NFL Offseason Coaching Carousel 2023
The 2022 NFL season is in the books and the Kansas City Chiefs hoisted the Vince Lombardi Trophy. Now, the focus for many football fans has quickly pivoted to the National Football League’s offseason. With that, comes a ton of movement with regard to head coaching jobs and both offensive and defensive coordinators. If there’s ever a dull moment in and around the NFL, I’d certainly love to see it.
This article will provide a deep insight as to which teams will have new faces on the sidelines next season. It will also cover what that means for those respective clubs as they look toward the future, and appease their respective fan bases. Hopefully, it will translate to a successful (and sustainable) on-field product.
In addition, we’ll also take a look at a few recent hires with regard to both offensive and defensive coordinators and notable job openings which still remain unfilled. There are a lot of new faces in new places and some old faces popping back up as well. Let’s start with the newest head coaches around the NFL.
Head Coaches
Shane Steichen – Indianapolis Colts
First up is Shane Steichen who is set to take charge on the sidelines in Indianapolis next season. After serving as the defensive coordinator for the Super Bowl runner-up Philadelphia Eagles, the 37-year-old gets a golden opportunity to revamp a Colts team that posted an abysmal 4-12-1 record in 2022.
His first order of business will be to hopefully secure a stable presence at the quarterback position. Hopefully, he’ll bring Indianapolis back to respectability and contention next fall. It should be an interesting next few months in Indianapolis, to say the least.
DeMeco Ryans – Houston Texans
The Houston Texans have named their sixth head coach in franchise history and his name is DeMeco Ryans. After an impressive stint in San Francisco as the 49ers’ defensive coordinator, Ryans is familiar with the Texans organization and should be welcomed with open arms deep in the heart of Texas.
I really like this move for a team that should have a totally new look and feel to it next season. The 49ers defense was one of the best in the NFL last year, and Houston could certainly use some help with their defense. Overall, this is an excellent hire on a variety of fronts if I do say so myself.
Frank Reich – Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers kicked off their inaugural season back in 1995. Their starting quarterback for the first game? None other than Frank Reich. Now, the 61-year-old returns to Carolina as the team’s head coach looking to bring the team back to prominence in 2023.
An offensive-minded coach, Reich certainly has his work cut out for him in Charlotte. He brings a wealth of experience and should inject life as well as offensive fortitude into this Panthers team. Carolina is certainly in dire need of a change in scheme and philosophy both on and off the field. I’m a big fan of this hire, and Panthers fans should be too.
Sean Payton – Denver Broncos
After announcing his retirement from coaching at the conclusion of the 2021 season, Sean Payton returns to the sidelines as the new head coach for the Denver Broncos. As compensation, New Orleans received Denver’s 1st Round draft pick (29th overall), in the upcoming 2023 NFL Draft, a 2024 2nd Round pick, and New Orleans’ 3rd Round pick in 2024. That’s quite the haul, to say the least.
From a sheer coaching standpoint, Payton’s first order of business will be to revive and rejuvenate star quarterback Russell Wilson. On top of that, he’ll need to bring the Broncos back into playoff contention. He certainly has the weapons to do so with the aforementioned Wilson, Patrick Surtain, Jerry Jeudy, Courland Sutton, and Javonte Williams. Now it’s time for the Broncos to get to work. The Payton regime in Denver will be without question one of the most intriguing storylines to follow next season. Stay tuned, football fans.
Jonathan Gannon – Arizona Cardinals
Rounding out our list of new head coaches in the NFL is Jonathan Gannon. He is set to take the reigns as the new head coach of the Arizona Cardinals. After a season to forget in the desert that saw Arizona post a pitiful 4-13 record, the team decided to part ways with Kilff Kingsbury in early January of 2023.
Fresh off an appearance at Super Bowl LV with Philadelphia as the team’s defensive coordinator, the Cardinals turned to Gannon on a five-year deal representing a changing of the guard out West. He certainly has his work cut out for him in one of football’s toughest divisions, but this one certainly appears to be a really savvy hire. Look for the Cardinals to be one heck of an improved football team under the guidance and leadership of Gannon in 2023.
Offensive Coordinators
The following table serves as a comprehensive breakdown of specific NFL teams who have hired offensive coordinators thus far this offseason. In addition, there are also a few teams who are still searching for new offensive coordinators ahead of the 2023 NFL campaign.
NFL Team | Offensive Coordinator |
Washington Commanders | Eric Bieniemy |
New England Patriots | Bill O’Brien |
Carolina Panthers | Thomas Brown |
New York Jets | Nathaniel Hackett |
Baltimore Ravens | Todd Monken |
Houston Texans | Bobby Slowik |
Los Angeles Chargers | Kellen Moore |
Dallas Cowboys | Brian Schottenheimer |
Tennessee Titans | Tim Kelly |
Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Dave Canales |
Remaining Vacancies
Kansas City Chiefs, Denver Broncos, Philadelphia Eagles, Indianapolis Colts, Arizona Cardinals
This table provides a complete run-through breakdown of those NFL teams who have hired defensive coordinators thus far this offseason. It also outlines teams who are still in search of new defensive coordinators ahead of next season.
Defensive Coordinators
NFL Team | Defensive Coordinator |
Minnesota Vikings | Brian Flores |
Miami Dolphins | Vic Fangio |
Carolina Panthers | Ejiro Evero |
San Francisco 49ers | Steve Wilks |
Cleveland Browns | Jim Schwartz |
Atlanta Falcons | Ryan Nielsen |
New Orleans Saints | Joe Woods |
Houston Texans | Matt Burke |
Arizona Cardinals | Nick Rallis |
Remaining Vacancies
Denver Broncos, Philadelphia Eagles
Thus concludes our article on the NFL coaching carousel. Unlike other Pro sports leagues (and subsequent business ventures), the NFL can be classified as a full-steam-ahead locomotive that’s always making jaw-dropping headlines both on and off the field. Stay tuned for further movement regarding much more than coaching vacancies.
We also have player transactions, prospective trades, unrestricted free agency, and the much-anticipated NFL Draft as we inch closer and closer to the start of the 2023 NFL season all to look forward to.
For a full breakdown of all the offseason dates and deadlines to follow, click here.
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