I’ll list the grades for the hiring and firing of each NFL coach and general manager, as well as most coordinators.
Follow me @walterfootball for updates.
Feb. 15 Updates
49ers fire DC Steve Wilks: B Grade
I guess someone had to fall on the sword. The 49ers blew a 10-point lead in the Super Bowl, but did so against someone who can already be considered one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time. There’s no shame in this sort of a defeat, but San Francisco apparently disagreed.
Steve Wilks is 54 and has seemingly been around forever. However, it might be surprising to note that he had been a defensive coordinator for only two years prior to 2023, and neither of the defenses he coached (2017 Panthers, 2019 Browns) finished in the top half of yards allowed. The 49ers did, but were already locks to do so because of the great talent they have on the roster. Still, San Francisco’s EPA numbers weren’t all that great. It felt like the team left a lot of meat on the bone in that regard.
Wilks wasn’t one of the people most responsible for the loss to the Chiefs. In fact, Steve Spagnuolo received a contract extension despite the two teams surrendering the same number of points in regulation. However, I don’t think Wilks did a great job overall, so I don’t mind the 49ers seeking out a better defensive coordinator.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Cowboys hire DC Mike Zimmer: A+ Grade
The Cowboys had big shoes to fill with Dan Quinn being hired by the Redskins as their new head coach. A new defensive coordinator was needed, so Jerry Jones went back to an old friend to address the position.
Mike Zimmer began his NFL career with the Cowboys in 1994. He rose through the ranks in Dallas before becoming the defensive coordinator for seven seasons. He went on to coach the Bengals and Vikings, then basically took two years off after being fired after a long run as Minnesota’s head coach. Zimmer wasn’t a great head coach, but he’s always been a brilliant defensive mastermind, so I love this hire for the Cowboys. I’m eager to see what he’ll be able to do with all the defensive talent on the roster.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Feb. 7 Updates
Chargers hire OC Greg Roman: B Grade
Greg Roman has bounced around the NFL, with this being his fourth stop as offensive coordinator. He previously held the same post in San Francisco, Buffalo, and Baltimore.
Roman, most recently, was let go in Baltimore despite his offenses finishing in the top 10 in two of his four seasons. The other two years saw the Ravens finish 17th and 19th in offense, but those numbers are misleading because Lamar Jackson missed a chunk of time with injuries in both years.
I don’t think Roman is a special hire or anything, but he has proven to be competent. He also worked well with Jim Harbaugh in San Francisco, so the two won’t have to develop any chemistry.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Feb. 4 Updates
Redskins hire OC Kliff Kingsbury: F Grade
All of Dan Quinn’s success in Atlanta came when Kyle Shanahan was his offensive coordinator. Thus, it was important that he would hire a sharp, offensive-minded coach to develop whichever quarterback is drafted No. 2 overall. It’s safe to say that quarterback will not be in very good hands.
Kingsbury was a failure as a head coach in Arizona. While he did many things wrong, one of his problems was his atrocious play-calling. Kingsbury was predictable or stupid, often calling for deep shots on third-and-medium, which fell incomplete way more often than not. Kyler Murray didn’t improve under Kingsbury’s watch, and while some of that was on Murray and his poor work ethic, it was Kingsbury who couldn’t get Murray to try hard. I don’t see why he would suddenly energize the next quarterback he coaches.
Kingsbury coached USC last year as an offensive assistant, and he didn’t show any signs of improvement in his coaching ability. Caleb Williams took a step backward in 2023 under Kingsbury, which was hardly a surprise. It seems likely that either Drake Maye or Jayden Daniels will struggle under Kingsbury.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Browns hire OC Ken Dorsey: F Grade
I missed this hire because it occurred during the AFC Championship. Perhaps the Browns made the move then so they wouldn’t be criticized too much for it.
I don’t understand this decision. Ken Dorsey was fired by the Bills because of his incompetence. He had the brilliant idea of having Josh Allen run less often, which handicapped the offense. Buffalo was much better offensively following Dorsey’s firing even though Stefon Diggs was dealing with an injury. Did the Browns pay attention to this, or do they also not want their mobile quarterback not to run?
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Raiders hire OC Luke Getsy: F Grade
The Raiders reportedly hired Kliff Kingsbury to be their new offensive coordinator a couple of days ago, but he took himself out of the running, likely because he was confused that someone would give him a real job again. With Kingsbury out of contention, the Raiders responded by hiring Luke Getsy.
I guess you could say that one team’s trash is another team’s treasure. The Bears fired Getsy because he struggled to develop Justin Fields. His most egregious blunder was deciding to limit Fields’ rushing attempts. In two years under Getsy, the Bears finished 28th and 20th in net yards.
I don’t know why Antonio Pierce has such an affinity for horrible offensive coordinators. He was extremely fortunate that Kingsbury removed himself from the job, yet he doubled down with the inept Getsy.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Feb. 2 Updates
Buccaneers hire OC Liam Coen: B+ Grade
Dave Canales is one of the primary reasons the Buccaneers exceeded expectations this past season, as he was able to revive Baker Mayfield’s career. Canales took the head-coaching job with Carolina, so the Buccaneers were tasked with finding a viable replacement for Canales.
Liam Coen likely won’t be on Canales’ level, but he coached Mayfield while the two were briefly in Los Angeles together. Mayfield was able to improve with the Rams, and some of that may have been Coen’s doing. It might be possible for Coen to have Mayfield continue playing on a high level, so I’m a fan of this hire.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Feb. 1 Updates
Redskins hire HC Dan Quinn: F Grade
This is an incredibly innovative hire. Many teams have pursued young coaches with upside this offseason, but the Redskins thought the best course of action was to hire an older defensive-minded person who previously was a head coach of an NFC South team. This plan did not work quite so well with Ron Rivera, but perhaps it will with Dan Quinn.
In all seriousness, those defending this hire will point to Quinn both leading the Falcons to a Super Bowl in 2016 and coaching up Dallas’ defense. Let’s destroy both arguments. Quinn had an amazing coaching staff in Atlanta, which included Kyle Shanahan. However, after Shanahan left Atlanta, the Falcons were just 28-40 with Quinn. And as for Dallas’ stop unit, well, it’s not Quinn is coming to Washington with Micah Parsons in a two-for-one deal.
This is a truly dreadful hire. Quinn is a known failure as a head coach, so there’s no reason to think that he’ll have success in Washington. The Redskins will be drafting either Drake Maye or Jayden Daniels at No. 2 overall. They needed a sharp, offensive-minded coach to guide that quarterback. Sure, Quinn can hire a great coordinator, but if that coordinator does a great job with Maye or Daniels, he’ll be hired as a head coach elsewhere. The Redskins, as a result, will be cycling through coordinators, which is disastrous for any young quarterback’s development.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Seahawks hire HC Mike Macdonald: C Grade
Mike Macdonald has risen through the coaching ranks very quickly. He was an intern 10 years ago and earned his first coordinator job in 2022, serving as Baltimore’s defensive play-caller. Now, he’ll be head coach of the Seahawks at just 36.
Macdonald has an impressive defensive resume, but if the Seahawks were going to eschew all of the offensive coaching talent, why didn’t they consider Mike Vrabel, who is a proven commodity? Macdonald has upside, but for an unknown, going the offensive route is the better move because offensive coordinators tend to get hired more often than defensive coordinators. It can be detrimental to a quarterback’s development if he loses his coach, and that could easily happen for Seattle’s next young signal-caller.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 30 Updates
Steelers hire OC Arthur Smith: F Grade
When reports surfaced that teams were interested in hiring Arthur Smith, I can’t say I took it seriously. I didn’t even think they wanted him as an offensive coordinator, or anything. I assumed they’d want him as the team’s water boy or cotton candy salesman, and I don’t even think he would have been an ideal candidate for either one of those posts.
This is a horrible hire. Smith has proven that he can’t develop young quarterbacks, and he has made it a strange habit to funnel his offenses through lesser players. Steeler fans should get ready for increased roles for Allen Robinson, Miles Boykin, and Godwin Igwebuike.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 28 Updates
Eagles hire OC Kellen Moore: C+ Grade
The bloom is off the rose with Kellen Moore. Once considered a head-coaching candidate, Moore’s reputation has taken a hit. The Cowboys improved offensively without him last year, while the Chargers offense regressed with him calling the plays. Granted, the Chargers endured many injuries, but that always seems to be the case with that team.
Moore, however, is young and has some upside. There’s also the added benefit of him having some insider knowledge about the Eagles’ biggest rival, so that could help in the two crucial matchups against Dallas in 2024. I don’t hate this hire, but the Eagles could have done better.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Eagles hire DC Vic Fangio: A Grade
Jonathan Gannon received lots of criticism for his defense’s performance in the Super Bowl loss to the Chiefs. I always thought this was unfair because the poor field conditions caused the pass rushers to slip frequently, nullifying the Eagles’ greatest strength. Philadelphia fans quickly learned how miserable life would be without Gannon, as the defense imploded in 2023 under different leadership.
It was imperative for the Eagles to make a great hire to fill Gannon’s shoes, and Fangio certainly qualifies. Fangio is a brilliant defensive mastermind who has coordinated many great defenses over the years. He did a great job with the Dolphins last year and will undoubtedly get Philadelphia’s stop unit to improve in 2024.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Falcons hire OC Zac Robinson: B Grade
The Falcons made a questionable hire with Raheem Morris after they seemed to be closing in on Bill Belichick. Morris is a defensive coach, so he needed to hire a sharp offensive guy who could coach up the next quarterback of the team, whoever that may be.
Zac Robinson is a fine option. He doesn’t have much experience, but he has learned under Sean McVay, whose coaching tree has seen lots of success in the NFL. There’s certainly plenty of upside with Robinson, and the Falcons definitely could have done much worse.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 25 Updates
Falcons hire HC Raheem Morris: C Grade
The Falcons were rumored to be closing in on Bill Belichick as their new head coach. It’s unclear what happened, but Atlanta ended up with a far-worse option in Raheem Morris.
To be fair, any coach would look like Belichick compared to Arthur Smith, so perhaps maybe that’s what the rumors were indicating. Morris could be a decent coach for the Falcons, but we’ve already seen him hold a head-coaching gig in the NFL, and it didn’t turn out very well. It’s nice that Morris is a defensive mastermind who can motivate his players, but he already failed once in Tampa Bay, so why wouldn’t that happen again in Atlanta? I also thought the Falcons should have gone after an offensive coach to help with the young quarterback they’re inevitably going to obtain this offseason. That will obviously be their offensive coordinator, but if that coordinator does a great job, he’ll be named a head coach elsewhere in no time.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Panthers hire HC Dave Canales: A Grade
I’m shocked. I thought that Panthers owner Axe Tepper would find a way to screw things up again. I imagined that his hire would be another retread like Dan Quinn, Norv Turner, or Wade Phillips. Yet, he managed to make a sharp hire by bringing in Dave Canales.
Canales is a young-minded offensive guru. He was able to get Geno Smith to be Comeback Player of the Year in 2022, then he managed to revive Baker Mayfield’s career in Tampa this past season. The Panthers needed someone like Canales to salvage Bryce Young, and if any young coach can do it, it’s Canales. Granted, we don’t know how he’ll fare with motivation and in-game management, but this looks like a great hire.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Chargers hire HC Jim Harbaugh: A+ Grade
This was always a possibility, yet I just couldn’t believe it. The Chargers have been mired by horrible coaching for countless years. From Brandon Staley, to Anthony Lynn, to Mike McCoy, to Norv Turner, the Chargers have been led by incompetence ever since the Marty Schottenheimer days in the very early stages of Philip Rivers’ career.
For the first time since 2006, the Chargers have a capable head coach on the sidelines. And Jim Harbaugh is way more than just capable. He was one of the best coaches in the NFL when he was in charge of the 49ers a decade ago, as he transformed San Francisco’s football team from a laughing stock to a near-Super Bowl champion despite having Alex Smith and Colin Kaepernick as his quarterbacks. Harbaugh then went to Michigan and won a championship this past season.
There’s no question that this is an A+ hire. As evidenced by Michigan’s recent success, Harbaugh still has his fastball. He should be able to get the most out of the Chargers, who have been perennial underachievers. It’s reasonable to suspect that the Chargers will be Super Bowl contenders every season under Harbaugh, including this upcoming year.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Titans hire HC Brian Callahan: B Grade
There were rumors swirling about the Titans hiring Brian Callahan for days, but the team finally made things official on Wednesday. Callahan is the son of long-time NFL and college football coach Bill Callahan, who famously took the Raiders to the Super Bowl in 2002 and then was fired the next year. When you hear someone is the son of another coach, you automatically have to worry about nepotism, so it’s important to note Brian Callahan’s credentials as the replacement for Mike Vrabel.
Callahan was the quarterbacks coach in Detroit and Oakland when those teams had Matthew Stafford and Derek Carr, respectively. However, both were established veterans by the time Callahan was hired. However, Callahan went to Cincinnati in 2019 and helped develop Joe Burrow. While this could prompt eyerolls as a result of Burrow being naturally gifted, it must be noted that Jake Browning also performed on a high level when he replaced Burrow this past season. It’s reasonable to suspect that Callahan had a hand in that.
I think this hiring is fine, but not overly exciting. Vrabel was a fantastic coach, and this doesn’t seem like an automatic upgrade. However, there’s certainly upside with Callahan, who could potentially get the most out of Will Levis or another young quarterback like he did with Burrow and Browning.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 19 Updates
Raiders hire HC Antonio Pierce: B+ Grade
Rich Bisaccia did a great job as the Raiders’ interim head coach after Jon Gruden was fired several years ago. Rather than keep Bisaccia, however, owner Mark Davis opted to hire Josh McDaniels, who went on to ruin the franchise.
McDaniels’ firing allowed Antonio Pierce to take over during the second half of this season. Pierce also did a phenomenal job, with the players all giving 100-percent effort to keep him employed. Davis listened this time, lifting the “interim” tag from Pierce’s title.
I like this decision, as Pierce has proven himself to be a quality head coach, albeit in a limited sample size. The only reason this isn’t in the “A” range is because there are elite options like Jim Harbaugh and Bill Belichick available, but there’s no guarantee either one had interest in coaching the Raiders.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 18 Updates
Cowboys retain HC Mike McCarthy: F Grade
I assumed that the Cowboys were going to fire Mike McCarthy that I had already wondered if they had interviewed Jim Harbaugh or Bill Belichick. Thus, you can imagine my surprise when I heard the news that Dallas plans on retaining McCarthy for another season.
At this point, you have to believe that the only person on the entire planet who doesn’t know that McCarthy is an incompetent head coach is Jerry Jones. Perhaps it has something to do with senility, but Jones is making a huge mistake by retaining McCarthy, especially with some great options like Harbaugh and Belichick being available. Harbaugh or Belichick would put Dallas over the top. McCarthy, instead, is bound for yet another quick playoff exit next year.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 13 Updates
Redskins hire GM Adam Peters: A Grade
The Redskins allowed Kyle Shanahan to get away and eventually join the 49ers. Perhaps this is their best attempt at making amends for that, as they hired Adam Peters, San Francisco’s former assistant general manager.
Peters helped oversee the trade up for Trey Lance, but he obviously can’t be fully blamed for that. Instead, the focus should be placed on the talented roster he helped assemble in San Francisco. Acquiring a key cog of the 49ers’ front office seems like a tremendous decision for the Redskins in their rebuilding process.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 12 Updates
Patriots hire HC Jerod Mayo: C+ Grade
Well, that was fast. The team that most recently fired its coach was the first one to hire a replacement, as Jerod Mayo will be tasked with filling Bill Belichick’s shoes.
Mayo was a smart and talented linebacker for the Patriots and then coached the linebackers for the same team. He learned under Belichick and can run the same system. That’s the positive, but I wonder if the Patriots wouldn’t be better off going in a different direction. If they wanted a watered-down version of Belichick, why get rid of Belichick in the first place? It might have been a better move to bring in someone with new ideas as the team begins its rebuilding process. I don’t hate this hire, but it doesn’t seem like the best one either.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 11 Updates
Patriots fire HC Bill Belichick: B- Grade
Bill Belichick’s firing comes as no surprise, as it’s been speculated for much of the second half of the season. Still, it’s remarkable that this run of 24 years has finally come to an end. Belichick leaves New England with six Super Bowl victories.
Belichick is arguably the best coach of all time, but this firing doesn’t necessarily warrant a failing grade. First of all, Belichick has done a mostly disastrous job as the personnel decision-maker. He’s hit with many defensive backs, but his offensive picks have mostly been duds. He has wasted selections on Mac Jones, N’Keal Harry and Tyquan Thornton to name three of many examples. Second, Belichick turns 72 in a couple of months, so it’s not like he was going to be around much longer anyway. It was time for the Patriots to move on.
However, the Patriots are in for a rough patch in the near future. For the first time in decades, they won’t have someone who can usually out-coach the opposition, so their lack of talent will be even more prevalent than it was under Belichick.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 10 Updates
Seahawks fire HC Pete Carroll: C Grade
Pete Carroll wasn’t technically fired, as he will transition to a role in the front office. However, Carroll recently said that he wants to continue coaching, so it seems as though the team is forcing him out of the job.
I’m not in love with this move, but I don’t hate it either. The Seahawks will take a short-term hit without Carroll, given that he constantly got more out of the team than many other coaches would have. However, Carroll is 73, and it might be time for a rebuild. This could benefit Seattle long term, so it might end up being for the best.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 9 Updates
Titans fire HC Mike Vrabel: F Grade
When rumors circulated about Mike Vrabel possibly being let go this offseason, I dismissed them as nonsense. Why would the Titans fire one of the better head coaches in the NFL? Surely, they were a smarter organization than to come up with a foolish idea than that.
Well, apparently, the Titans are a clown organization that is doomed for epic failure. There aren’t many coaches around the league who have gotten more out of what they were given with than Vrabel. He took a team led by Ryan Tannehill to the No. 1 seed, for crying out loud. He had losing seasons in 2022 and 2023, but only because his roster collapsed, due to free agent departures and injuries. I don’t think an average coach could have gotten six wins from this Tennessee squad like Vrabel did this year.
It won’t be long until Vrabel finds another head-coaching job. The Titans, meanwhile, have to start from scratch in what looks to be a long rebuilding process.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 8 Updates
Panthers fire GM Scott Fitterer: A+ Grade
It’s a shame that the Panthers can’t fire the guy who intentionally spilled drinks on fans and forced the organization to draft Bryce Young when the coaching staff desired C.J. Stroud. That guy needs to go, but the organization is sadly stuck with him.
Scott Fitterer was made the “escape goat” for owner Axe Tepper’s futility. However, it’s not like Fitterer’s track record was very good. Here’s every draft choice he made in the first four rounds, excluding his top-10 picks because players taken that early have a high hit rate:
Jonathan Mingo
D.J. Johnson
Chandler Zavala
Matt Corral
Brandon Smith
Terrace Marshall
Brady Christiansen
Tommy Tremble
Chuba Hubbard
Outside of Hubbard, none of these players have panned out. The jury is still out on Mingo and Johnson, but the rest of the players are all busts.
Furthermore, Fitterer made some dubious free agent signings. Take a look at these moves:
Austin Corbett: 3 years, $29.25 million
Miles Sanders: 4 years, $25 million
Vonn Bell: 3 years, $22.5 million
Hayden Hurst: 3 years, $21.75 million
Shy Tuttle: 3 years, $19.5 million
All of these players have performed poorly for the Panthers. In fact, some were even benched. No one setting money ablaze like this deserves to keep their job, so the Panthers get an A+ for firing Fitterer despite the owner’s incompetence.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Redskins fire HC Ron Rivera: A+ Grade
It’s hard to believe, but Ron Rivera has just three winning seasons in his coaching career. He has ridden his 15-1 record in 2015 as far as it could go, and despite that season, he now has a losing record overall at 102-103. He was predictably fired after a four-win campaign.
The one positive about Rivera is that his players will usually try hard for him, but that’s it as far as positives are concerned. Rivera is not an innovative head coach, and he failed to recognize that Jacoby Brissett was his best option this past season. Furthermore, his defense wasn’t even good in Washington. His defenses were ranked 22nd or worse in yards allowed in two of his four seasons. They were dead last in 2023. A defensive head coach whose defenses aren’t at least average half the time shouldn’t be holding his job.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Falcons fire HC Arthur Smith: A+ Grade
Arthur Smith’s downfall was quite the surprise. Smith had the Falcons competitive in 2022 despite a lack of talent on the roster. The Falcons added plenty of skilled players this past offseason, but it didn’t end up making any sort of difference.
Smith was directly responsible for his team’s futility. While it’s fair to point out that he didn’t have a viable starting quarterback, Smith, with the help of his intergalactic mustache, constantly fed the ball to worse players. He opted to give touches to Tyler Allgeier and Cordarrelle Patterson over Bijan Robinson, and Jonnu Smith over Kyle Pitts.
There’s no doubt that this is an A+ firing. The Falcons were not going to win with the incompetent Smith, so they had to go in a different direction.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Dec. 15 Updates
Chargers fire HC Brandon Staley: A+ and F Grade
The Chargers’ performance on Thursday night against the Raiders was so bad that the Amazon NFL analysts were advocating for the team to fire Brandon Staley at halftime. The Chargers were a complete no-show, so it’s no surprise that Staley was canned. What is shocking is that Staley was given another chance this year after sabotaging his playoff run last season by playing his starters in a meaningless game and then blowing a 27-0 lead to Jacksonville. The Chargers wasted a year of Justin Herbert’s career by foolishly retaining Staley.
So, what’s this “F” grade about? The Chargers should have waited until the end of the year to fire Staley because he’d give them the best chance of losing and obtaining a better draft pick as a consequence. The interim head coach will be better by default, so the Chargers could end up winning a game by accident.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Nov. 27 Updates
Panthers fire HC Frank Reich: A Grade
First things first, Frank Reich sucked and needed to go. His offensive play-calling was dreadful, and he wasn’t getting Bryce Young to develop. Whether Young is salvageable is another story, but the fact remains that Young was not improving at all under Reich, so the Panthers had to try someone else.
However, the real problem with the Panthers wasn’t Reich or Young. It is owner Axe Tepper, who has mishandled every situation during his tenure as the Panthers’ boss. He hired Reich and Matt Rhule. He traded Christian McCaffrey. He dealt his only viable receiver when planning on drafting a quarterback No. 1 overall. He selected Young when his coaching staff wanted C.J. Stroud. Tepper, who got lucky profiting on bank stocks when the government bailed out the banks, has been a total disaster as Carolina’s owner. If he cares at all about the Panthers, he’ll step aside and let smart football people run the show.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Nov. 21 Updates
Steelers fire OC Matt Canada: A+ Grade
Some will say that Matt Canada is an “escape goat” for Kenny Pickett’s incompetence. The argument against that is Ben Roethlisberger struggling under Canada’s coaching as well. Roethlisberger had some of his worst years as a pro under Canada, so it’s not a surprise that Pickett has also struggled.
Canada was a total disaster for the Steelers. He frequently would utilize less-talented players over superior ones, and his play-calling was predictable. His inability to develop Pickett was the camel that broke the straw’s back, as one Hall of Fame running back once said. Pickett has been at his best in the fourth quarter while operating in a no-huddle offense, yet Canada refused to implement this strategy earlier in games for some reason.
This is the first in-season coach firing the Steelers have made since 1941. It was well worth the wait because Canada had to go.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Nov. 14 Updates
Bills fire OC Ken Dorsey: A Grade
The Bills have been a major disappointment this year. They were 3-1 heading into their London game, but they’ve gone 2-4 since, with the latest loss to Denver dropping them to 5-5. Their defense has been atrocious as a result of countless injuries. The offense, meanwhile, ranks eighth in points per game, yet still isn’t performing up to its abilities. With Sean McDermott being in charge of the defense, the Bills had no choice but to make Ken Dorsey an escape goat.
I’m a fan of this firing, as there is room for improvement with the Bills offense, especially under new coordinator Joe Brady. The first order of business is to get Allen running again. If it was Dorsey’s decision to have Allen become a Drew Bledsoe-type pocket passer, then he never should have a coordinator position ever again. Buffalo will be so much better offensively if Allen gets moving again. At the very least, it was beneficial for the Bills to fire Dorsey for that reason alone.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Nov. 1 Updates
Raiders fire HC Josh McDaniels, GM Dave Ziegler: A+ Grade
Mark Davis finally pulled the trigger. He wanted to fire Josh McDaniels last year, but didn’t do so because he thought he’d be embarrassed as a result of firing a coach so quickly after hiring him. Davis instead absorbed some humiliating losses by keeping McDaniels on board longer than he should have.
It’s better late than never, I suppose. The Raiders get an A+ for firing McDaniels, who has proven to be an atrocious head coach. As for Dave Ziegler, his two draft classes haven’t really produced any promising players. Granted, he didn’t have a pick in the first two rounds of the 2022 NFL Draft, but his predecessor, Mike Mayock, would always find plenty of diamonds in the rough after always screwing up in the first round. Davis did a good job of canning Ziegler as well.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Feb. 27 Updates
Cardinals hire OC Drew Petzing, DC Nick Rallis: B+ Grade
I missed the two Arizona coordinator hires from a week ago. The team brought in Drew Petzing and Nick Rallis to coordinate the offense and defense, respectively.
I think both of these hires are worth a B+. Petzing was the Browns’ quarterbacks coach last year, and he got Jacoby Brissett to perform at a very high level. Rallis, meanwhile, was the Eagles’ former linebackers coach, and he was able to get the most out of T.J. Edwards, who performed on a Pro Bowl level after struggling earlier in his career.
The reason these hires are B+ grades is because neither coach was a coordinator in the past. I think the Cardinals should have hired one experienced coordinator, but this isn’t a huge deal.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Feb. 21 Updates
Buccaneers hire OC Dave Canales: A+ Grade
Tom Brady is gone, so the Buccaneers had to find a better offensive coordinator to get the most out of the quarterback they sign or draft this offseason. Of course, Tampa Bay actually needed an upgrade regardless, given how terrible Byron Leftwich was last year.
Dave Canales figures to be a terrific upgrade over Leftwich. Not only did he help Geno Smith revive his career with a Pro Bowl season in 2022; he also had Russell Wilson posting his best stats ever. Wilson, who threw for 4,212 yards and 40 touchdowns under Canales’ watch in 2020, really missed his former offensive coordinator in Denver this past year.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Feb. 18 Updates
Redskins hire OC Eric Bieniemy: C+ Grade
All the Twitter blue checkmarks are angry that Eric Bieniemy didn’t get a head-coaching opportunity, which seems to suggest that giving him such a job would be a bad idea. Bieniemy seems qualified for a head-coaching gig on the surface, but there are enough things holding him back, from the role he played with Andy Reid, to four arrests in the past. One of the four arrests was for an assault against a woman in 1993.
As for Bieniemy’s role with Reid, it’s important to note that his coordinators have made for poor head coaches in the past. John Harbaugh and Sean McDermott were two successes, but the other coaches, namely all of the offensive assistants, were failures. Perhaps a reason for this is that Reid runs the show and calls the plays. When his offensive assistants head elsewhere, they can’t rely on Reid for help.
There’s a chance Bieniemy can succeed in Washington, but he has his work cut out for him. He’ll be coaching Slingin’ Sammy Howell instead of Patrick Mahomes. I’m a huge Howell supporter, but even I’ll admit that he’s a big step down from Mahomes. Then again, it’ll be difficult for Bieniemy not to be an upgrade over Scott Turner, who was atrocious last year.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Feb. 14 Updates
Cardinals hire HC Jonathan Gannon: A- Grade
The Eagles have now lost both of their coordinators. Hours after the Colts hired Shane Steichen, the Cardinals agreed to terms with Jonathan Gannon.
Gannon’s defense had a horrendous showing in the Super Bowl, as the Chiefs were able to exploit some liabilities with open receivers. However, Gannon’s defense was superb all year prior to the final game. I even named Gannon the coordinator of the year on my 2022 NFL Awards page. I’m dinging Gannon a bit for his Super Bowl performance, and I actually think I would have gone with Brian Flores or Lou Anarumo instead, but Gannon appears to be a strong hire for an Arizona team that needs major defensive help after losing Chandler Jones and J.J. Watt in consecutive offseasons.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Colts hire HC Shane Steichen: A Grade
Jim Irsay just can’t get enough of Philadelphia offensive coordinators. He hired Frank Reich to be his head coach several years ago, but despite that decision being a flop, Irsay has decided to go back to the well and agree to terms with Shane Steichen.
There’s likely a better chance that this hiring works, and I’m not just saying that because Reich was a disaster. Steichen did a fantastic job of molding Jalen Hurts, a pedestrian quarterback prospect entering the NFL, into a fantastic player who just enjoyed an MVP-caliber season. It’s unclear how Steichen will peform now that he’ll be in charge of everything, but the Colts, at the very least, are getting a sharp, offensive-minded coach who will be able to get the best out of the quarterback they choose in April’s draft.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Ravens hire OC Todd Monken: A Grade
If you’re unsure if this is a good hire or not, check out what some Georgia fans are saying about it. Their former coordinator will sorely be missed, as he was able to get the most out of Stetson Bennett this past season.
Monken has an uneven track record in the NFL. He was the coordinator for a 2018 Buccaneers team that was third in yardage, but his 2019 Browns were 22nd in that department. Baker Mayfield took a step backward following his rookie year under Monken in 2019, but we now know that this wasn’t Monken’s fault. Thus, I think this signing should be graded highly.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Feb. 7 Updates
49ers hire DC Steve Wilks: B+ Grade
The 49ers lost defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans this offseason. They’ve decided to replace him with someone they’re familiar with, as Steve Wilks once coached the rival Cardinals.
Wilks doesn’t have an extensive history of being a defensive coordinator – just two years in the NFL – as he has been a defensive backs coach most of the time. His Carolina defense regressed last year, but only because the team lost Haason Reddick to the Eagles. Wilks, however, tends to get the most out of his players via motivation, so this seems like a good hire.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Vikings hire DC Brian Flores: A+ Grade
Brian Flores was in consideration to be head coach of the Cardinals, so he must have just been told that he was out of the running. I thought he would have been a strong hire for Arizona, so I obviously love this move for Minnesota.
The Vikings had a dreadful defense last year. They need to upgrade their personnel, and that included finding a new defensive coordinator. Brian Flores is a defensive mastermind who worked his magic in Miami. It’s no coincidence that the Dolphins’ defense has fallen apart in the wake of Flores leaving. With Flores now on the coaching staff, I’m expecting a big jump from the Vikings’ defense if the front office makes some solid moves this offseason.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Feb. 5 Updates
Panthers hire DC Ejiro Evero: A+ Grade
The Broncos are a mess, and one sign of that being the case is that they allowed Ejiro Evero to walk. Evero could have been a great head-coaching hire for Denver, as pairing him with a sharp, offensive-minded coordinator like Greg Olson may have been a winning formula, especially when it would have allowed Denver to keep all of its draft picks. Instead, the Broncos surrendered major draft capital for Sean Payton.
Evero is a great hire for the Panthers. Not only will he provide a boost for a defense that is already ranked highly; he will be a nice insurance policy as a head coach if Frank Reich fails again.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Feb. 2 Updates
Dolphins hire DC Vic Fangio: A+ Grade
It was initially reported that the Dolphins hired Vic Fangio several days ago, but other reports suggested that the move wasn’t finalized, and that Fangio could go back to Denver. It’s finally official now, however, as Fangio will be coordinating the Dolphins in 2023.
Dolphins fans may feel negatively toward Brian Flores, but even they can acknowledge that the defense took a big hit as a result of his departure. Miami was in the top half of points allowed in Flores’ final two years with the team, but fell to 24th in 2022. There were injuries, but the Dolphins weren’t nearly as great schematically with Flores gone. I liked Miami’s decision to fire Josh Boyer (A Grade) and then hire Fangio, who is a fantastic defensive-minded coach.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 31 Updates
Broncos hire HC Sean Payton via trade with Saints: C Grade
If you were to rank all the head-coaching candidates, Sean Payton likely would have been at the top. Payton didn’t come free of concerns, however, as he seemed to mail in his final year in New Orleans. He also had Drew Brees as his quarterback for most of his career. Russell Wilson obviously played nowhere near Brees’ level last year.
There’s a chance Payton can have Wilson playing at a Pro Bowl level again, so there’s no way this hiring can be graded as a failure. In fact, if the Broncos were able to hire Payton like any other coach, I’d probably give them an “A” grade. However, Denver had to trade first- and second-round picks for Payton. I don’t see why Denver had to surrender any draft capital for a coach. The Eagles didn’t do so when they hired Andy Reid for the first time. Likewise for the Rams and Sean McVay, Steelers and Mike Tomlin, and Ravens and John Harbaugh. Denver may have lost out on a Pro Bowl-caliber player by giving up the 29th-overall draft choice.
Then again, maybe not. Look at how cursed the 29th-overall pick has been over the years:
2022: Cole Strange
2021: Eric Stokes
2020: Isaiah Wilson
2019: L.J. Collier
2018: Taven Bryan
2017: David Njoku
2016: Robert Nkemdiche
2015: Phillip Dorsett
2014: Dominique Easley
2013: Cordarrelle Patterson
OK, maybe the trade isn’t so bad.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Texans hire HC DeMeco Ryans: A- Grade
I’m a bit surprised the Texans hired a defensive coach after employing Lovie Smith last year. However, they seem to have found the solution for their coaching dilemma, which has existed ever since it became apparent that Bill O’Brien was a failure. It would be a shock if DeMeco Ryans were fired after one season like Smith and David Culley.
I like Ryans a lot as a head-coaching candidate. He commanded respect from his players and did a terrific job of getting the most out of some unknown commodities as the 49ers’ defensive coordinator. I suspect he’ll do a great job in Houston.
My only qualm with this hire is that I would have preferred an offensive coach because the Texans will be breaking in a rookie quarterback. Sure, Ryans can hire a great offensive coordinator, but if that coordinator does well with C.J. Stroud/Bryce Young, he’ll be hired to be a head coach somewhere else, forcing the Texans to utilize a new system with its next offensive coordinator.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Chargers hire OC Kellen Moore: A- Grade
I thought it was a mistake for the Chargers not to fire Brandon Staley. I would have gotten rid of him and obtained a sharp offensive-minded coach instead. The Chargers took a half measure, bringing in a sharp offensive-minded coach to be their coordinator.
I like Kellen Moore, who seemingly got the most out of Dak Prescott. He should be able to boost Justin Herbert next year. There’s a chance he could be gone after one year, but perhaps the Chargers will fire Staley and promote Moore instead, as they won’t have to endure a coach-interview process in that scenario.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 27 Updates
Rams hire OC Mike LaFleur: F Grade
The Rams had an opportunity to spark their miserable offense from a year ago by hiring a sharp, offensive-minded coordinator. Instead, they opted for nepotism. They hired Mike LaFleur, who will hold the post his much more talented brother occupied in 2017.
This is definitely a poor hire. LaFleur lasted two seasons as the Jets’ offensive coordinator, with his offenses finishing 26th and 25th in yards despite having some dynamic play-makers. LaFleur failed to develop Zach Wilson, while Garrett Wilson told the media that opposing defenses knew what the Jets would be doing ahead of time. Perhaps the Rams didn’t know about this. Anyone reading this Web site did, however, and I’m sure everyone reading this would agree that this hiring should be graded as a “D” at best. I personally think it’s a failure.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 26 Updates
Panthers hire HC Frank Reich: D Grade
What is this? When I saw people talking about Frank Reich going to the Panthers, I thought it was a joke. I didn’t think Reich was up for a head-coaching gig after his abysmal job in Indianapolis, but apparently Panthers owner Axe Tepper wasn’t paying attention to how Reich ran the Colts into the ground.
Reich had lots of talent in Indianapolis, yet the team never met expectations. The Colts had a habit of quitting on Reich, who struggled with play-calling and game management. I don’t get how Reich is any sort of upgrade over Steve Wilks, who did a terrific job at the end of last season.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jets hire OC Nathaniel Hackett: C- Grade
There were plenty of sharp, offensive-minded coaches available for the Jets to hire as their new offensive coordinator. Yet, they inexplicably chose one of the worst options available by hiring Nathaniel Hackett, who was fired by the Broncos recently following his horrendous stint as their head coach.
Prior to his time in Denver, Hackett was most known for being offensive coordinator for the Packers. However, despite coaching Aaron Rodgers, Hackett’s offenses were in the top nine just once in three years. Hackett then showed he couldn’t maximize Russell Wilson’s strengths in Denver. Wilson is partly to blame, but he performed much better after Hackett was fired. This was not a coincidence.
I nearly failed the Jets for hiring Hackett, though there’s a chance this could pan out because of Hackett’s relationship with Rodgers. The Jets could land Rodgers this offseason, so the familiarity should help negate any sort of adjustment period.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 24 Updates
Patriots hire OC Bill O’Brien: C Grade
Charlie Campbell made a great point on Twitter regarding this hire. Nick Saban and Bill Belichick have won a combined 13 championships, yet none of those championships came with Bill O’Brien as the offensive coordinator. O’Brien isn’t a bad offensive coordinator, by any means, but he’s definitely overrated. O’Brien is also a very toxic person capable of destroying a locker room.
That said, I won’t fail the Patriots for this hire for two reasons. First, O’Brien has worked with Belichick in the past, so there won’t be any sort of adjustment period. Second, O’Brien will be much better than Matt Patricia, who was a defensive coordinator coaching offense for some reason.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 20 Updates
Vikings fire DC Ed Donatell: B Grade
I received plenty of hate mail from Vikings fans this year because I never put Minnesota in the top seven of my NFL Power Rankings. Part of the reason was that their defense was so bad. The Vikings were constantly in the 20s of defensive EPA rankings despite battling many soft opponents.
It makes sense that the Vikings would fire their defensive coordinator, Ed Donatell. However, I’m not sure if Donatell had a fair shake in his one season in Minnesota. He didn’t have the personnel to field a competitive defense. That said, it’s not like Donatell offered any solutions, so I can understand why the Vikings would want someone better for the job.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 19 Updates
Buccaneers fire OC Byron Leftwich: A+ Grade
It wasn’t too long ago that Byron Leftwich was a hot head-coaching candidate. Things have changed quickly, as Leftwich is now out of a job after being fired from his offensive coordinator post in Tampa Bay.
I don’t see how anyone can argue against this decision. It quickly became apparent that Bruce Arians was the brains behind the operation in Tampa Bay, though he left a disastrous coaching staff in his wake. Leftwich had some of the most predictable play-calling you’ll ever see, as evidenced by his constant failures on fourth-and-short plays. Leftwich also failed to take advantage of liabilities the opposition had, most famously not having Tom Brady target a Pittsburgh secondary missing all of its cornerbacks in one loss this past year.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 17 Updates
Titans hire GM Ran Carthon: A Grade
The Titans have been looking for a general manager ever since they fired Jon Robinson in the wake of the embarrassing loss to the A.J. Brown-led Eagles. They found their man, hiring Ran Carthon, who was previously the director of player personnel in San Francisco since 2017.
