NFL Coaching Carousel Tracker 2023
With the 2022 regular season wrapped up, many teams are looking for new head coaches and coordinators as a first order of business for the offseason. Below is a list of every team with a vacancy and their interviews. The interview lists include all coaches who have received interview requests, even if they have declined the interview.
Arizona Cardinals
Interviews:
Steelers linebackers coach Brian Flores
Former Saints HC Sean Payton
49ers DC DeMeco Ryans
Cardinals DC Vance Joseph
Former Colts HC Frank Reich
Lions DC Aaron Glenn
Cowboys DC Dan Quinn
Bengals OC Brian Callahan
Notes: The Cardinals hired Titans director of player personnel Monti Ossenfort to be their next general manager. Outside of Payton and Callahan, the Cardinals appear to be on the hunt for a coach who can fix their subpar defense. With five of their candidates also having prior head coaching experience, it looks like they want a seasoned leader as well. Given the public spats Kliff Kingsbury had with some of his players on the sidelines, that might be a smart move.
Carolina Panthers
Interviews:
Former Lions head coach Jim Caldwell
Bills OC Ken Dorsey
Broncos DC Ejiro Evero
Lions OC Ben Johnson
Giants OC Mike Kafka
Patriots linebackers coach Jerod Mayo
Cowboys OC Kellen Moore
Former Saints HC Sean Payton
Former Colts HC Frank Reich (hired)
49ers DC DeMeco Ryans
Eagles OC Shane Steichen
Panthers interim HC Steve Wilks
Notes:
Wilks remained in the hunt for this gig until the final hour, but the opportunity to land a proven coach with a sharp mind on offense was too good for GM Scott Fitterer to pass up on. Wilks will not stay on Carolina's staff and interim defensive coordinator Al Holcomb is likely gone as well. Reich was fired by the Colts after a slow start in 2022 despite posting winning seasons in 3-of-4 campaigns leading up to his departure. The move was a stunner but likely had more to do with his inability to salvage Matt Ryan before benching him, which did not sit well with owner Jim Irsay. In four full seasons with the Colts, Reich's offenses finished top-10 in points three times. His next task will be one he's all too familiar with; getting a reliable quarterback under center.
Denver Broncos
Interviews:
Former Lions HC Jim Caldwell
Broncos DC Ejiro Evero
Michigan HC Jim Harbaugh
Rams DC Raheem Morris
Former Saints HC Sean Payton (hired)
Cowboys DC Dan Quinn
49ers DC DeMeco Ryans
Former Stanford HC David Shaw
Notes: Payton was initially the obvious target of the Broncos. It was reported that the team's new ownership wanted to make a splash with their first signing and Payton would be an obvious win for Russell Wilson. However, the two sides seemed to drift apart along the way. After things went silent for some time, the Broncos and Payton made it past the finish line and agreed to a deal. The move to acquire Payton from New Orleans will cost Denver their first-round pick this year and a second-round pick in 2024. With light draft capital and cap space to work with for the next few years, the move to acquire Payton means the Broncos are quadrupling down on Wilson.
Houston Texans
Interviews:
Rams assistant HC Thomas Brown
Broncos DC Ejiro Evero
Eagles DC Jonathan Gannon
Lions OC Ben Johnson
Giants OC Mike Kafka
Former Saints HC Sean Payton
49ers DC DeMeco Ryans (hired)
Eagles OC Shane Steichen
Notes: The Texans' shockingly normal hiring cycle concluded with the hiring of Ryans to a six-year contract. Drafted by the Texans in 2006, Ryans transitioned to the coaching ranks after a decade-long career as a player. He quickly rose up the ranks in San Francisco and was promoted to defensive coordinator in 2021. The team did not miss a beat under Ryans and he became one of the hottest names on the market for a head coaching gig. After landing their new boss, the Texans now need to fill out his staff. Houston has already requested interviews with 49ers passing game coordinator Bobby Slowik and Bengals wide receivers coach Troy Walters for their offensive coordinator gig.
