First lets look at the POSSIBLE teams who need a head coach:
Philadelphia Eagles:6-9
New Orleans Saints: 6-9
San Diego Chargers: 4-11
Detroit Lions: 6-9
Cleveland Browns: 3-12
Tennessee Titans: 3-12
Indianapolis Colts: 7-8
Miami Dolphins: 5-10
San Francisco 49ers: 4-11
New York Giants: 6-9
I have taken the liberty to find the best head coach for each team and here are my results:
Philadelphia Eagles: Mike Shula, Panthers Offensive Coordinator
The Eagles offense has struggled this year. It could possibly be a personnel issue with Chip Kelly bringing in players from all corners of the earth to doom the team, but the next general manager needs to be somebody who can rebuild the offense, and Shula is the man. He raised the new arguably number one quarterback, Cam Newton. Sam Bradford's contract is up after this game Sunday, and I doubt he is coming back after his subpar performance. The Eagles will be looking to the draft for their next QB to build around and Shula will form that man to at least a Kirk Cousins-like quarterback.
New Orleans Saints: Doug Marrone, Jaguars Assistant Head Coach
Marrone is not pretty. He spent two years being head coach for the Buffalo Bills where he went 15-17. He spent a year in Jacksonville with a team that is 5-10 this season, but the Jaguars actually looked significantly better with Blake Bortles leading the helm and support from receivers like Allen Robinson, Allen Hurns, and Julius Thomas. Marrone is looking for his next opportunity, and the Saints are lost. Sean Payton just cannot get the job done anymore, so he is leaving. Marrone is a man who can be rallied around. Though his record may look bad, he was in a division with elites like Bill Belichek and Rex Ryan. The NFC South looks like it may be claimed by Carolina for many years, but the Saints could easily be contenders again with the roller coaster that is the Atlanta Falcons and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers who are trying to find footing with Jameis Winston now under the helm.
San Diego Chargers: Sean McDermott, Panthers Defensive Coordinator
The Chargers are a decent team, but their record does not show it. The reason is their defense has faltered against their division, and the stiff offenses they have to deal with. McDermott has made a very successful defense in Carolina, and I am sure he can do it again in San Diego for a team that does not necessarily need a offensive push. The team has become the worst in the AFC West, and they are going to need a few years to even think about playoffs again.
Detroit Lions: Chuck Pagano, Colts Head Coach
I know: Pagano has not been officially released, but it is over guys. Chuck strong is out to be taken, and the Lions are a good bet. Stafford and Luck present similar play ability, and the Lions have a stronger defense that puts them in a good position. The coaching this season has definitely been Detriot's downfall, but Pagano can bring in a system to really upgrade Detroit to a competitive level with an already feisty division with Green Bay and Minnesota. Pagano did not get enough credit for pulling off such a decent record with Matt Hassleback at the helm. The weapons were just not there. Detroit will present a more fair opportunity.
Cleveland Browns: Adam Gase, Bears Offensive Coordinator
The Browns are lost... still. They have been unable to find answers for longer then I have probably been alive. Johnny Manziel is basically out the door after his repeated issues on and off the field leading to Cleveland looking for a quarterback yet again. This time, it may work out. Gase has taught some of the best quarterbacks in Jay Cutler and Peyton Manning, and he is ready for his next protégé. Cleveland has an okay defense, but the pieces will never come together without a solid offensive leader. Gase makes offensive leaders.
Tennessee Titans: Chip Kelly, Eagles Head Coach
Kelly destroyed the Eagles. That was GM Chip Kelly. HC Chip Kelly is still the man though. All he needs is a running QB, a decent running back, and a offensive line. Tennessee has one of those three, but they also have a top draft pick to possibly get a running back or lineman to send them in the right direction. The AFC South was lackluster this season, so they could see playoffs as early as next season if they play their cards right this offseason. An Oregon reunion is a big step in the right direction.
Bevell is another man who can raise a quarterback. He raised Brett Farve and Russell Wilson. He even made a decent quarterback out of Tavaris Jackson when he played. Indianapolis needs a man to help Andrew Luck out after coming back from his injury and make him an even better quarterback. Bevell can definitely get the job done in this horrible AFC South.
Miami Dolphins: Hue Jackson, Bengals Offensive Coordinator
Jackson had a decent performance as a head coach going 8-8 in his one season. He was fired, but he went on to help make the somehow explosive offense out of Cincinnati. Andy Dalton was an impressive molding. He had no specialties, and he mainly just targeted AJ Green in the beginning. Now he is a midlevel quarterback who got the team enough wins to make it to the playoffs without him. AJ McCarron is the more impressive feat. An even younger quarterback in Cincinnati who comes off the bench and plays his first few NFL games and is close to the caliber of Dalton. He looks like a legitimate threat to possibly put up a fight in the playoffs. He also has some practice on defense as he was the Bengals assistant head coach for four years. Jackson is one of the top head coaches out there and a perfect fit in Miami. Tannehill now has his big time contract, but he is still under-performing even with so much talent, so Jackson can come in and spiff him up and make him possibly another Kirk Cousins-like player like Shula can. Miami's defense also is not terrible which works well for Jackson who can help on both sides of the ball and possibly make Miami as good as Cincinnati defensively if he puts in the right magic. Jackson may be entering one of the toughest divisions in the NFL especially with Tom Brady still around, but he could give Miami an opportunity to at least give New England a scare.
San Francisco 49ers: Jim Mora, UCLA Head Coach
Mora is a decent coach. As a head coach for a solid Atlanta Falcons team and a weak Seattle Seahawks he was able to go 31-33. He has helped build UCLA back up a tiny bit to get them into the Foster Farms Bowl. They may not be as good as he wants them to be, but he could leave now, and it could be called a successful rebuild. Yah, Mike Holmgren is saying he would come out of retirement and coach the 49ers, but he has been out-of-service for far too long. Mora is already in California so the transition would probably be painless. I do not know how I feel about college head coaches, but they sure are intriguing to watch and see if they can implement their style similar to how college players try to adjust to the NFL.
New York Giants: Josh McDaniel, Patriots Offensive Coordinator
McDaniel was an unsuccessful coach for Denver. He went 11-17 over two seasons with them, but he then went to New England and solidified his offensive skill, especially this season. He has implemented an offense over the years that has faced a running back carousel, and he has still kept them going strong this year even with the losses of Dion Sims and LeGarrette Blount. The Giants have an okay defense and offense, but McDaniel could join another star quarterback in Eli Manning, and he could put together a run game to benefit everyone. he can give Manning better opportunities, give Odell Beckham Jr. more catches, give a spark to Rashard Jennings, Shane Vereen, and whoever they find on free agency, and keep the defense off the field for longer. The NFC East is a pretty open division and it has been for years. Someone has to solidify it, and McDaniel is New York's best bet.
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