(Field Gulls)

The last dominos have fallen in the coaching carousel of the 2024 offseason. Read about all of the seven new head coaches in the NFL below!

Washington Goes With the Vet; Gives Quinn His Second Chance: Dan Quinn

Former Falcons head coach, and most recently Cowboys Defensive Coordinator, Dan Quinn has been hired as the head coach of the Washington Commanders. The window opened for Quinn in Washington when Lions Offensive Coordinator, Ben Johnson, informed teams he was returning for another season in Detroit. It’s a new era in Washington, new ownership, new front office, and now a new head ball coach to match. 

Quinn was the head coach in Atlanta from 2015-2020, going 43-42 and 3-2 in the playoffs, including the infamous 28-3 Tom Brady comeback. He led one of the best defenses in football over the last few years in Dallas, including an increase from 28th to 7th in points allowed in his first year. Quinn is known for his leadership and intensity as a coach. 

Micah Parsons spoke highly of Quinn, as Parsons was an All-Pro in his rookie season under his leadership. He undertakes an interesting franchise under new leadership, a team that has lacked talent and structure the last few years. The Commanders have not had a winning record since 2016 and haven’t won a playoff game since the 2005 season. So the new Commanders brass has their work cut out for them. 

Quinn brings proven leadership, now they just need the talent. The Commanders have the No. 2 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft and a total of five picks in the top 100. You have to think they take their QB of the future with their top pick. The Commanders will head into free agency with approximately $70 million in cap space. 

With this ammo, the Commanders have the chance to turn this around pretty quickly. Quinn brings a high-intensity attitude and experience, which will mix well with a young roster that needs to be groomed. 

Seattle Start Fresh;  Go With Youth: Mike Macdonald

The Seattle Seahawks have hired the Baltimore Ravens Defensive Coordinator, Mike Macdonald. After moving on from the oldest coach in the NFL, Pete Carroll, they moved to the 36-year-old Macdonald, officially making him the youngest head coach in the NFL for 2024 by 16 months. Macdonald met with the Seahawks twice this past week before making the move official. In a very patient approach, the Seahawks were calculated in their decision-making process and waited for the Ravens quest for the Super Bowl to end.  

Macdonald becomes the fifth Ravens defensive coordinator to take a head job, joining familiar names and long-time veteran NFL coaches Chuck Pagano, Rex Ryan, Marvin Lewis, and Mike Nolan. 

He brings with him a heralded defensive mind and a career filled with working for Harbaugh. His stint with the Ravens began in 2014 as a coaching intern. He moved his way up to defensive assistant, and defensive backs coach, and spent 2018-2020 as the linebackers coach in Baltimore. Prior to 2021, Macdonald left John to work for Jim, as he became the Defensive Coordinator for the University of Michigan for the 2021 season. 

Macdonald returned to Baltimore in 2022 to become the defensive play-caller for the Ravens. His defenses have been some of the highest-performing in the league since he took over his duties. In 2023 the Ravens were the league leaders in scoring defense, sacks, takeaways, fewest touchdowns allowed, fewest yards allowed per play, and fewest points allowed. He was named the PFWA Assistant Coach of the Year. 

Macdonald joins a Seahawks organization that has been struggling the past few seasons to get over the hump. Back-to-back 9-8 seasons, which followed a 7-10 2021 season. They only made the playoffs once in those 3 years. Carroll leaves an extremely talented young roster to Macdonald, with the likes of DK Metcalf, Tariq Woolen, Devon Witherspoon, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Quandre Diggs, Jamal Adams, and Kenneth Walker, among others.

Macdonald will continue to build the roster, and the organization needs to make a decision on QB Geno Smith, but surely have a strong foundation to grow from.

Falcons Pass on Belichick; Choose a Different Former Head Guy: Raheem Morris

4 years ago, Raheem Morris led the Atlanta Falcons as the interim head coach of the franchise. That following offseason, the Atlanta Falcons brought in the Tennessee Titans Offensive Coordinator, Arthur Smith, to lead the next era of Falcons football. Raheem Morris joined the Rams in Los Angeles as their Defensive Coordinator and in the 2022 season, the Rams went on to win the Super Bowl, Morris’ second in his career. 

This will be Morris’ second time as the head man in his coaching career, he led the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2009-2011, totaling a record of 17-31. During his 11-game interim head coach run in 2020, the Atlanta Falcons managed to go 4-7. After a short wait, his interim title is now officially removed.

Morris was with the Falcons from 2015 - 2020. Serving in four different roles, on two different sides of the ball. He served the offensive unit from 2015-2018, and eventually moved to Defensive Coordinator in 2020, the same year he assumed the interim head coach role. 

In his time with the Rams organization, it became growingly apparent that Morris had a knack for inspiring and developing young players. It was especially noticeable when you look at his work this past season; taking an extremely young and inexperienced group in a year where everyone thought the Rams might tank, into the playoffs. The Falcons were in the market for a teacher, developer, and leader, which they got in the man everyone calls “Rah”.

