Every year, during the NFL offseason, coaching vacancies emerge, sparking frenzied speculation about who will lead franchises into the next season. Some teams look to hire established veteran coaches with a ring of experience, while others take a chance on unproven rookie coordinators.
But how exactly do NFL teams choose their next head coach?
It’s not always about flashy résumés or media-friendly personalities, as many outlets would have you believe. It takes weeks, if not months, of meticulous research, analysis, and evaluation to determine the best fit for any given organization.
Finding the wrong coach can derail a franchise for years to come. Finding the right coach, on the other hand, can lead to a Super Bowl title.
Let’s take a look at the hiring process and see what goes into one of the most important jobs in sports.
Start With the Problem You Want to Solve
Before embarking on the long and often grueling search for a new head coach, owners and general managers must identify the issue that led to the opening in the first place.
Was it an abysmal offense? A porous defense? Poor leadership in the locker room?
Depending on what went wrong, teams may have different priorities when it comes to selecting a new leader.
If a team’s offense was near the bottom of the league, for instance, owners may seek out a more offensive-minded coach. If the defense was repeatedly giving up points, teams may look for a defensive specialist. And if there was dysfunction within the team, many look for a proven leader to right the ship.
Rather than focusing on what a coach can do for a team, smart organizations focus on what a team needs.
The GM and Owner Usually Handle It Together
It goes without saying that hiring a head coach is one of the most important jobs that an owner has to do. That’s why many teams leave it to the general manager and owner to handle the search, separate from the rest of the front office.
While it can vary from team to team, the GM usually takes point on the search, compiling a list of potential candidates and reviewing their histories. The owner, meanwhile, is usually the one who makes the final decision, since the head coach is one of the most expensive hires in sports.
It’s important that the owner and GM are on the same page when it comes to the search, as disagreements can lead to disastrous mistakes.
Create a Short List of Candidates
Most teams don’t just interview one candidate for the job. Instead, they put together a short list of prospects to interview.
There are usually three types of candidates that NFL teams consider: offensive coaches, defensive coaches, and former head coaches.
Offensive Coordinators
Offensive coaches have become much more popular in recent years, as QBs have evolved into franchise-changing difference-makers. Coaches with innovative ideas about the position and how to develop young quarterbacks are especially coveted.
Defensive Coordinators
Defensive coaches are also popular options, especially for teams that already have a proven quarterback. Coaches with a strong background in defense, leadership, and management are usually given consideration, since they often have experience handling a front office.
Former Head Coaches
Many teams look to hire former head coaches, as they usually have a wealth of knowledge and experience.
While some organizations look for fresh faces with new ideas, others want proven leaders who know how to navigate the media, handle an owner, and manage a coaching staff.
Leadership Usually Matters More Than X&O’s
Many people assume that teams hire coaches based on their offensive or defensive schemes. The truth is, most front offices are much more concerned with a candidate’s leadership abilities than their play-calling.
Executives want to know that a coach has the business and people skills to lead a franchise, including:
• Building strong relationships with players • Managing and motivating the staff • Making smart decisions on the field and in the front office • Communicating effectively • Handling difficult personalities
The head coach is responsible for an entire staff, not just one position. That’s why it’s important to hire someone with leadership skills, even if they don’t have a background in your preferred style of play.
Great Coordinators Often Make Poor Head Coaches
While it’s true that many great coaches started their careers as coordinators, it doesn’t always mean that they make great head coaches.
Coordinators often have a specialty position that they focus on, but head coaches have to worry about the entire game.
Coaches who were previously coordinators may not have the management experience to lead an entire staff.
Quarterback Fit Has Become Increasingly Important
The quarterback position has become much more important in recent years, and it has dramatically changed the hiring process. If a team has a young quarterback, owners usually want a coach who can develop and maximize their talents.
Some of the questions that teams ask themselves include:
Can this coach help develop our quarterback? Has this coach had previous experience with young QBs? Is this coach’s system a good fit for our quarterback? Can this coach adjust the offense if something goes wrong?
