5 teams that might hire Jay Gruden this offseason

The Atlanta Falcons are by far the best potential head coaching opportunity for Gruden in 2020. Atlanta has to move off defensive-minded head coach Dan Quinn yesterday. The Falcons stink and they continue to waste Pro Bowl talent on the gridiron every single week. They have a former NFL MVP at quarterback in Matt Ryan and arguably the best receiver in football in Julio Jones.

Atlanta has drafted well on both sides of the ball for much of this last decade. General manager Thomas Dimitroff is seen as one of the better front-office executives in the league. Team president Rich McKay runs a first-class operation. Owner Arthur Blank is one of the best in sports and will do anything to help his team put out a strong product and support the City of Atlanta.

Ryan has never had an offensive-minded head coach. Quinn and his predecessor Mike Smith specialized in coaching up defensive front-sevens. Ryan also had his best success as a quarterback playing in the Kyle Shanahan system, with whom Gruden disciple Matt LaFleur was on the staff as the team’s quarterbacks’ coach.

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So Gruden would be getting a first-class organization and a roster dripping with talent that hasn’t been coached up to its potential in years. Atlanta will be one of the better available head coaching jobs if Quinn does get fired. Gruden may not be Blank’s first choice as a potential Quinn successor, but he’s now available and needs to be given serious consideration if the job does open up.