Black Monday will be here before you know it, and along with it a fascinating NFL head coach hiring cycle is looming.
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According to one NFC Personnel Director, there could ultimately wind up being upwards of 10 head coaching jobs that come open, which will present plenty of opportunities for rising assistant coaches and established college head coaches to make the jump into one of the most coveted jobs in sports; as an NFL head coach.
Even before Santa Claus' big flight, the Las Vegas Raiders and Carolina Panthers moved on from Frank Reich and Josh McDaniels, respectively, and there will likely be several more current head coaches served pink-slips over the next month.
So, which jobs that are currently open, or expected to be, are the most attractive for potential candidates? FanBuzz spoke to half a dozen current NFL coaches and executives in front offices to find out both their top choice of openings this offseason and what sets that job apart. Each respondent was granted anonymity, in the event they wind up interviewing for any potential roles in these organizations.
Here's how we rank the expected vacancies, including insight from those coaches and front office executives:
1) Los Angeles Chargers
Once the Chargers finally come to their senses and make the overdue decision to move on from Brandon Staley, Los Angeles is going to have its pick of head coaching candidates as the most coveted job this hiring cycle.
"The Chargers are my first choice," a rival AFC Executive told FanBuzz. "And I didn't need to think about it for more than one second."
Beyond the opportunity to live in Southern California, the opportunity to lead a roster that's loaded with young talent on defense and a franchise quarterback who has yet to reach his full potential in large part because of shoddy coaching through the early part of his career, makes the Chargers an alluring one.
"I'd love the opportunity to coach that quarterback," an NFC offensive coordinator told FanBuzz.
2) Chicago Bears
The Bears' hot streak over the past several weeks could force an interesting conversation on general manager Ryan Poles, when it comes to head coach Matt Eberflus' future. However, given the abundance of resources Poles has at his disposal, and how woefully this roster has underachieved under Eberflus, many inside the league still believe this job will come open.
It's also going to one prospective coaches are going to be lining up to interview for. One former head coach, who requested anonymity in case he interviews for jobs this offseason, listed the Bears as his top choice.
"The Bears because they have picks and a really good defense," an offensive coach who could be a head coaching candidate in coming weeks told FanBuzz. "Plus, the quarterback is playing better. But, you don't want to be married to him long-term."
Chicago owns the Carolina Panthers' first-round pick, which appears earmarked to be the No. 1 overall selection, their own pick, and could garner a package of picks in a potential Justin Fields trade. Whoever is coaching the Bears in 2024 is going to have a fascinating young roster along with the opportunity to develop a young quarterback, both of which are incredibly appealing.
3) Washington Commanders
Thanks in large part to an aggressive new ownership group, and the prospects of working for an organization determined to see a turnaround, the Commanders could rank highly as a destination.
There is also the potential that a coach sees enough potential in quarterback Sam Howell to make him believe that he can win with him. Thanks to trade deadline deals that moved edge rushers Montez Sweat and Chase Young, Washington also boasts an additional second and third-round pick to build out the roster in 2024.
4) New England Patriots
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New England's fall from grace has been a precipitous one, including reporting that Robert Kraft has already made the decision to move on from Bill Belichick, who filled the Patriots' trophy case with six Lombardi Trophies.
Despite the fact that the Patriots remain a crown jewel franchise, and owner Robert Kraft has a relentless drive for championship level success, New England's roster has significantly fallen behind the rest of the AFC East. With no viable long-term solution at quarterback, the Patriots could be in line for an extensive rebuild.
5) Las Vegas Raiders
The Las Vegas Raiders, especially on offense, have failed to live up to expectations this season, and it remains to be seen if owner Mark Davis is capable of building a franchise capable of reaching the heights his late father forged a Hall of Fame legacy doing.
However, there's a chance the Raiders will be selecting inside the top-10 picks of next spring's NFL Draft, which could present the opportunity to secure a potential franchise quarterback of the future, and there's also the possibility that the next head coach could have swaying power over who winds up being Vegas' next general manager.
"I'd love to get the call from Vegas," a defensive coach told FanBuzz. "It's a great place to live, attractive destination for free agents to come play and live, and no income tax is a huge selling point."
6) Carolina Panthers
No vacancy was panned more among coaches and executives contacted for this story than the Panthers, for myriad factors.
Whoever owner David Tepper lures to Carolina will be his third full-time head coaching hire since purchasing the Panthers in 2018, and said head coach will have limited resources to build out a roster that's managed just one win through the first 14 weeks of the 2023 campaign.
"I'd want nothing to do with that Panthers job," an NFL pro personnel director told FanBuzz. "You'd have an overbearing owner, you wouldn't have a quarterback, and you'd have no draft picks to build with."
Bryce Young has struggled mightily, the roster has limited talent, and as one current NFL coach tells FanBuzz the Panthers' job "looks really bad, but take the money and cash those checks."
