Jon Gruden and 7 Unemployed Coaches Who Will Be Back in the NFL in 2012
Jon Gruden and 7 Unemployed Coaches Who Will Be Back in the NFL in 2012
For fans of the struggling franchises out there, it’s never too early to think about a coaching change. And since there is usually a surprise firing or retirement at some point around the time of “Black Monday,” there will be a handful of spots open for the 2012 season.
Now, certainly front offices around the league will look to coordinators of top-notch offenses and defense out there. And plenty will get head coaching gigs. But guys who have been head coaches before will definitely get some attention as well, no matter how long they’ve been away or how recently they were fired.
Hey, if Dick Vermeil can come back after 15 years of retirement and win a Super Bowl, owners are going to be willing to look almost anywhere.
Here are eight unemployed former chiefs who will could be back in the saddle by next season.
No. 8: Brad Childress
Current Job: Unemployed
Last Year As Head Coach: 2010
Career Record: 39-35
Achievements: Two division titles
Chilly's reputation certainly needs rehabilitation: Not just because of the how his stay in Minnesota ended, but also because his take on Randy Moss "vomiting" all over the Vikings' locker room wasn't exactly classy.
But this is a coach with over 30 years of coaching experience who brought the Vikings within one interception of the Super Bowl just two years ago.
It's not going to be an easy sell to the fans of a prospective franchise, but he has the resumé to grab attention from ownership—provided he doesn't mention Brett Favre's name in the interview.
No. 7: Steve Mariucci
Current Job: NFL Network
Last Year As Head Coach: 2005
Career Record: 72-67
Achievements: Two division titles
Mooch has been away from the game a lot longer than it seems, but because he's still knee-deep in the NFL 365 days a year, he's still in tune with what's going on.
Certainly his tenure with the Lions hurt his chances of ever getting another job, but I think most owners and front offices would look at the position he was in and think "no one could have won there."
He has a great personality and coached with and under some of the game's best minds, so he would get another chance—assuming he wants one.
No. 6: Herm Edwards
Current Job: ESPN
Last Year As Head Coach: 2008
Career Record: 54-74
Achievements: One division title
Like Mooch, Edward's second try at a head coaching job did a great deal of damage to his reputation, but he's been around the NFL for more than 30 years, and that's a huge plus considering he's only 57.
People may remember him best for the "You play to win the games" tirade but he really overachieved during his tenure with the Jets, and there's no reason he won't be able to do the same again.
He certainly has charisma and would energize a fan base, as well as ownership.
No. 5: Jim Mora Jr.
Current Job: Fox Sports
Last Year As Head Coach: 2009
Career Record: 31-33
Achievements: One division title
Yes, his stay in Seattle was pretty messy and he doesn't bring an overwhelming amount of head coaching experience to the table. But, he's studied under many great coaches and would assemble a great staff.
Furthermore, he's the right age—not too old to seem "out of touch" with today's players, but not so young as to seem "too young."
No. 4: Eric Mangini
Current Job: ESPN
Last Year As Head Coach: 2010
Career Record: 33-47
Achievements: One division title
Maybe it's just me, but I always thought the Man-genius got a bad rap. First with the Jets, and then again in Cleveland.
Sure he managed to ruffle a few feathers across the league, especially with the Patriots and Spy-Gate. But he achieved a lot (two winning seasons) with the Jets when they didn't have oodles of talent. And last year, the Browns were far more competitive than their record indicated.
He's also the youngest coach on this list (only 40), so the burnout factor shouldn't be an issue.
But more importantly, he did spent three seasons in the brightest spotlight of the New York media. That gives him an advantage over almost any other head coaching candidate out there.
No. 3: Jeff Fisher
Current Job: Unemployed
Last Year As Head Coach: 2010
Career Record: 142-120
Achievements: One Super Bowl appearance, three division titles
The burnout factor is most definitely in play for Fisher, who is easily the most accomplished of the head coaches on this list so far. He was with the same organization for more than 15 years, so it might take more than one season away to recharge his batteries.
And the way he left Tennessee—sort of coming to odds with the owner and his (alleged) franchise quarterback—is a concern. He didn't exactly leave the game on his own terms.
But he preaches all the right things an owner wants to hear and his teams were consistently competitive.
No. 2: Bill Cowher
Current Job: CBS
Last Year As Head Coach: 2006
Career Record: 149-90-1
Achievements: One Super Bowl win, two Super Bowl appearances, eight division titles
Cowher is probably the top prize of all the unemployed coaches out there, because he has been away from the game since 2006, and he has allegedly turned down so many opening since then—there's a sense he might never come back.
But Cowher is one of the most intense and passionate figures in the modern game so it's hard to believe that he'll continue to turn down openings forever.
You can point to the division titles, the Super Bowl championship and repeated berths in the AFC title game, but the main reason every team looking for new leadership will covet him is the fact that in 15 years with Pittsburgh, he only had three losing seasons, while only losing 10 games in a season once. That's consistency.
No. 1: Jon Gruden
Current Job: ESPN
Last Year As Head Coach: 2008
Career Record: 95-81
Achievements: One Super Bowl win, five division titles
Because he is younger, flashier and one of the voices on Monday Night Football, Gruden is probably a touch more "high profile" than Cowher, so he will be the first name that pops up whenever there is an opening.
Obviously it's going to take the right situation and a ton of money to pry him away from Monday Night football, where he seems to be really happy and enthusiastic. But, he's only 48 years old. It's hard to think he'll stay in that position for the next 10 or 15 years.
An owner looking to make a splash and energize the fan base would consider Gruden the best possible hire.