Ben Johnson, Mike Macdonald and Jerod Mayo among young NFL coaches to watch
Eagles OC Brian Johnson, 36: A prolific college quarterback at Utah and cover model for the NCAA Football 10 video game, Johnson got his start in coaching at his alma mater and became the youngest FBS offensive coordinator at age 24. He has mentored the likes of Dak Prescott, Kyle Trask and now Jalen Hurts — whose dad, Averion, coincidentally coached Johnson — and is now in his first season as an NFL OC. Three other teams also pursued him for coordinator jobs this past offseason before he opted to stay in Philadelphia.
Giants OC Mike Kafka, 36: A former NFL quarterback who was drafted by Andy Reid’s Eagles in 2010, Kafka possesses innate leadership traits and earned a strong reputation as a QB tutor after reuniting with Reid in Kansas City as a quality control coach in 2017. The Giants’ surprise success last year helped propel Kafka’s head coaching candidacy; he interviewed with four teams and got second interviews with two of them (Texans and Cardinals). Even with New York struggling amidst a mess of injuries — including quarterback Daniel Jones’ torn ACL and the decimation up front that has yielded a dozen different O-line combinations — Kafka’s impressive performance on the interview circuit a year ago figures to have him in the mix again.
Ravens DC Mike Macdonald, 36: Another onetime Ravens coaching intern, Macdonald spent the 2021 season with John Harbaugh’s brother, Jim, as defensive coordinator at Michigan before returning to Baltimore last season and remaking one of the NFL’s top units. As linebacker Roquan Smith recently told The Insiders of Macdonald: “He’s a fiery guy. He live by the sword, die by it. But I think he’s very cerebral, smart in the way he [creates] his attack plan and being able to just change it up week in and week out, so I’m a big fan of it.” Only one defense has shut down Ben Johnson’s Lions this year: Macdonald’s unit in Week 7, when Baltimore routed Detroit, 38-6. As hot candidates go, Macdonald could be a sleeper.
Patriots LB coach Jerod Mayo, 37: An eight-year NFL linebacker who grew up running Bill Belichick’s defense, Mayo is still in just his fifth year of coaching, but his pedigree and makeup are intriguing. He’s already had three head coaching interviews and turned down another with the Panthers last January, opting to stay with New England on a new contract that the Patriots announced in a rare press release. He is highly regarded by Pats owner Robert Kraft and viewed by many as Belichick’s logical successor. But Mayo feels he’s ready to be a head coach anywhere.
Chargers OC Kellen Moore, 35: A six-year NFL backup QB who dove right into coaching with the Cowboys in 2018, Moore is highly regarded for his football IQ and creativity, which he brought to L.A. this past offseason. Moore has already been a regular on the head coach interview circuit, with six interviews over the past three offseasons, including an extended meeting with the Panthers last January.
Cardinals OC Drew Petzing, 36: A onetime Middlebury College defensive back whose playing career was curtailed by injuries, Petzing broke into the NFL as a football operations intern with the Browns in 2013 before rising through the coaching ranks in Minnesota and again in Cleveland, then reuniting with former Vikings cohort Jonathan Gannon in Arizona this past offseason. The Cardinals have started three different QBs (and played extended stretches without other key players) in a rebuilding season. Other coaches laud the job Petzing has done under challenging circumstances, and his reputation has been positive at every stop in his young coaching career.
Raiders interim HC Antonio Pierce, 45: A nine-year NFL veteran linebacker who won Super Bowl XLII with the Giants, Pierce was the surprise choice as Raiders interim head coach in just his second season as an NFL assistant. He previously spent four years in a variety of roles on Herm Edwards’ staff at Arizona State, before resigning in February 2022 amidst an NCAA investigation into the program’s potential recruiting violations. Pierce has obvious presence and credibility as a former player. He worked in media and business before going into coaching, giving him some unique real-world experience. Owner Mark Davis has told media outlets that Pierce has an opportunity to earn the full-time job. Pierce just turned 45 last month, so we’re giving him a one-year exemption onto this list, as the latest fascinating test case of a former player with relatively little coaching experience getting the opportunity to run the show.
Texans OC Bobby Slowik, 36: A former Michigan Tech wide receiver and the son of longtime NFL coach Bob Slowik, Bobby broke into the league as a video assistant with the Washington franchise in 2010 and is now in his 10th season as an NFL coach (having spent three years as a PFF analyst in between coaching gigs). The younger Slowik was a largely unknown name before DeMeco Ryans hired him as Houston’s OC this past offseason — bringing him along from San Francisco, where Slowik was heavily involved in game-planning and with the 49ers’ quarterbacks. Working for the detail-oriented Kyle Shanahan prepares assistants for head coaching jobs (SEE: Ryans, Robert Saleh, Mike McDaniel). And much like McDaniel, Slowik may be more ready to be in front of the room than his résumé suggests because of his high football IQ. The Texans are one of the NFL’s pleasant surprises and No. 2 overall pick C.J. Stroud is a front-runner for Offensive Rookie of the Year (if not NFL MVP). Could that already vault Slowik into a head coaching opportunity? At minimum, teams will do their homework.
Dolphins OC Frank Smith, 42: A 14th-year NFL coaching veteran, Smith is in his second year on Mike McDaniel’s staff in Miami, where he’s involved in all aspects of running the program, preparing him for his own shot whenever it comes. Smith’s close relationships at past stops with players and role in developing the likes of TE Darren Waller and LT Rashawn Slater speak to his strong personal skills. He also has a big role in game-planning for an offense that utilizes its weapons as well as anyone. Smith spent three years as the Raiders’ tight ends coach (2018-2020), so it wouldn’t be a surprise if he’s on the interview list for Las Vegas’ job, among others.
Jaguars OC Press Taylor, 35: A two-time national juco champion as a QB and the brother of Bengals coach Zac Taylor, Press broke into the NFL as a quality control coach in Philadelphia in 2013 and made a notable contribution to the Eagles’ Super Bowl LII win: Doug Pederson credited Taylor with the idea for the “Philly Special.” Reunited last year with Pederson in Jacksonville, Taylor built the offense and took over as the full-time play-caller this year, with mostly positive results (last week’s struggles vs. the 49ers notwithstanding). Zac Taylor took a bad team and built it into a perennial contender. Could Press do it next?
Browns AHC/STC Bubba Ventrone, 41: A 10-year NFL special teams standout, Ventrone started his coaching career as a special teams assistant with the Patriots in 2015 — earning a Super Bowl ring as a member of the 2016 Pats’ staff — before getting the Colts’ coordinator job in 2018. Now in his first year as the Browns’ assistant head coach, Ventrone gets even more time in front of the team. He is detailed and has a presence. He’s also experienced in game management and is known as a good talent evaluator who understands big-picture roster management. Ventrone coaches players hard, and they respect him for it.
Seahawks OC Shane Waldron, 44: A onetime college tight end and long snapper at Tufts, Waldron initially broke into the NFL as an operations intern with the Patriots in 2002 and is now in his 19th year of coaching at any level. Currently in his third season as Seattle’s offensive coordinator, he first appeared on this list in 2018 — just before he interviewed for the Bengals head coaching job that went to Rams staff-mate Zac Taylor instead — and since has gotten more experience at the front of the room. Working under Bill Belichick, Sean McVay and Pete Carroll has given Waldron a strong foundation for success. And Carroll’s consistent mindset — win or lose — has rubbed off on Waldron, whose role in Geno Smith‘s revival is a positive note on his résumé.
