NFL Rumors: Latest Pre-Playoff Buzz Surrounding 2023 Coaching Vacancies
While NFL fans are largely focused on this weekend's postseason games, many of the league's non-playoff teams are looking for victories of another variety.
The Carolina Panthers, Indianapolis Colts, Houston Texans, Denver Broncos and Arizona Cardinals are hoping to win big in their offseason searches for a new head coach. These franchises either fired their coaches during or after the season and will be seeking both success and stability through the 2023 hiring cycle.
How will the coaching carousel shake out? Let's dive into some of the latest buzz heading into Super Wild Card Weekend.
Brian Flores Is Drawing Interest
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Brian Flores went 19-14 in his last two seasons as the Miami Dolphins' head coach but was fired after Miami failed to reach the postseason in his three-year tenure. He spent this past season as a senior defensive assistant and linebackers coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Flores, who was a longtime New England Patriots coach prior to joining the Dolphins, is reportedly in demand once again.
On Thursday, the Cleveland Browns interviewed Flores for their vacant defensive coordinator position. The job came open when Cleveland fired Joe Woods at the end of the regular season. The Browns are also interested in Tennessee Titans defensive assistant Jim Schwartz, but Flores may be the front-runner for the job.
"People I've talked to think Flores has a real good shot at Browns' DC job," Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer told 92.3 The Fan (h/t Cory Kinnan of Browns Wire).
Cleveland isn't the only team interested in Flores, though. The Cardinals have requested permission to interview Flores for their open head coaching job, according to NFL Media's Ian Rapoport:
Arizona's interest is noteworthy because the Cardinals were one of the teams named in the racial discrimination lawsuit filed by Flores against the NFL—a case joined by former Cardinals head coach Steve Wilks.
Other franchises may look at Flores during this cycle as well, but with the Browns and Cardinals already interested, the 41-year-old should be able to find a new job this offseason if he wants one.
Broncos Could Be Front-Runners for Sean Payton
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Former New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton is one of the hottest coaching candidates in this year's cycle. However, any pursuit of his services comes with a caveat. Payton, who stepped down after last season, remains under contract with the Saints. Any team that hires him will owe New Orleans compensation, and it could be costly.
"The Saints never have publicly identified what they would want in return for Payton, but league sources know New Orleans has kept close tabs on what other franchises received for other top coaching candidates," ESPN's Adam Schefter wrote.
Schefter specifically mentioned Jon Gruden, who cost the Tampa Bay Buccaneers two first-round picks, two second-round picks and $8 million back in 2002. He also mentioned Bill Parcells, who cost the New York Jets first-, second-, third- and fourth-round picks in 1997.
Denver appears to be willing to pay that price. The Broncos received permission to interview Payton from the Saints, and the two teams "appear to be on the same page" regarding compensation, according to Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.
According to Pelissero, no interviews with Payton will be permitted until January 17.
While the Broncos haven't formally interviewed Payton just yet, they are already considered the front-runners, according to Mark Maske of the Washington Post:
It's still early in the process when it comes to Payton. If there's indeed mutual interest, however, and the Saints and Broncos are on the same page, then we may see a Payton-Russell Wilson pairing in Denver by the end of the month.
The big unknown for Broncos fans is whether Payton can coach Wilson back to Pro Bowl form in 2023.
Jim Caldwell Is Only Interested in Head-Coaching Opportunities
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Jim Caldwell, who last coached as an assistant head coach and quarterbacks coach with the Dolphins in 2018, is drawing interest as well. He has already interviewed with the Broncos and Panthers but reportedly turned down an interview with the Washington Commanders.
Washington is looking for a new offensive coordinator after firing Scott Turner. According to NFL Media's Mike Garafolo, Caldwell isn't interested:
This meshes with what Caldwell told Vic Carucci of the 33rd Team last month.
"I have a strong desire to do so, to get back in the league as a head football coach," Caldwell said. "I've had numerous opportunities to do other things, which I wanted to refrain from until I've exhausted every avenue in this area. and I'm probably about my last cycle coming up."
Caldwell won Super Bowls as an assistant with both the Colts and the Baltimore Ravens. He also helped Indianapolis reach Super Bowl XLIV in his first year as an NFL head coach, though the Colts lost to New Orleans.
Before joining Miami in 2018, Caldwell spent four years as the Detroit Lions' head coach. He compiled a 36-28 record in Detroit and reached the postseason twice but was fired after missing the postseason at 9-7 in his final season.
Caldwell has a strong resume, and it's not surprising that he wants to be a head coach again and is unwilling to take a lesser job. His decision to decline Washington's interview is a clear signal to other franchises: Caldwell isn't available to fill a coordinator role.
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Sean McVay to Coach Rams in 2023
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Heading into the weekend, plenty of questions surrounded the Los Angeles Rams and whether they would provide another head-coaching vacancy. Head coach Sean McVay was uncertain about his future, and the Rams weighed their options for a 2023 season without him.
"We've known for some time that he was going to wait until after the season to make a decision about whether he wants to coach in 2023," Rams CEO Rob Demoff said, per Gary Klein of the Los Angeles Times, also noting that L.A. had "contingency plans in a situation like this that will be ready to be enacted."
McVay "permitted his coaching staff to search for other jobs without resistance," according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.
Assistants like defensive coordinator Raheem Morris—who has received an interview for the Colts' vacancy—may not be back. However, McVay plans to return, according to ESPN's Dianna Russini:
The unknown here, of course, is how long McVay will stay with the Rams. Injuries—specifically those of Matthew Stafford, Cooper Kupp and Aaron Donald—derailed L.A.'s season, and there's no guarantee that the team will rebound in 2023.
McVay has been courted by television networks, and while he might not be in the broadcast booth next season, the opportunity will likely be waiting in 2024. Another losing season could make that opportunity a lot more enticing to the 36-year-old.
If next season is McVay's last with the Rams, it could eventually lead to a situation similar to that of Payton. McVay is under contract with Los Angeles through the 2026 season.
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