Despite being the author of the 21st-ranked offense based on points per game (21.3), Nagy is surprisingly getting attention for the head-coaching vacancies. The most surprising team to interview Nagy, so far, is the Ravens.
After quarterback Lamar Jackson reportedly had a falling out with Harbaugh, it’s hard to see how he would gel with the former Chicago Bears head coach, who has a 34-31 record. Still, while Nagy may not be anyone’s top candidate, there’s only one Harbaugh and one Stefanski to go around.
The previous belle of the ball before Stefanski and Harbaugh joined the ranks of the unemployed, Shula is still a top candidate to watch. This season, the Rams’ defense allowed an average of 20.4 points per game, ranking 10th in the league. The 39-year-old is also part of the much-vaunted Sean McVay coaching tree.
Shula is also the grandson of Don Shula, the winningest head coach in football history (328). The NFL loves a good legacy hire, and the Shula name will certainly carry weight in every interview he takes.
While Flores’ time as the head coach of the Miami Dolphins ended with a 24-25 record, he has since shown the league why he’s one of the most coveted defensive minds. This season, Flores’ defense allowed 19.6 points per game, ranking seventh in the league.
Flores has been linked to the Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator job, however. Presumably, Flores would become one of the highest-paid coordinators in the NFL, assuming team owner Jerry Jones’ promise to bust the budget this offseason isn’t hollow. Still, Flores would likely rather lead an entire team again.
The Seahawks became the No. 1 seed in the NFC thanks in large part to their league-leading defense, but Kubiak’s offense maximized the team’s offensive playmakers. Kubiak’s offense scored the third most total points (483) and averaged the third most points per game (28.4).
Kubiak is also another candidate with a last name NFL owners will love. His father, Gary Kubiak, was a renowned offensive coordinator himself and won Super Bowl 50 as head coach of the Denver Broncos. The younger Kubiak could get his chance to build his own head-coaching legacy next season.