HC Candidate List

[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

 

[The Lobo]

Good list, I still think Harbaugh should be there but that ship has sailed apparently. Let’s hope they make the right decision. 

[Bear Hands]

Notable similarity is sans Caldwell, the entire candidate list was a college QB

[Daddy_Uncle]

Thank you for this. 

[Bear Hands]

Some Notes:

• Surprised that Kellen Moore is the youngest of the bunch.  Didn't realize that until I pulled it all together.
• Ben Johnson has more experience than may be perceived and under staffs that had a lot of legends and future HCs on them.  
• I had mentioned elsewhere but Ben Johnson has connections with a few staffs stemming from his Miami days, part of a Holmgren off-shoot coaching tree.  Is likely tight with a lot of Zac Taylor's staff.  And fun fact--didn't realize Mike Sherman is Zac Taylor's father-in-law.

 

[rmoneyg35]

I feel like Ken Dorsey doesn’t have a lot of experience to be a HC. Has he really done enough to prove himself to be a HC or is he just the product of having a good bills team around him? I would prefer Ben Johnson over him if we are going to go the young HC route.

[frankw]

Ben Johnson is my preference.

[Waldo]

So much better than the last coaching search. Some old safe options and lots of guys on the rise for actual good reasons that can be backed by recent successes more than 'did a meh job at a midrange school'. Sooooo much better. 

Edited January 12, 2023 by Waldo

[Mr. Scot]

4 minutes ago, Bear Hands said:

Some Notes:

• Surprised that Kellen Moore is the youngest of the bunch.  Didn't realize that until I pulled it all together.
• Ben Johnson has more experience than may be perceived and under staffs that had a lot of legends and future HCs on them.  
• I had mentioned elsewhere but Ben Johnson has connections with a few staffs stemming from his Miami days, part of a Holmgren off-shoot coaching tree.  Is likely tight with a lot of Zac Taylor's staff.  And fun fact--didn't realize Mike Sherman is Zac Taylor's father-in-law.

 

Johnson has a couple here as well.

He's worked with QB Coach Sean Ryan before and wide receiver coach Joe Dailey is a college teammate.

No direct connections in the front office that I'm aware of but he did work with Giants GM Joe Schoen in Miami. Schoen spent a couple of years working with Dan Morgan in Buffalo.

[Bear Hands]

From the AFS:

Fun thing that Steichen does in Philly that would definitely fold into his next squad--They do self-scouts of the opposing-side come offseason.  So at season's end, the offensive staff scouts their defense (& vice versa) and identifies how they'd attack them and their weaknesses heading into the offseason. Helps identify what they need to fix as much as the defensive staff's preferred wants. They learn how their own offense would attack them and try to respond. 

Steichen is apparently also still pretty tight with Rivers and has some strong staffing connections that he could take with him.  He comes from multiple schematic backgrounds so no set philosophy.  Sirianni may have to really figure out how to repatch a huge chunk of his staff.  

Also sounds like he has a really method-based approach with modifying his playbook as needed to the players he has.  More symbiotic than simply playbook, insert players or players, insert playbook.  

 

[Mr. Scot]

Also regarding Steichen...

As I recall, Campen only spent one year there.

Edited January 12, 2023 by Mr. Scot

[TheSpecialJuan]

Nice 

[Bear Hands]

26 minutes ago, Mr. Scot said:

Also regarding Steichen...

As I recall, Campen only spent one year there.

Ooh that's nice.  I'd like to think whoever we select identifies that we have a top-tier OL Coach with some really nice pieces in place.  Hoping we re-sign Bozeman and keep Campen.  Would keep things really consistent in the trenches for a new staff. 

Just hope the desired scheme aligns with the personnel for our new coach.  

[Bear Hands]

Posted elsewhere but worth a repost: 

Kendall Roy, I mean, Jonathan Gannon speaks a different language haha