For fans of the Green Bay Packers, their long nightmare is over. Shortly after the Packers dropped an embarrassing 20-17 loss to the hapless Arizona Cardinals, the team informed head coach Mike McCarthy that his services would no longer be needed. The writing, as they say, had been on the wall for some time with quarterback Aaron Rodgers seemingly adding fuel to the fire in every interview about the team’s offensive performance.
McCarthy was reportedly “shocked” that he was fired after the game. It was shocking, only in that it happened before most of his players had even exited the shower room. I expected to see it first thing Monday morning as an NFL update on my phone. The Packers decided not to mess around.
With a healthy Rodgers at quarterback under contract until he retires, Green Bay should have no trouble filling McCarthy’s vacancy with a head coach that can actually lead a franchise and create an NFL-level offensive attack. Who’s it going to be? Does Rodgers’ former teammate and Hall of Fame Packer Brett Favre stand a chance of getting the job? (Spoiler alert; no).
Green Bay Packers head coach in Week 1 of 2019 season
John DeFilippo +200
Josh McDaniels +225
Adam Gase +500
Jim Harbaugh +800
Lincoln Riley +1000
Dave Toub +1500
Zac Taylor +1500
Eric Bieniemy +1500
Bruce Arians +2000
Pete Carmichael Jr. +2000
Jay Gruden +3000
John Harbaugh +4000
David Shaw +5000
Todd Bowles +7500
Dirk Koetter +7500
Gary Kubiak +10000
Kliff Kingsbury +10000
Joe Philbin +10000
Marvin Lewis +20000
Steve Sarkisian +20000
Nick Saban +25000
Brian Kelly +50000
Urban Meyer +50000
Mike Holmgren +100000
Brett Favre +100000
Related: NFL Betting Guide
There are some intriguing names on the list, but we can put a line through a couple already. Green Bay general manager Brian Gutekunst isn’t going to hire a defensive-minded coach, so you can cross out Todd Bowles and Marvin Lewis immediately. I mean, Lewis had no chance anyway, but Bowles is a good coach and even if the New York Jets move on, should have no trouble landing a job as a defensive coordinator. In fact, if I’m the new head coach of the Packers and I learn that Bowles is on the market, he’s the first guy I call.
From @gmfb: A look at why the #Packers fired coach Mike McCarthy now and how the relationship with QB Aaron Rodgers deteriorated. pic.twitter.com/yCkbJgl59Z
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 3, 2018
Favre is obviously a longshot, but he’s probably glad to get his name out in front of any good news after the week he had. Favre was tricked into posting a video message endorsing a white supremacist group through the Cameo app. As soon as he figured out what his message was being used for, he issued a public statement denouncing the group and vowed to donate his $500 fee to charities that fight hate and bigotry. Here’s the thing about Favre, no one is even questioning that the guy was duped. If there’s ever been a dupe-able person, it’s Favre — which is why he’s not exactly NFL head coach material.
Josh McDaniels will always be on any head coaching list in spite of bailing on the Indianapolis Colts last season. Even though his odds are second-best here, I still don’t think he’ll leave New England. I’m convinced the he, Bob Kraft and Bill Belichick have a handshake deal that he’ll be the next Patriots head coach once Belichick retires. They just can’t admit it publicly because it violates the NFL’s Rooney Rule.
"A handful of NFL assistant coaches have indicated interest in joining a McDaniels-led coaching staff in Green Bay" And away we go…https://t.co/Ca9VVNlQF1
— Aaron Nagler (@AaronNagler) December 3, 2018
John DeFilippo rightly should be the favorite and the guy Packers fans should want most to get the job. He’s been outstanding as the Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator this season and helped the Philadelphia Eagles win a Super Bowl last year. DeFilippo will likely have his pick of the available posts.
I don’t think the Miami Dolphins will have any interest in letting Adam Gase go. Bruce Arians, at +2000, is a very interesting bet. He’s publicly stated his interest in the Cleveland Browns job a few weeks ago but that was before the chance to coach Aaron Rodgers was on the table.
Does Jim Harbaugh want to leave Michigan and return to the NFL? If so, he too will be a prized contender for any available spot, but I honestly feel like this is DeFillippo’s job to lose unless he just bombs out in the interview process.
"If Jim Harbaugh is looking to come back into the NFL, Packers might be interested." – Packers reporter @RobDemovsky on @dpshow
— Andrew Perloff (@andrewperloff) December 3, 2018
