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2023 NFL Head Coach Tracker: Rumors, Updates and Reports

Reporter

12 min Watch

The 2022-2023 NFL regular season is in the books, and just like every year, there are several head coach vacancies that need to be filled.

Here’s a full rundown of all those vacancies, confirmed candidates, and other notes. This post will be updated as information comes in, so bookmarking it is recommended.

Denver Broncos

The Broncos fired head coach Nathaniel Hackett after 15 games, while GM George Paton was retained. Denver has new ownership with the Walton-Penner group, and this will be their first head coaching search. Money won’t be an issue.

  • Interviewed former Saints HC Sean Payton
  • Interviewed Michigan HC Jim Harbaugh
    • Interviewed Harbaugh a second time
  • Interviewed former Stanford HC David Shaw
  • Interviewed former Colts/Lions HC Jim Caldwell
  • Interviewed DC Ejiro Evero
  • Interviewed Interim HC Jerry Rosburg
  • Interviewed  Cowboys DC Dan Quinn
  • Interviewed  49ers DC DeMeco Ryans
  • Interviewed  Rams DC Raheem Morris

Houston Texans

The Texans fired head coach Lovie Smith after just one season, making it the second consecutive year they’ve had a one-and-done coach (David Culley last year). Their next hire will be their fourth coach in four years. General Manager Nick Caserio and owner Cal McNair will oversee the search.

  • Interviewed former Saints HC Sean Payton
  • Interviewed Eagles DC Jonathan Gannon
  • Interviewed Eagles OC Shane Steichen
  • Interviewed Lions OC Ben Johnson
  • Interviewed 49ers DC DeMeco Ryans
    • Will interview Ryans a second time
  • Interviewed  Broncos DC Ejiro Evero
    • Interviewed Evero a second time
  • Interviewed Giants OC Mike Kafka
    • Interviewed  Kafka a second time
  • Interviewed Rams assistant HC/TEs coach Thomas Brown

Carolina Panthers

Update: The Panthers hired Frank Reich on Thursday, Jan. 26.

The Panthers fired Matt Rhule after a 1-4 start, and Steve Wilks took over as interim head coach, leading the team to a 6-6 finish and keeping them alive for the division title through Week 17.

  • Interviewed  Interim HC Steve Wilks
    • Interviewed Wilks a second time
  • Interviewed former Saints HC Sean Payton
  • Interviewed former Colts/Lions HC Jim Caldwell
  • Interviewed  former Colts HC Frank Reich
    • Interviewed Reich a second time
  • Interviewed Broncos DC Ejiro Evero
  • Interviewed Eagles OC Shane Steichen
  • Interviewed Lions OC Ben Johnson
  • Interviewed Giants OC Mike Kafka
  • Interviewed Bills OC Ken Dorsey
  • Interviewed Broncos DC Ejiro Evero
  • Interviewed Cowboys OC Kellen Moore
    • Interview Moore a second time

Indianapolis Colts

The Colts fired Frank Reich despite signing him to a lucrative four-year extension in August of 2021. Owner Jim Irsay made the decision on his own and hired former Pro Bowl center Jeff Saturday to be the team’s interim coach. After getting a win in his first game, Saturday and the Colts finished the season on a seven-game losing streak.

  • Interviewed interim HC Jeff Saturday
    • Interviewed Saturday a second time
  • Interviewed Special Teams Coordinator Bubba Ventrone
  • Interviewed Broncos DC Ejiro Evero
    • Interviewed Evero a second time
  • Interviewed Chiefs OC Eric Bieniemy
  • Interviewed Lions DC Aaron Glenn 
  • Interviewed Cowboys DC Dan Quinn
    • Interviewed Quinn a second time
  • Interviewed Lions OC Ben Johnson
  • Interviewed Rams DC Raheem Morris 
    • Interviewed Morris a second time
  • Interviewed Eagles OC Shane Steichen
    • Will interview Steichen a second time
  • Interviewed Bengals OC Brian Callahan
  • Interviewed Packers special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia
    • Will interview Bisaccia a second time
  • Interviewed Giants OC Mike Kafka
  • Interviewed Giants DC Wink Martindale
    • Will interview Martindale a second time
  • Requested to interview 49ers DC DeMeco Ryans

Arizona Cardinals

The Cardinals fired Kliff Kingsbury despite giving him an extension through 2027 in March.

  • Interviewed DC Vance Joseph
  • Requested to interview former Saints HC Sean Payton
  • Interviewed Steelers LBs coach Brian Flores
  • Interviewed former Colts HC Frank Reich 
  • Interviewed Broncos DC Ejiro Evero 
  • Interviewed Lions DC Aaron Glenn
  • Interviewed Cowboys DC Dan Quinn 
    • Interviewed Quinn a second time
  • Requested to interview Bengals DC Lou Anarumo
  • Requested to interview Bengals OC Brian Callahan
  • Requested to interview Eagles DC Jonathan Gannon

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News

Panthers Hire Frank Reich As Head Coach

1 min Watch

The Carolina Panthers will hire former Colts coach Frank Reich as their next head coach, the team announced on Thursday.

