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.