Black Monday Looms Large Outside of Buffalo

Sean McDermott and Brandon Beane have something most teams covet from their GMs and Head Coaches… genuine respect and admiration for one another. They have great chemistry and it shows as they have taken the Buffalo Bills from 20 years of hopelessness to two playoff appearances in three years. Other teams are not as lucky and will today begin the process of finding the right man to lead their franchise.

In this piece, I will break down all the openings and speculated openings and suggest who would be the right man to fill each job and why. Let’s start with whom I feel are the best candidates for any of the open positions;

The Candidates

Former Head Coaches

Mike McCarthy – Former Green Bay Packers Head Coach

Ron Rivera – Former Carolina Panther Head Coach

Mike Pettine – Current Green Bay Packers DC

Dennis Allen – Current New Orleans Saints DC

Coordinators

Eric Bieniemy – Kansas City Chiefs OC

Greg Roman – Baltimore RavensOC

Mike LaFleur, Mike McDaniel – San Francisco 49ers OCs

Matt Eberflus – Indianapolis Colts DC

Robert Saleh – San Francisco 49ers DC

Dave Toub – Kansas City Chiefs Special Teams Coordinator

College Head Coaches

Matt Rhule – Baylor Bears

Matt Campbell – Iowa State Cyclones

Dave Clawson – Wake Forest Demon Deacons

Bryan Harsin – Boise State Broncos

Jay Norvell – Nevada Wolfpack

Dino Babers – Syracuse Orange

Matching Coaches To Openings

As I match candidates to openings or projected opening I will factor in multiple things; personal opinion, situation, connections to management, insider rumors, etc.

Positions Already Open

Washington Redskins

Option #1: Jay Norvell – Head Coach, Nevada Wolfpack

Option #2: Dave Clawson – Head Coach, Wake Forest Demon Deacons

Option #3: Marvin Lewis – Formerly Washington Redskins, Head Coach

Why Norvell? Worst stadium in the league, a contentious nickname, Bruce Allen, and Dan Snyder… this job will be a tough sell. Washington should consider stepping outside the box and look for a program builder. Hiring Norvell would allow Washington to retain assistant head coach Bill Callahan, who has been a calming influence as interim HC, to guide his former Raider and Cornhusker assistant who has made a name for himself re-building the Nevada program.

Carolina Panthers

Option #1: Greg Roman – Baltimore Ravens, Offensive Coordinator

Option #2: Eric Bieniemy – Kansas City Chiefs, Offensive Coordinator

Option #3: Mike McCarthy – Formerly Green Bay Packers, Head Coach

Why Roman? Cam Newton will get one last hurrah with a coach who can cater a game-plan to his strengths. If Carolina goes with Roman they should seriously consider Jalen Hurts early in the draft or have their eyes on Justin Fields for 2021.

Likely & Possible Openings

Dallas Cowboys

Option 1: Mike McCarthy or Ron Rivera

Option 2: Matt Rhule – Baylor Bears, Head Coach

Option 3: Matt Eberflus – Indianapolis Colts, Defensive Coordinator

Why McCarthy or Rivera? Its simple, Dallas needs an adult in the room. Someone to stabilize the locker room and isn’t afraid of Jerry Jones. Both McCarthy and Rivera are pros pros who have been there and done that. The spotlight of Dallas won’t loom too large. McCarthy should be target #1 as he would get the offense clicking at their full potential.

Cleveland Browns

Option #1: Mike McCarthy or Ron Rivera

Option #2: Dave Toub – Kansas City Chiefs, Special Teams Coordinator

Option #3: Eric Bieniemy – Kansas City Chiefs, Offensive Coordinator

Why McCarthy or Rivera? Once again this is simple, Cleveland needs an adult in the room. Someone to stabilize the locker room and can overcome the ineptitude of Jimmy Haslem. Both McCarthy and Rivera are pros pros who have been there and done that. McCarthy should be the main target because they have invested so much in that offense, it needs to start clicking.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Option #1: Robert Saleh – San Francisco 49ers, Defensive Coordinator

Option #2: Jack Del Rio – Former Jacksonville Jaguars Head Coach

Option #3: Mike Leach – Washington State Cougars, Head Coach

Why Saleh? Some might argue that Marrone should have been safe because with no legitimate QB and massive money tied to Foles and other under-performing talent the Jaguars will have a hard time finding a viable candidate. Enter Robert Saleh. Their best bet may be to take a flyer on the young and energetic DC. He can hopefully rekindle the defense and lay down a foundation until they can settle the salary cap and find a pulse on offense.

Another option would be to bring back fan favorite Jack Del Rio to stabilize the franchise as they blow up a roster and then coax him into retirement when the roster is legitimate again. Or they can go completely off the reservation and bring in Mike Leach and try to build an offense around Gardner Minshew.

New York Giants

Option #1: Matt Rhule – Baylor Bears, Head Coach

Option #2: Ron Rivera – Formerly Carolina Panthers, Head Coach

Option #3: Mike McCarthy – Formerly Green Bay Packers, Head Coach

Why Rhule? Shurmur may have saved his job down the stretch with some big games for Daniel Jones. But if the Giants do make a move they need to go back to the Coughlin/Parcells tree and do what the Jets should have done. They’ll be getting a true program builder who can handle the New York media and the expectations that come with it.

Ron Rivera would not surprise me here as he worked with Gettleman in Carolina for years.

New York Jets

Option #1: Eric Bieniemy – Kansas City Chiefs, Offensive Coordinator

Option #2: Jim Schwartz – Philadelphia Eagles, Defensive Coordinator

Option #3: Matt Rhule – Baylor Bears, Head Coach

Why Bieniemy? This likely won’t happen as it appears the Jets are prepared to double down on Adam Gase. That being said, Sam Darnold does not deserve to be strapped to Gase any longer. GM Joe Douglass worked hand in hand with Howie Roseman in Philadelphia. Roseman and Kansas City Chiefs Head Coach Any Reid are tight from their days in Philadelphia. Reid wants Bieniemy to get his shot as a head coach. This may be the connection and the situation that makes that happen. Darnold deserves it.

Los Angeles Chargers

Option #1: No One Cares

Option #2: No One Cares

Option #3: No One Cares

Why does no one care? I want this firing to happen for Anthony Lynn’s sake. What exactly is the point of this organization? They have no real stadium, no real home, no real fans. Lynn deserves another shake as an OC and some time away from being the head man. It could lead to bigger and better things for him in the future.