NFL Next Head Coach Odds: The Five Top Candidates for 2023
An Update on Head Coaching Vacancies
Familiar Faces in New Places Per the NFL Odds
Earlier this week, the NFL’s dreadful “Black Monday” saw two head coaches, Lovie Smith of the Texans and Kliff Kingsbury of the Arizona Cardinals, join three of their peers who were fired earlier. This makes it five NFL teams that need to name a permanent new head coach for the upcoming 2023 NFL season.
The NFL’s Next Head Coach Odds has a long list of candidates for each NFL team and five familiar names stand out.
The Big Fish: Sean Payton and Jim Harbaugh
The two most notable candidates on the NFL Odds table are Sean Payton and Jim Harbaugh. Payton, who is still under contract with the New Orleans Saints, has been linked to teams like the Denver Broncos, Arizona, and even both Los Angeles teams (even if they still have head coaches now).
To acquire Payton, the Broncos or Cardinals will have to first ask the Saints for permission to interview him and they will likely have to send compensation in the form of NFL draft picks.
It would be like a trade. Payton is the 2005 Coach of the Year and a Super Bowl Champion and is the best of the coaching candidates. That’s why he’s got short NFL Next Head Coach Odds.
As for Harbaugh, the Michigan coach is one of the most successful college football coaches to transition to the NFL. He too was an NFL Coach of the Year and led the San Francisco 49ers to a Super Bowl appearance. Like Payton, he is a favored candidate for Denver and with the Indianapolis Colts
| Last Updated: 1/12/2022 | Odds |
|---|---|
 Denver Broncos | +175 |
 Arizona Cardinals | +300 |
 Indianapolis Colts | +225 |
Defensive Gurus Have Strong Odds
Other than Payton and Harbaugh, the likes of Dan Quinn and Demeco Ryans are strong contenders to be an NFL head coach in 2023. Quinn has been the Dallas Cowboys‘ defensive coordinator for the past two seasons. Dallas finished as a top-seven scoring defense in both years. He previously coached the Atlanta Falcons to a Super Bowl appearance during the 2016 NFL season.
Like Payton and Harbaugh, the Broncos are the likeliest team for Quinn. The next potential team are the Colts. The Cardinals and Carolina Panthers are longshots to acquire his services but that could still change in a few weeks.
As for Ryans, the former linebacker currently has long lines on the NFL Next Head Coach Odds (+700 at least). That may change depending how well the 49ers do in the playoffs. The former All-Pro linebacker has been a defensive coach for San Francisco since 2017.
He became defensive coordinator in 2021 and under his leadership, the Niners became this season’s top defense in both scoring and yards.
| Last Updated: 1/12/2022 | Odds |
|---|---|
| Indianapolis Colts | +450 |
| Arizona Cardinals | +900 |
 Carolina Panthers | +1000 |
The Best Offensive Coaching Candidates
Eric Bieniemy may be the offensive counterpart to the Ryans. The former running back coaches Kansas City Chiefs as Andy Reid’s offensive coordinator. Thanks to Bieniemy, the Chiefs have been an offensive juggernaut in the NFL. Even with Tyreek Hill’s departure, the Chiefs maintained a 13-4 record and finished first in both scoring and total offense this 2022.
Bieniemy is one of the longest-tenured assistant coaches (since 2001) that has yet to have a crack as a head coach in the NFL. He is one of the favorites to take over in Houston Texans just behind Jonathan Gannon, he could also end up coaching Kyler Murray and the Cardinals.
Another offensive savant that could get a crack to coach is Detroit Lions Ben Johnson. At just 36 years old, Johnson already has an extensive background as an offensive coach (beginning in 2011).
He became a coach in Detroit in 2019 and is their current offensive coordinator. Detroit finished as a top-five scoring offense, which is their best result since 2011. He has been linked to Arizona , Carolina, and Indianapolis
Bieniemy and Johnson could be the next head coach to become an offensive innovator in the NFL. The likes of Sean McVay and Kyle Shanahan are two prime examples. If they get a shot and deliver, consider them on the shortlist for 2022-2023 NFL Coach of the Year race.
| Last Updated: 1/12/2022 | Odds |
|---|---|
| Indianapolis Colts | +450 |
| Arizona Cardinals | +900 |
| Carolina Panthers | +1000 |
 Houston Texans | +1000 |