I’m a fan of this hire because of the 49ers’ impressive track record in the NFL Draft. Look at the players they obtained in the third day of the draft since 2017: George Kittle, D.J. Jones, D.J. Reed, Richie James, Dre Greenlaw, Jauan Jennings, Elijah Mitchell, and of course, Brock Purdy. Compare this to the caliber of player the Titans have drafted on Day 3 recently, and you can see a very stark contrast. Thus, the Titans seem like they’re in good hands with Carthon.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Browns hire DC Jim Schwartz: B+ Grade
It sounded like the Browns’ defensive coordinator job was going to come down to Jim Schwartz versus Brian Flores. Schwartz won out, though it’s possible that Flores has another job lined up somewhere else.
I would have preferred Flores if I were a Browns fan, but Schwartz is an excellent consolation prize. He tends to get the most out of his defensive linemen, so Myles Garrett has to be thrilled. Regardless, Schwartz is a major upgrade over the disaster that was Joe Woods.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Chargers fire OC Joe Lombardi: C Grade
So, the Chargers are not firing Brandon Staley? Perhaps they will ultimately can the guy responsible for Mike Williams’ injury in a meaningless game, but for now, it seems as though Joe Lombardi will be used as the scapegoat instead.
I think firing Lombardi is a good decision. Somehow, Justin Herbert ranked 31st in air yards under Lombardi’s watch, and it’s not like the Chargers had a poor offensive line blocking for Herbert. Lombardi’s play-calling made little sense at times.
With that in mind, why the “C” grade? Because the Chargers also should have fired Staley! It’s ridiculous that Staley is likely going to keep his job, but that’s the San Angeles Chargers for ya.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 16 Updates
Cardinals hire GM Monti Ossenfort: C- Grade
The Cardinals are in need of a head coach, but they had to hire a general manager first. They were able to replace Steve Keim, who had to step away due to health concerns, with Monti Ossenfort.
I can’t say I’m a big fan of this hire. Ossenfort was the director of player personnel with the Titans, yet I can only find one third-day pick of his who went on to have a very good start to his career, and that one player is rookie tight end Chig Okonkwo. Ossenfort was also holding his job as the Titans signed some aging, injury-prone players to big contracts, such as Bud Dupree. Furthermore, he was part of a front office that traded A.J. Brown, though I doubt he had much of a say in that decision.
I’m not going to fail the Cardinals for this hire because it could work, but this decision doesn’t seem like a great one. Here’s a list of the best available NFL general managers that the Cardinals should have hired instead.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 11 Updates
Jets fire OC Mike LaFleur: A Grade
The Jets and Mike LaFleur have technically “parted ways.” This reminds me of when my long-time girlfriend years ago told me she didn’t want to see me again, so we “parted ways” as well. Regardless of what you want to call it, this decision has to be seen as a positive for the Jets.
LaFleur lasted two years as the Jets’ offensive coordinator. In those two seasons, the Jets were 26th and 25th in yards. Under LaFleur, Zach Wilson failed to develop, Elijah Moore regressed, and Garrett Wilson told the media that the opposition knew what the Jets were doing ahead of time. All of this is obviously bad, so the Jets can improve their offense by finding an upgrade over LaFleur, which shouldn’t be difficult to do.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 10 Updates
Redskins fire OC Scott Turner: A Grade
I called for Scott Turner’s firing during the regular season, so I have to support this decision. The Redskins were poorly coached this season, and Turner was a huge part of the problem.
Some may argue that Turner didn’t have much of a chance because Carson Wentz is a lemon. While this is true, Turner’s dreadful play-calling didn’t help matters. The Redskins often telegraphed their running plays, as Turner had a habit of pounding the ball on first down and second-and-long. Wentz needed to be replaced, but Turner had to go as well.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 9 Updates
Titans fire OC Todd Downing: C Grade
Titans fans wanted Todd Downing fired, so I don’t think they’re going to be too pleased with this grade. I don’t think this is a terrible decision, by any means, but I don’t think it was a necessary one either.
Downing was the offensive coordinator for the Titans over the past two years. In those two years, Tennessee was 17th and 30th in yards. However, the Titans were ravaged by injury during those seasons. Derrick Henry missed half of 2021, and then he lost A.J. Brown and wasn’t given a proper replacement with experience. Making matters worse, he lost Taylor Lewan for the year in Week 2, and by the end of the season, he had Malik Willis and Joshua Dobbs at quarterback. I really don’t think Downing got a fair chance.
That said, there’s room for improvement over Downing, so like I said, I don’t hate this decision. I just don’t think it had to be done.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Cardinals fire HC Kliff Kingsbury: A+ Grade
Chalk up another head coach with no NFL experience failing in the pros. Kliff Kingsbury now officially joins a long list comprised of names like Steve Spurrier, Chip Kelly and Urban Meyer.
The only negative that can be said about this decision is that it occurred a year too late. Kingsbury was a disaster in the NFL, as he was often out-coached by his counterparts in the division. He showed no ability to adjust his game plan when things went awry, and his constant calls to have Kyler Murray throw deep passes on third down were tiresome.
The Cardinals are in a tough spot because they have an injury-prone quarterback taking up a huge chunk of their salary cap, so I’m not sure who can be brought in to drastically improve the situation. What we do know is that Kingsbury wasn’t capable of righting the ship, so firing him was an excellent decision.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Browns fire DC Joe Woods: A Grade
Joe Woods survived three years as Cleveland’s defensive coordinator. In chronological order, the Browns ranked 17th, fifth and 14th in yards allowed. Those rankings aren’t bad on the surface, but Woods’ unit was a constant disappointment, especially in 2022.
Given the high number of resources the Browns poured into their defense, they should have been much better this past season. Instead, the defense constantly let the team down, especially when Jacoby Brissett was starting. Brissett was considered to be the weak link of the team when the year started, yet he was soon seen as a major strength compared to the defense. The Browns failed to make the playoffs because of the defense, so Woods had to go.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Texans fire HC Lovie Smith: A Grade
The Texans’ head coaching position has effectively turned into the Defense Against the Dark Arts post, where the person holding it is gone after just one year. Lovie Smith was the latest victim, getting axed after a 3-13-1 season.
Smith is a defensive mastermind, but he makes for a lousy head coach. One might wonder why he was even hired for the job in the first place, but it seemed obvious that the Texans missed out on all their preferred candidates, so they settled for the default option for the short term. Houston, armed with two top-12 picks, including the second-overall choice, is now an attractive spot for a new head coach, so perhaps the front office can attract a better candidate this year.
I’m definitely in favor of this move. I’m giving it an “A” instead of an A+ because Smith didn’t necessarily deserve to be fired after what he had done in Houston, but it’s not like he had accomplished anything to warrant keeping his job.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Dec. 26 Updates
Broncos fire HC Nathaniel Hackett: A+ Grade
Black Monday came early for the Broncos, who decided to fire Nathaniel Hackett two weeks prior to the end of the regular season. However, this move was made way too late. In fact, I said on the WalterFootball YouTube channel that I would have fired Hackett after Week 1, because sometimes you just know. If you go out on a date with someone who constantly yells at the wait staff for no good reason and throws plates on the ground, you’re probably not going on a second date with that individual.
Hackett’s horrible play-calling and game management equated to the yelling and plate throwing. It was ridiculous that Denver had to hire a Madden player to help him manage the game. This should have been a major red flag, yet Denver kept Hackett and ultimately suffered one of the most embarrassing losses of the year, a 51-14 defeat against the Rams in front of a national audience on Christmas.
While this firing should have happened in mid-September, I still have to give the Broncos an A+ for firing Hackett. They ruined their 2022 season by keeping him on so long, but it’s better to be late than never.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Dec. 6 Updates
Tennessee Titans fire GM Jon Robinson: C Grade
I have to say I’m surprised that Jon Robinson was fired. The Titans were 66-43 under Robinson, and they never had a losing season with him as the general manager. At the very least, I would have expected Tennessee to wait until the end of the season to let go of him.
That said, the Titans must have been so embarrassed by Sunday’s performance, so they must have felt like they had no choice. The Titans traded A.J. Brown to the Eagles this past offseason, and Brown went on to completely humiliate his former team in a 35-10 blowout victory. Trading Brown was a huge gaffe on Robinson’s part.
Otherwise, Robinson had a mixed performance as general manager. He put together pieces that were good enough to go 66-43, but he made some blunders, like drafting Isaiah Wilson in the first round. He also wasted a second-round pick on an obviously decrepit Julio Jones. Conversely, Robinson had some amazing drafts. In 2019, Robinson drafted Jeffery Simmons, Brown, Nate Davis, Amani Hooker, and David Long. This is why I don’t think he necessarily deserved to be fired.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Nov. 7 Updates
Colts hire interim HC Jeff Saturday: A Grade
I usually don’t grade interim head coaching assignments because it’s not a real job. Whoever takes over for a fired head coach often doesn’t keep his job after the season is finished. That’s likely the case here as well.
That said, this is a controversial hire, so I figured I’d voice my opinion. When I first heard that Saturday was named interim head coach, my reaction was, “Oh, I didn’t know that Saturday was an assistant coach.” Well, he’s not. He has zero coaching experience, making this a bizarre move by owner Jim Irsay.
I know I’m in the minority, but I love it. This has nothing but upside. If Saturday somehow succeeds, Irsay will have revolutionized the coach hiring process. If, however, Saturday fails, which is the most likely result, the Colts will continue to lose. This is a good thing because it’s Indianapolis’ best interest to keep losing so that it can guarantee itself one of Bryce Young or C.J. Stroud in the 2023 NFL Draft. the Colts have endured quarterbacking woes since Andrew Luck’s unceremonious retirement, and this is the easiest way to fix that.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Colts fire HC Frank Reich: A Grade
I had high hopes for Frank Reich after he did a brilliant job of running Philadelphia’s offense during the 2017 Super Bowl run. Reich did nothing but disappoint in Indianapolis, however, posting a 40-33-1 record despite possessing some great talent. He was fired in the wake of the team’s blowout loss to the Patriots.
If there’s a defense of Reich, it’s that management always paired him with decrepit or lemon quarterbacks, but his in-game decision-making and play-calling created so many unnecessary losses. I will never understand lining up a quarterback in shotgun inches shy of the goal line and kicking field goals from the 1-yard line. Good riddance.
The Colts will move forward and play the Raiders next week. The Raiders, of course, are coached by Josh McDaniels, whom the Colts attempted to hire before he spurned them, forcing them to settle for Reich.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Oct. 10 Updates
Panthers fire HC Matt Rhule: A+ Grade
You could argue that this shouldn’t be an A+ because the Panthers should have fired Matt Rhule earlier. Still, it’s better late than never, with Carolina dismissing Rhule after five games this season and an 11-27 record overall.
Rhule was a terrible coach, becoming the latest college football experiment to fail in the NFL. He failed to develop his players and create quality game plans to help his team succeed in most contests. A telling statistic is that Rhule finished his Carolina tenure on a 3-16 against-the-spread skid. This means that his team met or exceeded expectations in just three of Rhule’s final 19 games.
The Panthers can move forward with a real head coach. There are rumors that they will hire Sean Payton after this season, which would be an excellent hire because Carolina will need someone to develop whichever quarterback it chooses atop the 2023 NFL Draft.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
March 31 Updates
Buccaneers hire HC Todd Bowles: C Grade
Bruce Arians made a surprising announcement Wednesday evening when he announced his retirement. Todd Bowles will be replacing him as head coach, with Arians hand-picking Bowles to be his successor.
I don’t know why Arians is able to choose his replacement, but it’s not the most exciting development. Bowles already had his chance at a coaching gig, and he went 24-40 with the Jets. Granted, he didn’t have a great quarterback during his tenure, but as I wrote when he was fired: “Bowles’ in-game management wasn’t very good, and his team quit on him a couple of times this season, particularly in a blowout loss to the Bills in the middle of the year.”
That said, this isn’t a terrible decision either. There should be a smooth transition from Arians to Bowles because the latter has been with the Buccaneers during their recent successful run. Besides, it’s not like the Buccaneers had many great choices this late into the offseason anyway.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Feb. 16 Updates
Vikings hire HC Kevin O’Connell: A Grade
This is the final head-coaching hire of this offseason. The Vikings couldn’t officially hire Kevin O’Connell until after the Super Bowl because he was coaching in it as the Rams’ offensive coordinator.
O’Connell is not some retread, which automatically makes this hiring appealing. He is seen as a sharp and young offensive-minded coach with plenty of upside. He has done great work with quarterbacks over the years, which includes the time he spent with Kirk Cousins in Washington. O’Connell can get Cousins to play up to his potential, which will be needed because the Vikings will have to jettison more talent on the roster because of the quarterback’s albatross of a contract.
O’Connell certainly has his work cut out for him. The Vikings’ cap situation is a mess. I really like this hire, but it may take a while for O’Connell to get the Vikings back on the winning track because of Cousins’ contract.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Feb. 10 Updates
Panthers hire OC Ben McAdoo: A Grade
People remember Ben McAdoo the most as the guy who had the gall to bench Eli Manning. McAdoo did a poor job as the Giants’ head coach, but was much better as an offensive coordinator. The Giants were 10th and eighth in yardage during McAdoo’s two years as coordinator. In fact, he did such a good job in that role that the Giants made him head coach so he wouldn’t leave.
McAdoo hasn’t done much since getting fired by the Giants. He most recently was the quarterbacks coach in Jacksonville, where he did a fine job with Gardner Minshew in 2020. McAdoo deserved another shot to be an offensive coordinator, so I like this hire by Carolina.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Feb. 9 Updates
Colts hire DC Gus Bradley: C- Grade
The Colts lost Matt Eberflus to the Chicago Bears’ head-coaching job. They obviously had to replace him, but they settled for an underwhelming choice in Gus Bradley.
The goal for any contending AFC team is to beat the Chiefs. Bradley’s defenses cannot beat the Chiefs. We know that because he has been in the same division as the Chiefs since 2017, serving as defensive coordinator for the Chargers for four seasons and then one more for the Raiders. In nine meetings against Patrick Mahomes, Bradley’s defenses have surrendered, in reverse-chronological order: 48, 41, 23, 31, 24, 28, 38, 30 and 24 points. That’s not good.
I understand that there’s more nuance to this hire than that, but there had to be better choices than Bradley to fill Eberflus’ shoes.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Raiders hire DC Patrick Graham: A+ Grade
Patrick Graham reportedly received strong interest as a head coach this offseason. If that’s true, I don’t understand why he wasn’t hired because he is definitely more promising than some of the bozos who received head-coaching jobs.
The Raiders will stand to benefit from this in the short term. Graham is a stellar defensive coordinator whose Giants defenses overachieved. Graham never had a great pass-rushing presence, and he lost Blake Martinez to an early season-ending injury last year, and yet his stop units thrived the past two seasons.
Graham won’t have to worry about a lack of talent on the edge in Las Vegas. He’ll have Maxx Crosby and Yannick Ngakoue at his disposal, so it’ll be interesting to see if the Raiders transition into having one of the better defenses in the NFL in 2022 and beyond.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Giants hire DC Don Martindale: B Grade
I will be grading some of the coordinator grades over the coming days. I won’t be grading all of them because some of the hires are complete unknowns with no coordinator experience.
The Giants didn’t pressure the quarterback very well last year, though they still were coached brilliantly by Patrick Graham. Despite the ninth-worst pressure rate in the NFL, Graham’s absence will be felt. He did a great job as the Giants’ coordinator last year even though he lost Blake Martinez to an early season-ending injury.
Don Martindale did a solid job as defensive coordinator for the Ravens, but he ultimately was let go for someone younger and potentially better. Martindale is known for his aggressive blitz schemes, which will be welcome in New York. Martindale’s defenses will do a better job of getting to the quarterback, though in-game adjustments will be worse than they were under Graham. Still, Martindale is a fine replacement for Graham, who will be coaching the Raiders in 2022.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Feb. 7 Updates
Saints hire HC Dennis Allen: F Grade
The thinking by promoting Dennis Allen from defensive coordinator to head coach is that the Saints can keep their foundation together. The problem with that is they’ll be missing their two key primary pieces moving forward: Sean Payton and Drew Brees.
Rather than hoping the Saints can keep winning without Payton and Brees, they should start over. And it’s not like Allen is some hot coaching prospect. We’ve seen Allen in action already, and he was a failure with the Raiders. His record in Oakland from 2012 to 2014 was 8-28. That’s even worse than Lovie Smith’s record at Illinois! Allen did a great job as New Orleans’ defensive coordinator, but he has proven that he’s not up to the task as a head coach.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Texans hire HC Lovie Smith: F Grade
When Lovie Smith was running the show at Illinois, the thought that he would be a terrific coach in his third NFL stint crossed my mind several times. Sure, Illinois went 17-39 during Smith’s 5-year tenure at the school, but his new Santa Claus beard made him look very smart and competent. The Texans obviously had the same thought process, which is why they made the extremely intelligent decision to hire him as their new head coach.
I’m obviously being facetious here because this hire is a joke. Before Smith was 17-39 with Illinois, he was 8-24 as head coach of the Buccaneers for two years. There were so many better candidates available, namely Brian Flores and even Josh McCown. Granted, McCown has never coached in the NFL, but at least he’s an unknown commodity with upside. There is no upside with Smith unless Houston believes his 28.4-percent win rate is the best the franchise could do.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Feb. 6 Updates
Dolphins hire HC Mike McDaniel: F Grade
Only Stephen Ross would be incompetent enough to downgrade his coaching staff willingly during a single offseason. Ross did this by firing Brian Flores and then replacing him with Mike McDaniel, who spent one year as San Francisco’s offensive coordinator.
The idea with McDaniel is that he’s supposed to get the most out of Tua Tagovailoa, but how is that supposed to happen when he failed to develop Jimmy Garoppolo during his five years in San Francisco? McDaniel didn’t even call plays last year, so I don’t see what this hire is supposed to accomplish besides prove that Ross is unbelievably bad at running an NFL organization.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Feb. 3 Updates
Jaguars hire HC Doug Pederson: D Grade
This is not the first time the Jaguars have acquired recycled materials from Philadelphia. They signed Nick Foles a few seasons ago, only to have that blow up in their face. This acquisition won’t be as bad because it won’t carry any financial implications, but it won’t allow Jacksonville to suddenly become a winning team either.
Doug Pederson was praised early in his career for winning a Super Bowl and developing Carson Wentz, but we soon discovered that it was his surrounding coaching staff that was largely responsible for that. The Eagles collapsed once the great assistant coaches departed, while Wentz regressed at a rapid pace. The Eagles fired Pederson shortly later.
I’m going to assume the Jaguars weren’t paying attention to what happened in Pederson’s final couple of years in Philadelphia because this is a stupid hire. I suppose it could be worse – Bill O’Brien’s name was floated around – but this deserves to be graded poorly.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Feb. 1 Updates
Bills promote Ken Dorsey to offensive coordinator: A+ Grade
The Bills lost one of the top offensive coordinators, Brian Daboll, to the Giants when Daboll became their new head coach. It seemed like a possibility that Ken Dorsey, the team’s quarterbacks coach and passing-game coordinator, would leave as well, but Buffalo managed to retain him as its new offensive coordinator.
This is a great development for the Bills because they would have been forced into hiring someone new to run the offense had Dorsey departed. This could have hurt Josh Allen a bit because he would’ve had to learn a new system. Instead, Allen can continue to flourish under the same coaching that did a great job of developing him over the past several seasons.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 31 Updates
Raiders hire HC Josh McDaniels: C+ Grade
I thought there was a chance the Raiders would stick with their current regime. Rich Bisaccia, with the help of mastermind offensive coordinator Greg Olson, did a phenomenal job of guiding the Raiders into the playoffs amid numerous controversies throughout the year. It was an impressive feat, yet Mark Davis didn’t see it that way. He opted instead to try his hand at the “Patriot Way,” a proven, losing strategy.
That said, I thought Josh McDaniels did a good job as a head coach in Denver. His regime failed because the Broncos gave him full control over personnel decisions for some reason. This led to the drafting of blocking tight ends in the second round. McDaniels won’t have that same sort of power in Las Vegas. He can concentrate on coaching.
I have mixed feelings about this hire. I like McDaniels, but I didn’t think a coaching change was necessary. Also, McDaniels isn’t a very trustworthy individual, so there’s a chance he’ll lose the locker room at some point.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 30 Updates
Raiders hire GM Dave Ziegler: C- Grade
It has to work this time, right? Many teams have tried to emulate the Patriots by plucking front office personnel and coaches from the New England franchise. Almost all of these attempts have failed, and the reason for that is simple: None of these teams have gotten Bill Belichick.
You’d think teams would learn their lesson by now, but apparently not. The Raiders are the latest franchise attempting to copy the Patriots. Dave Ziegler, the former director of player personnel, was in New England’s franchise for nine years, so he has tons of experience working with Belichick. That won’t translate to success, however. In fact, history says that this is likely a recipe for failure.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Ravens hire DC Mike Macdonald: A- Grade
Included in this grade is Baltimore’s firing of defensive coordinator Don Martindale, who was dismissed nine days ago. Martindale was known for his aggressive, blitz-heavy defense, but he was sometimes way too aggressive. He never adjusted for quarterbacks who devour the blitz like Patrick Mahomes and Joe Burrow, and his defenses suffered as a consequence.
Mike Macdonald, meanwhile, is just 34. He was never a coordinator in the NFL, serving as either a defensive backs or linebackers coach for the Ravens from 2017 to 2020. However, he was the defensive coordinator of Michigan’s great defense this past season. Harbaugh is obviously familiar with Macdonald and sees something in the young coach, so this decision will likely work well for the Ravens.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 29 Updates
Giants hire HC Brian Daboll: A- Grade
The Giants wanted Brian Daboll all along, and they managed to obtain him. Daboll, the former offensive coordinator of the Bills, will certainly be an ugrade over Joe Judge, if only because he won’t run a quarterback sneak on a third-and-9 play.
Daboll has been Josh Allen’s offensive coordinator throughout the young quarterback’s entire career. Daboll developed Allen from a raw prospect into one of the elite quarterbacks in the NFL. Given his great work with Allen, Daboll deserved a chance to be a head coach in the NFL. He has his work cut out for him with Daniel Jones, but perhaps Daboll can do some miracle work with the Giants’ young signal-caller.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 27 Updates
Bears hire HC Matt Eberflus: F Grade
When Matt Eberflus was presiding over a defense that had no answer for Trevor Lawrence in the must-win season finale, the thought, “Wow, this guy will make a great head coach” never popped into my head. The Colts generated a conference-best 33 turnovers in 2021, but they feasted on lots of bad competition. They always came up short in big games, and they struggled to put pressure on the quarterback despite spending a first-round pick on a defensive end.
Eberflus didn’t seem like the best candidate at all, or even a viable candidate. He also coaches the wrong side of the ball. Chicago needed to hire an offensive mastermind to help develop Justin Fields. Eberflus could always get a brilliant offensive coordinator, but if Fields makes great strides, that offensive coordinator will be snatched up by another team very quickly to be their head coach, and Fields will have to learn from someone else in a short time frame. That’s why the Bears needed to hire an offensive head coach.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Broncos hire HC Nathaniel Hackett: D/A Grade
Nathaniel Hackett didn’t call the plays in Green Bay, so you would think the Broncos would hire an offensive-minded coach who at least did that. Hackett didn’t seem like one of the top hiring options, so under normal circumstances, I would give Denver a low grade for this decision.
However, there are two grades attached to this hiring, and the second one will apply if it means that Aaron Rodgers will end up playing for Denver next season. Rodgers is a huge fan of Hackett’s, even endorsing him to be a head coach last year. With the Packers in cap hell, they may want to blow up their roster, and Rodgers has previously stated that he would want to play for a western team. It’s no coincidence that the Broncos’ Super Bowl odds for next year rose in the wake of this hire, so this will be a tremendous decision if it means Rodgers will be wearing a Bronco uniform next year.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 26 Updates
Vikings hire GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah: B+ Grade
It seemed like Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s name had been floated around as the favorite for the Vikings’ general manager job for the past week. Minnesota made it official Wednesday morning by hiring him to replace Rick Spielman.
Adofo-Mensah has been described as “super bright” by now-fellow general manager Andrew Berry; he has an MBA from Stanford and began serving in the 49ers’ front office in an analytics role nearly a decade ago. This is an important shift for the Vikings. Mike Zimmer was a great defensive mastermind, but he presided over offenses that had a 1990s mentality to them. I’ll never forget how he ran the Vikings into a loss versus the Ravens because the team refused to throw the ball with the lead versus a poor Baltimore secondary. I imagine this won’t happen under Adofo-Mensah’s watch, assuming he hires an analytically based head coach.
I like this hire. It’s nice that the Vikings are headed in a different direction with someone who came from a successful front office.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 25 Updates
Bears hire GM Ryan Poles: B+ Grade
Imagine telling Bears fans that their general manager for 2022 and beyond would be someone named Ryan P. I imagine a few of them would completely abandon their team for not disposing of Ryan Pace, but Chicago did just that, hiring Ryan Poles instead.
Poles had been in the Kansas City Chiefs’ front office for 12 years, ultimately ascending to the role of Assistant Director of Player Personnel. Poles undoubtedly had a role in the players the Chiefs selected, especially later in the draft. If so, that’s great news for the Bears. Just take a look at the Chiefs’ past three drafts. Some of the third-day picks they’ve made are Trey Smith, L’Jarius Sneed and Rashad Fenton. All three were good starters for Kansas City this past season.
I like this hire for Chicago. I would have placed a couple of possibilities in front of Poles, but it appears as though the Bears are headed in the right direction.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 21 Updates
Giants hire GM Joe Schoen: B+ Grade
The Giants endured David Gettleman’s disastrous regime, but they can finally move on from that with a new individual. They hired Joe Schoen, the former assistant general manager of the Buffalo Bills, as a replacement for Gettleman.
Schoen has two decades of scouting experience and helped the Bills build a Super Bowl-level roster. He deserved a chance to be a general manager in the NFL. I like this move, though there are a few other candidates I would have hired instead.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 17 Updates
Raiders fire GM Mike Mayock: B+ Grade
Mike Mayock has gotten lots of flak for some of his draft choices, but he made some spectacular ones as well. He found Maxx Crosby, Hunter Renfrow and Nate Hobbs with third-day selections. All of them have been stars for the Raiders.
However, Mayock has been guilty of his fair share of blunders as well. He whiffed on some first-round picks and made the mistake of acquiring Antonio Brown. Perhaps his greatest error came this past offseason when he was willing to jettison talented offensive linemen before a pair of teams called him up at the 11th hour and obtained both at bargain prices. Mayock’s failure to understand the importance of the offensive line was a huge oversight.
I initially planned to give this an A+ grade. However, I don’t think it would be fair to ignore the positives Mayock has accomplished as the Raiders’ general manager.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 13 Updates
Texans fire HC David Culley: A Grade
A 4-13 record is not very impressive, but that actually met expectations for the Texans. Their projected win total heading into 2021 was four wins, so they matched that total. From that perspective, firing David Culley wasn’t warranted, especially after just one season.
However, there’s more to this decision, and that would be Culley’s horrendous job of handling the players. He constantly clashed with some of his better players and even was forced into cutting Zach Cunningham for that reason. Culley created a toxic environment in the locker room, so it was difficult to see him have long-term success for that season. Besides, the Texans can find a much better coach than Culley like Brian Flores, Jim Harbaugh or Jim Caldwell. All three would be huge upgrades.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 11 Updates
Giants fire HC Joe Judge: A+ Grade
The Giants didn’t fire Joe Judge on Black Monday, leading some to speculate that they would retain him for another year. This may have started a revolt among Giants fans, so it’s a good thing the team finally made the right decision.
Judge’s tenure with New York was a disaster. The Giants went 10-23 under his watch, and they weren’t remotely competitive in many of their losses. They were blown out in every game down the stretch of the 2021 season, and they drew the ire of the fans when they made asinine play calls like running a quarterback sneak on a third-and-8. Furthermore, players had gotten worse under Judge. Daniel Jones, Saquon Barkley and Kenny Golladay are some of the players who regressed under Judge’s watch.
This is a no-brainer A+ grade. Judge was in over his head while being in charge of the Giants. Almost anyone New York hires will be a huge upgrade.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 10 Updates
Vikings fire HC Mike Zimmer and GM Rick Spielman: C+/B- Grade
The Dolphins made an idiotic decision to let go of Brian Flores. The Bears firing Ryan Pace and Matt Nagy was a no-brainer. This, on the other hand, is more nuanced.
I think Mike Zimmer is an excellent coach. He has his flaws, like being too conservative at times, but he’s a defensive mastermind, and his players try hard for him. He didn’t have much playoff success outside of advancing to the NFC Championship in 2017, but he never finished with a record worse than 7-9 either. That said, Zimmer turns 66 this summer, so I don’t blame the Vikings for wanting a younger, more offensive-minded coach.
Spielman, on the other hand, made a horrible decision that cost him his job. The egregious mistake, of course, was giving Kirk Cousins a fully guaranteed contract. This sapped much of the talent on the roster, as the Vikings had to get rid of some key players because Cousins commanded much of the salary cap. Spielman made some great draft choices, like selecting Stefon Diggs in the fifth round, but the Cousins signing was horrible, and anyone with half a brain knew it at the time.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Bears fire HC Matt Nagy and GM Ryan Pace: A+/A+ Grade
It’s no surprise that the Bears have fired both their head coach and general manager. The duo of Matt Nagy and Ryan Pace greatly disappointed following a promising 2018 season that concluded with the double doink. Since then, the Bears are 22-27.
Nagy proved to be an incompetent head coach who needed to be fired. He failed to develop the No. 2 overall pick in the draft and then seemed to be making the same mistakes with Justin Fields. It was telling that Fields had one of his best games when Nagy had to sit out with a minor illness. Chicago needed to make sure that Fields would be appropriately developed, and that wouldn’t happen under Nagy’s watch.
As for Pace, he proved himself to be an incompetent general manager. He made some nice moves here and there, but the mistakes greatly outweighed the positive decisions. The worst blunder was trading up for Mitchell Trubisky rather than selecting either Patrick Mahomes or Deshaun Watson. There were also other things like paying big bucks to Trey Burton, Taylor Gabriel, Buster Skrine and Jimmy Graham. The Bears could obtain a better general manager by hiring some college kid playing Madden, so firing Pace was a no-brainer.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Dolphins fire HC Brian Flores: F Grade
What!? When I saw this news posted this morning, I thought it was a joke. Like, “Haha, Brian Flores is fired, just kidding, let’s get to the real coaches who got fired like Matt Nagy and Joe Judge.”
Instead, the news was real, somehow. I don’t understand it. Flores, in my opinion, is one of the better coaches in the NFL. He’s a defensive mastermind, and players try hard for him. They rallied back from 1-7 and nearly made the playoffs. Miami didn’t quite get there, but the team still finished with a winning record. This was the first time the Dolphins had consecutive winning seasons since the Dave Wannstedt era. You’d think this would warrant an extension of sorts. Instead, Miami let Flores go.
I don’t understand Stephen Ross’ mindset regarding this move. Any coach he hires is likely to be a downgrade from Flores. The only reason the Dolphins didn’t make the playoffs under Flores’ watch is because the front office selected Tua Tagovailoa over Justin Herbert, and yet Ross didn’t fire the general manager. Nothing Ross is doing makes any sense, so this decision needs to be graded accordingly.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 9 Updates
Broncos fire HC Vic Fangio: B Grade
Vic Fangio is a great defensive-minded coach who never really had a chance to succeed as a head coach in the NFL. His defenses have been great, but he was ridden with pedestrian quarterbacks like Teddy Bridgewater and Drew Lock throughout his tenure. It’s no wonder that Denver never made the playoffs with Fangio as its head coach.
That said, Fangio doesn’t seem like he’s suited to be a head coach. We’ve seen this with other defensive masterminds like Wade Phillips and Dick LeBeau. Fangio’s in-game management wasn’t great, and he usually lost the close games. Perhaps that was a byproduct of quarterbacking, but such maneuvers like kicking a field goal while down seven with four minutes remaining is why Fangio should probably just be a defensive coordinator.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Dec. 16 Updates
Jaguars fire HC Urban Meyer: A+ Grade
Urban Meyer shouldn’t have been hired in the first place, given that he had no NFL experience before taking the Jacksonville head-coaching job. The Jaguars absolutely had to fire him, and the only criticism anyone can make of this decision is that it wasn’t done earlier.
Meyer’s entire tenure in Jacksonville was a complete disaster. It began right away when he signed Tim Tebow and then ran the ball with Carlos Hyde instead of James Robinson in the season opener. Four weeks later, Meyer didn’t take the flight home with his team, opting instead to party in Ohio bars instead. Meyer eventually called his assistants “losers” and saw Trevor Lawrence regress under his watch. Meyer also clashed with some of his players, including Marvin Jones and former kicker Josh Lambo. According to Lambo, Meyer kicked him, and when Meyer protested, Meyer shouted, “I’m the head ball coach, I’ll kick you whenever the f**k I want.”
There’s no reason Meyer should ever coach in the NFL again. I imagine he’ll be coaching in college at some point in the future, where he can pay all the athletes he pleases. NFL athletes were already getting paid, so Meyer never had any sort of edge in the NFL. I have no idea how Jacksonville never realized this.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Dec. 6 Updates
Panthers fire OC Joe Brady: D Grade
Joe Brady was a star two years ago. He orchestrated LSU’s terrific offense and probably could’ve gotten some sort of head-coaching job at the collegiate level. Instead, he chose to be the offensive coordinator for the Panthers. Brady’s offenses in Carolina struggled, but he didn’t exactly have the greatest quarterbacks at his disposal. It would’ve been difficult for any coordinator to succeed with Teddy Bridgewater, Phillip Walker, Sam Darnold and a washed-up Cam Newton.
The Panthers have decided to fire Brady after he failed to develop Darnold. I’m not sure Darnold is even salvageable, so Carolina’s decision to potentially make Brady the scapegoat is a real head-scratcher, especially when considering Brady had Christian McCaffrey at his disposal for only 10 of 28 possible games.
I’m going to grade this as a “D” instead of an “F” because I think it’s possible that Brady could’ve asked for this dismissal because he had a collegiate job lined up for himself. That’s the only logical reason I can come up with for this firing.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Nov. 23 Updates
Giants fire OC Jason Garrett: A+ Grade
I remembered loving the Giants as a long shot to win the Super Bowl ahead of the 2020 season. Daniel Jones was coming off a promising rookie campaign, and the Giants had tons of cap space to build around their young quarterback and Saquon Barkley.
And then, the Giants hired Jason Garrett, and I knew this regime would be a failure. Garrett was an inept offensive coach in Dallas, and he was destined to fail with the Giants. Garrett failed to develop Jones whatsoever and was often outcoached by the opposition. Despite having a talented, young quarterback and tons of play-makers, the Giants have maintained one of the worst offenses in the NFL this year. Garrett had to go, so this firing should be graded an A+.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Oct. 11 Updates
Raiders fire HC Jon Gruden: D- Grade
The report of Jon Gruden’s e-mail about DeMaurice Smith surfaced Friday. It appeared as though that story would disappear, but that changed Monday evening when new e-mails were conveniently brought to light. This prompted Raiders owner Mark Davis to fire Gruden, who officially “resigned” in order to save face.
It’s unclear what exactly what is in those e-mails. Adam Schefter noted that there were racist and homophobic slurs, but given how he and the rest of the sports media hypes everything, I get the feeling that the content of the e-mails isn’t as bad as he’s making it out to be. Schefter also cited that Gruden berated Roger Goodell and some owners, but I think that’s perfectly fine because he said those words 10 years ago while he was a pundit on TV. As a football color analyst, it was his job to say these things about people in the league. Then again, perhaps the e-mails were truly bad. There’s no way of knowing right now, but the Smith e-mail was certainly a typical media overreaction, so I’m willing to believe these are as well. Not only that; Gruden said these things in private e-mails that he never expected to be public. I’m not OK with someone being canned for what they say in a private e-mail, especially if they do so before they take the job in question.
Many have criticized Gruden over the years, but he has done a good job of making the Raiders into a competitive football team. The Raiders were the laughing stock of the NFL prior to Gruden’s arrival, but that hasn’t been the case since. Thus, Davis likely made a mistake by firing Gruden. Davis has been a mostly incompetent owner – I can say this because I, too, am a pundit – so it’s not a surprise that Davis would cave to ridiculous cancel culture.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Feb. 7 Updates
Packers hire DC Joe Barry: F Grade
There are plenty of promising positional coaches who deserved a chance to be a defensive coordinator in the NFL. The Packers ignored all of those options, choosing to hire proven failure Joe Barry instead.
I don’t understand this decision. Barry has been a defensive coordinator twice throughout his career. His first stint was in Detroit, where he helped the Lions achieve an 0-16 record. He got a second chance with the Redskins, who ranked 28th in yardage allowed in both years Barry coached for them.
Barry is one of the worst defensive coordinators of this current generation. Why would the Packers give him a third chance? It would be like hiring Matt Millen to be the general manager, or Rich Kotite as a head coach. This move deserves an “F” grade.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 29 Updates
Texans hire DC Lovie Smith: B+ Grade
It’s rare for the Texans to make a good decision, so putting a “B+” on the above line sent shockwaves through my system. I think I’m going to need some time to recover.
Lovie Smith was a failure as a head coach, particularly at Illinois, where he held a dismal 17-39 record. However, Smith has always been a sharp defensive coordinator, so he seems like a good hire. My one concern is that at 63, Smith may be exhausted and may not have any new ideas, but this hire should work for Houston.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Titans hire OC Todd Downing: C Grade
This was actually a promotion, as Todd Downing was the tight ends coach last year. The last time the Titans promoted a tight ends coach to offensive coordinator, it was Arthur Smith, so this move has obvious upside.
I can’t say I’m very high on this “hire,” however. Downing was the Raiders’ offensive coordinator in 2017, so we have a glimpse into how he’ll perform with the Titans. Downing’s Raiders were 23rd in points and 17th in yardage despite the scoring unit being comprised of Derek Carr, Amari Cooper, Michael Crabtree, Marshawn Lynch and a talented offensive line. Downing will have plenty of talent to work with in Tennessee, but it’s doubtful that he’ll have the team as productive as it was under Smith.
