it. Unbelievable. This was also the first time in NFL history this has been done and ofcourse it is the Jets who do it.
- Prediction: Hire Al Harris as DC (Chicago Bears Defensive Backs/Passing Game Coordinator)
If you just recorded an embarrassingly NFL record low 0 interceptions, why not hire the guy who orchestrated the defense that recorded a league-high 23 interceptions. The Chicago D also achieved a league-leading 33 total turnovers forced. A true defensive powerhouse! This would be a home-run hire for the Jets IMO.
New York Giants – Fired HC Brian Daboll & DC Shane Bowen
Daboll was fired after poor success leading the G-Men. He had a record of 20-40-1 since 2022. That just won’t cut it. Shane Bowen wasn’t going to survive either with the defense being in the bottom-half of the league in most metrics.
- Prediction: Hire Joe Brady as HC (Buffalo Bills Offensive Coordinator) & Ryan Nielsen as DC (Senior Defensive Assistant)
Young QB phenom Jaxson Dart has shades of Buffalo Bills superstar QB Josh Allen, so why not hire the guy who is guiding Josh and the Bills O? It also doesn’t hurt that the Bills have scored the 2nd most TD’s in the league this season. I think Joe deserves a chance to finally coach his own team and show the league what he has after being a successful OC for so long. Give Joe a chance! Having the last name Brady is also a plus when leading an offense.
Like I mentioned before, HC candidates like to pluck coaches from their own team and bring them over to the team they are going to be coaching in an elevated role. Ryan Nielsen has over 20 years experience coaching defenses with 8 years being in the NFL. He served in different capacties before from Defensive Line coach to Co-Defensive Coordinator, to even Defensive Coordinator for the Atlanta Hawks and most recently the Jacksonville Jaguars. I think this would make the most sense for Brady a young offensive minded HC to bring over a veteran to coach the Defense.
Tennessee Titans – Fired HC Brian Callahan
Callahan just did really poorly in Nashville. A 4-19 record was not going to bring him back. It didn’t help that the team lacks a lot of talent, but Callahan was an offensive minded coach and the Offense just wasn’t clicking or scoring a lot of points. They drafted promising #1 overall pick QB Cam Ward, who did more than was expected of him with the talent on the field. They need to hit on a bright offensive mind to keep crafting Ward into an elite QB.
- Prediction: Hire Matt Nagy as HC (Kansas City Chiefs Offensive Coordinator)
If you haven’t noticed yet, I like to pair potential franchise QBs (IMO the most important position on the team) with offensive coaches who coach like-minded players. I am talking about Cam Ward having a playing style similar to superstar Chiefs QB Pat Mahomes. Every fan of the NFL knows how successful the Chiefs have been in recent memory, mostly thanks to their historic offenses. Well here is a guy who has had a big hand in that success AND has been a solid HC before for the Bears (34-31 HC record), while also taking his team to the playoffs twice. I believe in former HCs getting second chances, and here is a really good pairing and opportunity for that.
