Bear Hands

Official (Interviewed or Requested): *Steve Wilks Current Interim HC. His name and season speak for themselves. Solid option. Ken Dorsey https://www.buffalobills.com/team/coaches-roster/ken-dorsey 41 years old Current Gig: Bills OC We know him well. College QB, Panthers QB Coach for Cam, has worked his way up in Buffalo. Experience: College QB, 7 years pro-player (QB) 9 Years pro-coach (1 year OC) Ben Johnson https://www.detroitlions.com/team/coaches-roster/ben-johnson 36 years old Current Gig: Lions OC Experience: College QB, 2 Years College-Coach, 11 years Pro-Coach (1 year OC) One of the hot names. Seems to be one of the fan front-runners along with Steichen. Biography linked. Mike Kafka https://www.giants.com/team/coaches-roster/mike-kafka 35 years old Current Gig: Giants OC Experience: College QB, 5 years Pro-player (QB), 1 year College-Coach, 6 years Pro-Coach (1 year OC) Shane Steichen https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/team/coaches-roster/shane-steichen 37 years old Current Gig: Eagles OC College QB, 1 year college-coach, 11 years pro-coach (2 years OC) Kellen Moore https://www.dallascowboys.com/team/coaches-roster/kellen-moore 34 years old Current Gig: Cowboys OC Boise State Wonder Boy QB, 5 years pro-player (QB), 5 years pro-coaching (4 years OC) Has been a hot name at times, but the hype has definitely gone down a tad. Frank Reich https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Reich 61 years old Current Gig: Chilling Experience: College QB, 13 years pro player (QB), 15 years pro-coach (4 OC, 4 HC) Record: 40-33-1, Won a SB as an OC Notable: Panther's 1st Starting QB, Also referenced in the classic, best diss track ever "Hit Em' Up", by 2Pac circa 1996 Jim Caldwell 67 years old Current Gig: Enjoying Life https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Caldwell_(American_football) Experience: 45+ years (Has coached since my parents were married in 1977) 2X Super Bowl Champion, 62-50 HC record Demeco Ryans Age: 38 Current Gig: 49ers DC College LB, Pro LB (9 years), Pro-Coach 6 years (2 years DC) https://www.49ers.com/team/coaches-roster/demeco-ryans I have heard on a few outlets that teams love Demeco and he's received very high praise around multiple circles. He may be one of the types that is an even better HC than simply a defense or offense guy. Key with him is who his offensive minds would be. Jerod Mayo https://www.patriots.com/team/coaches-roster/jerod-mayo Age: 36 Current Gig: Patriots LB Coach College LB, Career Captain, Pro LB (7 years), LB Coach (4 years) https://nationalpost.com/pmn/sports-pmn/jerod-mayo-one-of-flms-5-under-the-radar-hc-candidates -- ADDITIONAL RESOURCES: The Athletic Football Show Coaching Feature https://theathletic.com/podcast/211-the-athletic-football-show/?episode=604 SI Coaching Spread: https://www.si.com/nfl/2022/12/26/nfl-head-coach-candidates-2023

After listening to the Athletic's pod on this year's coaching crop, I'm re-convinced Steichen is legit along with Ben. Both sound just about as ideal of candidates as you want. Would highly recommend people check that out. Easy to listen to in the background while working haha

Naturally, an ice cream fork eater (B Johnson) will gravitate to the mayonnaise in coffee drinker (Levis) Should we be nervous?? lol

I like Drew Sanders & Trenton Simpson Daiyan Henley interests me but he may need a year to get seasoned.

Totally. Meant to say this with my last line:

Trading up has to be for a specific guy, not to just pick leftovers. So moving up would be day-of, scenario dependent. I personally wouldn't trade up for Levis or AR but can see otherwise if our new HC and Scott are enamored. Buuut I also think Levis is only gaining traction from here on out. And he's still perceived as this high pick after his meh season, he's going to rise to QB1 or 2 (not that I'm a huge fan or anything). If Stroud is QB1 or 2, I'd like to think we'd be ALL OVER a call to AZ.

A scenario I keep thinking of is Fitt dealing with his old office. Swap w/Seattle to get ahead of ATL, Vegas, & DET...assure ourselves Stroud. That may not even cost a future 1st. That could be SF's 2nd, our 2024 2nd, and some extras. The two seconds would easily be ahead of the ~350 pt trade value from 9 to 5 at ~550 total. HOU or IND have the path for the Pick 1 trade so could see 1-4 as Young, Carter, Levis, & Anderson in no particular order. Stroud is there at #5. SEA may eye one of the DEs and could still land Wilson or Murphy at pick 9.

Just a few haha. I can't imagine we add any more right?

Overall, it definitely seems like a big enough field this time to better gauge who may not be ready/out of their depth. Last time, we were basically comparing McDaniels, McCarthy & Rhule. This time, it's a much wider field and imagine they have a Rhule-filter to avoid getting sucked in that type of direction again.

