Which NFL Assistants Are in Line for a Potential Head Coaching Position?

Since the end of the 2010 season, 35 NFL head coaches have been fired, leaving the door open for up-and-coming coordinators and former head coaches to get one of the most prestigious jobs in all of professional sports.

With an average of about seven new head coaching jobs opening up per year since the end of 2010, the competition is fierce for aspiring coordinators and positional coaches, so only the cream of the crop get considered in most situations.

As the 2015 season rapidly approaches, let’s take a look at the assistant coaches in the NFL who will be considered for head coaching positions after this year, if all goes well during the season.

To qualify for this list, the assistant must currently be in a coordinator position and have a significant claim as to why he deserves to be interviewed by an owner. Although the trend has been to hire first-time head coaches in the last five years, an average of just over one former head coach has been hired per season recently, so I included top candidates from that pool as well.

From most to least likely, let’s take a look at the assistant coaches who are next in line for a head coaching role.

Josh McDaniels, Offensive Coordinator, New England Patriots

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NFL Coaching Experience:

• New England Patriots (2006-08; offensive coordinator)
• Denver Broncos (2009-10; head coach)
• St. Louis Rams (2011; offensive coordinator)
• New England Patriots (2012-present; offensive coordinator)

The NFL’s best assistant is also the top head coaching candidate. New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels has been part of one of the league’s top scoring offenses for six years, going back to his first stint with the team. He’s worked under head coach Bill Belichick for all those years, and anybody that learns from Belichick should be considered a better coach than he was previously.

Belichick’s coaching tree is filled with struggling or failed head coaches, but McDaniels’ return to the Patriots after his first head coach job is a good sign. McDaniels is just 39 years old and has shown he’s willing to make bold moves as a decision-maker. His stint with the Denver Broncos was filled with mistakes, but McDaniels also made a few key decisions.

It’s been nearly four years since McDaniels returned to work with Tom Brady and the Patriots, and the results have been great. Having Brady is obviously a huge help, but McDaniels has been the architect of a progressive offense that varies between a power running game and short passing assault. He’s done well to adjust to the somewhat limited talent available to him and Brady on offense.

Sean McDermott, Defensive Coordinator, Carolina Panthers

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NFL Coaching Experience:

• Philadelphia Eagles (2002-10; defensive assistant/linebackers/secondary/defensive coordinator)
• Carolina Panthers (2011-present; defensive coordinator)

Potentially the best defensive coordinator who is a legitimate head coaching candidate, the Carolina Panthers’ Sean McDermott has excelled in his second defensive coordinator job. At just 41 years old, McDermott is nearing his coaching prime. His defenses with the Carolina Panthers have consistently ranked among the best in the league for the last four seasons.

There’s no reason to think McDermott’s group won’t do it again this year. He’s developed numerous young players and continued the careers of aging veterans alike. He's one of the best in the NFL at maximizing the talent of his players.

The NFL hasn’t been as friendly to defensive coaches as offensive gurus lately, but McDermott is an excellent candidate. Both he and Ron Rivera have built a quality product in Carolina over the last few seasons. Expect other franchises to want that as well.

Teryl Austin, Defensive Coordinator, Detroit Lions

Paul Sancya/Associated Press

NFL Coaching Experience:

• Seattle Seahawks (2003-06; defensive backs coach)
• Arizona Cardinals (2007-09; defensive backs coach)
• Baltimore Ravens (2011-13; defensive backs coach)
• Detroit Lions (2014-present; defensive coordinator)

The Detroit Lions defense was phenomenal in 2014 despite very little praise from pundits. There were playmakers on all three levels of the unit. Defensive coordinator Teryl Austin is a big reason why the defense was so effective.

Austin has been a standout defensive backs coach in previous stops, but he really showed his tactical prowess in 2014. The Lions allowed the second-fewest yards from scrimmage last season in large part due to Austin’s schemes and the development of several young players. Even after losing Ndamukong Suh to free agency, this unit should be among the best again this season.

Austin helped maximize the talent of DeAndre Levy, Darius Slay, Glover Quin and others. His message and coaching style is clearly effective. That should earn him a head coaching job.

