Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Quest for new coach still work in progress
Six NFL teams have made their decisions while Dolphins keep on waiting for Mr. Right
With most of the NFL teams having rapidly filled their vacant head coaching positions this week, the Miami Dolphins’ search for a new head coach has been in a relative holding pattern.
Here’s why: Each of the candidates the Dolphins have interviewed — Kris Richard, Brian Flores, Eric Bieniemy and Dennis Allen — are preparing for NFL Divisional Round playoff games this weekend. Also, one candidate has yet to be interviewed.
The Dolphins are expected to meet with longtime special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi on Friday, according to a league source.
The Dolphins have not interviewed any new potential candidates for their head coaching job this week after meeting with four of their candidates in four different states in three days last weekend.
And luckily for the Dolphins, their known candidates have not been hired by the five teams who filled their positions on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Miami hopes to replace former coach Adam Gase, who was fired last week after leading the Dolphins to a 23-26 overall record from 2016-18.
Gase will reportedly be the new coach of the New York Jets.
And other teams are making moves.
The Denver Broncos will hire Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Vic Fangio for their head coaching job, while the Cleveland Browns will promote their offensive coordinator Freddie Kitchens to be their next head coach, according to multiple reports on Wednesday.
This comes after three teams made coaching hires on Tuesday, with the Arizona Cardinals making the most surprising move in hiring former Texas Tech coach Kliff Kingsbury. The Tampa Bay Buccanneers hired former Arizona Cardinals coach Bruce Arians, and the Green Bay Packers officially hired Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Matt LaFleur.
While the field of NFL teams needing a new coach is less crowded, the Dolphins could still face some competition from Cincinnati Bengals.
Richard, the Dallas Cowboys’ defensive playcaller and a former NFL cornerback who spent one season with Miami in 2005, also interviewed with the Jets when he met with the Dolphins and Buccaneers last Sunday in Dallas.
But it appears the Jets will go with Gase over former Packers coach Mike McCarthy to groom quarterback Sam Darnold.
Bieniemy, the Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator who does not call plays under Andy Reid, also interviewed with the Bengals after meeting with the Buccaneers and Jets. The Dolphins interviewed him in the Kansas City area last Friday.
The Dolphins will likely not face any competition if they wish to hire Flores — the New England Patriots defensive play-caller who met with the Broncos, Browns and Packers — or Allen, who has only been interviewed by Miami.
Rizzi, who has been an assistant with the Dolphins since 2009, has the admiration of many current and former Dolphins players. But he has not interviewed for another NFL job.
The Dolphins requested permission to meet with both Fangio and Pittsburgh Steelers offensive line coach Mike Munchak, who were both finalists for the Broncos job.
Miami did not schedule an interview with Fangio, while Munchak did not want to interview with the Dolphins.
Miami could also gauge the Baltimore Ravens’ interest in a trade for coach John Harbaugh, who has one year remaining on his contract. Harbaugh and the Ravens are reportedly making progressing towards an extension.
The Dolphins’ search will resume once they meet with Rizzi, and after the Cowboys, Patriots, Chiefs and New Orleans Saints participate in playoff games this weekend.
If a coveted candidate’s team loses their game, the Dolphins’ search could come to an end early next week.
If Miami’s top candidate or candidates’ team advances in the playoffs, the Dolphins’ search could take longer.
If the Dolphins wish to hold a second interview with a candidate whose team reaches the Super Bowl, it could happen after the conference championship games or no later than Jan. 27 — the Sunday before the Super Bowl on Feb. 3.