Tag: Frank Smith

Texans OC Bobby Slowik also off the table for Seahawks head coach job

According to Albert Breer at Sports Illustrated, he got a significant raise to stay.

If the Seahawks had their hearts set on hiring one of the NFL’s bright young offensive minds, their options have diminished this week. Yesterday we learned that Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson told Seattle and Washington that he’s staying in Detroit to try to win a Super Bowl.

We also learned that Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik is staying in Houston. According to Albert Breer at Sports Illustrated, he got a significant raise to stay.

Slowik did brilliant work this season with C.J. Stroud, who had the best rookie season of any quarterback since Cam Newton and has a skillset that’s similar to Geno Smith’s.

It would have been interesting to see what Slowik or Johnson might have done with this Seattle offense, but the team still has choices if they want to go this route, defying the conventional wisdom that they’re looking for a defensive candidate. According to the latest reporting from ESPN, Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka is a candidate to watch if they don’t end up hiring Mike Macdonald.

More Seahawks Wire stories

7 Seahawks players who could see a bigger role in 2024

8 grades for Seattle rookies from the 2023 NFL season

3 Dolphins coaches who could be promoted to OC if Frank Smith leaves

If Miami needs to find a new OC, who could get a promotion?

With just one week left in January, there are still plenty of job openings around the NFL, including two that Miami Dolphins offensive coordinator Frank Smith is up for – the Seattle Seahawks and Carolina Panthers.

So, while it’s not a guarantee that Smith will leave the team in the coming weeks, the Dolphins would be smart to plan for who takes over his current role if he does.

Head coach Mike McDaniel may look outside of the building, but here are a few internal candidates who might get a look:

12 elevator pitches for the Panthers’ 12 HC candidates

There are 12 known candidates for the Panthers’ HC vacancy. What’s the greatest strength that each can offer to the organization? Let’s make some pitches.

There’s quite a lot to keep track of right now if you’re involved with the Carolina Panthers, who are currently in the middle of their second head-coaching hunt in as many offseasons. So, we’ll try to simplify the search.

Let’s make a pitch for each of the 12 candidates, highlighting the greatest strength they can bring to the struggling franchise.

Dolphins OC Frank Smith has completed an interview with the Seahawks

Miami’s OC has finished his second interview for an HC gig.

The Miami Dolphins have a very talented staff of coaches, and it’s no surprise that some of them are being looked at for promotions with other teams around the league.

On Thursday, Dolphins offensive coordinator Frank Smith completed a virtual interview with the Seattle Seahawks for their open head coach job.

This is Smith’s second interview, as he also met with the Carolina Panthers for their head coach opening.

Smith, 42, joined Miami’s staff under Mike McDaniel in 2022 after spending 2021 with the Los Angeles Chargers and three years with the Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders prior to that.

This past year, the NFLPA asked over 1,700 players to rate their coordinators on a scale of 1-10, and Smith received the highest grade among all coaches in his role, so whatever team ends up with him (even if it’s Miami) will be getting a smart, well-liked leader to help run their franchise.

Panthers complete virtual interview with Rams DC Raheem Morris

The Panthers announced they have completed their virtual interview with Rams DC Raheem Morris.

Head-coaching interview No. 6 is now wrapped up.

The Carolina Panthers announced on Wednesday that they have completed their virtual interview with Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris. The 47-year-old is now the sixth candidate to chat with the organization about the head coach job—joining Chris Tabor, Ejiro Evero, Todd Monken, Mike Macdonald and Frank Smith.

Morris, save for a year as the defensive coordinator at Kansas State University, has been on the NFL sidelines for the past two decades. He got his start in 2002 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers—where he rose up the ranks from a defensive quality control coach all the way to their head coach in 2009.

Tampa Bay went 17-31 under Morris over three seasons. His best campaign came in 2010, where he led the Bucs to a 10-6 mark.

Morris, who was fired following the 2012 season, landed in Washington as a defensive backs coach for three years. He’d move on to Atlanta, where he’d get an 11-game interim head-coaching run to close out 2020.

