Summary of The coaching cycle that just won't quit

Overview of The Athletic Football Show — "The coaching cycle that just won't quit"

Host Robert Mays leads a wide-ranging, 90‑minute NFL coaching‑cycle roundup centered on the avalanche of recent head‑coach and coordinator moves. The episode mixes quick hits on many hirings with two deeper interviews:

• Joe Biscaglia (The Athletic) on the Buffalo Bills naming Joe Brady head coach and what that means for Josh Allen, the offense, and the defensive re‑build;
• Zach Berman (The Athletic) on why the Philadelphia Eagles’ offensive‑coordinator search has dragged on and what kinds of candidates Philly is targeting.

Recording timestamp: 2:09 p.m. CT on Thursday. The tone is conversational, skeptical at times, and focused on cause‑and‑effect (how hires cascade across staffs and rosters).

Main headlines covered (quick summary)

• Browns: Todd Monken hired as head coach — a surprising veer from expected younger candidates; process described as corporate/weird; Jim Schwartz drama (may leave) and staff implications discussed.
• Bills: Joe Brady promoted to head coach (in‑house continuity move). Biscaglia dives into why Buffalo chose continuity for Josh Allen, the defensive coordinator search, and roster cap/WR problems.
• Eagles OC search: Missed on Mike McDaniel and Brian Daboll; casting a wide net and taking time. Zach Berman explains why the job is trickier than it looks.
• Steelers: Mike McCarthy hired as head coach — host calls the hire “uninspired” though staff (Patrick Graham) offers promise.
• Jets: Major staff purge and chaos; hosts predict more dysfunction and slow recovery.
• Cowboys: Christian Parker hired as defensive coordinator — viewed as an exciting, forward‑looking hire (Fangio influence).
• Ravens: Jesse Minter hire praised; additions like Dwayne Ledford (OL coach) and DB coach Mike Mickens seen as very strong.
• Chiefs: Eric Bieniemy named OC — split takes on whether it’s conservative continuity or a reasonable in‑house choice.
• Other coordinator hires discussed: Jonathan Gannon (Packers DC), Bobby Sloack (Miami OC), Zach Robinson (Bucs OC), Brian Dable (Titans OC per transcript), Washington and Giants coordinator moves noted.

Deep dives & key takeaways

Bills — Joe Brady (interview with Joe Biscaglia)

• Why Brady: Buffalo prioritized offensive continuity for Josh Allen rather than bringing in an outside offensive head coach. Brady was already Allen’s play‑caller and well liked inside the building.
• Pros and cons:
  • Pro: Keeps Josh Allen in a familiar system, preserves whatever offensive momentum existed.
  • Con: Promoting the OC to HC while retaining play‑calling duties raises concerns about spreading one coach too thin and whether the head‑coach change will meaningfully alter the team.
• Biggest need: The defensive overhaul and the defensive‑coordinator hire will likely determine Buffalo’s ceiling. Bills must also address a thin, injury‑hit WR room and key pending OL free agents (Conor McGovern and David Edwards mentioned).
• Cap and roster reality may limit blockbuster veteran WR moves — a draft or aggressive trade up is likely if Buffalo chooses to fix WR quickly.
• Biscaglia: range of outcomes is wide — Super Bowl contender or miss playoffs entirely — depending largely on DC hire, personnel moves, and variance.

Eagles OC search — (interview with Zach Berman)

• Why it’s dragging:
  • Top targets (Mike McDaniel, Brian Daboll) passed; Philly shifted from a targeted approach to wide‑net exploration to find the right schematic fit.
  • The job has unique downsides: intense media/fan pressure, strong internal stakeholders (GM, HC Nick Sirianni, top assistants), and the reality of fitting (not remaking) Jalen Hurts’ game.
  • Risk-reward: the OC role can be a springboard to head coach OR a fast route to getting fired if expectations aren’t met.
• Candidates to watch (mentioned): Sean Mannion (Packers QB coach), Matt Nagy, Jim Bob Cooter, Declan Doyle (Bears), and other younger/less‑established play‑callers. Philly is open to both established play‑callers and promising up‑and‑comers.
• Tactical aim: get more “layups” for the QB (higher‑percentage throws, yards in space, YAC opportunities) and avoid an offense where every play feels like a heroic effort.

