NFL Coaching Carousel
Buffalo Bills
Head Coach --
**** Jauron -- Bills fans everywhere are asking, "was this worth the wait?" as the Bills
have chosen **** Jauron as Mike Mularkey's replacement. Jauron, the interim head coach in Detroit this year, was head coach in Chicago and enjoyed one strong season [13-3] sandwiched between four very pedestrian ones.
Offensive Coordinator --
Steve Fairchild -- Former Bills RB coach Steve Fairchild returns to the team as offensive coordinator after serving as Mike Martz' OC in St. Louis the last three seasons.
Defensive Coordinator --
Perry Fewell -- The Bills have chosen Chicago Bears defensive backs coach Perry Fewell as their defensive coordinator. Fewell worked on the same staff as **** Jauron in 1998, and served a stint in St. Louis.
Denver Broncos
Offensive Coordinator --
Rick Dennison -- Mike Heimerdinger did indeed reunited with Mike Shanahan as expected, but not as Gary Kubiak's replacement. Offensive line coach Rick Dennison was promoted to Offensive Coordinator in part to keep him from leaving with Kubiak to Houston. Heimerdinger will serve as Assistant Head Coach and assist in the passing game.
Detroit Lions
Head Coach --
Rod Marinelli -- After a long search that included more than a dozen rumored candidates, it appears the Lions have
decided on Rod Marinelli as Steve Mariucci's replacement. Marinelli has been the Tampa Bay Bucs defensive line coach and assistant head coach and has long been a commodity [as a DC] but will make the leap from position coach to head coach.
Offensive Coordinator --
Mike Martz -- Mike Martz has joined the Lions as offensive coordinator after an on again, off again negotiations. Martz is unquestionably a major coup for the moribund Lions, regardless of whether one viewed him as a good head coach, his offensive planning and play calling is among the league's best.
Defensive Coordinator --
Donnie Henderson -- Donnie Henderson has joined the Lions staff as defensive coordinator after serving the last two seasons as the Jets DC under Herm Edwards. Henderson got his NFL start in Baltimore as a secondary coach.
Green Bay Packers
Head Coach --
Mike McCarthy -- Out with one Mike [sherman], in with another. Mike McCarthy, most recently the San Francisco 49ers offensive coordinator, will be named the Packers new head coach
according to ESPN.
Offensive Coordinator --
Jeff Jagodzinski -- Falcons offensive line coach, Jeff Jagodzinski, has been named the Packer's new offensive coordinator. Interestingly, Jagodzinski landed in Atlanta [as TE coach] after being fired by Mike Sherman in Green Bay.
Defensive Coordinator --
Bob Sanders -- Bob Sanders has been promoted to Defensive Coordinator after serving as the team's defensive line coach. Sanders is expected to run the same defensive scheme that Jim Bates installed last season.
Houston Texans
Head Coach --
Gary Kubiak -- In one of the NFL's worst kept secrets, the Houston Texans hired Denver Bronco's offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak as their new head coach following the Broncos AFC Championship game defeat. Kubiak has been Mike Shanahan's OC and righthand man for 11 seasons.
Offensive Coordinator --
Troy Calhoun -- Denver assistant coach Troy Calhoun has followed Gary Kubiak to the Texans and will serve as Houston's offensive coordinator. Calhoun has served as a defensive assistant and special teams coach in Denver, and has OC experience at the college level, most recently at Wake Forest.
Defensive Coordinator --
Richard Smith -- Richard Smith, the Miami Dolphins co-defensive coordinator last season under Nick Saban, has joined the Texans in the same capacity. Smith has 18 years of NFL experience, primarily as a linebackers coach. He coached with Kubiak in Denver for several years.
Kansas City Chiefs
Head Coach --
Herman Edwards -- Herman Edwards appears all but certain to replace **** Vermeil as the Chiefs head coach, but not without a fair amount of drama. Currently the Chiefs and Jets are negotiating compensation to allow Edwards out of his NY contract.
Offensive Coordinator --
Mike Solari -- After serving as Kansas City's offensive line coach for nine seasons, Mike Solari has been promoted to offensive coordinator by new HC Herman Edwards. Obviously Edwards values continuity on a team with an explosive offense and devastating running attack.
