There was a time, not all that long ago, when the Houston Texans were replacing their head coach on an annual basis. For three straight head coaching cycles — 2021, 2022, and 2023 — the Texans were in search of the next man to lead the team to glory. Obviously, the first two, David Culley and Lovie Smith, did not do that, otherwise, why would they have needed a third coaching cycle to figure things out?
So, along came DeMeco Ryans, and the Texans returned to relevance. He became the first head coach in franchise history to achieve double digit wins three seasons in a row. Thus, the Texans have been able to sit out the coaching carousel the last three times.
However, the coaching cycle and churn is still compelling, even if your team has a respected head coach. After all, some of these teams are obstacles on the way to a Super Bowl. With that in mind, here is my power ranking of the ten head coaching hires in this cycle, with one quick hit thought on each one:
10. CLEVELAND BROWNS: Todd Monken
This hire gets the bottom rung of the ladder just due to the ineptitude of the people running the process. They allowed good candidates to say “no thanks” because they wouldn’t hang onto DC Jim Schwartz, and then when they hire Monken, Schwartz gets angry that he didn’t get the head coaching job and leaves. Total dumpster fire.
9. PITTSBURGH STEELERS: Mike McCarthy
This is McCarthy’s third stop of his coaching career, and now he is headed home. A Pittsburgh native, McCarthy feels like a retread, an uninspiring choice for a franchise whose roster is aging and deteriorating.
8. BUFFALO BILLS: Joe Brady
Over the last couple decades, promoting a coordinator from within has generally worked out horribly for NFL teams. Buffalo choosing to whack the ultra successful Sean McDermott to go this route is curious, to say the least.
7. MIAMI DOLPHINS: Jeff Hafley
Hafley left Boston College’s head coaching position two years ago to become the DC for the Packers. Miami has gone the longest without a playoff win, so we’ll see if Hafley can stoke any fire out of this moribund franchise.
6. BALTIMORE RAVENS: Jesse Minter
The Ravens fire John Harbaugh, who immediately got job interviews with every team with an opening, and bring in a branch off of brother Jim Harbaugh’s tree. Okay then.
5. ARIZONA CARDINALS: Mike LaFleur
The Sean McVay tree works out more often than not, so now Packer head coach Matt LaFleur’s brother gets to put the trend to the test, leading one of the worst franchises in the history of the league.
4. ATLANTA FALCONS: Kevin Stefanski
Stefanski gets out of Cleveland and lands in a better situation in Atlanta, mostly because anything is better than Cleveland. No more Shedeur Sanders drama for the two time Coach of the Year.
3. TENNESSEE TITANS: Robert Saleh
This is the one that lands on the Texans’ front porch, as they face the Titans twice a year. Success here will be dictated by how much they get out of second year QB Cam Ward. Brian Daboll will be the offensive coordinator.
2. LAS VEGAS RAIDERS: Klint Kubiak
Kubiak has the pedigree, the offensive system, and the proven success. Specifically, watch the Seahawks offense this weekend in the Super Bowl. Kubiak is the one pushing those buttons.
1. NEW YORK GIANTS: John Harbaugh
Harbaugh, as mentioned above, immediately became the number one candidate on the market after Baltimore let him go. He lands with a blue blood franchise that has not played blue blood football in years.