The Titans also promoted Shane Bowen to defensive coordinator, but given that Mike Vrabel will continue to call the plays, I didn’t think this move was worth grading.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 27 Updates
Texans hire HC David Culley: F Grade
The Texans have been the worst-run organization in the NFL in recent years, and that’s saying something because there are several incompetent franchises. If it weren’t for Deshaun Watson, Houston would have gone 0-16 in 2020. Given Watson’s demands, that could happen this year if he’s dealt.
It’s not yet known what Watson thinks of David Culley, but he’s not the most promising candidate to fill the last vacant head-coaching job. In his most recent coaching stints, Culley was Josh Allen’s quarterbacks coach during Allen’s pedestrian rookie year. Culley was promptly upgraded in the wake of Allen’s struggles. He was then the passing-game coordinator for the Ravens, a team that struggled to move the ball aerially with Lamar Jackson.
It’s not clear what the Texans see in Culley. Then again, all of their other moves in recent years have been puzzling, so this is just part of the trend.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Seahawks hire OC Shane Waldron: B Grade
The Seahawks have hired an upgrade over Brian Schottenheimer. Granted, almost anyone would have been an upgrade over him, but bringing in Shane Waldron was not a bad decision.
Waldron was the Rams’ passing-game coordinator for the past three years. He did well with what he had in Jared Goff, though Sean McVay obviously had to do a lot with that. Still, Waldron learned from McVay, and he can also provide insight into a rival the Seahawks have problems beating, so there are definitely some positives to this hire.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 26 Updates
Lions hire OC Anthony Lynn: A Grade
Anthony Lynn’s downfall as a head coach was his poor game and clock management. However, he was a good offensive-minded coach, so some team was going to make a great hire by bringing him in to run their offense. Detroit did just that, earning an “A” grade in the process.
Lynn was part of a coaching staff that accomplished tremendous things with Justin Herbert last year. Lynn also did a great job with Austin Ekeler. As a former running backs coach, Lynn figures to get the most out of D’Andre Swift, whom the Lions will build around moving forward without Matthew Stafford.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Eagles hire OC Shane Steichen: A Grade
The Eagles had some of the NFL’s worst coaching last year. They’ve made dramatic changes for the better this offseason, and that includes hiring Shane Steichen to be their new offensive coordinator.
Steichen did a phenomenal job with Justin Herbert last season. Many considered Herbert to be raw and erratic upon his entrance into the NFL, yet Steichen transformed him into the offensive rookie of the year. Perhaps Steichen will be able to use similar magic with Carson Wentz and/or Jalen Hurts. Furthermore, Steichen and Nick Sirianni worked together in the Chargers’ organization for several seasons, so the familiarity the two have with each other will allow for a smooth transition.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Chargers hire OC Joe Lombardi: D Grade
Really? Joe Lombardi? I wrote about a week ago that Brandon Staley needed to hire a brilliant offensive coordinator to help Justin Herbert’s development, and all he could come up with was Joe Lombardi?
For those not familiar with this Lombardi, I wrote the following about him when the Lions fired him a few years ago: “Lombardi’s offense was so predictable that the opposition was actually calling out the team’s plays before the snap. Lombardi wasn’t creative at all, and Detroit’s offense has been stagnant as a result.”
Perhaps Lombardi has learned some stuff since then. He was the Saints’ quarterbacks coach for the past few years, after all, so he may have had something to do with Taysom Hill’s development. Perhaps that’ll help Herbert, but the play-calling is likely to be predictable.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Steelers hire OC Matt Canada: C Grade
This wasn’t technically a hire, as Matt Canada was promoted from quarterbacks coach to offensive coordinator. Still, an e-mailer reminded me that I forgot this grade, so here we are.
The Steelers were correct to replace Randy Fichtner, but probably could have done better in their search of a new offensive coordinator. Canada might end up being a good coordinator, but he doesn’t have much pro experience. It also bothers me that he has held jobs at seven different posts since 2011. He parted ways on “mutual terms” on multiple occasions, so that’s not the greatest indicator.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 23 Updates
Panthers hire GM Scott Fitterer: A Grade
It’s about time an NFL team hired someone from Seattle’s front office. Both Scott Fitterer and Trent Kirchner, general manager John Schneider’s top lieutenants, have been interviewing for jobs for several years. It was inevitable that at least one of them would be hired as a general manager, and the Panthers opted for the former.
The Seahawks have a tremendous front office, so it makes sense for the Panthers to pull the trigger on Fitterer. Seattle routinely finds great talent in the middle and late rounds of the draft, and Fitterer has been a big part of that. The same can be said of Kirchner, so that’s someone else another front office could consider in the near future.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Rams hire DC Raheem Morris: A+ Grade
The Rams have been blessed with great defensive coaches during Sean McVay’s tenure. McVay initially hired Wade Phillips and then replaced him with Brandon Staley last year. Staley moved on to be a head coach elsewhere, prompting McVay to make another great hire, bringing in Raheem Morris.
Atlanta’s defense was a mess in the first half of the 2019 campaign. However, the Falcons named Morris defensive coordinator, and things quickly changed. Atlanta’s defense improved tremendously despite the unit sorely lacking talent in several places. Morris also did a good job as the Falcons’ interim head coach when Dan Quinn was fired, so the Rams did well to add him as Staley’s replacement.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Falcons hire DC Dean Pees: A+ Grade
I didn’t understand the Dave Ragone hire, but this is a tremendous move. Dean Pees was one of the top defensive coordinators in the NFL over the past 15 years before deciding to retire ahead of the 2020 campaign. He coordinated the 2012 Ravens to their Super Bowl, and Tennessee’s defense fell apart without him after the 2019 season.
New Falcons head coach Arthur Smith was able to coax Pees out of retirement, as the two coached together in Tennessee. This is just a short-term hire because Pees is 71, but it’s a tremendous one. It reminds me of Sean McVay getting Wade Phillips to be his defensive coordinator when he became coach of the Rams in 2017. Pees will instantly improve an always-underachieving Falcon defense over the next couple of years.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Falcons hire OC Dave Ragone: C- Grade
I almost didn’t grade this hire because new head coach Arthur Smith will serve as his own play-caller with the Falcons. However, it was just too odd not to grade.
Who is Dave Ragone, you ask? Some may remember him as Louisville’s quarterback long ago, but Ragone has most recently served as Chicago’s passing-game coordinator. That’s right. He was the passing-game coordinator of the Bears, a team that has had some of the most inept quarterbacking in the past several years.
I don’t get it. This is like hiring Warren Sapp to be your accountant. I know that Smith and Ragone coached together a decade ago, but I don’t see what Ragone can possibly contribute to the Falcons.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jaguars hire OC Darrell Bevell: F Grade
Trevor Lawrence will be playing in the NFL on Hard Mode. The Jaguars have made all the wrong moves this offseason, hiring an exhausted head coach with no pro experience and a general manager who tried his best to ruin an NFL franchise. The Jaguars continued making terrible decisions, bringing in Darrell Bevell to be their offensive coordinator.
I’ve heard Bevell described as a “nice guy, but terrible coordinator.” I don’t know him personally, but I would agree with the latter sentiment. Bevell was able to get the least out of Russell Wilson during his 7-year tenure in Seattle. He then moved on to Detroit, where he wasted countless downs feeding the ball to the decrepit Adrian Peterson rather than D’Andre Swift. Bevell has been one of the worst offensive coordinators in the NFL over the past decade, so it’s unclear why the Jaguars thought that hiring would be a good decision.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Bears hire DC Sean Desai: B+ Grade
Some people with low intelligence are calling this a great hire because of Sean Desai’s non-football background, but that’s nonsense, of course. I like the move though, so I’ll give the Bears a B+ for promoting Desai to defensive coordinator.
There are several things wrong with the Bears, who had no business being in the playoffs this past season. However, the defense was not one of them. Chicago’s stop unit has been stellar over the past several years, carrying Matt Nagy’s inept offense throughout his tenure. The Bears’ defense was especially great when Vic Fangio coached it, and Desai was apparently Fangio’s right-hand man. Desai deserves a shot to coordinate Chicago’s defense, so this appears to be a quality move.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 21 Updates
Jaguars hire GM Trent Baalke: F Grade
Wow. There are so many great general manager candidates available, and the Jaguars went with Trent Baalke? That’s unreal.
Baalke ruined the 49ers in the middle portion of the last decade. When the 49ers fired him, I gave it an A++ grade. Here’s what I wrote:
I don’t think I’ve ever given an A++ grade for a coach hiring or firing, but this certainly warrants one. Trent Baalke has finally been axed as the 49ers’ general manager, per a Jay Glazer report.
I can’t believe it’s finally happened. Baalke, along with Jed York, destroyed the 49ers’ once-great franchise. Baalke got rid of Jim Harbaugh because he couldn’t get along with a top-five NFL head coach. He followed that up by hiring “yes man” Jim Tomsula as a replacement, and he predictably proved to be a disaster. Baalke then brought in Chip Kelly, who was a proven failure as an NFL head coach. Kelly had already shown that he didn’t understand simple NFL concepts, so hiring him was an insanely stupid decision.
Baalke’s personnel moves were also very questionable. He managed to nail some draft picks, but he whiffed on plenty of selections, including A.J. Jenkins (first round, 2012), LaMichael James (second round, 2012), Tank Carradine (second round, 2013), and so on. He overpaid for some players – why are Vance McDonald and Garrett Celek getting a combined $50 million? – and made horrible moves in free agency, signing Zane Beadles, Reggie Bush (4 years, $16 million!) and Torrey Smith (5 years, $40 million!!!!).
This deserves an “F.” The Jaguars still have a bright future with Trevor Lawrence, but Baalke will probably find a way to ruin things.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Falcons hire GM Terry Fontenot: A Grade
Terry Fontenot has never been a general manager in the NFL, but as I wrote with Brad Holmes signing, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Ozzie Newsome never held a job before becoming general manager of the Ravens in 2002, after all.
Fontenot doesn’t have experience, but he certainly has promise. He’s worked in the Saints’ front office for the past 18 years. New Orleans has maintained one of the best personnel departments in the NFL this past decade. They routinely find stellar talents in the middle and late portions of the draft, and Fontenot was part of that decision-making.
The Falcons deserve a high grade for this move. As I wrote, there’s lots of upside. It’s also logical for the Falcons to go after an important member of a rival’s organization, as Fontenot will undoubtedly give his new team some insight into what the Saints are doing.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Redskins hire GM Martin Mayhew: B Grade
Martin Mayhew served as Detroit’s general manager for nearly a decade. He went 41-65 with the team, but was able to get them into the playoffs. That’s basically like winning a Super Bowl with a better NFL franchise.
Mayhew was very hit-or-miss with his draft picks. There were the no-brainers like Matthew Stafford and Ndamukong Suh, but he also made some great choices like Kyle Van Noy, Darius Slay and Larry Warford. However, he was also responsible for drafting early-round busts like Jordan Dizon, Jahvid Best, Titus Young, Mikel Leshoure, Ameer Abdullah, Eric Ebron and Brandon Pettigrew. Luckily, the Redskins have running backs and tight ends, so Mayhew doesn’t have to waste picks on those positions.
I think this is an OK hire. There were better candidates available, but the Redskins could have done much worse as well.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Eagles hire HC Nick Sirianni: A- Grade
Think Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie has some remorse about allowing Frank Reich to leave the team? Doug Pederson won the Super Bowl in 2017, but it’s become increasingly evident that Reich was the true mastermind behind the operation. Carson Wentz has regressed without his former offensive coordinator, while the Colts have been able to benefit from his excellent coaching.
Lurie couldn’t get Reich back, but he was able to obtain the next-best thing in Nick Sirianni, who has been Reich’s offensive coordinator. Sirianni, who is only 39, is seen as the next young offensive guru. He’s done an excellent job over the past decade as an offensive coordinator, quarterbacks coach and wide receivers coach for the Colts, Chargers and Chiefs. Sirianni has worked with Reich extensively, so perhaps he’ll be able to bring the same great coaching back to the Eagles.
I like this hire quite a bit. Sirianni is obviously unproven as a head coach, but so were Sean McVay, Kyle Shanahan, Matt LaFleur, etc. Regardless, it’s a good thing the Eagles didn’t settle for a retread, given that they were rumored to be interested in Josh McDaniels.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 19 Updates
Lions hire HC Dan Campbell: B Grade
Dan Campbell, known otherwise as PC Head Coach, was the interim head coach of the Dolphins in 2015. He took over for the inept Joe Philbin and went 5-7 to close out the season despite coaching a team that didn’t have much talent. Campbell’s calling card was motivating his team. That, and supporting Strong Woman in her various athletic competitions.
I’m fine with this hire. I would have preferred a quarterback guru of sorts, but a motivational coach can be successful in the pros as long as he surrounds himself with a brilliant coaching staff. It remains to be seen what Campbell will do in that regard, though we know he tabbed Aaron Glenn to be his defensive coordinator. Glenn, serving with Campbell on the Saints’ coaching staff as the defensive backs coach, is a smart guy who could have thrive in his new role. He had gotten the most out of most of his young defensive backs, so he’ll at least improve the secondary.
I’ll give the Lions a “B” grade for Campbell at the moment, but I could be more bullish on this hire once we know whom else he plans on adding to his staff. The Glenn hire is an A-, so Campbell is off to a good start.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 17 Updates
Chargers hire HC Brandon Staley: B Grade
I can’t say I feel too strongly one way or the other with this hire at the moment. We’ll learn more about this move soon, as Staley has a very important decision to make.
This, of course, involves Justin Herbert. Most expected the Chargers to hire an offensive head coach to help mentor Herbert, but Staley could just as easily find a brilliant offensive coordinator to do the same. Staley’s tenure in San Angeles will hinge on that decision.
As for this hiring overall, Staley is young (38) and lacks experience, as he’s been a coordinator just one year in the NFL. However, hiring young coaches like Staley has panned out in the past, and Staley did a masterful job with the Rams’ defense as a replacement for Wade Phillips.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 15 Updates
Falcons hire HC Arthur Smith: B+ Grade
I’ve seen many complaints that the Falcons passed on Eric Bienemy, but this is just as good of a hire. It’s not a slam dunk, by any means, but the Falcons did well in finding a replacement for Dan Quinn.
Smith did impressive work in Tennessee. He coordinated one of the top offenses in the NFL despite having to revive the careers of Ryan Tannehill and Corey Davis. What he accomplished with Tannehill was especially impressive; Tannehill was seen as a scrub quarterback prior to 2019, but the former Dolphin improved exponentially with the Titans.
Smith seems to get the best out of his players, so he should be able to do the same with either Matt Ryan or a quarterback chosen No. 4 overall.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jets hire HC Robert Saleh: A+ Grade
There was some pessimism from Jets supporters once Robert Saleh was allowed to leave the building without a contract. Luckily for the Jets, they were able to agree to terms with Saleh before another team hired him.
Saleh was the top coaching candidate available. It was shocking that he didn’t get an offer last offseason, but there was way too much interest for that not to happen this time. Then again, it could be argued that what Saleh did this year was more impressive than what he accomplished with his Super Bowl defense in 2019. Despite countless injuries to the defense – the 49ers had as many as eight starters missing at times – Saleh’s 2020 unit finished fifth in DVOA!
In addition to being a great defensive coach, Saleh is beloved by his players, so his team will play hard for him. It’s unclear how he’ll fare in regard to clock and game management, but those are the only unknowns. With all that in mind, the Jets deserve an A+ for this hire.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 14 Updates
Lions hire GM Brad Holmes: A+ Grade
I’ve seen that some Detroit fans are upset about this signing because Brad Holmes has never been a general manager before. That doesn’t make much sense to me because all first-time general managers were never general managers before their post. Ozzie Newsome, for example, was never a general manager before taking that job with the Ravens in 2002, and I’d say he worked out very well.
I’m strongly in favor of this hire. Brad Holmes had his work cut out for him as the college scouting director with the Rams because Los Angeles hasn’t drafted in the first round since they selected Jared Goff first overall in the 2016 NFL Draft. The Goff pick wasn’t Holmes’ decision, but he was in charge of a team that identified many second- and third-day steals. Just look at some of picks in the past five years:
Cam Akers and Taylor Rapp (2nd round); Cooper Kupp, John Johnson and Joseph Noteboom (3rd round); John Franklin-Myers and Tyler Higbee (4th round); David Edwards and Micah Kiser (5th round); Jordan Fuller (6th round). All of these players are starters in the NFL right now. All of them! That’s insane scouting.
Including Goff, the Rams have drafted 11 starters in the past five years despite having just one first-round pick in that span. The Lions did a great job of recognizing this, so I’m giving them an A+ for their hire.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jaguars hire HC Urban Meyer: C Grade
I’m sure this will get lots of acclaim from the media and fans. Urban Meyer is a big name, after all, so he has to be considered a great hire by the Jaguars, who have endured Doug Marrone’s poor coaching for years. However, I can’t say I’m as bullish about the move.
I have two concerns about this hire. First, Meyer has never coached or played in the NFL. There’s a long history of college-only coaches failing in the pros. There are, of course, exceptions to the rule, so it’s not a guarantee that Meyer will fail for this reason. However, there’s definitely a dubious track record going against him.
Second, Meyer tends to get burned out wherever he goes. How long is he going to last in Jacksonville? Will he still be enthusiastic to coach in two years, especially after enduring the rigorous NFL schedule? I have my doubts that Meyer will want to keep going after two or three seasons, which means Trevor Lawrence will have to learn a new offensive system by 2024.
Having said that, there’s a chance this hiring will pan out. At the very least, it’s a highly intriguing move.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 13 Updates
Broncos hire GM George Paton: A Grade
The Battle of the Bulge was nothing compared to what George Paton did in Minnesota. Working as Rick Spielman’s right-hand man in Minnesota, Paton helped put together some terrific draft classes. By all accounts, Paton is an excellent talent evaluator, so he deserved a chance to be in charge of personnel decisions for an NFL organization.
The Broncos made a strong hire here, and I think they deserve an “A” grade for it. It’s nice that John Elway didn’t go for a failed retread, opting instead to go for upside.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 12 Updates
Seahawks fire OC Brian Schottenheimer: A+ Grade
So much for the Seahawks retaining Brian Schottenheimer. News broke that the Seahawks planned on keeping their horrible offensive coordinator despite Seattle’s severe offensive struggles down the stretch. Apparently, Seattle had a change of heart.
This was obviously the right move. Seattle’s offensive shift in the second half of the season made no sense. Utilizing a run-first offense crushed the team’s scoring ability in the final weeks, including the playoffs. Schottenheimer called a terrible game against the Rams, so it would have been a big mistake to retain him. Seattle should get an A+ for making the correct decision.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Raiders hire DC Gus Bradley: A- Grade
It’s interesting that two former Seahawk defensive coordinators were hired at the same position in a span of 24 hours. While Dan Quinn was hired by the Cowboys, Gus Bradley will be joining the Raiders.
I like this hire more for the Raiders because Bradley has been more successful as a defensive coordinator for a longer time and with multiple teams. Bradley also coordinated the Chargers the past four years, with his defenses finishing 15th, ninth, sixth and 10th in yardage allowed in that span.
Another positive to the Bradley hire is that he’s familiar with the AFC West. His defense did a great job against Patrick Mahomes in Week 2 last year, so it made sense for the Raiders to bring him in as their next defensive coordinator.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Cowboys hire DC Dan Quinn: B+ Grade
Prior to coaching the Falcons, Dan Quinn was the Seahawks’ defensive coordinator. He did an excellent job with Seattle, which earned him the Atlanta job. Things didn’t pan out with the Falcons, so he’ll return to his former duties with the Cowboys.
The Seahawks got worse defensively when Quinn left the team, though he had some amazing talent to work with in Seattle. It could be pointed out that the Falcons’ defense was routinely abysmal under Quinn, and it actually improved upon his firing, but it’s not like Atlanta had many good players on the defensive side of the ball. Their ineptitude was more on the front office than anything else.
Given that Quinn has performed well as just a defensive coordinator, he deserves another shot. This is not an amazing hire, but Quinn figures to be an upgrade over what the Cowboys had last year.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 11 Updates
Eagles fire HC Doug Pederson: A- Grade
Philadelphia waited for a Super Bowl for decades. Doug Pederson finally led the team to a championship to conclude the 2017 campaign. If you were to tell an Eagles fan at the time that the team would fire Pederson three years later, they would have called you crazy.
And yet, it’s the correct move. I don’t think it’s a no-brainer like the Doug Marrone and Adam Gase dismissals, but it’s become quite apparent that Pederson wasn’t as responsible for the Super Bowl victory as many initially believed. Pederson assembled a terrific coaching staff that helped the team prevail. When those assistant coaches departed, the Eagles progressively got worse. Owner Jeffrey Lurie reportedly wanted to see Pederson assemble a great staff once again, but was apparently “underwhelmed” by Pederson’s ideas. Hours later, Pederson was canned.
It’s also worth noting that Pederson lost his locker room, which is another reason this firing makes sense. Pederson benched Jalen Hurts in Week 17 to improve his draft positioning. While this was a good move for the team in the long run, the players didn’t respect this decision. In fact, some players had to be held back from confronting Pederson on the sideline. I thought at the time this could ultimately cost Pederson his job, and that’s exactly what happened.
Either way, Pederson was doing a poor job of preparing the Eagles each week. They constantly underachieved following the 2017 campaign, so changes needed to be made.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 4 Updates
Chargers fire HC Anthony Lynn: D Grade
I gave the Jets and Jaguars A+ grades for firing Adam Gase and Doug Marrone, respectively. I’m not as high on this decision by the Chargers, however.
Anthony Lynn was the laughing stock of the NFL for a couple of weeks because of some games in which he displayed some abysmal clock management at the end of halves. However, Lynn improved in this regard late in the year, and the Chargers suddenly started winning close games as a result. They actually went on a tear to close out 2020, winning their final four games to finish 7-9. The players fought hard for Lynn to keep his job, which says a lot because the Jets and Jaguars didn’t play very hard all the time at the end of the season.
I’m also not a fan of removing Justin Herbert’s offensive coach so soon into his career. Herbert set all sorts of rookie records, thanks in part to Lynn’s guidance. Herbert will now have to play in a new system, which could stunt his development.
The more I think about it, the more I hate this move. I initially penciled in a “C” grade for this firing, but I’ve dropped it to a “D.” Considering how well the Chargers finished in 2020, and how amazingly Herbert played as a rookie, the Chargers should have given Lynn one more season.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jaguars fire HC Doug Marrone: A+ Grade
Doug Marrone never should have had the job in the first place. He sabotaged the previous regime in order to obtain a position of power. He eventually lucked into some success in 2017, but we quickly learned that this was a fluke. Marrone should have been fired last year, but it’s better late than never to can a horrendous coach.
Marrone’s biggest problem is that like Bill O’Brien, he butted heads with too many players in the locker room. The players mostly despised Marrone and wouldn’t fight for him. This actually turned out to be a blessing in disguise because the Jaguars’ horrible effort late in the year allowed them to obtain the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
With Trevor Lawrence joining the team in April, the Jaguars need to move on with a much better head coach. There are many great candidates available, but almost anyone would be an upgrade over Marrone.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 3 Updates
Jets fire HC Adam Gase: A+ Grade
Adam Gase is good at only two things: 1) getting his best players to play at their worst, and. 2) winning meaningless games at the end of the year to ruin draft positioning. Unfortunately for Gase, those two elements do not lead to success in the NFL.
Good riddance, I say. Gase was an anemic coach in every way possible, and the Jets would’ve been the laughing stock of professional sports had they retained him for one more year.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Dec. 21 Updates
Panthers fire GM Marty Hurney: A Grade
When I heard of the Marty Hurney firing Monday morning, I was a bit surprised. Didn’t he draft two studs in D.J. Moore and Brian Burns? And isn’t his second-round selection of Donte Jackson doing well? Yes, but those are the only positive things he did ahead of the 2020 NFL Draft class, which can’t be judged quite yet. Take a look:
Yuck! Outside of Moore, Burns and Jackson, there were no other hits. Marquis Haynes has been OK, but that’s about it. Will Grier and Rashaan Gaulden were utter wastes in the third frame.
I’m fine with the Panthers thinking that they need to go in a different direction. Hurney’s been around long enough for us to know that there are better options.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Dec. 14 Updates
Raiders fire DC Paul Guenther: A- Grade
The Raiders’ offense has been explosive at times this season, but the defense has been the reason for the Raiders’ recent collapse. Las Vegas surrendered 44 points to the Colts this past week and couldn’t stop the winless Jets the previous Sunday. Las Vegas was 28th in points allowed prior to the Indianapolis loss.
It’s clear that the Raiders needed a change, and firing Guenther could just save their season. I’m not sure that firing a coordinator on a very short week – the Raiders play on Thursday – is the best time to do it, but I can’t criticize this decision otherwise.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Dec. 7 Updates
Jets fire DC Gregg Williams: F Grade
Gregg Williams is an awful defensive coordinator. He was most responsible for the Jets’ loss to the Raiders, leaving the deep part of the field wide open for Derek Carr to throw the decisive touchdown to Henry Ruggs. Williams has done stupid things like this throughout his career. He was also the key component of Bountygate, so it’s puzzling as to why he was the Jets’ defensive coordinator in the first place.
So, why the “F” grade for this firing? Because letting Williams go increases the Jets’ chances of winning this year! The Jets almost had the most harmful victory in franchise history versus the Raiders. Had they gotten the win, they would’ve lost out on Trevor Lawrence because the Jaguars have the tie-breaker with the Jets for the No. 1 pick if the two teams finish with the same record. Williams’ presence gives the Jets the best chance to lose, which is what the team needs to accomplish at this time.
Had the Jets fired Williams after finishing 0-16, I would have given this an A+ grade. However, the Jets are making the right move at the wrong time, so they should be graded harshly for that.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Nov. 30 Updates
Jaguars fire GM David Caldwell: A+ Grade
I was convinced that David Caldwell had compromising photos of Jacksonville’s owner because it made no sense that he would hold his job for so long. Charlie Campbell did a great job of breaking down Caldwell’s follies in this video (please hit like and subscribe!):
To summarize, Caldwell drafted…
Luke Joeckel over Lane Johnson
Blake Bortles over Khalil Mack
Dante Fowler over Brandon Scherff/Amari Cooper
Leonard Fournette over Patrick Mahomes/Deshaun Watson
Taven Bryan over Lamar Jackson
Caldwell also paid big bucks to Nick Foles and presided over the Doug Marrone fiasco where Marrone sabotaged the previous coaching regime to seize control within the organization.
The Jaguars needed to fire Caldwell years ago, but I guess it’s better late than never. The organization needs to bring in a sharp decision-maker to help build around Justin Fields.
Here are some NFL general manager candidates for the Jaguars replace Caldwell.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Nov. 28 Updates
Lions fire HC Matt Patricia, GM Bob Quinn: A Grade
Matt Patricia was the last person on Earth who realized that he should be utilizing D’Andre Swift over Adrian Peterson. With everyone calling for Swift to dominate the workload, Patricia and his staff constantly had their geriatric running back dive for 2-yard gains rather than lean on their talented, young back. This resulted in losses earlier in the year, which the Lions couldn’t come back from when Matthew Stafford and Kenny Golladay suffered injuries later in the year.
Patricia did not do anything well as Detroit’s head coach. He failed to prepare great game plans, and despite being known as a defensive genius by some, he failed to upgrade Detroit’s stop unit. In fact, the Lions have gotten worse defensively under his watch.
As for Bob Quinn, let’s check out his first- and second-round picks from 2016 to 2019:
Taylor Decker, OT
A’Shawn Robinson, DT
Jarrad Davis, LB
Jalen Tabor, CB
Frank Ragnow, C
Kerryon Johnson, RB
T.J. Hockenson, TE
Jahlani Tavai, LB
Quinn hit with some mid-round gems like Kenny Golladay, Jamal Agnew, and Joe Dahl, but this list is ugly. The offensive linemen and Tavai have performed well, but the rest of the first- and second-rounders were busts. T.J. Hockenson is technically not a bust, but spending a top-10 pick on a tight end was a very dubious decision.
Meanwhile, here were Quinn’s big-money signings:
Lions sign OT Halapoulivaati Vaitai (5 years, $50 million)
Lions sign CB Desmond Trufant (2 years, $21 million)
Lions sign LB Jamie Collins (3 years, $30 million)
Lions sign TE Jesse James (4 years, $25 million)
Lions sign DE Trey Flowers (5 years, $82.5 million)
Lions sign CB Justin Coleman (4 years, $36 million)
Wow, what great moves! OK, maybe not. Quinn obviously did a poor job of assembling talent in Detroit, so his firing, much like Patricia’s, deserves an “A” grade.
Here are some NFL head coach candidates for the Lions to replace Patricia.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Oct. 11 Updates
Seahawks extend HC Pete Carroll: A Grade
Pete Carroll has done an amazing job with the Seahawks. Despite his age (69), he has been effective in adapting to new trends. He solved the Seahawks’ major issues with playing in early East Coast games, which used to be automatic losses for them, and he has morphed his offense to cater toward allowing Russell Wilson to throw more often.
Carroll will be 74 when this new contract reportedly expires, so this is likely the final extension he’ll sign. If so, the Seahawks will be in position to win Super Bowls each year until then. Thus, this must be given an “A” grade.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Oct. 11 Updates
Falcons fire HC Dan Quinn and GM Thomas Dimitroff: A/B Grade
Everyone makes mistakes. The problem is repeating mistakes, so the Falcons are doing a great job of avoiding repeated blunders by firing Dan Quinn.
The Falcons should have fired Quinn last year, but the coach saved his job by winning some meaningless games late in the year. This ended up being harmful in the long run, as Atlanta missed out on landing Chase Young, Derrick Brown or Jeff Okudah in the 2020 NFL Draft, as they had to settle for A.J. Terrell with the 16th pick instead. There was some optimism for the Falcons heading into 2020, but they continued to drop winnable games, including two where they led by double digits in the second half. This, of course, was a repeat of what transpired in Super Bowl LI when they blew a 28-3 lead to the Patriots. Quinn at least did a good job of getting the team there, but I think we now know that Kyle Shanahan was most responsible for it.
A Quinn firing allows the Falcons to tank, perhaps giving them a shot at landing Justin Fields or even Trevor Lawrence (I have them taking the former in my 2021 NFL Mock Draft.) They can move on with a new regime, which is what they need to do. Thus, I’m giving the Quinn firing an “A” grade.
I’m not as bullish on the Thomas Dimitroff firing, but I can get behind it. Dimitroff has done a decent job of acquiring talent over the years, and he built some teams that have reached the NFC Championship or further. However, Dimitroff made some crucial mistakes in recent years, including his failure to fire Quinn last year. I don’t have a problem with Atlanta pursuing a new general manager. Here are some potential general managers for Atlanta:
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Oct. 5 Updates
Texans fire HC/GM Bill O’Brien: A++++++++ Grade
Wow, I’m shocked. I thought the Texans would never fire Bill O’Brien. Owner Cal McNair went out of his way to defend O’Brien multiple times on Twitter. It was so odd that I was going to write an Emmitt on the Brink entry about McNair taking O’Brien as his lover. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.
Though I’m utterly surprised, this is the right move. O’Brien has been an abysmal personnel decision-maker for the Texans, and he’s also been highly disliked by his players. Deshaun Watson had also seen regression under O’Brien. He had to go.
This firing doesn’t just deserve an A+ grade. It deserves an A++++++++ grade. Eight pluses…
One plus for trading Jadeveon Clowney for nothing.
One plus for trading DeAndre Hopkins for nothing.
One plus for trading two first-round picks for Laremy Tunsil.
One plus for trading a third-round pick for Duke Johnson and then not using him properly.
One plus for trading a second-round pick for Brandin Cooks.
One plus for ousting general manager Rick Smith.
One plus for firing everyone in what was formerly the top scouting department in the NFL.
One plus for blowing a 24-0 lead to the Chiefs in the divisional round of the playoffs.
I’ve never given an A++++++++ grade before, but then again, we’ve never seen anyone as incompetent as O’Brien hold so much power in the NFL. Sure, we’ve had Matt Millen and Rich Kotite, and the like, but O’Brien was both the worst coach and the worst general manager for years.
The good thing is, it’s done. The nightmare is over. O’Brien is finally gone. This is a move that should’ve been done years ago, but better late than never.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Sept. 1 Updates
Chiefs extend HC Andy Reid, GM Brett Veach (6 years): A+ Grade
Andy Reid and Brett Veach were both extended to 6-year deals Monday night. When I saw this, I thought I’d grade these moves when financial figures attached to them were available. However, Facebook friend Blake H. reminded me that the money is irrelevant, so I can grade these moves now.
I love both of these moves by the Chiefs. Veach has proven to be an outstanding general manager, while Reid is arguably the second-best coach in the NFL, trailing only Bill Belichick. Reid is 62, so there was some question as to how much longer he would remain in Kansas City. Assuming Reid stays on throughout the duration of his contract, Patrick Mahomes will be 30 by the time the Chiefs potentially have a new head coach. Over the next six years, Reid can help Mahomes transition from the best quarterback in the NFL to someone who could eventually be known as the greatest quarterback in league history, so keeping Reid for six years is a no-brainer.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 28 Updates
Texans name Bill O’Brien general manager: F- Grade
If the Texans knew what they were doing, they would’ve fired Bill O’Brien years ago. His team’s epic collapse against the Chiefs was further proof of his incompetence as a head coach. O’Brien has gotten lucky to win the division several times during his tenure in Houston, but only because Deshaun Watson carried him in an AFC South that has been mostly lackluster in recent years. Houston stands no chance of making a deep playoff run as long as O’Brien is calling the shots. He’s that horrible.
As bad as O’Brien is as a head coach, he’s far worse as a personnel decision-maker. He has no feel for talent – he didn’t even want to draft Watson – and he trades away draft picks as if they were nothing. He has no concept of leverage, which is why he dealt Jadeveon Clowney for a ham sandwich. He can’t work with talented personnel evaluators. He wants all the power, and he doesn’t get along with anyone. He’s probably the least-qualified person in the NFL to be general manager of the Texans.
This is the easiest F- grade of all time. Hiring your cat to do your taxes would be a better decision than the Texans giving O’Brien more power.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 27 Updates
Browns hire GM Andrew Berry: F Grade
The Browns had their sights set on Vikings general manager George Paton. They interviewed him twice, but Paton removed his name from consideration after the second meeting. Paton undoubtedly realized that the Browns just wanted a “yes man” to be the general manager, so he correctly decided that he should wait for a real job.
Cleveland moved on from Paton and found its “yes man.” That would be Andrew Berry, who was involved in the Browns’ former 1-31 tenure. I don’t know why anyone would hire someone who was partly responsible for a 1-31 record to be the general manager, but these are the Browns we’re talking about, so they were bound to do something stupid.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 24 Updates
Jaguars hire OC Jay Gruden: C Grade
Jay Gruden didn’t have a very successful tenure as the Redskins’ head coach, but he did a good job as Cincinnati’s offensive coordinator before then. I’m sure this hire will be seen as a positive by many because of that.
I’m personally not too sure about that reasoning. It seemed as though Gruden lost his passion for football late in his Washington tenure. I think he needed some time off to regain his fire. I know this isn’t anything that’s concrete, and I can’t say anything here that can prove it, but I think my hunch is correct, so I don’t want to grade this very favorably.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 17 Updates
Giants hire OC Jason Garrett: D- Grade
When I heard that the Giants hired Jason Garrett, I assumed it was for the open male cheerleader position. Garrett claps so enthusiastically that I figured he would be a great fit for the job.
However, this was not the case. The Giants apparently thought it was a good idea to make him the offensive coordinator. This is confusing because Garrett once called the plays in Dallas, but was so bad at it that he had to relinquish his play-calling duties. Given that, why do the Giants think that Garrett would be a quality option as their offensive coordinator? It’s not like Garrett has any sort of new ideas. He hasn’t had any time off to brainstorm any new innovations, so I’m not exactly sure what he’s bringing to the table, outside of some knowledge he has of the rival Cowboys.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 15 Updates
Broncos hire OC Pat Shurmur: B+ Grade
The Broncos hired Pat Shurmur to be their replacement for Rich Scangarello as their offensive coordinator. Kenny described Shurmur as plain Cheerios in our DFS podcast:
And I agree. He certainly is not Fruity Pebbles, or even Honey Nut Cheerios, for that matter. Shurmur is a solid offensive coordinator. He’s going to be an upgrade over what the Broncos had last year. There may have been more upside in other hires – Chad O’Shea, for example – but there’s certainly a high floor with Shurmur. If Drew Lock fails, it won’t be because his offensive coordinator let him down.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 14 Updates
Panthers hire OC Joe Brady: C Grade
This grade isn’t fully based on how I believe Joe Brady could fare in the NFL, but rather the situation. Brady did a tremendous job coaching up LSU’s offense this past season. I can definitely understand why teams would be interested in hiring him as their offensive coordinator, like the Panthers did.
However, I don’t like the fit in Carolina. New head coach Matt Rhule barely has any NFL head-coaching experience. He needed to bring in coaches who have spent lots of time in the NFL. This is something Sean McVay did when he became the youngest head coach in the pros. He brought in Wade Phillips and Greg Olson, both of whom were vital to his early success. Rhule needed to do something similar, but Brady, like Rhule has barely spent any time in the NFL.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 12 Updates
Browns hire HC Kevin Stefanski: D Grade
The Browns reportedly were eyeing Robert Saleh and Kevin “Run, Run, Pass” Stefanski as two of their final head-coaching candidates. The two squared off in the divisional round of the playoffs, and Saleh coached circles around Stefanski. You’d think that after that performance, Cleveland would favor Saleh to be their head coach. Of course, this is why the Browns are the Browns.
Stefanski did a rather unimpressive job in Minnesota. His run-run-pass play-calling was predictable, and he struggled to get the most out of all the talented players on his offense. Only Dalvin Cook lived up to expectations in 2019. Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs, conversely, were frequently frustrated with their roles.
I’m not sure what kind of “leader of men” Stefanski is, but he obviously pales in comparison to Saleh in that regard. Saleh was the better candidate, by far, and yet the Browns made the decision to hire a coach, presumably, because they didn’t have one and wanted one now. This is the sort of decision-making that Browns fans have become accustom to under the horrible regime of owner Jimmy Haslam. While Haslam is a smart, albeit allegedly crooked businessman, he’s pretty dumb when it comes to owning an NFL franchise, and this is yet another stupid decision on his part.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 9 Updates
Eagles fire OC Mike Groh: A+ Grade
The Eagles also fired receivers coach Carson Walch, but let’s focus on Mike Groh, who was a failure of an offensive coordinator. He was given two years after Frank Reich moved on to Indianapolis, and he did a poor job as Reich’s replacement. Carson Wentz regressed under Groh’s watch, and it’s not like the play-calling was innovative and unpredictable. The Eagles can do much better than Groh as their offensive coordinator, so it would’ve been a failure had they not fired him.
