Blood has already been drawn within the realm of NFL head coaches. Thus far, three vacancies have been created with the top coach firings in Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and Carolina, and two of these groups additionally fired their normal managers. In line with Jay Glazer of Fox Sports activities, there’s an expectation that four or more jobs could be open by the beginning of the playoffs.
The Raiders have parted methods with Josh McDaniels and Dave Ziegler, Brandon Staley and Tom Telesco have been let go by the Chargers, and the Panthers fired Frank Reich already. There’s rising unease in Chicago, the place Bears head coach Matt Eberflus has amassed a 9-23 file over his first two years with the workforce. Dennis Allen has additionally failed to succeed in a successful file after practically two seasons with the Saints. No one’s seat is as scorching as Falcons head coach Arthur Smith. Even a head teaching legend like Invoice Belichick
may be parting ways with the Patriots this offseason.
But, in all this mess, one head coach who could also be redeeming his popularity is Mike Tomlin of the Steelers. After dropping 4 of 5 video games earlier than this weekend, Pittsburgh was lastly capable of ship a convincing win, their first of the 12 months by greater than a single possession. When Tomlin was headed in the direction of his first season as a head coach with a dropping file, there have been many who thought he could also be out of a job in Pittsburgh. As an alternative, his means to take a few of his worst rosters and nonetheless ship extra wins than losses has the Steelers considering yet another contract extension.
In line with Glazer, although, Pittsburgh isn’t the one workforce fascinated by him as a possible head coach of the longer term. Whereas many groups appear to have been hoping for a stumble down the stretch that will make Tomlin out there after the 2023 season, with a contract extension on the horizon in Pittsburgh, some groups have but to surrender hope of buying the tenured head coach. Glazer drops that numerous groups have thought-about buying and selling for Tomlin.
It hasn’t been lengthy since we final noticed a franchise purchase a head coach by means of commerce. Eleven months in the past, we noticed the Broncos and Saints exchange a few picks with the top outcome sending the rights to Sean Payton‘s contract to Denver. Earlier than that, we’ve got to return to the 2000s and earlier than, when names like Jon Gruden, Herm Edwards, Invoice Parcells, Mike Holmgren, and Belichick have been all getting dealt for draft picks. If a workforce hoped to lure Pittsburgh right into a commerce that will relinquish Tomlin, they’re seemingly going to need to construct fairly the haul, particularly now that he’s a win away from extending his streak of by no means having had a dropping season to 17 years.
If a workforce goes to try to commerce for Tomlin, it’s seemingly going to be a workforce that already has quite a lot of sturdy items. For example, the Chargers have quite a lot of working items however have struggled to search out success. They’ve lately invested in a franchise quarterback, they’ve a duo of sturdy, veteran receivers, and a flexible operating again on offense. The protection, regardless of laying claims to stars like Derwin James and Khalil Mack and powerful contributors in Asante Samuel Jr., Eric Kendricks and Kenneth Murray, has been one of many league’s worst models in 2023. Buying and selling for a coach like Tomlin, who has a powerful historical past of constructing defensive legends in Pittsburgh, might be the transfer that will get Los Angeles over a current dropping hump.
There’s even been slight chatter concerning the Payments group having a foul style of their mouths from a scarcity of playoff success. It looks as if an extended shot, particularly after the Payments improved their playoff odds this weekend with their third straight win, but when Buffalo executives really feel that it’s teaching that’s holding the workforce again from a Tremendous Bowl look, a commerce for Tomlin could also be in play.
Regardless, this put up merely cracks open the seal for what is bound to be an energetic offseason. A possible of seven or eight job openings leaves loads of room for such hypothesis. Quite a few spectacular coordinators are positive to stake their claims on new jobs however don’t be too shocked if the NFL’s two longest-tenured head coaches discover their method to new franchises within the offseason.