http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d80d6d12a&template=with-video-with-comments&confirm=true Pittsburgh's Mike Tomlin and Arizona's Ken Whisenhunt made their mark in 2007, their first season as head coaches. Three rookie coaches this season -- Atlanta's Mike Smith, Baltimore's John Harbaugh and Miami's Tony Sparano -- have their teams on the playoff doorstep. So when teams with vacancies look for new head coaches this offseason, expect them to duplicate the concept of hiring an innovative, yet relatively inexperienced and inexpensive, assistant to flip their franchise's fortunes. So, what candidates are most likely to make the short lists in 2009? Tomlin went to the Steelers when he was 36, making him the youngest of the five coaches mentioned, and Smith went to the Falcons when he was 49, making him the oldest. So being under 50 seems to fit the profile. Three of the five coaches were coordinators before taking over a team, with Sparano coming from an offensive line job and Harbaugh coming from a defensive back position, although he had been a special teams coordinator. Having a powerful influence earlier in their careers also seems to be a factor in the coach's rise to a top job. Tomlin's roots were in the famed Tampa Bay defense, Whisenhunt had the Steelers' seal of approval, and Harbaugh learned organizational skills from the Eagles and defense from Jim Johnson. Sparano was a Bill Parcells disciple, and Smith had experience with tremendous defenses in Baltimore and Jacksonville. With those factors in mind, here's a top-10 list of candidates for head-coaching openings after this season: 1. Steve Spagnuolo, Giants defensive coordinator He's 49 with 10 years of NFL experience and blasted onto the scene last season with his great game plans throughout the Giants' run to the Super Bowl. This season, he lost his two best pass rushers and still has his defense dominating. He's a communicator, and his experience comes under Tom Coughlin, Andy Reid and Johnson. If Spagnuolo wants to leave the Giants, he'll have an offer. 2. Josh McDaniels, Patriots offensive coordinator He's just 32, but he already has eight years of NFL experience under coach Bill Belichick and player personnel executive Scott Pioli. The job the Patriots offense did this season without injured quarterback Tom Brady makes McDaniels an intriguing candidate. 3. Leslie Frazier, Vikings defensive coordinator He's 49 and played five seasons with the Bears before logging 10 years as an NFL coach. This season, he has Minnesota's defense ranked eighth in the NFL, drawing on lessons learned from mentors Johnson, Tony Dungy and Marvin Lewis. 4. Jason Garrett, Cowboys offensive coordinator He's 42 with 12 years of experience as an NFL quarterback and was a hot candidate last year in just his third season as an assistant coach. He's accustomed to the spotlight in Dallas, so a big-market team will want to recruit him. Garrett is one of the brightest coaches in the NFL and comes from a football family, like Harbaugh. 5. Raheem Morris, Buccaneers defensive backs coach He's just 32 with six years of NFL coaching experience, but he's on the radar because he's following in the footsteps of Tomlin, Lovie Smith and Herm Edwards, who all coached Tampa Bay's secondary with great success. Morris appears to be the probable candidate to replace Monte Kiffin as the Bucs' defensive coordinator, but some owner will move Morris to the top of the list after interviewing him. 6. Jim Schwartz, Titans defensive coordinator He's 42 and a 14-year coach who's running the NFL's fourth-ranked defense. His mentor is Jeff Fisher, and that carries a lot of weight in the league. 7. Ron Rivera, Chargers defensive coordinator He's 46 with nine years of experience as a player with the Bears and 12 years as an NFL assistant. He was a solid candidate after his defense helped the Bears reach Super Bowl XLI, but no head-coaching offers materialized. He then parted ways with Chicago and surfaced in San Diego as the linebackers coach. He replaced Ted Cotrell as defensive coordinator in midseason and is back on the radar. 8. Todd Haley, Cardinals offensive coordinator He's 41 and running a fourth-ranked offense that's sending a quarterback and two wide receivers to the Pro Bowl. He has a no-nonsense approach to the game, which comes from his time under Parcells with the Jets and Cowboys. NFC West teams know him the best, but he's also the son of longtime personnel executive Dick Haley. 9. Brian Schottenheimer, Jets offensive coordinator The 35-year-old son of former NFL coach Marty Schottenheimer was on short lists a few years ago, but the Jets offense slipped in 2007, and so did he. This season, the 10-year assistant has the Jets ranked third in points scored and could receive another look. 10. Jeff Davidson, Panthers offensive coordinator He's 41, with four years as an NFL player and 14 years as an assistant, and has served under Belichick, Pete Carroll and John Fox. Carolina runs the ball and built its team around the offensive line, but Davidson still knows how to get the ball to other playmakers such as wide receiver Steve Smith.