It’s no secret that a quarterback with a strong coach can lead an entire franchise to great heights.
Multiple Interviews Can Reveal More Than Just Football Knowledge
Most people don’t realize that NFL teams conduct multiple interviews with candidates before making a final decision. During these meetings, teams can ask a lot of different questions, including:
• Leadership • Hiring philosophy • Game management • Analytics • Draft strategies • Free agency • Team-building • Conflict resolution
Owners also want to see how a candidate handles more “personal” topics, such as confidence, communication, humility, and decision-making.
Several rounds of interviews can help executives determine whether a candidate can lead an NFL franchise.
Analytics Have Become an Important Part of the Process
Modern-day coaching searches involve a lot of analytics, which can help teams make more educated decisions about their candidates.
Teams look at a lot of different metrics, including:
• Fourth-down decisions • Red-zone efficiency • Offensive and defensive success rates • Clock management • Player development • Injury prevention
Analytics can help teams identify strengths and weaknesses in a coach’s system, which can be useful when making a hire.
However, analytics are only one part of the equation. Teams still have to consider other factors, such as the fit with the quarterback and the front office.
The Hiring Process Can Help Determine the Coaching Staff
The head coach can only be as good as the people around him. That’s why many teams use the hiring process to determine who they want to surround their coach with.
Most candidates will outline their potential hires for the staff when they interview with teams.
Many organizations prefer to hire coaches with proven track records rather than first-time assistants.
The Rooney Rule Has Had an Impact
The Rooney Rule requires teams to interview minority candidates for head coaching jobs, which has led to many diverse candidates getting hired.
Many of the best coaches in the league have benefited from the Rooney Rule, as it has opened up opportunities for people from diverse backgrounds to get into the game.
Personality and Culture Fit Are Important
While many teams want to hire coaches with specific knowledge about the game, they also want to find someone who fits their culture.
Executives ask themselves questions like:
Will our players respond to this coach? Can he handle the media? Will he work well with the front office? Can he adapt to new situations?
The best hires tend to have a mixture of football and people skills.
Why Do Coaches Fail?
There are many reasons why teams make bad coaching hires.
Some of the most common mistakes include:
• Fitting the quarterback • Poor staff • Lack of leadership • Unrealistic expectations • Poor front office relations • Inability to adapt • Injuries and roster issues
It’s important to remember that it takes more than just a great coach to turn a team around.
What Makes a Great NFL Coach?
While every team has slightly different needs, most franchises look for similar qualities in a head coach.
Many successful coaches possess the following traits:
• Strong leadership skills • Communication skills • Adaptability • Strong staff-building abilities • Desire to develop players • Smart decision-making • Ability to build a positive culture
Championship-winning coaches don’t win because of one brilliant system. They win because they are able to build an entire organization around a common goal.
FAQs
Who picks the NFL coach? The owner typically makes the final decision, but the general manager usually takes point on the search.
Do NFL teams only hire offensive coaches? While many teams look to hire offensive coaches, some organizations prefer defensive coaches or former head coaches.
How long does it take to hire an NFL coach? Most teams take a few weeks to a few months to find a coach.
What is the most important quality in a coach? Leadership is the most important quality in a coach, as a strong leader can help turn a team around.
Final Thoughts
How Do NFL Teams Actually Choose Their Next Head Coach? provides a detailed look at the hiring process. As we can see, it can take weeks, if not months, for teams to find the right coach. Organizations usually start by identifying their needs, looking at candidates’ leadership skills, and considering how well a coach fits with their quarterback and front office.
In today’s NFL, the best coaches have a strong understanding of the game, as well as good communication skills and leadership skills. While there’s no guarantee that any of these hires will lead to a winning team, organizations that put in the work to find the right coach for their system can expect to have a competitive team on the field and a strong culture in the locker room.
