NFL hot seat watch: 5 offensive coordinators who could become head coaches in 2023

NFL teams will scan a weak offensive coordinator pool for any real head-coaching candidates.

Admittedly, this is not a great year to be hiring an offensive-minded head coach across the NFL.

Entering the holiday season, only two franchises have ripped the band-aid off to go with an interim head coach. Steve Wilks oversees the Carolina Panthers, while Jeff Saturday is in charge of the Indianapolis Colts … for now. All the while, we should expect a few more teams to have vacancies opening up at head coach by Black Monday. Perhaps five or more teams pull the plug?

Since this is an offensive-driven league, here are a few coordinators who should be considered.

5 NFL offensive coordinators who could become head coaches in 2023

Brian Callahan could become an NFL head coach in the next hiring cycle or two

Don’t look now, but the Cincinnati Bengals have quite the staff under head coach Zac Taylor. Although defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo is essentially one ideal spot away from becoming a first-time head coach, keep an eye on Cincinnati’s strong offensive coordinator Brian Callahan. He has been on Taylor’s staff since the beginning, possibly parlaying this into getting his own team?

Taylor may have played for Callahan’s father Bill at Nebraska, but Brian comes from a great coaching lineage. Bill Callahan not only was the former head coach of the Cornhuskers and the then-Oakland Raiders, but he is widely regarded as one of the best offensive line coaches in football history. His son has separated himself by calling great plays on this fun Bengals offense.

Cincinnati has historically been a hotbed for great offensive coaching talent, so we shall see here.