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NFL coaching hires: Who succeeded, who failed?

By Brad Berreman

Sep 13, 2015; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars assistant head coach Doug Marrone in the fourth quarter of their game against the Carolina Panthers at EverBank Field. The Carolina Panthers won 20-9. Mandatory Credit: Phil Sears-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 13, 2015; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars assistant head coach Doug Marrone in the fourth quarter of their game against the Carolina Panthers at EverBank Field. The Carolina Panthers won 20-9. Mandatory Credit: Phil Sears-USA TODAY Sports /
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The NFL head coaching carousel is nearly over, so here’s how the five new hires to this point stack up.

In the less than two weeks since the regular season ended, five of the six current NFL head coaching openings have been filled. The San Francisco 49ers are still seeking a new general manager, so that probably explains their delay, but the top remaining candidates are also still coaching in the playoffs. There is still a chance the Indianapolis Colts make a change, despite reports a week ago that Chuck Pagano would be back as head coach, as owner Jim Irsay has offered no official word.

Time will tell if any of this year’s head coaching hires work out, with on-field results the top criteria and the development of young players also key in some cases.

But we live in an immediate reaction world, with grades handed out to be further analyzed in hindsight. With that in mind, here’s my ranking of the five NFL head coaching hires to this point.

5. Doug Marrone, Jacksonville Jaguars

After being a potential destination for bigger names like Josh McDaniels and Kyle Shanahan, the Jaguars ultimately settled on the internal candidate in Marrone. He served as Gus Bradley’s offensive line coach for the last two seasons, before taking over as interim head coach at the end of this season and posting a 1-1 record.

Marrone had a 15-17 record over two seasons (2013-2014) as head coach of the Buffalo Bills, including  a 9-7 mark in 2014. But he clearly miscalculated his chances to become the New York Jets’ head coach by opting out of his contract with the Bills, lost that job to Todd Bowles and had to settle for a lesser position in Jacksonville.

Hiring Marrone might work out for the Jaguars and new organizational head honcho Tom Coughlin. But it’s a very uninspiring move, to say the least.

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