Reich was fired by the Colts in November despite owning a 40-33-1 record in five seasons with the team. The Panthers’ job was the first to open this cycle when they fired former coach Matt Rhule in October after starting 1-4 this season.

“To me, it is a home-run hire,” said Chargers QB Chase Daniel, an analyst for The 33rd Team. “(Owner) Dave Tepper and crew got this right. His (Reich) experience with quarterbacks. His (playing) experience in Carolina. It is just a home-run hire. His leadership is second to none, and he’s going to do the right thing. He has to find the right quarterback for the job. That was sort of his downfall in Indianapolis, but I think he’s going to get it right.”

In an interview with The 33rd Team in January, Reich spoke about the conditions in which he would return to coaching.

“But at the end of the day, it has to be the right fit,” Reich said. “It has to be the right fit with the owner. It has to be the right fit with the general manager. There has to be the right chemistry. I hope that opportunity comes, but I’ll stay ready regardless.”

Reich is the first head coach in Carolina’s franchise history with an offensive background. Dom Capers, George Seifert, John Fox and Ron Rivera had defensive backgrounds, while Rhule was considered to be more of a CEO-type coach.

Reich will have his work cut out for him trying to fix an offense that ranked 20th in points per game (20.4) in 2022. The Panthers also need a new franchise quarterback. Under Rhule, Carolina started Baker Mayfield, Phillip Walker, Sam Darnold, Cam Newton and Teddy Bridgewater. Only Darnold and Walker remain on the roster.

“This move is all about the quarterback. Currently, Carolina has the ninth pick in the draft and clearly they will be acquiring a quarterback, most likely in the draft,” said Mike Tannenbaum, analyst for The 33rd Team and former front office executive for the Jets and Dolphins. “Frank Reich has a long track record of developing quarterbacks and that will be job No. 1. It will be interesting to see who he pursues to be the defensive coordinator. He most recently hired Gus Bradley for that same role in Indianapolis.”

Reich reportedly beat out Panthers interim coach Steve Wilks and Cowboys offensive coordinator Kellen Moore for the job. Wilks impressed when he took over for Rhule, leading the Panthers to a 6-6 record.

Reich is the sixth coach in Panthers’ history, and he played for the Panthers during their inaugural season in 1995. Reich is even responsible for throwing the franchise’s first touchdown pass.

The Panthers will introduce Reich at a news conference Tuesday, the Charlotte Observer reported.

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Grading NFL’s Biggest 2022 Trade Deadline Deals Entering Playoffs

Award-Winning NFL Executive

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Grading NFL’s Biggest 2022 Trade Deadline Deals Entering Playoffs
The Rams’ acquisition of edge rusher extraordinaire Von Miller at the 2021 trade deadline was a major factor in the team’s eventual winning of the Super Bowl. There were many trades at the mid-season deadline this year that helped teams reach the playoffs. Will any of these recent additions do for their teams what Miller […]

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News

2023 NFL Coaching Tracker: Latest News, Rumors and Buzz

3 min Watch

Tracking the latest rumors and buzz surrounding potential head-coaching changes in the NFL.

>> Tracking Latest Coaching Interviews, Requests

>> Top 2023 Coaching Candidates

Monday, Jan. 23

Payton to Have Second Meeting with Broncos

Sean Payton will have his second meeting with the Broncos this week, Jeff Duncan reported. Many believe Payton has pulled into pole position for the Broncos’ vacant head coaching opening following the team’s first round of interviews.

Payton, a former Super Bowl Champion coach, has been a highly sought-after name on the coaching market thus far in the 2023 off-season. Payton is still under contract, so any team attempting to hire him will have to work out a trade with the Saints, who are reportedly looking for a first-round pick for Payton.

Flurry of Offensive Coordinator Interviews Confirmed

NFL front offices continue to mobilize, attempting to find the answer for their woes at the offensive coordinator position. Here’s a breakdown of some of the most recent interviews taking place.

The Ravens are planning to interview Cleveland WR coach/passing game coordinator Chad O’Shea for their vacant offensive coordinator position on Monday, NFL Media reported.

Likewise, Rams senior offensive assistant Greg Olson will interview for the Los Angeles Chargers’ vacant offensive coordinator position, NFL Media reported. That interview will take place on Tuesday.

Finally, Miami Dolphins running backs coach Eric Studesville will interview for the Washington Commanders’ open offensive coordinator role on Sunday, the team confirmed.

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Reporter

6 min read

Closer Look at Infrastructure of NFL Franchises with Coaching Openings
There are five coaching openings around the NFL, and there’s plenty of debate on which one has the best situation. Let’s take a birdseye view and examine the owners, general managers, quarterbacks and draft capital situation for each team. Arizona Cardinals Ownership: Michael Bidwill relied heavily on former general Steve Keim during previous coaching searches, with […]

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