He has spent the last three seasons heading the Rams defense.

[lawrence-related id=689394,689384,689376]

Dolphins OC Frank Smith listed as odds-on favorite to become next Panthers HC

Who’s the current favorite to be named the next HC of the Panthers? Here is one oddsmaker’s opinion:

So, who’s currently the favorite to become the newest head coach of the Carolina Panthers?

Bookies.com oddsmaker Adam Thompson has released a fresh set of odds for the job on Wednesday. Atop the list is Miami Dolphins offensive coordinator Frank Smith, who leads the pack with an 18.2-percent chance.

Here’s the full rundown from Thompson:

  • Frank Smith (Miami Dolphins offensive coordinator): +450 (18.2 percent)
  • Mike Macdonald (Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator): +500 (16.7 percent)
  • Brian Callahan (Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator): +550 (15.4 percent)
  • Todd Monken (Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator): +700 (12.5 percent)
  • Ejiro Evero (Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator): +750 (11.8 percent)
  • Ben Johnson (Detroit Lions offensive coordinator): +1200 (7.7 percent)
  • Dave Canales (Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator): +1500 (6.3 percent)
  • Bobby Slowik (Houston Texans offensive coordinator):+1500 (6.3 percent)
  • Mike Vrabel (former Tennessee Titans head coach): +1750 (5.4 percent)
  • Bill Belichick (former New England Patriots head coach): +1800 (5.3 percent)
  • The Field: +600 (14.3 percent)

Smith, per an official release from last night, has completed his virtual interview with the Panthers. He is now one of five candidates to do so—joining 2023’s interim head coach and special teams coordinator Chris Tabor, Evero, Monken and Macdonald.

[lawrence-related id=689384,689376,689363]

Could another offensive-minded coach be on the Commanders’ radar?

Will Adam Peters expand his list of coaching candidates?

The Washington Commanders have a general manager. On Tuesday, Adam Peters was introduced to the Washington media, one day after signing a five-year contract to head the franchise’s football operations.

The next step for Washington and Peters is to find a head coach.

Last week, the Commanders requested permission to speak with seven potential head coaching candidates:

  • Lions OC Ben Johnson
  • Lions DC Aaron Glenn
  • Ravens DC Mike MacDonald
  • Ravens AHC/DL coach Anthony Weaver
  • Rams DC Raheem Morris
  • Cowboys DC Dan Quinn
  • Texans OC Bobby Slowik

Most of these candidates have either interviewed with Washington or will interview this week. Peters wasn’t yet hired when the Commanders interviewed MacDonald and Weaver, although he will be if there is another round of interviews.

Some consider Johnson to be Washington’s top target. What does that mean? Nothing. While the Commanders may like Johnson, he could get another offer with more money or more power and choose that offer. Or, Peters could meet with Johnson and decide to go in another direction.

It’s a bit early to claim a favorite.

With Peters now at the head of football operations, will he expand beyond the seven initial candidates?

Frank Smith is the offensive coordinator of the Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins were phenomenal on offense in 2023. However, Smith isn’t a household name because he doesn’t call plays. Head coach Mike McDaniels calls plays. But, Smith has quietly emerged in some places as a candidate. He’s scheduled at least two interviews for this cycle.

Could Peters bring the 42-year-old Smith in for an interview?

There are connections. While Smith has never worked in the same building as Peters, McDaniel worked in San Francisco for five seasons with Peters. McDaniel brought Smith to Miami in 2022.

While Smith has experience under McDaniel, Sean Payton gave him his first NFL job with the Saints back in 2010. He’s also worked for the Raiders under Jon Gruden. Payton and Gruden are highly respected offensive minds.

Ben Volin covers the NFL for The Boston Globe and is also hearing Johnson in connection to the Commanders. But he also brought up Smith’s name in a recent appearance on “The Sports Junkies” on 106.7 The Fan in Washington, D.C.

