Predicting the Hires for Each Open NFL Head Coaching Job in 2024 Offseason

Since the conclusion of the 2023 regular season, two NFL teams have made in-house hires to fill head coaching positions, and six clubs will continue to go through the interview process with viable candidates.

The New England Patriots put together a succession plan for Jerod Mayo to replace former lead skipper Bill Belichick. New England formally introduced Mayo with a press conference last week.

Last Friday, the Las Vegas Raiders announced that they will name Antonio Pierce as their head coach. In an interim role, Pierce took over for Josh McDaniels and led the Silver and Black to a 5-4 record.

Following the divisional round this past weekend, teams can host in-person interviews with external candidates. As a result, we should begin to see new faces take jobs in new places in the coming weeks.

Among the top names in the interview circuit, Belichick, Jim Harbaugh and Mike Vrabel will generate the most buzz, though top offensive coordinators Ben Johnson and Bobby Slowik will likely draw multiple suitors as well.

We'll predict who fills each of the six remaining job openings.

Atlanta Falcons: Bill Belichick

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ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 31: Head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots arrives prior to the game against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium on December 31, 2023 in Orchard Park, New York. The Bills won 27-21. (Photo by Rich Barnes/Getty Images)

The Atlanta Falcons have moved quickly with top candidates for their vacancy. They've already completed two interviews with Bill Belichick and scheduled a second meeting with Jim Harbaugh.

According to a source close to Belichick, via CBS Sports' Jonathan Jones, Falcons owner Arthur Blank is ready to welcome the former New England Patriots head coach with open arms.

"A source familiar with Belichick told CBS Sports Blank 'desperately' wants Belichick and that it's ultimately Belichick's job if he wants it. That source said it's '50/50 right now' that he takes the job."

Of course, everyone remembers the Patriots' 28-3 comeback against the Falcons in Super Bowl 51, though Blank may be ready to leave that gut-wrenching loss in the past and move forward with Belichick.

The Falcons would have to iron out the dynamic of their roster personnel planning with general manager Terry Fontenot already in place. Remember, Belichick had been the de facto general manager in New England before parting ways with the club.

If all parties come to an agreement, Belichick should be able to establish a new culture in Atlanta while raising the bar for a team that's won seven games in five of the last six seasons.

Carolina Panthers: Ben Johnson

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DETROIT, MICHIGAN - SEPTEMBER 24: Ben Johnson offensive coordinator with the Detroit Lions looks on during a game against the Atlanta Falcons at Ford Field on September 24, 2023 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Mike Mulholland/Getty Images)

Arguably the top offensive coordinator in the league, Ben Johnson has been requested to be interviewed for all six head coach openings.

Johnson will likely have multiple offers on the table. He's called plays for the fifth-ranked scoring offense in consecutive years, featuring a well-rounded group of playmakers around eight-year veteran quarterback Jared Goff.

The Carolina Panthers only have two draft selections within the top 100 picks, so they need a brilliant offensive mind to help them develop rookie quarterback Bryce Young as the front office finds ways to upgrade his supporting cast.

Moreover, Panthers owner David Tepper has had his sights set on Johnson, who chose to stay in Detroit last offseason, per The Athletic's Dianna Russini.

"A league source said Tepper has his eye on Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, who was his first choice last hiring cycle. Johnson is a native of western North Carolina and a former UNC walk-on quarterback but turned down a chance to continue conversations about the Panthers job last year because he didn't feel ready to take over as a head coach."

Assuming Johnson is ready to become a head coach, Tepper could make a splashy hire this time around.

Los Angeles Chargers: Jim Harbaugh

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ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN - JANUARY 13: Head Football Coach Jim Harbaugh of the Michigan Wolverines is seen onstage during the National Championship Celebration at Crisler Center on January 13, 2024 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images)

Among the six head coaching vacancies, the Los Angeles Chargers have the most attractive job opening because they have the all-important piece to a playoff-ready roster with quarterback Justin Herbert under center.

Realistically, any candidate can see the advantage in taking over a team with a Pro Bowl signal-caller who's won Offensive Rookie of the Year and thrown for 5,000-plus yards in a single season.

According to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, Los Angeles is "still believed to be the favorite" to land Harbaugh if he leaves Michigan for the NFL.

The Athletic's Matt Barrows dropped a nugget about what Harbaugh might see in the Chargers.

"In fact, league insiders think the Chargers would be Harbaugh's first choice because it would remind him of the underachieving but veteran-laden team he took over in San Francisco in 2011," Barrows wrote.

