A quick look at the playoff grounds gives a pretty good idea of why there is so much volatility in the NFL coaching offices. Philadelphia Eagles' first-year head coach Nick Siriani is in the playoffs. Zack Taylor, in his third season, led the Cincinnati Bengals from the bottom of the league to the AFC North title.
Whether a dramatic change or a substantial boost, upgrades like these are the stuff owners dreams of at this time of year. With 14 teams left after the season, the other 18 brain trusts are left wondering, "What if?" The Jacksonville Jaguars' debacle with Urban Mayor is a cautionary tale as the hiring cycle begins—owners must be wary of falling in love with star candidates without thoroughly exploring them (looking at you, Raiders, too).
After several years of disappointing results, opportunities for coaches of color are being closely watched. There's nothing particularly new about it. Last year, only two out of seven open head jobs went to minority candidates (Jetsy Robert Saleh and Texan David Cooley). There are many people, across teams and at the highest levels of the NFL, making good faith efforts and engineering systems to get more minority coaches in the pipeline, providing lists of vetted candidates, bringing them to decision makers. For, to slow down the recruitment process to encourage wider searches and more interviews. There are a number of big-name minority candidates who must be interviewed for multiple jobs – people like Eric Bienemy, Byron Leftwich, Todd Bowles, Leslie Frazier, Jerrod Mayo, and others.
However, it all depends on the ownership decisions as to where the actual change should take place. Last year saw progress in general manager appointments, three of which went to minority candidates. The NFL has another chance to fix it this year.
As the coaching job fair opens, here are the jobs they'll be hired for, the things that make them attractive — and the things that will make candidates nervous.