Who made the best and worst of the 2024 NFL head coach hires?
There were eight NFL head coaching jobs that came open this season, and now they’re all filled up, giving all 32 teams their head coach for the 2024 season. Out of those eight hirings, the biggest name out of those is Jim Harbaugh coming from the University of Michigan to join the Los Angeles Chargers that not only caused a shakeup in the NFL but in the college ranks as well.
Perhaps one of the most shocking things about the 2024 NFL head coach hires, though, is that longtime New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick wasn’t one of them, nor was former Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel. After several interviews, particularly with the Atlanta Falcons, many thought that Belichick would for sure find his way back on the sidelines. Then again, it could be that most believe that Belichick at 71 is Jurassic, and so is his coaching style.
Vrabel’s snub is a bit of a mystery, although when looking at the eight hires, there are some outliers that stick out that go against the 48-year-old. One of those specifically is age. The average age of these new eight coaches is 44, which is only four years younger than Vrabel. But the game is getting younger by the season. Five of the eight coaches hired were 45 and under, with three of those under 40. Only two — Jim Harbaugh and Dan Quinn — were 50 or older, with the new Chargers head coach being the oldest at 60.
The only numbers we’re looking at here are who ranked the best out all these 2024 NFL head coach hires. So let’s get to it.
There’s always tons of second-guessing and skepticism with college coaches coming to the NFL, but that’s not the case here with Harbaugh. For one, Harbaugh is coming off making Michigan a national champion and built the program much like an NFL team, especially defensively. Secondly, Harbaugh has already had tremendous success in the NFL when he was with the San Francisco 49ers, going to a Super Bowl. Could the stars finally be aligning for the Chargers, combining their wealth of talent, particularly their franchise quarterback Justin Herbert now with elite coaching? It’s certainly looking that way. This is easily the best hire of the 2024 NFL head coach hires.
While it was rumored that Dan Quinn could find his way back in Seattle, this time as head coach, the Seahawks went a different route, choosing Mike Macdonald instead. However, that means that the Seahawks are still sticking with a defensive head coach, like Pete Carroll, who held the position for 14 seasons. It also means that the Seahawks are sticking with the current NFL fad, going with a younger head coach. At 36, Macdonald will be the youngest head coach in the league.
You do have to tend to like Macdonald’s experience, learning under John Harbaugh for nine seasons with the Ravens and one under his brother Jim as Michigan’s defensive coordinator. All eyes will be on what type of offensive staff Macdonald can put together now.
Callahan had been with the Cincinnati Bengals since 2019 as the offensive coordinator. It wasn’t until 2020 that he received the gift of Joe Burrow for a quarterback, who he rightfully helped develop into the player he is today. The 39-year-old also has experience with Peyton Manning and Matthew Stafford. It’s clear with his hire that the Titans are looking for someone to develop Will Levis, or perhaps another quarterback. Either way, Callahan is being brought in to transition the offense and modernize it, pretty much changing everything that former head coach Mike Vrabel established. For the Titans, this feels like one of the better 2024 NFL head coach hires.
Canales wasn’t necessarily one of the hot names during this coaching search among teams, making him a fairly unknown. However, in his first season as an offensive coordinator, the 42-year-old helped Baker Mayfield revive his career in Tampa Bay this year. The hope is that he can help improve Bryce Young in his second season. The real question, however, is how long is Canales’ leash under owner David Tepper? Will Canales be given a full season with the Panthers, or will he be let go early like his predecessors? This feels like a strong hire, though, if he can avoid Tepper’s impatience.
Dan Quinn may not have gone back to Seattle, but he did find himself with a new head coaching job with the Washington Commanders. Quinn was the last of the eight hires and comes in as Ron Rivera’s replacement, who was also a former defensive head coach. That’s what makes this hire a bit surprising given that more than likely the Commanders should be taking a quarterback with their No. 2 overall pick. His offensive staff hire will be one to look out for.
As the defensive coordinator of the Cowboys, Quinn will obviously have tons of experience in the NFC East, and his hire could be an extreme blow to the Cowboys. However, the former Atlanta Falcons head coach comes in as a mild, uninspiring hire. There are plenty of good things that could work for Quinn in Washington, however, including the team’s massive amount of cap space to work with, along with the No. 2 pick.
Antonio Pierce’s Impact on Raiders Roster Raises Questions About Mark Davis’ Decision-Making
In a surprising turn of events, Antonio Pierce quickly won over the Raiders roster after Josh McDaniels was fired midway through the season, becoming the interim head coach. So much so that star player Maxx Crosby threatened to demand a trade if Pierce wasn’t given the permanent position. This begs the question: did Raiders owner Mark Davis feel pressured into hiring Pierce to avoid a player revolt?
Since taking over from his late father Al in 2011, Davis has struggled to make successful decisions for the team. McDaniels’ tenure was marked by incompetence and unpopularity among the players, making it likely that anyone taking over would be well-received. However, the Raiders did show improvement under Pierce, finishing the season with a 5-4 record after a shaky start of 3-5. The offense also displayed signs of progress, although their dominant victory over the Chargers in Week 15 may have skewed those numbers.
The Raiders are in desperate need of a successful head coach, and while Pierce is well-liked and appears passionate about the job, his limited NFL coaching experience raises concerns. With only one year of experience coaching linebackers, it remains to be seen if he can handle the demands of being a head coach. Nevertheless, this marks the beginning of a new era for the team in Las Vegas.
New England Patriots Take a Risk with Jerod Mayo as Head Coach
Jerod Mayo’s appointment as head coach of the New England Patriots comes as a surprise to many. Mayo has been the presumed heir to the position for years, serving as the inside linebackers coach since 2019. The Patriots, known for their success under the legendary Bill Belichick, are now entering a new era with Mayo at the helm. While Mayo lacks previous experience as a coordinator, this does not necessarily hinder his potential success.
The big question is how much the team will retain from the Belichick era and how much will change with Mayo’s leadership. Most Patriots fans are hoping for a balanced approach that incorporates elements from both eras. Mayo’s appointment falls in the middle of the 2024 head coach hires, signifying a significant transition for the team.
Atlanta Falcons’ Decision to Hire Raheem Morris Raises Eyebrows
The Atlanta Falcons’ choice to hire Raheem Morris as their head coach is raising eyebrows across the league. After conducting numerous interviews with various candidates, the Falcons seemingly settled for Morris. While he is regarded as one of the league’s better defensive coordinators, Morris already had a stint as an NFL head coach from 2009 to 2011 with the Buccaneers. Unfortunately, his record during that time was underwhelming, finishing with a 17-31 record (.354) and only one winning season, with no playoff appearances. Morris also served as the interim head coach for the Falcons in 2020, finishing with a 4-7 record.
Interestingly, the Falcons considered Morris as a candidate back in 2020 before ultimately hiring Dan Quinn. The decision to hire Morris now raises questions about the team’s previous choice. Fans are left wondering why the Falcons settled for Morris after such an extensive search for a head coach.
In conclusion, the recent head coach hires in the NFL have sparked intrigue and raised doubts about the decision-making processes of team owners. The Raiders’ selection of Antonio Pierce, the Patriots’ appointment of Jerod Mayo, and the Falcons’ decision to hire Raheem Morris all come with their own set of uncertainties. Only time will tell if these choices will lead to success or further disappointment for their respective teams.
