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NFL: 3 Best landing spots for head coach candidate Jim Caldwell

By Michael Johnson

WINSTON SALEM, NORTH CAROLINA - NOVEMBER 02: Former Wake Forest Demon Deacons coach Jim Caldwell before their game against the North Carolina State Wolfpack at BB&T Field on November 02, 2019 in Winston Salem, North Carolina. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)
WINSTON SALEM, NORTH CAROLINA - NOVEMBER 02: Former Wake Forest Demon Deacons coach Jim Caldwell before their game against the North Carolina State Wolfpack at BB&T Field on November 02, 2019 in Winston Salem, North Carolina. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images) /
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NFL 2022: Detroit Lions head football coach Jim Caldwell watches the action from the sidelines during the fourth quarter of the game against the Green Bay Packers at Ford Field on December 31, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. Detroit defeated Green Bay 35-11. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images) /

Jim Caldwell recently shut down reports that he wasn’t interested in two NFL jobs, but it’s understandable if the former head coach is being selective.

We rarely hear about prospective head coaches turning down NFL franchises. According to ESPN’s Dan Graziano, former Detroit Lions coach Jim Caldwell turned down interviews with Las Vegas Raiders and the Minnesota Vikings. It turns out the ESPN reporter got some bad information. Caldwell immediately debunked Graziano’s reports, in a statement via Twitter.

“I would like to correct an erroneous report that I turned down opportunities to interview for the head coaching job with Minnesota and Las Vegas… Those reports are not true. I have profound respect for both organizations and for the Wilf and Davis families and I did not decline any opportunity to interview with them.”

There are only 32 head coaching jobs available in the NFL. So when the opportunity presents itself, it’s understandable why aspiring head coaches, like Caldwell, don’t want to stain their reputation with reports that they are turning down coveted opportunities.

With that said, it’s all about fit. Not every coach fits with every franchise. We saw that happen last off-season when David Culley took the job as the Houston Texans head coach, despite the state of the franchise. Their star quarterback didn’t want to be part of the franchise. And the rest of the roster was a shell of its former self. Of course, the long-time assistant got one season to prove himself.

Despite his efforts and the heart his team displayed, they unceremoniously fired him.

There are currently eight teams looking for head coaches, including the Vikings and Raiders. If Caldwell turned the aforementioned teams down, he is well within his right if he has a vision that doesn’t align with those teams. Being selective about where he goes is a smart move.

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