2024 NFL Head Coach Hiring Results: Chargers get ‘A’ for Jim Harbaugh’s swing, Panthers bank up

The NFL playoffs are rapidly approaching their anticipated finale, with Super Bowl V just around the corner. Meanwhile, the 2024 coaching cycle is in full swing, with nearly six teams participating. Already named a new head coach and Several are still searching for top candidates.. In the end, more than 20% of the league will enter the new season without a new leader at their side.

It’s impossible to know which of this year’s hires will actually make a difference. In some years, a less-celebrated promotion can end up being the last laugh. As with free agency, big names don’t always lead to big results. Remember, this is a team game. That means coaches, like quarterbacks, are often influenced by the staff and supporting cast around them.

But how do recruiters currently enroll? Here’s our best attempt at evaluating each head coaching addition.

We’ve seen big-time college players struggle (see: Urban Meyer, Matt Rhule, Chip Kelly), but what’s different is that all of Harbaugh’s coaches have struggled. It’s the undisputed winner in terms of location, and that includes the NFL. He came one win away from winning the Super Bowl with the 49ers in 2012, but is now back on the West Coast. They already have a franchise quarterback and a playoff-caliber roster in place., coached the team he once played on in the ’90s. The combination of a talented but sometimes timid prospect and a stalwart program builder who knows how to power a flashy offense is a perfect match. The AFC West is also interesting.

School year: a

Impatience is the name of the game in Carolina, and owner David Tepper has been on fire for coaching and QB jobs in recent years. Canales, 42, just completed his first year as offensive coordinator. A true pivot for the franchise. While he’s certainly an unknown compared to other 2024 recruits, he has no shortage of promising credentials, spending 13 years as Pete Carroll’s assistant in Seattle and then starting Baker Mayfield’s career as the Buccaneers’ play-caller. contributed to its revival. A rising QB whisperer, he’s exactly the kind of coach who could accelerate Bryce Young’s development under center.

School year: B+

Is this the same thing in New England, or is there a changing of the guard? It’s a tough question to unpack, considering Mayo only ever played or coached under his successor, Bill Belichick. The former Belichick protégé’s track record as a head coach is unimpressive, to say the least.Mayo’s A transparent approach At the very least, it suggests a more appealing personality, and he’s been directly involved in the Pats’ ever-enthusiastic defense. But the key here, at least since Tom Brady’s departure in 2020 left a huge hole in the organization, will be whether he can differentiate himself from Belichick in terms of offensive line placement and roster construction.

School year: B-

Raiders: Antonio Pierce

Team owner Mark Davis opted to hire a flashy talent from the outside with a known interim in 2022, but that quickly backfired, leading to Pierce replacing Josh McDaniels during the season. After posting a 4-0 record, Pierce was destined to receive plenty of recognition. Personality-wise, it’s clear that Pierce’s strong commitment to his players has won him over in the locker room. But he has only six years of college and NFL coaching experience combined, so it’s hard to really understand his big-picture vision. Like fellow former Texans linebacker DeMeco Ryans, his future will likely depend heavily on the personnel and staffing decisions that accompany his promotion.

School year: B-

Titans: Brian Callahan

If prolific connections are a top priority for a head coach, Callahan will easily accomplish this. The son of longtime NFL coach Bill Callahan, who led the Raiders to the Super Bowl in 2002, he has worked with the likes of Peyton Manning, Matthew Stafford and Joe Burrow over the years, most recently in 2019. He served as the Bengals’ OC from 1923 to 2010. The fact that he is bringing a modern offense to the University of Tennessee alone makes him an attractive replacement for the tough but defensive-minded Mike Vrabel. Still, like many, a large part of his impact will come down to what he does and develops at QB.

School year: B

Falcons: Raheem Morris

CBS Sports Leader NFL Insider Jonathan Jones reports. On Thursday, it was reported that the Falcons are close to a deal to name former Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris as their new head coach. The Falcons interviewed with a whopping 14 head coaching candidates, including Bill Belichick. But it was Morris who stood out.

In fact, Morris spent 11 games as the Falcons’ head coach as interim lead man in 2020, compiling a 4-7 record. He also served as the Buccaneers’ head coach from 2009 to 2011, posting a 17-31 record. I wish he could have brought in an offensive mind to get the most out of players like Drake Rondon, Kyle Pitts, and Bijan Robinson, but Morris is a true leader who has the support of his players.Star cornerback Jalen Ramsey also reacted to the news. on social media “The Falcons just got one of the best coaches in the NFL!”

The offensive line is a player that all Falcons fans will be keeping an eye on. Jones reports Morris is likely to hire current Rams passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach Zach Robinson as offensive coordinator.

School year: B-