When legendary former NFL coach Bill Belichick became North Carolina’s head coach on Wednesday, it bought us pondering: What is the excellent school teaching gig for each NFC head coach?
So, droop actuality (just a little) as we ship all 16 again to varsity.
NFC East
DALLAS COWBOYS | Mike McCarthy: Pittsburgh | McCarthy was born and raised in Pittsburgh and spent three years as a graduate assistant at Pitt earlier than his hiring as a large receivers coach there in 1992. The 61-year-old head coach stays happy with his Metal Metropolis roots and even confirmed Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott his old stomping grounds earlier than the staff’s Week 5 recreation in opposition to the Steelers.
NEW YORK GIANTS | Brian Daboll: Alabama | Losses to six-win Vanderbilt and Oklahoma saved Alabama out of this 12 months’s Faculty Soccer Playoff below first-year Tide coach Kalen DeBoer. Daboll helped Alabama win its seventeenth nationwide championship because the staff’s offensive coordinator in 2017 and will quickly be out of a job as HC of the 2-11 Giants.
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES | Nick Sirianni: Notre Dame | Who higher to guide the Preventing Irish than a fiery Italian who revels in confrontation? Sirianni drew criticism for yelling at fans earlier this season.
WASHINGTON COMMANDERS | Dan Quinn: Quinnipiac College | Quinnipiac has by no means had a soccer staff, one thing Commanders followers can relate to after dwelling via 25 years of Dan Snyder’s possession. What a terrific advertising and marketing alternative for Quinn, too, eh? — Bruce Ewing
NFC West
ARIZONA CARDINALS | Jonathan Gannon: Louisville | Louisville can also be nicknamed the Cardinals, and it is the place Gannon’s teaching profession began. After struggling a career-ending hip damage in 2002, the previous security was a scholar/graduate assistant at Louisville from 2003-06.
LOS ANGELES RAMS | Sean McVay: Ohio State | In contrast to Ohio State HC Ryan Day — who has misplaced 4 straight video games to Michigan — McVay usually beats his rivals in huge video games. En path to a Tremendous Bowl LVI victory, the Rams beat the Niners 20-17 in the NFC Championship Game.
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS | Kyle Shanahan: Texas | Shanahan performed WR for the Longhorns from 1999-2002, so there’s a terrific connection right here. And per Thomas Jones of the Austin American-Statesman, Shanahan gave Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian tips on how he makes use of versatile playmakers, together with WR Deebo Samuel and RB Christian McCaffrey. What a terrific match.
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS | Mike Macdonald: Michigan | Macdonald was Michigan’s DC in 2021, serving to DE Aidan Hutchinson (now with the Lions) finish second in Heisman voting. He might definitely assist the Maize and Blue develop extra dominant defensive stars. — Clark Dalton
NFC North
CHICAGO BEARS | Thomas Brown: Wisconsin | Brown spent 10 years as a operating backs coach on the collegiate {and professional} ranges, together with one at Wisconsin in 2014. Inheriting the RB pairing of Darrion Dupree and Cade Yacamelli would assist Brown discover his groove in head teaching.
DETROIT LIONS | Dan Campbell: Military | Campbell’s “kneecap biting” mindset paired with one of many hungriest batches of gamers within the FBS could be very good. Campbell’s smashmouth fashion of play could be an ideal match for Military’s run-first method.
GREEN BAY PACKERS | Matt LaFleur: Japanese Michigan | Born and raised in Mount Nice, Mich., LaFleur performed receiver at Western Michigan from 1998-99 and hung out teaching at Central Michigan (graduate assistant) and Northern Michigan (QB and WR coach) following his enjoying profession. LaFleur might full his profession on the directional colleges with a gig at Japanese Michigan, a faculty with solely two bowl wins in its 50-year historical past.
MINNESOTA VIKINGS | Kevin O’Connell: Nebraska | A famend quarterback whisperer, O’Connell might develop freshman QB Dylan Raiola into one of many best school QBs in a heartbeat. The Cornhuskers haven’t had a successful season since 2016, however O’Connell already has 11 wins with the Vikings in his third season as an NFL HC. — Josh Eaton
NFC South
ATLANTA FALCONS | Raheem Morris: Texas | A veteran QB struggles whereas followers clamor for a extra proficient backup to save lots of the staff’s championship hopes. Are we speaking concerning the Falcons with Kirk Cousins and Michael Penix Jr. or Texas’ Quinn Ewers-Arch Manning conundrum?
CAROLINA PANTHERS | Dave Canales: USC | Canales was an assistant power coach and video assistant for the Trojans under former head coach Pete Carroll. His monitor report of success with QBs would make him a wonderful match for a program recognized for its excellence on the place (Heisman Trophy winners Carson Palmer, Matt Leinart and Caleb Williams).
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS | Darren Rizzi: Virginia Tech | What higher vacation spot for New Orleans interim head coach and particular groups coordinator than the house of “Beamer Ball?” Frank Beamer, Virginia Tech’s head coach from 1987-2015, at all times had nice particular groups models, and contemplating New Orleans received its final recreation due to a blocked subject objective, Rizzi could be the very best candidate to resurrect the golden period for the Hokies.
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS | Todd Bowles: Rutgers | Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio recently floated a rumor about Bowles’ potential retirement following the 2024 season. (Bowles denied it.) Nevertheless, at 61, he’s doubtlessly nearing the top of his teaching profession — until the New Jersey native follows Belichick’s lead and turns into HC of his residence state Rutgers. — Eric Smithling
