The GM's, Coach's, Carousel

I'm hoping Matt Canada can be the next one.

 

Colts fire Frank Reich



Frank Reich is out as the head coach of the Colts.

According to multiple reports, the Colts have fired Reich on Monday morning. The move comes a day after the team was throttled 26-3 by the Patriots to fall to 3-5-1 on the season.


Reich was hired as the team’s coach on the back of his work as an offensive coordinator, but the team’s offense has been a mess all season and reached new lows on Sunday. They gained 121 yards all day and failed to convert a third down after firing offensive coordinator Marcus Brady last week.

The Colts also benched quarterback Matt Ryan a couple of weeks ago and that left no one else to blame for the team’s subpar play on that side of the ball.

Reich went 40-33-1 and took the Colts to the playoffs twice after being hired in 2018.

PFT

 

The Indianapolis Colts named Jeff Saturday their head coach on an interim basis after the team fired Frank Reich on Monday following the team’s 26-3 loss to the New England Patriots.

Saturday, a six-time Pro Bowler and two-time First-Team All-Pro selection, served as an analyst for ESPN after he retired from the NFL in 2013. He also briefly played for the Green Bay Packers.

Saturday has never coached in the NFL or college before but coached high school football at Hebron Christian Academy in Georgia.

He played 13 seasons for the Colts alongside Hall of Famer Peyton Manning.

According to Pro Football Talk, Saturday is the first NFL head coach with no college or pro experience to take the gig since Norm Van Brocklin coached the Minnesota Vikings in 1961. Gus Bradley and John Fox, who are on the staff, both have NFL coaching experience.

Reich was let go earlier Monday.

Indianapolis dropped to 3-5-1 with the loss, as their offensive struggles just could not get corrected. The Colts have scored fewer than 20 points six times this season, including a shutout loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in the second week of the season.

The team thought that acquiring Matt Ryan from the Atlanta Falcons in the offseason would have provided some extra juice with Jonathan Taylor at running back and Michael Pittman Jr., Alec Pierce and Parris Campbell returning as key targets.

The Colts have floundered and replaced Ryan with second-year quarterback Sam Ehlinger. The team dismissed offensive coordinator Marcus Brady six days ago.

Reich, a former NFL quarterback who was known for leading the Buffalo Bills to a comeback victory over the Houston Oilers in the 1992-93 playoffs, served as the Philadelphia Eagles’ offensive coordinator during the team’s Super Bowl run and took over as the Colts’ head coach for Chuck Pagano.

Reich’s tenure started with Andrew Luck as the starting quarterback, but his early retirement left the franchise in shambles while looking for a new face of the franchise. Jacoby Brissett, Philip Rivers, Carson Wentz and Ryan have not proved to be the long-term answer.

The 60-year-old wrapped his career with the Colts 40-33-1 with two playoff appearances. He is the second head coach to be fired in the middle of the season. The Carolina Panthers dismissed Matt Rhule earlier in the year and replaced him with Steve Wilks.

FOX

 

Titans fire G.M. Jon Robinson



On Sunday, receiver A.J. Brown ripped through his former team, catching eight passes for 119 yards and two touchdowns as the Eagles beat the Titans 35-10.

Now on Tuesday, the man who traded Brown away has lost his job.


The Titans have fired Jon Robinson, the team announced on Tuesday.

“Since becoming controlling owner in 2015, my goal has been to raise the standard for what is expected in all facets of our organization,” team owner Amy Adams Strunk said in a statement released by the team. “I believe we have made significant progress both on and off the field through investments in leadership, personnel, and new ideas. This progress includes the core of our business, the football team itself, which is regularly evaluated both by results (wins and losses) and team construction/roster building. I am proud of what we have accomplished in my eight seasons of ownership, but I believe there is more to be done and higher aspirations to be met.

“I want to thank Jon for his dedicated work to set this organization on an upward trajectory and I wish him and his family the best.”

Robinson had been with Tennessee since 2016, compiling a 66-43 record and winning the last two AFC South titles over that span.

Since Mike Vrabel took over as head coach in 2018, the club is 48-29.

The Titans are currently 7-5 and are poised to win a third straight division championship. But Tennessee’s offense has regressed to 29th in yards and 26th in points in 2022 after finishing 17th and 15th in the same categories last season.

