Even with the Giants hiring John Harbaugh and Kevin Stefanski signing with Atlanta, multiple job openings remain. While that means there’s plenty of intrigue, several destinations are more attractive than others. Here are my picks.
Here are the top five landing destinations in the NFL.
On his way out? (photo courtesy Change.org)
5. Miami. The only reason Miami is on this list is its warmer climate, and nothing beats the Florida sunshine. The quarterback position is fluid, AKA the Dolphins don’t have one or a commitment to Tua. A rebuild is necessary in Miami, in the worst possible way. But even more appealing than the Miami sunshine is that the bar is low. Of course, Miami Dolphins’ fans would like a winning and competitive team, but they don’t necessarily run to the front of the line to fill the stadium. At this point, building a team that could even pique the fanbase’s interest would be an achievement. (EDITOR’S NOTE: This article was written before the Dolphins hired Jeff Hafley, the former Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator and ex-Boston College head coach.)
4. Baltimore. Parting ways with Harbaugh was inevitable because–one way or another–it was going to happen, sooner or later. The relationship between Lamar Jackson and his head coach seemed to have hit a rough patch, and the Ravens’ constant lack of playoff success was frustrating for all parties, including Ravens fans. What makes this opening so appealing is, of course, that Lamar Jackson is still the quarterback and Baltimore isn’t really in the business of firing coaches willy-nilly. The organization has long been run on stability. The most glaring issue is that their MVP quarterback has still not reached the pinnacle of the Super Bowl, and that almost hinders his Hall of Fame reputation. The next coach needs to find a way to break through … FAST.
Is Mendoza Vegas-bound? (photo courtesy SI)
3. (Cough) Las Vegas. Bear with me. As a football fan, it’s disheartening to watch the Raiders leave Oakland. The Raiders’ history also includes making good decisions…disheartening. Yes, Pete Carroll made it just one year, and Geno Smith may not be the quarterback of the future. (Please don’t write to me, Geno.) But the Raiders are likely to draft Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the #1 overall pick. Most people will not disagree with that choice. And with Tom Brady being a consultant to the team, there at least seems to be some football acumen in the building. Keeping Max Crosby may prove challenging, but if there is a pitch to make, having the right head coach will be a deciding factor. After all these bad decisions for the Raiders’ most recent history, they must get it right for once. The organization owes Oakland Raiders fans at least that.
2. Buffalo. It isn’t very reassuring to find a playoff team and a team with an MVP quarterback on this list. The firing of McDermott seems misguided, only because whoever the Bills GM hires next will face the pressure of taking this team to the championship. Wasting anymore of Josh Allen’s prime will be something the Buffalo fans will not take lightly. Besides, judging by Josh Allen’s post-game emotion, he may be feeling the ticking clock in his head as well. Being successful in the NFL comes with a price. Allen knows that the more success you have, the more scrutiny you face. The next head coach needs to find a way to turn the corner. No shortcuts.
Patriots and Bucs replaced Brady, Pittsburgh has a help wanted sign (photo, CBS Boston)
1. Pittsburgh. The Pittsburgh Steelers are my #1 destination on this list for one reason and one reason only. The Rooney family doesn’t pick coaches and drop them. The coach will have the opportunity to build something with a foundation. Mike Tomlin walking away is not a vilification of Pittsburgh. Tomlin deserved to leave on his own accord. How so? While the fanbase is currently disgruntled, what Tomlin did cannot be ignored. That said, what didn’t happen can’t be ignored either: the next franchise quarterback following Ben Roethlisberger hasn’t happened. Even if Aaron Rodgers returns, his future is not long-standing. The next head coach needs a game plan, not one hatched up on the airplane ride to Pittsburgh. The Rooney family will give the pick the time to figure it out, and with a knee-jerky, reactive league, time is the next head coach’s best friend.
What About the Others? Why didn’t the Arizona Cardinals, Tennessee Titans, or Cleveland Browns make this list? Well, the Arizona Cardinals need to decide on Kyler Murray and what their team’s identity will be. The Tennessee Titans fired Mike Vrabel, the same Mike Vrabel who led the Patriots to the AFC championship game in just one season. The Titans seem to lack awareness. And as for the Cleveland Browns, it’s the worst head coaching opening in the NFL. Northern Ohio appears to be a desert of misery for coaches and quarterbacks. Besides, there isn’t enough time in the world to list all the wrong decisions this organization has made. Having a loyal fanbase is something they don’t deserve.
