Ranking the Top 8 NFL Head Coach Hires

1. Jim Harbaugh, Los Angeles Chargers

What a hire for the LA Chargers. A team desperate for buzz and notoriety amid a city full of stars, the Chargers landed theirs. Jim Harbaugh is tasked with turning Justin Herbert into one of the league’s best quarterbacks and maximizing a talented group of offensive skill players that stacks up with any team in the league on paper. Much needs to be done on the defensive side of the ball, but in a division with Patrick Mahomes, the offense is all that matters. It took a lot to get Harbaugh to leave Michigan, but as he chases Lombardi, he’s fully convinced that Herbert is the guy he can do it with.

7. Antonio Pierce, Las Vegas Raiders

Antonio Pierce had a heck of a run once he took over as the Raiders’ interim head coach, but is he the head coach that the organization wanted or the one the players wanted? Players' input matters, but as guys like Maxx Crosby threatened to request a trade if Pierce wasn’t retained, it handcuffed the organization. While Pierce is well-respected throughout the league, is he the guy to get the Raiders back in contention in the AFC West as the Chiefs’ dynasty continues, the Chargers regroup with Jim Harbaugh, and the Broncos eventually find a quarterback? I’m not convinced this makes the Raiders better in the long run.

6. Raheem Morris, Atlanta Falcons

Raheem Morris proved himself an incredible defensive coordinator this season, especially as he turned a Rams’ defense full of rookies and unknowns into a well-respected unit, definitely earning his spot as one of the league’s 32 head coaches. Still, for what the Falcons needed, is this the guy for them? Last season, their defense was solid, which I expect Morris to improve, but their offense needs a coach to get the most out of whatever quarterback they end up with while putting guys like Kyle Pitts and Drake London in the best positions to succeed in the passing game. Much pressure is being placed on new offensive coordinator Zac Robinson, a Sean McVay disciple like Morris. Still, if things go well in Atlanta this season offensively, Robinson will land a head coaching position next season, leaving the Falcons in a frustrating spot. It’s wait-and-see for me with this hire.

5. Dave Canales, Carolina Panthers

Many people aren’t high on the Panthers’ hire of Dave Canales, but I’m the opposite. I think for the Panthers, it’s a slam dunk. First, Canales isn’t necessarily in a rush to win, as I believe he and the organization will be patient over several seasons. Looking at the roster, a couple of seasons are needed. However, nothing else matters if Bryce Young continues on a downward trajectory. The Panthers need to fix their former No. 1 overall pick, whom they traded a haul and a half for, so bringing in the guy who turned Baker Mayfield from being on the scout team to potentially seeing top dollar this offseason is all I need to know. This will be a home run if Canales can save Young’s career.

4. Brian Callahan, Tennessee Titans

Brian Callahan has been the Bengals’ offensive coordinator as Joe Burrow became one of the game’s best players. Still, his best coaching job has arguably been keeping the Bengals afloat by getting the most out of Jake Browning once Burrow was lost for the season. Coming out of Mike Vrabel’s tenure in Tennessee, it was clear the team desperately needed a new offensive vision, so why not bring in the guy who has overseen one of the league’s best offenses? In the short term, I trust Callahan to get the most out of the Titans’ quarterback situation and analyze what they have in Will Levis. In the long run, when more talent enters the building, his offensive style will be needed in the AFC South to compete with CJ Stroud, Trevor Lawrence, and Anthony Richardson.

3. Jerod Mayo, New England Patriots

Bill Belichick leaves the Patriots as the greatest head coach in NFL season, but Jerod Mayo is seemingly up for the task. After years of learning under Belichick and living what it is to embody the “Patriot Way,” Mayo seems like the right guy to lead this transition and rebuilding phase they desperately need. It will not be an overnight success in New England, but Mayo’s combination of a youthful mind and seeing what has worked in the past gives the Patriots precisely what they need.

2. Mike MacDonald, Seattle Seahawks

People are underrating Mike MacDonald, and I’m excited about what he has in store for Seattle. After one season as an NFL defensive coordinator, MacDonald put together one of the league’s best defenses and held the Chiefs’ offense scoreless in the second half of the AFC Championship game. If the Ravens’ offense did anything, we could have talked about a different Super Bowl champion today. Anyway, the Seahawks roster is talented enough to win now on both sides of the ball, so with MacDonald’s defensive expertise, I’m excited to see what he could do with all the young talent on the defense. This team has playoff-caliber talent, so MacDonald has everything in front of him to make some serious noise in the NFC next season.

1. Jim Harbaugh, Los Angeles Chargers

What a hire for the LA Chargers. A team desperate for buzz and notoriety amid a city full of stars, the Chargers landed theirs. Jim Harbaugh is tasked with turning Justin Herbert into one of the league’s best quarterbacks and maximizing a talented group of offensive skill players that stacks up with any team in the league on paper. Much needs to be done on the defensive side of the ball, but in a division with Patrick Mahomes, the offense is all that matters. It took a lot to get Harbaugh to leave Michigan, but as he chases Lombardi, he’s fully convinced that Herbert is the guy he can do it with.