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| Former Super Bowl winner John Gruden will reportedly interview for head coaching vacancies around the NFL. (Getty Images) |
1. Jon Gruden, former Oakland Raiders and Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach
Whenever you have the opportunity to get a Super Bowl-winning coach, it’s definitely worth taking a shot. Gruden is reportedly interested in coaching again and willing to listen and/or interview for openings. He will likely want to come into a situation with pieces already in place to work with. Gruden know the game inside and out and would be a great hire for anyone who is able to get him. He is almost certainly going to return to coaching. It is just a matter of when and where.
Possible Landing Spots: San Diego Chargers, Philadelphia Eagles, Chicago Bears
2. Bruce Arians, Indianapolis Colts offensive coordinator/interim head coach
Arians did an excellent job filling in as the Colts interim head coach during Chuck Pagano's absence. He guided the Colts to a 9-3 record and an unexpected playoff berth. Along with his head coaching duties, Arians continued to run the offense and played an important role in the development of rookie quarterback Andrew Luck. He was already highly regarded around the league for his offensive prowess, but now he has proven he can handle the responsibility of being a head coach as well.
Possible Landing Spots: San Diego Chargers, Chicago Bears, Buffalo Bills
3. Chip Kelly, University of Oregon head coach
Kelly has has turned Oregon into perennial national contender in his four seasons at the helm. He has created an offensive juggernaut that is difficult for any collegiate team to shut down. Kelly is considered to be a hot commodity around the NFL. Many people think his creativity will transfer will to the pros. With the NCAA breathing down his neck and potential sanctions looming, the time for Kelly to go may be now. He might as well take the Pete Carroll approach and bail ship while he can.
Possible Landing Spots: Philadelphia Eagles, Cleveland Browns, Kansas City Chiefs
4. Andy Reid, former Philadelphia Eagles head coach
Yes, Andy Reid did just get fired from his job as Eagles head coach, but his time in Philadelphia was fairly impressive. He boasts a 129-88-1 record in his career, and he guided the Eagles to the playoffs in nine of his 13 seasons, including one Super Bowl appearance. There are many NFL owners who would love to have a man like that coaching their team. Reid is still only 54 and one of the most well-respected coaches around the league. He should at least get interviews for many of the head coaching vacancies.
Possible Landing Spots: San Diego Chargers, Arizona Cardinals, Cleveland Browns
5. Mike McCoy, Denver Broncos offensive coordinator
McCoy is one of the hottest names around the league. Given the Broncos’ offensive success this season and last, it should come as no surprise. McCoy built an entire offensive scheme around Tim Tebow as his quarterback last season. Then, he completely revamped the offense with an entirely different system to fit Peyton Manning for this season. At just 40 years old, McCoy fits the mold of the young mind team's love to hire. With the adaptability and diligence to hard work he has already shown, it is just a matter of time before he gets a head coaching gig.
Possible Landing Spots: Chicago Bears, San Diego Chargers, Buffalo Bills
Five Additional Names to Keep an Eye On
- Perry Fewell, New York Giants defensive coordinator
- Greg Roman, San Francisco 49ers offensive coordinator
- Bill O’Brien, Penn State University head coach
- Mike Zimmer, Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator
- Dirk Koetter, Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator
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