Morris now faces the challenge of getting this Atlanta team over the hump. An already young talented core coupled with a solution at the Quarterback position, possibly Jayden Daniels at 8, could get Atlanta off the 7-win season streak and into NFC South Championship contention. In an especially weak division, it would not surprise me to see Morris and the Falcons have success in his first year.

Chargers Make a Splash; Harbaugh Commits to LA: Jim Harbaugh

The Brandon Staley era in Los Angeles went away with a whimper as Los Angeles finished this season with a pathetic 5-12 record. In years past under Staley, the offense had been able to do just enough to make up for what had always been a poor defense under “Defensive Guru” Brandon Staley. This year, the rubber hit the road, Staley’s defensive play calling was highly criticized and the offense under Kellen Moore seemed flat and lifeless. This led to removing Staley from his duties mid-season. 

Los Angeles has an extremely talented roster, filled with stud veterans like Joey Bosa, Austin Ekeler, Khalil Mack, Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, and Derwin James to go along with blossoming young players like Justin Herbert, Kenneth Murray, and Asante Samuel Jr. Under Staley, they could never figure it out. The Chargers brass turned their sights on a leader of men, a career-long winner, and one of their former Quarterbacks. 

Jim Harbaugh, Head Coach of the reigning National Champion Michigan Wolverines, has officially left Ann Arbor for Los Angeles, returning to the state where he’s had supreme success. Harbaugh built the west coast FCS juggernaut that was the San Diego Toreros, then turned around the Stanford Cardinal, and then moved to Northern Cali and led the 49ers to a Super Bowl birth. Harbaugh has spent the majority of his coaching career in the state before his 7-year Michigan stint.

Harbaugh will become the 4th college coach of all time to leave the season after winning the National Championship. He spent two of his playing years in the NFL with the Chargers back in San Diego, and will once again don the navy and yellow. As a head coach in the NFL, Harbaugh holds an impressive 44-19-1 record, and his only non-winning season is when his 49ers went 8-8 in his final season at the helm. 

What does this mean for the Chargers? Well, they got a leader. A man who has been there before knows what to say and when to say it, and most importantly: knows how to win. Harbaugh looks to turn around the start of Justin Herbert’s career, which at one point we all were questioning “Is he elite?”. Harbaugh has all the pieces to turn this Los Angeles squad into an instant winner. The Chargers are a year out from a brand new facility in El Segundo and have the newest, and shiniest, stadium in all of professional football. I believe it would have taken an almost perfect situation to pull Harbaugh from the maize and blue, and I think the Chargers had the perfect pitch. 

It will be interesting to see if and when Harbaugh can get this franchise on the right track, it feels like not very long ago we were discussing the Chargers as a real threat to the Chief's reign in the AFC West. With Harbaugh manning the ship, it’s time for the Chargers faithful to have something to cheer for. Offseason Super Bowl champs!

Panthers Invest in Bryce Young Again; Hire Bucs OC as Head Guy: Dave Canales

After trading up and spending the 2023 No. 1 overall pick on QB Bryce Young last offseason, the Panthers once again invested in the young signal caller by hiring opposing NFC South Offensive Coordinator Dave Canales as their Head Coach. 

The Panthers were one of the least attractive head coaching positions due to the willingness to cut ties with coaches early in their tenure. Panthers owner, David Tepper, has had six different head guys since he purchased the team in 2018, if you include interim coaches. Frank Reich, the head coach heading into 2023, was fired 11 games into his first season. I’d guess that Canales saw the ability to advance his career as more important than initial job security. 

Canales, who is 42, was one of the more touted offensive minds on the market in this year's carousel. Canales is another who fits the mold of a young, charismatic, player-friendly coach who has seemed to dominate the coaching market over the last few offseasons. 

Canales is a disciple of Pete Carroll, and he was instrumental in the growth and development of All-Pro QB Russel Wilson. Canales was the passing game coordinator in 2020 when Wilson set career highs in touchdowns and completion percentage. Canales helped Geno Smith revive his career when they were together in 2022. Canales joined the Seahawks in 2010 and held five different roles during his time there. 

This past season in Tampa, Canales worked with Baker Mayfield who set a career-high for passing yards and helped Mayfield become the guy in Tampa, even winning a playoff game. This was his first season as a playcaller and running the offense. 

Canales runs a pass-heavy offense, as Tampa ranked among the worst in offensive run games this past season. Canales is most known for his work with quarterbacks, but he spent time with the receivers during his tenure in Seattle. There is familiarity with newly appointed Panthers General Manager Dan Morgan, as the two spent 7 seasons together in Seattle. 

The Panthers look to continue to develop Bryce Young, and with the addition of Canales, Carolina hopes the two can grow together and become a force in what is, recently, the worst division in pro football.

Patriots Hire Former Star Linebacker, Current Defensive Coordinator: Jerod Mayo

It’s officially a new era in New England, well, kind of. Patriots are hiring the team's current Defensive Coordinator, and former standout linebacker, Jerod Mayo. Mayo has spent the entirety of his professional football career in New England. From his selection to the Patriots in the first round of the 2008 draft up until his retirement in 2015, he proudly served New England. 