By the way, some of the blue checkmarks on Twitter seemed peeved that Doug Pederson lied to them. Pederson told the media Wednesday that he planned on retaining Groh, so he’s being accused of lying. First of all, Pederson is not required to tell the truth to journalists. Second, it’s possible that Pederson could have changed his mind after thinking about the situation and discussing it with other people within the organization. Thus, I really don’t care that Pederson did something different 24 hours after saying the complete opposite to reporters.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 7 Updates
Redskins hire OC Scott Turner: D Grade
My “D” grade for this hire doesn’t have much to do with Scott Turner. Ron Rivera has familiarity with Turner, as the two worked together in Carolina last year. Turner did a nice job with the receivers, so he deserved a chance to be a full-time offensive coordinator.
My issue regarding this hiring is allowing offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell to walk. I don’t overly prefer O’Connell to Turner, as both are young offensive-minded guys with upside, but I don’t think that putting Dwayne Haskins into a new system is a good idea. One of the primary reasons young quarterbacks fail is because they’re constantly learning new systems. Haskins showed some major improvement late in the year under O’Connell’s tutelage, so why begin anew? And what if Turner sucks? The Redskins will have to fire him and bring in a new coordinator, and then Haskins will be starting from scratch a third time. This could ruin his career.
I don’t like this decision-making from the Redskins. Again, this is nothing against Turner, but I think separating Haskins from O’Connell is a bad idea.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Giants hire HC Joe Judge: B+ Grade
Who is Joe Judge? Interesting question! Judge was the Patriots’ special teams coordinator since 2015, and he also took over wide receiver coaching duties this past season. He never played in the pros, but he’s been with New England since 2012, and he coached under Nick Saban at Alabama prior to that.
Judge is a surprising hire, but it’s not like special teams coordinators haven’t panned out in the past. Just look at John Harbaugh; he’s one of the best coaches in the NFL even though he was the Eagles’ special teams coordinator before taking the Baltimore job. Judge has a lengthy history of learning from both Bill Belichick and Saban, which is not insignificant because we’ve recently seen Belichick’s former assistants thrive in the NFL.
I like the Giants taking a chance on an unknown with a great background over hiring a proven failure like Jason Garrett. This deserves a favorable grade just for that reason alone. I like this hire.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Panthers hire HC Matt Rhule: C- Grade
Matt Rhule was a tremendous college coach. He took over two dead programs – Temple and Baylor – and brought them to prominence. He nearly led Baylor to a Big XII championship, falling just short of defeating Oklahoma. This was very impressive, so I can understand why NFL teams were highly interested in him.
However, I’m not sure how this translates to the pros. Reviving a pair of bottom-barrel college football teams, which barely had any NFL-caliber talent, has nothing to do with motivating professional athletes. In fact, Rhule has never coached a professional athlete in his life, save for 2012 when he was the Giants’ assistant offensive line coach. That’s his only NFL experience.
There’s an extensive history of college-only coaches failing in the NFL, so I don’t see why Rhule would be any different in Carolina. What Rhule is proposing might seem impressive, as he’s planning on instituting a sports science and recovery program. That sounds great, and those who believe in analytics will love how different it is from Ron Rivera’s successful regime, but getting the players to buy in is not a given. Chip Kelly tried something similar in Philadelphia, and it failed miserably. I’m not sure Rhule can connect with NFL players using science and analytics, despite what the blue checkmarks on Twitter may think.
I don’t think it’s a given that Rhule will fail in the pros, but there’s some major history going against him. Panthers owner Bobby Axelrod even gave Rhule a 7-year contract, which is ridiculous enough for me to grade this in the C-/D+ range.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 6 Updates
Rams fire DC Wade Phillips: F Grade
This is incredibly stupid. The Rams improved defensively this past season compared to where they were during their Super Bowl run. They were ninth in defensive DVOA even though their stop unit had to be on the field more often as a result of the offense stalling out because of Jared Goff’s regression.
The Rams wanted a scapegoat because they missed the playoffs, so it ended up being Phillips. This was a bizarre conclusion for Sean McVay and the front office to make, given that Phillips barely had anything to do with the Rams’ disappointing 2019 campaign. The Rams will be worse defensively without Phillips, as there is no viable replacement for the legendary defensive coordinator.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Cowboys hire Mike McCarthy: LOL Grade
I’m grading this as an “LOL” because I literally laughed out loud so hard that I nearly threw out my back when I first saw this news.
If there’s been a coach who has been nearly as bad as Jason Garrett in the previous decade, it was Mike McCarthy. In fact, I saw someone describe McCarthy as a “fatter Jason Garrett,” and I thought it was brilliantly accurate.
People will point to the fact that McCarthy won the Super Bowl, but that was Aaron Rodgers winning in spite of McCarthy. If the Packers had a coach better than McCarthy, they would’ve claimed multiple Lombardi Trophies with Rodgers. As everyone learned this year, McCarthy held back the Packers from reaching their full potential. He utilized archaic and predictable schemes, showed no feel for the game, and constantly clashed with his future Hall of Fame quarterback. In fact, Rodgers even lost on purpose to Arizona in 2018 because he despised McCarthy so much.
McCarthy did such a poor job in Green Bay that I would’ve shocked if he earned another head-coaching gig in the NFL prior to seeing this news. Yet, here we are. The Cowboys, for some strange reason, have decided to hire McCarthy in what is an utterly embarrassing move. Almost anyone would’ve been a major upgrade over Garrett, but McCarthy was one of the few exceptions.
It took the Cowboys six years too long to fire Garrett, yet they’re stuck with the same trash coaching them. This is the easiest “F” grade I’ve ever posted. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to fetch my heating pad.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 5 Updates
Cowboys fire HC Jason Garrett: A+ Grade
I had the urge to grade this as a “C” or something of that nature, only because it took Jerry Jones five years too long to make this decision. It was clear that Jason Garrett wasn’t a good head coach by 2014. Everyone knew this except Garrett and anyone clueless enough to believe he’d be a good head coach of their team at the present moment.
Garrett always prepared his teams poorly, struggled to make adjustments and was frequently out-coached by the opposition. He had no feel for the game, and his teams always underachieved. I don’t understand what took Jones so long, but he finally made the correct decision.
As for Garrett’s next stop? The only thing Garrett does well is clap enthusiastically, so any NFL team in need of a male cheerleader should pursue Garrett for that position.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 1 Updates
Redskins hire DC Jack Del Rio: A Grade
The Redskins made another outstanding hire. Jack Del Rio has proven to be a very mediocre head coach, but he’s been an excellent defensive coordinator throughout his career. He should be able to vastly improve Washington’s beleaguered defense.
Del Rio has been out of the league the past two years after he was fired as Oakland’s head coach, which could be a good thing. The time off to surf the waves may have energized Del Rio, who could have some new ideas to bring to his latest post. He’s also another authoritative voice to turn things around for a team that sorely lacked discipline.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Dec. 31 Updates
Browns fire GM John Dorsey: C- Grade
The Browns are being the Browns once again, I see. It’s amazing how this organization just doesn’t seem to understand how to function properly. Firing good personnel men is not a good recipe for success. Owner Jimmy Haslam is a moron when it comes to football matters, but perhaps he’ll learn this one day.
John Dorsey made some mistakes with the Browns, most notably failing to bolster the offensive line after trading Kevin Zeitler away for an aging edge rusher. I don’t understand that trade at all, and hiring Freddie Kitchens was a major blunder, but Dorsey did so many more positive things. He built a good roster that most head coaches could’ve turned into a playoff contender. I think the Browns could’ve gotten there had Dorsey hired a much better coach after firing Kitchens, but this franchise will have to begin anew once again.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jaguars retain HC Doug Marrone: F Grade
I may have to send another invoice. This time, to ESPN’s Dianne Russini, who published some fake news about the Jaguars planning to fire Doug Marrone following Week 17. This led to a five-unit bet on the Colts in what was a disastrous Week 17.
In Russini’s defense, it made all the sense in the world for the Jaguars to fire Marrone. The players completely quit on him in the second half of the year, so why would they retain him? Marrone has no positive attributes as a coach, and his own players don’t even like him. This might be the dumbest decision any NFL team makes this offseason, so this is an easy “F” grade.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Dolphins hire OC Chan Gailey: D Grade
I can’t say I understand why the Dolphins felt the need to downgrade from Chad O’Shea to Chan Gailey. The 68-year-old had been out of the NFL for three years after bombing with the Jets. Perhaps he picked up some new tricks during his hiatus, but I doubt it.
The one positive about this signing is that Gailey has worked with Ryan Fitzpatrick before, so it’s nice that Fitzpatrick will know Gailey’s system. However, Fitzpatrick didn’t do particularly well with Gailey in 2016 – he threw for 17 interceptions and only 12 touchdowns – and was much better with O’Shea, so none of this makes any sense to me.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Redskins hire HC Ron Rivera: A Grade
New Panthers owner Bobby Axelrod made a big mistake by firing Ron Rivera this past season, so the Redskins should consider themselves fortunate that they obtained one of the best coaching options available. This is a terrific hire, worthy of an “A” grade.
Rivera built a winner in Carolina, and he can do the same in Washington. He’s capable of constructing a great defense, and the players will work very hard for him. Most of all, he brings respectability to the sidelines, which might sound trivial for most teams, but the Redskins need it after all of the Trent Williams drama that occurred this past season.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Dec. 30 Updates
Dolphins fire OC Chad O’Shea: F Grade
There must be something going on behind the scenes because this firing doesn’t make much sense otherwise. Chad O’Shea did a fantastic job as Miami’s offensive coordinator this season. He was masterful in finally getting the most out of DeVante Parker, while Ryan Fitzpatrick never regressed under O’Shea’s watch, like he did under other coaches.
I have to grade this an “F,” at least until we receive some news about this. O’Shea should be highly sought after, as he’ll be a terrific hire for any team in need of an offensive coordinator.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Giants retain GM Dave Gettleman: B+ Grade
Like Bruce Allen, Dave Gettleman is widely hated by the media. Gettleman’s politics aren’t in question, but rather his aversion to analytics. Gettleman has some archaic stances, but contrary to progressive groupthink opinion, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Gettleman built a good team in Carolina and has made some positive decisions with New York, though with some glaring mistakes mixed in.
Gettleman was widely criticized for selecting Daniel Jones sixth overall, but Jones showed high upside during his rookie campaign. He seems like he could become a great quarterback in the future, provided he gets some good coaching. Gettleman also found Darius Slayton in the fifth round and made some terrific free agent signings and trades. For instance, he obtained Kevin Zeitler for an aging pass rusher, and he signed Markus Golden (10 sacks in 2019) to a very cheap deal. Conversely, Gettleman has blown some selections, particularly the cornerbacks he has chosen in the early rounds.
I don’t understand why the Giants would consider firing Gettleman. They can at least wait and see if Jones ends up being as good as some people think he can be. No one expected the Giants to do well in 2019 because they would have a rookie signal-caller going through growing pains, so committing a panic move by firing Gettleman probably would’ve been a mistake.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Dec. 30 Updates
Giants fire HC Pat Shurmur: A Grade
Pat Shurmur, in three head-coaching stints, which includes an interim gig with the Eagles, is 17-45 in his career. I could be wrong, but winning 27.4 percent of games is not going to cut it in the NFL.
While Shurmur is a quality offensive coordinator, he has shown no signs that he can be a successful head coach in the NFL. He constantly made mistakes with the Giants, while other coaches easily out-schemed him on a weekly basis. Shurmur was not one to galvanize the troops either like a Mike Tomlin or a Ron Rivera, so I’m not sure what he brought to the table as a head coach.
I don’t see how this decision could be criticized in any way. Shurmur was doing a poor job in every facet, and I didn’t trust him to fully develop Daniel Jones, so the Giants are better off finding someone better to fill his job.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Dec. 30 Updates
Redskins fire team president Bruce Allen: D Grade
This is a move the media has greatly applauded this morning. It seems as though the consensus in the press is that firing Bruce Allen was a tremendous decision by the Redskins. The media, as usual, is wrong.
Let’s think back to what happened a couple of years ago. Almost all sports writers and everyone on ESPN and NFL Network constantly criticized for the Redskins not extending Kirk Cousins. Washington was constantly chided for not paying Cousins what he wanted, but despite the heavy criticism, Allen was steadfast in his belief that Cousins was not a franchise quarterback. Rather than dive deep into cap purgatory, Allen opted to let Cousins go, choosing instead to acquire Alex Smith. Cousins ended up as a huge failure for the Vikings, while the Redskins – most forget this – were 6-2 last year and seemed poised to win the division easily before Smith suffered a gruesome, potentially career-ending injury.
The Redskins had to begin anew following Smith’s injury, so they drafted Dwayne Haskins, who played well in his final couple of starts this season. Allen was also able to surround Haskins with some young, promising talents like Derrius Guice, Terry McLaurin, Steven Sims Jr., and Kelvin Harmon, none of whom were selected in the first round of any NFL Draft. Defensively, Allen found steals like Quinton Dunbar, Shaun Dion Hamilton and Matt Ioannidis, all of whom performed well in 2019. Dunbar was especially tremendous.
Allen built a promising, young group that could contend for the playoffs soon, and also had plenty of cap space to spend this offseason. Yet, the circle-jerking media, which has not accepted responsibility for being dead wrong about the Cousins stance, is thrilled about this decision. They have an irrational hatred for Allen, perhaps because of his politics, so despite what they say, this is not a move that will benefit the Redskins over the long haul.
Perhaps it was just time for a change, and Allen made some mistakes just like any other general manager. However, there’s no reason to think that the Redskins will improve in the wake of his firing, despite what sports reporters have to say. If most of the media is telling you something, the opposite is usually true, and that certainly is the case in this instance.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Dec. 29 Updates
Browns fire HC Freddie Kitchens: A+ Grade
The Browns had no choice but to fire Freddie Kitchens, so this can’t be graded as anything less than an A+. Kitchens is simply not suited to be a coach in the NFL. Whether it’s making abysmal play-calls, having no feel for the game, being responsible for Baker Mayfield’s regression, or fighting publicly with his players, Kitchens did everything wrong and nothing right in his one and only season as Cleveland’s head coach.
Cleveland absolutely had to fire Kitchens to prevent another dumpster fire next year. More importantly, keeping Kitchens around could’ve further ruined Mayfield’s career to the point where he’d be broken beyond repair. The Browns need to hire a sharp, offensive-minded coach to tutor Mayfield so that the young quarterback can pick up where he left off in his rookie campaign.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Dec. 28 Updates
Falcons retain HC Dan Quinn: A- Grade
The Falcons lost out on Chase Young, Jeff Okudah and perhaps even Derrick Brown because they didn’t fire Dan Quinn in the middle of the season. Thus, it wouldn’t make any sense for them to let him go at this stage.
Quinn made some great adjustments during the bye, allowing the Falcons to go 5-2 following their week off. They laid just one egg, which was a blowout loss to the Buccaneers, but that was four days prior to a Thanksgiving battle against the Saints. Otherwise, Atlanta has played very hard and well for Quinn in the second half of the season, so it seems like the right decision to retain him.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Dec. 18 Updates
Jaguars fire VP of Football Operations Tom Coughlin: A Grade
Tom Coughlin was a Hall of Fame-caliber coach, but that didn’t translate to the front office. The Jaguars regressed every year under Coughlin, as he wasted draft picks and spent way too much money on Nick Foles. He was also forced into trading one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL. Coughlin made some good decisions, but Jacksonville has gotten worse under his leadership.
If this weren’t bad enough, Coughlin violated CBA rules by fining players for non-football reason, prompting the NFLPA to advise free agents not to sign with Jacksonville. Coughlin had to go, so the Jaguars made the correct decision to fire him.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Dec. 3 Updates
Panthers fire HC Ron Rivera: C- Grade
It was a great run for Commander Adama, but his tenure in Carolina is over, as the Panthers fired Ron Rivera Tuesday afternoon. So say we all.
Losing to the Redskins at home is grounds for a firing, but I don’t think this is a particularly good move. I don’t understand how it’s Rivera’s fault that he didn’t have a healthy Cam Newton all year. I thought it was rather impressive that the Panthers were 5-3 at one point despite ranking in the mid-to-low 20s in DVOA. Rivera clearly got his team to play above its talent level, so why would he be fired?
I don’t absolutely hate this move because I think the Panthers can do better with a more innovative coach, but Rivera was good at his job and didn’t deserve to be axed. I think we’re going to quickly discover that new Panthers owner Bobby Axelr-, I mean David Tepper is far worse at his position than Jerry Richardson was. This might just be a first example of Tepper’s terrible meddling.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Oct. 29 Updates
Chargers fire OC Ken Whisenhunt: A+ Grade
It’s about time. I don’t know why Ken Whisenhunt has been employed by the Chargers for so long. Maybe it’s because he looks like Bill Cowher? I have no idea, but the Chargers finally made the right move by canning him.
The Chargers need to enter the 21st century. They’ve spent too much time trying to establish the run with the out-of-shape Melvin Gordon, while their offense has moved at a very glacial pace. The camel that broke the straw’s back, as a former NFL player once said, was Whisenhunt’s decision to completely ignore Austin Ekeler in last week’s game plan. The Chargers won that contest, but a better offensive game plan centered around Ekeler would have resulted in a San Angeles blowout victory rather than a close call that was decided by a missed field goal.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Oct. 17 Updates
Redskins fire HC Jay Gruden: A+ Grade
This is a no-brainer A+. I used to think highly of Jay Gruden, but it’s become apparent that he hasn’t been taking his job seriously. It’s almost like he got burned out from being a head coach, both literally and figuratively.
Gruden’s nonsensical decision to start Colt McCoy over the team’s first-round rookie quarterback was the final camel that broke the straw’s back, as a Hall of Fame running back once said. It was clear Gruden wanted to get fired and receive money in the process, but the Redskins apparently one-upped him by releasing the video of him smoking weed. Whoops!
My only criticism was that this didn’t occur sooner. The Redskins reportedly had the video of Gruden a year ago, so why didn’t they fire him during the offseason, when it was apparent that he lost his team late last year and was against the Dwayne Haskins pick?
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Aug. 18 Updates
Buccaneers extend GM Jason Licht (3 years): F Grade
Umm… what? Are we in an alternate universe where Jason Licht didn’t constantly screw up? I don’t understand this move. I suppose, if you’re the Buccaneers, any time you have a chance to extend your horrible general manager, you have to do it.
Licht has committed blunder after blunder while running the Buccaneers. His first-overall quarterback is on the verge of officially being declared a bust. He traded up for a kicker in the second round of the NFL Draft. He spent too much money on Eagles cast-offs who haven’t done anything. He gave lots of money to his terrible left tackle, Donovan Smith. He passed up on Derwin James in favor of two-down player Vita Vea when there were tons of talented defensive tackles to be had the following year. He wasted a second-round pick on Ronald Jones. Licht has made some good selections as well, but even a blind squirrel finds a nut sometimes.
I don’t understand the need to do this. Was Licht going anywhere if the Buccaneers didn’t extend him? Couldn’t they wait to see if his new batch of players panned out? Licht has done nothing to warrant any sort of extension, so this has to be graded as an “F.”
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
June 7 Updates
Jets hire GM Joe Douglas: A Grade
Charlie Campbell tweeted this back on May 15:
Scouts around the league are saying it’s a done deal that Joe Douglas is the Jets general manager. Director of college scouting Jon Carr might get a sham interview to satisfy the Rooney Rule but they think the Jets and Douglas have an agreement.
It only took 23 days, but the Jets finally hired Joe Douglas. Perhaps they did this in response to the Texans firing Brian Gaine, as they may have feared they’d lose Douglas to Houston.
It’s unclear how Douglas will fare as general manager for the Jets, given that he’s never held that post before. However, he was a top scout for quite some time and was the vice president of personnel for a Philadelphia team that has been excellent as far as personnel moves are concerned, so this seems like it could end up being a great hire.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Texans fire GM Brian Gaine: A Grade
A year ago, Bill O’Brien nonsensically fired many talented people in Houston’s personnel department because he wanted “yes men.” O’Brien was able to pick his own replacement, so he had the Texans hire Brian Gaine. It turns out that Gaine didn’t even last an entire year.
O’Brien really embarrassed himself with this move. The Texans made some blunders in the offseason, most notably not having a “Plan B” for when Andre Dillard was not on the board at No. 23 overall. Houston humiliated itself by reaching for Tytus Howard, who was considered by some to be a third-round prospect. Gaine, as a result, was fired.
On the surface, it looks bad to get rid of a general manager after one year, but it was clear that Gaine was doing a poor job. If the Texans want to make better personnel decisions, they’ll hire someone O’Brien doesn’t recommend this time. This next general manager may want to find a better head coach.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
May 15 Updates
Jets fire GM Mike Maccagnan: B Grade
Mike Maccagnan’s tenure as the general manager of the Jets produced mixed results. He was guilty of some horrible picks on the second day of the NFL Draft – Christian Hackenberg, Jordan Jenkins and ArDarius Stewart – and there were some poor free-agent signings. These were the three worst moves:
Jets re-sign WR Quincy Enunwa (4 years, $36 million; $20 million guaranteed)
Jets sign C Spencer Long (4 years, $28 million)
Jets re-sign G Ben Ijalana (2 years, $11 million)
However, Maccagnan had more positive transactions than negative ones. He hit some gems on the third day of the NFL Draft, as Chris Herndon and Elijah McGuire both outplayed their draft status, while sixth-round corner Derrick Jones showed some potential late last year. Maccagnan also was able to secure Sam Darnold by trading up without surrendering too many resources, and he brought in some nice free-agent signings as well, including Le’Veon Bell, Avery Williamson and Teddy Bridgewater at cheap prices. Bridgewater didn’t stick around in New York because of Darnold, but Maccagnan was able to flip him for a third-round pick, which was an excellent move.
I’d normally grade the Jets poorly for firing Maccagnan, who didn’t deserve to lose his job. However, there were reports of major friction between Maccagnan and new head coach Adam Gase. The Jets would’ve been hurt by a toxic situation like that, so I think it’s best for the two parties to move on. Gase was just hired, so it would’ve made no sense to get rid of him. Thus, it’s natural that Maccagnan had to be the one to be fired.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Feb. 21 Updates
Bengals hire DC Lou Anarumo: D Grade
The Bengals fired their best coach since the 1980s and are now paying the price. It took them weeks to find a defensive coordinator because no one they asked wanted the job, but they were able to finally hire someone to fill the post.
This is a pretty bleak addition. Lou Anarumo has never been a coordinator before, outside of an interim basis. Anarumo was the Giants’ secondary coach, and he did not do a good job in New York, to say the least. I’m not going to give this an “F” grade because Anarumo is an unknown, and he coached with Zac Taylor in Miami, but Cincinnati fans should not feel optimistic about the move.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Feb. 4 Updates
Dolphins hire HC Brian Flores: D Grade
I don’t understand what the Dolphins are doing. When Stephen Ross hired Adam Gase three years ago, he called Gase the “next Bill Belichick.” Yet, he fired Gase even though Gase led the Dolphins to the playoffs in one of the two years in which he had his starting quarterback, the pedestrian Ryan Tannehill. Now, to replace Gase, Ross brought in someone else he can connect to Belichick, which has not been a viable strategy.
Brian Flores was New England’s defensive coordinator this past season. He did a great job, but so did Romeo Crennel. And Charlie Weis. And all of Belichick’s other assistants who flamed out when they had an opportunity to take over as a head coach somewhere.
Flores is young (38 in February), so the only good news is that he’s not an old retread. However, hiring Belichick assistants has not panned out, so I don’t understand why the Dolphins suddenly think it’s such a good idea.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Bengals hire HC Zac Taylor: C- Grade
The old craze used to be hiring Bill Belichick assistants. That’s old hat now, save in Miami, where the Dolphins believe that this is still a viable strategy. The Bengals, meanwhile, are going with the new craze, which is to find the “next Sean McVay.”
Zac Taylor was the Rams’ quarterbacks coach last year. However, you can’t say that he had any impact in Jared Goff’s strong 2018 season because the Rams had a different quarterbacks coach (Greg Olson) last year, which is when Goff made his biggest leap. Goff melting down in the Super Bowl could reflect negatively on Taylor, so this reminds me of the Lions agreeing in principle with Matt Patricia before his defense’s dreadful performance in Super Bowl LII.
This seems like a bad hire, but it could be worse. It was being discussed that the Bengals could hire Hue Jackson or Vance Joseph, which would’ve been a disaster. Taylor is not a retread, and he’s also young (36 in May), so there’s always a chance he could be some sort of prodigy. That said, it’s fair to be very skeptical about this move.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 31 Updates
Cowboys hire OC Kellen Moore: B+ Grade
I first laughed when I heard this news. How could the Cowboys hire Kellen Moore to be their offensive coordinator when he’s only 29 and has just one year of coaching experience? The public apparently feels the same way, as you can see lots of hilarious GIFs and memes on Twitter concerning this move.
Then, I thought about it. So what if Moore doesn’t have experience? His predecessor, Scott Linehan, had plenty of experience, and he was terrible. Moore, on the other hand, is very smart and may have some new ideas on how to get the most out of Dak Prescott. He could come up with some creative play-calls, which is something Linehan was incapable of doing.
I don’t think this is a slam-dunk hire by any means, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it panned out.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 24 Updates
Chiefs hire DC Steve Spagnuolo: C- Grade
I like that the Chiefs fired Bob Sutton, but this doesn’t seem like much of an upgrade. It could be argued that it’s actually a downgrade for a couple of reasons.
First, Spagnuolo didn’t exactly do a good job at his previous post. His 2016 Giants defense was very good, but the team ranked 32nd and 31st in yards allowed in the other two years he coached there. Second, the Chiefs will move to a 4-3 under Spagnuolo. I hate when coaches prefer scheme over personnel. Will Dee Ford and Chris Jones translate to the 4-3? That’s an unknown, so this seems like an unnecessary and possibly terrible scheme switch.
The only thing saving this from a “D” or worse is that Spagnuolo has worked well with Andy Reid before, but I’m not optimistic about this hiring.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 22 Updates
Chiefs fire DC Bob Sutton: A Grade
Bob Sutton turned out to be the scapegoat in the wake of the Chiefs’ loss to the Patriots. It’s funny to note that Sutton would’ve kept his job had Dee Ford not been offside by an inch when Tom Brady threw an interception late in the game, but this is still the correct decision.
Sutton’s defenses were great when he first took over the job in 2013, but he had terrific personnel. He struggled to put competitive defenses on the field during the past two seasons, often struggling to make the appropriate adjustments. Brady shredding Sutton’s defenses on third-and-10, after third-and-10, after third-and-10 in overtime was the final coffin in the nail, as one Hall of Fame running back once said.
This is definitely an “A” firing. Sutton had to go. The Chiefs can be much better defensively with someone else, or really, almost anyone else.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 16 Updates
Cowboys fire OC Scott Linehan: A Grade
Scott Linehan held his post for five years in Dallas. He oversaw a terrific offense in 2016, but his unit dropped into the 20s of net yardage last season. The Cowboys were able to move the chains more effectively once they acquired Amari Cooper. That changed when they battled the Rams in the divisional round of the playoffs.
Though Linehan is not completely to blame – the Cowboys have tons of problems, ranging from an ineffective head coach, to a pedestrian quarterback, to a worsened offensive line – it’s still a good decision to fire him. Linehan’s coaching was ineffective and lacked creativity, so it’s a good sign that Dallas is moving forward by bringing in a new play-caller. Unfortunately, the problems will continue to persist, so other changes need to be made.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 16 Updates
Lions hire OC Darrell Bevell: F Grade
Good lord, what are the Lions doing? Darrell Bevell has been one of the worst NFL coordinators, on either side of the ball, over the past 15 years. It was puzzling as to why the Lions would hire him, but apparently, he wasn’t near the top of their wish list. Detroit tried to hire several people as offensive coordinator, but the candidates turned them down. Thus, they went with their fourth or fifth choice in Bevell.
Even still, this seems like a terrible move. I can’t imagine that the Lions couldn’t hire some desperate quarterbacks coach with some upside to take the job. Bevell offers no upside. He sucks, and his incompetence will match the talent level the Lions have on offense, which is nil outside of Kenny Golladay and Kerryon Johnson. Detroit’s offense is going to continue to be horrible in 2019, though perhaps this is for the best, as it’ll set up the Lions to select Tua Tagovailoa next April.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Broncos hire DC Ed Donatell: B Grade
Ed Donatell is a long-time defensive coordinator, but he hasn’t held that post for a while. Donatell was a defensive coordinator for the Packers (2000-03) and Falcons (2004-06). He hasn’t been able to get that job until now. The question is, why?
His defensive rankings, as far as yardage is concerned, are in chronological order: 15th, 12th, 12th, 17th, 14th, 22nd, 22nd. It seemed like teams were able to figure out his defenses. However, Donatell has worked with new Broncos head coach Vic Fangio for quite some time, so it’s nice that the two will be able to improve Denver’s defense in tandem. This seems like a decent hire for that reason.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Broncos hire OC Rich Scangarello: C Grade
Rich Scangarello has never been a coordinator in the NFL. He held that job in college at schools like Wagner and Millsaps, neither of which is in Division I-A football. In the pros, he’s been beyond a quality control coach for just two years, both of which occurred in the past two seasons at San Francisco. He was the 49ers’ quarterbacks coach.
This is obviously a clear step down from Gary Kubiak. The Broncos could’ve used Kubiak to get the most out of Case Keenum and/or whichever quarterback they draft this April. I’m not sure if Scangarello is the answer, as not much is known about him. Nick Mullens looked good this past season, so that’s a plus, but that could’ve been because of Kyle Shanahan.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jaguars hire OC John DeFilippo: A Grade
This seems like an outstanding hire. John DeFilippo was a hot name on the coaching circuit a year ago. He took a job with the Vikings, but didn’t last very long. However, I’d blame this on Kirk Cousins, who will get lots of people fired in Minnesota because he’s not as good as the bad opinion sports media thinks he is.
DeFilippo, a young head coach with a sharp offensive mind, should be able to rebound in his new gig. What makes this hire especially promising is that the Jaguars will have an upper hand with Nick Foles, should they trade for him. DeFilippo coached Foles when the two won a Super Bowl together, so the familiarity there will be enormous.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 14 Updates
Jets hire DC Gregg Williams: B Grade
It’s surprising that Gregg Williams took a coordinator job in the NFL. For someone who has received 35 head-coaching offers, Williams seemed destined to be a head coach in the NFL. Who would’ve thought that he’d have to settle in as a defensive coordinator?
Williams did a good job as Cleveland’s interim head coach last year, but his defenses have been hit or miss over the years. Williams does better when he can pay his players to injure the opposition, but that’s been disallowed. Still, this seems like a fine hire. I worry a bit about Williams and Adam Gase’s personalities clashing, but Williams has some good talent to work with, and he should have the Jets’ defense playing well.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 14 Updates
Cardinals hire DC Vance Joseph: C+ Grade
Vance Joseph failed in Denver after one year as a defensive coordinator in Miami. The Dolphins ranked 26th in yardage allowed that season, and yet Joseph had Ndamukong Suh at his disposal. Joseph, despite having the time of his life in Denver, never really got the most out of the Broncos’ defense. Thus, this is a dubious hire to say the least.
That said, I don’t hate this move because the Cardinals will at least go back to a 3-4. Several of their players struggled in the 4-3, installed by Steve Wilks, so Joseph will at least revert back to Arizona’s previous scheme, which is definitely a plus.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Packers hire OC Nathaniel Hackett: C+ Grade
This seems like a pretty bland hire. Nathaniel Hackett is not a very good coordinator. His play-calling is predictable, and Blake Bortles regressed under his watch.
Hackett has never had success in the NFL, as he failed in Buffalo and Jacksonville. However, he’s never worked with a good NFL quarterback. He’ll finally have that opportunity in Green Bay, but why Hackett? I’d rather bring in someone with new ideas; not a history of failure in the NFL. Still, I guess there’s some credence to hiring a veteran play-caller because the Packers have a first-time head coach, so I’m not going to grade this harshly.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Vikings hire “offensive advisor” Gary Kubiak: B Grade
I don’t exactly know what an “offensive advisor” is as it relates to a football team, but I’ll go out on a limb and say that it’s someone who advises the offense.
I like Gary Kubiak, as you may have noticed from the diminished grade I gave to the Broncos for failing to sign him. However, I wonder if there could be too many cooks, which, as we learned a few years ago, can be quite the problem. There could be some sort of a power struggle between offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski, as well as Kubiak and his son, who is the quarterbacks coach. If the Vikings struggle to score – a possibility with Kirk Cousins’ pension for choking in big games – there could be a real mess in Minnesota, which was to be expected when the front office signed Cousins to a ridiculous contract.
Still, having Kubiak around could have its benefits. Cousins needs all the help he can get, so perhaps Kubiak would allow the Vikings to get over the hump with Cousins.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Broncos hire HC Vic Fangio, NOT OC Gary Kubiak: B- Grade
This seems to be a package deal. John Elway wanted a head coach who would be willing to work with Gary Kubiak as his offensive coordinator. Vic Fangio was fine with that, so the Broncos hired him.
I’m perfectly fine with Fangio getting a chance at a head-coaching gig. He deserves a shot. His defenses have been terrific for years, as he just had Chicago playing as the top DVOA unit in the NFL. Fangio is 61, but we’ve seen first-time older coaches have success (most recently, Mike Zimmer and Bruce Arians.) Fangio, at the very least, should be able to get the most out of Von Miller and Bradley Chubb. Denver’s defense will be dominant if the team can find upgrades at linebacker and cornerback.
As for Kubiak, he’s had a long history of success as offensive coordinator. He stepped away from Denver’s head-coaching gig the year after he won the Super Bowl, citing health concerns. He’s back after two years, and I imagine he was itching to return to the pros after some time off. With his batteries recharged and motivation high, Kubiak will be able to get the most out of Case Keenum, whom I’m sure the Broncos won’t give up on after just one year. That said, I have to believe that Denver will use an early draft pick on a quarterback, so it’ll be nice to have Kubiak around to develop that player.
Update: It turns out that Kubiak will not be joining the Broncos. He’ll be taking a job in Minnesota instead. I’ll be grading that later, but in the meantime, I’m forced to worsen Denver’s grade for hiring Vic Fangio. It’s still possible for Fangio to do well in Denver, and I’m excited to see what he’ll do with Von Miller and Bradley Chubb. However, Kubiak was a big selling point for me. I thought Kubiak could get the most out of Keenum, but the Broncos will have worse offensive coaching instead.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 13 Updates
Browns hire DC Steve Wilks: B+ Grade
Steve Wilks lasted just one year in Arizona as the Cardinals’ head coach. His defense was solid, but not as great as it could have been. Wilks made a huge mistake by transitioning from a 3-4 to a 4-3 defense, preferring to use his personnel rather than use a scheme that would benefit his current players.
Wilks won’t have to do that in Cleveland. The Browns already run a 4-3, so there won’t be a major scheme switch. Wilks did well in his one year as defensive coordinator in Carolina, so I don’t see why Wilks couldn’t succeed with the Browns. This seems like a solid hire, worthy of a B+.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 11 Updates
Bears hire DC Chuck Pagano: A Grade
Chuck Pagano was not a very good head coach, but he’s been a stellar defensive coordinator over the years. The Bears were in need of one after losing Vic Fangio to the Broncos. There was some fear of a defensive decline with Fangio gone, but those should be quelled with Pagano now on the staff.
I like that Pagano and Fangio had similar coaching philosophies. Pagano won’t have to change the scheme, as the Bears will be able to remain in their 3-4.
This is a very strong hiring for several reasons, and I think this is worthy of an “A” grade.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Ravens hire (promote) OC Greg Roman; fire OC Marty Mornhinweg: B Grade
Marty Mornhinweg always seemed like a mediocre option to me as an offensive coordinator. I don’t think he was capable of developing Lamar Jackson appropriately, so I’m fine with him leaving the team.
The Ravens will replace Mornhinweg with tight ends coach Greg Roman, who has a history of being an offensive coordinator as well. Roman’s specialty is constructing great rushing attacks, so that’ll definitely benefit the Ravens.
It’s also worth noting that Roman did some good work with Colin Kaepernick in 2011-14. Kaepernick’s production fell off once Roman departed from San Francisco. That said, the 49ers’ offense often had issues with delay-of-game penalties and wasted timeouts. This was partly Kaepernick’s fault, but Roman didn’t help him overcome these issues, so he was partly to blame. I think this move is worthy of a “B” grade, as the Ravens may have been able to find a younger coordinator with some innovative ways to improve Jackson.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 10 Updates
Buccaneers hire DC Todd Bowles: A Grade
Todd Bowles had a nice start to his head-coaching career with the Jets, but his team gave up on him a couple of times during his final season. He’ll return to his old job, which is being a defensive coordinator under Bruce Arians.
Bowles has had some success as a defensive coordinator in the past. He held that post for two years in Arizona. His defenses were sixth and 24th in yards allowed, though the team that was 24th in yards was fifth in points surrendered.
Bowles has a good defensive mind, and he’s worked well with Arians in the past, so I definitely like this hire. I’m not sure if there was a better option out there, so I’m willing to give this an “A” grade.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 9 Updates
Jets hire HC Adam Gase: A+ Grade
This is the best hire of this offseason. Adam Gase, once called the “next Bill Belichick” by Dolphins owner Stephen Ross, coached two of three seasons in Miami with his starting quarterback healthy. In those two seasons, Gase took the Dolphins took the playoffs once and had them in postseason contention in the other before Ryan Tannehill got banged up during a victory against the Patriots and was never the same after that. Tannehill, by the way, was one of the worst starters at his position in the NFL. It was quite amazing and impressive that Gase was able to keep the Dolphins in contention despite not having a viable quarterback.
This won’t be a problem with the Jets. Gase will be able to coach Sam Darnold. This seems like a great fit. Gase has coached up bad quarterbacks to play well, and average quarterbacks to perform on a somewhat high level.
Gase will be able to help Darnold take the next step. This is a fantastic hire, fully worthy of an A+.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Browns hire HC Freddie Kitchens, fire interim HC/DC Gregg Williams: A Grade
The Browns almost had to do this. They were predictably struggling with Hue Jackson, but when they fired him, Freddie Kitchens stepped in as offensive coordinator and did wonders with Baker Mayfield. Under Kitchens, Mayfield had a 19:8 touchdown-to-interception ratio, with three of those picks coming in a sloppy game against a great Houston defense. Compare that to how Mayfield was with Jackson; his touchdown-to-interception ratio was just 8:6.
