The 2024 NFL free-agent head-coaching class is arguably the greatest ever and is so stacked that future Hall of Famers and former Coach of the Year winners might not land a job this offseason. With seven head-coaching jobs still up for grabs, here are our predictions as to who will fill each opening.
Atlanta Falcons: former Patriots HC Bill Belichick
Unless the Dallas Cowboys or Philadelphia Eagles decide to fire their head coaches, the Falcons seem like the most likely landing spot for Belichick, particularly since they’ve already interviewed him. Even though Belichick endured his worst season as a coach in 2023, he likely would’ve had more success with an offense like Atlanta’s, and his defense was still strong (seventh in yards allowed). The six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach’s defensive expertise could elevate Atlanta’s unit, which was on the cusp of being great before DT Grady Jarrett’s season-ending ACL tear (12th in points and sixth in yards allowed).
Carolina Panthers: Texans OC Bobby Slowik
It’ll be fascinating to see who Carolina convinces to accept the NFL’s least desirable coaching job, as it doesn’t own a 2024 first-round pick and has the least talented roster in the league in addition to the worst owner. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Carolina is “intrigued” by the idea of hiring a first-time offensive-minded head coach to pair with current DC Ejiro Evero, and Slowik would fit the bill in this regard. Houston went from averaging the second-fewest yards and third-fewest points in 2022 to ranking 12th and 13th in those respective categories in its first season under Slowik.
Las Vegas Raiders: Antonio Pierce
Despite his limited experience, Pierce proved he’s the right choice to lead the Raiders by leading the team to a 5-4 record after Josh McDaniels’ mid-season firing. In that span, Las Vegas solidified itself as one of the NFL’s top defensive units, allowing the fewest points (16) and 11th-fewest yards per game (324.9). If the on-field results aren’t enough for owner Mark Davis to hire Pierce permanently, the risk of losing the locker room and key stars like edge-rusher Maxx Crosby should be enough to sway him.
Los Angeles Chargers: Michigan HC Jim Harbaugh
Perhaps the most polarizing candidate of this hiring cycle, many expect Harbaugh to jump back to the pros after delivering a national championship to Michigan and seeing QB J.J. McCarthy declare for the 2024 NFL Draft. In the past, Harbaugh has considered returning to the NFL, but no interested team was equipped with a quarterback as talented as Justin Herbert, who would probably give him his best chance at winning a Super Bowl. Harbaugh interviewed with the Chargers on Monday, and Fowler later noted there’s “mutual interest” between the sides, so it seems all signs are pointing to him landing in Los Angeles.
Seattle Seahawks: Cowboys DC Dan Quinn
Quinn, Seattle’s defensive coordinator during the 2013 and 2014 seasons, emerged as a candidate for its head-coaching vacancy shortly after Pete Carroll’s firing, signaling that a reunion is more likely than not. Although Quinn’s failed stint as Atlanta’s head coach and the Cowboys defense’s disastrous showing in Sunday’s wild-card loss might raise concerns about his ability to succeed in Seattle, the 53-year-old’s work in the 2023 regular season shouldn’t be overlooked. Dallas’ defense ranked fifth in both scoring and yardage this season, as well as eighth in interceptions (17).
Tennessee Titans: Ravens DC Mike Macdonald
The disconnect between team brass and Mike Vrabel was one of the reasons for the former Coach of the Year’s termination, which suggests Tennessee will hire a candidate who wouldn’t want as much control. Typically, that means bringing on someone lacking head-coaching experience, and while it has become the trend around the NFL to hire offensive-minded coaches, Macdonald would still be an excellent addition. Tennessee’s defense has shown glimpses of promise, and Macdonald could raise its ceiling, especially considering Baltimore’s defensive unit has ranked inside the top three in scoring and top 10 in yardage over the last two seasons.
Washington Commanders: Lions OC Ben Johnson
As per The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, Johnson is Washington’s “top choice” among the available candidates, and it’s hard to imagine he’d pass up on such a great opportunity. Johnson has helped transform the Lions offense into a top-five unit and contributed to QB Jared Goff’s resurgence. With an array of weapons like WRs Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson, along with the chance to draft a top quarterback in the 2024 NFL Draft, Washington could quickly become an elite offense under Johnson.
