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Black Monday is officially here and the best available NFL head coaches 2022 are already licking their chops. With the NFL’s coaching carousel spinning like crazy for the next couple of days, they know it’s only a matter of time before their phone starts ringing.
Best available NFL head coaches in 2022
Some of the NFL head coaches without a job carry enough weight on their résumés to at least get another chance next season. And with so many rising stars in the assistant coach department, some first-timers might as well get their first shot at a big job.
So, now that the Las Vegas Raiders, Miami Dolphins, Minnesota Vikings, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Chicago Bears have already getting rid of their coaches, let’s take a look at some candidates to take over next season.
Assistants and Coordinators
3. Eric Bieniemy
Eric Bieniemy has waited for his chance long enough. He put together the league’s most explosive offense and turned Patrick Mahomes into a once-in-a-lifetime player.
The Kansas City Chiefs won’t be able to hold on to him for much longer. Bieniemy has already turned down multiple college coaching jobs because he knows his time is coming. Some claim the only reason he hasn’t been hired yet is because of racial disparity.
2. Nathaniel Hackett
Having Aaron Rodgers as your starting quarterback should make your job pretty easy if you’re an offensive coordinator. Then again, Nathaniel Hackett has a long history of providing a massive boost in the offense wherever he goes.
We’re talking about a guy who made Blake Bortles look like an NFL QB and that made Buffalo a playoff hopeful squad.
1. Todd Bowles
While most of the credit for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ success goes to Tom Brady and Bruce Arians, Todd Bowles shouldn’t be ignored.
He’s responsible for the Jets’ lone winning season in the past decade, and that was with Ryan Fitzpatrick as his starter. Bowles has been great at making adjustments for the Buccaneers’ formerly loose defensive front.
NFL head coaches without a job
4. Marvin Lewis
I mean, Marvin Lewis being one of the NFL head coaches without a job makes plenty of sense. His tenure with the Cincinnati Bengals left a lot to be desired as he often struggled to make the most of the chances, especially come playoff time.
Then again, it’s not like there are many options out there for teams looking to add a head coach with experience. Lewis is reportedly drawing plenty of interest and has gotten multiple interviews in the past. He’s reportedly not interested in a coordinator job and would only come back as a head coach.
Not everything was bad during Lewis’ time. Given the right personnel, he’s a competent coach that can lead a team to the playoffs. The Minnesota Vikings have a solid defense and he’s already worked things out with mediocre QBs in the past, so it looks like a match made in heaven.
3. Jim Caldwell
Jim Caldwell and the Detroit Lions were the true definitions of mediocrity for years. But then again, who can succeed in Detroit? The franchise has been poorly-run for decades and they’ve wasted the prime of their stars year in and year out.
Caldwell’s tenure came to an end because the franchise was in desperate need of young blood. Nonetheless, he often did a solid job with the hand he was given. He’s one of the best available NFL head coaches in 2022, especially for those looking for an aggressive risk-taker.
Also, let’s not ignore the fact that Caldwell coached some of the best QB seasons in recent memory with Matthew Stafford behind center. He may not be the winningest guy out there but he can certainly put together an entertaining offense.
2. Brian Flores
The Miami Dolphins decided to give Brian Flores the boot after a disappointing season in 2021. But Flores should get a lot of credit for the way he orchestrated their defense and resurge over the past couple of years. The Dolphins are up-and-coming and have a bright future ahead of them.
Flores’ often overly-conservative play-calling was what eventually doomed him. Then again, there’s only so much he can do with no offensive line, no running game, and Tua Tagovailoa piling up embarrassing turnovers week in and week out.
Brian Flores should gauge plenty of interest in the open market. He’s one of the best NFL coaches without a job right now and it’s only a matter of time before he gets another chance, even if he’s ‘just’ asked to serve as a defensive coordinator.
1. Doug Pederson
The Philadelphia Eagles made quite a controversial call when they fired Doug Pederson, but it seemed like they didn’t have a choice. Pederson lost the players’ trust when he decided to tank his way out of his final year in the City of Brotherly Love.
In reality, Pederson paid the price for a decision that clearly came from the front office. Moreover, people were quick to forget that he was the same head coach who led them to the Super Bowl not so long ago. That alone makes him by far the best among the best available NFL head coaches in 2022.
Pederson made Carson Wentz look like a superstar and won a Super Bowl with Nick Foles as his starting QB. He did that while having no true big-play threats in the passing game and against Tom Brady’s New England Patriots. Pick up the phone and give this man a call already.
