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Although the modern NFL has been defined by the scoring outbursts from offenses, defense seems to be making a comeback.
During the 2023 NFL season, scoring was down compared to the year prior which signals that the league is starting to figure out this new wave of offensive innovation.
Head coaches like Sean McVay and Kyle Shanahan ushered in more creative offensive systems and philosophies, so in turn organizations have begun to hire coaches who can scheme around it.
This recent head coaching hiring cycle was an indication that teams are valuing the defensive end again as defensive coordinators like Raheem Morris, Dan Quinn, and Mike Macdonald were chosen to lead the Atlanta Falcons, Washington Commanders, and Seattle Seahawks, respectively.
Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans is a perfect example of the hiring trend as he led his team to the playoffs in his first year.
Like Ryans, former linebackers like Zach Orr and NaVorro Bowman have gotten coaching gigs and it doesn’t appear to be stopping anytime soon, via Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.
“Demeco Ryans, Zach Orr, Bowman…NFL linebackers turned successful coaches seems to be the wave,” Fowler said.
Demeco Ryans, Zach Orr, Bowman…NFL linebackers turned successful coaches seems to be the wave. https://t.co/WSHpgvw81S
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) February 10, 2024
Former players make for good coaches because of their experience on the field and their ability to relate and communicate to players.
The league seems to be valuing this even more and it could pay dividends down the line for those franchises who were smart enough to recruit defensive-minded individuals.
After years of the league shifting to a more offensive-centric approach, more balance appears to be on the way.
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