Ben Johnson, Mike Macdonald and Jerod Mayo among young NFL coaches to watch
Just five NFL head coaching jobs opened in the 2023 coaching cycle, tied for the fewest in the past decade. Considering we've seen an average of seven head coaching changes per year during that span, logic would suggest that number will be higher after this season (and one HC post already opened up in Las Vegas). That raises a question people within the league are often asking at this time of year:
Where will teams find all these new head coaches?
Michigan HC Jim Harbaugh will be the subject of much speculation, despite the threat of NCAA sanctions that could also keep him off an NFL sideline. Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn figures to draw interest, though he's pulled his name out of the last two cycles and will be highly selective again. Bengals DC Lou Anarumo and Lions DC Aaron Glenn profile as top candidates. Vikings DC Brian Flores has led a defensive turnaround in Minnesota and could be in line for another shot in the big chair. More veteran coaches -- including Commanders OC Eric Bieniemy, Jaguars DC Mike Caldwell, Ravens OC Todd Monken, Rams DC Raheem Morris, Chiefs DC Steve Spagnuolo and 49ers DC Steve Wilks, among others -- figure to be in the interview mix. Ex-Stanford coach David Shaw and former NFL head men Marvin Lewis and Leslie Frazier have interviewed for jobs in recent years, as well.
But many NFL owners are still inclined to search for "the next Sean McVay" -- i.e., the rising young coach who could solidify the pivotal franchise role for a decade or more.
In the six cycles since the Rams landed McVay in 2017, almost half of all head coaching hires leaguewide (20 of 42, 47.6%) have come from the same demographic -- under age 45 with no previous NFL head coaching experience -- including Jonathan
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