Good for Schotty to be named in the top 10. He has called good games this season. But he has had his share of questionable calls. I would take Spagnuolo, Frazier, Garrett, and Rivera. Those would be my 4 if i had to choose... I'm a Tampa 2 kinda guy, so Frazier is an interesting candidate. But Spag's track record is too sweet, and if you saw how many Giants DC's have won super bowls or at least made an appearance you'd take them too. THIS IS NOT A FIRE MANGINI THREAD.
Not to nitpick, but the list has Shotts at 9... Anyway, it wouldn't surprise me that Shotts coaches himself out of a HC job with his not so awesome game plans. If he leaves the Jets, I would worry more about who Mangini would replace him with. Probably another D&D disciple...
I read this before I came here and lol'd pretty hard. Anyway, I hate the fucking Patriots and anything I can do to stick it to them makes me happy. I'd take McDaniels next year, especially if Favre stays since McDaniels is all about the pass. I'll give credit where credit is due and to say he's done an exceptional job with NE's offense this year would be an understatement. He obviously knows how to work with what he's given. This team would be perfect for him. Not to mention he'd be another name on a long list of Patriot personell to jump ship.
You can exclude Westhoff. hes always done a bang up job and is a mainstay in the organization. Mangini, Shotty and Sutton suck and all need to be fired...I know this isn't a Fire Mangini thread, I cant help it. these three idiots make me sick
If Shotty is not hired as a HC of some poor suspecting franchise, maybe he will read recent headlines and want to work for his dad in the same light as Monte and Lane Kiffin will. Marty is up for the HC of the Browns. Hmmmmmm.......
I like shotty, even though he gets too cute with the play calling sometimes. Sutton I can't blame too much, because Mangini does alot with the D.
We miss the play offs and Cowher doesn't wanna come here i say go after Spagnaulo with a big contract and switch back to the 4-3 ? I dont know.
Thats the only question I have with this list. The baltimore defense is mega nasty, and has been for his entire tenure. I would rank him right up there With Spagnuola (Giants) and as to our needs (3-4 defensive scheme) Ryan fits better with us. Again not saying, fire Mangini, but if we needed a new HC this off season Ryan would be my choice. But you wouldnt see me exactly shedding tears if we brought in spags (who wouldnt even need to sell his house!!)
Well for the first 2 series of each week he would look like Bill Walsh, only for that to fall apart once the game begins and strategies need to be modifed on the fly
If the Jets make a change with the Head Coaching position...i'm hoping these 2 guys get added to the short list of interviews..along with Rex Ryan. Defense wins championships...and all 3 of these guys have been very effective with their current defenses. How Schotty made this list is beyond me...because most of his calls this season have been "head scratchers" in my opinion....plus, i still think he's been trying to "shoehorn" Favre into playing like Penny with this offense...which i'm not on board with either.
it amazes me how many people think that a guy who is a great coordinator will be a great head coach. completely different job completely different circumstances. i am sure if you dealt with these guys regularly you could see if they have what it takes but i really think this article is just about who is young enough and done enough with an offense or defense. lets also remember hermy was a fairly young db coach a few years ago, where has that gotten us and the cheifs? exactly!
