NFL coaching carousel begins to pick up speed
Broncos, Bears set to fill spots, others shopping
The NFL’S head coach vacancies finally are starting to fill. Shortly after news broke in the morning that the Denver Broncos and Nathaniel Hackett were hammering out final contract details, reports said Matt Eberflus to the Chicago Bears is a done deal.
Two down, seven to go? Looks like it. Before sundown the Broncos confirmed that Hackett is their guy.
The remaining vacancies would be with the Minnesota Vikings, New Orleans Saints and New York Giants in the NFC, and the Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, Las Vegas Raiders and Miami Dolphins in the AFC.
In previous years by this time — that is, in the final few days of January — most or even all head-coach vacancies were filled. You can point to at least three reasons for this year’s delay.
First, the regular season’s conclusion was pushed forward a week, to Jan. 9, with the schedule for each team expanding to 17 games from 16.
Secondly, there are no obvious standout and available candidates sought by most or all. This year it’s akin to picking your favourite flavour at a specialty ice-cream parlour.
Thirdly, teams en masse seem more deliberate and dedicated this off-season to finding and interviewing more than one or two assistant coaches of colour. Cynics long have charged that in instances when only one or sometimes two Black men are interviewed, coupled with a Caucasian eventually getting the job, that the minority interviewees were tantamount to insincere, Rooney rule box ticking — whether true or not.
That said, for the record, neither Hackett nor Eberflus are men of colour.
❚ Hackett, the 42-year-old son of longtime college and pro coach Paul Hackett, has been offensive co-ordinator with three NFL teams: Buffalo Bills (2013-14), Jacksonville Jaguars (2016-18) and Green Bay Packers (2019 to date). Nfl.com said Hackett was due to interview Thursday for the Jaguars’ vacancy, and the Broncos moved quickly to make that unnecessary.
Eberflus, 51, has been defensive co-ordinator of the Indianapolis Colts since 2018 after coaching linebackers in Dallas and Cleveland.
Neither the Broncos nor Bears confirmed the reported hires by late afternoon Thursday.
❚ As to who might fill other vacancies:
A report out of Arizona said the Jaguars Thursday were nearing a deal to secure not only Adrian Wilson as GM — meaning current GM Trent Baalke would be toast — but Tampa Bay offensive co-ordinator Byron Leftwich as head coach, too. A different report said Leftwich told the Jags he wouldn’t take the job if Baalke remains GM.
Dan Quinn, the former Atlanta Falcons head coach, has reportedly informed the teams that interviewed him for head-coach vacancies that he’s staying put as Dallas Cowboys defensive co-ordinator. Quinn was named NFL assistant coach of the year on Thursday by the Professional Football Writers of America for turning the league’s most porous defence in 2020 into one of the NFL’S best units in 2021.
Reports out of the Big Apple said the New York Giants had winnowed their list of top head-coach candidates to Brian Flores (the just-fired head coach of the Miami Dolphins) and Brian Daboll (the offensive co-ordinator of the Bills).
BIG BEN MAKES IT OFFICIAL
Ben Roethlisberger finally confirmed what he’d made sure we all already knew — that he has retired from the NFL, after 18 seasons, all with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Eleven days after his final game — a 42-21 wild-card playoff loss at Kansas City — the 39-year-old quarterback posted a polished video at Twitter. It showed him sitting on a sofa with his wife and three children, reading from a script as a video montage of his career memories and highlights are mixed in.
“The journey has been exhilarating, defined by relationships and fuelled by a spirit of competition,” Roethlisberger said. “Yet the time has come to clean out my locker, hang up my cleats and continue to be all I can be to my wife and children.
I retire from football a truly grateful man.”
He won Super Bowls with different head coaches three years apart: Bill Cowher in 2005, Mike Tomlin in 2008.
The No. 11 overall draft pick in 2004, Roethlisberger three times led the NFL in pass yards per game (2014-15-18), once led in best touchdown percentage (6.3 in 2005) but twice threw the most interceptions (23 in 2006, 16 in 2018).
He won 13 of 23 playoff games, throwing 36 TDS and averaging 260 yards per game.
Roethlisberger owns nearly every volume passing record (season or career) with the Steelers.
❚ Tweeted Tom Brady, who is mulling retirement himself: “Ben defied the TB12 Method in favour of the ‘Throw Some Ice On It’ method his whole career, and ended up
an all-time great with six Pro Bowls and two Super Bowls. There’s more than one way to bake a cake!”
AIKMAN’S FOX SWAN SONG?
There is more than speculation Troy Aikman might be working his last game as colour commentator for FOX on Sunday night alongside play-by-play man Joe Buck.
“It could be, yeah,” Aikman told the Fort Worth Star-telegram. “I don’t anticipate that but it could be.”
Amazon wants Aikman for its Thursday night package next year, reports said.
Newly retired New Orleans head coach Sean Payton is rumoured to be a possible replacement should Aikman not return to FOX.