This will be remembered as the year when the coaches who weren’t hired got more attention than those who did.
Despite eight openings, Bill Belichick, Pete Carroll and Mike Vrabel weren’t hired after being fired at the end of the year. In Belichick’s case there were several factors besides his age as he nears 72 like his losing record without Brady and his shaky personnel record. And he is used to having total control of the franchise. The Falcons were the only team that even interviewed him although there were reports the Commanders considered him.
In Carroll’s case, he’s also in his 70s and hasn’t been winning although he said he is open to coaching again in the right situation. It remains to be seen if he will find that situation in the future.
ln Vrabel’s case, he was interviewed but it is unclear why he wasn’t hired although his philosophy of running the ball and playing defense is somewhat out of step in today’s game.
Now a look at the eight coaches who were hired:
RETREADS
Dan Quinn of the Commanders.
After Ben Johnson turned the job down, the Commanders turned to Quinn, who was fired by the Falcons and then got the defensive coordinator’s job in Dallas. He made one Super Bowl in Atlanta but blew a 28-3 lead although the play calling of Kyle Shanahan was a major factor in the collapse. Some coaches to do better in their second job. He hopes to be one of them.
Raheem Morris of the Falcons
Morris was the head coch of the Bucs from 2009 to 2011 where he was 17-31 and then interim head of Falcons in 2020 after Dan Quinn was fired so he is familiar with the Falcon organization. This is likely to be his last chance at a head coaching job.
COLLEGE HIRE
Jim Harbaugh is not a typical former college coach because he coached with 49ers before being pushed out by then GM Tret Baalke, who is now with the Jaguars. Harbaugh is somewhat quirky but is coming off a national championship season at Michigan where he served a suspension for cheating allegations. He arrived with the Chargers talking but about winning multiple Super Bowls but he is in the same division with Patrick Mahomes so that will be a tall order.
PROMOTED
Antonio Pierce and Jerrod Mayo started last year as assistant coaches. Pierce was promoted to the head coaching job when Josh McDaniels was fired in mid season and became the first interim coach to be hired full time since Doug Marrone of the Jaguars in 2017. Mayo replaced Belichick and apparently was tabbed to be his successor before last year. Mayo has a tough job taking over a depleted roster.
NEW HIRES
Brian Callahan of the Titans, Mike Macdonald of the Seahawks and Dave Canales all got head coaching jobs for the first time. Going from an assistant coach to a head job with a new organization is always a challenge and it will be interested to see how they fare. Canales has the toughest job because Byrce Young struggled in his first season and owner David Tepper is not noted for being patient.
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