NFL.com: Chip Kelly, Perry Fewell among top NFL head coach candidates

[DaneMcCloud]

Chip Kelly, Perry Fewell among top NFL head coach candidates

By Daniel Jeremiah
Analyst, NFL.com and NFL Network

The 2012 NFL season is far from over, but it's never too early to look ahead. There figures to be several head-coaching vacancies following the season, so let's get a jump on examining some potential candidates for those jobs. I've come up with a list of seven names that will likely garner serious consideration for any head-coaching opportunities that arise following the season. I've also included brief comments from sources inside the NFL about each of the seven candidates.

Chip Kelly
Age: 48
Current job: Head coach, University of Oregon

Kelly has only been a head coach for four seasons at the collegiate level, but he has already established a sterling résumé. He has captured three Pac-10/Pac-12 titles and his team is currently undefeated and ranked No. 2 in the nation. He turned down the Tampa Bay Buccaneers job last offseason, but will likely have another NFL opportunity in 2013. His up-tempo offense would need some alterations to work at the NFL level, but his organizational skills and creativity will be very attractive to NFL owners.

NFC executive: "He runs the best practices I've ever seen. I would hire him in a second if I ever had the opportunity."


Kyle Shanahan
Age: 32
Current job: Offensive coordinator, Washington Redskins

The Redskins' offense has been the talk of the 2012 NFL season. Robert Griffin III has been outstanding, but the design of the Redskins' scheme has been terrific, as well. Kyle Shanahan is getting a lot of praise around the NFL for quickly developing RG3 and designing a creative offense to fit his skills. Shanahan also was very successful during his two-year stint as the Houston Texans' offensive coordinator. In 2009, the Texans finished with the NFL's fourth-ranked offense under his leadership. Despite being only 32 years old, the son of Mike Shanahan already has coached in the NFL for nine seasons.

AFC executive: "Kyle is extremely smart and he's excellent with quarterbacks. He has all of his dad's qualities and he's going to be a great head coach."

Mike McCoy
Age: 40
Current job: Offensive coordinator, Denver Broncos

McCoy has 13 years of NFL coaching experience, including the past four as the Broncos offensive coordinator. Last season, his reputation around the NFL soared as a result of his handling of the transition from Kyle Orton to Tim Tebow. He completely overhauled his scheme in the middle of the season to accommodate Tebow's specific skill set. The Broncos finished the season with the NFL's No. 1 rushing attack. This season, he has smoothly transitioned his offense to suit Peyton Manning. They are currently ranked fourth in passing. Those rankings highlight McCoy's flexibility and willingness to adapt his scheme to his personnel.

NFC personnel executive: "I don't know Mike personally, but I've taken notice of the job he's done in Denver. He deserves a lot of credit for their success in 2011."

Perry Fewell
Age: 50
Current job: Defensive coordinator, New York Giants

Fewell has done an outstanding job with the Giants. Their run to the Super Bowl last season was largely the result of his punishing defensive unit. He has overcome several injuries to key personnel and his reputation around the league is rock solid. He has interviewed for head-coaching jobs in the past, but those teams chose to go in a different direction. Many around the NFL believe he will not be passed over again.

AFC personnel executive: "I've never heard anything negative about him. His results speak for themselves and he deserves a head-coaching opportunity."

Brad Seely
Age: 56
Current job: Special teams coordinator, San Francisco 49ers

Seely has an excellent résumé and should garner consideration for any head-coaching vacancies following the season. He has coached in the NFL for 22 seasons, 10 of which were spent as the special teams coach under Bill Belichick in New England. He has transformed the 49ers' special teams unit into the NFL's very best. The fact that Baltimore's John Harbaugh has successfully made the transition from special teams coach to head coach should help Seely's candidacy.

Former player: "Brad was very well respected in our locker room. He is very detailed and he knows how to communicate."

Ray Horton
Age: 52
Current job: Defensive coordinator, Arizona Cardinals

Horton has quickly established a strong reputation as one of the NFL's top defensive minds. Following a 10-year playing career, he's been a successful assistant coach for 18 years. He served as the secondary coach for the Steelers prior to joining the Cardinals staff as defensive coordinator. The Cardinals have one of the NFL's top defensive units and Horton's scheme is broadly praised around the league.