Los Angeles went 19-15 through its first two seasons under former head coach Brandon Staley and made the playoffs in 2022. Harbaugh could immediately elevate Herbert and an underachieving Chargers squad. As a pro and collegiate head coach, he's won 73 percent of his games (191-71-1), which includes his time with San Diego Toreros.

Seattle Seahawks: Mike Vrabel

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NASHVILLE TENNESSEE - JANUARY 07: Head Coach Mike Vrabel of the Tennessee Titans during the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Nashville, Tennessee at Nissan Stadium on January 7, 2024 in Houston, Texas. The Titans defeated the Jaguars 28-20. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)

Before the Green Bay Packers shredded Dan Quinn's Dallas Cowboys defense in the Wild Card Round of the playoffs, his name came up as an ideal fit for the Seattle Seahawks. Quinn has four years of experience coaching in Seattle, two as a defensive line coach and a couple of seasons as the defensive coordinator.

That being said, the Cowboys' poor defensive performance in a shocking playoff loss could hurt Quinn's case during his interviews. Consequently, the Seahawks could strongly consider Mike Vrabel, who has a higher winning percentage as head coach.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Seahawks are interested in Vrabel.

Vrabel could bring a brand of toughness to Seattle's talented defense, which finished the previous two seasons ranked 25th or worse in scoring and total yards. Even in his worst years with the Titans, he fielded a respectable defensive unit in points allowed.

Perhaps Vrabel vouches for Arthur Smith, who would coordinate the offense. Together, they had some success with the Titans, leading the club to back-to-back playoff appearances between 2019 and 2020.

Vrabel has a solid six-year head coaching resume that suggests he can follow behind Super Bowl-winning lead skipper Pete Carroll, who will transition into a front-office role.

Tennessee Titans: Bobby Slowik

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ATLANTA, GA OCTOBER 08: Houston quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) talks with offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik during the NFL game between the Houston Texans and the Atlanta Falcons on October 8th, 2023 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

The Tennessee Titans could land Bobby Slowik because of his indirect connection with general manager Ran Carthon.

Between 2017 and 2022, Carthon served as the director of pro personnel and director of player personnel with the San Francisco 49ers. During that period, with the 49ers, Slowik moved up the coaching ranks from defensive quality control assistant to a passing game coordinator.

As a passing game specialist and passing game coordinator for two seasons in San Francisco, Slowik can bring some of Kyle Shanahan's offensive principles to Tennessee along with his passing scheme that helped C.J. Stroud flourish in his rookie campaign

The Titans don't have a surefire starting quarterback on the roster. They need an offensive-minded head coach to develop Will Levis or possibly a rookie from this year's draft. The club ranked 27th or worse in scoring and total yards in 2022 and 2023.

With a shared past history in San Francisco, Carthon and Slowik could reunite in Tennessee.

Washington Commanders: Mike Macdonald

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BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - DECEMBER 31: Defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald of the Baltimore Ravens looks on during the first half of the game against the Miami Dolphins at M&T Bank Stadium on December 31, 2023 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Todd Olszewski/Getty Images)

Thus far, the Washington Commanders have interviewed more defensive coaches than offensive assistants and coordinators, which may indicate where the club leans in terms of a candidate's background.

The Commanders have requested to interview two of the top offensive coordinators, Ben Johnson and Bobby Slowik, but they may face stiffer competition for both candidates with the league favoring offensive hires.

Mike Macdonald has talked to five out of the six teams with a vacancy, but he has a connection with Commanders' senior vice president of football strategy Eugene Shen, who rose through the ranks within the Baltimore Ravens front office before he came over to Washington.

In 2014, the Ravens hired Macdonald and Shen. The former started his pro coaching career as an intern and the latter assisted the coaching staff with data and analysis. Both spent several years in Baltimore, though Macdonald left to become Michigan's defensive coordinator in 2021 and then returned in 2022.

The MMQB's Albert Breer heard that Commanders owner Josh Harris may try to emulate the Ravens' organizational model.

"I don't know whether he's settled on a model yet, but I have heard he's intrigued by the Baltimore Ravens and Philadelphia Eagles, and how they've built their football operations out."

Last October, the Commanders hired Shen to lead their analytics department. Now, they may poach Ravens assistants and coaches to work under new general manager Adam Peters. Macdonald could be one of them.

Maurice Moton covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @MoeMoton.