Tennessee announced vice president of player personnel Ryan Cowden will assume Robinson’s responsibilities for the rest of the season. The club will begin its search for a new G.M. after the season is over.

PFT

 

This gotta be an Ime Udoka situation or something, right? When else has a GM ever gotten canned a few months after signing a 5 year extension and in the midst of what will be a 5th playoff appearance in 7 seasons on the job without ever having a losing record? If this is just because they got clowned by AJ Brown the other day that would be about the most epic over-reaction ever.

 

Pretty sure that is all.

 

A look at head coach situations of five teams as 2022 NFL season nears its end


One week from the end of the 2022 regular season, here's a thumbnail look at where things stand with the three current head coaching searches, as well as a couple of potential openings elsewhere, according to sources close to the situations:

Denver Broncos
Firing head coach Nathaniel Hackett before the end of his first season showed Denver's new ownership isn't afraid to make bold moves. So don't be surprised if the Broncos swing big in the coaching search, with former Saints head coach Sean Payton, University of Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh and Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn expected to be among the top targets.

Payton's situation is complicated because he remains under contract with the Saints, who would need to grant permission for the Broncos (or any other team) to speak with Payton, 59, and work out trade compensation. Would Denver have the draft picks to pull it off after the Russell Wilson trade last March? And does Payton believe he could work with Wilson, who is coming off the worst year of his career at age 34 and has a contract that's fully guaranteed for another two seasons? Payton will be selective and won't come cheap.

Harbaugh, 59, said after interviewing with the Vikings last year that he wouldn't consider returning to the NFL again. However, the Broncos are one of multiple teams that have been doing homework on Harbaugh, who was 44-19-1 as the 49ers' head coach from 2011-14, leading San Francisco to the NFC Championship Game three times and an appearance in Super Bowl XLVII. Condoleeza Rice, a member of the Broncos ownership group and search committee, has deep ties to Stanford University, where Harbaugh coached before his first NFL stint. Harbaugh's full focus has been on the Wolverines' championship push; now that it's over after Michigan's loss to TCU, his interest in the NFL, if any, should become apparent quickly.

Quinn, 52, was a candidate for the Broncos' job last year that went to Hackett, who was fired on Dec. 26 with a 4-11 record in his first season. He's close with Broncos GM George Paton. And like Payton and Harbaugh, Quinn has prior experience and success as a head coach, having led the Falcons to an appearance in Super Bowl XLVIII during his five-plus seasons in Atlanta. The cultural turnaround on defense that Quinn has led in Dallas is impressive, and owner Jerry Jones surely will do whatever he can to keep Quinn, as he did a year ago.


The Broncos also are doing background work on many young coaches and have said they want to interview their defensive coordinator, Ejiro Evero, who figures to be a candidate elsewhere as well. Broncos owner and CEO Greg Penner is new to the NFL, but he's a highly respected business mind and impressed in the press conference announcing Hackett's dismissal. He'll run the search with assistance from Paton and the new coach will report directly to Penner.

Carolina Panthers
Interim coach Steve Wilks has the team in position to win the NFC South if they can complete a sweep of the Bucs today -- a remarkable feat considering Carolina opened the season with a head coach who's now a Cornhusker, a quarterback who's now a Ram and a star running back who's now a 49er. After a 1-4 start under ex-head coach Matt Rhule, they're 5-5 under Wilks.

The turnaround has positioned Wilks, 53, as a strong candidate for the full-time job. He's well-regarded and liked within the building. However, Carolina still intends to go through a full search process that also includes other in-demand candidates. Owner David Tepper's top priorities have been solidifying the quarterback position and the offense, so expect the Panthers to interview all of the rising offensive gurus. If Wilks is going to get the job, he'll need to sell his plan for that side of the ball, too. Tepper also respects Wilks' leadership traits, which is a huge part of the job.

Indianapolis Colts
Owner Jim Irsay grabbed the wheel in November with the benching of Matt Ryan, firing of Frank Reich and stunning hire of Jeff Saturday as interim head coach against the advice of his top executives. It's hard to predict what Irsay might do next.

What we do know: Irsay remains a big fan of Saturday, 47, who has lost five in a row since the Colts won his debut. Saturday absolutely will be a candidate for the full-time job, and if he can put together the right staff, especially on offense, he shouldn't be counted out. Irsay also has an affinity for Harbaugh, who's a member of the team's Ring of Honor as a player, though it's unclear whether that match would make sense for either side. The Colts have a traditional structure, with the head coach reporting to the GM, and the GM to the owner; that doesn't figure to change, which won't appeal to coaching candidates who want more control.


