It's funny to think of the strange, unpredictable cause-and-effect dynamic in the NFL. Had the Tennessee Titans not fired one of the better coaches in the sport, they never would have ended up with their franchise quarterback. Had a young kicker made what amounts to a chip shot in the modern NFL, John Harbaugh would have led one of the more dangerous squads into the AFC playoffs.
The unpredictable nature of the sport is one of the reasons we love it, and now another big decision looms that could either propel the Titans towards perennial contention or leave a multi-billion dollar stadium with a lot of empty seats. To provide some guidance for this monumental hire, we have compiled a list of the top candidates for the Tennessee job.
The top 8 candidates for the Tennessee Titans' head coaching vacancy
1. John Harbaugh
There's not much explanation necessary for this one. For 18 years, John Harbaugh led a perennial contender, with a variety of different quarterbacks, assistant coaches, general managers, rosters, schemes, and strategies. Where he ranks on our list should not be in question; where we rank on his...that is what really matters. So far, most media reports seem to favor the Giants landing the top candidate on the market, but it's still early and it's not as if New York has any special standing or influence in media, right?
Harbaugh has already said he will not take interviews until after the first week of the playoffs, and this is relevant for a few reasons. For one, it gives Tennessee plenty of time to find out his level of interest (and maybe increase it). Two: it gives Harbaugh the opportunity to see if any other jobs open up after some teams are eliminated. With Tomlin's time in Pittsburgh done, he should immediately jump to the top of the list, and Mike Borgonzi should throw as much money, attention, and sweet promises as it takes to get him to Nashville.
2. Robert Saleh
Titan Sized has been on-board the Saleh Express for some time. He is a leader of men and defensive guru who comes from perhaps the best coaching tree in the sport. Saleh is also the perfect combination of a hot coordinator candidate who also has head coaching experience. And make no mistake, he was not to blame for the disastrous circus that was the New York Jets during his tenure. And while he may not have the offensive chops to develop a young quarterback, Saleh's experience, ties, and temperament would attract a number of elite assistants.
3. Kevin Stefanski
Continuing the theme of head coaches who were scapegoated for organizational failures above them, we move to Kevin Stefanski. He may not be the sexiest name out there, but if you want a proven leader who can win, develop Cam Ward, and make the most of some imperfect situations, look no further. The two-time Coach of the Year oversaw the most successful period in recent Browns history, despite being hamstrung by meddling ownership, poor roster construction, massive salary cap limitations, and inconsistency at quarterback.
4. Brian Flores
Flores may be a slightly controversial pick, but he was a winner in Miami and a proven defensive genius in Minnesota. A hard-nosed, old school, defensive-minded Belichick disciple in the vein of Mike Vrabel, Flores could immediately turn the Titans around. The one big concern would be his poor handling of a young quarterback in Miami, but he seems to have learned from this. And given Tua's recent run, one must wonder how much blame Flores really deserved anyway.
5. Mike McCarthy
An experienced, offensive-minded Super Bowl champion, with a career win percentage near 60% could be just what Tennessee and its young quarterback need. McCarthy's ability to lead, coach, and win cannot be questioned; the big knock against him comes from failures in the postseason.
6. Mike McDaniel
A more recent addition to the FFCA, McDaniel was the whiz kid of the NFL until things fell apart this season. Although the GM and quarterback were likely the bigger problems in Miami, McDaniel's quirky style seemed to quickly go stale when the team was not winning. Perhaps he is better suited as a coordinator (and might be perfect under a certain 49ers DC as head coach), but Tennessee should at least consider the man who revolutionized NFL offense.
7. Klint Kubiak
Many Titans fans will be uncomfortable with a coach's kid without head coaching experience, but Klint Kubiak is not Brian Callahan. Kubiak is the OC and play-caller for the number one seed in the NFC, who cannot bolster his resume with great QBs. His offense helped turn Jaxon Smith-Njigba from a good slot to an All Pro and prevented Sam Darnold from collapsing in big games. Past mistakes should not make us pass on good candidates.
8. Vance Joseph
Vance Joseph's first stint as a head coach may have gone poorly, but he had very little to work with in the post-Peyton years. He has since reminded everyone of his defensive brilliance and leadership, and he would almost certainly be more successful with a franchise QB, some talented young players, and a lot of resources to rebuild the roster.
Honorable Mentions
A few names that did not make our list but could be worth a shot include Jesse Minter, Chris Shula, Kliff Kingsbury, and Joe Brady. And maybe Matt Nagy.
Hard Pass
A few head-scratching names that have come up in the coaching search include Arthur Smith, Raheem Morris, Lou Anarumo, Steve Spagnuolo, and Jason Garrett. We would prefer not to rationalize the hire of any of these men and manufacture enthusiasm for them.