NFL Head Coaching Vacancies

The NFL regular season is over. There are just 14 teams remaining which means 18 teams are closing up shop on the 2022/23 season. With the end of seasons comes a final verdict on coaching jobs, and inevitably NFL head coaching vacancies. I always like to remind fans at this time of year that consistency pays off in the NFL. Look at Bill Belichick in New England, Mike Tomlin in Pittsburgh, and Pete Carroll in Seattle. Now, those coaches have had success early on in their careers. But the point is that keeping a consistent voice in the locker room, and a consistent message in the organization is invaluable. NFL teams are quick to pull the plug on a coach. But teams need to be just as aware about making a change too early, as to too late.

Entering week 18 there were 3 NFL head coaching vacancies; Carolina, Indianapolis, and Denver. Looking around the rest of the league, there are 7 additional jobs that could become available. In the AFC Lovie Smith in Houston, Josh McDaniels in Las Vegas, and Brandon Staley with the Chargers could become open. Some could make the argument for Kevin Stefanski's job in Cleveland, but 2022 was such a strange year with Watson's suspension, that I think he gets one more season. In the NFC, I could see 4 more jobs coming open. Dennis Allen in New Orleans, Ron Rivera in Washington, Kliff Kingsbury in Arizona, and Sean McVay with the Rams are jobs that could become open. Allen, Rivera, and Kingsbury could all be fired, while McVay is considering retirement... at 36. This list will be updated as news roles out. For now, here are the NFL head coaching vacancies.

The Panthers were the first team to the coaching table when they fired Matt Rhule in October. Steve Wilks took over on an interim bases, and has done well enough to get interviewed for the job on a full time basis. Team owner David Tepper has reportedly met with Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh about the job.

Jeff Saturday was brought in for Frank Reich in November. That move go a ton of media attention. The Colts have regressed each of the last 3 seasons since Andrew Luck retired. Have they hit rock bottom, or is there another rough season in store for the Colts?

Denver was one of the most disappointing teams of the 2022 season. The defense was good all season, but Russell Wilson and the offense could never get going while Hackett was still in charge. The final 2 games of the season the offense got it going and showed us what could have been this season.

The Texans moved on from Lovie Smith within a few hours of their regular season finale on Sunday. A game that the Texans won, and lost the #1 overall pick. This is the 3rd consecutive offseason the Texans will be looking for a new head coach. They will also (hopefully) have their new franchise quarterback in place with whoever they hire as their next head coach.

Wholesale changes are coming for the Arizona Cardinals. The head coach is gone and the GM will be back in a reduced role at best. One thing we know is this franchise is married to Kyler Murray. Whoever gets the job will have a tough time as Murray recovers from surgery to repair a torn ACL. The organization put all their chips on Kyler, now they need to hire a guy who can work well well with him.