Prior to hiring Adam Gase, the Jets requested an interview with Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell. The Browns were interested as well, before promoting Freddie Kitchens. Instead, the Big 12 leader signed an extension to stay in Ames. But Campbell is intrigued by the prospect of coaching in the NFL, according to NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero. Known for his offensive acumen and the revitalization effort he authored at Iowa State — which has started 5-2 this season — Campbell could be a more serious contender to fill one of the league’s coaching vacancies next year. Since the last time he popped up on the NFL radar, Kliff Kingsbury and Matt Rhule have made the jump. The Cyclones’ 40-year-old HC may be next.
Here is the latest from the coaching ranks:
- Unsurprisingly, Titans offensive coordinator Arthur Smith has emerged as a coaching candidate. “A lot of intrigue” surrounds Tennessee’s second-year OC, Pelissero adds. Smith, 38, did not receive looks last season, but Ryan Tannehill‘s sustained success — Thursday night’s underwhelming performance notwithstanding — after a mediocre Miami career has turned heads. Smith figures to receive interview requests in 2021.
- Despite the NFL’s recent trend of preferring offense-oriented coaches, Brandon Staley is viewed by some as a future head coach. The Rams plucked Staley off Vic Fangio‘s Broncos staff, making the 37-year-old assistant their defensive coordinator. He is viewed by current and former colleagues as a future HC, Pelissero adds. However, teams may want to see Staley be a coordinator for more than one season. Prior to his Los Angeles arrival, he served as outside linebackers coach in Chicago and Denver.
- Shifting to current coaching situations, a few teams will be without staffers Sunday. The Dolphins will be hit hardest on this front. After placing Christian Wilkins and Kyle Van Noy on their reserve/COVID-19 list, the Dolphins will be without quarterbacks coach Robby Brown, defensive line coach Marion Hobby, outside linebackers coach Austin Clark and quality control staffer Kolby Smith against the Chargers because of coronavirus protocols, per ESPN.com’s Cameron Wolfe (on Twitter). Running backs coach Eric Studesville and former Texans OC George Godsey will assist Chan Gailey with QB responsibilities.
- The Bengals and Steelers have a combined 10 players on their respective COVID lists. The Bengals will also be without wide receivers coach Bob Bicknell because of “COVID-19 reasons,” the team announced. Assistant wideouts coach Troy Walters will take on more responsibility.
I know being on the list doesn’t mean you won’t play, but remember not long ago thst the Titans had so many players out that the game was cancelled. I hate to say this but it seems the nfl has gone soft just to save their schedule
I give the NFL credit for getting even this far considering they faced many more obstacles than the other professional sports leagues. A modified season is inevitable but the contingency plans in place should allow the NFL to salvage at least something.
Ryan Tannehill had a good Miami career, he is not the reason why that team stunk up the joint. For most of his career he had no running game, no decent receivers, no offensive line, and a terrible defense. Here are his year by year stats in Miami:
1st: 3294 yards 12 TD 13 INT
2nd: 3913 yards 24 TD 17 INT
3rd: 4045yards 27 TD 12 INT
4th: 4208 yards 24TD 12 INT
5th 2995 yards 19 TD 12 INT in 13 games
5th 1979 yards 17TD 9 INT in 11 games
Also of note that in his 7 year tenor in Miami he had 5 different OC’s, 2 different ones in the same season.
The team was terrible, he wasn’t.