After Atlanta’s most recent humiliating loss to the Tennessee Titans at home, it seems imminent that a change in the coaching staff is coming. Dan Quinn is likely to be relieved of his duties as Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator before the 2020 season kicks off. Unless there’s some sort of miraculous turnaround with sure to be interim head coach Dirk Koetter at the helm, he will likely be gone too. It’s what this team needs. They haven’t been the same since SB51. Kyle Shanahan’s offensive creativity was what made this team tick, and they need someone at the helm who’s going to bring that element back. Dan Quinn’s defense is stale. His rah rah speeches are stale. His offensive scheme is stale. It’s time for a change. Thomas Dimitroff could be out the door right behind him after handing Vic Beasley $13 million this offseason to get walked all over. With Dan Quinn having one foot out of the door, who do you get to replace him? Atlanta will be one of the most attractive jobs of the offseason, maybe the most attractive unless Bill Belichick decides to retire or something.
Kevin Stefanski (Minnesota Vikings OC)
Stefanski was a candidate for the Browns job this offseason, but since replacing John DeFilippo in Minnesota the Vikings have looked like a brand new team. They’ve started running the ball and Kirk Cousins looks improved. Stefanski isn’t my first (or 2nd, or 3rd, or 4th) choice, but he’s an offensive mind and a name to watch for.
Shane Waldron (LA Rams QB Coach)
You guys know the rule, if you’ve even sniffed Sean McVay’s jock you get a head coaching interview. LA hasn’t looked very impressive this season, but Waldron is a McVay disciple and will no doubt get some calls from teams around the league. The former college quarterback also serves as McVay’s passing game coordinator, so he’d salivate to get the chance to work with Julio, Sanu, Ridley and Hooper.
Todd Monken (Cleveland Browns OC)
These next 4 guys are on my short list to be our next head coach. I think they’re the most qualified, and I don’t have them in any particular order. The former Southern Miss Head Coach jumped at the opportunity to be Freddie Kitchens right hand man in Cleveland, and his scheme has paid dividends so far this year. They just hung 40 on Baltimore and haven’t dipped under 20 points all season. He’s used to working with multiple star receivers and an elite TE/RB combo. I think the switch from Baker to Matt Ryan would be seamless. We could do worse than Monken.
Eric Bieniemy (Kansas City Chiefs OC)
Very interesting choice here. Bieniemy has a pretty sweet gig. He’s coaching the most talented QB in the NFL and has the keys to an offense that has the most weapons in the NFL. That can be an advantage for Atlanta, however. There wouldn’t be any downgrade in offensive firepower for Bieniemy, and if he wants to prove he can be an NFL head coach, he won’t get much of a better opportunity than Atlanta
Kellen Moore (Dallas Cowboys OC)
This is my guy. Moore is night and day from Scott Linehan. His offensive creativity and QB friendly system has propelled Dak Prescott to MVP status. Moore is only 31 years old, if the name sounds familiar it’s because he was the quarterback that held the clipboard in Dallas in 2017. Dak is completing 75% of his passes with a 9-2 TD-INT ratio. Michael Gallup and Amari Cooper are having career years. Ezekiel Elliott is running wild because of the passing games spreading defenses apart. Giving Kellen Moore the keys to this offense could finally unlock their potential and put them back in 2016 status.
Lincoln Riley (Oklahoma Sooners Head Coach)
Come on, you knew this was coming. Lincoln Riley has the potential to produce 3 straight Heisman winners, 3 straight first round picks at QB (2 back to back first overall) and is no doubt going to be getting calls from NFL teams very soon. He has a great job, but the NFL always comes calling for these guys. Is Riley interested? This Atlanta offense is about as talented as they come, so it wouldn’t be the dropoff most would expect coming from CeeDee Lamb and Jalen Hurts. Kliff Kingsbury’s success this season will pave the way or destroy the route for Lincoln Riley to be an NFL coach in 2020.