NFL hot seat watch: 5 defensive coordinators who could become head coaches in 2023

San Francisco has been a hot bed of NFL coaching talent, and DeMeco Ryans is next

Despite there being a dearth of truly elite candidates, the best place to find a head coach in recent years has to be in Silicon Valley. The San Francisco 49ers have seen two former Kyle Shanahan coordinators become head coaches in Robert Saleh of the New York Jets, and now Mike McDaniel of the Miami Dolphins. 49ers defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans appears to be the next in line.

The fact Ryans is a former Pro Bowler with the Houston Texans and a star linebacker with the Alabama Crimson Tide before they were good is huge for his credibility, not just in a locker room, but possibly on the recruiting trails. Like Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, Ryans is well-equipped to lead a team, college or pro. It is really up to what Ryans wants to do.

Whoever hires Ryans in the next year or so has the chance to be bringing in an absolute rock star.

Dan Quinn will not be the Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator for a third year

It may pain me to write this as an Atlanta Falcons fan, but the best head-coaching candidate in the NFL today is Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn. In two years, he has reinvented himself after the cataclysmic disaster that was his final three years in Flowery Branch. He may never overcome being the architect of 28-3, but some NFL team will be hiring him this offseason.

As far as the two openings are concerned, Quinn would be an elite fit in Indianapolis. Carolina, maybe not so much because of previous Atlanta ties. However, if jobs like the one in Denver were to open up, Quinn would have to be a frontline candidate there. Odds are, he will get interviews with five teams, be a finalist for three and will have his pick of the litter as to where he will go next.

Quinn will learn from his Atlanta failures to be the coach we all thought he was departing Seattle.