Get to know the NFL's top head coaching candidates

The 2021 NFL offseason promises to bring change as several teams look to rebuild with new head coaches. Although there are currently only three vacancies (Houston Texans, Atlanta Falcons, and Detroit Lions), more will certainly follow after the regular season.

With a busy year on the way, let's examine the league's top candidates:

Flashy candidates you already know

Eric Bieniemy - Chiefs OC

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With yet another dominant campaign in Kansas City nearly complete, Bieniemy should be viewed as one of - if not the - most sought-after contenders for a head coaching job.

The Chiefs rank first in total offense and second in points per game this season behind their coordinator's creative play-calling and ability to put his players in advantageous matchups. Bieniemy surprisingly didn't land a top position last year, but teams would be silly to pass on him again.

Josh McDaniels - Patriots OC

New England's offense took a step back in 2020 with Tom Brady in Tampa Bay, but there's no denying McDaniels can run an efficient scoring attack with the right pieces in place. When Jakobi Meyers and Damiere Byrd are the top receiving options, it's difficult to blame the OC when struggles occur.

While McDaniels wasn't exactly a success story when he led the Denver Broncos in 2009-10, there's a reason the six-time Super Bowl champion assistant is among the premier coaching candidates nearly every offseason. With Brady out the door, McDaniels could finally move on as well.

Urban Meyer - former Ohio State HC

Organizations have reportedly reached out to Meyer in recent days, so his inclusion on our list was a must. It's hard not to be enamored with the legendary college football boss - he's won three national championships along with five Power 5 conference titles - and an interest in moving to the pros may finally be mutual.

Hiring Meyer would certainly come with some level of skepticism, seeing as he has no NFL sideline experience, but interested clubs shouldn't overthink this. The 56-year-old found success during all of his college stints, he excels at evaluating talent, and we already know the spread offense works.

Offensive gurus

Brian Daboll - Bills OC

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Any franchise looking to spark its offense should strongly consider Daboll to fill its vacancy. One of the hottest names on the market, the creative play-caller impressively piloted Josh Allen's emergence from potential first-round bust to MVP candidate in 2020.

Daboll is an ideal hire for today's game - he's the poster boy for transferring college concepts onto an NFL field, having won a national title with Alabama in 2017 as co-offensive coordinator. Buffalo fields a top-five scoring attack due in large part to the 45-year-old's ability to put players in the best position to win matchups. Daboll's not afraid to take risks while also limiting opportunities for turnovers, and any young quarterback would be happy to be paired with him.

Joe Brady - Panthers OC

In a league where most clubs look for a flashy, bright offensive mind (attempting to replicate the Sean McVay hire), Brady is a name to watch. The assistant's resume is already impressive at just 31 years old. He authored LSU's record-breaking campaign in 2019 and has made the most of a Panthers offense that's struggled to block and has been missing star running back Christian McCaffrey for much of the campaign.

Brady loves to get his top playmakers in space, whether in route or with the ball in their hands. The young coordinator's scheme helped spark career years from Robby Anderson, Mike Davis, and Curtis Samuel - not to mention college breakouts from Justin Jefferson and Ja'Marr Chase - while keeping Carolina competitive in most contests. Many will question whether Brady is ready to take on a head coaching gig with so little experience, but his upside is off the charts.

Arthur Smith - Titans OC

Smith, a relative unknown when he was named Tennessee's offensive coordinator in 2019, has quickly vaulted up many clubs' wish lists. Owners will love the Memphis native's resolve in climbing the ladder - he joined the Titans as a quality control coach in 2011 - and uncanny ability to create mismatches downfield.

Saying Smith's hiring sparked an offensive resurgence in Tennessee would be putting it lightly. He helped develop Derrick Henry into an elite running back, but his impact on Ryan Tannehill is even more impressive. After the Miami Dolphins cast him off, Tannehill remarkably evolved into an efficient, big-play field general under his new play-caller.

	With Dolphins	With Titans
Win percentage	47.7%	68%
Completion percentage	62.8%	67.3%
Yards per attempt	7.0	8.6
TD:INT	123:75	54:13

Smith's creativity and on-field production speak for themselves. We wouldn't be surprised if he's one of the first coaches off the market in 2021.

Byron Leftwich - Buccaneers OC

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This isn't the first time Leftwich has emerged as a coaching candidate and he may be closer than ever to landing a spot. Thanks to Brady and a plethora of receiving weapons, the former signal-caller has the Bucs ranked fifth in points per game calling plays for Bruce Arians.

There have been bumps in the road, but teams have long viewed Leftwich as a future head coach due to his understanding of a variety of offensive concepts. The 40-year-old should garner plenty of consideration this offseason.

Mike Kafka - Chiefs QB coach

Kafka's candidacy may be somewhat of a surprise considering he was playing in the league just five seasons ago. However, the hype surrounding the former quarterback is real. The 33-year-old earned praise from Andy Reid for his role in offensive game-planning and his work with Patrick Mahomes, leading to a quick ascension of the coaching ranks.