Indianapolis has a respected GM in Chris Ballard, who is expected to be involved in the search process. The final call is Irsay's, though, and he's a wild card.


Houston Texans
The Texans plan to evaluate the future of head coach Lovie Smith at the end of the season, with the entire body of work being considered. The team has played well of late, including a win last week over the Titans and close losses to the Chiefs and Cowboys. But the Texans still have the worst record in the league (2-12-1). All of that will factor into where things go for 2023. Staff changes are possible if Smith, 64, gets a second season.

Arizona Cardinals
While speculation intensifies that head coach Kliff Kingsbury could be out after a disappointing fourth season, owner Michael Bidwill has not informed Kingsbury of any decision. Arizona just signed Kingsbury, 43, to a contract extension last March through the 2027 season, meaning they would owe him a lot of money if they move on. Could the Cardinals wait and see if they can secure an upgrade before moving on? Kyler Murray's uncertain status for the start of the 2023 season coming off ACL reconstruction and GM Steve Keim's indefinite leave of absence for health reasons further complicate Arizona's future plans.

NFL.com

 

Report: Jim Harbaugh will jump to the NFL, if he gets an offer



A year ago, Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh was ready to become the head coach of the Vikings. This year, Harbaugh reported is ready to become the head coach of any NFL team that wants him.

TheAthletic.com, citing “multiple sources” close to Harbaugh, reports that they expect Harbaugh to leave Michigan for the NFL, if he is offered a head-coaching job.

“I think it is a done deal if he gets an offer,” a source close to Harbaugh told TheAthletic.com.

The Broncos have already reached out to Harbaugh to express interest in speaking with him, as reported last night on NBC’s Football Night in America. That’s a long way from getting an offer, however..

There’s no indication the Colts or the Panthers have reached out to Harbaugh. He played for the Colts, and is in their Ring of Honor.

Although the report from TheAthletic.com indicates any NFL head-coaching job, certain factors would potentially turn him off. Bad ownership and/or a bad G.M. would make a job less attractive.

If his only offer comes from a team with dysfunction at the top of the front office, would he take the leap of faith, hopeful that he could will the situation into something workable? Maybe he would.

And, yes, Harbaugh said last year that he’s done pursuing NFL jobs. He also has made it clear that he regards not winning a Super Bowl as “unfinished business.” And there’s only one way to finish that bit of business.

PFT
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He sounds hypocritical. If he says no SB is unfinished business then what about the college football championship? He’s just looking for money. Two whiny Harbaughs in the league is too much.

 

He's wishy washy to say the least... probably still sore he lost to the Horned Frogs, with a decent football team.

He turned down the Vikings job last year and says he's not persuing an NFL gig, now the scuttlebutt is, he'd take any job... sounds fishy to me.

IMO - Its January and the rumor mill is spinning/busy per usual this time of year. All sorts of he said, she said, hunches and rumors are going to hit the press as stories are fabricated. If, imo, Harbaugh was seriously interested in an NFL gig, he himself would have said so, not a "source close to Harbaugh" telling someone from the Athletic. That in itself reeks of dead fish.

 

Harbaugh can’t stand not being able to win the prize. He thinks it’s easier on the other side. Hey can I have some of your purple berries, yes I been eating them for weeks, haven’t got sick once.
Wooden ships on the water very free.

 

Report: Panthers owner David Tepper, Jim Harbaugh talk about coaching position



Two of the three teams with 2023 coaching vacancies have expressed interest in Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh.

First, it was the Broncos. Now, it’s the Panthers.


Per multiple reports (including Charlotte Sports Live and the Associated Press), team owner David Tepper has spoken to Harbaugh regarding the vacant head-coaching position.

The Panthers fired Matt Rhule on October 10, less than a month into his third season. Steve Wilks has served as the interim coach. Tepper said upon giving the assignment to Wilks that he would get the position going forward in 2023 if the does an “incredible” job.

Wilks arguably has. But Tepper has seemed to be very interested in waving a magic wand to make his team into a contender, whether by acquiring a franchise quarterback (he has continuously failed in that regard) to hiring a great head coach (he’s 0-for-1 there).

