Evaluating the NFL’s OC Situation

The offseason demonstrated the potential for turnover at the offensive coordinator post.

The NFL no longer employs an offensive coordinator who has been in their present position for more than two seasons due to recent rulings. Following many firings and defections, the 2022 class of hires is now the longest-tenured OCs.

Pete Carmichael, one of the longest-tenured coordinators in NFL history, has left the Saints. The team left after 15 seasons, with part-time play-calling duties. The Browns released Alex Van Pelt, a four-year non-play-calling offensive coordinator, while Arthur Smith and Shane Waldron, three-year play-callers, will relocate this winter.Brian Callahan’s five-year tenure as the Bengals’ non-play-calling offensive coordinator earned him a top job.

This offseason, five of the eight positions went to defense-oriented leaders, reversing the recent trend toward offense-oriented head coaches. Only three offense-oriented candidates were hired during this cycle: Callahan, Dave Canales, and Jim Harbaugh. However, half of the NFL will have a new offensive coordinator this season. Following the Seahawks’ hiring of ex-Washington (and temporarily, Alabama) staffer Ryan Grubb, the NFL’s offensive coordinator landscape looks like this:

2022 OC hires

• Ben Johnson, Detroit Lions*
• Mike Kafka, New York Giants*
• Wes Phillips, Minnesota Vikings
• Frank Smith, Miami Dolphins
• Adam Stenavich, Green Bay Packers
• Press Taylor, Jacksonville Jaguars*

Although this sextet now makes up the senior wing of offensive coordinators, this is each of their first jobs as an NFL OC. This offseason, three of the six drew interest from head coaches.

Johnson’s status in Detroit has been one of the offseason’s biggest storylines, and the Commanders haven’t taken it kindly. The two-year Lions OC was viewed as the frontrunner for the Washington job for weeks this offseason. However, team brass did not receive word about Johnson’s intent to stay in Detroit until a Commanders contingent was en route to Detroit for a second interview. This led to a back-and-forth about what exactly broke down. Johnson is projected to remain a high-end HC candidate next year, although Dan Campbell will still have his services in 2024.

Kafka interviewed for the Seahawks’ HC post, but the Giants prevented him from speaking with the NFC West team regarding their OC position. Kafka and Brian Daboll’s relationship deteriorated this year, with Daboll removing play-calling powers handed to Kafka for the 2022 season at some time in 2023. Taylor could potentially be on the hot seat with his club.Last season, Doug Pederson gave Taylor the call sheet, and Trevor Lawrence did not perform as planned. After missing the playoffs due to a collapse, the Jaguars began evaluating their offensive situation.

2023 OC hires

• Jim Bob Cooter, Indianapolis Colts
• Nathaniel Hackett, New York Jets*
• Mike LaFleur, Los Angeles Rams
• Joe Lombardi, Denver Broncos
• Todd Monken, Baltimore Ravens*
• Matt Nagy, Kansas City Chiefs
• Drew Petzing, Arizona Cardinals*
• Brian Schottenheimer, Dallas Cowboys
• Bobby Slowik, Houston Texans*

Only nine of the 15 OCs hired in 2023 remain with their teams. Following the organization’s decision to fire its head coach, one (Canales) rose through the ranks while others were let go. The Eagles fired Brian Johnson, their offensive coordinator, after only one season.Nick Sirianni sacked both coordinators after a dismal outcome.

Given what happened in New York last year, Hackett may be in deep water as well. Recent reports suggest that Robert Saleh, the current head coach, may be reducing his role as offensive play-caller. This is Hackett’s fourth chance to call plays in the NFL, having previously done so for the Bills, Jaguars, and Broncos. Following the 2022 Broncos’ last-place ranking in scoring, the Jets finished 31st in total offense. Hackett’s bond with Aaron Rodgers has kept him in his position, but 2024 may be his final opportunity.

Monken and Slowik were the only ones of this crop who received HC interest. Neither emerged as a frontrunner for a position, despite Slowik meeting with the Commanders twice. The Texans offered their first-time play-caller a raise to stay on for C.J. Stroud’s second season. Stroud’s impressive success is likely to keep Slowik on the HC radar. Monken, a third-year NFL offensive coordinator (after stints in Tampa and Cleveland), just assisted Lamar Jackson in winning his second MVP award. The former national championship-winning coach did not stay the landing, as Jackson struggled against the Chiefs, but he performed well overall last season.

Schottenheimer is in his fourth season as an OC, and Lombardi is on team No. 3. The latter’s employment appears to be more secure, given it is linked to Sean Payton, compared to the current situation in Dallas. The Cowboys’ Mike McCarthy is a rare lame-duck head coach, so his coordinators should exercise caution.

2024 OC hires

• Joe Brady, Buffalo Bills*
• Liam Coen, Tampa Bay Buccaneers*
• Ken Dorsey, Cleveland Browns
• Luke Getsy, Las Vegas Raiders*
• Ryan Grubb, Seattle Seahawks*
• Nick Holz, Tennessee Titans
• Kliff Kingsbury, Washington Commanders*
• Klint Kubiak, New Orleans Saints*
• Brad Idzik, Carolina Panthers
• Kellen Moore, Philadelphia Eagles*
• Dan Pitcher, Cincinnati Bengals
• Zac Robinson, Atlanta Falcons*
• Greg Roman, Los Angeles Chargers*
• Arthur Smith, Pittsburgh Steelers*
• Alex Van Pelt, New England Patriots*
• Shane Waldron, Chicago Bears*

The 49ers do not have a typical offensive coordinator, while 16 of the 31 clubs that do have recently changed. The majority of the teams that added OCs this year did not hire play-calling coaches. This automatically raises the bar for this year’s class of hires.

Retreads became rather popular. Dorsey, Getsy, Moore, Van Pelt, and Waldron all served as offensive coordinators for other teams last season (Buffalo, Chicago, Los Angeles, Cleveland, and Seattle). Smith will transition from calling Falcons plays to running the show for the Steelers. Dorsey, Getsy, and Van Pelt were fired, while Moore and Waldron left after the Chargers and Seahawks changed head coaches. Moore and Smith will call plays for a third franchise; Moore has three offensive coordinator roles in three years.

Coen, Kingsbury, and Roman return after a year absence. Kingsbury gained popularity in the OC after coaching Caleb Williams last season. This will be his second stint as an NFL play-caller, having served as the Cardinals’ conductor during his time as head coach. In 2022, Coen was Sean McVay’s non-play-calling assistant, but this will be his first time calling plays in the pros. Roman, who is expected to become the Chargers’ play-caller, will have a rare fourth opportunity to call plays in the NFL. Roman handled that responsibility under Jim Harbaugh in San Francisco. After Harbaugh’s explosive 2015 49ers split, Roman moved to Buffalo and Baltimore to serve under non-offensive leaders.

This year’s rookies are Grubb, Holz, Idzik, Pitcher, and Robinson. Grubb has, however, called plays on the college level. Robinson is the latest McVay staffer to take on play-calling duties; he previously served as a Rams assistant for five years. Many teams were interested in Robinson as an offensive coordinator, but Raheem Morris brought him to Atlanta. After extending Pitcher last year, the Bengals gave him Callahan’s old role, as predicted.