Defensive Coordinator --
Gunther Cunningham -- Herm Edwards has
retained Gunther Cunningham as the Chiefs' defensive coordinator.
Miami Dolphins
Offensive Coordinator --
Mike Mularkey -- Nick Saban hired Mike Mularkey to replace Scott Linehan as the Fins offensive coordinator. Mularkey, most recently the head coach in Buffalo, made his mark as an offensive coordinator in Pittsburgh.
Defensive Coordinator --
Dom Capers -- Nick Saban continues to bolster his coaching staff with the hiring of Dom Capers as defensive coordinator. Capers was the Texans head coach for four years and also coached the Carolina Panthers as an expansion team.
Minnesota Vikings
Head Coach --
Brad Childress -- Brad Childress has
named Vikings head coach after serving as Andy Reid's offensive coordinator in Philadelphia the last few years. Childress, who didn't call plays in Philadelphia, does have play-calling experience from his days at Wisconsin. He's expected to bring a more balanced offensive approach than the ultra-pass oriented tendencies of Reid. Childress replaces
Mike Tice who was fired after a tumultuous 9-7 season by new owner Ziggy Wulf.
Offensive Coordinator --
Darrell Bevell -- Packers QB coach Darrell Bevell,
has been named the Vikings new offensive coordinator. This move has been widely anticipated as Bevell had a good reputation among the coaching ranks and was a player under Childress at Wisconsin.
Defensive Coordinator --
Mike Tomlin -- Bucs secondary coach Mike Tomlin
was named the Vikings defensive coordinator. At 33 years old, Tomlin is one of the youngest coordinators in league history, and will likely implement a version of the Cover-2 scheme made famous in Tampa.
New Orleans Saints
Head Coach --
Sean Payton -- Sean Payton, the Cowboys passing game coordinator the last two years, has
accepted an offer to be the Saints new head coach. In addition to coaching under Parcells, Payton was the offensive coordinator under Jim Fassel in New York during their run to the Super Bowl. His background is primarily working with QBs, an important role in New Orleans given the expectation that they will draft a QB with the 2nd overall pick.
Offensive Coordinator --
Doug Marrone -- After reports that Chris Palmer would become the Saints OC, it appears Sean Payton has gone in a different direction and has formally hired Doug Marrone as OC/Offensive Line Coach. Marrone has serves as the O-line coach for the Jets the last four seasons. Payton is expected to call the plays himself.
Defensive Coordinator --
Gary Gibbs -- Sean Payton has named Gary Gibbs as the Saints new DC. Payton worked with Gibbs in Dallas for the last three seasons, Gibbs has served as the Cowboys LB coach for four seasons. Gibbs is perhaps best remembered as the Oklahoma Sooners coach AFTER Barry Switzer.
New England Patriots
Offensive Coordinator --
Josh McDaniels -- The Patriots went without an offensive coordinator in 2005, but QB coach Josh McDaniels has been
elevated to the position of offensive coordinator for 2006, making him the youngest coordinator in the NFL [he's 29].
Defensive Coordinator --
Dean Pees -- The Patriots wasted little time in naming a replacement for Eric Mangini by
promoting Dean Pees, last year's linebackers coach, to the coordinator position. Pees has 34 years of coaching experience including a stint as the head coach at Kent State and, prior to that, as the defensive coordinator under Nick Saban at Michigan State.
New York Jets
Head Coach --
Eric Mangini -- At 35 years old with just one year as an NFL coordinator, Eric Mangini
has accepted the Jets offer to be Herm Edwards replacement as head coach. Mangini, the latest departure from the Belichick/Patriots tree, will be the league's youngest head coach.
Offensive Coordinator --
Brian Schottenheimer -- 32-year old Brian Schottenheimer will take over the OC helm in New York after serving on his father's Chargers staff the last two seasons [as QB coach.]
Defensive Coordinator --
Bob Sutton -- In a mild surprise, Eric Mangini has promoted LB coach Bob Sutton to replace Donnie Henderson as defensive coordinator. It's odd in that Sutton has been with the team now through four coaches [Parcells, Groh, Edwards and now Mangini] and, although accomplished, is considered to have a very quiet demeanor.
