Before this season began, I wrote an article that was a rundown of every new head coach in the NFL for this season. Season turnarounds are not standard in the NFL, but we’ve had enough time to see who’s on the right track and who’s not. You need to know this about the new head coaches three quarters through the season.
Carolina Panthers: Frank Reich (1-11)
What could go wrong in Carolina that went wrong this season? From reports, there were disagreements between coaches and management about picking Bryce Young over C.J. Stroud, to just the product put out on the field. Though he was looking for a fresh start, Frank Reich ultimately disappointed many after becoming the first coach in NFL history to be fired in back-to-back seasons after going 1-10. They’ve suffered heavily from dreadful receiver play and weak blocking from the O-line. It doesn’t help that they have a quarterback rookie, Bryce Young, who’s been forced to learn through trial by fire. Unfortunately for the Panthers, the draft pick they sent to the Bears for Bryce Young will likely be the first pick in the upcoming draft. The team appointed Chris Tabor as its interim head coach as the Panthers begin to look forward to next season.
Indianapolis Colts (7-5): Shane Steichen
Going into 2023, there were a lot of questions surrounding the future of this Colts team. Star running back Johnathan Taylor held out of his contract to start the season, and the team drafted an inexperienced quarterback, Anthony Richardson, with an incredible ceiling. Anthony Richardson showed flashes of his talent early, but he struggled with injuries early before calling it a season and getting surgery on his right shoulder after just four games. Since then, Gardner Minshew has taken over, and they are 5-3. They ended up getting Taylor secured, but in the four games without him, backup running back Zack Moss ran for 441 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns. This has also been a career year for wide receiver Michael Pittman, who has become a central focal point in this offense for Shane Steichen. Currently, the Colts sit at 6 in the AFC playoff race, and they look forward to playing Cincinnati this upcoming week.
Denver Broncos (6-6): Sean Payton
The Denver Broncos got off to a rough start this season. They began the season 1-5, including a 70-20 loss to the Miami Dolphins. Since their week six loss to the Cheifs, the defense has begun to thrive. The team released Frank Clark and Randy Gregory, which allowed them to rotate younger linemen, and they haven’t looked back since. The team won five straight, including a game where they didn’t let the Chiefs score a touchdown in week 8. Payton has been able to help get the most out of a somewhat fading quarterback and an offense with no real explosive threats by dominating time of possession. His main job was to help Russell Wilson get back to a level where he could help the team, and though he’s not an offensive elevator anymore, he’s beginning to step up and make some of the throws he used to. The Broncos are still competing for a playoff spot, and they only have one remaining game on their schedule against an opponent with a winning record.
Houston Texans (7-5): Demeco Ryans
The Texans didn’t have many expectations going into the season, but looking back on Houston’s offseason, they seem to have set themselves up well for the future. The team selected C.J. Stroud with the 2nd pick in the draft, and he has been phenomenal. He and Will Anderson and multiple later-round steals have given this team many young pieces on both sides of the ball, and they also spent moves on veteran guys like Dalton Schultz and Jimmie Ward. Stroud has just about won the Offensive Rookie of the Year award and is on pace to break multiple rookie records. The offense is being paired up nicely with a highly underrated young defense called Demeco Ryans. In his first year as coach, the team has already more than doubled their win total, and they look to contend for a Superbowl in the coming years.
Arizona Cardinals (3-10): Jonathan Gannon
The Arizona Cardinals went into the season with many questions surrounding their future at quarterback. Following the injury of star Kyler Murray and the rough way the previous few seasons ended, the Cardinals hit the reset button. Arizona released star Deandre Hopkins and the active quarterback Colt McCoy. Many thought this was a sign the team would be tanking for prospect Caleb Williams. Still, Arizona has remained competitive, playing good teams, including a win over the Dallas Cowboys. With the return of Kyler Murray, his recent performances have silenced many of his critics, and every week, it looks more and more like they will continue to roll with Murray. Though Arizona is already out of playoff contention, the team has much to be excited about. They’ll have a top pick in this year’s loaded draft class, and their franchise QB’s future is secured. It’s too early to tell how this hire will turn out, so we’ll have to wait and see in the coming weeks and years.
