NFL Rumors: Where Will Fired Coaches End Up in 2013?

Novr Turner gives you his, "C'mon son!", face.
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Let the NFL rumors of coaching movements begin.

Just before the New Year we saw an abundance of head coaches let go.

What can also translate thereafter is a coach becoming available. Whether the following potentially find a new home as a head coach or switch back to their coordinator days, anything can happen.

Norv Turner has been in the NFL since 1985, so that experience alone immediately amplifies his appeal.

Lovie Smith just finished a 10-6 campaign and had led the Chicago Bears to Super Bowl XLI. Unsurprisingly, his name is already being tossed around.

And to find out what's currently swirling, let's move on and see what this young offseason already has in store.

Andy Reid

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The Arizona Cardinals wasted no time in searching for a new head coach.

Per Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic:

Bidwill won't necessarily hire GM. will hire a coach first if that's best and vice versa. #azcardinals

— Kent Somers (@kentsomers) December 31, 2012

Given Reid's consistent success with the Philadelphia Eagles, this is not surprising.

The Cardinals need a better offensive-minded coach and the potential of Reid going out west would reunite him with quarterback Kevin Kolb. In addition, the Cardinals are a good fit for Reid to start over with a clean slate.

There's nowhere near as much pressure to win in Arizona like Philadelphia, plus he has a chance to coach Larry Fitzgerald. No receiver, aside from Terrell Owens, was on Fitz's level during Reid's tenure with the Eagles.

Lovie Smith

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Lovie Smith is a popular name right now.

First, according to John Clayton of ESPN via SportsCenter:

Source: Former Bears coach Lovie Smith has been contacted by 4 teams interested in interviewing him for head-coaching job (via @claytonespn)

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 31, 2012

Secondly, from Dan Hanzus of NFL.com:

NFL.com's Ian Rapoport reported Monday on NFL Network's "NFL Total Access" that Smith plans to coach in 2013 and is very interested in the Arizona Cardinals and Buffalo Bills' head-coaching vacancies.

 

Each team would be a solid fit for Smith, because the defenses need work at defending the run. Offensively, Buffalo sports the stronger ground game, but Arizona offers receiver Larry Fitzgerald.

In terms of postseason odds, though, the Bills are the better-suited fit.

The AFC East is weaker than the NFC West and Buffalo's defense possesses impressive potential to immediately improve.

Norv Turner

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Norv Turner wants back in.

According to Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune:

The former Chargers head coach, fired Monday morning from his San Diego post, is expected to field interest for offensive coordinator openings around the league. He said he will look for the "right fit" and anticipates the process to span over the next several weeks.

Turner said he doesn't want to join a coaching staff that's been in place for, say, four years where he'd step in and be the new guy. At his next stop, he'd like to build his own offensive staff.

 

Strictly focusing on being an offensive coordinator would be the best position for Turner.

After all, that's where the majority of his NFL coaching success has come from. For three seasons he was the Dallas Cowboys' offensive coordinator (1991-93) and won two Super Bowls.

Now, for certain Dallas did possess an extreme amount of talent as well. Nonetheless, Turner's experience since then also bodes well for anything that comes up.

Ken Whisenhunt

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Despite the Arizona Cardinals missing the postseason for three consecutive seasons, Ken Whisenhunt is on someone's radar.

According to Tim Graham of the Buffalo News:

A league source informs me Russ Brandon, about to be named team president, is fond of [Ken] Whisenhunt and would like the opportunity to land him as Chan Gailey's replacement.

 

The Buffalo Bills are certainly an interesting spot for Whisenhunt.

For one, it puts Whisenhunt back in the AFC and the Bills are stronger 2013 playoff contenders than at first glance. Unlike the Arizona Cardinals, Buffalo presents a strong rushing offense with C.J. Spiller and a capable defense.

Providing a pass-rusher in Mario Williams, the Bills have lockdown corner Stephon Gilmore as well. The tools are in place for Buffalo, so the AFC East would be a good refresher for Whisenhunt after the rugged NFC West.

Chan Gailey

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Nothing has yet surfaced regarding Chan Gailey.

At the same time, Gailey's forte of being pass-oriented coach is worth acknowledging.

Primarily because according to Alex Marvez of FOX Sports:

@foxsports.com has learned #Falcons OC Dirk Koetter set to interview this week 4 HC jobs with #Eagles, #Chiefs & #Browns. Story coming ASAP

— Alex Marvez (@alexmarvez) December 31, 2012

Factor in the Atlanta Falcons having a pass-first offense with Matt Ryan and his slew of receiving targets, Gailey would be a nice fit for Atlanta.

Looking back at Buffalo ranking No. 14 in points scored per game in 2011, Gailey would transition easily to a team like Atlanta with Ryan, Julio Jones and Roddy White.

Romeo Crennel

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Any team that desperately needs to improve its defense should look at Romeo Crennel.

Now yes, the man has immensely struggled as a head coach in pro football.

But his defenses have never been awful when he was strictly a coordinator. In 2011 the Kansas City Chiefs finished No. 11 in total defense and allowed only 21 points per game (ranked No. 12).

A year prior the Chiefs were No. 14 in overall defense and No. 11 in points allowed (20.4 per game). Courtesy of being assisted by an effective offense, the Chiefs managed to win the AFC West in 2010.

As for 2013, teams such as the Tennessee Titans and Detroit Lions should consider Crennel as defensive coordinator. Tennessee gave up a league-high 29.4 points per game in 2012 and Detroit has never finished better than No. 19 (2010) in points allowed under Gunther Cunningham.

Pat Shurmur

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Prior to being let go Pat Shurmur stated that he expects to remain in coaching.

According to Tom Withers of the Associated Press:

If done in Cleveland, Shurmur said he'll be coaching somewhere next year. "I've got kids in college. This is my profession." #Browns

— Tom Withers (@twithersAP) December 30, 2012

Well, according to Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports via Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer earlier this week:

#Browns HC Pat Shurmur will be a candidate for the Vikings OC job, CBS' Jason LaCanfora reports.

— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) December 30, 2012

This wouldn't be a bad move for the Minnesota Vikings, because it's an easy transition for Shurmur. First, consistently feed Adrian Peterson and then sparingly use Christian Ponder for play-action.

Minnesota need not attack downfield too often and Ponder's mobility alone will extend plays when needed.

 

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