Of the 12 NFL playoff teams, eight are led by coaches in their first-ever NFL head coaching job. Let it be a guiding light for teams looking to fill vacancies
The unusually cold weather hitting parts of the United States has closed theme parks usually stuffed with visitors this time of year. Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon, Universal Orlando’s Volcano Bay and Florida’s Sea World are all shuttered indefinitely. But one ride that is popular every January remains in operation: the NFL coaching carousel. Ride at your own peril.
Six NFL head coaching jobs are open following the usual end-of-season round of firings and resignations. The Oakland Raiders, Chicago Bears, New York Giants, Detroit Lions, Indianapolis Colts and Arizona Cardinals are all looking to make hires. Not surprisingly, many long-known names are already in the mix. The Raiders reportedly may give $10m a year to Jon Gruden, who hasn’t coached since 2008 and last won more than nine games in 2005. Gruden was fired by the Buccaneers after years of mishandling the quarterback position. Naturally, he’s seen as a quarterback guru.
Related: Why the future of the NFL may rely on fixing the concussion protocol
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