The 2024 coaching carousel stopped on Thursday when the Washington Commanders hired Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn as their head coach.
With the NFL's eight head-coaching openings filled, let's examine who fared the best during this hiring cycle.
Was it Quinn's defense being exposed against the Packers in the wild-card round or his Falcons team collapsing in Super Bowl LI against the Patriots that put him ahead of other candidates for Commanders head coach? Washington ended the 2024 coaching cycle with the least inspiring hire.
As FTN Fantasy chief analytics officer Aaron Schatz noted, Quinn's success as defensive coordinator in Seattle didn't translate to his time in Atlanta, where he served as head coach from 2015 through the first five games of the 2020 season.
Dan Quinn has fielded a top 5 DVOA defense in all 5 of the seasons where he was a defensive coordinator.
— Aaron Schatz (@ASchatzNFL) February 1, 2024
In six years as head coach in Atlanta, Dan Quinn never fielded a defense with a DVOA higher than 14th.
Coordinator and head coach are different skill sets.
Washington just fired the defensive-minded Ron Rivera after the franchise's seventh consecutive season without a winning record and choosing another retread with a defensive background doesn't suggest things will improve soon in the nation's capital.
The former Bengals offensive coordinator will call plays for the first time in his career with the Titans. As ESPN's Turron Davenport noted, that same trajectory worked for Bengals head coach Zac Taylor, who served as Rams offensive coordinator under Sean McVay before leaving for Cincinnati. Still, anytime a coach takes on a role they didn't have previously, it raises questions. With the Titans in rebuild, Callahan's job is even harder.
Patriots owner Robert Kraft viewed Mayo as Bill Belichick's heir apparent prior to Belichick's firing and the former Patriots linebacker didn't do anything to challenge Kraft's belief this season. New England's defense was the team's strength and Mayo, who coached inside linebackers, helped linebacker Jahlani Tavai have a career year.
Canales' track record with quarterbacks made him an intriguing pick for the Panthers, who must get more out of quarterback Bryce Young in Year 2. Over the past two seasons, Geno Smith and Baker Mayfield put up career-best numbers working with Canales.
During his introductory news conference, he explained part of how he intends to help Young, saying, "In the pass game it's getting the ball out in 2.7 seconds or less. That's a critical deal for me."
Per data from Pro Football Focus, Young threw eight touchdowns and two interceptions while completing 65.8% of his attempts when throwing in less than 2.5 seconds; he posted three touchdowns, eight interceptions and completed 54% of his attempts when he had 2.5 seconds or more to throw.
Entering his third stint coaching in the NFC South, Morris appears better suited to make this one last. He previously coached the Bucs from 2009-11 and served as Falcons interim head coach in 2020, going 21-38. Morris aced his first assignment, bringing Rams quarterbacks coach Zac Robinson to Atlanta as his offensive coordinator. With an upgrade at quarterback - former MVP running back Shaun Alexander believes Russell Wilson is a possibility – Morris can quickly propel the Falcons to the playoffs.
Sometimes the right hire isn't the flashiest. That was the case in Las Vegas, which wisely removed the interim tag from Pierce's title and made him the full-time head coach on Jan. 19. The Raiders defense was much-improved under Pierce, a former linebacker. He also has the support of the team's best players, including running back Josh Jacobs, wide receiver Davante Adams and edge-rusher Maxx Crosby. Good on the Raiders, which went 5-4 under Pierce in 2023, for not over-complicating the hire.
Macdonald did a phenomenal job building the Ravens defense back up the past two seasons and gets a crack at returning the Seahawks to their "Legion of Boom" days during the mid-2010s. It doesn't hurt that he was one of the few coordinators to limit the 49ers, who Seattle faces twice a year, this season. Ravens players were effusive in their praise of their former coordinator earlier in the week, including linebacker Patrick Queen.
"I think he's the best candidate out there right now ... The guy is all-around the best person I've ever been around," Queen said, "coach-wise [and] person-wise."
Patrick Queen on Mike Macdonald earlier this week: "I think he's the best candidate out there right now. I don't think anybody does it like him. Nobody cares like him. Nobody will do what he does. He will not rest until he has everything right.
— Sarah Ellison (@sgellison) January 31, 2024
"Whoever gets him, if he leaves,…
The former Michigan head coach would top this list wherever he landed. Harbaugh has won everywhere he has coached, including when he posted a 44-19-1 record with the 49ers (2011-14). That will be no different in Los Angeles with Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert.
"I only have so many sands left in the hourglass," Harbaugh said during his introductory news conference.
"I want another shot to simply be known as a world champion," he continued. Considering his track record, we like his chances.
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