2024 NFL Head Coaching Carousel

It's always weird - you try slotting coaches into various jobs and it always gets screwy. And all of these GM openings that have to be filled. And the various required interviews. Maybe this year would be a good time for a Coaches Combine. All the candidates would do a 10 minute presser, to see how they handle the media. Interviews with team execs and hopefully a few former players. And of course, the weight and height check where they are in their skivvies.

Or dodgeball.

 

40 times and the Wonderlic test.

 

Crackpot theory from me off @wicked ’s post.

We have all of these great offensive coordinators and schemers. We have few leaders now in the sport — college or pro.

I think this is generational. Anyone under 50 in football likely grew up playing Madden in college (or Tecmo Bowl before that). They can scheme, run the clock, etc. Madden is an incredible educational tool.

However, every time playing Madden — during the day — meant that same gamer wasn’t outside, actually playing football or another sport. That’s where leadership qualities are built. Where the long-time benefit of being an “outside kid” show up later on.

All over I see… great soldiers. Weak generals.

Of the younger crowd, Shanahan and McVay had family in the NFL. Their dads probably didn’t want them playing Madden all day.

I see this in TV news all over. The under-30 reporter crowd has never been more technically sound. They make dynamic, sensational videos.

Yet get them to accept authentic coaching, answer their phone after hours in an emergency or actually try and call someone to set up an interview… damn near impossible.

Management is the same as well. Few actual leaders. Mostly just worker bees who hung around long enough where there was no one else to promote.

 

I definitely see this when I watch McDaniel on Hard Knocks, ex. Is he a leader? Brilliant mind, yes. Tactically sound, yes. But I tend to watch the players when he's leading meetings and I don't know if they're inspired by him, and that's part of being a leader and a boss. I feel like he's trying so hard to be like his players that he forgets that he's supposed to be leading them. Small sample size, of course, but that's an impression I get from watching.

 

Are the Patriots hiring a GM and a coach?

 

It’s usually Irsay as Ginger.

 

The coach-player relationship dynamic is pretty simple at bottom. If what the coach tells the player works, the player listens. When what the coach says works and leads to victories, they all listen as intently as possible and go out and try their very best to do it. If it doesn't work, or if it stops working, the players stop listening. That's how leadership works.

 

We all know Mr. Kraft is walking into a spa right now to relax after such a stressful morning.

 

I see guys who have done it at a high level, whether Campbell or Pierce in Vegas - connect with players. They aren't trying to fake it. A lot of the NFL coaches may have played low-level CFB, but they cannot and do not relate to NFL players at a personal level. Madden (the coach) had that. Reid has that.
This may sound harsh - but its similar to seeing how a person who hasn't worked or had any type of relationship with a person from another race behave around them. It's an awkwardness and uncertainty. Like they are worried they will say something wrong, or that they are playing a "role" as a coach.

And just to add a note: These types of coaches do seem to "connect" quite well with the owners during the interview process.

 

I think the NFL gave him 24-hour outcall as a condition of his punishment.

 

Belichick went to Wesleyan specifically because he could play at the D-3 level and felt that was essential if he was to be a coach, although I'm sure back then he thought his destination was head coach at Deerfield or Groton, or if he was extremely successful, one of the Ivies or a service academy.

 

OK, here's a go for the local angle Hall of Famer. The Cape Cod Times just posted a column saying Belichick's next job should be head coach at Nantucket High School.