NFL Rumors: Analyzing Buzz Surrounding Head Coaching Searches Around the League

Black Monday in the NFL lived up to its ominous nickname in 2014, as three teams parted ways with their head coaches and—in two of those cases—general managers, wasting little time in the quest to improve their lot in the league next season.

The day began with a bang, as the New York Jets fired head coach Rex Ryan and general manager John Idzik, per the New York Times' Ben Shipgel. Ryan was ousted after six seasons as the man in charge in the Big Apple, while Idzik lasted just under two years with the team. 

The Jets' decisions garnered plenty of attention, but it's the other teams with newly open vacancies at head coach that generated the truly intriguing NFL rumors on Monday.

The Chicago Bears fired head coach Marc Trestman—13-19 in regular-season games with the Bears—and general manager Phil Emery, who lasted approximately three years as the team's GM, per Fox Sports' Jay Glazer and ESPN's Adam Schefter: 

Chicago, for all of its painful struggles this season, isn't a terrible situation for a head coach to walk into. The offense is replete with talent.

Matt Forte is one of the best all-purpose backs in the league, while wideouts Alshon Jeffery and Brandon Marshall and tight end Martellus Bennett form a trio of pass-catchers that can match up with even the biggest, toughest of secondaries.

Quarterback Jay Cutler is the linchpin of the whole operation and had a down year, throwing a league-leading 18 picks, but there is hope yet for this team if they find the right head coach, especially one who can decipher the enigma that is Cutler.

Jim Mone/Associated Press

Cue Mike Shanahan, who worked with Cutler when both were members of the Denver Broncos organization and is reportedly a candidate for the Bears job, per The Washington Post's Mark Maske: 

The 62-year-old went 138-86 in the regular season as the coach of the Broncos from 1995-2008 and 24-40 in a four-year stint in charge of the Washington Redskins that ended in 2013. Sure enough, he has a wealth of experience at head coach, but his age and lack of recent success could be a deterrent in this situation. Then again, if he can figure out Cutler, he can boost this team's prospects in a hurry.

Shanahan isn't know for being a particularly defensive minded coach, which could be a problem on a Bears team that was atrocious when it came to stopping the ball this season.

Peter Morgan/Associated Press

However, Shanahan has an extensive network in the NFL and should be able to find the right coordinator and position coaches to rehabilitate the Bears' defense. Of course, Chicago can always focus on rebuilding the defense through the draft.

Maske mentioned the San Francisco 49ers as a possible destination for Shanahan. The team needs to replace Jim Harbaugh, who went 44-19-1 in four seasons as head coach—not to mention 5-3 in the postseason—but will be returning to the college ranks to take charge of alma mater Michigan, per a report from ESPN.com. Harbaugh isn't a Black Monday casualty as the teams agreed to go their separate ways on Sunday.

Nevertheless, the 49ers will be in the thick of the scrum for the next top head coaching candidate. ESPN's Josina Anderson reported they could be looking at candidates from within their own division:

Of those two candidates, Seattle defensive coordinator Dan Quinn might the more attractive option. The Seahawks have boasted one of the most fearsome defensive units in the league over the past two seasons. Seattle has allowed just 39 points in their last six games.

The Pacific Northwest squad is clearly the class of the division, and Quinn just might hold the keys to unlocking Pete Carroll's stranglehold on this division. 

Of course, the Atlanta Falcons are in the market for a new head coach after firing Mike Smith after two straight losing seasons, per the New York Times' Ken Belson.

Scott Cunningham/Getty Images

They appear to be interested in the same candidates as the 49ers, according to CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora and NFL.com's Ian Rapoport:

"

The #49ers have also asked permission to speak with #Broncos OC Adam Gase, source says. They join the #Falcons

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 29, 2014"

Sports Illustrated's Doug Farrar provided some insight regarding the Falcons decision and a possible new direction for the squad:

"

Smith was an iffy in-game manager at best, and this showed up more and more often as the team's talent base started to atrophy. But the primary issue over the last two years was that the roster choices made by general manager Thomas Dimitroff led the team in some unfortunate directions. It's also been rumored that owner Arthur Blank may want to bring in more players who skirt the edge of the character equation, and that's never been Smith's style -- he's perhaps the nicest guy in the NFL, and he wants his team to reflect a certain level of class.

"

If the Falcons are indeed looking to build an edgier squad, Quinn again might be the best option here. He clearly has experience dealing directly with the larger-than-life persona of cornerback Richard Sherman and an up-close look at the antics of running back Marshawn Lynch.

That isn't an indictment of either players character, but at least Quinn can profess to having seen how players who are willing to challenge the rigid conventions held in place by the NFL and covet (or alternately shun) the media spotlight are dealt with by an organization.

The Falcons shouldn't have too much of an issue on offense going forward with the likes of quarterback Matty Ryan and wide receivers Julio Jones and Roddy White in the fold, although the running back corps is a bit of a ragtag group.

Broncos offensive coordinator Adam Gase has done quite well this season getting the most out of the likes of Ronnie Hillman and C.J. Anderson, who began the season as backups to Montee Ball but blossomed when given the chance to takeover main-ballcarrier duties. His offensive system might not only be a boon for Ryan but a potential fix for the Falcons' 24th-ranked rushing attack.

No matter what, the moves each of these teams make over the coming days and weeks will have far-reaching consequences for their respective franchises. San Francisco, Atlanta, New York and Chicago must also compete with the Oakland Raiders in this war for talent. Oakland fired Dennis Allen back in September and rode out the remainder of the 2014 season with interim head coach Tony Sparano.

Ben Margot/Associated Press

The former Dolphins head coach may yet have a chance to secure the position full-time and has been unequivocal in his remarks regarding the job.

"All I want to do right now is be the head coach of the Raiders," Sparano said, via a report from ESPN.com.

However, this beleaguered organization would be wise to put on an exhaustive search and explore all of its options considering its profound lack of success over the past decade. As teams continue their search, more vacancies could open up as well, thus increasing the competition, not to mention the pool of candidates.

It's also quite possible Ryan could see himself garnering interviews with other teams considering he did manage to win four playoff games with the Jets, although those victories came back in the 2009 and 2010 seasons.