NEWSLETTER
Monday saw two NFL head coaches and multiple coordinators fired, bringing the number of head coaching openings in the NFL to five. While Sean McVay won’t have to worry about being fired, he may decide to open a sixth NFL head coaching job.
McVay Allowing Staff to Explore Other Jobs
It’s been reported that McVay is still in the process of deciding whether or not to return to the Rams in 2023. As The Athletic’s Jourdan Rodrigue pointed out in a recent column, McVay is a “both-ends candle-burner who struggles to integrate rest and task delegation into his duties as a head coach.” According to Rodrigue, plenty in the Rams organization that spoke to her under the cloak of anonymity believe that McVay’s mind is not made up and that he will take a break that many have known was coming at some point.
Given McVay’s uncertainty about whether he will be back in Los Angeles next season, the Rams head coach has allowed his coordinators to explore other job opportunities, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
The NFL’s rules allow coordinators to freely leave their current positions for a promotion elsewhere, but teams can block coordinators from going in a lateral move. So, for example, if an offensive coordinator was to land a head coaching gig elsewhere, the organization couldn’t stop him. But, a coordinator can be blocked from taking a coordinator job with another team. This is something that McVay and the Rams will not enforce.
The Rams have already lost offensive coordinator Liam Coen who returned to Kentucky as their offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
Whether or not any more coaches will leave the Rams remains to be seen. Still, the fact that McVay is so uncertain about his future there that he is willing to allow his staff to seek other employment opportunities makes it seem like the odds are against McVay returning to Los Angeles in 2023.
Uncertainty in Houston’s Front Office?
The Texans are searching for a new head coach for the second time in as many years after they fired Lovie Smith on Monday after just one season. Now, one insider is reporting that the Texans may be searching for more than a new head coach this offseason, describing the front office situation as uncertain.
Of course, this is just one insider’s source, as Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle tweeted that Texans owner Cal McNair has full confidence in his GM Nick Caserio.
It sounds like Caserio is safe — for now — and that McNair will have a more active role in the search for the next head coach of the Texans.
According to Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero, Eagles defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon is a candidate for the job, one that they got to know a little bit last year in the interview process before ultimately landing on Lovie Smith. Rapoport and Pelissero also named former Texans linebacker and San Francisco defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans as a potential candidate for Houston.
The Texans are also requesting permission to interview Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka:
Indianapolis Submits Interview Requests
Adam Schefter reported on Monday evening that the Colts have officially submitted interview requests to the Lions to speak with defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn and offensive coordinator Ben Johnson for their vacant head coaching position.
The Colts also made it clear that interim head coach Jeff Saturday will have a fair shake in the interview process for the permanent gig, expanding the Colts’ field of targets to at least three confirmed names just two days after the end of the regular season.
You can read more about Saturday being named a candidate by GM Chris Ballard on Monday here:
