Texans or Eagles: Which NFL Head Coaching Vacancy Would You Take?

As NFL coaching vacancies get filled, two remain open, and Greg DeMarco decides which one he’d actually want to take…

The NFL Coaching carousel continues, with Dan Campbell’s hiring leaving us with two vacancies in the league: the Houston Texans and the Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles aren’t even three years removed from a Super Bowl win, and while it seems like an eternity since the Texans traded DeAndre Hopkins to the Arizona Cardinals for some two kicking tees and a Mircosoft Surface (and the likely-soon-to-be-released David Johnson) and Deshaun Watson turned his desire to leave up to eleven, they are one year removed from going 10-6 and making it to the NFL Playoffs Divisional Round, and that’s one year after going 11-5 and losing in the Wildcard Round.

But obviously a lot has happened during the wild and wacky 2020 season for both organizations, and they are currently left standing without a Head Coach (and for one, without a permanent General Manager).

Take a look at my rankings for the NFL Head Coach hires that have already taken place.

So the Eagles and Texans are left with what many call the least desirable jobs in the NFL, which is somewhat surprising because of the market size each holds in the nation (Top 6 markets), and the “winability” of their respective divisions. We’re not talking about the AFC North or NFC West here, and you don’t have the Packers or Chiefs on your schedule two times a year. These are good divisions to be in–but are they good teams to be on? That’s the biggest question.

Who Is Your Quarterback?

This is a big question for each job. In Philadelphia you have the Carson Wentz/Jalen Hurts drama, largely caused by Doug Pederson and and Wentz himself. If management really picked Carson Wentz over the head coach that brought the franchise a Lombardi Trophy (and not with Wentz playing QB), then what does that tell an incoming coach? Well it tells me you better have a plan for Carson Wentz and Jalen Hurts moving forward–because when you have two starting quarterbacks, you have none.

In Houston, you have a Deshaun Watson who has been very vocal about his displeasure, and others coming out to reiterate that Jack Easterby (team Vice President of Football Operations) is the problem–and that a culture change is needed. Will new General Manager Nick Caserio be given the power he needs to make that happen, and can be do that in conjunction with the right head coach?

Because you might need that to keep Deshaun Watson on the roster, and if I am looking at these jobs, I want Deshaun Watson on the roster.

Roster/Salary Cap

Let’s be honest, neither team is in good shape, here. While their 2021 prospects in this regard will mean renegotiating some players and cutting or trading others, the NFL has shown us that this can be an overrated concern if you’re thinking long-term, and any head coaching candidate should be. Neither organization should expect to contend next year, that’s just not what they’ve set up for themselves.

Fanbase

As crazy into their team as Philly fans are, I have to give the nod to Houston in this one. As a new coach, you need to be able to show some improvement over time–that is a reasonable expectation. Overnight success isn’t, and that’s what Philly fans will be rabid for. Houston would be more appreciative of improvement if they see a culture change and start hearing good things out of their franchise quarterback.

Overall

Houston has a slight edge in the aforementioned roster and salary cap, and if Deshaun Watson remains a Texan then it seems more attractive in the short term. But the Eagles are a storied franchise who has won a championship–recently–so they at least know what it takes to win. And you probably have more support there (the new Houston General Manager notwithstanding) But I also think Philadelphia would trade Carson Wentz, Jalen Hurts, and a litany of draft picks for Deshaun Watson.

So if I could be convinced that Deshaun Watson was going to stay, I am likely taking the Houston Texans Head Coaching job. If not? Then welcome me to the Philadelphia Eagles. Either way, I’ve got work to do.