Packers are in need of a quick rebound
In two aggressive offseasons, new coach Sean McVay worked with general manager Les Snead and team president Kevin Demoff to reverse the damage from Jeff Fisher’s outdated approach. The Rams now have won the NFC West in back-to-back years and rank among the league’s fiercest competitors.
It’s easier said than done, as Jon Gruden’s Raiders and Pat Shurmur’s Giants could attest. But with an attention to detail, strong communication and leadership skills, and an ability to connect with players, the next Green Bay coach can turn things around in a year’s time.
The Packers can’t make the mistake of trying to find the next McVay, though, as it’s rare that a 30-something-year-old coach with limited coordinator experience possesses the vision, maturity and leadership skills to thrive instantly.
Because of the necessary win-now mode in which the franchise finds itself, Green Bay would do well to pursue a more seasoned coach.
Lincoln Riley will undoubtedly be a popular name due to his success with Oklahoma. NFL offensive coordinators such as the Vikings’ John DeFilippo and the Chiefs’ Eric Bieniemy also have generated buzz this season. But the Packers should avoid the hype. Rodgers doesn’t have time to wait for his next boss to grow into the job. And after clashing with McCarthy, it’s important that the quarterback has a coach he deeply respects.
Two candidates in particular give the Packers their best chance to win now: Josh McDaniels and Jim Caldwell.
McDaniels is arguably one of the top four offensive minds in the league (McVay, Andy Reid and Sean Payton being the others). He has demonstrated an ability to take advantage of an all-time talent at quarterback in Tom Brady by providing him with a versatile attack.
McDaniels no doubt will generate sideways looks given how he backed out on the the Colts’ top job last offseason. But the appeal of remaining in New England in hopes of embarking on one more championship run with Brady and Bill Belichick is indeed strong.
However, with Green Bay offering similar perks – a stable franchise, Hall of Fame quarterback, loyal fan base – McDaniels could be inclined to make the jump.
But McDaniels might not be the Packers’ best option. That distinction could belong to Caldwell, who isn’t a marquee name but certainly has the body of work and temperament for this job.
Unlike McDaniels, Caldwell has a proven track record guiding franchises. In seven seasons as a head coach, Caldwell went 62-50 with four playoff appearances. His Colts reached the AFC Championship Game in 2009. He also has two Super Bowl rings from his time as an offensive coordinator in Indianapolis and Baltimore.
The fact that Caldwell is without an NFL job is perplexing. He took the Lions to the playoffs twice in four years and was fired in 2017 after narrowly missing the postseason with a 9-7 record.
One aspect that makes Caldwell so appealing is his track record with established quarterbacks.