Full List Of Head Coaching Hires Ahead Of The 2024 NFL Season

NFL franchises are as impatient as ever, so each offseason brings a flurry of coaching changes. After the 2023 campaign, exactly 25% of the league's organizations decided to make a change at the head coaching position. Legends Bill Belichick and Pete Carroll were let go, Mike Vrabel wasn't given the chance to turn the Titans around, and Josh McDaniels and Frank Reich were relieved of their duties after fewer than two seasons on the job.

The hiring cycle has been exciting, as five men who have never served as head coaches were given lead jobs. Three of the eight hires have previous head coaching experience. Time will tell whether or not these hires will turn the eight struggling organizations around.

Without further ado, let's dive into all eight new head coaches ahead of the 2024 NFL season and highlight a few coaches who did not land a job as somewhat of a surprise.

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Atlanta Falcons - Raheem Morris

Age: 47
Previous Role: Defensive Coordinator, Los Angeles Rams

Raheem Morris spent the last three seasons running the Rams' defense, including during their Super Bowl LVI. The 47-year-old has head coaching experience, but it was over a decade ago. He led the Tampa Bay Buccaneers organization from 2009 to 2011, compiling a 17-31 record.

Now, he takes over a team that went 7-10 in each of the last three seasons, and he is familiar with Atlanta. He was a part of Dan Quinn's staff from 2015 to 2020. The Falcons have a solid roster all around, but the quarterback spot remains the most glaring question mark.

Carolina Panthers - Dave Canales

Age: 42
Previous Role: Offensive Coordinator, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Dave Canales was quickly rewarded for his work in Tampa Bay in 2023, leading Baker Mayfield to a career season. Mayfield set career-highs in passing yards (4,044) and passing touchdowns (28) while leading the team to a third straight NFC South title. Before being Tampa Bay's play-caller, he was Geno Smith's quarterbacks coach in 2022 with the Seattle Seahawks. Smith, who was considered a raging bust before the 2022 campaign, completed nearly 70% of his passes for 4,282 yards, 30 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions.

Panthers are hiring Buccaneers’ offensive Dave Canales as their new head coach, per sources. Panthers have offered the job and Canales is taking it. “It will get done,” per source. pic.twitter.com/yddN1uEKyd

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 25, 2024

Now, Carolina hopes Canales can work his magic with 2023 No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young. The Panthers have talent on defense and hope Young can live up to his draft status, but they need massive upgrades at all pass-catching positions. Caneles had the luxury of working with DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, Mike Evans, and Chris Godwin over the last two years. The weapons Carolina currently has on the roster don't stack up well with that group. He better make improvements in a hurry, because owner David Tepper let Frank Reich go before his first season at the helm concluded.

Las Vegas Raiders - Antonio Pierce

Age: 45
Previous Role: Interim Head Coach, Las Vegas Raiders

Josh McDaniels hired Antonio Pierce to be his linebackers coach after he took the Raiders' head coaching job in 2022. Just under two years later, Pierce would step in as the team's interim head coach following McDaniels' firing. McDaniels, the longtime Patriots assistant, was fired after just eight games. Pierce took over and led the Silver and Black to a 5-4 record, keeping them in the playoff race beyond what was expected.

Star wide receiver Davante Adams and edge rusher Maxx Crosby banged the table for Pierce to be given the full-time role following the 2023 season, and owner Mark Davis obliged. The 2024 season will mark just the third year Pierce has coached in the NFL, but he already looks like an elite motivator and player's coach. It will be interesting to see how this hire pans out. Like many of the other teams on this list, the Raiders must find their QB of the future for Pierce to be successful.

New #Raiders HC Antonio Pierce started his press conference in a way only he could.

"RAAAAIIIDDDERRRRS" pic.twitter.com/e9OlQ1qjGS

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) January 24, 2024

Los Angeles Chargers - Jim Harbaugh

Age: 60
Previous Role: Head Coach, University of Michigan

Fresh off a College Football Playoff National Championship, Jim Harbaugh is heading back to the NFL. The former Michigan quarterback accomplished what he set out to do at the collegiate level, but he's itching to chase the Lombardi Trophy again. Harbaugh went 44-19-1 in four seasons as the San Francisco 49ers head coach from 2011 to 2014. He took the Niners to three straight NFC Championship Games and one Super Bowl in his first three years on the job. He went 8-8 in 2014, and there was ultimately a power struggle with general manager Trent Baalke that resulted in the two sides parting ways.

