There are a number of head coaching vacancies within the NFL, especially after “Black Monday,” the notorious day after the conclusion of the regular season. Several head coaches were fired, one a surprise firing at that, and now there are several teams looking for a new leader. Which team has the most desirable spot for the 2022 season? Is it the Las Vegas Raiders?
The Raiders may be looking for a new coach after the conclusion of the 2021 season. Interim head coach Rich Bisaccia has done a solid job of helping guide the team to the playoffs, but it has not come without some bumps and five losses in the latter half of the season. There is a distinct possibility that Raiders owner Mark Davis will still seek a replacement after the conclusion of the Raiders’ playoff push, especially if it ends prematurely in the Wild Card round against the Cincinnati Bengals. So why are the Raiders one of the most desirable locations? Let’s go into why some of the other locations aren’t as attractive first.
*Listed from best to worst
Denver Broncos
This is the only vacancy that seems desirable, or almost as desirable as the Raiders, and, of course, it is in the same division. The offense has weapons, the defense is legit, but the team has been lacking good quarterback play since Peyton Manning visited. The main two reasons this may not be a desirable spot are the following:
1.) John Elway, General Manager: He’s involved in everything, and for someone who used to be an excellent NFL quarterback, he can’t seem to pick a good one if his job depended on it. Which it does.
2.) The AFC West: The Broncos have been near the bottom of the West in recent years, and it’s not getting any easier with Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert making themselves comfortable. This will be an uphill battle for any incoming head coach.
Miami Dolphins
Brian Flores was fired Monday, which was really the only termination that came as a surprise. A new coach should be wary of a team that fired a well-known coach after a seven-game winning streak. The Dolphins have several of the necessary pieces in place and appear to have settled on their quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa. There have been some rumblings about a possible trade for Deshaun Watson, which could cause some turmoil within the team and the general public, especially considering Watson’s pending legal troubles. Tagovailoa isn’t the worst option, but he also isn’t the best. The unknown factor makes the Dolphins less of a desirable spot, especially with ownership that doesn’t appear to be patient even when there is clear growth. At least Florida is warm and having no state tax is nice.
Chicago Bears
No one was surprised that Bears head coach Matt Nagy, along with general manager Ryan Pace, were fired. The complaints about Nagy have been going on for years, and the inability to select a consistently strong quarterback is evident, and it has yet to be seen if rookie quarterback Justin Fields is the “chosen one” as so many Bears fans have already labeled him. The offense and the offensive line, in particular, need work, and the GM position is another position that has become vacant.
The Bears’ defense has some potential with stars Akeem Hicks and Khalil Mack in place, so it could be a desirable location for a defensive-minded head coach. But the Bears’ fan base and ownership should be tired of the same issues over and over, so the new coach will have to be ready for harsh feedback if any errors repeat themselves. Also, the Bears have been the red headed stepchild of the NFC North for quite some time, and it isn’t certain that they won’t be dealing with their “owner” Aaron Rodgers again in the future.
Minnesota Vikings
Another vacancy within the NFC North that wasn’t a surprise to most. Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer had two very questionable press conferences towards the end of his time there, and it was not a shock when they showed him the door. The Vikings have an explosive offense (Dalvin Cook, Justin Jefferson, Adam Thielen), but they are stuck with the overpaid Kirk Cousins for one more season. If the new head coach is willing to work with Kirk for another year before finding a successor, this isn’t the worst spot, although the defense needs a lot of work. The Vikings, at least, are one of the only teams in the NFC North that can contend with the Packers, and they could take over if Aaron Rodgers decides to head elsewhere.
Houston Texans
David Culley getting fired was actually surprising. The majority knew that Culley was set up for failure from the start with an unmeshed and at times confusing roster, all the while dealing with the Deshaun Watson situation. Culley showed he did have some of the right pieces in place as they finished ahead of the Jaguars, but more importantly, had two wins against significantly better squads; the Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Chargers. Rumors are already surfacing of Brian Flores heading this way due to his relationship with general manager Nick Caserio. A rebuild is definitely due for this franchise, but if Culley was able to get some effort out of this group, an exceptional new leader could do the same.
New York Giants
This is right up there with the bottom three least desirable head coaching destinations. Joe Judge had a tumultuous beginning in New York, to say the least; odd coaching and motivational methods, old school discipline, issues with veterans and new players alike, and as of late, play calling. Players left in the middle of the season, practice fights were common, and the players in whom they invested draft picks and capital did not mesh.
The quarterback is a question mark, and their top two receivers (one under contract and the other a first-round pick in 2021) did not score a touchdown all season. On the bright side, general manager Dave Gettleman has retired, which at least means there is a chance for someone with a more successful track record to make the picks in the 2022 NFL draft. The only thing confusing about Joe getting fired was how long it took. This should be at the bottom of the list of head coach prospects.
Jacksonville Jaguars
This is the least desirable location by far. While the new coach would get to work with the first-round sensation himself, Trevor Lawrence, former Head Coach Urban Meyer has done a lot of damage. Questions surround the team’s talent, culture, locker room, and trust between players, management, and even their fan base (see Clown Masks). The new head coach would have to be prepared for a near-total rebuild, and fortunately, they will be armed with another first-round draft pick. The Jaguars aren’t in a very strong market as the other Florida teams, the Buccaneers and Dolphins, who have a stronger and more loyal fan base. I don’t envy whoever accepts this spot, but good luck.
And now, the Las Vegas Raiders…
The Raiders are the most desirable location for a new head coach for too many reasons to count. The new coach walks into a brand-new stadium in an exploding market in one of the most desirable vacation spots in the country. Especially with the recent success the team has had fighting their way into the playoffs, the public cannot get enough of the Raiders right now. While the stigma of a morally dubious coach and wide receiver (and cornerback) must be removed, the team is rebranding itself as we speak.
The Raiders’ defense is trending in the right direction, the offense is missing one or two pieces that can be added in the next draft, and the quarterback, Derek Carr, is a true professional that is accustomed to new faces. Carr has helped lead this team through countless dark times and has grown as a result. No other head coach will walk into a facility and be greeted by a leader of this caliber who is ready to work and ready to win. The only question mark here is the general manager position. Mike Mayock has had success picking in later rounds and nailed free agency this year, but his first-round selections have been unique. If Mark Davis moves on from Rich Bisaccia, Las Vegas should be circled, underlined, and asterisked* by every head coach hopeful in the country.
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*Top Photo: Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal
