Predicting Every NFL Team’s Head Coach for the 2014 Season
By Thomas Emerick
@ThomasEmerick
Predicting Every NFL Team's Head Coach for the 2014 Season
"Black Monday" is simultaneously the darkest and most intriguing day on the NFL calendar that does not involve players being acquired or clashing on the field.
After the 2013 regular season concludes, a chasm opens in many NFL teams creating many coaching jobs to fill. Whether it's a pro assistant, college head honcho or even a CFLer, we will see rising stars from all backgrounds claim their first NFL head coaching gig.
Retreads from last year, or last decade, can suddenly surface as top candidates for better or worse. However, it's looking unlikely that there will be a 2014 version of Art Shell or Mike Ditka giving it one more go.
Eight NFL teams rolled into the 2013 NFL season with new head coaches. Chip Kelly, Marc Trestman, Bruce Arians, Mike McCoy and Andy Reid each have their teams in playoff contention while Doug Marrone, Gus Bradley and Rob Chudzinski can call their squads much improved from the previous season.
I predict that the new head-coaching hires will drop from eight in 2013 to six in 2014. Gary Kubiak's already been dismissed so that would mean five vacancies are yet to come open. Dallas Cowboys coach Jason Garrett and a few others across the NFL will be fighting for their jobs the next two weeks, then Black Monday hits.
Read through for the projected head coach of every team heading into 2014 training camp.
Thomas Emerick is a Senior Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @ThomasEmerick, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google
Arizona Cardinals
Coaching Change: No
Why: Bruce Arians arrived just this year and it's hard to imagine him leaping somewhere else with a strong young core down in Arizona, which has the Cardinals lurking at the edge of the playoff picture.
Atlanta Falcons
Coaching Change: No
Why: It's tough to go from No. 1 seed one year to first team eliminated the following campaign. Mike Smith can survive this on the back of just two playoff misses since taking the reins in 2008.
Baltimore Ravens
Coaching Change: No
Why: John Harbaugh has reached the playoffs every year since Baltimore hired him in 2008.
Buffalo Bills
Coaching Change: No
Why: Considering the struggles Buffalo has had at a poorly stocked quarterback position, it's a marvel Buffalo's even made it to five wins and that's a credit to Doug Marrone.
Carolina Panthers
Coaching Change: No
Why: Ron Rivera was on a crash course to get the axe after Carolina started the year 1-3 but the ballsy — and frankly, smart — crunch-time decisions of "Analytical Ron" have paid off and solidified Rivera's place in Charlotte.
Chicago Bears
Coaching Change: No
Why: The Bears offense hasn't looked like this since, well, never. Thank first-year head man Marc Trestman.
Cincinnati Bengals
Coaching Change: No
Why: Which NFL head coach has the second-longest current tenure next to Bill Belichick? I felt like Marvin Lewis was just hired yesterday, which also makes me feel suddenly old.
Cleveland Browns
Coaching Change: No
Why: Rob Chudzinski's first year up in Cleveland should be considered a success based on a bad quarterback situation that got 50 times worse when Brian Hoyer went down.
Dallas Cowboys
Coaching Change: Yes
Who: Mike Zimmer gives Jerry Jones some way-back-when familiarity, serving as an assistant on the Cowboys' last Super Bowl team. The Bengals DC has also just been long overdue for a head-coaching opportunity. Jason Garrett might not even be safe if they do win the division.
Denver Broncos
Coaching Change: No
Why: Three playoff bids in three years will keep John Fox safe regardless of what happens in the postseason here.
Detroit Lions
Coaching Change: Yes
Who: Ken Whisenhunt. With Monday night's home defeat against the Ravens putting Detroit out of control of its own destiny, the slopes have been greased for the sacking of Jim Schwartz. Despite doing the best job with this franchise out of anyone this millennium, there's just too much talent on this roster for zero playoff wins in six years. Whisenhunt oversaw Kurt Warner and Larry Fitzgerald during their NFC championship run, so perhaps Lions management tries to see this unfold with Matthew Stafford and Megatron.
Green Bay Packers
Coaching Change: No
Why: As if Mike McCarthy needed any more job security, winning with Matt Flynn entrenches him further in Green Bay.