Now, he rejoins the NFL ranks and already has a franchise quarterback in place. Los Angeles hasn't had overwhelming team success during Justin Herbert's stint as the starter, but he's thrown 114 touchdowns to just 42 interceptions through his first four NFL campaigns. Harbaugh will bring experience, stability, and discipline to a talented roster, so the sky is the ceiling here.

it is time

→ https://t.co/D41Hgsnk5d pic.twitter.com/YPYrnh6T8T

— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) February 1, 2024

New England Patriots - Jerod Mayo

Age: 37
Previous Role: Inside Linebackers Coach, New England Patriots

Jerod Mayo has been groomed for the opportunity to take over for Bill Belichick for a few years. He's interviewed for head coaching jobs around the league in recent offseasons, but owner Robert Kraft made sure to keep him around. A first-round pick out of the University of Tennessee in 2008, Mayo played eight seasons at linebacker for the Patriots, earning one All-Pro honor and two trips to the Pro Bowl. He retired in 2015 following a series of injuries and then joined the Patriots coaching staff in 2019, where he has been coaching inside linebacker for the last four seasons.

Now, he'll have the task of filling the shoes of one of the greatest coaches of all time, but he should bring a much-needed fresh perspective to the building in Foxborough. New England's defense has remained a strength in the post-Tom Brady era, but its offense has been consistently underwhelming. He'll need to make great hires and potentially find Mac Jones' replacement to turn the tide.

Seattle Seahawks - Mike Macdonald

Age: 36
Previous Role: Defensive Coordinator, Baltimore Ravens

Mike Macdonald is only 36 years old, but he spent nine seasons with John Harbaugh and the Ravens' highly-respected organization before landing his first head coaching gig. He worked his way up from being a coaching intern in 2014 to leading the best defense in the NFL in 2023. Baltimore led the NFL in defensive DVOA and total sacks (60) en route to an AFC Championship Game appearance. Linebackers Patrick Queen and Roquon Smith, safety Kyle Hamilton, and defensive tackle Justin Madubuike were named All-Pro selections under his direction.

I love to hear Mike Macdonald say this:

"This is a special city. We've got the best fans in the world."

He really seems like the perfect culture fit for this Seahawks team. I can feel it. pic.twitter.com/xBN1hZz5HT

— Sami ON Tap (@SamiOnTap) February 1, 2024

With young offensive coaches like Sean McVay, Mike McDaniel, and Zac Taylor taking over the league, the Seahawks are hoping Macdonald can have similar success as a defensive guru. The Ravens went 4-0 and forced nine turnovers against the NFC West in 2023, so it will be fun to watch Macdonald match wits with McVay and Kyle Shanahan for years to come.

Tennessee Titans - Brian Callahan

Age: 39
Previous Role: Offensive Coordinator, Cincinnati Bengals

Brian Callahan didn't call plays for the Bengals during his four seasons as offensive coordinator, but head coach Zac Taylor said he was part of the play-calling process and helped build the schemes that have led to a ton of success on that side of the ball. Despite being just 39 years old, Callahan has been in the NFL as an assistant for 14 years. During his stops with the Broncos, Lions, Raiders, and Bengals, he has worked with Peyton Manning. Matthew Stafford, Derek Carr, and Joe Burrow.

New general manager Ran Carthon and owner Amy Adams Strunk are looking to transition the franchise away from the "hardnose, defensive" style that Tennessee has been known for over the last two decades, and turn it into a pass-effective offensive juggernaut. Will Levis showed flashes of upside during his rookie campaign, and Callahan will be tasked with taking his play to the next level. However, the Titans desperately need more playmakers. Even if DeAndre Hopkins returns to Tennessee in 2024, they have one of the worst groups of pass-catchers in the league.

Washington Commanders - Dan Quinn

Age: 53
Previous Role: Defensive Coordinator, Dallas Cowboys

Quinn made his name with the dominant "Legion of Boom" defense in Seattle during the 2013 and 2014 seasons. Seattle allowed just 172.0 passing yards and one passing touchdown per game in his first season with the Seahawks en route to winning Super Bowl XLVIII. His defense followed up that performance by allowing just 185.6 passing yards and 1.06 passing touchdowns per game in 2014.

He was named the Atlanta Falcons head coach in 2015 and had the organization in the Super Bowl in 2016. Although blowing a 28-3 lead against the New England Patriots will always be an embarrassing blemish on his resume -- he got them there. He was ultimately fired by the Falcons following an 0-5 start in 2020, then went on to do excellent things as the Cowboys' defensive coordinator. The Cowboys led the NFL in total takeaways in 2021 and 2022 and defensive touchdowns in 2021 and 2023.

His work in the secondary is well-documented, which is likely a significant reason Washington hired him. The Commanders ranked last in passing yards allowed per game in 2023 (262.2). We'll see if Quinn can have better luck this time around.

From Dallas to D.C.: the Commanders are hiring Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn as their head coach, per league sources.

Quinn and Commanders’ GM Adam Peters are the two men now charged with leading Washington into the future. pic.twitter.com/G9DUdspQPK

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 1, 2024

Notable Coaches Not Hired This Offseason

• Bill Belichick, Former Patriots HC
• Mike Vrabel, Former Titans HC
• Ben Johnson, Lions OC
• Bobby Slowik, Texans OC

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