Best candidates to replace Ron Rivera, others soon to come

Ron Rivera became the second head coach fired during the 2019 season, and there will be more when the season’s over. Who will replace them?

Greg Roman, Offensive Coordinator, Baltimore Ravens

(Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports)

Not only has Roman turned the Ravens into the NFL’s most difficult-to-stop offense, he once put Tyrod Taylor in position to have a Pro Bowl season as the Bills’ offensive coordinator in 2015, and he was of course the primary architect of the 49ers’ offense that was highly successful with both Alex Smith and Colin Kaepernick as its quarterbacks. Roman is open-minded regarding both scheme and analytics, and given his success over the last decade as an offensive mind with new-era quarterbacks, his ascent would seem to be a given.

Brian Daboll, Offensive Coordinator, Buffalo Bills

Josh Allen Buffalo Bills
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Daboll would be an interesting fit for the Panthers if they decide to hang on to Newton (which they probably won’t) because he’s presided over an offense in which quarterback Josh Allen is equally valuable as a runner and a thrower. Daboll was also handed raw clay with Allen when the Bills made him the seventh overall pick in the 2018 draft, and Allen’s increasing efficiency is a testament to Daboll’s ability to develop such a quarterback — which will be a valuable skill for several NFL teams this offseason.