Houston Texans
Coaching Change: Yes
Who: Lovie Smith had a really good, long run in Chicago and remains on the market. Perhaps he returns to East Texas where he coached in his younger days. I just can't imagine Wade Phillips getting another head-coaching shot.
Indianapolis Colts
Coaching Change: No
Why: Analyzing Chuck Pagano's team in a vacuum week to week can give you any kind impression of their team, but the overall record will keep him more than safe.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Coaching Change: No
Why: There were some murmurs about whether first-year coach Gus Bradley could lose his job after an 0-8 start sent Jax to the bye week, but winning three of the next four put that to rest.
Kansas City Chiefs
Coaching Change: No
Why: Andy Reid is the frontrunner of Coach of the Year.
Miami Dolphins
Coaching Change: No
Why: Joe Philbin was featured on many a hot-seat article in the weeks following the whole Richie Incognito-Jonathan Martin coming to head. Fast-forward to them beating two playoff contenders in consecutive weeks to climb into a tie for the wild-card spot, and you see why winning is the ultimate PR machine.
Minnesota Vikings
Coaching Change: Yes
Who: Reports have been swirling about Penn State Coach Bill O'Brien having been contacted by the Vikes, and this makes sense. O'Brien's been a top head coaching candidate since last offseason and Minnesota has come on strong as of late under QB Matt Cassel, who was on the Patriots while O'Brien was there. But just too late for lame duck Leslie Frazier.
New England Patriots
Coaching Change: No
Why: Bill Belichick is only 61, and with the help of modern medicine, could conceivably break Don Shula's career wins record. It's up to you science.
New Orleans Saints
Coaching Change: No
Why: You could make a compelling case for Sean Payton as the greatest offensive mind of this millennium.
New York Giants
Coaching Change: No
Why: The two Super Bowl wins in seven years helps wipe away this abysmal campaign for Tom Coughlin. Extremely loyal ownership that's only employed two head coaches since the mid-1990s helps equally.
New York Jets
Coaching Change: No
Why: Rex Ryan entered 2013 as a lame duck but he has earned another go by scraping out six wins and counting with this squad. You also see (and love) what he can do with DL talent.
Oakland Raiders
Coaching Change: No
Why: Like Ryan, Dennis Allen entered this year in the lame duck club underwritten by a general manager that stripped this roster down for cap purposes. Like Ryan, Allen has turned lemons into lemonade, or the black, silver-ish version of lemonade. Not for drinking. (gotta workshop this analogy).
Philadelphia Eagles
Coaching Change: No
Why: 'Cuz Chip Kelly.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Coaching Change: No
Why: The loyal Rooneys probably didn't even consider canning Mike Tomlin when they were blanked in September, let alone after the big Sunday night win over Cincy.
San Diego Chargers
Coaching Change: No
Why: Mike McCoy would have my (hypothetical) Coach of the Year vote if it weren't for the midseason swoon.
San Francisco 49ers
Coaching Change: No
Why: John Harbaugh might lose a couple assistants to coaching jobs but he is sticking around.
Seattle Seahawks
Coaching Change: No
Why: Pete Carroll has Seattle as NFC favorites for this year and probably next as well.
St. Louis Rams
Coaching Change: No
Why: If St. Louis had went south following their TNF home destruction by San Fran, we could be talking hot seat. But the 5-win Rams have ripped off some really nice wins since to keep Jeff Fisher plenty safe.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Coaching Change: No
Why: So strange what two months in a season can do, but in the span Greg Schiano has went from "fired any second now" to "saving his job." Josh Freeman flaming out in Minnesota didn't hurt.
Tennessee Titans
Coaching Change: Yes
Who: Many assumed going into 2013 that Mike Munchak had to reach the postseason to keep his job, and well....Now that Jim Schwartz looks less than safe in Detroit, we could see the former Titans DC reunite with Bud Adams. Schwartz oversaw the 2008 Titans defense that was among the best in franchise history.
Washington Redskins
Coaching Change: Yes
Who: Daniel Snyder has committed so much to Robert Griffin III already, it's basically past the point of no return. The next steps would be to, someway somehow, part ways with Mike Shanahan and replace him wiht RG3's college coach, Art Briles.
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