Oakland Raiders
Head Coach --
Art Shell -- Whoever said you can never go home again isn't following the Oakland Raiders. 12 years after being fired by the franchise, Art Shell has been re-hired as Raiders head coach. Shell has openly lobbied for HC jobs over the years, but never got serious consideration despite a reasonably successful first stint in Oakland. Shell, unlike many other Al Davis candidates, knows exactly what to expect and how to operate under Davis' heavy hand.
Offensive Coordinator --
Tom Walsh -- The Raiders just keep trying to recapture the magic of yesteryear. Tom Walsh, a long-time Raiders assistant coach [from 82 to 94], is re-joining the team as Art Shell's offensive coordinator. Walsh hasn't been a major factor in the coaching arena over the last decade [much like Shell], so it's unclear what kind of style he'll bring to the table.
Defensive Coordinator --
Rob Ryan -- Rob Ryan [son of Buddy, brother of Rex] was retained by Al Davis as the Raiders defensive coordinator despite the head coaching change. Much like when Ryan worked under Norv Turner, he'll likely have the chance to run the defense with some autonomy given the offensive background of Art Shell.
Philadelphia Eagles
Offensive Coordinator --
Marty Mornhinweg -- Brad Childress, Andy Reid's long-time offensive coordinator, took the Vikings head coaching job and Mornhinweg was promoted to OC after serving as an assistant the last two seasons.
St. Louis Rams
Head Coach --
Scott Linehan -- Scott Linehan
has beaten out fellow finalists Ron Rivera [CHI DC] and Cam Cameron [sD OC] for the Rams head coaching vacancy. Linehan served as offensive coordinator in Miami in 2005 and was OC in Minnesota for three years prior.
Offensive Coordinator --
Greg Olson -- Scott Linehan has tabbed Greg Olson as his OC. Olson was the Lions QB coach and has also served in that capacity for Chicago and San Francisco. Olson and Linehan are both part of the John L. Smith coaching tree, serving under Smith together on several occasions.
Defensive Coordinator --
Jim Haslett -- The Rams have added Jim Haslett, most recently the Saints head coach, as their new defensive coordinator under head coach Scott Linehan.
San Francisco 49ers
Offensive Coordinator --
Norv Turner -- The 49ers
have hired Norv Turner as their new offensive coordinator, replacing Mike McCarthy [who took the HC job in Green Bay]. Turner was the Raiders head coach in 2004-2005, and brings vast experience as an HC and OC on teams including the Cowboys, Redskins, Chargers and Dolphins.
Washington Redskins
Offensive Coordinator --
Al Saunders -- The Redskins are giving new meaning to the expression, "money talks and b.s. walks" after pulling a coup and
hiring Al Saunders as their offensive coordinator. Saunders masterminded the KC Chiefs offense and was thought to be in line to replace **** Vermeil. But after Herm Edwards was brought in, Saunders was lured to D.C. for a reported $2 million per year salary.
NFL Front Office Carousel
Buffalo Bills: Marv Levy IN, Tom Donahoe OUT -- Tom Donahoe has been fired by owner Ralph Wilson, and Marv Levy [80 years young]
will return to run football operations.
Cleveland Browns: GM Phil Savage -- After a failed power struggle, it was
Browns President John Collins, NOT GM Phil Savage that was fired after several public reports hinted at the outcome going to other direction.
Houston Texans: GM Charlie Casserly -- Despite expectations to the contrary, it appears that Charlie Casserly will remain in Houston as the Texans GM.
Minnesota Vikings: Fran Foley -- San Diego Chargers director of pro scouting Fran Foley has agreed in principle to become the new director of player personnel for the Minnesota Vikings, and a deal is expected to be completed by the end of the week.
Philadelphia Eagles: GM Tom Heckert Jr. -- Several reports, including Jimmy Johnson on FOX, reported that Tom Heckert Jr., the VP of Player Personnel, was among the favorites to land a number of expected GM openings around the league. However, the Eagles proactively addressed the situation by
promoting Heckert to the position of General Manager.
New York Jets: GM Mike Tannenbaum [replacing Terry Bradway] -- After a tumultuous offseason that saw Herm Edwards depart for Kansas City, the hiring of the NFL's youngest head coach and then an internal struggle over whether to retain Mike Heimerdinger as OC after he clearly wanted out, the Jets have "re-assigned" GM Terry Bradway and promoted assistant GM Mike Tannenbaum.