5 ex-NFL coaches who will be auditioning for a top job in 2020

The first coach fired last year may only be an NFL coordinator for one stop-gap season. After the formerly dysfunctional Washington Redskins fired Jay Gruden back in October 2019, he spent the bulk of the year out of football before resurfacing as the offensive coordinator with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He’ll be Doug Marrone‘s quarterback whisperer for one Gardner Minshew.

Gruden is a former Division I starting quarterback like Minshew was at Washington State. The former Louisville Cardinals signal-caller might forever remain in the shadow of his more outspoken older brother Jon, but he too may be an NFL head coach in 2021. It really depends on the situation and if the new organization believes it’s not going to be Washington all over again.

While might be a dark horse candidate for the Atlanta Falcons job if Dan Quinn gets fired, there are two gigs of note to keep an eye on with Gruden for 2021: His former employer in the Cincinnati Bengals and his current employer Jacksonville. Gruden was Andy Dalton‘s offensive coordinator during his early years in Cincinnati. The Bengals were a playoff team when he was on the staff.

If Zac Taylor just doesn’t have it as a head coach, frugal owner Mike Brown might have to swallow some money and get a more proven commodity he knows in Gruden. Surely, he can get the best out of Joe Burrow, who is a superior prospect over Dalton. Should Marrone outstay his welcome in Duval, Gruden may be promoted from within to coach either Minshew or a top draft pick in 2021.