Todd Haley, Offensive Coordinator, Pittsburgh Steelers

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NFL Coaching Experience:

• New York Jets (1997-2000; wide receivers coach)
• Chicago Bears (2001-2003; wide receivers coach)
• Dallas Cowboys (2004-2006; wide receivers coach)
• Arizona Cardinals (2007-2008; offensive coordinator)
• Kansas City Chiefs (2009-2011; head coach)
• Pittsburgh Steelers (2012-present; offensive coordinator)

After designing and developing the NFL’s second-most productive unit in 2014, Todd Haley’s stock as a head coaching candidate is rising. If Haley were to be hired, it would be his second time around after he led the Kansas City Chiefs from 2009 through 2011. His stint was filled with more bad than good, as his brash personality clashed with the team and players.

Now entering his fourth season with the Steelers, Haley has a much more impressive resume. He was a controversial hire at first, but his ability to design and develop an offense is unquestionable now. His work with Ben Roethlisberger is just the tip of the iceberg.

The Steelers are filled with standout offensive players. Their offensive line has drastically improved, helping running back Le’Veon Bell break out into a great player. Receivers like Antonio Brown, Martavis Bryant and Markus Wheaton are impactful because of their talent, but Haley has utilized them wonderfully.

Kyle Shanahan, Offensive Coordinator, Atlanta Falcons

John Bazemore/Associated Press

NFL Coaching Experience:

• Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2004-05; offensive assistant)
• Houston Texans (2006-09; wide receivers/quarterbacks/offensive coordinator)
• Washington Redskins (2010-13; offensive coordinator)
• Cleveland Browns (2014; offensive coordinator)
• Atlanta Falcons (2015-present; offensive coordinator)

New Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan is coming off the best year of his career as a coach. He made the Cleveland Browns offense as respectable as possible, despite severe limitations. The Browns’ offensive talent is among the worst in the NFL, but Shanahan’s scheming was brilliant.

Now coupled with Matt Ryan and a more dynamic group of receivers, Shanahan’s offense should excel. His emphasis on the zone-blocking system for the running game will give Ryan a reason to throw less than in season’s past. Whether it be with a bell-cow back or a group, his offenses have always been effective running the ball.

Shanahan is just 35 years old, so teams may want him to stay as a coordinator for a little while. But he is a hot candidate who should only see his stock grow. Getting out from his father’s shadow was a major step for his career.

Pep Hamilton, Offensive Coordinator, Indianapolis Colts

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NFL Coaching Experience:

• New York Jets (2003-05; quality control/quarterbacks/receivers coach)
• San Francisco 49ers (2006; quarterbacks coach)
• Chicago Bears (2007-09; quarterbacks coach)
• Indianapolis Colts (2013-present)

Life could be worse for Indianapolis Colts offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton. After working with quarterback Andrew Luck at Stanford, he’s been with Luck the last two seasons with the Colts as well. It’s hard to separate Hamilton from Luck’s success, since Luck would likely be great no matter who is designing the offense.

But that shouldn’t discredit Hamilton. He’s built an offense that is highly effective going vertical. The additions of Andre Johnson and Frank Gore should help highlight just how effective the Colts’ offensive design is.

We can be confident that the Colts offense will be a top-five unit in 2015 if Luck is healthy. That should catapult Hamilton into the thick of head coaching decisions. Don’t be surprised if he turns out to be an effective head coach away from Luck.

Bill Lazor, Offensive Coordinator, Miami Dolphins

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NFL Coaching Experience:

• Washington Redskins (2004-07; offensive assistant/quarterbacks coach)
• Seattle Seahawks (2008-09; quarterbacks coach)
• Philadelphia Eagles (2013; quarterbacks coach)
• Miami Dolphins (2014-present; offensive coordinator)

Despite having just one year on his resume as an NFL coordinator, Bill Lazor has left an impression in his last two stops. Miami Dolphins beat reporter and Sun-Sentinel columnist Omar Kelly talked about Lazor’s personality coming off like a head coach last year. Lazor should continue to drum up interest if his offenses continue to improve.

Lazor helped orchestrate one of the better offenses in the NFL last year. His ability to play to quarterback Ryan Tannehill’s strengths was crucial. Tannehill improved greatly on film and statistically (career-high 66.4 completion percentage) under Lazor.

Now that Lazor has a more talented receiving core to work with and a more mature Tannehill executing the plays, he may rise greatly as a coaching candidate. His ability to develop productive quarterbacks is a tremendous selling point to any NFL owner.