Who Needs a Coach? More Becoming Available

Much like many other occupations, NFL head coaches are finding it harder to keep a job these days.

On Monday, Romeo Crennel, Eric Mangini, and Rod Marinelli received a pink slip. As did Cleveland GM Phil Savage. On Tuesday, Denver fired longtime head coach Mike Shanahan in a somewhat surprising move.

Unlike the other recently unemployed coaches, Shanahan has a history of winning; Denver had only two losing seasons among the 15 Shanahan was their coach.

Shanahan joins a growing list of high profile coaches that have a strong track record that could make for an incredible coaching carousel. Former Pittsburgh coach Bill Cowher, "retiring" Seattle head coach Mike Holmgren, and former Baltimore coach Brian Billick are both former Super Bowl Champion coaches, who are active in many rumors.

Another big name that has circulated has been Marty Shottenheimer, most recently of San Diego.

Also now on the market for a potential head coaching position is former San Francisco offensive coordinator and St. Louis Rams' head coach Mike Martz, let go by the 49ers on Tuesday.

With this much experience, and success, available, one would have to believe that there will be more coaches looking for work this winter. Cincinnati has not publicly made a decision about Marvin Lewis yet, and Tampa Bay head coach Jon Gruden could be on the hot seat after missing the playoffs. In Indianapolis, Tony Dungy's pending retirement makes available any offensive coach's dream: Peyton Manning.

Even though there have been statements made in Dallas about Wade Phillips' job names like Shanahan, Cowher and Billick might make temper-mental owner Jerry Jones think twice about his head coach.

The Shanahan firing on Tuesday is a wild card, though. Denver was hit as hard as any team by injuries in 2008; eight different running backs led the Broncos in rushing yards in a game.

Where the Broncos turn, and how the firing of Shanahan effects the other coaching dominoes, are issues that come as a postseason begins with Atlanta, Miami and Baltimore in the playoffs with first-year head coaches that had no experience.