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

Shane Waldron has played a massive part in the Seattle Seahawks overachieving

As it turns out, Shane Waldron was not the issue. With the Seattle Seahawks‘ former franchise quarterback running through offensive coordinator like Larry King did wives, Geno Smith has had a career renaissance in his first year as the Seahawks’ starter. Waldron may only be in his second year as an offensive coordinator, but he looks to be the next strong branch of the Sean McVay tree.

While Pete Carroll has had plenty of strong defensive-minded coaches stem off his tree, Waldron appears to be one of his better assistant coaches on that side of the ball. As with Brian Callahan over in Cincinnati, it may take another year or so for somebody to give Waldron a shot. However, in a very weak coordinator pool in this coaching carousel cycle, Waldron might be tasked to play up.

With Smith heading to the Pro Bowl, one would think Waldron will be getting a lot of interviews.

A down year for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers may not hurt Byron Leftwich’s shine

Let’s be real. Future head coaches do get hired in the NFL, even off teams that have largely underperformed. That would certainly be the case with Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich. It has been a period of adjustment with his mentor Bruce Arians going upstairs and no longer calling the shots. Of course, it is only a matter of time before Leftwich’s run.

Not to say it would have to be this one particular fit, but if the Arizona Cardinals were to fire Kliff Kingsbury this offseason, one would think Leftwich would be a great choice in The Valley. Arizona is where Leftwich got his coaching start under Arians. It is a place he knows well. While he was up for the Jacksonville Jaguars’ gig, a team he played for, the Cardinals is the landing spot to monitor.

No matter how Tampa Bay’s season goes, Leftwich is a serious candidate to become a head coach.