NFL teams weren’t afraid to expand their head coaching candidate pools in 2024. Clubs considered more potential HCs than ever during this year’s hiring cycle.
The eight NFL franchises searching for head coaches this offseason have collectively met with 30 candidates and conducted 87 interviews. The total number of interviews will only increase this week, as the Seattle Seahawks and Washington Commanders hold their second round of meetings before making a final decision.
Despite the overwhelming number of interviews, the league still managed to forget about a group of qualified coordinators. Which NFL assistants should have received requests this offseason but didn’t?
The NFL’s Forgotten Head Coaching Candidates
Steve Spagnuolo, DC, Kansas City Chiefs
Why Spagunolo should have been interviewed: Have you watched Kansas City’s defense this postseason? The Chiefs held a dynamic Miami Dolphins offense to seven points in the Wild Card Round, kept Josh Allen and Co. in check in Round 2, then shut down presumptive MVP Lamar Jackson in Sunday’s AFC title game victory.
This isn’t exactly a new phenomenon for Spagnuolo, arguably the best game-specific DC in the league. Patrick Mahomes has always been the Chiefs’ driving force, but the club wouldn’t have advanced to this year’s Super Bowl without a defense that allowed the second-fewest points in the NFL.
Why no teams were interested: Spagnuolo, the St. Louis Rams’ head coach from 2009 to 2011, has maintained interest in landing another HC opportunity. But he hasn’t received a single interview request from another club since joining Andy Reid’s staff in 2019.
Spagnuolo, 64, is an older defensive coach, so he already has the deck stacked against him. His 10-38 record with the Rams doesn’t help, while the NFL may view him as solely a defensive coordinator instead of a potential head coaching candidate.
Brian Flores, DC, Minnesota Vikings
Why Flores should have been interviewed: Flores is a schematic problem solver. On paper, Minnesota’s defense was among the least talented in the NFL. Pass rusher Danielle Hunter and safety Harrison Smith might be household names, but the rest of the Vikings’ defensive depth chart wasn’t exactly filled with stars.
But Flores made it work, sending blitzes (49.3%) and dropping eight into coverage (20.8%) at league-high rates, per TruMedia, while guiding a defense that somehow finished 11th in DVOA.
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Why no teams were interested: Flores went 24-25 over three seasons as the Dolphins’ head coach but never made the playoffs and struggled with interpersonal relationships. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa failed to deliver under Flores but blossomed into a star under now-Miami HC Mike McDaniel.
Flores is also suing the NFL and several teams for racial discrimination after failing to land a head coaching position during the 2022 offseason. NFL owners are likely reticent to hire an individual involved in active litigation against the league.
Eric Bieniemy, OC, Washington Commanders
Why Bieniemy should have been interviewed: Technically, Bieniemy is the only coach on this list who did receive a head coaching interview this offseason. But that meeting came with the Commanders, Bieniemy’s current employer. He doesn’t seem to be a realistic candidate to take over in the nation’s capital.
Bieniemy helped develop Mahomes into the NFL’s best QB during his time as Kansas City’s OC before stepping out of Andy Reid’s shadow in 2023. He’s interviewed for HC jobs with nearly half the league since 2019.
Why no teams were interested: Bieniemy may be a poor interviewer. He’s met with so many teams that it seems impossible to believe he hasn’t yet landed a head coaching position, especially given his track record.
Bieniemy was arrested several times as a player at the University of Colorado, but those indiscretions occurred more than three decades ago.
Jim Schwartz, DC, Cleveland Browns
Why Schwartz should have been interviewed: After spending two years as a Tennessee Titans assistant, Schwartz returned to the defensive coordinator ranks with a vengeance in 2023.
He led a Browns defense that ranked No. 1 in EPA per play, success rate, opponent scoring rate, yards per play allowed, and first downs allowed. Schwartz’s unit was utterly dominant, and pass rusher Myles Garrett may win his first Defensive Player of the Year award under Schwartz’s tutelage.
Why no teams were interested: Schwartz is in a similar position as Spagnuolo. His record as the Detroit Lions’ head coach (29-51) left much to be desired. Schwartz is nearly 60, and NFL teams may not look in his direction again — even though he wants another HC opportunity.
Drew Petzing, OC, Arizona Cardinals
Why Petzing should have been interviewed: Petzing didn’t have a ton of talent to work with in his first season as Arizona’s offensive play-caller. Kyler Murray (ACL recovery) didn’t play until Week 10, but Petzing got the most out of journeyman quarterback Josh Dobbs while working around an embattled offensive line and injuries to contributors like James Conner and Marquise Brown.
The Cardinals ultimately finished 16th in yards per play, 18th in scoring rate, and 21st in offensive DVOA — more than respectable ranks given Petzing’s environment.
Why no teams were interested: Petzing, 36, has only been a play-caller for one season, which could have given some clubs pause. It’s also difficult for an ownership group to sell its fanbase on hiring the offensive coordinator from a team that finished with a 4-13 record.
Jeff Ulbrich, DC, New York Jets
Why Ulbrich should have been interviewed: Since 2022, the Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers are the only teams to post more efficient defenses by cumulative EPA per play than the Jets. While Dallas/San Francisco DCs Dan Quinn, DeMeco Ryans, and Steve Wilks have landed HC interviews, Ulbrich has not.
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Ulbrich has called Gang Green’s defensive plays while mixing in first-round picks like Sauce Gardner and Jermaine Johnson II with free agent additions such as D.J. Reed and Quincy Williams to craft a dominant unit. He also had a decade-long playing career and is well-respected as a leader of men.
Why no teams were interested: This one remains a mystery. In October, Jets head coach Robert Saleh said that Ulbrich “checks every single box” NFL clubs could want in a head coach. It’s beyond surprising that Ulbrich has never received a single HC interview request.
Adam Stenavich, OC, Green Bay Packers
Why Stenavich should have been interviewed: Stenavich was outstanding as Green Bay’s OL coach from 2019 to 2021, consistently identifying and developing late-round draft picks into serviceable starters.
Promoted to become Green Bay’s OC in 2022, Stenavich helped Jordan Love become one of the league’s most electric quarterbacks in 2023. Despite fielding the NFL’s youngest roster by snap-weighted age, the Packers ranked eighth in yards per play.
Why no teams were interested: Stenavich doesn’t call Green Bay’s offensive plays — head coach Matt LaFleur handles that responsibility. That’s not necessarily a dealbreaker, as the Tennessee Titans hired former non-play-calling Cincinnati Bengals OC Brian Callahan as their head coach this offseason.
Former Packers OC Nathaniel Hackett’s disastrous stint as the Denver Broncos’ HC in 2022 might make NFL teams wary of dipping back into the Green Bay well. But Stenavich should receive interest next offseason if the Packers return to the playoffs in 2024.
As the 2023 NFL season comes to a close, the 2024 NFL Draft is on the horizon. Pro Football Network has you covered with everything from team draft needs to the Top 100 prospects available. Plus, fire up PFN’s Mock Draft Simulator to put yourself in the general manager’s seat and make all the calls!
