Making The Grade: Grading Each NFL Head Coaching Hire

With the vacant head coaching positions in the NFL now filled, it’s time to hand out grades. All changes at head coach often bring a degree of optimism but not all changes are the same. In fact, the difference between a good head coach hire and a questionable one may not even show until partway through the season.

 

Mike Vrabel – New England Patriots

The first hire of the coaching cycle was former Tennessee Titans’ head coach and Cleveland Browns’ consultant Mike Vrabel, taking over for Jerod Mayo in New England. Last year, the Patriots didn’t do much right. The offense, led for the most part by rookie quarterback Drake Maye, was ineffective. The defense could defend the pass alright but couldn’t win in the trenches. Overall, it seemed that they lacked conviction and even leadership at times.

Vrabel has already come in and said he hopes to return to “the Patriot Way.” While these are just words, with their star cornerback Christian Gonzalez coming out and saying that the defense was more “lax” under Mayo, it appears that they’re going to at least attempt to tighten things up on defense. Adding Josh McDaniel also could signal a true return to “the Patriot Way.”

Is seems like the right hire on paper, but can “the Patriot Way” really work in the modern age of football? It could either go well or blow up in the face of the organization.
Grade: B+

 

Ben Johnson – Chicago Bears

Ben Johnson did wonders with the Detroit Lions, helping establish them as an offensive juggernaut. Now he inherits Caleb Williams, last year’s first overall pick, and a stacked cast at wide receiver. The top head coach candidate signing with the most attractive NFL situation makes for the most interesting story.

Chicago needs to reestablish the run badly, after having the worst rushing attack rushing in the league last year. This could lead to anything from taking a running back early in the draft to working with what they have. While the defense will be in good hands with Dennis Allen, it’s going to be vital that Johnson fixes the run game.
Grade: A-

 

Aaron Glenn – New York Jets

Fun fact: last year the Jets finished with the third-best defense in terms of total yards allowed and fourth in passing yards allowed while Detroit (where Aaron Glenn was previously the defensive coordinator of) finished in the bottom half of the league. While Detroit was better with turnover differential and points (which is what ultimately matters), the fact that the defense was a bit suspect at times isn’t a great look for New York.

Glenn, if nothing else, will hopefully add accountability to this organization. Given the distractions from quarterback Aaron Rodgers as well as frustrations boiling over from players over the years, the Jets need to realign and refocus: Glenn offers a good chance of this. The production, for his sake, will come but getting back on the rails is paramount this year.
Grade: C+

 

Brian Schottenheimer – Dallas Cowboys

Let’s be honest here, does anybody really think this was the right hire for Dallas (other than Jerry Jones)? Overall, one good year offensively and one horrible year (albeit with Dak Prescott missing part of the season) are all part of a resume that most would call “meh.”

Look, there’s no way around this: with interviews that included former head coaches like Leslie Frazier and Robert Saleh, as well as former offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, why would they stick with the status quo of Schottenheimer? It’s stuff like this which is why the Cowboys haven’t appeared in the Super Bowl in almost 30 years.
Grade: D+

 

Pete Carroll – Las Vegas Raiders

It’s not often that a team can steal a Super Bowl champion head coach who appeared in a second one as well, but the Las Vegas Raiders aren’t seen as a team that believes in often. Even if this is just a short-term stint for the 73-year-old Pete Carroll, this could have an effect similar to that of Bruce Arians with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2019.

With potential replacements already in place including defensive coordinator Patrick Graham and offensive coordinator Chip Kelly, this is a good situation for the Raiders. If they can figure out the roster issues, they should do well. Good enough to compete with the rest of the division? Probably not immediately but it would at least put them in the conversation.
Grade: B+

 

Liam Coen – Jacksonville Jaguars

It took the firing of general manager Trent Baalke for Jacksonville to complete the hire of Liam Coen (despite agreeing to a huge extension with the Buccaneers), but it got done. Coen was able to get the best out of quarterback Baker Mayfield and allow him to have another nice season.

The big question here is, has Coen shown enough to be a good head coach at this level? Coen had split time as the Los Angeles Rams and Kentucky Wildcats offensive coordinator before his one-year stint in Tampa Bay. Add to it two first-time coordinators in Grant Udinski (offensive) and Anthony Campanile (defensive): now there’s a question of whether this can work, especially with questions about quarterback Trevor Lawrence’s ability in regard to his recent contract extension.
Grade: C

 

Kellen Moore – New Orleans Saints

Where have we heard this before: The New Orleans Saints have hired a former Dallas Cowboys quarterbacks coach after firing a defensive minded head coach? The only thing separating Kellen Moore and Sean Payton at this juncture is a quarterback who another team moved on too early that ultimately becomes elite (Drew Brees).

New Orleans can only hope for a repeat of the success they had all those years ago, but Moore may represent the best chance to get there. Moore had Philadelphia running back Saquon Barkley playing how most would like to see Alvin Kamara play, as well as had the passing attack reminiscent of how Payton had this offense years ago. The defense will eventually come back around but adding that sense urgency and aggressiveness to the offense should at least ignite the spark that this team is missing.
Grade: B