While he may not land a job this offseason, Kafka is going to get a top position at some point. With that said, clubs may want to get ahead of the competition and bring him in immediately. Kafka should get a promotion in Kansas City to OC at the very least if Bieniemy leaves.

Defensive masterminds

Brandon Staley - Rams DC

A collective "who?" was muttered after Staley replaced Wade Phillips in January. Fast-forward 11 months and the assistant finds himself among the top defensive-minded candidates for a head coaching position.

Staley is a product of Vic Fangio's system, having served as outside linebackers coach with the Chicago Bears and Denver Broncos before joining the Rams. Los Angeles ranks first in yards allowed and third in points surrendered this season under the coordinator's tutelage. Staley was the catalyst in John Johnson, Darious Williams, and Leonard Floyd's breakout campaigns, causing him to emerge as an ideal choice for any defensive rebuild project.

Robert Saleh - 49ers DC

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The way Saleh has transformed the 49ers' defense has him in contention for a coaching gig for the second straight year. Despite battling a barrage of injuries in 2020, the unit somehow still ranks fifth in yards allowed. It's a testament to the 41-year-old's ability to adapt on the fly and implement a successful scheme. Few in the league are better in such a tough role.

San Francisco made the Super Bowl on the back of Saleh's group - a fact not lost on many owners and general managers. Defensive gurus are less popular candidates compared to names from the other side of the ball nowadays, but Saleh is perhaps the most qualified among his peers to make the jump.

Patrick Graham - Giants DC

Graham was somewhat of a journeyman before New York hired him in January, coming off a one-season stint leading the Dolphins' stop unit, but the versatile assistant has found comfort with Joe Judge. The Giants rank 11th in points allowed (they placed 30th in 2019) and fourth in red-zone defense despite fielding an underwhelming squad on paper.

For franchises in need of a leader and reclamation project to combat the NFL's best scoring attacks, Graham will receive plenty of looks. Seven years of experience under Bill Belichick don't hurt his resume either.

Don Martindale - Ravens DC

Martindale wouldn't be the flashiest hire, but there's no denying he can coach. "Wink" has led the Ravens to three straight top-four finishes in scoring defense since he took over as DC in 2018. That's as impressive as it gets.

With his linebacker background, Martindale has helped mentor and develop several high-quality players in Baltimore, such as C.J. Mosley, Za'Darius Smith, and Matt Judon. The veteran's highly respected for his defensive mind, and his ability to design plays for any personnel grouping makes him a name to watch for the upcoming coaching carousel.

From the college ranks

Lincoln Riley - Oklahoma HC

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Riley received an extension from the Sooners in January, but that may not stop NFL franchises from pursuing one of the brightest minds at any level of football. The Oklahoma boss' impact isn't just felt at the collegiate level (he owns an incredible 44-8 record in Norman) - his ability to develop Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray, and Jalen Hurts is even more notable.

Whether it's designing plays, creating mismatches, or identifying talent, Riley is the total package. The 37-year-old would undoubtedly be among the most sought-after candidates should he ever choose to leave Oklahoma. Maybe this is the year.

Pat Fitzgerald - Northwestern HC

Similar to Riley, Fitzgerald has attracted NFL interest for a few years. He was a finalist for the Carolina Panthers' top position in 2019, which ultimately went to Matt Rhule, and previously turned down an interview for the Green Bay Packers' job, which eventually went to Matt LaFleur.

Fitzgerald won two Big Ten West titles over the past three seasons and has coached Northwestern to three 10-win campaigns. The longtime Wildcats sideline boss, who possesses ideal leadership and development skills, should once again be a hot name on the market.

2nd-chance opportunities

Todd Bowles - Buccaneers DC

Bowles failed to turn the Jets around during his recent four-year tenure, but he certainly deserves a second chance as a head coach. The veteran reshaped a perennially disastrous unit in Tampa Bay into one of the league's very best. The defensive mastermind's also helped develop young players into impactful starters since joining the Bucs, such as Vita Vea, Jamel Dean, and Devin White.

Sometimes coaches simply pick the wrong opportunity, which was arguably the case when he chose to join New York in 2015. Bowles is likely to see plenty of success in a potential stint with a more stable franchise.

Bill O'Brien - former Texans HC/GM

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O'Brien earned his fair share of criticism for his recent offseason moves in Houston as general manager, but the 51-year-old isn't a poor head coach - as long as he limits himself to the one role.

The Texans' offense was fairly consistent under O'Brien, finishing inside the top half of the NFL from 2017-19 in terms of points per game. Candidates boasting five winning-record campaigns and four years of playoff experience as a head coach don't come around often, so O'Brien may have a few suitors in no time.

Note: Doug Pederson (Eagles), Matt Nagy (Bears), and Mike Zimmer (Vikings) would likely receive head coaching interest in the event they are fired.

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