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NFL head coach carousel 2023: Ranking the available jobs

By Sayre Bedinger

Dec 27, 2022; Englewood, CO, USA; Denver Broncos CEO Greg Penner speaks at the UCHealth Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 27, 2022; Englewood, CO, USA; Denver Broncos CEO Greg Penner speaks at the UCHealth Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports /
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The NFL head coach carousel is going to continue spinning round and round in 2023, but with two weeks remaining in the 2022 season, there are already three jobs available. How many more openings will we see come January, 2023? If history has told us anything, perhaps we can expect at least another 3-5 openings to emerge, perhaps more than that.

The Denver Broncos became the latest team to fire their coach in-season, letting go of rookie head coach Nathaniel Hackett. Hackett joined a very short list of coaches to be fired during their first year on the job, a list that includes the abject disaster that was Urban Meyer last year in Jacksonville. He’s just the second coach since 1994 with such a distinction.

Without looking at some of the jobs that could become available in the next few weeks, how would we rank the available jobs in the NFL right now?

NFL head coach vacancies currently available (listed from most recent)

  • Denver Broncos
  • Indianapolis Colts
  • Carolina Panthers

All three of these franchises are 1/32. There are few NFL head coaching jobs and all are coveted but to varying degrees. Let’s take a look at some of the best — and worst — things these gigs have going for them.

NFL
Dec 25, 2022; Inglewood, California, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson (3) throws against the Los Angeles Rams during the first half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

Denver Broncos

Pros:

  • Richest owners in American professional sports
  • A recent commitment to $100 million stadium renovation
  • Passionate fan base
  • Rich winning tradition (3 Super Bowls)
  • Ownership commitment to giving all necessary resources
  • Top-5 defense
  • Strong overall roster

Cons:

  • Russell Wilson’s decline in 2022
  • Russell Wilson’s contract
  • Need to maneuver to create salary cap space
  • 6 draft picks in 2023
  • AFC West is brutal

For the short-term, the Denver Broncos’ job might not appear as desirable as others given the situation with Russell Wilson and their immediate draft capital. The Broncos do currently have three selections in the top 70 if things finish the way they are right now, but they don’t have a second-round pick and their first-round pick is the 49ers’ pick.

Still, I think Broncos ownership will be very aggressive and I think they will allocate the necessary funds to get whatever coach they want and make this a desirable destination, even if that includes potentially giving over some control of the roster.

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