Next: 5 NFL coordinators poised to be first-time head coaches Leftwich is still very raw, but we’ve seen teams pick the fruit from a coaching tree far before it’s ripe before. Good fit: Jim Caldwell, Miami Dolphins assistant head coach and quarterbacks coach. The Carolina Panthers fired Ron Rivera, a two-time Associated Press NFL Coach of the Year, with four games remaining in the regular season. A look at coaches of color who are ready to fill potential head coach positions. New York Giants head coach Pat Shurmur just completed his second season with the team. By his fourth season, the Vikings were No. Rivera understands what it takes to keep a team focused throughout a 16-game, 17-week schedule. Greg Roman should top the list of any team's head-coaching search. Todd Bowles, New York Jets. Tyler Herro’s big night brings attention to the message of Black Lives Matter Read now DEC. 30 UPDATE: Washington to hire Ron Rivera. Graves, formerly both an NFL general manager and a high-ranking league official, is in his first year as the leader of the Fritz Pollard Alliance, which advises the league on matters of diversity. JAN. 6 UPDATE: Cowboys hire Mike McCarthy as new coach. If any retread candidate will get his next opportunity, it will be Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive coordinator Todd Bowles. Many league officials believe he’s ready for his next head coaching opportunity. Leftwich has been an offensive coordinator for only two seasons. As for Bowles, he has ample head-coaching experience. We'll never pass along your email address to spammers, scammers, or the like. A place like Wisconsin has an identity. When athletic directors search for their “guy” they search amongst the Group of Five or hire a coach with previous head coaching experience. With two head coaches fired during the season and more likely to be ousted Monday, the NFL’s diversity problem will be widely scrutinized again. The Jacksonville Jaguars slipped badly after making a surprising run to the 2017 AFC championship game. Since then, the Lions have gone 9-21-1. New York Giants. A Look At Potential 2020 NFL Head-Coach Candidates. He guided the Indianapolis Colts to the 2009 AFC title. Others with strong credentials potentially in mix: Robert Saleh, San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator; Kris Richard, Dallas Cowboys defensive backs coach. He previously was his defensive coordinator with the Arizona Cardinals. Eric Bieniemy of the Kansas City Chiefs is one of two black offensive coordinators in the NFL. Former Carolina Panthers head coach Ron Rivera. College football programs looking for a new head coach look for the "hot" coordinator. Every NFL team would love to have its own Bill Belichick, but that’s a pipe dream.In the offseason, and sometimes during the season, head coaches get fired.