“You look at how Harris runs some of his other teams, it’s the young, analytics-based guys, and Peters is 44 and comes from the organization that everyone wants to try to emulate right now,” Volin said via Lou DiPietro of Audacy.

“I gotta think that they’re gonna look for a similar profile with their head coach. It looks like they probably want a young, good-looking offensive coach. The two names that you keep hearing are Ben Johnson, who several teams want him, and then Frank Smith, the offensive coordinator for the Miami Dolphins, who has been getting a lot of buzz – I actually heard a few weeks ago that he might be the favorite in Washington – but I think it will come down to that type of coach. It’s a new day in Washington.”

If Peters and the Commanders do prefer Johnson, MacDonald, Slowik or any of the other coaches whose teams remain in the playoffs, he can take his time. That would favor someone like Smith having the chance to interview with Washington.

Will it happen? It seems unlikely, but Peters may view things differently based on feedback he’s received from others he trusts.

11 head coaching candidates the Eagles could target if Nick Sirianni departs

We’re looking at a list of head coaching candidates the Philadelphia Eagles could target if Nick Sirianni is fired

Nick Sirianni has a 34-17 regular season record.

He has led the Eagles to the playoffs in his three seasons as their head coach, reaching the Super Bowl in 2022.

Still, people only remember your last performance.

Philadelphia owners Jeffrey Lurie and Howie Roseman have begun the painstaking chore of evaluating the coaching staff and determining if Sirianni will return in 2024 after an ugly 32-9 loss to the Buccaneers in the wild-card round.

It’s the second time in three years that a Todd Bowles defense has dominated Jalen Hurts, and the inability to adjust almost two years to the day of the first disappointment could be the final nail.

The one negative in Sirianni’s dilemma is that this coaching cycle is loaded with young and experienced offensive coaches who thrive in using motion, scheming players open, and, most importantly, adjusting to a blitzing defense.

With exit meetings set to begin Thursday and lots of changes expected, we’re ranking the head coaching candidates the Eagles could target if Sirianni departs or is fired.

 

Panthers complete virtual interview with Dolphins OC Frank Smith

The Panthers announced they have completed a virtual interview with Dolphins OC Frank Smith.

The Carolina Panthers have checked off another chat in their head-coaching search.

As announced on Tuesday, the team has completed their interview with Miami Dolphins offensive coordinator Frank Smith. The 42-year-old is now the fifth candidate to complete his virtual interview with the organization—joining 2023’s interim head coach and special teams coordinator Chris Tabor, defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero, Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken and Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald.

Smith started his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Miami University (Ohio) in 2004. He then moved on to Butler University, where he began as the offensive line coach in 2006 and moved up to offensive coordinator between 2007 and 2008.

His jump to the NFL sidelines came in 2010, as an assistant offensive line coach for the New Orleans Saints. After five years in the NFC South, he became a tight ends coach—for the Chicago Bears between 2015 and 2017 and for the Las Vegas Raiders between 2018 and 2020.

The Milwaukee, Wis. native then went Hollywood in 2021, joining the Los Angeles Rams as their run game coordinator and offensive line coach.

Smith has since been conducting one of the NFL’s most explosive offenses in Miami over the past two seasons.

[lawrence-related id=689363,689352,689348]

Seattle Seahawks 2024 head coach interview request tracker

It sounds like Seahawks general manager John Schneider is in the market for another defensive minded head coach.

It sounds like Seahawks general manager John Schneider is in the market for another defensive minded head coach. In the wake of last week’s surprise removal of Pete Carroll, we had heard very little news on the search for his replacement. That changed today when we received several reports of official interview requests, most of them for defensive coordinators. It makes sense, given how poorly Seattle’s defense has played over the last six seasons. In 2023 they finished ranked No. 25 in points allowed per game.

The Seahawks are casting a wide net, though – and today’s reported requests include at least one offensive playcaller. Here’s where we will be tracking reports of the team’s interest in potential head coach candidates.