With the conference championships set to kick off Sunday, it’s time to take stock of the other 28 teams around the NFL as they continue to tinker with their coaching staff and front offices. Some signings were surprises, while others were about as obvious as they come. Here’s the latest hirings from around the league as we enter the weekend.
Head Coaches
Atlanta Falcons – Raheem Morris
After serving in a variety of roles with the Falcons between 2015-2020, the club opted to bring Morris back following a successful tenure as defensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams. Despite flirting with Bill Belichick, Atlanta ultimately settles on a known commodity after reports surfaced that the front office and owner Arthur Blank were at loggerheads over the next head coaching hire.
Los Angeles Chargers – Jim Harbaugh
Harbaugh was LA’s top coaching target from the moment they parted ways with Brandon Staley. Fresh off a national championship at his alma mater, and with an existing top tier QB in house, Chargers fans can feel good about their chances in 2024.
Carolina Panthers – Dave Canales
Canales is a fine coach, but this hire has all the hallmarks of a “he’s who we could get” rather being Carolina’s number 1 choice. The 42 year old worked wonders with Baker Mayfield in Tampa this year, but with a turnstile at the coaching position and a mercurial owner in David Tepper, candidates weren’t exactly lining up for a tour of duty in Charlotte.
New England Patriots – Jerod Mayo
Taking over for a legend is never easy. But if anyone is well versed in “The Patriot Way” it’s Mayo. A former Super Bowl winning linebacker with the team, Mayo has spent time both on field, and on the sidelines learning from Bill Belichick. With the 3rd overall pick in the upcoming NFL Draft, Mayo and company will likely be welcoming a rookie QB to Foxborough this fall.
Las Vegas Raiders – Antonio Pierce
Pierce was the players choice to take over on a permanent basis in 2024. EDGE rusher Maxx Crosby made his feelings known about his interim boss telling reporters he would request a trade if Pierce wasn’t given the job. Fortunately for Raiders fans, we won’t need to test that theory as Pierce will get his first crack at a head coaching position in the NFL this season.
Tennessee Titans – Brian Callahan
The former Bengals offensive coordinator is going to have big shoes to fill in order to replace the now departed Mike Vrabel. At the time of the firing, many an eyebrow was raised, but in the days since announcing Callahan as the new head coach, Titans fans can be excused for feeling as if the team rushed the process rather than getting the best talent available on the open market.
Still In Need of A Coach – Seattle Seahawks and Washington Commanders
Call it the “Ben Johnson Bowl” as both clubs have been linked to the Detroit Lions offensive coordinator in recent weeks. Houston Texans OC Bobby Slowik is another name to keep an eye on over the coming days. However with Bill Belichick surprisingly not landing the head coaching position in Atlanta following a very public courtship, there exists a world in which the former Patriot is headed to DC before the 2024 campaign kicks off.
Offensive Coordinators & Personnel
Chicago Bears – Shane Waldron (OC), Kerry Joseph (QB Coach)
Cincinnati Bengals – Dan Pitcher (OC)
New York Giants – Michael Ghobrial (ST Coordinator)
Defensive Coordinators & Personnel
Chicago Bears – Eric Washington (DC)
Cleveland Browns – Jacques Cesaire (DL Coach)
Jacksonville Jaguars – Ryan Nielsen (DC), Matt House (LB Coach)
New England Patriots – DeMarcus Covington (DC)
Philadelphia Eagles – Vic Fangio (DC)
Photo: Cam Cemron. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.