Indianapolis Colts
Interviews:
Chiefs OC Eric Bieniemy
Broncos DC Ejiro Evero
Lions DC Aaron Glenn
Lions OC Ben Johnson
Giants OC Mike Kafka
Giants DC Wink Martindale
Rams DC Raheem Morris
Colts interim HC Jeff Saturday
Eagles OC Shane Steichen
Colts special teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone
Cowboys DC Dan Quinn
49ers DC DeMeco Ryans
Packers special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia
Bengals OC Brian Callahan
Notes: Colts owner Jim Irsay has shown a propensity to put his thumb on the scale in similar situations. This was made apparent in the Matt Ryan benching saga that ultimately led to Frank Reich being fired. Jeff Saturday was shockingly tabbed for interim duties, seemingly with input from Irsay as well. Even the interview with Ventrone appears a bit out of place. The Colts are going through a slew of second interviews at the moment. Saturday is reportedly a strong contender to land the full-time job, though Evero and Steichen would both be big gets for the idling franchise.
Atlanta Falcons (Defensive Coordinator)
Interviews:
Panthers interim DC Al Holcomb
Broncos DC Ejiro Evero
Former Broncos HC Vic Fangio
Steelers linebackers coach Brian Flores
Saints co-DC Ryan Nielsen (hired)
Baltimore Ravens (Offensive Coordinator)
Interviews:
Rams passing-game coordinator Zac Robinson
Broncos OC Justin Outten
Browns passing-game coordinator Chad O'Shea
Cleveland Browns (Defensive Coordinator)
Interviews:
Titans senior defensive assistant Jim Schwartz (hired)
Seahawks defensive assistant Sean Desai
Steelers linebackers coach Brian Flores
Patriots linebackers coach Jerod Mayo
Eagles pass game coordinator Dennard Wilson
New England Patriots (Offensive Coordinator)
Interviews:
Vikings receivers coach Keenan McCardell
Oregon associate HC Adrian Klemm
Cardinals wide receivers coach Shawn Jefferson
Alabama OC Bill O'Brien (hired)
New York Jets (Offensive Coordinator)
Interviews:
Dolphins pass game coordinator Darrell Bevell
Former Colts offensive coordinator Marcus Brady
Patriots tight ends coach Nick Caley
Eagles passing game coordinator Kevin Patullo
Former Broncos HC Nathaniel Hackett (hired)
Browns passing-game coordinator Chad O'Shea
Browns offensive line coach Bill Callahan
Broncos passing game coordinator Klint Kubiak
Los Angeles Rams (Offensive Coordinator)
Interviews:
Formers Jets OC Mike LaFleur (hired)
Broncos OC Justin Outten
Bears assistant offensive line coach Austin King
Los Angeles Chargers (Offensive Coordinator)
Interviews:
Rams passing-game coordinator Zac Robinson
Vikings OC Wes Phillips
Bills QBs coach Joe Brady
Rams senior offensive assistant Greg Olson
Titans tight ends coach Luke Steckel
Rams assistant head coach Thomas Brown
Former Cowboys OC Kellen Moore (hired)
Miami Dolphins (Defensive Coordinator)
Interviews:
Dolphins linebackers coach Anthony Campanile
Seahawks defensive assistant Sean Desai
Former Broncos HC Vic Fangio (hired)
Saints co-DC Kris Richard
Minnesota Vikings (Defensive Coordinator)
Interviews:
Seahawks defensive assistant Sean Desai
Steelers linebackers coach Brian Flores
Saints co-DC Ryan Nielsen
Vikings assistant head coach Mike Pettine
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Offensive Coordinator)
Interviews:
Jaguars passing game coordinator Jim Bob Cooter
Broncos passing game coordinator Klint Kubiak
Vikings receiver coach Keenan McCardell
Georgia OC Todd Monken
Giants quarterbacks coach Shea Tierney
Bengals quarterbacks coach Dan Pitcher
Tennessee Titans (Offensive Coordinator)
Interviews:
Chiefs OC Eric Bieniemy
Chiefs quarterbacks coach Matt Nagy
Falcons quarterbacks coach Charles London
Broncos OC Justin Outten
Note: The Titans also hired 49ers director of player personnel Ran Carthon as their general manager.
San Francisco 49ers (Defensive Coordinator)
Interviews:
Panthers DC Steve Wilks
Washington Commanders (Offensive Coordinator)
Interviews:
Former Broncos OC Pat Shurmur
Commanders quarterbacks coach Ken Zampese
Falcons quarterbacks coach Charles London
Dolphins running backs coach Eric Studesville
Dolphins pass game coordinator Darrell Bevell
Rams assistant HC Thomas Brown