Because Mayfield made great strides under Kitchens, it would’ve foolish to let Kitchens get away. Mayfield would’ve had to start over in a new system, which would not have been ideal. Kitchens could’ve remained offensive coordinator, but that wouldn’t have lasted very long. Some team would’ve wanted a young coach with a sharp offensive mind to be their head coach, and Kitchens qualifies at 44. It’s likely that if Mayfield continued to improve, some team would’ve hired Kitchens to be their head coach next year.
This seems like a no-brainer for the Browns. Now, Kitchens needs to hire a veteran defensive coordinator, much like Sean McVay did with the Rams. That coordinator won’t be Gregg Williams, who was fired. Williams did a great job as a coordinator with Cleveland, but he was pretty mediocre as an interim head coach. He made some in-game management mistakes. He should remain a coordinator, but couldn’t work under an assistant from last year, so Cleveland had to let him go. I can’t imagine him being unemployed for too long.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 8 Updates
Buccaneers hire HC Bruce Arians: B+ Grade
I think this is a good hire. Bruce Arians did well in Arizona at first, but he regressed substantially, particularly in 2017, when he was downright atrocious as a coach. However, it seemed like he was burned out and needed some time off, plus his medical condition played a part. Arians, according to JoeBucsFan – who, by the way, broke this story first – was constantly studying film while working for CBS because he was itching to get back into coaching.
Arians has a sharp offensive mind, and he’ll be able to help Jameis Winston. At the same time, he’s a no-nonsense guy, and he won’t put up with any of Winston’s crap. I feel like Winston needed an offensive coach who could instill some discipline, and Arians seems like the perfect hire in that regard.
I’d grade this as an “A,” but my concern is over Arians’ health. Arians will turn 67 a few weeks into the season, and he’s had medical issues in the past, so he’s not exactly the safest hire in that regard.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Falcons hire OC Dirk Koetter: B Grade
Dirk Koetter will seem like Mike Martz circa 1999 compared to the man he’s replacing. Steve Sarkisian was an abomination of a coordinator, so he needed to go. Anyone would’ve been an upgrade over Sarkisian, and that includes the Falcons’ mascot.
Koetter is a fine hire overall. The Falcons have been down this road before with Koetter, so it’s nice that he’s worked with Matt Ryan before. As coordinator for the Falcons in 2012-14, Koetter’s offenses were eighth, 14th and eighth in yardage. That’s passable, though more should be expected when you have Ryan and Julio Jones.
I’m giving this a “B.” The familiarity with Ryan and Jones pushes this grade up; otherwise, it would be a pretty uninspiring hire.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Cardinals hire HC Kliff Kingsbury: F Grade
The Cardinals made a huge mistake by hiring Steve Wilks last offseason, and it appears as though they’re compounding errors with another dud coaching hire.
I don’t understand this hire at all. Kliff Kingsbury has never coached in the NFL. How could he go from coaching in college to being a head coach in the pros when he has no experience in the NFL? This did not work for Steve Spurrier. This did not work for Chip Kelly. Why would Kingsbury suddenly have success? Hiring him as an offensive coordinator would make sense, but bringing him in as a head coach seems asinine.
And here’s the kicker – Kingsbury wasn’t even good at Texas Tech! Following his first season, a year in which he inherited the previous regime’s players, Kingsbury was never better than 7-6 despite having Patrick Mahomes at quarterback. He had just one winning season after his first year. He couldn’t win in the Big XII, a conference where teams don’t play any sort of defense. Why would he suddenly win in the NFL?
I won’t completely dismiss this hire. Perhaps Kingsbury will have some new innovations in the NFL. He’s a young guy and could have some good ideas. However, I just don’t see this panning out, so I think the Cardinals deserve a “D.” Actually, now that I think about it, this should be an “F.” Kingsbury didn’t even develop Mahomes or Baker Mayfield. There’s zero evidence he’ll do anything positive with Josh Rosen, and the fact that the clueless sports media likes this move probably means that it’ll fail.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 7 Updates
Packers hire HC Matt LaFleur: A Grade
The Packers have underachieved with Aaron Rodgers for several reasons, one of which was that they used an offense that looked like it was designed in the 1930s. Mike McCarthy was an old, stubborn coach who was slow to adapt. Rodgers needed to be challenged with an innovative, young coach with a sharp, offensive mind. I’d say LaFleur fits that description.
LaFleur, just 39, has done a great job in his previous two jobs. He was the offensive coordinator for Jared Goff in 2017 when the Rams had less offensive talent than they do now – they upgraded from Sammy Watkins to Brandin Cooks – and then did a good job with Tennessee’s offense. Marcus Mariota thrived when healthy, but was injured far too often.
LaFleur was one of the top head-coaching candidates, so I love this move. He’s going to bring the Packers out of the Stone Age. Also, it’s great news that LaFleur will keep on defensive coordinator Mike Pettine. Coaches who meddle too much and change defensive schemes almost always fail. It’s great that LaFleur recognizes that.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Dec. 31 Updates
Falcons fire OC Steve Sarkisian: A+ Grade
The Falcons also let go of defensive coordinator Marquand Manuel and special teams coordinator Keith Armstrong, but let’s concentrate on Sarkisian because he was responsible for the Falcons’ downfall from their Super Bowl prominence.
Former offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan was one of the primary reasons Atlanta was able to reach the Super Bowl two years ago. Shanahan took the 49ers’ head-coaching job, and the Falcons stupidly replaced Shanahan with Sarkisian, a poor coach with a history of alcohol issues. The Falcons scored 12.5 fewer points per game under Sarkisian in his first year with the Falcons. Their scoring went up a bit in 2018, but only because Atlanta added another viable receiver in Calvin Ridley. The Falcons still struggled immensely in the red zone, and it took forever for Sarkisian to figure out how to get the ball to Julio Jones when the team was near the goal line.
Sarkisian should’ve been fired last offseason, but better late than never. I imagine Sarkisian will return to the college ranks, where he’ll continue to underachieve and ruin more team pep rallies.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Bengals fire HC Marvin Lewis: F Grade
If you’re a 25-year-old reading this, you were nine years old when the Bengals hired Marvin Lewis back in 2003. That’s pretty mind-boggling, but my point in saying this is that anyone 25 years or younger needs proper context for this firing because they don’t know what Cincinnati was like prior to Lewis.
The Bengals used to be known as the Cleveland Browns of the NFL. They were widely nicknamed the Bungles, and they were the laughing stock of the league. They would go 2-14, 3-13 or 4-12 every year. We saw 15 years of this nonsense. The Bengals simply weren’t competitive whatsoever, and they constantly did stupid things. For example, I recall them wearing all black in an 85-degree September home game because the owner liked the pretty black uniforms, and the players got worn out as a result. This stupidity and incompetence came at the heads of Mike Brown, one of the worst owners in the NFL. Brown is not as dumb as Stephen Ross, but he seemed to intentionally do devious things like some kid holding a magnifying glass over an ant.
And then, Lewis came along. When Lewis was hired, I remember Tony Kornheiser on Pardon the Interruption state, “If Marvin Lewis gets the Bengals to 8-8, they should build a statue of him.” That is how bad the Bungles were.
The Bengals actually went 8-8 in Lewis’ first year. He made the worst franchise in the NFL respectable. By 2005, the Bengals were a Super Bowl contender, and they may have won it all had Carson Palmer not suffered an injury against the Steelers in the playoffs. Nevertheless, the Bengals were .500 or better in 10 of Lewis’ first 13 seasons. That means that according to Kornheiser, the Bengals needed to build 10 statues of Lewis!
I can’t stress how surprising it would’ve been to learn that fact in 2003. Had I been told that Lewis would get the Bengals to .500 or better in 10 of 13 years, I would’ve considered him to be the greatest coach in NFL history. We’ve since taken the Mike Brown’s incompetence for granted, all because Lewis did such a tremendous job in Cincinnati.
Now, it’s worth noting that the Bengals struggled in 2016 and 2017. They also finished 6-10 in 2018, but that was hardly Lewis’ fault. The Bengals began the year with a 4-1 record, but suffered a plethora of injuries. From Andy Dalton, to A.J. Green, to Tyler Boyd, to Tyler Eifert, to Vontaze Burfict, to Nick Vigil, to Cordy Glenn, to Carl Lawson, the Bengals saw numerous key players miss a chunk of the season. I believe the Bengals would’ve been in playoff contention and probably would’ve won the AFC North had everyone stayed healthy. It’s not Lewis’ fault that almost all of his best players were knocked out for the year.
It makes no sense for the Bengals to fire Lewis now. He rebuilt the team well and had them ready to make another playoff run. Now, he’s gone because because Brown listened to idiots in the media who don’t know or remember how bad Cincinnati was before Lewis.
Mark my words: Because the Bengals fired Lewis, they will revert to being the laughing stock of the NFL. They will win between two and four games each year. They will be known as the Bungles once more. Lewis was a rare human being who knew how to deal with Mike Brown’s incompetence. There aren’t many coaches who have the temperament to do that, so it’s going to be a very, very long time before Cincinnati is ready to be in playoff contention again.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Dolphins fire HC Adam Gase: F- – – – – – – – – – – – Grade
Wow. WOW. WOW!!!!!!!! I can’t. I just. I just can’t.
Look, I knew that Dolphins owner Stephen Ross was a complete buffoon like the rest of you, but I didn’t realize that he was capable of this level of stupidity. Ross may have just cemented himself as one of the worst owners in not just the NFL, but the history of sports.
When Ross hired Gase three years ago, he called Gase the “next Bill Belichick.” Let’s analyze what transpired in those three years:
2016: Led the Dolphins to the playoffs despite them being quarterbacked by Ryan Tannehill.
2017: Saw the season derailed by Tannehill’s preseason injury. Jay Cutler buried the team, yet Miami was oddly competitive in several games, finishing 6-10.
2018: Had the Dolphins in playoff contention late in the year despite the team being quarterbacked by Tannehill. The playoff hopes ended when Tannehill suffered an injury in the second quarter against the Patriots. Tannehill was never the same after that.
Why on Earth would you fire a head coach you thought was the next Belichick who had the team competitive for a playoff spot in both years he had his starting quarterback available!? Why in the world would you not allow the “next Bill Belichick” to have a chance to coach a team with a quarterback better than Tannehill!? The previous regime signed Tannehill to a 6-year, $95.2 million contract. Why was it Gase’s fault he was stricken with a pedestrian starting quarterback all of these years!?
This is such an insanely stupid decision. I imagine the other NFL teams are laughing at Ross and the Dolphins right now. In fact, teams are already hurrying to schedule interviews with Gase. It sounds like the Browns are highly interested in hiring Gase, and doing so would be a terrific move. I can’t wait to see Gase coach up Baker Mayfield. And he’ll be able to do so because Ross is one of the worst sports owners anyone has ever seen.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Broncos fire HC Vance Joseph: A+ Grade
It was just 16 months ago that Vance Joseph was having the time of his life. If anything, this is a lesson to live in the moment because the time of your life can end quickly.
Vance Joseph was a horrible coach. He was responsible for some poor game plans and never made quality in-game adjustments. Denver’s defense regressed under him, which was problematic because his specialty was bolstering that side of the ball. More damning is that the Broncos often quit on him late in the year, rarely showing any effort in several games.
The Broncos had to move on from Joseph, so this is an easy A+ grade.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Cardinals fire HC Steve Wilks: A+ Grade
I’m usually not a fan of firing head coaches after one year, but Steve Wilks was so horrible that I think this can be an exception to the rule.
Head coaches who prioritize scheme over personnel almost always fail. That was the case with Wilks, who transformed the Cardinals’ 3-4 defense into a 4-3, causing many defensive players to struggle as a result. Meanwhile, Wilks oversaw a coaching staff that didn’t seem to understand how to utilize David Johnson. Give him the freaking ball!
Wilks never really had a chance, given Josh Rosen’s incompetence and the offensive line’s ineptitude, but he had to go before he caused more damage.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Raiders hire GM Mike Mayock: A+ Grade
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!
I imagine every NFL Draft fan had the same reaction. I’m sorely going to miss Mike Mayock on TV. He and Rich Eisen were the dynamic duo, providing some great entertainment as we slogged through countless 40s during the NFL Scouting Combine. Who’s Eisen going to poke fun of for not knowing pop culture now? And whose mock draft with the NFL Network feature the night before the draft? I imagine Daniel Jeremiah will fill in Mayock’s job, and Jeremiah will be terrific, but I am going to miss Mayock nonetheless.
The Raiders, however, made a great hire. Mayock is a tremendous evaluator, so Oakland is effectively paying him to get his analysis privately. It’s actually a cunning, devious move that other teams should’ve utilized in the past. Bravo to the Raiders for pulling the trigger.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Dec. 30 Updates
Jets fire HC Todd Bowles: A- Grade
Todd Bowles did a good coaching job in 2015 when he took the Jets to 10-6 despite their starting quarterback being Ryan Fitzpatrick. Bowles, however, ended up finishing 24-40 in New York, but never had a talented, veteran quarterback. He’s had Fitzpatrick, Josh McCown and rookie Sam Darnold starting for him, so I don’t think he was given a fair shake.
That said, Bowles’ in-game management wasn’t very good, and his team quit on him a couple of times this season, particularly in a blowout loss to the Bills in the middle of the year. That was not a good look, and it was an indication that Bowles’ time was up in New York.
I’m fine with beginning anew. The Jets need to bring in a sharp, young offensive mind to take Darnold to the next level. Bowles and his staff weren’t going to do that.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Buccaneers fire HC Dirk Koetter: A+ Grade
This was a no-brainer. Dirk Koetter has been a horrible head coach in the NFL. His game-planning and in-game management were both abysmal, and he never had control of his team. He also failed to develop Jameis Winston, as Winston hasn’t progressed in recent seasons.
Koetter finished 19-29 in three years with the Buccaneers. He should’ve been fired last year, but better late than never. Tampa can now move forward with a real NFL head coach.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Dec. 11 Updates
Vikings fire OC John DeFilippo: B- Grade
There was no way the Vikings were going to meet expectations when they signed Kirk Cousins to an absurd $84 million contract – how smart do Bruce Allen and the Redskins look right now for not overpaying him despite the media demanding that they do so? – and thus, someone had to fall on the sword for Minnesota’s sluggish start. That man would be offensive coordinator John DeFilippo.
It’s a shame for DeFilippo, who is a good coach. He did a solid job of coordinating the Browns a few years ago, and he developed Carson Wentz well. Unfortunately for DeFilippo, he was hampered by an overrated and overpaid quarterback playing behind a miserable offensive line.
I don’t think this firing deserves a good grade, as it wasn’t DeFilippo’s fault the Vikings struggled offensively. However, there was a disconnect with Mike Zimmer, so it makes sense to move on from him. Zimmer, by the way, has also been responsible for seeing Norv Turner depart, so this is not looking like a favorable trend for him. I like Zimmer as a coach, but his constant butting heads with the offensive coordinators seems like a major flaw.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Dec. 10 Updates
Raiders fire GM Reggie McKenzie: A Grade
Reggie McKenzie was not making decisions anymore. Jon Gruden traded away most of McKenzie’s assets, so there was no reason to keep McKenzie around. Firing him was the correct move.
McKenzie did some good things as the Raiders’ general manager, but he made many more mistakes. He’s praised by media people who have an inexplicable hatred of Jon Gruden, as those people point out the picks of Khalil Mack, Derek Carr and Amari Cooper, even though those three prospects fell into McKenzie’s lap. Even still, Carr has mostly been a disappointment, while Cooper was a turd in Oakland, as he dropped countless passes and gave up on routes. He’s looking good with the Cowboys right now, but he’ll quit on them eventually as well.
As for McKenzie’s gaffes, he hired Dennis Allen, and he also had some major whiffs in the early rounds of the draft. Here are his bust picks from the first and second rounds: D.J. Hayden, Menelik Watson, Mario Edwards, Jihad Ward and Obi Melifonwu. Those are five busts out of 10 first- and second-round picks, which is a high number. Meanwhile, very few late-round picks were hits.
Here’s a list of McKenzie’s Day 3 selections who have panned out:
Jack Crawford
Latavius Murray
That’s it. That’s the list.
McKenzie was largely a failure of a general manager, and the Raiders are in much better hands with Gruden, who has them set up extremely well for the future with tons of draft picks at his disposal. Meanwhile, some of Gruden’s third-day picks are already contributing (Maurice Hurst, Marcell Ateman.) Perhaps media members would acknowledge this if they didn’t hate Gruden, but I’m sure you’ll hear people on TV and in print complaining about how the Raiders wronged McKenzie even though he did a poor job for the most part.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Dec. 2 Updates
Packers fire HC Mike McCarthy: A+ Grade
It’s about damn time. The Packers finally fired one of the worst head coaches in the NFL. This is something that should’ve happened long ago, but better late than never.
This is one of the easiest grades I’ve ever had to make. Mike McCarthy is a horrible coach. He’s been doing a poor job for years, and it’s only because of Aaron Rodgers that he’s been able to hold on to his job for so long. Rodgers, by the way, is the only reason why McCarthy has been able to establish such a great career record. He owes his career to Rodgers.
And yet, McCarthy hamstrung Rodgers with a 1990s offense. With the Chiefs, Rams, etc. running creative schemes, it’s embarrassing that the Packers have been running stuff from the Stone Ages. They need a young, innovative mind to replace McCarthy. Or, really, anyone to replace McCarthy.
By the way, check out Kenny Ortiz’s rant about McCarthy on the WF Podcast (47:45 mark). It’s hilarious.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Nov. 26 Updates
Jaguars fire OC Nathaniel Hackett: B- Grade
The Jaguars apparently needed a scapegoat for their disappointing 3-8 season, so the man to fall on the sword turned out to be Nathaniel Hackett. Perhaps the person who gave Blake Bortles an extension this offseason should’ve been the one to face punishment, or perhaps it should’ve been the head coach, who allowed his players to party so much before a game that the players racked up a $46,000 bar tab.
Hackett’s not a good offensive coordinator, so I don’t hate this move. His play-calling has been extremely predictable, though perhaps that’s because he’s been limited by his atrocious quarterback. That said, it seems silly to blame the team’s struggles on Hackett, when there are far worse offenders involved in Jacksonville’s demise.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Nov. 12 Updates
Bengals fire DC Teryl Austin: B Grade
I wasn’t very enthusiastic about the Teryl Austin hire. I gave it a “B,” citing that it wasn’t terrible, but that there were better options available. Austin, apparently, deserved worse than a “B” grade, as he didn’t even last an entire season.
Austin is the scapegoat for what has transpired lately, as Cincinnati has become the first team in the Super Bowl era to surrender 500-plus yards in three consecutive games. However, this is not all Austin’s fault. The Bengals were missing their top two linebackers as well as a starting cornerback. They were shorthanded against a couple of lethal offenses in Kansas City and New Orleans. The other team to get 500-plus yards was the Buccaneers, which got its yardage in garbage time.
That said, Austin is not a good coordinator, so firing him is OK. I don’t think the Bengals needed to do this, but I don’t believe there will be much harm in getting rid of him.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Oct. 29 Updates
Browns fire HC Todd Haley: D Grade
What’s this? How can another coach be axed on Hue Was Fired Day? I think it’s appalling that the Browns would tarnish the memory of Hue Jackson by getting rid of another coach on this incredible holiday.
In all seriousness, I don’t get this. I get moving on from Jackson, but why Haley? I was interested to see what Haley could do with Baker Mayfield without the specter of Jackson hovering over him. Haley’s had success as a coordinator in the past, so perhaps Mayfield could’ve shown improvement in the second half of the season.
Making matters worse, the inept Gregg Williams will step in as interim head coach. That means the Browns will have to replace their head coach, offensive coordinator and also the defensive coordinator because they’ll need to find someone to take Williams’ duties. So, even if you didn’t like Haley, you have to acknowledge that this sort of chaos is unhealthy during the season, especially when a team doesn’t have the bye week to get everything sorted out!
Also, I’d like to address the Lincoln Riley rumors. There’s speculation that the Oklahoma head coach could be headed to the Browns. I think this would be a bad idea. Riley has never spent any time in the NFL, and there’s a dubious history of NCAA-only coaches failing in the pros. He could be the next Chip Kelly. I get the connection between Riley and Mayfield is appealing, but Mayfield needs a pro coach; not one who has to learn about the pros.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Browns fire HC Hue Jackson: A+ Grade
I’ve had to congratulate so many Browns fans for the firing of Hue Jackson over the past half hour that I’m beginning to think the mayor of Cleveland may have to make Oct. 29 an annual holiday called Hue Was Fired Day. I can’t believe it. He’s finally gone.
I defended Jackson for a while, citing the need for the Browns to have coaching stability like the Steelers, Ravens and Bengals have enjoyed over the years with Mike Tomlin, John Harbaugh and Marvin Lewis, respectively. So, even after the 1-15 and 0-16 seasons, I argued that Jackson should be retained. However, I changed my mind in recent weeks. The Browns actually have real talent now, so they should be winning games. Instead, they’ve been blown out twice in the past three contests, while the outlier was a three-point loss to the Buccaneers, which would also have been a blowout had Tampa not made careless mistakes.
The Browns must bring in a quarterback-friendly head coach to help develop Baker Mayfield, much like the Rams and Bears have done with Sean McVay and Matt Nagy, respectively. No name comes to mind at the moment, but Cleveland has plenty of time to scour the coaching ranks for a solution.
My only gripe with this firing is the timing of it. This should’ve been done during the bye week, as it’ll make preparing for the Chiefs quite difficult. That said, it’s not like the Browns were going to beat Kansas City anyway, so it doesn’t really matter. Enjoy Hue Was Fired Day, Cleveland fans.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Oct. 19 Updates
Cardinals fire OC Mike McCoy: A+ Grade
If the Cardinals didn’t fire Mike McCoy following his utterly ridiculous performance against the Broncos on Thursday, there was going to be hell to pay. That, or we’d know for a fact that he had incriminating photos of someone in the front office.
McCoy was doing a terrible job as Arizona’s offensive coordinator. He failed to expose flaws in the opposing defenses. For example, Denver can be beaten via pass-catching running backs and tight ends, and yet David Johnson had just one reception through three quarters, and Ricky Seals-Jones was nowhere to be found. Also, Josh Rosen had regressed each game since his initial start. McCoy’s predictable play-calling put Rosen in unfavorable situations, which nearly got him killed against Denver.
This is the second year in a row McCoy has been fired in the middle of the season after getting axed by the Broncos last season. And it’s well deserved. Perhaps new offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich will actually understand how to use Johnson properly, and maybe he’ll give Rosen a fighting chance.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Oct. 15 Updates
Bucs fire DC Mike Smith: A+ Grade
Buccaneers defensive coordinator Mike Smith has been fired after five games. It’s quite the fall from grace for Smith, who was the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons a few years ago.
There’s no way this should be anything but an A+. Smith’s defense was on pace to surrender the most points in NFL history, so a change had to be made. The Buccaneers have an atrocious secondary, but it’s not like they don’t have talented players in their stop unit. They shouldn’t have a good defense by any means, but they should definitely not be on pace to give up a record number of points.
Linebackers coach Mark Duffner will replace Smith. He can’t be worse than Smith, but the last time Duffner was a defensive coordinator was 2002 for the atrocious Bengals, who surrenered 28.5 points per game that year.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
March 27 Updates
Titans extend GM Jon Robinson (3 years): B+ Grade
Jon Robinson has only been the Titans’ general manager for two seasons, yet he received a 3-year extension today. That seems a bit odd, but it’s a logical move that should be graded favorably.
Robinson appears to have done a good job so far. It’s too early to say for sure about the 2017 NFL Draft class – although Adoree Jackson was great last year – but the 2016 NFL Draft class seems like a solid one. Kevin Dodd is a bust, but Robinson’s other early picks include Jack Conklin, Derrick Henry and Kevin Byard. Deion Sanders may not know who Byard is, but the Middle Tennessee State product has been one of the better safeties in the NFL despite being chosen in the third round.
As for free agency, Robinson has done some good things, bringing in Rishard Matthews and Logan Ryan, for example. The John Cyprien signing looks bad right now, but the former Jaguar was hurt all last year, so he could still pan out.
Overall, I’d say Robinson has done a B+ job thus far with the Titans, so that’s how I’ll grade this extension.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
March 21 Updates
ESPN hires former HC John Fox as studio analyst: F Grade
Oh boy. I cannot wait until John Fox tells us that teams can win games by running the ball. It’s going to make for some exciting television. My palms are actually sweating in anticipation.
OK, so this isn’t an NFL hire, but Fox is a former head coach, and ESPN is involved, so I had to chime in on how terrible of a hiring this is. Or, I guess I could just ask you. How many of you out there are excited to hear about what Fox has to say about the NFL? Anyone? No? That’s what I thought.
Fox is a failed head coach who hasn’t realized that vast adjustments needed to be made to his coaching style. Fox coached as if it were 1995 his entire career. This worked in his early days with the Panthers, but he never adjusted to the changing NFL. When the league became more reliant on quarterbacks in the wake of the Peyton Manning no-contact rules about a dozen years ago, older coaches like Fox and Jeff Fisher never switched up their coaching styles, and they became utter failures as a result.
So, why would ESPN think we’d want to hear Fox’s opinions? If this were 1995, I’d maybe be interested. Unfortunately, Fox has no new ideas or innovations. We’re going to hear the same, old rhetoric from him. “You have to run the ball and play good defense to win in the NFL.” No. It’s not 1995 anymore.
Moreover, I don’t understand why ESPN and the NFL Network insists on having former players and coaches as studio analysts. I’ve been saying this for a while, but if I were in charge of one of these networks, my main NFL analyst crew would comprise of the following: two of the top handicappers in the NFL, and two very savvy fantasy/DFS players. Most fans tune into football because of betting and fantasy, so I can’t comprehend, for the life of me, why these networks don’t make adjustments to what their audience wants. It’s as if they’re exactly like Fox; they’re stuck in a 1995 way of thinking, while everyone watching has moved forward, which would explain why their ratings are plummeting.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Feb. 21 Updates
Panthers hire GM Marty Hurney: YORK Grade
I give out Millen grades to atrocious moves made by general managers. An owner who makes a dumb mistake like this one gets a “York,” as bringing back Marty Hurney is akin to building a stadium two hours away from the fan base and then running a top-five head coach out of town.
The Panthers brought in Hurney to be their interim general manager following Dave Gettleman’s firing. This was a poor decision, though Carolina fans knew that this would be a temporary situation. Not anymore. Carolina has made Hurney its full-time general manager once again.
Hurney absolutely destroyed the Panthers prior to his firing in October 2012. He made some great draft picks, but most of his selections in the first three rounds were all busts. In fact, from 2009 to 2011, Cam Newton was the only non-bust he picked in the first three rounds of each draft.
Hurney’s worst decisions came via his contracts, which put the Panthers in cap purgatory by the time he was fired. He gave DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart a combined $81 million with $43.5 million in guarantees when they were on the team together. He also handed injury-prone Jon Beason $51.3 million with $25 million guaranteed. He basically was like a teenage girl at the mall with her rich daddy’s credit card. I never thought he’d be back in the NFL as a full-time general manager, yet here we are. Unreal.
Panther fans can expect some horrible contracts in the coming years. He’ll surely give overrated and injury-prone players tons of money, which will hurt Carolina in the long run. With so many great general manager candidates available, it’s absolutely irresponsible of the Panthers to re-hire Hurney.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Feb. 12 Updates
Colts hire OC Nick Sirianni: B- Grade
Colts fans, you can breathe a sigh of relief. There were reports that Indianapolis was going to hire Darrell Bevell, which would’ve been an absolute disaster. Bevell has been one of the worst offensive coordinators this decade, so it’s a good sign that new head coach Frank Reich opted to go a different route.
Nick Sirianni has never been an offensive coordinator. He’s a 36-year-old who was a receivers coach with the Chiefs and Chargers. Keenan Allen performed well last year, so that’s a positive indication that Sirianni knows what he’s doing. What’s most important is that Sirianni isn’t Bevell, so I can’t possibly give this a bad grade. Then again, Sirianni is an unknown quantity, so I’m not super high on this either.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Feb. 11 Updates
Colts hire HC Frank Reich: B+ Grade
Frank Reich had been an offensive coordinator for the Chargers and Eagles for two years each. In those seasons, Reich’s offenses were 18th, ninth, 22nd and seventh in yards. Reich doesn’t have the pedigree of Josh McDaniels, but he did a great job with Carson Wentz and Nick Foles. He deserves a chance to be a head coach in the NFL.
I was ready to give this grade a B+, but another news story caught my eye. Jason La Canfora is reporting that the Colts have been talking to Darrell Bevell to be their new offensive coordinator. If Reich authorized this, it’s a major hit to his stock. Bevell is a disaster. He’s been one of the worst offensive coordinators in the NFL this decade, and hiring him would be an atrocious decision. In fact, I’d consider dropping this grade to a “C” if Bevell happened to be hired, but I’ll leave it as a B- for now.
Update: The Colts didn’t hire Bevell after all, so I’ll move this up to a B+.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Feb. 8 Updates
Vikings hire OC John DeFilippo: A Grade
John DeFilippo was nearly hired by the Bears and Cardinals this offseason, but both franchises passed on him. It’s unclear why the Colts didn’t show any interest, but they should have. Indianapolis’ loss is Minnesota’s gain, as the Vikings hired DeFilippo to replace Pat Shurmur as their offensive coordinator.
DeFilippo did a great job as Philadelphia’s quarterbacks coach, getting the most out of both Carson Wentz and Nick Foles. He should help Case Keenum and/or Teddy Bridgewater progress, so the Vikings are in good hands for 2018. This is an “A” grade, though I imagine DeFilippo could be a hot head-coaching name after this year.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Feb. 6 Updates
Colts hire HC Josh McDaniels: A Grade
Josh McDaniels failed in Denver in his first head-coaching attempt, going 11-17 in just less than two years. He struggled, and I even dubbed him “Josh Mishandles.” However, with that said, I love this hire, and I think it’s worthy of an “A” grade.
McDaniels’ problem in Denver wasn’t his actual coaching. I thought McDaniels did a great job of scheming and getting the most out of some of his players. Where he failed was two-fold. The first issue was his personnel moves. He screwed up as a decision-maker, selecting a pure blocking tight end in Richard Quinn in the second round, for example. The second problem was that he was too young. McDaniels was in his early 30s back then and didn’t seem to command respect in the locker room.
I don’t think those two issues will hurt him with the Colts. The first is a non-factor because he won’t be making personnel decisions; Indianapolis has general manager Chris Ballard, who will be doing that. The second is probably not a worry either, as McDaniels turns 42 soon. He has matured and now seems ready for a head-coaching gig. I think he’s going to do a great job, and I can’t wait to see him get the most out of Andrew Luck.
Update: Josh McDaniels has decided not to take the Colts’ job (thanks, Drew). Disaster Grade coming soon.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Feb. 5 Updates
Lions hire HC Matt Patricia: C+ Grade
We’ve seen countless Bill Belichick assistants fail as head coaches over the years, yet teams still believe in hiring them. The Lions have done so, bringing in New England’s former defensive coordinator, Matt Patricia.
Patricia is a genius – literally; he has an aeronautical engineering degree – but I’m not sure if that’ll translate to being a head coach. In fact, I wonder if that’ll mean that his players won’t be able to relate to him. Patricia has been a terrific defensive coordinator, and he can out-scheme most teams if he has the right personnel, but as far as being a leader, I’m pretty skeptical.
Having said that, I’m not totally down on this hiring. I think it could definitely work out. Of all the former assistants, Patricia most resembles Belichick as this strange, cerebral coach who can get the most out of his players.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 30 Updates
Titans hire DC Dean Pees: A Grade
Dean Pees announced his retirement in December, but has already changed his mind. The 68-year-old has likely opted to keep coaching because joining the Titans would allow him to coach with his son.
This is definitely Tennessee’s gain. Pees has been a defensive coordinator in the NFL for 10 years, four with the Patriots and six with the Ravens. In those seasons, here were his defense’s rankings in yards allowed: 6th, 4th, 10th, 11th (Patriots), 17th, 12th, 8th, 8th, 7th and 12th (Ravens).
Pees likes running the 3-4, so the Titans won’t have to change schemes. That’s certainly a positive, as there won’t be any sort of awkward transition. Also, it’s worth noting that head coach Mike Vrabel played under Pees in his final years in New England, so the two already have a strong relationship. This seems like a great hire worthy of an “A.”
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Titans hire OC Matt LaFleur: A- Grade
I personally would’ve preferred Jim LaFleur, but Matt LaFleur is not a bad consolation prize. The latter LaFleur was part of the team that repaired Jared Goff this past season. I believe most of that was because of Greg Olson and Sean McVay, but LaFleur certainly had his hand in improving the 2016 No. 1 overall pick.
I like the initiative the Titans took to hire LaFleur. Not only did he do a good job of calling the plays for the Rams this past season, but he also helped Kyle Shanahan get the most out of Matt Ryan the two previous seasons in Atlanta as the Falcons’ quarterbacks coach. He was also the quarterbacks coach of the Redskins when Robert Griffin played well (2012-13).
This seems like a great hire. LaFleur should be able to help Marcus Mariota, who looked lost at times last year.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 24 Updates
Cardinals hire OC Mike McCoy: B Grade
The Broncos fired Mike McCoy in November after they lost a home game to the Bengals. I gave that a “C,” criticizing Denver for making him a scapegoat for John Elway’s inability to give him a viable starting quarterback.
That said, McCoy didn’t do a great job in his second stint with Denver. His first was much better, as he took Tim Tebow to the second round of the playoffs. Perhaps that’s a sign that this hire will be a good one, though he seems like an above-average hire right now.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Cardinals hire DC Al Holcomb: C+ Grade
It’s tough to grade this hire because Al Holcomb has never been a defensive coordinator in the NFL before. He held that post in college for two seasons almost 15 years ago at Kutztown University. Holcomb, instead, has been the Panthers’ linebackers coach the past four years.
Holcomb has obviously done a great job with Carolina’s linebackers, but will he be just as effective as a defensive coordinator? That remains to be seen, and it feels like there may have been better, more-experienced people available. That said, it’s nice that new head coach Steve Wilks has had a working relationship with Holcomb, so they won’t clash, or anything.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Giants hire DC James Bettcher: A Grade
I’m usually not a fan of teams hiring coordinators and coaches who change schemes. The Giants have been running a 4-3, while new coordinator James Bettcher utilized a 3-4 in Arizona. However, it seems as though most of New York’s top defenders should be able to transition.
Stud defensive tackle Snacks Harrison played in the 3-4 with the Jets. Arizona tried to sign Jason Pierre-Paul a couple of years ago, so Bettcher obviously thought Pierre-Paul would be a great fit for his scheme. Dalvin Tomlinson was part of Alabama’s three-man front during his collegiate days. I think Olivier Vernon is the one big question mark. I’m not sure how he’ll transition to the 3-4, but he struggled last year, so I don’t think it’s a huge deal if he doesn’t fit the system.
With that in mind, I really like this hire. Bettcher is a terrific defensive mind, and his stop units finished no worse than sixth in yards allowed in his three seasons as Arizona’s defensive coordinator.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 22 Updates
Giants hire HC Pat Shurmur: B Grade
Cleveland fans might be laughing at this hire right now. Pat Shurmur was coach for the Browns in 2011 and 2012, two seasons that saw him generate a poor 9-23 record. Shurmur didn’t seem like he’d get another head-coaching gig following that dismissal, yet here we are.
That said, Cleveland fans may have also laughed when the Patriots hired Bill Belichick. Not that Shurmur is anywhere near Belichick, but both men failed in Cleveland. Getting fired from the Browns should not preclude anyone from getting another chance because winning in Cleveland seems impossible.
Shurmur has done some great work with quarterbacks, most recently with Case Keenum, so the Giants have to feel confident that their new coach will get the most out of whichever signal-caller they draft. Also, I like that Shurmur is reportedly bringing in Jack Del Rio to be the defensive coordinator, which seems like a great move.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Browns hire OC Todd Haley: C Grade
Todd Haley was a fairly average coordinator for the Steelers, so the Browns deserve a fairly average grade for hiring him.
Haley’s play-calling is sometimes questionable, and he’s had conflicts with his players in the past, most notably and recently, Ben Roethlisberger. I worry that Haley will have a poor relationship with his next quarterback, whoever that may be, and it could ultimately end with an ugly departure. I don’t think this is a terrible hire, but it doesn’t seem like a good one either.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Cardinals hire HC Steve Wilks: B Grade
It’s very difficult to determine how Steve Wilks will fare as a head coach because he’s only held that position once before. He was the head coach at Savannah State for one year, going 5-6 in 1999. Other than that, Wilks has been a defensive coordinator on the collegiate level and a defensive backs coach in the pros most of the time. He was a defensive coordinator just one season with the Panthers, but he improved the unit from 21st in yards allowed in 2016 to seventh this past year.
Wilks also interviewed very well with other teams, and he apparently blew away the Cardinals’ front office, which is not an easy thing to do. Thus, despite Wilks’ inexperience, Arizona fans can feel optimistic about their new head coach. Even better, it’s rumored that Wilks will bring in Eagles quarterbacks coach John DeFilippo to serve as offensive coordinator. DeFilippo did outstanding work with Carson Wentz and Nick Foles, so his presence will help Arizona’s next quarterback, whoever that may be.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 20 Updates
Titans hire HC Mike Vrabel: B- Grade
While the trend seems to be going with young, offensive-minded coaches, the Titans have decided to be contrarians. You’d think they’d concentrate on hiring someone to help Marcus Mariota, but they’ve opted to go with Houston’s defensive coordinator, Mike Vrabel, instead.
Given the need to improve things around Mariota, it’ll be paramount for Vrabel to obtain a great offensive coordinator. That could make or break his coaching tenure in Tennessee.
As for Vrabel himself, this is a bit of a questionable hire because he was a defensive coordinator for just one year, and his defense ranked 20th in yards allowed and dead last in points surrendered. Vrabel didn’t have the services of J.J. Watt and Whitney Mercilius for more than half the season, however. Plus, Vrabel was once a smart leader for the Patriots. I could see him commanding respect in Tennessee’s locker room and constructing great game plans. We’ll just have to see whom he brings in to be his offensive coordinator.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 18 Updates
Falcons retain OC Steve Sarkisian: MILLEN KIELBASAHOLE COORDINATOR Grade
I usually don’t write about coordinators being retained, but this is something that needs to be discussed. I said earlier that Atlanta’s offseason would be a failure if it didn’t fire Steve Sarkisian. Well, we can now consider the Falcons’ offseason to be a failure even though it has just begun.
