The end of the regular season in the NFL rhymes with the coaching carousel that gets carried away, year after year. Already, the Jaguars and Patriots have jumped on board by firing their head coach. Here are five things to know about the ongoing situation.
• Also read: Tyreek Hill wants to leave the Dolphins
• Also read: It feels like the end for Aaron Rodgers
• Also read: Lions teach Vikings a lesson
1. Good decision by the Patriots
The Patriots’ mistake was not letting Jerod Mayo have one season as head coach, but hiring him in the first place, in my humble opinion. Nothing against Mayo, but he didn’t have any experience in the role and he inherited a bare roster. Owner Robert Kraft prepared his succession plan for Bill Belichick based purely on instinct. This error needed to be corrected rather than stretched unduly. Now the Patriots need to go get Mike Vrabel, who not only has the experience, but also the culture of the organization running through his veins, having played eight seasons at linebacker for the team.
2. The Jaguars are going in circles
They say the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. That’s exactly what the Jaguars are doing by firing another head coach but leaving unsavory general manager Trent Baalke in place. With a 22-29 record, Doug Pederson hasn’t helped himself, but Baalke, who served as GM in San Francisco and Jacksonville, at this point has become a joke. Among the 49ers, the last three drivers under his leadership were fired, including two after only one year. With the Jaguars, he is also the third head coach fired during his reign. Isn’t there something wrong? What serious coach will want to work with Baalke?
3. The Giants stay the course
We would have expected a major cleaning up at the Giants after two disastrous seasons in a row of 6-11 and 3-14. However, general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll remain in place. This tandem has made some very good decisions, notably with draft picks that can allow the Giants to find themselves quickly, such as receiver Malik Nabers, running back Tyrone Tracy Jr, tight end Theo Johnson and good defensive linemen , notably. However, trusting Daniel Jones at quarterback and letting Saquon Barkley go on the free agent market amounts to the cardinal sin. The owners love Daboll and want to give him one last chance with a new quarterback. Supporters have been calling for change for weeks. It’s going to be a roar in New York next season from the first misstep…
4. Things are brewing in Miami
I’m surprised the Dolphins chose the status quo with head coach Mike McDaniel and general manager Chris Grier. Besides part of the 2023 season, the team is treading water and has even regressed this season. It becomes clear that against winning teams (1-5 record this season and 1-6 last year), the Dolphins are no match. If continuity is ensured in the organization chart, that risks changing on the field with receiver Tyreek Hill who wants to leave. He has a nasty personality, but he is undoubtedly their most explosive player. This will be a huge issue to resolve.
5. Several positions to fill
Currently, there are head coaching vacancies with the Patriots, Jets, Jaguars, Bears and Saints. As for the Cowboys with Mike McCarthy and the Raiders with Antonio Pierce, it should not be surprising that they are quickly added to the list. It is whispered that among the Raiders, Tom Brady, as minority owner, will be very involved in the decision and he has no ties with Pierce. The team is not going in the right direction. Will Brady try to convince his good friend Mike Vrabel?
