Here's a look at the leading canidates for head coaching jobs around the NFL. This is an exerpt from Dave Campbells article (AP). Vikings general manager Rick Spielman, in discussing his club's search last week, revealed 13 categories of potential head coaches he claimed were no better than another in producing on-field success. The popular players in the 2014 version of the annual game beyond the gridiron, though, have fallen into only a handful of groups. Here's a look at six of the most-sought-after candidates, in alphabetical order: DARRELL BEVELL: Seattle's offensive coordinator for the last three seasons, Bevell helped develop a young Russell Wilson into one of the most-polished quarterbacks in the league. The Seahawks traded for dynamic wide receiver Percy Harvin, but a hip injury limited him to one game and Seattle still finished tied for eighth in the NFL in scoring. That was despite a ball-control offense that produced the second-fewest pass attempts in the league. Bevell's prior post was offensive coordinator for the Vikings for five years, and he was Brett Favre's quarterbacks coach for his last three seasons in Green Bay. TODD BOWLES: Arizona's defensive coordinator this season, Bowles supervised a unit that surrendered the fewest yards rushing in the NFL and helped the Cardinals become one of the most subtle surprises of 2013 with a 10-6 record. He was promoted to defensive coordinator by Philadelphia partway through the previous year, and in 2011 he was interim head coach in Miami for the final three games. The Dolphins won two of those after firing Tony Sparano. Bowles was a cornerback in the NFL for eight seasons, seven with Washington. He won a Super Bowl with the Redskins. JAY GRUDEN: Cincinnati's offensive coordinator for the past three years, Gruden has the most famous surname in the bunch, though not of his own accomplishment. His older brother, Jon Gruden, was the head coach for Oakland and Tampa Bay, winning a Super Bowl with the Buccaneers before winding up in the broadcast booth. He has helped orchestrate a productive offense with the Bengals, though the playoff-game struggles of quarterback Andy Dalton have contributed to three straight one-and-done postseason appearances. Gruden was an assistant under his brother with the Bucs and also a head coach in the Arena Football League. RAY HORTON: Cleveland's defensive coordinator for one year, Horton served the same role for the Cardinals the two seasons prior to that. The Browns struggled in the standings yet again this year, but they had the semblance of a decent defense, ranking ninth in the league in yards allowed. Horton played 10 seasons in the NFL as a safety with Cincinnati and Dallas, and he won a Super Bowl with the Cowboys. KEN WHISENHUNT: San Diego's offensive coordinator this season, Whisenhunt engineered a revamp of the system that helped quarterback Philip Rivers produce one of the best years of his career and the Chargers finish fifth in total yards. Whisenhunt has substantial head coach experience, too, with six seasons in charge of the Cardinals that featured a trip to the Super Bowl for one of the NFL's most woebegone franchises. MIKE ZIMMER: Cincinnati's defensive coordinator for the last six years, Zimmer has 20 years as an NFL assistant on his resume. The Bengals were third in the league in yards allowed and fifth in points against. He's widely considered the most overdue candidate on the market this time, with interviews for previous vacancies the past two winters. Zimmer also ran the defenses in Dallas for seven seasons and another year in Atlanta. Honorable mentions: Baltimore offensive coordinator Jim Caldwell, Denver offensive coordinator Adam Gase, Seattle defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, San Francisco offensive coordinator Greg Roman.
yeah i read that good luck to the REDSKINS,the Vikings are in rebuilding mode Ken Whisenhunt would not be a bad choice he turned the CARDINALS around and took them to the SB......Chris Kluwe needs to give it a rest now
No kidding...but I dont think thats going to happen. He's comparing himself to Tebow now. He just doesnt stop. It would be just fine if the media just quit covering him, because I really dont care what he has to say any more. I heard him the first time.
Tom Brady and the PATRIOTS are a good football team, but they get away with alot holding it was just amazing how refs missed things.. a trip and the holding and the late hits.. the home cooking was um um good,oh i was PO about Harvin going to Seattle at first but not no more this guy aint nothing but a bust with CP i think he's going to be awesome,Andrew Luck needs a rb another wr he' a very good QB he needs HELP!!.....who is Jim Tomsula i don't know who he is but i just can't see the 49ers let him walk away when 49ers D-line is very very good
We can scratch this guy off the list...the list is shrinking, not good for Minnesota. Its kinda like the last kid picked in school on the playground...that will be are HC.
i was just reading the StarTribune about Zimmer and his friendship with Musgrave would he keep him as the OC it just makes think about him now,its time to clean house now Greg Roman looks real good with a good DC maybe Todd Bowles....seems like the Vikings and Spieman have no idea which way to go,i just hope they get it right this time
News Flash it looks like the Vikings Head Coach will be Mike Zimmer...question is he going to keep Bill Musgrave
I hope he ends up the HC, I think Zimmer has potential to be the best of this off-season's group of hires.
Hope so. He really is coming into a good situation...a team with some decent talent. Turn the defense around and get good quarterback play, the Vikings might be back.
Regime changes tend to mean new QBs, with the returning GM on record as saying he has been ineffective at getting a starting signal caller I'm at a loss as to what the draft will look like early for the Vikings. Will Zimmer go after long term key elements? (OL-DL/LB) Will they look to get AP's future replacement? Do they go after a QB thinking they can win now with the right guy? Good times for a Vikings fan, lots of anticipation for Zimmer's first draft.
your right here it has got to be OL/DL/ a Monster LB....get a good FA QB this year and draft a QB next year,i think the Vikings chance's at a decent QB is slim...but you never know there will be wheeling and dealing there always is
hey i hope the new head coach gets an outstanding DC...cause Alan Williams and his Tampa2 or was it cover2 or a prevent defense or whatever that was all seemed the same to me..WHAT A NIGHTMARE THAT WAS this guy got to go
Well, we are starting to see some changes already. I dont know if it was because of the hireing of Zimmer, but the timing is right.
i thought Mike Singletary was going to be a good coordinator for the LB'S,but he was awful just what did he do?,besides pick up a game check he's gone good just time to move on.......he was a good LB for the BEARS he was full of fire where was this when it came to the Vikings