At the birth of his coaching career in 2019, he was hired to coach the inside linebackers in New England. He has worked his way up the ladder since under Coach Bill Belichick. Mayo becomes the youngest head coach in the NFL, nearly a month younger than Los Angeles Head Coach Sean McVay. Mayo is the 15th head coach in Patriots franchise history and their first Black head coach. 

Mayo has already committed to “burning some cash” this offseason, as the Patriots undertake a full rebuild. The team has yet to announce a General Manager, so it looks like Mayo will be taking on the bulk of the roster reorganization for the time being. 

One thing to look out for is how much of a deviation Mayo takes from the classic Belichick “Patriot Way”. Mayo played, coached, and learned under the Belichick way, and now that he has the reins, how much will change in Foxborough? “Burning cash” is not a typical Patriot move, so this offseason may be a sneak peek of what could be a new-look New England organization. 

Many players had come out over the past few years against what now seems to be the historic “Patriot Way”, so it makes sense the Patriots went down the path of a player-friendly head coach. I believe Mayo is a great fit, a combination of new and old. A transition to a new way of thinking, while recognizing the successes of the past. Too much change in one offseason may be a bit of a shock to the Patriots faithful we’ve all come to know and despise. 

Raiders Hire NFL Veteran Linebacker, Remove Interim Tag: Antonio Pierce 

So far this carousel has been dominated by former NFL Linebackers who coach the position at the professional level. Antonio Pierce was named the Interim Head Coach of the Las Vegas Raiders following the removal of Josh McDaniels after 8 games. His interim tag was officially removed, becoming the second minority coach named to a head coaching position this offseason. Pierce managed to go 5-4 during his 9-game stint as interim. His most important win, however, was not found on the field. 

Pierce won over two of the most powerful groups in Las Vegas: the locker room, and Raider Nation. Star Defensive End Maxx Crosby went as far as publicly demanding a trade from the franchise if Pierce was not named the Head Coach. 

As far as his playing career is concerned, Pierce exhibits resilience and determination. A JUCO product, Pierce ended up at the University of Arizona and eventually entered the NFL as a UDFA with Washington in 2001. Pierce had a 9-year career and won a Super Bowl with the New York Giants. 

Before coaching in the NFL, Pierce was the head coach at Long Beach Poly Prep in his hometown of Long Beach, California, and the Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers Coach for Arizona State under Head Coach Herm Edwards. 

Pierce fits the Raider Nation grit perfectly, he earned his way into collegiate and professional football. Much unlike McDaniels, Pierce has a relatable story, and a passionate attitude, and is the epitome of a player's coach. Pierce was the benefactor of turning an extremely poorly run Raiders squad into an extremely average squad. Anything up from McDaniels would have been considered a success. Nonetheless, Pierce gave Las Vegas something to root for, and most importantly, showed that he gave a shit. 

Moving forward, as pressure and expectations continue to build in Las Vegas, it’ll be interesting to see if any of these loving relationships take a sour turn. Everyone loves the ‘Fun Uncle’ they get to stay with for a week, but nobody wants to live with them full-time. I’m personally rooting for Pierce, but the roster needs some work, and expectations are always high in the silver and black. 

Titans Hire One of the Hottest Candidates in the Cycle: Brian Callahan

If the Titans wanted to pull a complete 180, they sure got this one right. Vrabel, while successful in his early years in Tennessee, had been much less so in the previous few years. Vrabel was very “Patriot Way” like his desire to be involved in every piece of the Titans organization. Vrabel is extremely defensive-minded, but this is not an article about him; It’s about his polar opposite: Brian Callahan. 

Brian, the son of one of the best offensive line minds in football history, Bill Callahan, brings a wealth of football knowledge to the Titans organization. Callahan comes from the Bengals, a very family-run organization, and surely will bring a different vibe with him to Nashville. Joe Burrow has gone on record to credit Callahan for his ability to relate to players and bring humor and a laid-back attitude into the meeting rooms. 

Now that he’s the head man, I’m sure the “laid back” Brian Callahan will change a little bit, but we have seen the success of these uniquely player-oriented coaches over the past few seasons (i.e. Mike McDaniel, Sean Mcvay, Dan Campbell). A knack for knowing the right thing to say at the right moment is never a bad thing, and Callahan’s cool and collected demeanor is pivotal for a Head Coach who will be calling plays on gameday. Callahan has learned under the offensive minds of Gary Kubiak and Peyton Manning in Denver, and most recently under the McVayian structure in Cincinnati with Zac Taylor.  

Callahan is known as a Quarterback Guru and is the latest edition of “Offensive Megaminds” to get shots at a head coaching job. Callahan was a huge piece in turning the bottom-feeder AFC North Cincinnati Bengals into the back-to-back AFC Championship Bengals we know today. Callahan was largely responsible for the growth of former #1 pick and now perennial Pro Bowler Joe Burrow. 

With Will Levis showing promise in his first season under center for the Tennessee Titans, it is no surprise that ownership went after a guy who could groom the young signal caller. For Levis, this is a huge step for him in his development as he looks to get his first full season under his belt in 2024. Callahan and Levis hope to be partners in crime as the Titans look to start a new era in Nashville.