Evaluating and Grading the 2022 NFL Coaching Hires
February 10, 2022
A full nine NFL teams were searching for new head coaches this offseason. The Raiders were actually looking for one after Jon Gruden resigned early in the 2021 season. The Jags were too after the whole Urban Meyer fiasco. The New York Giants will have their fourth next head coach in the last seven seasons. Will he be any different than the previous three? With one franchise still technically searching, here’s a look at how these NFL franchises have done with the new coaching hires.
Chicago Bears – Matt Eberflus
This could be trouble for the Bears. Not that Eberflus can’t coach, but hiring a defensive coordinator when your offense resembles the local sewage plant? The Bears have finished 27th, 23rd, and 29th in scoring offense in each of the last three seasons. They went out and drafted an elite quarterback in Justin Fields, who has proven he can play. He just needs to be coached right. GRADE: FAIL
Denver Broncos – Nathaniel Hackett
Anyone old enough might know that Hackett’s dad was Paul Hackett, a mediocre college head coach at Pitt and USC. Hackett has been the Packers offensive coordinator for the past two years. If somehow Rodgers ends up in Denver, this might be a great hire. But, before he went to Green Bay, Hackett was the OC in Jacksonville and Buffalo. They were two of the worst offenses in the NFL. GRADE: PASS (if Rodgers goes to Denver)
Houston Texans – Lovie Smith
Meh. If the Texans get the Smith that went 81-63 as the head coach of the Bears, this might work out. However, since leaving the Bears, Smith is 8-24 as an NFL head coach and 17-39 as a college head coach (Illinois 2016-20). Plus, Smith is a defensive-minded guy who actually served as the Texans DC last season. Houston gave up 26.6 points a game and finished 27th. The offense was even worse. This hire doesn’t seem very inspiring. GRADE: FAIL
Jacksonville Jaguars – Doug Pederson
At least the Jags got a guy who has won a Super Bowl. Remember, Pederson had a positive effect on Carson Wentz early in his career and now he’ll have a chance to mold a young Trevor Lawrence. There are some pieces in Jacksonville and remember it took him a year to get the Eagles into the postseason. He’s got a 42-37-1 record as an NFL head coach. He’ll put together a good staff. It’s just a matter of how long it takes to start winning consistently. GRADE: PASS
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Las Vegas Raiders – Josh McDaniels
McDaniels gets a second chance with the Raiders. He failed miserably in his first head coaching attempt in Denver where he went 11-17 and didn’t make it through two seasons. The idea here is that McDaniels has learned from his mistakes. He has been successful as the Patriots OC, but just because he was a Pats assistant under Belichick doesn’t automatically make him a great head coach. Most Belichick disciples fail in head coaching roles and McDaniels, who has already done it once, just might do it again. GRADE: FAIL
Miami Dolphins – Mike McDaniel
This could actually turn out to be the best hire of the cycle. McDaniel was Kyle Shanahan’s OC in San Francisco but here’s the interesting thing about McDaniel. Remember the 2013 Washington staff? Shanahan and Sean McVay were on it and guess who else was? That’s right – McDaniel. He’s actually walking into a pretty good situation. Solid defense, young quarterback, good receiving corps. GRADE: PASS
New York Giants – Brian Daboll
Daboll has enjoyed success as the Bills OC. He’s had one of the best young quarterbacks in the game in Josh Allen. He will not have that luxury with Daniel Jones in New York. In fact, he won’t enjoy anything like what he had in Buffalo. In the grand scheme of things, Daboll is likely the fourth straight two-years-and-out coach for the Giants. GRADE: FAIL
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New Orleans Saints – Dennis Allen
Anyone following the great Sean Payton is going to have big shoes to fill, but Allen? The Saints defense has been good under Allen who served as DC that past seven seasons. Allen’s record as an NFL head coach though is not good. He was the Raiders head man from 2012 to 2014 and went 8-28. The Saints are screwed when it comes to the salary cap too, so they won’t be able to play in the free agent market. Allen is a good defensive coach, not a good head coach. GRADE: FAIL
Minnesota Vikings – Pending
It isn’t official, but the Vikings appear to be ready to make Kevin O’Connell their head coach. If that’s the case, it’s probably a step in the right direction. Under the defensive-minded and risk-averse Mike Zimmer, the Vikings offense wasn’t able to flourish. O’Connell, the Rams OC, would add a new element to an offense full of opportunity…Kirk Cousins, Adam Thielen, Justin Jefferson, Dalvin Cook. GRADE: PASS