NFC personnel executive: "He's going to be impressive during the interview process. He's very smart and confident and he has the ability to relate to everyone."


Bill O'Brien
Age: 43
Current job: Head coach, Penn State

It is highly unlikely that O'Brien would depart Penn State after only one season on the job. He has an incredibly expensive buyout clause in his contract and that would be a major deterrent to potential NFL suitors. That being said, he is a very hot name around NFL circles. He was a successful assistant under Bill Belichick and he has shown incredible leadership in guiding the Penn State program through an extraordinarily difficult situation.

Former AFC personnel executive: "Knowing Bill, he has too much integrity to leave those kids, but he's eventually going to be a very successful NFL head coach. He's very tough and organized and he's a winner."

------------

Apologies if repost

[KCrockaholic]

Originally Posted by CaliforniaChief

All I know about Gundy is that he's a man, and he's 40.

Damn right.

[KCrockaholic]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Well, other than the fact that he's a HEAD COACH and he's not going to jump to the NFL to be an offensive coordinator, especially when earning nearly $5 million per year, nor does he have NFL experience, nor does he fit any of the likely head coach's criteria, or the fact that he runs, the spread, well, nothing.

I thought you liked Chip?

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by CaliforniaChief

All I know about Gundy is that he's a man, and he's 40.

His Big 12 record as a head coach is 64-32 and he's paid $3.75 million per year. He's never won anything significant and he runs the spread offense.

I don't see how he's even on a NFL team's radar.

[Easy 6]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

The problem is, as Lane Kiffin quickly learned, NFL players aren't going to immediately respect a 32 year old coach that's likely hired due to his father's name instead of actually doing something on his own.

Shanahan, at this point in time, would be an epic disaster.

I dont even know if you're a Kelly backer or not (at work, no time to read every post in threads), but would the players respect a first timer like him, straight from the college ranks with no NFL experience?

The respect factor would be a problem for him as well.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by scott free

I dont even know if you're a Kelly backer or not (at work, no time to read every post in threads), but would the players respect a first timer like him, straight from the college ranks with no NFL experience?

The respect factor would be a problem for him as well.

I like Kelly and his peers think he's special. I'm all in, if the Chiefs could hire him.

I don't think NFL players would have any problem playing for him. The guy has been successful at every stop. All you have to do is look at Oregon, which was far from a national power before he arrived.

[dj56dt58]

The chiefs need to write down their top choices...then hire someone not on that list. This is also how they should draft from here on

[KCrockaholic]

Originally Posted by dj56dt58

The chiefs need to write down their top choices...then hire someone not on that list. This is also how they should draft from here on

Knowing the Chiefs they don't even know who Chip Kelly is.

[CaliforniaChief]

Mark my words.

If Chip Kelly was the next HC of the Chiefs, he would build a perennial contender in KC. I have zero doubts about that.

He built the spread offense and recruited players that fit that image, capitalizing on the Nike brand and prestige to grab kids from California.

I have no doubt that with his organizational skills and intelligence, that he couldn't turn Jamaal Charles into the best weapon in the NFL, and that he'd do a great job of developing a QB.

[Red Dawg]

Fewell is the best on that list. No O-minds! Defense! Cowher will do nice.

[Sorter]

Originally Posted by Tuckdaddy

Fewell is the best on that list.

Nope. His success is due to the Giants having 4 guys who are excellent pass-rushers, not Fewell IMO.

[BigChiefFan]

I'm not advocating for Gundy, but to say he hasn't done anything of signifigance at OSU is over the top.

He's coached OSU to 4 out of 5 of their 10 win seasons.

He's broken the school's record for most points.

Had their highest ranking in school history on his watch...and on and on.

[Fritz88]

I want Cowher.

To the rest...I do this

[xztop12]

No at another minority(neg me please)

I wonder if Kelly is even on Clarks radar? I'd like to hire a coach first this time around.

Chip Kelly + a pushover GM who is a good talking head

[MMXcalibur]

Chip Kelly, please.

[PunkinDrublic]

I wouldn't be opposed to Chucky Gruden if he were available. "Ducks and covers face"