I noticed this thread hasn't had a post since October, but it's useful for things that aren't worth making threads over so I'm going to go ahead and "bump" it.
There have been a lot of different head coach hirings since "Black Monday", and just today the Vikings have decided to hire Mike Zimmerman as their new head coach. Zimmerman had been the defensive coordinator for the Bengals before that. In fact this is the first time that Zimmerman is at the helm of a team. All of his other roles were solely defensive minded. I like the hiring. I think it was a good choice to hire outside, as Leslie Frazier was an inside hiring and that didn't work out in the long run.
As for the other hirings, most of them have already been talked about by me or others. But Jim Caldwell was hired by the Lions yesterday. When I first though about it I thought it was a good hiring, and it still is. But then I came to think that he really didn't do anything that special in Indianapolis. Yes he took them to a Super Bowl and that is impressive, but that was his second year with the job. I think he's good, but he also only lasted about four years or so as the head coach and that is what isn't impressive. Still he is a great defensive minded coach, was great with the Ravens. I think he at least deserves this chance, and with the Lions it's a good team to start.
Ken Whisenhunt was hired by the Titans. I also think this is a good hiring as Whisenhunt is a good offensive guy, and I think he could be Jake Locker's saving grace and really Locker's last chance to break out. Locker was actually playing somewhat well before his injury last year, and they have some young talent on that team along with Chris Johnson who hasn't been getting called on as much as he was a few years ago. It's a team that has some potential to compete for the division in a couple of years. Although apparently Whisenhunt says that he isn't going to rule out drafting a QB, so that will be an interesting story in a couple of months.
Jay Gruden was hired by the Redskins. I think Gruden will work well if RGIII. Obviously everyone was a little unimpressed with his season. Although I actually didn't think it was that bad, other than the lack of his run game which is explainable he was coming off knee surgery, his numbers were fairly identical to his rookie season. If Gruden can make Andy Dalton win the division, then I think he can definitely do well with the Washington offense.
Bill O'Brien was hired by the Texans. I was never a big Greg Schiano fan, but clearly their decay this season had more to do with the coaching than it did anything else. Injuries didn't help either, but the majority of this starting squad at the start of the season consists of the same players from last year's team, the team that had won the AFC South two straight years. Schiano needed to go, and with the Texans having the first overall pick I think Bill O'Brien is in a great spot to do what Andy Reid did with the Chiefs last year. Get Bridgewater, have a healthy Arian Foster, DeAndre Hopkins is developed more...their offense is going to be great, and their defense will need some work but it can get back to how it was as well especially with JJ Watt leading it.
Lastly, Tampa Bay hired Lovie Smith. Lovie was a guy who's firing after the 2012 season was unjust to me. He led Chicago to a 10-6 season, and although they missed the playoffs with a bad second half decline, it was still not justified to fire the head coach in my mind. The Bears started out fantastic, and their defense was one of the most dominant in the league mostly due to Lovie's defensive knowledge and Brian Urlacher leading the team. Losing both of those obviously didn't fair well in 2013, and I'm not a big fan of Mark Trestman or whatever his name is either. Lovie Smith taking over for Tampa Bay is good for that team, really good. He is a good coach, and he will really help turn it around. Mike Glennon is a Quarterback that I see with a lot of potential, they have Doug Martin, and an aging Vincent Jackson that still has a lot to offer in Tampa Bay. While I'm not sure if their turn around will be immediate, in a couple of years it might especially if Atlanta is unable to do so. Still they have the Saints and Panthers in that division. After Brees retires, which is awhile away, I can see the Saints begin to decline while the Panthers and Bucs take over that division. It's still a ways down the road though so I'm not making any big predictions.
The only head coaching job that I believe is still available, is the one for the Cleveland Browns. And like I said in another thread, that job is the least wanted head coaching job in the league. Unfortunately, though it is the last one left as well. Candidates were even calling former HC Rob Chudzinszki and asking him what went down in Cleveland. From what I hear a lot of people think the Cleveland front office may be a little fishy. That along with the lifespan of the former coaches, it isn't the most wanted job in the league. But they do have more than just one first rounder in the draft this spring, and an aspiring defense. Still there have already been two candidates that have withdrawn interest from taking the job. When that happens, the Browns are going to begin getting more and more desperate, which also means whoever is chosen for the job won't be the best guy to choose from. Not a good thing.
That is everything about the head coaches. Personally, I haven't heard anything but I do believe Joe Philbin, head coach of the Miami Dolphins, will be fired either this year or next year. My reasoning behind that is they just fired their GM. Once they hire a new one I think he'll more than likely give Philbin the axe. In more cases than not that is what happens when a new GM is brought in. If he does keep Joe Philbin for the 2014 season, if they have a season like last year or worse, which is more than likely, then I can definitely see him getting fired.