With Black Monday nearing, many teams are expected to begin coaching searches after the conclusion of the NFL regular season. The Oakland Raiders, New York Jets, San Francisco 49ers, Atlanta Falcons and Chicago Bears are five teams that will reportedly make coaching changes, according to Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports.
5 teams expected to make head coaching changes
The Raiders, Jets, 49ers, Falcons and Bears are expected to begin coaching searches immediately after the NFL season ends.
Only the Falcons still have a chance at making their way to the postseason, but for all five teams it was a disappointing season. While that isn’t necessarily the case for Jim Harbaugh’s impending departure in San Francisco, the 49ers are another team that will have high expectations in place for its next head coach.
Oakland Raiders
For the Raiders, a coaching change was decided in September after Dennis Allen was fired following an 0-4 start to the season. Tony Sparano led Oakland to a 3-8 record after Allen’s dismissal as an interim head coach, but the team has higher aspirations than retaining Sparano. Instead the Raiders are reportedly determined to land Harbaugh, despite multiple reports that the 49ers’ head coach is prepared to accept the head coaching job at the University of Michigan.
If it isn't Harbaugh, Denver Broncos' defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio or Arizona Cardinals' defensive coordinator Todd Bowles would be the favorites for the job.
New York Jets
Rex Ryan coached the Jets to appearances in the AFC Championship in each of his first two seasons with the team, but it has been four straight years without a postseason appearance. After staying competitive and battling for playoff contention in the last three years, the Jets were a complete mess in 2014 and now, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Ryan has resigned himself to the fact that he might not even be the head coach Monday morning.
The next head coach of the Jets will depend plenty on the Jets’ front office, which could undergo some changes as well. If John Idzik is replaced, the new general manager will presumably have a say in the team’s head coaching search that will follow the front office shake-up.
San Francisco 49ers
The well-documented saga between Jim Harbaugh and the 49ers will almost certainly come to a close very soon after the NFL regular season is over, ending a successful run with Harbaugh at the helm of the team. With the split on the way, the 49ers have already lined up a few possible replacements.
La Canfora named New England Patriots' offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, Broncos' offensive coordinator Adam Gase and UCLA head coach Jim Mora Jr. as possible offensive-minded coaches to take over for Harbaugh, while 49ers' defensive line coach Jim Tomsula and defensive coordinator Vic Fangio remain as possibilities to receive promotions to the head coaching spot from within the organization.
Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons could still go the playoffs with a win Sunday over the Carolina Panthers and that could save the job of Mike Smith. Still, after a second straight losing season, even a trip to the postseason could result in a head coaching change for Atlanta and the team could look at a few of the same offensive-minded head coaches targeted by the 49ers. McDaniels and Gase are possibilities, along with Bowles and Detroit Lions' defensive coordinator Teryl Austin.
Chicago Bears
In Chicago, the Marc Trestman era is expected to end after only two seasons. Much of the coaching search that follows will be impacted by the decision regarding Jay Cutler’s future with the Bears. If the quarterback stays with the team, former Denver Broncos’ head coach Mike Shanahan is reportedly interested in a reunion with the passer he selected in the 2006 NFL Draft. If it isn’t Cutler, the Bears are also interested in putting their name in the Harbaugh sweepstakes.
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