Shula, Schmula and 7, schmeven.
Invoice Belichick eschewed the chance to surpass Don Shula for probably the most teaching wins in NFL historical past and vie for his seventh Tremendous Bowl this week, agreeing as a substitute to a five-year deal to provide it the new faculty strive.
Belichick’s upcoming gig guiding North Carolina represents his first faculty job. It additionally removes him from this checklist of NFL head teaching candidates to look at. Sure, the playoffs are nigh, however the flip facet tells us the offseason looms for 18 of 32 groups.
The Chicago Bears, New Orleans Saints and New York Jets might be searching for new management after firing coaches through the season. A number of different organizations—the Dallas Cowboys and Jacksonville Jaguars, to call two—may effectively observe swimsuit.
These are the main prospects to be subsequent in line.
Mike Vrabel
Expertise and pedigree spotlight the attributes of the previous New England Patriots linebacker and Tennessee Titans head coach. These ought to scream out to every group searching for a brand new coach or pondering pulling the plug on their present one.
Vrabel didn’t coach this season after Tennessee dismissed him following the 2023 marketing campaign. He went 54-45 in six seasons with the Titans, together with three playoff appearances, and received three Tremendous Bowls as a participant below Belichick.
His resume is tops on the checklist, fingers down.
Ben Johnson
Jared Goff (l.) and Ben Johnson supply: Getty Photos Teaching dismissals incessantly stem from a scarcity of offensive innovation and execution. That wouldn’t be an issue below Johnson, the Detroit Lions offensive coordinator who has orchestrated a top-five scoring assault in every of his three seasons on the place.
Detroit enters Week 15 because the NFL chief in factors (417) and factors per recreation (32.1) and ranks second with 394.8 yards per recreation.
The iffy statuses of veteran quarterbacks in New Orleans (Derek Carr) and New York (Aaron Rodgers) could muddle issues in these locales, however think about Johnson working alongside Chicago’s Caleb Williams, the No. 1 decide within the 2024 draft.
Aaron Glenn
Oct 13, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Detroit Lions defensive finish Aidan Hutchinson (97) reacts through the second quarter in opposition to the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Necessary Credit score: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Photos There’s no sense worrying about it amid a run for the NFC’s prime seed, however Lions devoted could be greater than Honolulu blue this winter, even when the 2024 season ends in elusive ecstasy.
That’s as a result of Detroit’s defensive coordinator is a major teaching candidate, too. Glenn’s stability main the ‘D’ has coincided with the Lions’ organizational rise, and his fourth season has been his finest.
Even with damage upon damage besetting the depth chart, the Lions are tied with Detroit and Philadelphia for the second-fewest factors per recreation allowed (18). Additionally they rank tenth in defensive yards per recreation (318.2).
Brian Flores
Former Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores talks with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) in a recreation on the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium. Necessary Credit score: Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports activities One other candidate with earlier head teaching expertise, Flores was 24-25 with the Miami Dolphins from 2019-21 however received 19 video games over his last two seasons.
His continued robust work as Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator makes him an intriguing choice for one more crack at a head job.
Whereas the resurgence of quarterback Sam Darnold is an enormous purpose why the Vikings are 11-2 and one recreation again of the Lions, the protection has been equally magnetic. Minnesota’s unit ranks first in interceptions (20), second in takeaways (27) and dashing yards allowed per recreation (87.2) and sixth in scoring (18.5 factors per recreation).
Jesse Minter
Jan 8, 2024; Houston, TX, USA; Michigan Wolverines defensive coordinator Jesse Minter in opposition to the Washington Huskies through the 2024 School Soccer Playoff nationwide championship recreation at NRG Stadium. credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports activities Being cool by affiliation by no means hurts within the NFL teaching recreation or life normally.
Minter suits the invoice for having shined below the tutelage of each Harbaugh brothers, however he’s clearly heaps greater than a lackey. The previous Michigan defensive coordinator adopted Jim Harbaugh to the NFL after the Wolverines’ nationwide championship and now leads the NFL’s top-scoring ‘D’ with the Los Angeles Chargers.
One other department on the Harbaugh teaching tree bolsters Minter’s candidacy. His predecessor as Michigan D-coordinator was first-year Seattle Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald, who pivoted from U-M to turn into Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator earlier than heading to Seattle.