San Francisco, California – As the 2023 NFL regular season comes to a close, attention is shifting to the league’s coaching carousel. Currently, five teams have vacancies: the Carolina Panthers, the Las Vegas Raiders, the Los Angeles Chargers, the Atlanta Falcons, and the Washington Commanders. Changes began on Sunday evening, with the firing of Arthur Smith as head coach of the Falcons, and continued on Monday with Ron Rivera’s departure from the Commanders.
Frank Reich was the first coach to be fired this season, when the Panthers let him go on November 27 after a 1-10 start. The Raiders also fired their coach, Josh McDaniels, on Halloween after a 3-5 start. The Chargers joined the coaching carousel by firing Brandon Staley on December 15 following a 5-9 start.
The Falcons fired Arthur Smith after he finished his third consecutive season with a 7-10 record. Smith became the first Falcons head coach to lose 10 games in three consecutive seasons. His resistance to featuring three offensive skill position players that the team drafted in the top 10 picks in the last three drafts was seen as his biggest failing as a head coach.
Ron Rivera’s time with the Commanders came to an end after his team finished with a 4-13 record. The Commanders defense, which Rivera was in charge of, ranked last in the NFL overall in the 2023 season.
Looking ahead, the New England Patriots and the Chicago Bears could potentially be in the market for new head coaches. There is a possibility that Bill Belichick’s long-held title as head coach of the Patriots could be in jeopardy, as the team’s management is set to meet to determine his future with the team. The Bears, meanwhile, may consider moving on from their current head coach, Matt Eberflus, who has a 10-24 record in two seasons.
Prospective candidates for the current head coaching vacancies should take note of each team’s unique challenges. The Panthers have had a revolving door of coaches in recent years and need stability. The Raiders lack a quarterback of the future and have tough competition in their division. The Chargers have a franchise quarterback in Justin Herbert but also have injury-prone and expensive players on their roster. The Falcons have offensive talent but need upgrades in their defense. The Commanders have intriguing pieces on their roster but finished with one of the worst records in the league.
In conclusion, the 2023 NFL regular season has come to an end, and five teams are now searching for new head coaches. Changes have already been made to coaching staffs, and potential openings with the Patriots and Bears could add to the vacancies. The future of these teams will depend on the decisions made by the organizations and the type of coaches they bring in to lead them.