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There might not be a more cutthroat job in professional sports than a head coach in the NFL. Impatient owners want instant results, and that often leads to several head-coaching openings every offseason.
With several vacancies available every year, a logical starting point for owners looking for a new headman is to examine current offensive and defensive coordinators around the league. These positions have long been seen as stepping stones toward a head-coaching job. Today, we will examine several coordinators around the league who could see themselves leading an NFL franchise this time next year.
Make sure you follow RotoBaller on X and check out RotoBaller.com for all your NFL and fantasy football needs. Here are five current NFL coordinators to watch during the 2024 NFL season.
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Ben Johnson - Offensive Coordinator, Detroit Lions
Johnson was arguably the hottest head-coaching candidate during the previous cycle. Considering the work he’s done with Detroit’s offense, it’s easy to see why. Johnson has overseen an offensive attack that’s finished fifth and seventh in offensive DVOA in each of his two seasons as offensive coordinator, per FTN Fantasy.
He's also played a vital role in turning around quarterback Jared Goff’s career after he flamed out with the Los Angeles Rams.
JARED GOFF DROPS A 45-YARD DOT TO Jameson Williams FOR THE TOUCHDOWN!pic.twitter.com/nQmjnTlvEn
— DraftKings (@DraftKings) October 15, 2023
Despite interviewing with several teams and reportedly turning down the Washington Commanders head-coaching position, Johnson returns to Detroit for another year in hopes of winning a Super Bowl.
Expect Johnson to be in the mix for a head-coaching gig again this offseason. Detroit must do its best to make the most of Johnson’s presence this year as the odds are good he will be working elsewhere in 2025.
Bobby Slowik - Offensive Coordinator, Houston Texans
Slowik also drew some head-coaching interest this past offseason. The Texans were not expected to be competitive in 2023, but rookie signal-caller C.J. Stroud turned heads and helped guide the Texans to a 10-7 season as well as an AFC South division title.
C.J. Stroud ROCKET on the Texans’ first offensive play to Nico Collins! 75-yard TD! 🚀
(via NFL, ESPN)
— Rotoworld Football (@rotoworld_fb) January 7, 2024
Many are expecting Stroud to take a major leap forward in Year 2. If he does, Slowik will receive much credit and will continue garnering head-coaching interest. Although, despite Stroud’s presence, Houston’s offense was fairly mediocre in 2023. It only finished 14th in offensive DVOA, 13th in points per game, and 12th in total yards per game.
Some of that is due to the poor ground attack last year. Houston ranked 22nd in rush yards per game. If Slowik can correct this issue and Stroud reaches a new level, Slowik will be a popular head-coaching candidate next offseason.
Brian Flores - Defensive Coordinator, Minnesota Vikings
The former Miami Dolphins head coach made waves in his first season as Minnesota’s defensive coordinator. Flores dialed up the heat early and often as Minnesota blitzed opposing quarterbacks a whopping 51.5% of the time. This was the highest rate in the NFL.
Another thing working in Flores’ favor is that he has previous head-coaching experience in the league. This is often coveted by owners looking for a new headman. He was head coach of the Miami Dolphins from 2019-2021. He had a 24-25 overall record and finished with a winning season in two out of his three years as head coach.
Unfortunately, the Dolphins never qualified for the playoffs during his tenure.
Flores’ lawsuit against the NFL could be a deterrent to some owners. However, we recently saw DeMeco Ryans hired by the Houston Texans after he previously sued the team. This may not be as large of an issue as some think.
Should Minnesota exceed expectations in 2024, it will likely be due to the defense carrying the load (no disrespect meant to Sam Darnold). Should that happen, Flores may find himself in charge of an NFL franchise again sooner than many thought.
Aaron Glenn - Defensive Coordinator, Detroit Lions
Another Lions coordinator makes the list. Now that Detroit has emerged as a legitimate Super Bowl contender, it is experiencing the problem that has plagued good teams for years. Once you become successful, other teams around the league start poaching your coaching staff hoping to find their star head coach.
Detroit’s defense has not exactly been a strength since Glenn took over in 2021. However, things are trending in the right direction.
After finishing 29th and 27th in defensive DVOA in his first two years, Detroit finished 13th in defensive DVOA last year and was very stout against the run. It finished second in rushing yards allowed per game and was first in defensive rush DVOA.
The pass defense was a different story, and the team struggled in this area. Despite that, some interesting data suggests Detroit’s defense could take another step forward in 2024.
this is why I’m actually excited about the Lions D
they ranked #31 vs the pass last year
terrible
BUT
when they DIDN'T blitz:
#9 in EPA/att
#7 in comp %and STILL had the #5 pressure rate
if Aaron Glenn dials back the blitz rate (#5 on 3rd downs)? and their new personnel? pic.twitter.com/UvpMzWEZw4
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) August 2, 2024
Glenn also carries high credibility as a potential head coach due to his background as a player. He is a former first-round pick who played 15 years in the league as a defensive back. He racked up a total of 41 interceptions and is a three-time Pro Bowler.
He's been in the league for a long time and has a vast knowledge of defenses that might appeal to some owners. If the Lions continue their upward trajectory, then Glenn will likely follow fellow coordinator Ben Johnson out the door to pursue a head-coaching opportunity.
Drew Petzing - Offensive Coordinator, Arizona Cardinals
Petzing is entering his second season as offensive coordinator for the Arizona Cardinals. While he is a lesser-known name to many casual fans, he could find himself in head-coaching consideration after this season.
The Cardinals did not have a very productive season in Petzing’s play-calling debut. They only finished 23 in offensive DVOA. In fairness, starting quarterback Kyler Murray missed half of the season, and outside of tight end Trey McBride, the team didn’t have many quality options at receiver.
However, once Murray was healthy, Petzing made the most of what he had to work with on offense.
The Cardinals ranked 2nd in Rush EPA/play after Kyler Murray returned from injury last season (Week 10 on).
Drew Petzing used heavy personnel, took advantage of Murray's rushing ability, and James Connor led the league in broken tackles and yards after contact during that time pic.twitter.com/b9dOXHgsIV
— Shawn Syed (@SyedSchemes) June 14, 2024
Murray is now healthy, and the team added rookie Marvin Harrison Jr. in the NFL Draft. We should expect to see improvements from this unit in Year 2. If Arizona, and Murray specifically, have a strong season, don’t be surprised when you hear Petzing is a popular head-coaching candidate next offseason.
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