Overview of Potential Head Coach Candidates: First Time Candidates

By Stephen Juza

January 4th, 2023

With each NFL season, about 25% of the teams will fire their head coach and begin searching for their next franchise savior. In this series, we will look at the top coaching candidates that will be considered for a head coaching opportunity. In our prior posts, we looked at the top former head coaches and the top former players who are primed for a promotion to the head coaching role. In our final post, we look at the best who would be making their first interview for a head coaching vacancy.

Ejiro Evero:

Current Job: Defensive Coordinator, Denver Broncos

Broncos Record: 4-12-0

Years of NFL Experience: Fifteen seasons in the NFL, with one as a defensive coordinator.

Coaching Trees: If hired, Ejiro Evero will be a new branch in the Gruden/Morris/Harbaugh/Tomsula/McCarthy/McVay/Hackett coaching trees. Evero spent two years as a member of Jon Gruden's staff, one year as a member of Raheem Morris' staff, four years as a member of Jim Harbaugh's staff, one year as a member of Jim Tomsula's staff, one year as a member of Mike McCarthy's staff, five years as a member of Sean McVay's staff, and one year as a member of Nathaniel Hackett's staff.

Parting Thoughts: The Broncos general manager has already stated he would like to interview Evero for the top job after the season. He declined the offer to interview for the interim head coach position after Hackett was fired mid-season. Evero has had tremendous success with defenses across multiple coaching stops. While the Broncos season has been far worse than expected, the defense has been a consistent bright spot and a source of optimism.

Shane Steichen:

Current Job: Offensive Coordinator, Philadelphia Eagles

Eagles Record: 13-3-0

Years of NFL Experience: Twelve seasons in the NFL, including three as offensive coordinator.

Coaching Trees: If hired, Shane Steichen will be a new branch for the Turner/Chudzinski/McCoy/Lynn/Sirianni coaching trees. Steichen spent two years as a member of Norv Turner's staff, one year as a member of Rob Chudzinski's staff, three years as a member of Mike McCoy's staff, four years as a member of Anthony Lynn's staff, and two years as a member of Nick Sirianni's staff.

Award-winning Players: Justin Herbert, 2020, AP Offensive Rookie of the Year, Los Angeles Chargers

Parting Thoughts: Steichen has never interviewed for a head coaching position before, but his success with the Eagles offense over the last two seasons will garner serious looks this offseason.

Ben Johnson:

Current Job: Offensive Coordinator, Detroit Lions

Lions Record: 8-8-0

Years of NFL Experience: Ten seasons in the NFL, with one season as an offensive coordinator.

Coaching Trees: If hired, Ben Johnson will be a new branch in the Philbin/Gase/Patricia/Campbell coaching trees. Johnson spent four years as a member of Joe Philbin's staff, three years as a member of Adam Gase's staff, one year as a member of Matt Patricia's staff, and two years as a member of Dan Campbell's staff.

Parting Thoughts: Johnson has the Lions offense performing way above expectations throughout the season. After finishing last season at 3-13-1, Johnson was promoted to offensive coordinator. The offense responded by ranking fourth in points scored in the 2022 season, an improvement over the 25th ranking in 2021.

Shane Waldron:

Current Job: Offensive Coordinator, Seattle Seahawks

Seahawks Record: 8-8-0

Years of NFL Experience: Twelve seasons in the NFL, two as offensive coordinator.

Coaching Trees: If hired, Shane Waldron will be a new branch in the Belichick/Gruden/McVay/Carroll coaching trees. Waldron spent one year as a member of Bill Belichick's staff, one year as a member of Jay Gruden's staff, four years as a member of Sean McVay's staff, and two years as a member of Pete Carroll's staff.

Parting Thoughts: The Seahawks offense surprised many this season after losing former All-Pro quarterback Russell Wilson. However, new quarterback Geno Smith has posted his best season of his ten-year career. Waldron has coached with several of the top coaches in the game, and could bring valuable experience to a new franchise should he be hired.

Frank Smith:

Current Job: Offensive Coordinator, Miami Dolphins

Dolphins Record: 7-9-0

Years of NFL Experience: Thirteen seasons in the NFL, and one season as offensive coordinator.

Coaching Trees: If hired, Frank Smith will be a new branch in the Payton/Fox/Gruden/Staley/McDaniel coaching trees. Smith spent four years as a member of Sean Payton's staff, three years as a member of John Fox's staff, three years as a member of Jon Gruden's staff, one year as a member of Brandon Staley's staff, and one year as a member of Mike McDaniel's staff.

Parting Thoughts: When he was healthy, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa posted his best season of his short career. In a quarterback-driven league, teams will likely give Smith a look at a head coaching vacancy to hope he can replicate the same success with a new quarterback.

Check out the prior two posts in the series:

Prior Article: Overview of Potential Head Coach Candidates: Former NFL Players

Prior Article: Overview of Potential Head Coach Candidates: Former Head Coaches

Signup to our newsletter by emailing feedback@pro-football-history.com