I don’t understand the logic behind retaining Sarkisian. Are the Falcons in an arms race with the Seahawks to see who can have the worst offensive play-caller in 2018? Does Sarkisian have nude photos of Arthur Blank? Those are the only two logical explanations I could come up with.
Sarkisian proved to be outmatched as coordinator of the Falcons. The offense went from first in points scored to 15th. They scored 540 points in 2016 and only 353 this past season. The Falcons didn’t lose any offensive players of note the previous offseason, so how can one man account for a 187-point regression and not be punished for it? Sarkisian’s play-calling was horrible and predictable; so much so that the Eagles knew what Atlanta was going to run on its final play in the second-round playoff loss. This is an easy “F.”
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 17 Updates
Jets fire OC John Morton: C- Grade
This is surprising. Despite having almost zero talent to work with, John Morton did one hell of a job in his only year as offensive coordinator in New York. They were 24th in points and 28th in yardage, which doesn’t sound good, but keep in mind that he had to start Bryce Petty in the final three weeks of the season. Plus, he entered the year with Josh McCown and a decrepit Matt Forte as his starting backfield.
Morton did great work with McCown and Robby Anderson, so it’s puzzling why the Jets would fire him. Apparently, Todd Bowles and Morton didn’t get along, and that prompted this move. It’s a shame that Bowles and Morton couldn’t settle their differences, because they had something positive brewing. If Bowles loses his job eventually, it might be because he let Morton go and didn’t find a viable replacement, so it’ll be interesting to see who the Jets acquire to be their next offensive coordinator.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Steelers fire OC Todd Haley: A- Grade
This isn’t technically a firing, as the Steelers are allowing Todd Haley walk away in the wake of his expired contract. Still, this is effectively Pittsburgh giving Haley the pink slip, as Mike Tomlin and Ben Roethlisberger expressed frustration with him.
I’ve seen some question this move; after all, the Steelers scored 42 points against the AFC’s top defense in the divisional-round loss to the Jaguars. Well, I don’t know about you, but I think Roethlisberger, Le’Veon Bell and Antonio Brown had just a bit to do with that!
Haley wasn’t a bad coordinator for the Steelers, but he wasn’t a particularly good one either. His calls on the two fourth-and-1s were horrible, and he and Roethlisberger weren’t getting along. In fact, it was reported that Haley was one of the primary reasons Roethlisberger was contemplating retirement last offseason. If that’s the case, then it’s a good thing Pittsburgh allowed Haley to leave.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 15 Updates
Seahawks hire OC Brian Schottenheimer: MILLEN HIRES SEXY SON TO INSERT KIELBASAS INTO Grade
Update: This is now official.
I can’t believe the Seahawks are hiring Brian Schottenheimer to be their offensive coordinator. Hell, I can’t believe Schottenheimer has any sort of job, period. Like, if 7-11 hired him, I’d give it an “F.” Why is he still employed in the NFL!? The Seahawks did a great job by finally moving on from the abysmal Darrell Bevell, yet they somehow found someone who is worse than him!
Schottenheimer has inexplicably been an offensive coordinator for nine years. His offense has been ranked 20th or worse in seven of those seasons. Schottenheimer has failed with the Jets and Rams, and he was horrible at the University of Georgia. He offers no sort of innovation or creativity with his play-calling, and the only reason he has a job in the NFL is because of his father. This is nepotism at its finest.
I can’t believe the Seahawks are doing this. Despite their reluctance to fire Bevell much earlier, they’ve generally been a smart organization. This makes me think otherwise. They could’ve hired a sharp, innovative, offensive mind to help Russell Wilson, but they’ve brought in a proven failure instead. I have no logical explanation for this decision, and this sort of nepotism deserves an obvious Millen.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Seahawks hire DC Ken Norton: F Grade
I don’t understand what the Seahawks are doing. Did they have a meeting and decide to hire the worst coordinators possible this offseason? Brian Schottenheimer was an atrocious hire, and this isn’t much better.
The Raiders axed Ken Norton during the season because his team was 26th in yards allowed, was dead last in sacks despite having Khalil Mack and Bruce Irvin, and became the first team in franchise history to go 11 games without an interception. Oakland improved following Norton’s dismissal, moving up to 23rd under John Pagano.
There were so many better options than Norton that this doesn’t make any sense. Maybe the Seahawks know something we don’t, but then again, they employed Darrell Bevell for years.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Titans fire HC Mike Mularkey: A Grade
What a weird sequence of events. First, the Titans were going to fire Mike Mularkey if he didn’t beat the Chiefs. Then, because Travis Kelce got hurt, Tennessee said it was going to keep Mularkey around. Then, following a blowout loss to the Patriots, it was announced that Mularkey would be getting an extension. Now, Tennessee has opted to part ways with Mularkey.
The Titans seem like a teenage girl who can’t decide what to wear on her first date. How can they change their minds so many times in a span of two weeks? It’s unbelievable.
Fortunately, they ultimately came to the right decision, though I imagine Mularkey quit because the extension came with some crazy stipulations, like the front office having full control on all assistant coaches and such. Regardless, the Titans will be better off without Mularkey, who is an abysmal coach. Tennessee needs to find a sharp offensive mind to get the most out of Marcus Mariota, as this “exotic smash-mouth” was not working whatsoever.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 14 Updates
Bills hire OC Brian Daboll: D Grade
This is no Brian Schottenheimer hire, but it’s still pretty bad. Brian Daboll has been an offensive coordinator for three teams in the NFL: Browns, Dolphins and Chiefs. In four seasons with those teams, his offenses ranked 32nd, 29th, 22nd and 24th in net yardage. If you couldn’t tell, that’s not very good.
Since Daboll’s failed stints as offensive coordinator, he was New England’s tight ends coach and Alabama’s offensive coordinator. He won the national championship, but his offense with the Crimson Tide was very lackluster overall. Thus, it’s unclear why the Bills thought this would be a good hire. I mean, you could argue that Daboll didn’t have much to work with on those teams, but it’s not like the Bills have good offensive talent either.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 13 Updates
Texans extend HC Bill O’Brien (4 years): B+ Grade
The Texans made some big moves Saturday morning, hiring general manager Brian Gaine and extending Bill O’Brien with a new 4-year deal. I’m still gathering information on Gaine and will post that grade later.
O’Brien, however, is a known commodity, so I can issue a grade now. I think extending O’Brien is a decent move. I’m a fan of continuity in the NFL, as the perennial best teams in the league don’t make lots of coaching changes. Keeping O’Brien rather than starting over makes a lot of sense.
I don’t think O’Brien is a great coach, but I never thought he was bad either. He’s had a 31-33 record during his tenure with the Texans, but his quarterbacks over the past four years have been Ryan Fitzpatrick, Ryan Mallett, Brian Hoyer, Tom Savage, Brock Osweiler and T.J. Yates. Oh, and Deshaun Watson, but he played for only half of a season. The Texans have lofty goals next year with Watson, so it’s nice that they’ll be going into 2018 knowing that they’ll have their front office and coaching staff in place for the next several years.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Ravens hire DC Don Martindale: D Grade
John Harbaugh is a very good coach, but loyalty is his flaw. He has refused to bring in a new training staff despite his players always suffering injuries, and he’s made another poor decision to promote Don Martindale from linebackers coach to defensive coordinator.
Martindale was once Denver’s linebackers coach, and he was given the defensive coordinator job in 2010. He lasted only one year because his team finished dead last in yards allowed. It’s unclear to me why Harbaugh is making the same mistake the Broncos did nearly a decade ago.
Also, it needs to be pointed out that there were better candidates available. Chuck Pagano and Jack Del Rio are currently unemployed, and they both would’ve made better hires than Martindale.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 11 Updates
Bills fire OC Rick Dennison: B+ Grade
The Bills were 29th in net yards last season, but it definitely wasn’t completely Rick Dennison’s fault. With no viable receiving threat for most of the games, a mediocre offensive line, and a quarterback with major consistency issues, Dennison’s options were limited.
That said, Dennison could’ve done a better job. He has gotten blame for that ridiculous pass on first-and-goal at the 1-yard line, but that was more Tyrod Taylor’s fault for calling an audible. What Dennison failed to do, however, was inject any sort of creativity into the offense. He could’ve taken more advantage of Taylor’s legs, for example, but failed to do so.
I don’t think this deserves an “A” because there are many others to blame, but the Bills can definitely do better than Dennison.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 11 Updates
Panthers hire OC Norv Turner: A- Grade
Norv Turner has been a tremendous offensive coordinator for most of his career. He’s gotten the most out of numerous talented quarterbacks, and has been the play-caller for several lethal offenses. He developed Troy Aikman, Drew Brees, Philip Rivers and Teddy Bridgewater.
I would’ve graded this as an A+ three years ago. However, I can’t forget that Turner resigned so suddenly from the Vikings last year. He was not doing a good job, and perhaps that was the reason, but he just quit on his team. That’s a bit of a concern.
That said, I’m mostly confident Turner can help take Cam Newton to the next level, as perhaps a bit of time off will give Turner a new energy that he lacked in 2016.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 10 Updates
Seahawks fire OC Darrell Bevell, DC Kris Richard: A+ and C- Grade
It’s about time the Seahawks fired Darrell Bevell. The former offensive coordinator first took heavy criticism for throwing the ball on the 1-yard line in the Super Bowl, leading to the infamous interception to give New England the victory. Bevell’s play-calling has often been dubious, and players questioned him openly. Seattle should’ve axed Bevell a couple of years ago, but it’s better late than never.
As for Kris Richard, that’s a more questionable decision. Richard was seen as an up-and-coming coach and has even interviewed for some head gigs. He did a decent job as Seattle’s coordinator. Perhaps the Seahawks can find someone better, but that’s not a given. Seattle’s defense fell apart this past season because of countless injuries; not Richard’s play-calling.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Packers hire OC Joe Philbin, DC Mike Pettine: A+ and A Grade
These are a pair of terrific hires. Aaron Rodgers and Joe Philbin have a great professional relationship, as Philbin used to coach Rodgers in his early playing days, including the year in which the Packers won the Super Bowl. Philbin did poorly as Miami’s head coach, but some guys are just meant to be coordinators, and Philbin is one of them. Reuniting Rodgers and Philbin seems like a tremendous move that will pay off.
Pettine, meanwhile, is also a failed head coach, though to be fair, everyone fails with the Browns. More importantly, Pettine has been a great defensive coordinator over the years. In five seasons calling the defensive plays for the Jets and Bills, here’s how his stop units have finished in yards allowed: 1, 3, 5, 8 and 10. I’d say that’s pretty good! Pettine is a huge upgrade over Dom Capers, though he has his work cut out for him, given Green Bay’s defensive personnel.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 9 Updates
Panthers fire OC Mike Shula: A Grade
During his post-game press conference following the loss to New Orleans, Cam Newton said that he loved playing for the Panthers, but changes had to be made. This, apparently, was what he was talking about. Mike Shula has been with the Panthers during Newton’s entire tenure with the team, but that will no longer be the case going forward.
This is clearly the right decision. Shula seemed overmatched as Carolina’s offensive coordinator. He wasted way too many carries on Jonathan Stewart this past season, and he wasn’t creative enough to design enough plays for Christian McCaffrey. Newton will need a new voice in his headset as he continues through the prime of his career.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 8 Updates
Raiders hire OC Greg Olson, DC Paul Guenther: A+ and B+ Grade
It’s fair to criticize the amount of years and money the Raiders gave Jon Gruden after his extended absence from coaching, but we’re at least seeing Gruden do a great job of bringing in some highly regarded coordinators.
Of the two, Greg Olson is the better hire. Olson has done some amazing work with quarterbacks over the years. He took Josh Freeman to a Pro Bowl. He was a big part of developing Jared Goff this past season. Blake Bortles had his best statistical year under Olson (35 touchdowns in 2015!) Now, Olson will be able to help save Derek Carr’s career, as Carr took a major step backward in 2017. This is unquestionably an A+ hire.
I’m a bit more pessimistic about Guenther, but only because the Olson hire is so great. I think Guenther is a solid defensive coordinator, as his teams were never below 17th in defensive DVOA in Cincinnati. He clearly was a step down from Mike Zimmer, but then again, who isn’t? The Bengals were 17th in defensive DVOA in 2017, but they endured tons of injuries, plus the suspension to Vontaze Burfict at the beginning of the year. The Raiders should improve defensively under Guenther’s guidance.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Bengals hire DC Teryl Austin: B Grade
The Lions, under Teryl Austin in his first season in 2014, were second in yards allowed. However, that statistic worsened as Austin’s years in Detroit progressed, going from second, to 18th (twice), to 27th. Not all of that was Austin’s fault, so I wouldn’t go around calling him Terrible Austin for what transpired in 2017. Austin frequently got the most out of his players. Detroit also endured some key injuries.
That said, Austin’s units had too many sloppy penalties at times. They gave up big plays because of 10 and nine men on the field, though, to his credit, Austin accepted blame for it. Still, it doesn’t excuse the errors.
I think this is an OK hire. I don’t know if there were many better choices than Austin, but Cincinnati shouldn’t be very excited about this.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Bears hire HC Matt Nagy: A- Grade
I really like this hire. It’s always difficult to determine how someone will do as a head coach for the first time, but Matt Nagy certainly has the pedigree for the job.
Taking a cue from the Rams, the Bears hired a young, sharp, offensive mind. Matt Nagy, 40 this spring, did a great job as Kansas City’s offensive coordinator this past season. The Chiefs’ offense exploded when Andy Reid relinquished his play-calling duties to Nagy. It’s also worth noting that Nagy has been around during Smith’s entire tenure with the Chiefs, and Smith has played his best football with the Chiefs. It appeared as though Nagy did a good job with Patrick Mahomes as well, albeit in a limited amount of time, as Mahomes performed above expectations versus Denver’s defense in the season finale.
Nagy was a believer in Mitchell Trubisky entering the 2017 NFL Draft, which is obviously key for this hire. He should be able to get the most out of the young quarterback, unlike the John Fox regime.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 7 Updates
Titans retain HC Mike Mularkey: D Grade
There was speculation that the Titans would fire Mike Mularkey had he lost to the Chiefs. That didn’t happen, of course, and now Tennessee is a sacrificial lamb for the Patriots. One result of the victory was the Titans announcing that Mularkey would return for 2018.
This is not good news for the Titans. Mularkey is a poor coach, and his offensive style is really bogging down Marcus Mariota’s potential. I would’ve loved to have seen Tennessee bring in a young, sharp mind to get the most out of Mariota, but that’s not going to happen now.
I find this whole thing ridiculous. Had Travis Kelce not gotten injured, the Titans probably would’ve lost. So, Mularkey is just keeping his job because Kelce suffered a concussion? That doesn’t really make much sense.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 5 Updates
Raiders hire HC Jon Gruden: B Grade
The official announcement for this hiring will reportedly be on Tuesday during Jon Gruden’s introductory press conference. However, Adam Schefter is already reporting the terms – 10 years, $100 million – so I thought I should grade this now.
Call me a bit skeptical about this. Gruden had great, early success in his coaching career with the Raiders and Buccaneers. However, he had six mediocre seasons to close out his Tampa tenure; he was 45-51 with the Buccaneers after winning the Super Bowl with them in 2002. Since then, he has spent nine years working 10 hours per week as a broadcaster, constantly complaining each week that he doesn’t understand what’s going on in the NFL. This is worth $100 million over 10 years?
While I’m a skeptic right now, I think this hiring could work. Perhaps Gruden just lost his fire late with the Buccaneers. He was a tremendous coach once upon a time, and there’s a chance he could get back to that level with a new energy for coaching. I also love his hire of Greg Olson. One of the top quarterback gurus in the NFL, Olson will serve as the offensive coordinator, and he’ll really help Carr. Olson was greatly responsible for Jared Goff’s improvement this season, and he also took Josh Freeman to a Pro Bowl when the two worked together in Tampa. Carr really regressed this past season, but Olson can get him on the right track.
Overall, I think this is worth a “B” or B-. I couldn’t decide between the two. I think there’s a lot of upside with this hiring, especially with the coaching staff Gruden has surrounded himself with. However, he’s been out of the game for so long that this could also backfire.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 2 Updates
Bengals retain HC Marvin Lewis: A Grade
Not only has Marvin Lewis been retained, but he’s been extended for two years. My friend, Drew, also known as the Jerk of the Week from Dec. 4, said this should be a “York Peppermint Patty” grade, though I’m not sure if that’s supposed to be good or bad.
Many will scoff at this extension, but I like it. People point out the fact that Lewis has never won a playoff game in Cincinnati, owning an 0-7 record in the postseason, but I consider it a miracle that he’s qualified for the playoffs seven times with this particular team. The Bengals, prior to Lewis, were atrocious. They were basically what the Browns are now. Lewis turned the franchise around and made them a consistent threat prior to 2016, though injuries and free-agency departures have capsized them since.
Lewis isn’t the best coach, but he’s a solid one, and he deserves to retain the job. He can get the Bengals over the hump, but he’ll need the quarterbacking to do it.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 1 Updates
Packers fire DC Dom Capers: A+ Grade
It’s about damn time. Dom Capers ran an elite defense in Green Bay in 2009 and 2010, but things quickly deteriorated for him after that. Starting in 2011, the Packers’ defense ranked 22nd or worse in terms of yardage in four of seven seasons, and they never broke into the top 10 in that span. Despite having some great talents like Mike Daniels, Clay Matthews, Nick Perry and Morgan Burnett, the Packer defense was 22nd in net yards in both 2016 and 2017.
Capers should’ve been fired a while ago, but better late than never, I suppose. The Packers need a new defensive coordinator so their secondary doesn’t keep blowing countless coverages each week.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Broncos retain HC Vance Joseph: C+ Grade
This decision can be viewed two ways. The first is that Vance Joseph didn’t have much of a chance to win in his first year as head coach of the Broncos. His quarterbacks were Trevor Siemian, Brock Osweiler and Paxton Lynch, for crying out loud. With poor signal-callers, an overmatched offensive line and only one healthy receiver, Denver wasn’t able to generate much offense most of the time. Thus, firing Joseph after one year in which he really wasn’t able to prove himself doesn’t seem quite fair.
The second way is that the Broncos were no-shows in way too many games. Unlike the Browns with Hue Jackson, Denver didn’t fight hard all of the time. It had low-effort performances in several contests, including Week 16 at Washington, Week 13 at Miami and Week 7 at the Chargers. John Elway even called his team soft, so who does he think is most responsible for that?
I think Elway could have gone either way with this, so a C+ seems right for retaining Joseph.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Browns retain HC Hue Jackson: B Grade
This grade may surprise you. In fact, Facebook friend Joe L. recommended that I give this a “MILLEN LOVES HIS KIELBASA MADE WITH A RECIPE ORCHESTRATED BY ANALYTICS GRADE!”
I don’t see why Hue Jackson should’ve been fired. Yes, I’m quite aware that he has gone a staggering 1-31 in two years with the Browns, but could anyone have done any better with that atrocious roster? The one thing that Jackson can say is that his team played very hard for him every single week. Cleveland never quit this season. Not once. Also, the Browns were very close to winning many of their games. Six were decided by one score. Some others – Lions, Jaguars – saw Cleveland leading in the second half. But with one of the worst quarterbacks in the NFL, no receivers for most of the season, an atrocious secondary, the Browns didn’t have a chance.
Jackson is a sharp offensive mind, and I think he could do well if the Browns acquire a legitimate NFL quarterback; not scrubs like DeShone Kizer, Cody Kessler and Kevin Hogan. Thus, I think the Browns did something well for once in retaining him.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Lions fire HC Jim Caldwell: F Grade
Firing Jim Caldwell makes little sense. Not only did Caldwell do a good job as head coach of the Lions, but the franchise is unlikely to find anyone better than him this offseason.
I’m giving this an “F” grade. Stability is so important in the NFL, so firing quality head coaches is unwise. Caldwell compiled a 36-28 record with the Lions, taking them to the playoffs twice in four years. Anyone who knows the history of the Lions knows how impressive that is. Detroit had the talent to reach the postseason again this year, but came up one victory shy of doing so. The key loss was at Cincinnati in Week 16, a game in which the Lions didn’t have much of a chance because they were missing three offensive linemen. This was actually a running theme for Detroit all season, as massive amounts of injuries capsized their chances. It’s unclear why Caldwell is paying the price for this.
It’s been rumored that the Lions will interview Pat Shurmur, Matt Patricia, Steve Wilks and Teryl Austin. Shurmur has already been a failed head coach; Patricia is likely to be the next Bill Belichick assistant to fail elsewhere; and Austin ran a poor defense with the Lions. Perhaps Wilks is the best option, but none of these potential head coaches seem like they’d be as good as Caldwell.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Bears fire HC John Fox: A+ Grade
This offseason would’ve been considered a disaster had the Bears not fired John Fox. One of the worst head coaches in the NFL in recent years, Fox compiled a 14-34 record during his tenure with Chicago. Not all of that was his fault – Jay Cutler was his quarterback for a couple of years, after all – but Fox was far from the solution.
Often coaching like it’s still the mid-90s, Fox’s teams had zero innovation and creativity. Mitchell Trubisky stood very little chance to make great strides under Fox’s tutelage. The Bears need to find a young, sharp offensive mind to help Trubisky, much like Sean McVay has done for Jared Goff.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Dec. 31 Updates
Raiders fire HC Jack Del Rio: D Grade
The worst thing an NFL franchise can have is a lack of stability, and that’s exactly the issue with the Raiders right now. Mark Davis is extremely incompetent – he could barely handle menial tasks when his father ran the show – and so it’s not a surprise that he’s bungling things like head-coaching decisions.
I don’t think Jack Del Rio is a particularly great head coach. He’s probably just above average, or maybe just average. Still, he went 12-4 last year, and his team’s regression in 2017 wasn’t his fault. Injuries to Derek Carr and the offensive line, as well as a poor defense did the Raiders in.
Constantly changing coaches doesn’t work in the NFL, as Davis will soon find out. There’s talk that Jon Gruden will replace Del Rio, which should warrant some sort of high Disaster Grade.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Colts fire HC Chuck Pagano: A Grade
From one perspective, this firing doesn’t make any sense. The Colts had no chance to win without Andrew Luck, who was out the entire season. So, why would Indianapolis fire Chuck Pagano now when it didn’t prior to 2017? What’s changed? The fact that Indianapolis was competitive most games with Jacoby Brissett says something. The Colts never quit, save for perhaps the second Jacksonville game. Pagano deserves credit for that.
That said, Pagano is not a good head coach. He’s had success as a defensive coordinator, and he could continue to thrive in that role once he lands a new job, but the Colts needed to move on from him two years ago. It’s good that they finally realized that he was a sunk cost. They should bring in a sharp offensive mind to help Andrew Luck. Perhaps Bruce Arians, rumored to be available, will be the solution.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Dec. 29 Updates
Buccaneers to retain HC Dirk Koetter: F Grade
I pulled a Sheila Broflovski when I saw this news, shouting, “What, what, what!?” aloud, scaring my dog in the process.
I can’t believe this is happening. Dirk Koetter is one of the worst head coaches in the NFL. He might actually be the worst. His team seldom plays hard, and the players look like they haven’t practiced in weeks in most games. He has also failed to develop Jameis Winston, who regressed this past season.
If you needed proof that the Buccaneers are one of the worst-run franchises in the NFL, this is it. There is absolutely no logical explanation for retaining Koetter, aside from perhaps Koetter having dirt on the Glazers. That’s the only reason I can think of for Tampa not firing Koetter.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jets extend HC Todd Bowles, GM Mike Maccagnan: A Grade
While some franchises seem to change coaches and general managers every two years, the ones that maintain the most success are the ones that have a stable organization. Thus, I’m very much in favor of what the Jets have done today, extending both head coach Todd Bowles and general manager Mike Maccagnan with 2-year deals.
Bowles has done a tremendous job this year. The Jets entered the year with major problems, but he got five wins out of a team that was expected to go 2-14 or worse. The Jets played extremely hard each week, and that’s a testament to Bowles’ motivational skills.
Meanwhile, Maccagnan inherited a horrible cap situation, and he’s done a great job of maneuvering out of it, dumping overpriced veterans like Brandon Marshall and Darrelle Revis. Maccagnan has made some mistakes, like spending a second-round pick on Christian Hackenberg, but he’s had more hits than misses in the draft.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Dec. 28 Updates
Giants hire GM Dave Gettleman: B+ Grade
Dave Gettleman’s firing was surprising this past summer. He did a good job in the draft, obtaining great talents like Kawann Short, James Bradberry and Trai Turner on Day 2. Sure, some of his early-round choices haven’t been great, but everyone makes mistakes. Gettelman also screwed up the Josh Norman situation, but that wasn’t all bad, as he used some of that money to re-sign other key players. During his 4-year tenure, Gettleman’s Panthers went 40-23-1.
I think there were some better hires out there – Charlie Campbell detailed some guys who made more sense in the NFL Hot Press – but I think bringing in Gettelman is a very good move for a New York team that has to find a franchise quarterback this offseason. Gettleman is certainly an upgrade over Jerry Reese, so this is definitely a net positive for the Giants.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Dec. 8 Updates
Browns hire GM John Dorsey: B+ Grade
So much for the Browns hiring Phil Jackson. Instead of bringing in people from other sports, they opted to hire a football guy, which is already an upgrade.
John Dorsey is a solid hire. His financial skills aren’t very good, to put it nicely, but he’s a good talent evaluator who is highly regarded in NFL circles. He found Kareem Hunt in the third round and Tyreek Hill in the fifth frame with the Chiefs. The Browns have a ton of draft picks, so getting a guy who has hit on a good percentage of them was a good move.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Dec. 7 Updates
Browns fire GM Sashi Brown: A+ Grade
The Browns are the only team in the AFC North that lacks stability. The other three teams in the division have coaches who have been around since at least 2008, yet the Browns change their leadership every year or two. That said, firing Sashi Brown and announcing that Hue Jackson would remain head coach in 2018 and beyond was a great start in the right direction.
Brown made some nice trades, but he proved that he can’t evaluate talent. He had chances to select Carson Wentz and Deshaun Watson, but passed on both. Instead, the two quarterbacks he picked in the first two days of the draft were Cody Kessler and DeShone Kizer. Ouch. Also, Brown allegedly sabotaged a trade the Browns wanted to make for A.J. McCarron. I didn’t agree with the deal, but he proved he couldn’t be trusted.
This firing deserves an obvious A+, as does the decision to keep Jackson as the head coach. The Browns play hard every week for Jackson, and it’s not his fault that the roster isn’t good. It’s nice that they’ll have head-coaching stability, and it’ll pay off. Now, it’s just a matter of finding a good general manager. Given that owner Jimmy Haslam loves bringing in people from other sports, I wonder if he’ll pursue Phil Jackson. That would be the most Brownsian thing ever.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Dec. 4 Updates
Giants fire HC Ben McAdoo and GM Jerry Reese: A+ Grade
Both Jerry Reese and Ben McAdoo were fired at the same time, and I’m going to group them together because the moves deserve the same grade. It’s an easy A+ to let both of them go.
McAdoo’s decision to start Geno Smith over Eli Manning never made any sense for him. I actually thought the Giants should’ve benched Manning to look at the young quarterbacks, but I didn’t get why McAdoo would do it. He wasn’t going to be around next year, so why did he care how the young signal-callers performed? Didn’t he want to win some games at the end of the year to preserve his job? Also, as NFL columnist Alex Marvez pointed out to me, Manning has a no-trade clause in his contract, and he may refuse to wave it after how the Giants have treated him. Perhaps being re-inserted as the starter will change his mind, allowing the Giants to collect a draft pick once he’s dealt.
And perhaps the Giants will be able to bolster their offensive line with that draft choice. Reese had some success with recent picks, including Evan Engram, Sterling Shepard, B.J. Goodson (4th round), Landon Collins, Odell Beckham, Justin Pugh and Johnathan Hankins. However, Reese refused to upgrade the offensive line, and he also made some terrible free-agent signings. He wasted a ton of money on Olivier Vernon, who mailed things in this year; Rhett Ellison, who was given $18 million for some reason; and Brandon Marshall, which was an obvious, terrible move because it was apparent that Marshall was done, and would do nothing except serve as a distraction in the locker room. Reese did make some nice signings – Snacks Harrison, Janoris Jenkins – but the negatives outweighed the positives.
It remains to be seen where the Giants will go from here, but it’s at least a step in the right direction.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Nov. 21 Updates
Raiders fire DC Ken Norton Jr.: A+ Grade
The Raiders became the second AFC West team to fire a coordinator this week. Unlike the Broncos with Mike McCoy, Oakland’s decision to can Ken Norton Jr. made a ton of sense.
Norton was completely outmatched as a defensive coordinator. Despite having Khalil Mack and Bruce Irvin, the Raiders ranked dead last in sacks. They also failed to intercept a single pass this season. That’s a record, by the way. They’re the first team in league history to go 11 weeks without a pick. Amazing.
The Raiders deserve an A+ for firing Norton. Replacing him is John Pagano, who should be an upgrade. As defensive coordinator of the Chargers in 2012-16, here were his ranks in yards allowed: 9, 23, 9, 20, 16. Not bad – especially considering that the Raiders are 26th right now.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Nov. 20 Updates
Broncos fire OC Mike McCoy: C Grade
Really? This is Denver’s response to losing to the Bengals? What was Mike McCoy supposed to do with the crap John Elway gave him?
I don’t know if many offensive coordinators could’ve done much with Brock Osweiler or Trevor Siemian playing behind a sub-par offensive line. Granted, Mike McCoy has never turned water into wine with the pedestrian quarterbacks he’s coached over the years as a coordinator, though he did do a decent job with Tim Tebow in 2011. He was overmatched as a head coach, but he never struck me as a bad offensive coordinator. I considered him average, but that’s what I’d say about his replacement, Bill Musgrave.
This firing is Elway making McCoy into a scapegoat, which I don’t like. Elway should take responsibility for failing to find a proper successor for Peyton Manning rather than firing someone who barely had anything to do with the team’s 3-7 record. I won’t give this firing an “F,” or anything, as the Broncos can do better with McCoy in the long term, but I don’t know if Musgrave is the answer either.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Sept. 15 Updates
Bengals fire OC Ken Zampese: A Grade
Though I don’t believe in such practices, someone apparently had to fall on the sword for the Bengals’ embarrassing loss on national TV to the Texans. That man was Ken Zampese, whose offense has scored a whopping nine points through two home games.
Zampese is a good quarterbacks coach, as he helped develop Carson Palmer and Andy Dalton. However, he was way in over his head as a coordinator. He didn’t seem to understand how to use Joe Mixon, and A.J. Green didn’t get enough touches. It wasn’t all his fault, as Cincinnati’s offensive line is terrible, but firing Zampese seems like it just had to be done.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
July 24 Updates
Broncos extend GM John Elway: B- Grade
It’s unclear exactly how much John Elway will make, but his new 5-year deal with the Broncos will, according to Adam Schefter, make him the highest-paid general manager in the NFL.
I don’t think Elway should make more money than any other general manager, as there are several who are better than him. Elway has made some great decisions during his tenure, but his recent drafting has been pretty weak. Since 2013, Elway has selected the following players in the first three rounds:
These are all of his picks in the past five years, save for the 2017 NFL Draft. As you can see, Elway’s bust rate is quite high. Roby and Ray are quality picks, but they were chosen in the first round. Again, Elway has done some other great things, but he shouldn’t be the highest-paid general manager in the league, so I’m going to give this a B-.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
July 17 Updates
Panthers fire GM Dave Gettleman: C Grade
Dave Gettleman’s firing is surprising, to say the least. Gettleman did a solid job of drafting players, obtaining great talents like Kawann Short, James Bradberry and Trai Turner on Day 2. Sure, he whiffed on some early-round choices – notably Star Lotulelei and Devin Funchess – but who hasn’t? Gettleman’s one true gaff was screwing up the Josh Norman situation, but that wasn’t all bad, as he used some of that money to re-sign other key players. During his 4-year tenure, Gettleman’s Panthers went 40-23-1.
The Panthers have reportedly parted ways with Gettleman because of his refusal to re-sign Greg Olsen. Gettleman was probably correct in that regard, as Olsen turns 33 after this season. Giving contracts to players in their mid-30s is seldom a good idea, so this is something the Panthers may regret.
I’m giving this decision a “C.” I don’t like it very much, but there could be a silver lining in that the Panthers could obtain someone better. Joe Person of the Charlotte Observer reported that Seattle’s Trent Kirchner could be up for the job, and if so, that would be an outstanding hire.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
July 10 Updates
Chiefs hire GM Brett Veach: B+ Grade
The Chiefs weren’t expected to fire John Dorsey, but this move was more predictable. The Kansas City Star’s Terez Paylor reported that Brett Veach was expected to be named Kansas City’s new general manager, and that’s exactly what happened.
Veach is a fine hiring. To be more precise, the Chiefs actually promoted Veach, as he was the co-director of player personnel. Veach has worked with Andy Reid for many years; he was once a top scout for the Eagles, so it’s nice that the two have an extensive relationship.
In a vacuum, I’d say there were better candidates to be Kansas City’s general manager. However, that doesn’t matter in this instance because Reid is the one making all of the personnel decisions. Veach will handle the finances and contracts, much like Dorsey did.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
June 22 Updates
Chiefs fire GM John Dorsey: B- Grade
This firing is a bit surprising, as the Chiefs moved up 17 spots for a quarterback two months ago. The only explanation I can come up with, besides something scandalous, is that John Dorsey and Andy Reid disagreed on Patrick Mahomes. If so, Reid would’ve been the one in favor of Mahomes. He has been given an extension, which I’ll grade once the financial details are released.
Dorsey’s dismissal doesn’t really mean all that much, however. Reid was the one who was making the ultimate decisions anyway. Dorsey simply helped in the process, and it seemed as though he was doing a good job. Thus, the firing is odd, but not terrible, or anything.
As I said, I don’t think the entire story is out yet, so I’ll re-grade this if there are more details. For now, a nondescript B- seems appropriate, as this probably won’t have any sort of impact on Kansas City.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
May 24 Updates
Browns hire Ryan Grigson: C Grade
Ryan Grigson was the failed general manager of the Colts. He was fired in January, but he has found new employment five months after his dismissal. Grigson was brought in to be the Senior Personnel Executive.
Grigson did numerous terrible things in Indianapolis, and if the Browns begin signing overrated players for big-money deals, we’ll know who’s responsible. Grigson, fortunately, won’t have input in that sort of decision-making. He’ll help with his scouting experience, though that didn’t do much for the Colts, who would’ve gone 3-13 each season had Andrew Luck not fallen into his lap.
Some Facebook posters were wondering why this wasn’t an “F,” so I thought I’d address that. Grigson had done enough good things prior to Indianapolis that allowed him to get hired by the Colts as general manager, so my thinking was that he could contribute in similar fashion with the Browns. That said, I’m not too optimistic, as you can tell by my “C” grade.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
May 15 Updates
Bills hire GM Brandon Beane: B+ Grade
E-mailer David S. pointed out that I had not graded Buffalo’s general manager hire, so my apologies for not doing getting to it until now. Better late than never, I guess.
This seems like a solid move to me. Brandon Beane was a respected personnel man in Carolina, and he has worked with head coach Sean McDermott in the past, so the familiarity and chemistry between the two men should help the team transition into this new regime. I also like Beane’s philosophy as far as signing free agents is concerned. Beane doesn’t believe in mostly avoiding free agents like the Packers, but believes that splash signings, like the ones the Jaguars typically make, aren’t good for developing a roster. Thus, it’s unlikely that the Bills will make a move like signing Mario Williams to a big deal.
I like this hire, so a B+ seems in order. I think there were better candidates available for the Bills, but this move seems like it could certainly pan out.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
April 30 Updates
Bills fire GM Doug Whaley: A Grade
Terry Pegula’s tenure as owner of the Bills has been quite dubious to start. He’s meddled too much and had sketchy secret meetings with players or various members of his organization. He also appeared to completely screw up with Tyrod Taylor, though he was saved when the Bills were able to retain their quarterback somehow.
Finally, however, Pegula has done something right, as he fired general manager Doug Whaley on Sunday morning.
Whaley struggled as the Bills’ decision-maker. He was responsible for burning a first-round pick on E.J. Manuel, and many of his early draft choices are either off the team or still unproven. I won’t talk about the 2016 NFL Draft class yet, but many of his first- and second-day selections have been busts. He’s selected bad players like Robert Woods, Marquise Goodwin, Cyrus Kouandjio early in the draft. He’s also made some poor trades and handed out bad contracts on top of that.
The Bills did the right thing by letting go of Whaley. However, I have no faith that Pegula will be competent enough to find a proper replacement.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
March 9 Updates
Redskins fire GM Scot McCloughan: F Grade
The Redskins are a dumpster fire right now. Scot McCloughan wasn’t with the team at the combine; Chris Cooley has been leaking information about McCloughan dealing with possible alcoholism; the Kirk Cousins drama is getting uglier by the day; and the Redskins have made some utterly embarrassing moves in free agency thus far, as you can see in the NFL Free Agent Signing Grades page.
This is a tough grade to make because no one outside of the organization knows everything that’s going on, but one thing we do know is that McCloughan is a great talent evaluator. He had done a great job of getting the Redskins to a playoff-caliber level. Things are now falling apart, with the Redskins losing good players, acquiring overpaid ones, and getting trade requests from Cousins. The Redskins looked like they were in great shape two years ago, but now they’re devolving into one of the worst teams in the NFL.
Again, if McCloughan is dealing with alcoholism, that’s very unfortunate, and I wouldn’t blame Washington for firing him as a result. However, the Redskins have handled this very poorly, failing to be transparent in any sort of way and looking utterly clueless in the process, all while leaking information in an unprofessional manner.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
March 5 Updates
Redskins extend HC Jay Gruden: A- Grade
It’s about time the Redskins have had some stability. Under Daniel Snyder’s watch, the team has gone through countless coaches. Eight, in fact, since 1999. No coach had been with the Redskins for more than four seasons under Snyder, but it appears as though that won’t be the case anymore, as Jay Gruden, entering his fourth year in Washington, has been extended though 2020.
Having stability in a franchise is crucial, and the Redskins’ inability to do so has been the reason why they haven’t had much success with Snyder as the owner. That’s why they deserve such a good grade for extending Gruden. Granted, Gruden isn’t the best head coach, but he has gone 17-14-1 with the Redskins the past two years. That may not sound great, but Washington had just one winning season prior to Gruden’s hiring since 2007.
