Every team has a reason a potential head coaching candidate should run for the hills.
Being a head coach in the NFL is hard. On top of dealing with fans and the media criticizing every move, there’s the hope for immediate success. When one head coach is fired, the plan is for the next one to fix the problems.
More often than not, it doesn’t happen that way.
The 2020 NFL season could see up to nine head coaches fired. Some will accept going into a rebuild while others will try to win right away. To make matters worse, cap space, roster cuts and current contracts all could force a new head coach to struggle early on, leading to a hot seat in their future.
Every market has a red flag. For these locations, it could be the reason the next coach fails there as well.
What’s every head coach open’s red flag?
Houston Texans: Deshaun Watson and little to nothing else
Deshaun Watson will always be an MVP candidate. His throwing motion, dual-threat ability and rapid fire arm all are going to make him one of the league’s best quarterbacks. Outside of him, there’s little to like at NRG Stadium.
Laremy Tunsil has been serviceable as the left tackle, but certainly isn’t living up to his massive extension. The rest of the offensive line is average to below at best, costing Watson several wins due to poor blocking. Will Fuller is expected to hit the free agent market and without a first or second-round pick, all that’s left is Bradin Cooks as an offensive weapon.
The defense is overpaid and struggling as well. There are massive problems in Houston and without the draft capital, it’s a full-on rebuild that could take years.
Atlanta Falcons: High tempo offense, horrendous defense
Matt Ryan, Julio Jones, Calvin Ridley. If those three played every position, the Atlanta Falcons job would be the most coveted job on the market. Add in Hayden Hurst, a decent offense live and average run production from Todd Gurley and others, the offense can put up points rapidly in any game.
The defense also can allow a ton of scoring in the secondary.
AJ Terrell has shown his rookie struggles in man coverage. Isaiah Oliver makes a few flashy plays but is more of a liability against larger receivers. Deion Jones can only do so much and Keanu Neal is set to earn a cushion payday in free agency.
Quality defenses and hide the problems on offense. Atlanta won’t have that in 2021 for whoever takes this job.
Detroit Lions: High contracts, little spending money
Matt Patricia thought bringing in Patriots players would make his defense just like the one he had under Bill Belichick. He thought wrong, ultimately leading to his firing. Now, the Lions will have to entice a new coach to either make it work with the talent there or cut ties and pay the dividends in salary.
Trey Flowers isn’t the pass rusher from 2018 and Jamie Collins has been the best of a terrible linebacking room. Duron Harmon is good, but the Lions were paying Quandre Diggs less to do more in the same role. More than that, who’s willing to take Matthew Stafford’s contract if made available?
Detroit’s already not a market free agents love. With average spending money, they won’t be able to bring in the necessary players to make the Motor City run deep into the postseason.