Recap of candidates, seems like it's a field of 9..am I missing anyone? O Ken Dorsey Ben Johnson Mike Kafka Frank Reich Shane Steichen Jim Caldwell Kellen Moore D Steve Wilks Demeco Ryans

Luke Schoonmaker is a midround TE to follow. He's one I'm excited to see in the Shrine Bowl. Remember hearing from Dan Brugler or someone that he's a guy teams have had their eyes on. Could go higher than expected. Overall, a pretty nice TE class.

Absolutely love Kincaid.

Fun little flashback to the Senior Bowl:

It wouldn't be out of pity, I'm saying if a guy is hired who has a background with him, I can realistically see a convo with an older coworker coming in with the desire to work with him again. Not pity, just acknowledging he's a good coach and you want to keep him around. Ron had him in that AHC/Secondary role for a reason. He basically ran our practices from 2014-2017. I'll admit it's a reach, probably not happening anyways & get what you're saying.

I see what you're saying but that type of scenario wouldn't come about in a way like that. And it's pretty clear Wilks isn't getting hired anywhere else, not hearing much interest so I imagine if a new hire asks him to consider staying with his guys, he could consider it.

Yep, I'm speaking to a Dorsey HC, Wilks AHC/DC duo

Rivers and Brees are both just chilling away around Del Mar & Rancho Santa Fe. Good old' north county SD

Defensive names around the league he could recruit to his staff that he's worked with: CIN: Mark Duffner (part of Taylor's CIN crew stemming back to their days in Miami with Dan Campbell), he's old but could advise. Jordan Kovacs (LB Coach) is the young gun, who was a player that followed Zac Taylor and became a coach. Been VERY impressed with the Bengals LBs (Logan Wilson is awesome) TB: Kacy Rodgers - DL Coach/Run Game Coordinator MIN/LSU: Daronte Jones - DB Coach DAL: George Edwards - Senior Assistant MIA: Steve Gregory - Safeies Coach (Former player, up and comer) College: Al Golden (ND's DC), Luke Kuechly Offense wise, I love what Randle El has done with St Brown, Raymond, Reynolds, Chark, etc. Would be fun to see if he could follow or who else on offense would like Brunell. Did have some overlap with Bevell in reverse with MIA and DET.

Given Dorsey & Wilks have about 6 years of experience together, there may be something there that could be a package. Then part of Panthers Nord returns to the QC. It's like poetry as George Lucas would say. Kafka is pretty interesting and I really didn't see that coming. Ben Johnson is undoubtedly as well. I think those may be my top three scenarios in no particular order. I thought Shane Waldron would get looks but that's been quiet. Dan Quinn could call up Bevell & Bradley and get the old Seattle crew back together, but I'm unsure if I'd want that; certainly interesting.

He's got a Super Bowl ring, lovely new wife, established his own coaching tree, has a great spot in LA, and could make $15 mil+ EASY annually working for Fox Sports as a coaching out. Being a year younger than him, if I put myself in his shoes, there's no feasible amount of money that could send me elsewhere out of that setup.

McVay is doing what McVay wants. I think the dude is just taking a breather, could return to LA, may take a break, focus on his new wife, but I doubt he's eyeing a move from his 9,000 sf Santa Monica mansion to Charlotte, NC.

If it's a fairly easy negotiation and we can get him under 5 to compliment a rookie QB deal, then I guess? He's a backup who you can win some games with, depending on the matchup. The entire QB market is beyond slim pickings. The other options are basically Cooper Rush, Gardner Minshew, Mike White, Taylor Heinicke, Jacoby Brissett, Drew Lock & Mason Rudolph. We don't need to pay Jimmy G or Daniel Jones, those guys can go elsewhere.

Yep. Can imagine some of these guys will have certain things down, but then there's probably a ton of nuances that they can only improve upon with experience and having the right guys around them. Some of these guys have been around some pretty esteemed or diverse staffs, others, do have quite brief stints so far. Daboll is a good example of a guy that interfaced with a ton of different coaching trees and circles. Has likely built off some great mentors and experience. Then you look at Steichen; he was pretty much with Mike McCoy, Frank Reich and Siriani his whole career. It's a pretty siloed group. And he's supposedly a pretty awkward guy. Is he really a guy that can manage things Monday through Thursday? Interesting questions to rummage through this fine Tuesday

This is the first time in our history we're building a staff without Bill Polian or Marty Hurney's advice. Pretty refreshing. I know people are down about Tepper's first hire, but let's see what Fitt and him can drum up this time around. I'm hopeful.

Also notable: With Harbaugh likely out of consideration, there are no overhyped college guys cluttering up the cycle. Heavy with young, offensive minds and a few really promising DCs like Ryans and Evero.