NFL Players May Have Given an Early Glimpse of the League's Coaching Future

Life & Trends Reporter

🎙️ Voice is AI-generated. Inconsistencies may occur.

Head coaching changes in the NFL are rapidly approaching with the regular season's conclusion on Sunday, and the league's players just provided a few hints as to which coaches they'd like to see get top positions this hiring cycle.

On Thursday, the National Football League Players Association released a survey listing the top-rated offensive, defensive and/or special teams coordinators in the league. Miami Dolphins offensive coordinator Frank Smith, Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn and Dallas Cowboys special teams coordinator John Fassel were the top-ranked coaches in their respective roles, the NFLPA said in a release.

This survey is part of the union's "report card" project it launched last year.

As part of that initiative, players around the league were surveyed on wide-ranging topics related to their team, from the quality of facilities to strength coaches to how families were treated by an organization. Seeking feedback on coordinators is among the added wrinkles this time around in the union's effort to broaden the survey. The NFLPA said it still plans on publishing full report cards in the spring.

Releasing the most well-regarded coordinators early, though, was seen as a way players could boost the job chances of respected coaches.

Players were asked to rate their offensive, defensive & special teams coordinators this fall. We're publishing the top 5 to show the positive impact coaches can have & ensure players' voices are heard ahead of the hiring cycle.

?: https://t.co/NKtb2Tqtem pic.twitter.com/UpEXkGkdmB
— NFLPA (@NFLPA) January 4, 2024

"The NFLPA is only publishing the Top 5 coordinators in each category to highlight and focus on the positive impact coaches can have on players across the league," the Players Association said in a statement accompanying the survey's release. "We also want to ensure that players' opinions are heard and accounted for by clubs ahead of the next hiring cycle. "

Players were asked to rate their coordinators, anonymously, during union visits between August 28 and November 16 of last year, the NFLPA said. The survey was administered online by Artemis Strategy Group, and all NFL players were allowed to participate.

In all, 864 offensive players, 774 defensive players and 1,025 players who participate on special teams rated their coordinators, the players' association said.

Here are the results.

Defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn of the Detroit Lions looks on in the first half of December 24's game against the Minnesota Vikings. Glenn was the top-rated defensive coordinator around the league in survey results released... Getty Images/David Berding/Getty Images

NFLPA Top-Rated Offensive Coordinators

Smith, the coordinator of the NFL's highest-scoring offense, also finds himself atop the list of the top-rated offensive coordinators in the league. Among the others with Smith in the top five are two offensive coaches on teams that have already fired their head coaches—the Carolina Panthers and Los Angeles Chargers.

Frank Smith, Miami Dolphins
Thomas Brown, Carolina Panthers
Brian Schottenheimer, Dallas Cowboys
Brian Callahan, Cincinnati Bengals
Kellen Moore, Los Angeles Chargers

NFLPA Top-Rated Defensive Coordinators

Four of the five defensive coordinators listed on the NFLPA survey are former head coaches in the league. Glenn is the exception, though he could soon be one, based on these results. The Lions DC was the No. 1 overall rated coordinator across all three categories of the survey.

Aaron Glenn, Detroit Lions
Steve Wilks, San Francisco 49ers
Dan Quinn, Dallas Cowboys
Brian Flores, Minnesota Vikings
Raheem Morris, Los Angeles Rams

NFLPA Top-Rated Special Teams Coordinators

A team's record does not necessarily translate to how well it is coached, at least according to these results. All three coordinators on the 11-5 Dallas Cowboys made the list, but the 2-14 Carolina Panthers also have two coaches represented. Chris Tabor has since been elevated to interim head coach in Carolina.

John Fassel, Dallas Cowboys
Chris Tabor, Carolina Panthers
Matt Daniels, Minnesota Vikings
Dave Fipp, Detroit Lions
Darren Rizzi, New Orleans Saints

The day following the end of the NFL regular season is commonly referred to as "Black Monday" since many coaches around the league will typically be fired in that 24-hour span. More of the same is likely this year. Three NFL teams already have interims in place after firing their head coaches.

And more openings appear to be on the way. If the feelings of NFL players are any indication, a few of the names from this survey could be good fits to fill them.