I’m giving this an A-. There’s still a slight chance that Gruden isn’t the answer, which is why this isn’t a full “A,” but letting Gruden go and hiring someone else would just keep the Redskins encircling their coaching loop of ineptitude.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Feb. 13 Updates
49ers hire DC Robert Saleh: C Grade
The 49ers have a head coach who is new to the job entirely, so one would think that he’d obtain coordinators with experience. That is not the case, as Kyle Shanahan has brought in Robert Saleh to be his defensive coordinator.
Saleh has no coordinating experience, and he’s actually just been a positional coach since 2014. Before that, he was a quality control coach for the Texans and Seahawks. It’s fair to question whether the 38-year-old Saleh is ready for the job. Perhaps he is, but he doesn’t have the resume to say that he is. Saleh has his work cut out for him, as San Francisco’s defense is horrific. Someone with more experience would have issues turning things around, so it’s hard to imagine Saleh doing it.
I’m going to grade this as a “C.” It’s not a promising hire, but I won’t say it’ll be a sure-fire failure.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Feb. 10 Updates
Raiders extend HC Jack Del Rio (4 years): A Grade
Jack Del Rio was somehow one of the lowest-paid head coaches in the NFL, so he’s getting a very well-deserved raise with this new 4-year deal.
It’s impossible not to give this an “A” grade. Del Rio has done a great job with the Raiders thus far. In the three years prior to Del Rio’s arrival, Oakland was just 11-37. The Raiders have gone 19-13 with him, including a 12-4 finish in 2016. They probably would’ve advance deep into the playoffs had Derek Carr not gotten hurt.
Stability is important in the NFL, and the Raiders’ struggles weren’t surprising, considering that they’ve had 10 head coaches since they traded Jon Gruden after the 2001 campaign. Del Rio being around for at least four more seasons will definitely provide Oakland with the stability it has needed for 15 years.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Falcons hire DC Marquand Manuel: B+ Grade
This isn’t technically a hire; Marquand Manuel was promoted after being Atlanta’s secondary coach. He’ll now serve as the defensive coordinator, replacing the recently fired Richard Smith.
Manuel seems like a good replacement for Smith. He’s never been a coordinator before, so it would be difficult to grade this in the “A” range. However, Manuel has worked extensively with Dan Quinn in Seattle and obviously Atlanta, which is important because Quinn called the defensive plays down the stretch in 2016. Manuel should be able to gel much better with Quinn than Smith did. It’s also worth noting that Manuel developed his defensive backs extremely well; the Falcons didn’t skip a bit after losing Desmond Trufant because Jalen Collins made great strides. Thus, it seems as though Manuel is very worthy of this new role.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Feb. 8 Updates
Falcons fire DC Richard Smith: A Grade
People have made a big deal about the Falcons firing their defensive coordinator, as they’ve let go of Richard Smith. Atlanta blew a huge lead in the Super Bowl, but Smith getting axed had nothing to do with that.
Dan Quinn reportedly had a big conflict with Smith during the season, and he actually took over defensive play-calling duties. I assume the Falcons didn’t fire Smith during the season because they didn’t want a distraction, so he probably would’ve been let go had Atlanta beaten New England. With that in mind, I’ll grade this as an “A,” as there was no reason to keep Smith around.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Feb. 7 Updates
Rams hire OC Matt LaFleur: B+ Grade
Jared Goff was an utter failure in his rookie campaign, so the Rams had to do as much as possible this offseason to salvage his career. They hired Greg Olson to be the quarterbacks coach, which was a terrific move. This decision is a positive one as well.
Matt LaFleur has never been an offensive coordinator at the professional level, but he’s been in the NFL for a while now. He’s been the quarterbacks coach for the Redskins and Falcons, developing Kirk Cousins and improving Matt Ryan. LaFleur, 35, is considered a promising, young coaching prospect. I’m willing to give this a B+, and I even considered an A-.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Falcons hire OC Steve Sarkisian: C- Grade
We interrupt this live 2017 NFL Mock Draft update to bring you a grade for the Falcons hiring Steve Sarkisian to replace the San Francisco-bound Kyle Shanahan.
I can’t say I like this hire very much. I’m not willing to dismiss it completely and call it an utter failure, but if I were the Falcons, I would have gone in another direction. Sarkisian has never called an offensive play in the NFL, and he actually has just one season of professional experience, as he was Oakland’s quarterbacks coach in 2004. Sarkisian eventually went on to be the head coach of Washington and USC. He was just mediocre with the Huskies, and then he was dismissed from USC because of alcohol problems. The Trojans were just 3-2 in 2015 when Sarkisian’s contract was terminated.
Sarkisian joined Alabama’s coaching staff last year, and he coordinated the Tide in the national championship when Lane Kiffin was dismissed. Freshman quarterback Jalen Hurts struggled in the one game Sarkisian play-called.
It seems as though Sarkisian is a big downgrade from Shanahan, so I have to question this hire. There were better options available.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Feb. 6 Updates
49ers hire HC Kyle Shanahan: A- Grade
I could have graded this weeks ago, but I wanted to wait until it was official. The worst kept secret in the NFL was that Kyle Shanahan would be San Francisco’s new head coach, and they were finally able to hire him today.
I don’t see any issues with this move. Shanahan goofed in the Super Bowl by not running the ball with a fourth-quarter lead to set up an imperative field goal, but he’s done a great job overall as an offensive coordinator over the years. He’s learned from great coaches, including Jon Gruden, and of course, his father. He’s been a coordinator since 2008, so he’s ready to take the reins of a franchise.
It’s unclear if Shanahan will be a good head coach, but he’s definitely a promising hire. It’ll be imperative for owner Jed York to be patient for a change. York has fired coaches very eagerly, but that’s not a recipe for success. Shanahan projects to be light years better than Jim Tomsula and Chip Kelly, but he’ll need at least four years to turn things around because the 49ers are an absolute mess.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 30 Updates
Jets hire OC John Morton: B+ Grade
I was actually about to grade this hire yesterday, but the 49ers decided to make the worst general manager hires of the decade, so I got distracted. My apologies.
As for the hiring of John Morton, I was hoping this was actually former Detroit Lions wide receiver Johnnie Morton, whom Matt Millen once called the six-letter F-bomb. Millen, of course, was the last TV analyst hired to be a general manager, and now we’ve come full circle.
This John Morton was a receivers coach for the past six years, spending the previous two with the Saints. He helped develop Brandin Cooks, Willie Snead and Michael Thomas, so he was obviously good at his job. Whether or not he can be successful as an offensive coordinator in the NFL remains to be seen, though he held that post at USC in 2009-10. Morton seems to be qualified though, so this hiring does make sense. I’ll give the Jets a B+ for it.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 29 Updates
49ers hire GM John Lynch: JED YORK IS THE WORST OWNER OF ALL TIME Grade
The 49ers have hired John Lynch to be their general manager. John Lynch. The color analyst for FOX. The guy who used to play safety for the Broncos and Buccaneers and then went right into the broadcasting booth. The guy with absolutely no scouting or personnel decision-making experience. That John Lynch.
I actually had to check the date to see if it was April Fools’ Day. I can’t believe this hire. The last time an NFL team brought in a TV analyst to be a general manager, the Lions hired Matt Millen, and we saw how that worked out.
The 49ers interviewed plenty of people who could’ve done a great job as the general manager. And yet, they failed to bring in any of them, opting for someone completely unqualified for the job instead. Lynch is a smart guy who is obviously very knowledgeable about football, but he’s not capable of being an NFL general manager; not without any sort of experience.
This is completely embarrassing. With this hire, Jed York has established himself as the worst owner of all time in any sport. It’s quite the accomplishment. York should throw himself a parade and hire more people to tell him how cool he is and what a great job he’s doing. That seems to be the only thing he’s good at.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Colts hire GM Chris Ballard: B+ Grade
Chris Ballard was the Chiefs’ director of personnel and a long-time scout. He’s well thought of in NFL circles, so this seems like a good hire for the Colts. It’s rare that Jim Irsay makes a good decision, but this appears to be one.
I’m not giving the Colts an “A” for this decision because Indianapolis would’ve been better served hiring one of the Seattle guys who were interviewed. That said, it’s not completely clear that they even wanted to work for someone as crazy as Irsay. Either way, bringing in Ballard feels like a positive move overall, so I’ll give the Colts a B+.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 22 Updates
Redskins hire DC Greg Manusky: C+ Grade
This technically isn’t a hire, as Greg Manusky was Washington’s linebackers coach last year. Previously, he had been Indianapolis’ defensive coordinator. His defenses were 26th, 20th, 11th and 26th in yardage, though he didn’t have very much to work with, thanks to Ryan Grigson’s incompetence. Manusky was the one to fall on the sword following Indianapolis’ 8-8 2015 campaign, but he has become a defensive coordinator again.
Manusky isn’t a bad coordinator, but I don’t know how much of an upgrade he is over Joe Barry. It’s an improvement, but it’s really not much of a disparity. This has to be very frustrating for Redskin supporters, as the front office should’ve been able to bring in someone better. They interviewed Gus Bradley, but lost out on him to the Chargers.
I think a C+ is fine for this move. Promoting Manusky isn’t a horrible decision, but it’s definitely mildly disappointing.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 21 Updates
Colts fire GM Ryan Grigson: A+ Grade
It was announced two weeks ago that Ryan Grigson would be retained. The decision was so inexplicable that I gave it a “IRSAY $50M IN CASH FOR HOOKERS” grade (in other words, an “F.”) Well, it appears as though Jim Irsay’s bender has ended, as he has finally opted to do something sensible, relieving Grigson of his duties.
Grigson has been one of the worst general managers in the NFL over the past few years. If it weren’t for Andrew Luck, who fell into Grigson’s lap, the Colts would be a 3-13 team every year. Grigson has been a colossal failure, as he hasn’t been able to surround Luck with enough talent to keep the Colts atop a weak division. Indianapolis’ next general manager will be better, if only by default.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Chargers hire DC Gus Bradley: A- Grade
Gus Bradley proved to be overmatched as a head coach in Jacksonville, but he’s done well as a defensive coordinator in the past. He took over a Seattle defense that was ranked 30th in yardage in 2008. In his four seasons as coordinator for the Seahawks, they improved to 24th, then 27th, then ninth, and then fourth. An influx in talent definitely helped, but Bradley certainly was instrumental in establishing Seattle’s stop unit as one of the top defenses in the NFL.
Bradley won’t have to worry about not having talent in Los Angeles. The Chargers have plenty of it with Joey Bosa, Melvin Ingram, Casey Hayward, Brandon Mebane and some young, promising linebackers. Bradley should do well in his new job, so I like this hire.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 19 Updates
Bills hire OC Rick Dennison: C+ Grade
This hiring is the epitome of average, and the stats back that up. Rick Dennison was a coordinator for four years in Houston, and in those seasons, his team finished 29th, fourth, ninth and 24th in total offense as far as yardage is concerned, resulting in an average of 16.5. In Denver, his offenses were 16th and 27th. Dennison oversaw the collapse of the Texans in 2013, when they went 2-14. His quarterback, Matt Schaub, turned into a pick-six machine under his watch.
The Bills could’ve hired someone better than Dennison. They even interviewed superior candidates for the job. Thus, this is a pretty uninspiring hire.
I’m not giving this too low of a grade, however, because the Bills are getting someone who has previously coached Tyrod Taylor, which is a plus. Perhaps this is an olive branch to Taylor, which is needed after inept owner Terry Pegula screwed things up with his quarterback at the end of the year.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 18 Updates
Jaguars hire OC Nathaniel Hackett: C+ Grade
The Jaguars foolishly fired Greg Olson and replaced him with Nathaniel Hackett after a blowout loss on a Thursday night. The Jaguars, prior to that move, had been averaging a disappointing 19.9 points per game. They predictably got worse with Hackett, however, as they saw their scoring average dip to 17.3 over the next seven contests. They had a 38-point outburst against the Titans, but Tennessee clearly mailed that game in after playing a series of tough games, and once they lost Marcus Mariota to an injury, the effort level really fell off.
It seems like the Jaguars always do the wrong thing, so I thought they were going to hire Chip Kelly for sure. That would’ve been a disaster. I’m not a fan of keeping Hackett either, but he’s a better alternative than Kelly, who interviewed with the team. Hence, the C+. Ultimately, however, it doesn’t matter, because Bortles has no aspirations of being a great NFL quarterback, preferring to party his life away instead.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 13 Updates
Raiders fire DC Bill Musgrave: D Grade
The Raiders didn’t technically fire Bill Musgrave; they simply didn’t renew his contract. Going with Musgrave over Greg Olson was a big downgrade, but Musgrave still did a good job of coordinating Oakland, as the team finished second in points last year. Thus, it’s a big strange that the Raiders have decided not to retain him.
I don’t like this at all. It’s not like Musgrave was the best offensive coordinator of all time, or anything, but he worked well with Derek Carr and should’ve been retained. It’s always dicey to switch up offensive coordinators on young quarterbacks, and the Raiders have now done it twice to Carr. That’s not a good recipe for success. Carr will be just fine because he’s a great quarterback, but I just don’t like this sort of strategy.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Bills hire DC Leslie Frazier: A Grade
This hiring snuck by me yesterday, as I somehow missed it. Good thing it wasn’t anything horrible, as I would’ve been upset to delay a Millen grade.
Hiring Leslie Frazier to be the team’s defensive coordinator is a smart move. He has plenty of experience; he was head coach for the Vikings for three years, and he was defensive coordinator for three different teams for eight total seasons. In those eight years, his defenses finished with the following rankings in yardage: 28, 19, 20, 6, 6, 8, 25, 10.
As you can see, his defenses have been top 10 four times. The 28th ranking was when he took over for the Bengals in 2003, and that team barely had any talent on its roster. The 25th ranking was his first year with the Buccaneers, and he improved them to 10th the following season.
In other words, Frazier has done a very good job of either improving bad defenses or maintaining great ones over his career, so I have no issues giving this hire an “A” grade.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 12 Updates
Rams hire DC Wade Phillips: A+ Grade
Wow. What a great hire! The Rams won’t score any points with Jared Goof, but they’ll hardly permit any either. Maybe they can go 0-0-16 with all 0-0 ties.
Phillips is one of the top defensive coordinators in NFL history. He’ll have a ton of talent to work with in Los Angeles, so the Rams figure to have a dominant defense. They should’ve been great last year, but they surrendered too many scores in the fourth quarter because of Gregg Williams’ incompetence. That won’t happen under Phillips’ watch.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Chargers hire HC Anthony Lynn: B Grade
Anthony Lynn was considered a rising star as a potential head coach, as he did a very good job with Buffalo’s offense after taking over for the fired Greg Roman. Thus, it was no surprise that the Chargers hired him to replace Mike McCoy.
I like that Lynn plans on keeping offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt around, as changing the offense was not what Los Angeles needed. That’s definitely a positive aspect to this hiring, as a trademark of a good coach is one who adapts his system to the personnel. On the flip side, the Bills quit on Lynn in the one game in which he was head coach following Rex Ryan’s firing. Granted, there was some Tyrod Taylor drama, but it was discouraging that Buffalo put zero effort into that contest.
I think a “B” sounds about right. Lynn could certainly work out, but I’m a bit concerned that his former players didn’t fight for him.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Rams hire HC Sean McVay: C- Grade
The worst thing you can do to a bad situation is overreact by going the other way too much. That’s exactly what the Rams are doing with this hire. They’ve employed Jeff Fisher for far too long, as Fisher was a tired coach with no new ideas. In fact, he was so bad that it appeared as though he was intentionally trying to sabotage the Rams. By 2016, he was so worn out that he didn’t bother watching film, as evidenced by his press conference in which he said Danny Woodhead was a play-maker for the Patriots. The Rams fired Fisher, and so they went from an old coach to the youngest one ever. Sean McVay, former offensive coordinator for the Redskins, turns 31 in a couple of weeks.
I think this is a mistake. While McVay certainly has more upside than Fisher, it’s unlikely that he’ll get some of the Ram veterans to listen to him. Some are about as old as he is; some even older. The Rams are comprised of a bunch of lazy players who need to be motivated, and I’m not sure they’ll be willing to listen to someone in their age group.
The one positive about McVay is his brilliant offensive mind. It’ll be nice to have someone who, unlike Fisher, is actually innovative, but the problem is that it probably won’t matter. Jared Goof is a lost cause. Everyone, including some in the Rams’ organization, had Carson Wentz ranked ahead of Goof. I’m sure McVay will get the most out of him, and Goof won’t be a complete abomination, but sometimes, a quarterback is an unsalvageable sunk cost, and that’s what the Rams have. Then again, the Rams are an unsalvageable sunk cost themselves, so all of this is probably irrelevant.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 11 Updates
Broncos hire OC Mike McCoy: A Grade
I don’t like what Vance Joseph is doing as far as his defensive coordinator is concerned, but he’s definitely making a great decision on the other side of the ball. He needed to bring in someone who could develop Paxton Lynch, and Mike McCoy can certainly be that person.
McCoy didn’t work out as the Chargers’ coach, but he did a great job coordinatoring the Broncos from 2009 to 2012. McCoy has often gotten the most out of his quarterbacks, so he’ll be able to coach up the raw Lynch and perhaps get him ready to play well by the 2017 opener. I like this hire a lot, and I think it definitely deserves an “A.”
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Broncos hire HC Vance Joseph: C Grade
Unlike Sean McDermott, Vance Joseph doesn’t have much experience as a defensive coordinator. He was a coordinator for just one year in Miami, serving as a defensive backs coach for the 49ers, Texans and Bengals before that. That doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll be a bad coach, or anything. We’ve seen positional coaches turn into great head coaches before. Andy Reid is someone who comes to mind.
I was on board with the Joseph hire until I learned that he wasn’t going to retain Wade Phillips. That doesn’t make any sense to me. Phillips is one of the best defensive coordinators of all time, and the Broncos will be worse without him. I understand that Joseph and Phillips’ defensive styles may clash, but then why hire Joseph in the first place? The Broncos should’ve brought in someone who could work with Phillips.
I’m giving this a “C,” but I thought about a C- or D+. Even though Joseph is making a big mistake, this hire could work out.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Bills hire HC Sean McDermott: B+ Grade
Sean McDermott will be a boring coach compared to Rex Ryan, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. McDermott, formerly defensive coordinator of the Eagles and Panthers, has learned under Andy Reid and Ron Rivera, so he should be ready for the job. I have no issues with this hire.
It can be difficult to grade the hiring of a first-time head coach, as it’s unclear if McDermott will be able to both inspire his team to play at a 100-percent level each week and also be able to manage a game effectively. What we do know is that McDermott plans on switching the Bills back to a 4-3 defense. I’m usually not a fan of coaches changing up schemes, but Ryan was the one who did that first. The Bills had plenty of success in Jim Schwartz’s 4-3, but Ryan changed to a 3-4 for some reason, and it just didn’t work out.
Because McDermott is off to a good start, I’m willing to give this a B+ instead of the standard “B” handed out to unknown first-year coaches.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 9 Updates
Jaguars extend GM David Caldwell: CRIED DURING STREEP’S SPEECH BUT ONLY BECAUSE DRUGS RAN OUT IRSAY Grade
Why? Why would the Jaguars do this? David Caldwell is one of the worst general managers in the NFL. He’s made some quality moves at times, but the horrible blunders he’s been guilty of have set the franchise back so many years.
Here’s Caldwell’s hit list:
– Reached for Blake Bortles No. 3 overall over Khalil Mack and Sammy Watkins.
– Selected Luke Joeckel No. 2 overall instead of Lane Johnson.
– Drafted Dante Fowler No. 3 overall instead of Amari Cooper, Leonard Williams and Vic Beasley.
– Gave Allen Hurns a 4-year, $40 million extension.
– Signed an injured Kelvin Beachum to a 5-year, $40 million contract.
– Signed a regChris Ivory to a 5-year, $32 million deal (WTF!?!??!?!?)
– Gave Jared Odrick a 5-year, $42.5 million contract.
– Paid Julius Thomas $46 million over five years.
– Signed Davon House to a 4-year, $25 million deal.
– Inked Dan Skuta to a 5-year, $20.5 million contract.
I could keep going, but my fingers are tired. You get the point. Caldwell should’ve been fired; not extended for two years. This is a clear indication that the Jaguars have no idea what they’re doing, so owner Shahid Khan is getting an “F” (Irsay) grade for this extension.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jaguars hire HC Doug Marrone: C- Grade
If the Jaguars wanted to hire a new head coach who has previously quit on teams and recently undermined people he worked for, then they found the right man for the job. Congrats, Jacksonville!
This is a pretty uninspiring hire. Marrone did a terrible job as Jacksonville’s offensive line coach – the blockers the Jaguars acquired somehow got worse under Marrone’s tutelage – and Marrone spent the entire year undermining Gus Bradley, and he was a negative presence around the team.
I’m not giving this an “D” or worse because Marrone did a fairly decent job in Buffalo. Then again, he quit on the Bills, so I’m not sure how much the Jaguars can trust him.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 6 Updates
Browns fire DC Ray Horton, hire DC Gregg Williams: D Grade
The Browns weren’t getting rid of Hue Jackson after one year, so the insane, homoclitic policy of having someone fall on the sword went to Ray Horton, who has been replaced by Gregg Williams.
I find it asinine that Cleveland is blaming Horton for this past season. The Browns had tons of injuries on defense; they lost Desmond Bryant before the year began, then Jordan Poyer missed extensive action, and Joe Haden was constantly banged up and not truly himself. In the prior offseason, the Browns also let go of some mega talents, including Karlos Dansby and Tashaun Gipson. How was Horton, or any defensive coordinator, supposed to thrive under those conditions?
Horton isn’t a great coordinator by any means, but he’s not bad either. His defensive rankings in terms of yards in his five years prior to 2016 were 18th, 12th, 25th, 27th and 12th. That’s not horrible. It could be better, but Horton isn’t getting a fair deal here.
Oh, and let me touch on Williams, who was just hired. He is terrible replacement. He has no idea what he’s doing, as he does nothing but blitz recklessly. His defense is constantly undisciplined, surrendering tons of yardage on screens and draws as a result. The fact that he struggled this year with one of the top defensive lines in football just shows how incompetent he is. The Browns are making a clear downgrade by going to Williams, but I guess that fits the overall theme with the direction this franchise is headed.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Colts retain HC Chuck Pagano, GM Ryan Grigson: IRSAY $50M IN CASH FOR HOOKERS Grade
This is obviously an “F,” and I think we’ve now trended into a territory where we can call bizarre ownership moves Irsay grades. That’s how bad this decision is.
I recently suggested on the picks podcast that Jim Irsay hadn’t made a move on Ryan Grigson and Chuck Pagano because he was on a bender and wasn’t capable of thinking clearly. Well, he might still be on one because retaining both men makes absolutely no sense. Grigson is one of the worst general managers in the NFL. He’s been guilty of signing countless flops in free agency; his draft bust list is very extensive; and he has neglected to protect Andrew Luck all of these years. Pagano, meanwhile, is often outmatched. He seems like a nice guy, but he’s not cut out to be a head coach in the NFL.
Indianapolis fans have to feel very frustrated about this. They’ve watched as both the Titans and Texans have passed them in the division, making AFC South victories no longer a sure thing. Luck will once again be asked to do everything himself, and that sounds like another 8-8 campaign to me.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 5 Updates
Redskins fire DC Joe Barry: B Grade
Several Redskins defensive assistants were let go as well. Heads apparently had to roll in the wake of the Redskins’ late-season collapse, so even though Kirk Cousins threw a back-breaking interception in what was effectively a 13-10 loss, the defense is taking all the blame.
That said, I’m not taken aback by this firing. The two years prior to Joe Barry being hired as defensive coordinator, the Redskins were 18th and 20th in defense. They were 28th in both seasons under Barry.
Still, the question must be asked if Barry was truly at fault. While he definitely deserves some of the blame, the actual talent available on defense needs to be mentioned as well. The team was devoid of talent on the defensive line, outside of Chris Baker. The inside linebackers were mostly terrible. The secondary took a hit when DeAngelo Hall suffered an injury in 2016. It would’ve been difficult for any coordinator to field a good defense under those circumstances. But even with that said, Washington can do better than Barry, so I support this move.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 1 Updates
Chargers fire HC Mike McCoy: A- Grade
I definitely agree with this firing. The Chargers seemingly found new ways to lose games every week this year. They had one of the most talented rosters in the NFL, but it was something new each game. San Diego should’ve gone 10-6, or perhaps even better, but late-game blunders ruined any chance of that happening. McCoy, finishing 27-37 as San Diego’s head coach, was certainly to blame.
That said, I feel pretty bad for McCoy. That’s because the Chargers have suffered so many injuries during his tenure. It always seems like there’s a long list of players on injured reserve, and this year was no different. It even started on kickoff weekend, when Keenan Allen was lost for the season. The offensive line, meanwhile, has always been an issue, as Philip Rivers’ pass protection has been terrible as a result of so many blockers being banged up.
With that in mind, I’m not giving this firing an A+. It was still a necessary move, but I think it’s worth an A- grade. Either way, San Diego will do better with its next coach.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
49ers fire HC Chip Kelly: A+ Grade
The 49ers have made so many completely idiotic decisions over the years. Getting rid of Jim Harbaugh is atop the list, as is building a stadium two hours outside of the city of San Francisco. Hiring Chip Kelly definitely has to be up there.
At the very least, the 49ers have admitted their mistake and are willing to make amends for it, according to an Adam Schefter report. Then again, the decision to hire Kelly should’ve never happened in the first place. Kelly demonstrated in Philadelphia that he has no grasp of basic NFL fundamentals. He couldn’t relate to his players at all, and when he was given control of his roster with the Eagles, he depleted all talent from it, believing that he could win with his scheme. NFL coaches who have lived by that philosophy have all failed, and Kelly’s inability to recognize that is one of many reasons it was obvious that he couldn’t cut it in the pros.
It’s unclear what Kelly will do next, but he obviously has a spot in college football. He was foolish for not re-taking the Oregon job when it was available to him, but I’m sure he’ll find some other 1-A program willing to take him on. I’ll be shocked if another NFL franchise gives him a head-coaching gig, though I’m hoping that’ll happen so I can come up with a fancy York grade for that hiring.
Update: Kelly has officially been fired. This is a great move. The 49ers need to move forward with a real NFL head coach as they revive their dead franchise. It would be nice if Jed York locked himself inside a room so that he didn’t make any more poor decisions, but unfortunately for San Francisco fans, that’s not very realistic.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
49ers to fire GM Trent Baalke: A++ Grade
I don’t think I’ve ever given an A++ grade for a coach hiring or firing, but this certainly warrants one. Trent Baalke has finally been axed as the 49ers’ general manager, per a Jay Glazer report.
I can’t believe it’s finally happened. Baalke, along with Jed York, destroyed the 49ers’ once-great franchise. Baalke got rid of Jim Harbaugh because he couldn’t get along with a top-five NFL head coach. He followed that up by hiring “yes man” Jim Tomsula as a replacement, and he predictably proved to be a disaster. Baalke then brought in Chip Kelly, who was a proven failure as an NFL head coach. Kelly had already shown that he didn’t understand simple NFL concepts, so hiring him was an insanely stupid decision.
Baalke’s personnel moves were also very questionable. He managed to nail some draft picks, but he whiffed on plenty of selections, including A.J. Jenkins (first round, 2012), LaMichael James (second round, 2012), Tank Carradine (second round, 2013), and so on. He overpaid for some players – why are Vance McDonald and Garrett Celek getting a combined $50 million? – and made horrible moves in free agency, signing Zane Beadles, Reggie Bush (4 years, $16 million!) and Torrey Smith (5 years, $40 million!!!!).
I could list more examples, but the 1 p.m. NFL games are about to start. The point is that the remaining 49er fans should be absolutely thrilled that Baalke is finally gone. Hopefully their next general manager doesn’t fire a top NFL head coach because of ego concerns.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Dec. 27 Updates
Bills fire HC Rex Ryan: A Grade
The Bills apparently don’t respect one of the NFL’s great holidays in Black Monday, as they’ve decided to fire Rex Ryan prior to Week 17. Rob Ryan has been relieved of his duties as well. It’s still unclear what his duties were exactly, but we do know that he won’t be doing them anymore.
Rex Ryan has a terrific defensive mind, but he is not a good head coach. We’ve seen enough proof of that. He had some great, early success with the Jets, but his team regressed each year. Some of that was bad personnel decision-making, so he deserved a second chance in Buffalo. He squandered it, however, thanks to many coaching blunders. Sure, the team played hard for him, but that can only go so far. Ryan’s errors were far too costly, and his game plans were far too ineffective.
It’s hard to imagine Rex Ryan taking a job as a defensive coordinator anytime soon, so I could see him being a TV analyst and doing a good job in that regard. As for Rob Ryan, I doubt anyone will want him as a defensive coordinator, or whatever he was doing in Buffalo. I think the likeliest course of action for Rob Ryan is him finding a job as a pirate through Monster.com.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Dec. 18 Updates
Jaguars fire HC Gus Bradley: A Grade
Gus Bradley was expected to be fired at the end of the season, but Jacksonville’s owner decided that enough was enough after the Jaguars blew yet another game. They were up 13-5 at the end of the first half, but Tom Savage torched Bradley’s defense, mounting a comeback in what would end up being Bradley’s final game.
Bradley finishes 14-48 as head coach of the Jaguars. That’s obviously horrible. Bill Belichick could go 0-16 for the next 17 years, and he would still have a better winning percentage than Bradley. I don’t actually know if that’s true or not, but it sounds about right. (Update: Despite the joke, I was way off! Belichick could actually go 0-16 for the next 41 years and have a better winning percentage. Thanks to @LateRoundQB for this.)
Bradley is obviously not a good head coach. His team was a no-show in some games this year, and after one of them, Bradley tried to make offensive coordinator Greg Olson the scapegoat even though Olson happened to be the best coach on the staff. The firing made no difference, and it actually made Blake Bortles regress.
Firing Bradley is obviously the right move. However, I’m giving this an “A” instead of an A+ because general manager David Caldwell’s incompetence didn’t give Bradley much of a chance. I’ll get into it more when Caldwell is inevitably fired, but his decision to select Blake Bortles at No. 3 overall in the 2014 NFL Draft instead of Khalil Mack has absolutely crushed this franchise. No coach ever had a chance with Bortles, who doesn’t care about his professional career whatsoever. Still, Bradley had to go.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Dec. 12 Updates
Rams fire HC Jeff Fisher: A+ Grade
The Rams recently extended Jeff Fisher for two years, and I criticized them heavily for it (just scroll down a bit to see that grade). However, I have to commend them for recognizing that that Fisher is a sunk cost. They’ve unquestionably made the right move by firing him.
Like VHSes, walkmen and N64s, relics of the past that were once valuable but have become completely worthless and irrelevant, Fisher once coached very well in a previous era when it was possible to win with his style. Fisher had great success with the Titans, coming one yard shy of winning the Super Bowl, but he has gotten progressively worse each year. Fisher has still been coaching like it’s 1999, and that doesn’t work anymore. Fisher ultimately became known as Commander .500 on this Web site for owning a .500 record each year, but he hasn’t even been able to reach that mark with the Rams. In fact, he’s had a losing season each year in St. Louis and Los Angeles. Fisher, in his five years with the Rams, has gone 7-8-1, 7-9, 6-10, 7-9 and 4-9.
If that wasn’t bad enough, Fisher insulted Rams great Eric Dickerson. He also botched the Jared Goff pick and trade, which very well could end up being the worst draft deal in NFL history. Other members of the Rams organization wanted to pick Carson Wentz, but Fisher insisted on Goff. Then, Fisher killed Goff’s confidence by demoting him behind Sean Mannion. Fisher was completely clueless as ever.
This is an obvious A+ grade. Fisher is washed up and has no new ideas. Perhaps he can be a decent analyst, but it’s likely that his coaching days are over.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Dec. 4 Updates
Rams extend HC Jeff Fisher: YORK Grade
I can’t believe I’m writing about a Jeff Fisher extension. I just can’t. What did he do to earn a new contract? Is Rams ownership that impressed with his 7-9 seasons? Fisher isn’t even on pace to go 7-9 this year, meaning he won’t even reach his own established level of mediocrity. That’s just sad.
There are no financial implications available, but I don’t care what they are. This could be a 2-year, 99-cent deal, and it would still be awful. Fisher, in his five years in St. Louis or Los Angeles, has gone 7-8-1, 7-9, 6-10, 7-9 and 4-7. He hasn’t achieved one .500 campaign yet. Fisher used to be great, but he now coaches like it’s 1995. He wants to win via running the ball and playing defense, which is a formula that only wins if a team has an absolutely elite stop unit like Denver in 2015. It doesn’t work otherwise, and it’s no surprise that Fisher hasn’t avoided a single losing season in Fisher’s tenure.
This will get an “F.” Since it’s the owner’s decision, it’ll be a York instead of a Millen. Stan Kroenke has once again proven himself to be utterly incompetent; first, moving a team to a city where people don’t care about professional football, and now extending a coach who hasn’t even been medicore in a very long time. Kroenke proved that he doesn’t care about his team winning at all by moving to Los Angeles, so this extension, in hindsight, shouldn’t have been surprising in the slightest.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Nov. 7 Updates
Falcons extend GM Thomas Dimitroff: B- Grade
Only in the NFL can you be close to fired and then extended in a span of eight months. Thomas Dimitroff was on the hot seat entering the offseason, but the Falcons have improved and established themselves as the top team in their division.
Dimitroff hasn’t been completely flawless lately. For example, his second-round pick from 2015 on Jalen Collins looks like a waste (though it’s too early to completely call him a bust), and he goofed by overpaying Mohamed Sanu. However, Dimitroff has been sharp otherwise. His other recent top selections – Vic Beasley, Tevin Coleman, Keanu Neal, Deion Jones, Austin Hooper – have all been successful thus far, and Grady Jarrett was a steal in the fifth round of the 2015 NFL Draft. Signing Alex Mack away from the Browns was also a terrific move.
I’m fine with this extension, but I don’t think it’s a great move, as forgiving Dimitroff for all of his past mistakes based on just nine games seems like it could backfire. That said, I’m not opposed to this either. Dimitroff had some bad years, but it appears as though he has changed his strategy in terms of only acquiring completely clean players, and it has paid off.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Nov. 2 Updates
Vikings accept resignation of OC Norv Turner: B- Grade
Norv Turner announced his resignation as offensive coordinator of the Vikings on Tuesday morning. It’s unclear if this was his own decision, or if the organization forced him into doing so. I could see Turner doing the honorable thing and just walking away because he wasn’t doing a good job, or perhaps Minnesota’s front office recognized that it needed to go in a new direction.
Turner’s play-calling wasn’t effective, as it’s been somewhat predictable and a bit nonsensical. I can’t get three straight Matt Asiata runs out of my head during one of the Vikings’ three-and-out sequences Monday night. To be fair though, Turner didn’t have much to work with. Teddy Bridgewater and Adrian Peterson were both lost for the year, while the two tackles are the worst duo at their position in the NFL. I feel like most play-callers would struggle to post more than 10 points per game under those conditions.
I don’t love or hate this potential firing. Pat Shurmur will take over, and he might have some new ideas that could work. Or, perhaps, there will be no effect, and the Vikings will continue to score 10 points per game.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Oct. 29 Updates
Jaguars fire OC Greg Olson: MILLEN-YORK Grade
This might just be the dumbest thing I’ve ever seen. And I’ve been covering the NFL for 17 years, and I’ve seen very many stupid things.
So, let me get this straight: Jacksonville’s general manager was incompetent enough to spend the No. 2 overall pick on a tackle who can’t block; draft a quarterback who cares more about partying than studying film and improving as an NFL player; and pay big money on a running back who was benched in favor Bilal Powell at the end of last season, and now he’s blaming someone else for his own follies? And it’s not the head coach, whom the players absolutely quit on versus the Titans, as shown by their lack of energy when it came to tackling?
Greg Olson is one of the top offensive coordinators in the NFL, and aside from Blaine Gabbert, who has proven to be a lost cause, he has gotten the most out of every quarterback he has coached. He took Josh Freeman to a Pro Bowl, for crying out loud. Bortles regressed, sure, but that was his own fault. Bortles doesn’t care about being a great NFL signal-caller; he doesn’t put the appropriate work into his craft, and that’s why both his mechanics and the mental aspect of his game have worsened.
The Jaguars are an absolute joke, and it starts at the top, where Shad Khan has already been proven to be too meddlesome by personally attending meetings and forfeiting valuable home games. He needs to step down as owner if he cares about the Jaguars. That, or he needs to fire general manager David Caldwell, who has proven to be an absolutely atrocious personnel decision-maker. Caldwell spent $32 million on Chris Ivory this offseason. $32 million! How has he not been fired yet? And what about Gus Bradley, whom the players aren’t putting forth any effort for?
If you want to know why Jacksonville hasn’t made the playoffs since 2007, this sort of ridiculous decision-making is exactly the problem.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Oct. 10 Updates
Ravens fire OC Marc Trestman: B+ Grade
The clear loser in this firing, aside from obviously Marc Trestman himself, was me, as I was planning on saying some jokes on the podcast this week about how Trestman needs to be exiled back to Canada. Alas, it was never meant to be.
This firing had to be done. None of what Trestman did during the year really made sense. He abandoned the run way too soon in some games, allowing him to be out-coached by miles in most matchups. His refusal to get Justin Forsett (or really, any other decent pass-catching back) involved in the passing game was also very questionable, especially when considering the state of Baltimore’s offensive line, which has struggled in the wake of Ronnie Stanley’s injury.
My only issue here is that the Ravens probably should have waited until the bye (Week 8) to fire Trestman, as it would’ve given replacement Marty Mornhinweg some time to take over and work with Joe Flacco to prepare for the next opponent. Even the Bills fired Greg Roman on an extra-rest week. It seems a little irresponsible to do it so soon, and I’m not sure how much of an upgrade Mornhinweg will be anyway. Still, this was a move that had to be done, so I can’t grade it poorly.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Sept. 16 Updates
Bills fire OC Greg Roman: YORK Grade
To be clear, Millen is the “F” grade for free agent signings, while YORK is the “F” grade for the hiring and firing of NFL coaches and general managers. This is obviously named after Jed York, the completely incompetent owner of the 49ers, who can’t seem to do anything right.
The Bills are getting a YORK for this move. First of all, I’ve never been a fan of having someone fall on the sword following a defeat. That’s such a homoclitic way of thinking. Unless an individual sucks so much at his job that he absolutely needs to go right away, firing someone for the sake of firing someone is just dumb, and it’s a sign that an organization is completely overwhelmed and has no idea what it’s doing. It seems like owner Terry Pegula’s fingerprints are all over this, which is a horrible sign for the future of the Bills. Meddlesome owners seldom win, and Pegula has established himself as a meddlesome owner.