It will be interesting to see whether the Broncos and Panthers both actively pursue Harbaugh, given that the Walton-Penner Wal-Mart conglomerate and Tepper are the two richest ownership groups in the NFL — and there’s no salary cap when it comes to hiring coaches.

PFT

 

If this happens, watch them resign Darnold and win the South in his first year.

 

Based on the state of the NFCS, I would say that's a good bet.

 

They are on the cusp now, thanks to Wilks. They are 7 points away from being in the driver seat after last weeks game.

I am genuinely curious what connection you have with Darnold/Harbaugh that would lead you down this path.

 

Just his previous want for a big, athletic passer and Sam's play this season. It's more of a 'wouldn't that be something?'.

Darnold has quietly put together some relatively decent tape to end out 2022.

 

I see the hand of our previous debates re this player/team punching through the soil as Darnold rises from the grave ha.

But you're right, he has actually. I'm not sure its enough, afterall we're talking a paltry 5games and only 3 in which he passed for 170+ yards. The increased ypa is nice, but what really stands out is the increased ball security. Useful improvements for sure.

If this was most other scenarios/offenses i would say Darnold def needs a big final game to even force a serious conversation and even then it probably wouldn't matter. The one thing that gives me pause for thought is this identity the Panthers offense has carved out for itself in the 2nd half of the season. They are physical bastards. This ground and pound style is not one that runs thru the QB like most others. Do they need much more than a big, athletic QB who takes care of the ball? One of the hardest things for an offense/team to find is a true identity, have the Panthers found theirs? If so they should think twice before moving away from it, even with the lure of a potential top10 pick on the horizon.

Speaking of draft picks, and im straying far away from my expertise and far into yours here, but isnt Levis a big physical QB? I'll leave that stuff to you, but anyway, im almost talking myself into the feeling that Darnold may have an opportunity here. If he balls out.... and they win..... which means they slip further down the draft order, potentially away from a Levis......

 

The Panthers could've won that game against the Bucs if Darnold was a competent QB. I have a hard time imagining any team deciding that he's worth building around just based off that film alone, but that's just me.

 

Jim Harbaugh doesn’t know the future, “expects” to coach Michigan in 2023



The NFL window nearly cracked for former 49ers coach and current Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh in 2022. It may finally slide wide open for him in 2023. He reportedly is expected to accept an NFL offer if it comes his way.

Last year, Harbaugh said nothing about his courtship with the Vikings until it ended. This year, he’s speaking before having a single official interview with what could be multiple teams.


“1 am aware of the rumors and speculation over the past few days,” Harbaugh said in a statement issued Thursday. “College and NFL teams have great interest in all our personnel, from players to coaches to staff, and I truly believe that us a testament to the strength of our University of Michigan footbail program.

“As 1 stated in December, while no one knows what the future holds, I expect that I will be enthusiastically coaching Michigan in 2023. I have spoken with President Santa Ono and Athletic Director Warde Manuel and appreciate their support of me and our program. Our mission as Wolverines continues, and we are preparing for the 2023 season with great passion and enthusiasm. As our legendary coach Bo Schembechier said, ‘Those who stay will be champions.'”

Those who leave may be champions, too. That’s where this is coming from. Harbaugh regards winning a Super Bowl as “unfinished business,” and he views it as the pinnacle of football achievement.

So, yes, he’ll explore his options. He doesn’t know what the future will hold. Maybe he’ll be offered the Broncos job. Or the Panthers job. Or some other NFL job. He currently expects to be doing the job he has, because it’s the only job he has.

Whether his statement placates Michigan fans, players, and/or boosters who are feeling nervous about Harbaugh’s status remains to be seen. But the truth is hiding in plain sight. He has ruled nothing out, and he won’t be leaving as head coach of Michigan unless a better opportunity falls into his lap.

In the coming weeks, we’ll find out whether it does. If not, he’ll “enthusiastically” retain the maize and blue bird in the hand.

PFT
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What other better opportunity was there than to coach the Minnesota Vikings? I told you he was wishy-washy!

 

I’d point to the difference between bridging and building, which the former may be the easier option for several teams to work with while making roster/coaching decisions.

Sam won’t get the kind of contract from anyone that signals high confidence.

A deal similar to Trubisky’s in its structure is the most likely option, IMO.