Best Candidates to Replace Kevin Patullo and Other Top Open NFL Coordinator Positions

The football world is primarily focused right now on the NFL Divisional Playoffs as well as the league's nine head coaching openings. 

But let's not overlook some key coordinator vacancies within potentially competitive franchises that still have head coaches in place. 

A critical one opened up in Philadelphia this week when the Eagles fired offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo. 

Let's look at the top candidate for that job as well as a handful of other notable coordinator openings throughout the league.

Philadelphia Eagles Offensive Coordinator

AP Photo/Kamil Krzaczynski

Brian Daboll

The Best Fit: Brian Daboll

Recent internal promotions have failed, but I'm not sure gunning for a big-name recent firing makes a lot of sense, either. That leaves guys such as Brian Daboll, Todd Monken and Kliff Kingsbury, all of whom still have the experience to take on a major role like this one but aren't necessarily high on head coaching lists. 

Daboll worked with Jalen Hurts in college with Alabama, helped develop reigning MVP Josh Allen in Buffalo and probably deserves credit for bringing Jaxson Dart along as a rookie last year in New York.

The Eagles do not need to overthink this one and should bring in a well-respected, familiar face. 

The Ideal Plan B: Mike McDaniel

The former Dolphins head coach is a perfect fit, and he would likely have a chance to maximize the phenomenal offensive talent in Philadelphia the way he did in Miami. 

The problem is, with any success, there's a good chance he'd be one-and-done and then land a head coaching role next offseason. Hurts has already dealt with 10 different offensive play-callers in his college and pro football life. It's time for the Eagles to invest in an up-and-comer who will stick around for a while.

Dallas Cowboys Defensive Coordinator 

AP Photo/Jeff Lewis

Jim Leonhard

The Best Fit: Jim Leonhard

The current Broncos defensive pass game coordinator is on the rise and would be a breath of fresh air for Dallas. Leonhard's track record at the college level and with Denver speaks for itself. 

Assuming the Cowboys can't reel in Brian Flores (who is unlikely to make a lateral move from Minnesota), a change of pace like this makes a lot of sense. 

The Ideal Plan B: Aaron Whitecotton

The team's defensive line coach from 2025 also spent the previous four seasons working with Quinnen Williams for the New York Jets. He has tremendous experience in various defenses but remains a fresh face and a familiar presence at the same time. 

While Whitecotton is not a sexy name, but he could use that familiarity combined with his own experience to get this defense back on track. 

Detroit Lions Offensive Coordinator

AP Photo/Jeff Lewis

Tee Martin 

The Best Fit: Tee Martin 

To get over the top, the Lions need more from their quarterback. With Martin as the quarterbacks coach in Baltimore, Lamar Jackson experienced three of the top four passing seasons of his career. 

Martin has extensive experience at both the college and pro level and appears ready to take the next step at age 47. He's also a perfect fit personality-wise as a motivational presence who has ground his way to this spot. 

The Ideal Plan B: Mike McDaniel 

As with the Eagles, this is an "if by chance he doesn't land a head coaching gig" scenario that makes plenty of sense on the surface but comes with the risk that Jared Goff and Co. could be left with their third coordinator in a three-year span if McDaniel uses this gig to jump to greener pastures in 2027. 

That said, the Lions are entering risk-worthy territory following a third consecutive disappointing finish despite possessing one of the most talented rosters in the NFL.

The backup plan might be to simply roll the dice on one of the hottest names on the coaching market, if possible.

Washington Commanders Defensive Coordinator 

AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann

Joe Cullen

The Best Fit: Joe Cullen

Brian Flores is heavily rumored but makes zero sense. If he succeeds, he'll leave after one year to take a head coaching role. If he fails, he fails. And there's a decent chance he'll butt heads with head coach Dan Quinn, as the two have little in common.

Flores needs a gig where he can be the head defensive honcho, and it would be silly for him to leave Minnesota for a role like this. If the Commanders are in love with Flores, they might as well just hire him in place of Quinn.

Cullen is due for a shot following decades of success as a defensive line coach with the Buccaneers, Ravens and Chiefs. He landed a defensive coordinator job with the Jaguars in 2021 but was in the wrong place at the wrong time on Urban Meyer's staff. 

The Ideal Plan B: Patrick Graham

Another veteran defensive line coach who has done a fair bit with relatively little over the last few years as DC for the Raiders, Graham is an experienced play-caller who could get a spark out of the Washington defense. 

Keep in mind this is a guy who came up under Bill Belichick in New England. He might not be a high-profile hire, but that isn't always the solution. 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Offensive Coordinator

AP Photo/Kyusung Gong

Nate Scheelhaase

The Best Fit: Nate Scheelhaase

The latest hot branch from the Sean McVay coaching tree, Scheelhaase is drawing interest for head coaching roles at the age of 35. He interviewed for this very job last year but was passed over in favor of the now-fired Josh Grizzard. 

Here's Tampa Bay's chance to get it right with a guy who would present plenty of risk, but he could be worth the gamble for a team with a closing Super Bowl window. 

The Ideal Plan B: Zac Robinson

Despite plenty of turbulence, a talented Falcons offense ranked ninth in total yardage over the course of Robinson's two seasons as OC there. He's only 39 but has plenty of experience coming up from the same coaching tree as Scheelhaase. 

The difference is that there might be some fatigue associated with Robinson and some concerns about how things went in Atlanta, while Scheelhaase is the fresher name with a lot more hype based on what the Rams have done offensively in 2025.

Los Angeles Chargers Offensive Coordinator 

AP Photo/John Froschauer

Jake Peetz

The Best Fit: Jake Peetz

You'll likely hear Todd Monken's name a lot as a potential replacement for Greg Roman, but do the Chargers really want to go with another former Raven/mega-retread?

How about something different? Ideally someone on the rise, and definitely someone not in a hurry to challenge head coach Jim Harbaugh. 

Scheelhaase is intriguing but makes less sense with an offensive-oriented head coach. Peetz is a little less heralded and has a great track record with both the Rams and Seahawks. I'd love to see him in L.A. 

The Ideal Plan B: Brian Daboll

It would just be nice to see what Daboll could do with Herbert, and it's possible he and Harbaugh could form a nice team with complementary specialties. 

Minnesota Vikings Defensive Coordinator*

AP Photo/Matt Krohn

Brian Flores

*Brian Flores' contract has expired and he is interviewing elsewhere

The Best Fit: Brian Flores

There's no way the Vikings want to lose Flores, who has head coaching experience and ran top-seven scoring defenses each of the last two years in Minnesota. But he's already been interviewed for the Ravens' head coaching job, per ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert. 

The Ideal Plan B: Jerod Mayo

Mayo disappointed in his first head coaching stint in 2024 with the Patriots, but the 39-year-old spent several years as a primary play-caller for New England and experienced plenty of success during that time. 

Ideally, the Vikings keep the sought-after Flores on their staff, but if the 44-year-old former Dolphins head coach gets another shot at a top job, Mayo would be a logical choice as a replacement following a year of recharging.