Second, I wouldn’t say Roman sucks at his job. I don’t think he’s a great offensive coordinator, or anything, but it’s not his fault the Bills lost to the Jets. His offense didn’t surrender 37 points to pedestrian quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. That was Rob Ryan’s fault. If anyone should’ve been fired, it should have been Rob Ryan, who has been a proven failure. Granted, Rob Ryan doesn’t have much to work with because the Bills are missing lots of defensive personnel, but he has sucked at his other jobs, and his schemes simply don’t work.
Roman is just the first man to fall. I fully anticipate both Ryans being axed as well by the end of the year. It just makes no sense to get rid of Roman, who isn’t near the top of the list for those responsible for the loss to Buffalo.
Update: Despite Buffalo’s winning streak, I still stand by this grade. The offense wasn’t the problem in the 0-2 start, and the owner’s meddling is troubling.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
April 8 Updates
Bengals extend HC Marvin Lewis (1 year): A Grade
Marvin Lewis’ contract was set to expire after 2016, so the Bengals wisely extended him one more season in order to remove his lame-duck status. This almost had to be done, as teams with lame-duck coaches often end up disappointing because of impending uncertainty.
And yes, keeping Lewis around is in Cincinnati’s best interest. Those foolish enough to point to Lewis’ lack of success in the playoffs need to realize how much of a train wreck this franchise was prior to his arrival. Also, Lewis has constantly gotten the most out of his team despite having pedestrian production at the quarterback position. It’s a minor miracle he keeps reaching the postseason with Andy Dalton.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
March 23 Updates
Saints extend HC Sean Payton (5 years, $45 million): A- Grade
There have been reports that Sean Payton would be coaching elsewhere sometime in the near future, but those can finally be put to rest in the wake of this 5-year extension. Payton will continue to coach New Orleans for quite a while, in what will be a final attempt to have Drew Brees lead the team to a second Super Bowl victory.
Payton was once regarded as one of the top coaches in the NFL. The bloom is off the rose now, as the Saints have missed the playoffs over the past two seasons, finishing 7-9 in consecutive campaigns. However, Payton doesn’t deserve much blame, as the front office is responsible for giving him barely anything to work with defensively, all while the talented play-makers around Brees have mostly disappeared. When someone named Willie Snead becomes the team’s No. 2 receiver, you know something is terribly wrong.
I think this deserves a high grade. I don’t know of any coach available who could do a better job for the Saints than Payton. In fact, we saw what Brees looked like without Payton when he compiled his worst completion percentage (63.0) by far during the one season in which Payton was suspended.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 22 Updates
49ers fire DC Eric Mangini: C- Grade
I guess this one was predictable, given that the 49ers were interviewing (and failing to hire) defensive coordinator candidates.
Still, it doesn’t make much sense. While the 49ers were 29th in defensive net yardage last year, they were 18th in points allowed, which isn’t all that bad considering the severe lack of talent on their roster. Eric Mangini did the best he could, but San Francisco had to fire him for some reason. I’m not sure why, but maybe Mangini declined an invitation to Jed York’s birthday party, or perhaps Chip Kelly wanted to be the “smartest” guy in the room. Ladies and gentlemen, the San Francisco 49ers.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
49ers fail to hire DC Mike Vrabel: LOL Grade
I thought this would be a fun grade to post heading into the weekend. If you haven’t heard, Mike Vrabel, an up-and-coming coaching star, who currently happens to be the Texans’ linebackers coach, was offered a job as San Francisco’s defensive coordinator. And he turned it down.
If that doesn’t speak volumes about the 49ers’ incompetence and futility, I don’t know what does. Another NFL team offered a coach a promotion and better pay, yet he declined. And you know what? It was the absolute correct decision. Vrabel will have better opportunities in the future, and working for a trust-fund moron of an owner, an ego-maniacal general manager who screws everything up, and a head coach who doesn’t understand NFL concepts would have been career suicide.
I can’t really give this a real grade and have it make much sense, so I think just LOL’ing at the 49ers seems appropriate.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jaguars extend HC Gus Bradley: B+ Grade
Extending a coach for one year may not seem significant, but Gus Bradley was entering his contract season. We’ve seen players quit on lame-duck coaches on countless occasions over the years. This will ensure that the Jaguars will know that barring a horrific 2016 campaign, Bradley will probably be back the following season, so they’ll continue to play hard for him.
Bradley doesn’t strike me as the most brilliant coach, but his players almost always give 100 percent for him. In fact, I can only recall one game in which they didn’t try hard, and that was the Saints game in Week 16 when they were eliminated mere minutes prior to kickoff.
Bradley hasn’t possessed the best talent, so it’s far from his fault that Jacksonville hasn’t been in the playoffs under his watch. I feel like he’s done well considering what he’s had to work with, so I like this mini-extension.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 20 Updates
Browns hire DC Ray Horton: A Grade
The Browns are very familiar with Ray Horton, who was their defensive coordinator in 2013. He accepted the same job the following year once the team hired a new head coach, and as it turns out, getting rid of him proved to be a huge mistake; their defensive rankings tanked after he left.
Horton has been the defensive coordinator for three teams. Here were the rankings in terms of net yardage each season:
2011 Cardinals: 18th
2012 Cardinals: 12th
2013 Browns: 9th
2014 Titans: 27th
2015 Titans: 12th
As you can see, Horton has bolstered every defense he has coached and ultimately improved them to rank in the top 12 of yardage. He’s one of the league’s better defensive coordinators, making this an outstanding hire.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Eagles hire OC Frank Reich: C+ Grade
This is Frank Reich’s second stint as an offensive coordinator, as he got fired after “failing” with the Chargers in 2014 and 2015. I put that word in quotes because the Chargers were so banged up both years that he never really had a chance.
It’s pretty difficult to grade this, so I’m just going to give it a “C+.” That’s because Reich isn’t actually going to call the plays; he’ll just help with the game planning as Doug Pederson tells his quarterback what to do.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 19 Updates
Eagles hire DC Jim Schwartz: B+ Grade
I wasn’t crazy about the Doug Pederson hire, but I like this move to bring in Jim Schwartz to be the team’s new defensive coordinator. Schwartz, at the very least, will be a big upgrade over the pedestrian Billy Davis.
Schwartz has plenty of experience as a defensive coordinator. He held the job in Tennessee for eight years and then did so again in Buffalo during the 2014 campaign. Schwartz has coordinated a top-12 NFL defense in terms of net yardage in five of his nine seasons, including three top-seven finishes. His 2014 Bills were actually fourth in net yardage, but he was asked to move on because Rex Ryan was hired, and the two couldn’t work together.
The Eagles will be moving back to the 4-3 under Schwartz. I’m usually against scheme changes, but Philadelphia’s shift to the 3-4 under Davis and Chip Kelly never made any sense to me because they didn’t have the personnel for it, and it was yet another example of Kelly not understanding the simple NFL concept of talent trumping scheme. Thus, transitioning to the 4-3 again should be easy.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 18 Updates
Titans hire OC Terry Robiskie: D Grade
Terry Robiskie has been a long-time wide receivers coach who spent time as an offensive coordinator with two teams: the Raiders (1989-92) and Browns (2004). So, how did he do in those stints? Chronologically, here were his offensive rankings in terms of net yardage: 19th, 19th, 23rd, 23rd, 28th.
Yeah, not good. Robiskie is a respected coach around the league, but given that he has failed twice as an offensive coordinator, it’s only logical to expect that he’ll struggle a third time. He’s a 61-year-old who probably doesn’t have any new ideas, so it’s fair to question yet another coaching move by the Titans.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 16 Updates
Titans retain HC Mike Mularkey: MILLEN Grade
I don’t understand this at all. Why do the Titans want to keep Mularkey on as the head coach? Mularkey had miserable stints in both Buffalo and Jacksonville. How bad was he? He’s 18-39 on his career, but if you exclude his first season with the Bills, a year packed with fluky victories on numerous special-teams touchdowns, he’s just 9-32 as a head coach. Calling him a retread would be an insult to retread coaches.
I thought about giving this a “D” instead of a Millen because of continuity. However, the Titans are just going to have to fire Mularkey in a year or two anyway, so I don’t think continuity means all that much in this instance.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 15 Updates
Buccaneers hire DC Mike Smith: A Grade
I’m a big fan of this hiring. Mike Smith was a failed head coach for the Falcons, but he thrived as the defensive coordinator for the Jaguars. He coached Jacksonville from 2003 to 2007, and the team finished sixth, 11th, sixth, second and 12th in defensive yardage in those five seasons. After Smith left, the Jaguars fell to 17th, then 23rd, then 28th in that same category. They just completely regressed after Smith took the job in Atlanta.
I think Smith will be able to revitalize Tampa’s defense, abandoning Lovie Smith’s outdated schemes. This hiring also makes sense for another reason, and that would be the fact that Mike Smith worked with Dirk Koetter when the two were with the Falcons.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Lions hire GM Bob Quinn, retain HC Jim Caldwell: B+ Grade
I was waiting on the Bob Quinn grade because I wanted to see what he would do with Jim Caldwell. It turns out that Quinn has decided to keep Caldwell as his head coach.
I like that move a lot. Caldwell did a great job of rallying the team in the second half of the season, and they played hard for him in each game, save for the post-Hail Mary trip to St. Louis. Caldwell, along with new offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter, had something great going to close out the year, as the team was determined to build momentum going into 2016. Firing Caldwell and nullifying all of that would have been a big mistake.
As for Quinn, he’s the former director of pro scouting for New England, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that he’ll be successful. We’ve seen plenty of people leave the Patriots and fail. It can be pretty easy to look smart when working with Bill Belichick, after all. However, Quinn is off to a good start, so Detroit fans should be optimistic, for now.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 14 Updates
Buccaneers promote Dirk Koetter to head coach: B- Grade
The fact that the Buccaneers fired Lovie Smith in order to keep Dirk Koetter around wasn’t exactly the best-kept secret in the NFL. It’s unclear why the Glazers spent more than a week durdling around doing nothing, but they finally made it official Thursday evening.
Koetter was a head coach at Boise State and Arizona State, though he failed at the latter school. Hiring a head coach when he couldn’t even win at Arizona State is quite dubious, but the Buccaneers didn’t want to let him get away because of the great work he did with Jameis Winston last season. Winston expressed desire to continue working with Koetter, and he could’ve only done that with Koetter as his head coach, given that other teams showed interest in hiring him away.
For that reason, I can’t give this a low grade. However, as I said, Koetter’s failure at Arizona State is a bit ominous. Some men are just meant to be coordinators, and that could be the case with Koetter.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Eagles hire HC Doug Pederson: C- Grade
The Eagles don’t look very good right now. They whiffed on their first three choices – Adam Gase, Ben McAdoo, Tom Coughlin – as all three coaches walked away from the organization, which looked desperate to hire each of them. Philadelphia, as a consequence, had to settle for Doug Pederson, whom the fans ran out of town back in 1999 when Andy Reid stubbornly started him over Donovan McNabb.
This hire could work, but it’s very easy to be skeptical. First of all, Pederson wasn’t even Philadelphia’s third choice, so how much faith could the front office have in him? Second, Pederson has no head-coaching experience, aside from his 4-year stint at Calvary Baptist Academy. It’ll be argued that he did a great job coordinating the Chiefs, but Kansas City’s winning streak was obviously a farce, as they barely squeaked by poor opponents each week.
I’m giving this a C-. That seems appropriate. It’s not a failure because Pederson is an upgrade over Chip Kelly, since he actually understands NFL concepts. However, Philadelphia fans have to be discouraged by this hire.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
49ers hire HC Chip Kelly: YORK Grade
Unreal. Only the 49ers would make such a stupid hire. This literally is a “YORK” grade.
Chip Kelly single-handedly destroyed the Eagles. He didn’t understand that talent trumps scheme in the NFL, and he couldn’t relate to any of his players. Had he taken some time off and learned actual pro concepts, perhaps he’d stand a chance at his second gig.
But not right away. Kelly is a disastrous hire made by a capsizing franchise in complete disarray. I don’t see how he can possibly turn things around. It’s a good thing that he won’t have much of a say in personnel moves, but it won’t matter. I’m sure Kelly will try to resurrect Colin Kaepernick’s career, but that won’t work because Kaepernick has no aspirations to study film or improve the mental part of his game. Kelly will probably be fired in two to three years.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Giants promote OC Ben McAdoo to head coach: A- Grade
Ben McAdoo has never been a head coach on any level, and it’s always difficult to predict how first-time head coaches will fare. Thus, under normal circumstances, I wouldn’t grade this as high as an A-.
However, these are not normal circumstances. McAdoo was highly pursued by other teams, including the rival Eagles, so it was imperative to keep him. As the Giants’ offensive coordinator, McAdoo has gotten the most out of Eli Manning. Losing McAdoo could’ve set Manning back in the latter stages of Manning’s career, which could have been disastrous. Manning has been at his best recently, so keeping McAdoo was a great move.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Titans hire GM Jon Robinson, to retain HC Mike Mularkey: D Grade
The Titans had better candidates for general manager than Jon Robinson, but they apparently settled on him because he was willing to stick with Mike Mularkey as his head coach.
Uhh… what? It feels like this is April Fool’s Day, and I’m reading some spoof article. Why in the world would the Titans want to keep Mularkey on as the head coach? Mularkey failed in both Buffalo and Jacksonville, making him the very definition of a retread. He’s 18-39 on his career, but if you exclude his first season with the Bills, a year packed with fluky victories on numerous special-teams touchdowns, he’s just 9-32 as a head coach. Wow.
The only reason this isn’t an “F” – or a “York” – is because of continuity. However, that doesn’t mean all that much when the coach has a proven terrible track record.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 13 Updates
Chargers hire OC Ken Whisenhunt: A- Grade
Ken Whisenhunt has been a poor head coach over the past several seasons, but he has a proven track record as an offensive coordinator, making this a very strong hire.
Whisenhunt actually coached in San Diego before. He was the offensive coordinator in 2013, and the team’s offense ranked fifth after being 31st the year before. Whisenhunt also coordinated the Steelers to their first Super Bowl victory in the Ben Roethlisberger era, earning him the head-coaching gig in Arizona. He could be just what Philip Rivers needs – aside from some offensive line help – to make one more charge deep into the playoffs.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Browns hire HC Hue Jackson: B+ Grade
You’d think that a dysfunctional organization like the Browns wouldn’t be able to get their man, but that’s exactly what they did, landing Hue Jackson.
Jackson appears most qualified for the job. He’s a great offensive mind, having effectively coached up all the quarterbacks who have learned under him, including Andy Dalton, who had his best season prior to getting hurt, and A.J. McCarron, who looked pretty competent for a backup. He also did a good job in Oakland, going 8-8 in his one season before oddly getting fired. Having a .500 record with the Raiders is like winning the Super Bowl, so I don’t know what that was all about.
At any rate, Jackson told the media that the Browns made him “feel comfortable.” That’s odd, given that the owner is a meddlesome crook who could easily fire Jackson in two years. That’s pretty much why I can’t give this an “A.” It appears to be a good move, but because the Browns did it, you almost have to feel skeptical.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 12 Updates
Bills hire “DC” Rob Ryan: D Grade
I was hesitant to write up a grade for this move because it wasn’t clear what Rob Ryan’s role was going to be. He was named a “defensive assistant,” so I thought it was possible that Rex Ryan was just giving his brother a job because he couldn’t find one. After all, who would want to hire a failed defensive coordinator who looks like a drunken pirate?
However, things became clear Tuesday morning when it was announced that Rob would run the defense, along with Rex, so in a sense Rob is the team’s new defensive coordinator. This is obviously disastrous. Rob has been one of the worst coordinators in the NFL over the past decade. He has failed almost everywhere he has been, as his confusing schemes prompted the Saints to devolve from a top-10 defense into the league’s worst stop unit.
The only reason this is a “D” instead of an “F” is because Rob tends to have some success in his first year. Rex was given an ultimatum – reach the playoffs or be fired – so perhaps he recognizes Rob’s ability to coach up a team in his first year before all hell breaks loose. It’s possible that Rex is banking on Rob getting a job elsewhere next offseason – or, at the very least, join the Jolly Roger to search for buried treasure.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 11 Updates
Bengals retain HC Marvin Lewis: A Grade
Adam Schefter has reported that the Bengals won’t be firing Marvin Lewis this offseason, so might as well grade it, right?
Firing Lewis would’ve been a terrible idea. I imagine incompetent franchises like the Browns and 49ers would have let him go, but the Bengals have been playoff contenders every single season for a while now, so they understand that continuity is crucial. Prior to Lewis joining the organization, the team was the laughing stock of the NFL, going 3-13 each year. Lewis has turned the program around, so even though he has yet to win a playoff game, he has done a great job.
The argument has been made that Lewis lost control of his team in Saturday night’s crushing loss to the Steelers. Well, the Bengals would’ve won had Jeremy Hill not fumbled, and the officials were primarily responsible for that meltdown anyway. Had the referees maintained order and not been blatantly biased toward the Steelers – the Giovani Bernard hit should’ve been called, and how Joey Porter wasn’t flagged was mystifying – things wouldn’t have gotten out of control. John Parry is a terrible official, and if I were a member of the Bengals, I would’ve been just as angry. So, I don’t blame Lewis for that.
The primary issue for Lewis is the quarterback position. Andy Dalton just doesn’t have what it takes to make a deep run into the postseason. Plus, Dalton wasn’t even available for Lewis this year, so it’s difficult to blame a coach for losing in the playoffs as an underdog without his starting quarterback and any sort of help from the officials.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Bills extend GM Doug Whaley: C- Grade
There was a report earlier this month that said Doug Whaley would be fired if he didn’t reach the playoffs next season. That, apparently, is not the case in the wake of his 4-year extension.
Yes, that’s right. Four years. Four more years of Whaley, Buffalo fans!
I don’t get this move. Whaley’s had some hits, but he has whiffed on way too many early-round picks. E.J. Manuel, Robert Woods, Marquise Goodwin, Cyrus Kouandjio and Preston Brown were all wasted picks. Whaley was named general manager a couple of weeks after the 2013 NFL Draft (Manuel, Woods, Goodwin), but given that Buddy Nix stepped down right then, it’s clear that Whaley had a big hand in that class. In fact, there was an NFL.com story that discussed that Whaley was “integral” in the Manuel selection. Whaley also brought in way too many bad-character players. It could be argued that Rex Ryan wanted this, but Whaley was the one who hired Ryan, so he’s at least partly responsible.
Extending Whaley for even one year would’ve been dubious. But four years? Way to depress the fan base, Bills.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 9 Updates
Dolphins hire HC Adam Gase: C+ Grade
Many are applauding this hire, but I can’t say I’m too crazy about it. The notion that the Dolphins suddenly finally got it right is definitely questionable.
The obvious positive is that Adam Gase has thrived in terms of coaching up the quarterbacks he has worked with. He got the most out of Jay Cutler this year, so he’ll surely improve Ryan Tannehill’s game, right? Probably, but there are other factors.
Gase is only 37, as he has become the youngest coach in the NFL. The Dolphins had serious effort issues last year, quitting for stretches at a time. This was not a surprise, given that they were led by the lethargic Ndamukong Suh, who was fat and happy after signing his nine-figure contract. Will Suh listen to the unproven Gase? I have my doubts.
It’s also fair to question Gase’s decision-making. Why did he choose the Dolphins when there were better coaching jobs available? The franchise is run by the incompetent Stephen Ross, who is doing a great job of destroying the Dolphins. Ross cares so little about the welfare of his team that he blocked Jim Harbaugh from going there, sending him to his alma mater. I don’t get why anyone would want to work for Ross, so Gase choosing Miami is pretty dubious.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 7 Updates
Buccaneers fire HC Lovie Smith: C- Grade
The Buccaneers are a dysfunctional organization because of poor ownership, and we’ve set another example of that here in the wake of Lovie Smith’s firing.
I don’t get what Smith did wrong. The Buccaneers finished 6-10, which was well above expectations. They were 2-14 the year before and were starting a rookie quarterback the entire season. Six wins was fine. In fact, four or five victories should have been the goal.
The only reason this isn’t an “F” – or a “York” – is because Smith isn’t that great of a coach. He’s had success in the past, but his defensive scheme is outdated. However, continuity is important, and the teams that often fire coaches seldom succeed. The Buccaneers, apparently, do not understand this.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 6 Updates
Saints retain HC Sean Payton: A+ Grade
There was some speculation that Sean Payton would be traded for a second-round pick. Those rumors turned out not to be true, as the Saints have decided to keep Payton as their head coach.
This is a great decision. Payton is still one of the top coaches in the NFL despite the Saints’ back-to-back 7-9 campaigns. New Orleans’ recent failures have been the result of poor front-office management; not anything Payton has or hasn’t done. Thus, it would’ve been foolish to get rid of him, even if it meant obtaining a second-round selection.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 5 Updates
Colts fire DC Greg Manusky: C- Grade
Greg Manusky isn’t a great defensive coordinator or anything, but I thought he did a somewhat decent job with the Colts, given what he was able to work with. His defense actually kept his team in many games this year, while the offense struggled in the wake of Andrew Luck’s injuries.
I’m not a fan of an organization having someone fall on the sword, especially when it’s the wrong guy. Ryan Grigson tried to blame Chuck Pagano for his incompetence, but that didn’t work because Jim Irsay opted to extend Pagano. Instead, Grigson moved on to poor Manusky. Grigson should have been the one who was fired; not some defensive coordinator who had nothing but crappy, overpriced free agents at his disposal.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jaguars fire DC Bob Babich: B Grade
Bob Babich is not a good coordinator, so I’m fine with this decision. His defense ranked 31st in scoring this past season, and Babich had previously failed in Chicago. Gus Bradley was never thrilled to have him around, so this is a move that should’ve been done earlier.
However, firing Babich doesn’t fix the primary issue, which is the lack of defensive talent on Jacksonville’s roster. Incompetent general manager David Caldwell hasn’t done a good job of adding skilled players to the roster, so it generally doesn’t matter who the coordinator is until Caldwell begins drafting better.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 4 Updates
Colts extend GM Ryan Grigson: YORK Grade
It’s my second-ever York grade. How exciting. And no, I’m not just taking it for a spin. The Colts truly deserve this.
Indianapolis doesn’t have much talent on its roster beyond Andrew Luck; that’s why the team struggled in the wake of his injury in 2015. Ryan Grigson was responsible for that, thanks to his countless wasted draft choices and horrible free-agent signings. Most of his picks haven’t worked out, while some of the busts he brought in via free agency include Andre Johnson, Arthur Jones, Hakeem Nicks, D’Qwell Jackson, Erik Walden, Greg Toler… the list goes on and on. Most importantly, Grigson never understood the concept of protecting his quarterback. By failing to bolster the offensive line, Grigson has to take full blame for Luck being injured this season.
Giving Grigson a 3-year extension is something only a madman would do, and we do know that Jim Irsay is a madman. So that’s an explanation. Unfortunately for Colts fans, they’ll have to watch their franchise quarterback take big hit after big hit going forward, as Grigson can’t be trusted to upgrade Luck’s blocking.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Colts extend HC Chuck Pagano: B Grade
So much for Chuck Pagano being fired. Pagano was given a 4-year extension, so he’ll be sticking around for a while.
Pagano doesn’t strike me as a brilliant coach. In fact, he’s probably just mediocre. However, I don’t know if the Colts could have done better than him. It wasn’t worth the risk of disrupting chemistry and continuity, which is so highly underrated to the point that some franchises like the Browns don’t understand how important it is.
Pagano has done fine with the Colts, leading them deeper into the playoffs each year before this one. The 2015 campaign wasn’t his fault, as Andrew Luck’s injuries destroyed Indianapolis’ chances. The Colts will be back as a Super Bowl contender in 2016, assuming that Luck is 100 percent.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Chargers fire OC Frank Reich: B Grade
While this move won’t exactly turn around San Diego’s franchise, it does seem like a decent one. Reich’s offense was 26th in points scored this past season, and while a lot of that has to do with the ridiculous number of injuries the offense sustained, some of it was on the offensive coordinator.
Reich was guilty of predictable play-calling, often resorting to ineffective draw plays that even the dumbest fan could see coming from a mile away. The Chargers need to find a better offensive mind to aid Rivers as he enters the latter stages of his career.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Giants fire HC Tom Coughlin: D Grade
This is being called a resignation. In fact, Adam Schefter is reporting that Coughlin informed the front office that he would be leaving even before they told him whether they wanted him back or not.
Right. And I’m the Queen of France.
An indication that this is a lie is that Coughlin immediately told the media that he wants to continue coaching. Given that, the Giants are making a huge mistake by letting him go. Coughlin has been one of the top NFL coaches in the modern era, currently maintaining a 170-150 record in the regular season, a 12-7 mark in the playoffs, and two Super Bowl victories. Though the Giants sustained a ridiculous number of close losses this year, Coughlin has almost always gotten the most out of his team, doing great work with a roster that has never been up to par with some of the elite teams in the NFL.
The only reason this isn’t an “F” is because Coughlin will turn 70 this August. However, he hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down and still appears to be very sharp. The next team that hires him will be lucky to have him.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
49ers retain GM Trent Baalke: YORK Grade
I’ve had a Millen grade for horrible general-manager moves, and now a new grade is born for incompetent ownership decisions.
It amazes me how uttery stupid Jed York is, and it’s a prime example of how most trust-fund babies will usually fail in an important role. York has proven that he has absolutely no idea what he’s doing. In his press conference, he admitted that he texted all the players about Jim Tomsula’s firing. He also announced that he would be retaining Trent Baalke, one of the worst general managers in the NFL.
Under Baalke, San Francisco’s roster has been depleted, thanks to numerous retirements and horrible moves in free agency. The draft picks haven’t been bad, but Baalke has wasted money signing the likes of Torrey Smith, Reggie Bush, Darnell Dockett and Jerome Simpson, and he also tossed away a draft pick, trading it for Blaine Gabbert. Worst of all, he was mostly responsible for running Jim Harbaugh out of town, replacing a top-five NFL head coach with a pizza delivery guy.
As I wrote yesterday, if York really cares about the 49ers, he would either sell the team or hire a smart football guy to run all operations. This smart football guy would waste no time firing Baalke, so this is an obvious “F” grade. Actually, it’s worse. It’s a York grade.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Chargers retain HC Mike McCoy: B Grade
I have no problem with this decision. Mike McCoy is 22-26 in his three seasons with the Chargers, but nearly half of those losses came in 2015, thanks to a ridiculous amount of injuries. San Diego also dealt with numerous hurt players down the stretch in 2014, which would explain that collapse.
With that in mind, McCoy wasn’t the problem. He may not be the solution, and I remain skeptical despite being high on him in the past, but McCoy still deserves a chance to prove himself. Besides, I’m sure the last thing the Chargers want to do is search for a new head coach amid a move to Los Angeles.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Jan. 3 Updates
49ers fire HC Jim Tomsula: C Grade
So, the 49ers fired Jim Tomsula, yet they decided to keep the guy responsible for replacing Jim Harbaugh with him? How in the world does that make any sense?
Look, Tomsula is not a good head coach. He would probably make for a better pizza delivery guy, which is why this is a “C” grade. But giving him one year with absolutely nothing to work with is just dumb. Did the 49ers’ front office really think that he would maintain what Harbaugh had created after nearly half the roster retired during the previous offseason? It’s actually a miracle that San Francisco won five games this year. My Under 4.5, which I mentioned in the first-ever episode of the podcast, didn’t hit after all.
It really doesn’t matter whom the 49ers hire to replace Tomsula. General manager Trent Baalke is an incompetent buffoon who doesn’t know how to run a team. The main culprit, however, is owner Jed York, a trust-fund idiot who has destroyed this once-proud franchise. If York really cared about the 49ers, he would either sell the organization or at least bring in a smart football person who would take over all of his team-related decision-making. York is too arrogant and too stupid to do something like that, however, so the 49ers are going to be a terrible for a very long time.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Browns fire GM Ray Farmer: A+ Grade
I was totally against the Mike Pettine firing, but this move actually makes sense. Ray Farmer has been guilty of so many poor personnel decisions that he had to be fired.
Farmer had four first-round picks in his two years as general manager. He selected Justin Gilbert, Johnny Manziel, Danny Shelton and Cameron Erving. Gilbert is a mega bust; Manziel is a self-destructive alcoholic; Shelton has been sub par at best; and Erving has been an abomination as a pass protector thus far. Farmer could’ve drafted Sammy Watkins/Odell Beckham and Teddy Bridgewater, yet he screwed up big time and set his franchise back several years.
Making matters worse, Farmer was also atrocious in free agency. He signed terrible players like Randy Starks, Ben Tate and Dwayne Bowe, all of whom have busted. Oh, and then there was that whole texting scandal that he was suspended for. Farmer absolutely had to go. There’s no question about that.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Browns fire HC Mike Pettine: D Grade
Surprise, surprise, the Browns just did something stupid.
I don’t understand Cleveland’s thought process. The three other teams in their division have been so successful over the past decade. What do they have in common? All three have kept their head coaches since the 2008 season. The Browns, on the other hand, seem to change coaches every two years.
That’s exactly how long Pettine had. Just two years. What was he supposed to do with them? How was he supposed to turn things around in such a short span, especially without anything resembling a franchise quarterback? It’s ridiculous.
The Browns now have to start over. Again. And I’m sure in two years, I’ll once again be writing about how the Browns have foolishly fired another coach without giving him a chance. This franchise simply doesn’t get it whatsoever.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Dolphins fire GM Dennis Hickey: C Grade
When the Dolphins hired Dennis Hickey to be their general manager two years ago, Charlie Campbell reported that the Buccaneers were in the process of firing him. It wasn’t a surprise that incompetent owner Stephen Ross made such a move, but it’s confusing as to why Hickey is getting axed after two years.
Hickey screwed up big time by signing Ndamukong Suh to a massive contract. Suh has been very good this year, but not overly dominant. He’s a horrible leader, so it’s no surprise that the Dolphins have quit at times. Signing him was a predictable blunder, but Hickey nailed some draft choices, going with Ja’Wuan James and Jarvis Landry with back-to-back choices in 2014. The 2015 picks are still unknown, but Jay Ajayi has shown promise.
The Dolphins can do better than Hickey, which is why I’m not giving this an “F.” However, the decision to let Hickey go after just two years when he’s made some decent draft choices is puzzling. Then again, nothing Ross has done as owner of the Dolphins has made much sense. If he really cares about the Dolphins, he’d sell the team.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Dec. 29 Updates
Eagles fire HC Chip Kelly: A+ Grade
In a disappointing and frustrating season, this is the best thing they could’ve done. Firing Chip Kelly is an outstanding decision.
Kelly has been a complete failure on every level. Foolishly believing he could be Bill Belichick by handling personnel duties on top of his coaching responsibilities despite barely having any pro experience, Kelly gutted the entire team. He let most of his skilled players leave, making a huge mistake in believing that scheme trumps talent. That could be the case in college, but not in the NFL. Kelly squandered all of his draft picks; surrendered a second-round choice senselessly for Sam Bradford; and overspent for overrated free agents.
Kelly’s personnel moves hurt him as the coach, but he did a terrible job in the latter regard as well. His play-calling was extremely obvious, and some of Philadelphia’s opponents were even calling out the plays. Kelly also failed to connect with his players, prompting several to declare that he was a racist. On top of that, Kelly lost the locker room at the end. Jason Peters took himself out of the game at the end of the Washington contest, and he was overheard saying, “I’m not getting injured for this.”
The worst thing the Eagles could’ve done was bring back Kelly for another year. He was a sunk cost, and he would’ve ruined the team even more, so they did a great job of cutting their losses. They can now move forward with a normal coach who understands basic NFL concepts.
As for Kelly, all of the top college vacancies have been filled. Some are connecting him to the Titans because of Marcus Mariota, but Tennessee would be crazy to hire him. I think Kelly could sit out a year and then receive a ton of money from Texas to coach the Longhorns.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Rams fire OC Frank Cignetti: C- Grade
I’m not sure if anyone outside of St. Louis even knew who Frank Cignetti was prior to his firing. Hell, I don’t know if anyone in St. Louis knew, given their turnout for home games.
I think that we can all agree, however, that Cignetti was not at fault for the Rams’ offensive woes. He may not have been the solution, but what was he supposed to do with a “scoring” attack comprised of awful starters like Nick Foles, Kenny Britt, Jared Cook and numerous poor offensive linemen? The only play-makers the Rams have are Todd Gurley and Tavon Austin, and even the latter is limited in what he can do.
I’m giving this a C- because this is bad look for Jeff Fisher. The man known as Commander .500 is throwing people under the bus when he’s mostly to blame for extending a horrible quarterback and failing to address the offensive line and receiver position.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Dolphins fire OC Bill Lazor: A Grade
I’m usually against firing coaches during non-bye weeks because it creates too much chaos within the organization and usually means that the team will lose. However, the Dolphins have no playoff aspirations, so a defeat is actually beneficial, since it’ll improve their draft positioning.
With that in mind, this is a great move. Bill Lazor was as inept as they come; not only was his play-calling very predictable, but Ryan Tannehill regressed under him. Tannehill had never developed mentally, and as a result, he hasn’t been allowed to call audibles. He also has no clue how to read blitzes. Perhaps Tannehill will never learn anything, but it became clear that Lazor wasn’t going to be the person to teach him. Lazor needed to go as soon as possible.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Saints fire DC Rob Ryan: A Grade
It’s about damn time. Rob Ryan should’ve been fired last offseason, and I was beginning to think that he had unflattering pictures of one of the Saints higher-ups, given how long he was able to hold on to his job despite being utterly incompetent. Well, I guess we’ll find out which employee is into bestiality porn soon enough, because Ryan was finally let go.
This is an easy “A,” and the only reason it’s not an A+ is because the Saints waited too long. Ryan has lived off the fame of his brother and father throughout his career. He clashed with his co-workers, and his defenses were often as sloppy as his unkempt appearance. He never had any answers and could never provide any adjustments. Ryan’s defense was dead last in both yards and points this year after being 31st in terms of the former in 2014. It should be a long time (forever?) until he’s hired as a defensive coordinator again.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Lions fire GM Martin Mayhew, president Tom Lewand: A Grade
Martin Mayhew’s tenure was very promising to start. He spent the No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft on Matthew Stafford and then grabbed Ndamukong Suh with the second selection the following spring. Perhaps a tackle would’ve been the better option to protect Stafford, but there was no doubt that Suh was going to be a great player.
Unfortunately, the Lions have devolved into a horrible team, thanks to numerous poor draft picks and decisions in free agency. The following is a list of first- and second-round players who have been busts under Mayhew’s watch: Brandon Pettigrew, Jahvid Best, Titus Young, Riley Reiff, Ryan Broyles, and Kyle Van Noy. It’s disturbing that the Lions have missed on that many early-round players. The Lions were also fleeced in a trade this offseason, acquiring a lemon in Haloti Ngata from Baltimore.
Mayhew’s inability to keep Suh around and protect Stafford appropriately has cost him his job, and rightfully so. Though he was much better than his kielbasa-stuffing predecessor, Mayhew was not doing a good job overall, so it was time for him to move on.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Colts fire OC Pep Hamilton: C Grade
I don’t get how these teams don’t understand that you shouldn’t fire coaches during non-bye weeks. The Colts will have way too much adjusting to do, especially on such a short work week. They didn’t have a good chance to beat the Broncos, but the probability of that has approached zero in the wake of this move.
Pep Hamilton was not a good offensive coordinator. I’ve never been a fan of his, as his predictable play-calling has limited Andrew Luck. However, there was no need to do it now instead of after this contest when the Colts will have off in Week 10. The offense’s ineptitude this season wasn’t even Hamilton’s fault, as Luck has been playing with shoulder and rib injuries. Promoting Rob Chudzinski won’t help unless Luck suddenly becomes healthy, so what was the hurry?
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Titans fire HC Ken Whisenhunt: B Grade
There’s no doubt that Ken Whisenhunt was one of the worst head coaches in the NFL. He didn’t prepare well for the opposition, he made terrible in-game adjustments, and his players didn’t try hard for him all the time. There were also reports that he had lost the locker room. With Tennessee, he was 2-0 in Week 1, but a hilariously bad 1-20 elsewhere. He absolutely had to go, and getting rid of him is a great move.
However, I have to question the wisdom of firing him during the season on a non-bye week. If the Titans wanted to fire him immediately to improve things right away, axing on a regular week wasn’t the smartest idea, since teams letting go of their coaches in such situations have a dismal record in their first game. See what happened to the Lions, and that was just their offensive coordinator. Also, since a deep playoff run is unrealistic, why not ride the year out with Whisenhunt to ensure a better selection in the 2016 NFL Draft? Winning too many games will take Tennessee out of the running for a blue-chip player.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Oct. 26 Updates
Lions fire OC Joe Lombardi: B+ Grade
The issue with this move wasn’t whether it should’ve been made. Joe Lombardi’s offense was so predictable that the opposition was actually calling out the team’s plays before the snap. Lombardi wasn’t creative at all, and Detroit’s offense has been stagnant as a result.
The issue, however, is when this move should’ve been made. I think it’s a little stupid to not only fire a coordinator during a non-bye week, but to do so when traveling to London. The Lions should’ve waited one week because preparing for the Chiefs will be extremely difficult now. Then again, maybe it’s best for the Lions that they’ll lose Sunday.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
Oct. 5 Updates
Dolphins fire HC Joe Philbin: A+ Grade
I recently said that Joe Philbin reminded me of a farmer whose crops were burning down, yet just stared at them because he didn’t know what to do about it. Well, the crops are officially all gone. Philbin has been fired following a 24-28 record in three-plus seasons.
This was long overdue. Philbin was constantly overwhelmed, with Bill Belichick and Rex Ryan coaching circles around him in almost all of their matchups. But it wasn’t just his inability to prepare his team or make in-game adjustments; he had zero institutional control over his team. Philbin didn’t even know that Bully-gate was happening two years ago, and Ndamukong Suh was calling his own plays earlier this season. The nail in the coffin was the London contest versus the Jets that saw the Dolphins put forth zero effort to save their coach’s job.
The Dolphins didn’t have a strong alternative for Philbin for the rest of the year from either of the coordinator positions, so tight ends coach Dan Campbell will take over as the interim head coach. He can’t possibly be worse than Philbin, so perhaps Miami will be able to salvage its once-promising season. If not, the team can just hire a better coach next spring, unless, of course, incompetent owner Stephen Ross once again blocks the hire by sending that particular person to Michigan as well.
Comment on the other free agent signings below.
Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates.
NFL Picks - Dec. 25
2025 NFL Mock Draft - Dec. 25
NFL Power Rankings - Dec. 23
2026 NFL Mock Draft - Nov. 29
Fantasy Football Rankings - Sept. 4