Organizational/pattern takeaways from the cycle

• Many franchises are conservative in hires (in‑house promotions, retreads) because of roster realities, quarterback situations, and risk tolerance.
• The coordinator carousel has cascading effects — one team’s hire often creates openings elsewhere (e.g., Bills OC → Bills HC → DC search influences other teams’ staffing).
• Teams with unstable rosters or locker‑room dynamics (Browns, Jets) appear less attractive to top coaching candidates.
• Younger, “cutting‑edge” assistants (Christian Parker, Denard Wilson, Mike Mickens, etc.) are increasingly coveted, especially on defense.

Notable quotes & soundbites

• “The NFL coaching cycle said ‘f*** you,’” — host on how coaching news pre‑empted a planned mailbag.
• “If you want to maximize your quarterback, a good coordinator gives him layups” — paraphrase of Tom Brady’s broadcast line about play‑calling goals.
• Todd Monken comp: “Think Bruce Arians” — hosts used Arians as a best‑case comp for an older, experienced coach brought in to stabilize and extract offense.
• On the McCarthy hire: repeatedly called “uninspired” — steady floor but not the “ceiling” swing for Pittsburgh.
• “This is why bad teams stay bad” — on franchise cycles of instability (used re: Jets).

Topics discussed (detailed bullets)

• Head‑coach hires and the unseen constraints candidates consider (staff packages, keeping existing coordinators, roster state).
• Specific coordinator hires: how philosophies (zone vs man, under‑center play action, RPOs, boot game, etc.) fit personnel and QBs.
• How a head coach hire can be a short‑term placeholder (two‑year stopgap) vs transformational hire (longer horizon).
• Staff construction examples: why Ravens’ staffing (Ledford + Mickens) looks promising; Cowboys’ defense prioritized younger, Fangio‑adjacent hires.
• Pay/contract & cap consequences of making star WR or OL moves post‑hire — affects urgency of trades/drafts.
• The human element: how relationships and personalities matter (e.g., Josh Allen’s preferences, Jim Schwartz’s reaction in Cleveland).

What to watch next (actionable items / timelines)

• Buffalo: defensive‑coordinator hire (Jim Leonard named as a favorite in reporting) and offseason WR/OL moves — these will clarify if Brady’s promotion is a genuine reset or continuity posture.
• Cleveland: Jim Schwartz’s status (potential departure) and how Monken’s tenure unfolds — will he be a multi‑year bridge or short‑term fix?
• Eagles: final OC decision — keep an eye for names like Sean Mannion, Jim Bob Cooter, Matt Nagy, and whether Philly opts for an established play‑caller or an up‑and‑comer.
• Steelers: how McCarthy’s staff (e.g., Scott Tolzien) structures the offense and the team’s QB decision this offseason.
• Jets: personnel decisions tied to new staff — watch draft strategy and whether the coaching instability affects front‑office drafting.
• Cowboys/Ravens/Packers/Chiefs: how coordinator hires shape offseason roster priorities (e.g., adding pass‑catchers, interior OL, or DB upgrades).
• Upcoming events: combine and free‑agency movement will quickly reveal each team’s direction and help evaluate coaching hires.

Bottom line / final assessment

This episode’s central theme is that the 2026 coaching carousel has been chaotic and often conservative: many teams prioritized continuity or safe hires due to roster realities and quarterback concerns, while others made bolder coordinator picks aimed at modernizing defenses. The biggest wildcards are the defensive rebuilds (Bills, Browns), the Eagles’ OC decision (which could swing Philly’s Super Bowl window), and the ripple effects of late‑breaking hirings that will reshape multiple staffs. For fans, the offseason draft, free agency, and a handful of pending coordinator decisions will be determinative—expect big swings in perception once those moves land.