Interview information is flying fast and furiously around each head coaching vacancy, although none of the five openings have yet been filled.
Who are the favorites for each gig, and who is lurking? Here is a look at the current odds for four of the five vacancies, as the Houston Texans opening is off the board.
While odds can move quickly on a given day, here’s where things stand as of the afternoon on Monday Jan. 23, per DraftKings:
Indianapolis Colts
Favorite: Jeff Saturday +250
Contenders: Eric Bieniemy +350; DeMeco Ryans +400; Leslie Frazier +500; Dan Quinn +650
Longshots: Raheem Morris +900; Ejiro Evero +1000; Brian Callahan +1000; Shane Steichen +1200; Sean Payton +1500; Mike Kafka +1500; Aaron Glenn +1500
John Harbaugh was the early favorite to land this gig but he has taken his name out of the running and will be remaining at the University of Michigan. The Colts were awful under Saturday’s direction after he took over as interim coach, so a permanent hire seemed like a longshot a few weeks back.
However, Saturday has done a preliminary interview with the team and could be one of the candidates to get a second interview.
Owner Jim Irsay certainly likes him, although Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, 49ers defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans, Bills defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier and Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn have much stronger bodies of work.
The Colts have done 13 preliminary interviews and are also hoping to speak with Ryans, and then they will whittle down the list for a second round.
Carolina Panthers
Favorite: Shane Steichen +260
Contenders: Sean Payton +350; Steve Wilks +400; Mike Kafka +600; Frank Reich +900; DeMeco Ryans +1000
Longshots: Jim Caldwell +1800; Kellen Moore +2000; Dan Quinn +2500; Ken Dorsey +2500
The Panthers are in the Sean Payton sweepstakes, as owner David Tepper plans to meet with the former Saints coach. Steichen, the offensive coordinator for the Eagles, showed his capability in the NFC Divisional Round with a fantastic showing against the Giants.
Wilks did a nice job as the interim coach down the stretch, while Kafka and Reich fit the mold as offensive minds that could elevate a Carolina group that has struggled to score points the past several years.
Steichen makes a lot of sense for this job but it’s unclear if there is mutual interest between Payton and the team, or if other candidates are standing out.
Denver Broncos
Favorite: Sean Payton +175
Contenders: Dan Quinn +300; DeMeco Ryans +500
Longshots: Jerry Rosburg +1000; David Shaw +1200; Jim Caldwell +1500; Ejiro Evero +1800; Shane Steichen +2000
The oddsmakers have narrowed this down to seemingly a three candidate race. Quinn was the favorite for quite awhile but has been surpassed by Payton, as momentum seems to grow about a possible pairing. He is expected to interview with the team for a second time this week, the first candidate to do so.
Quinn would make sense as the backup option if Payton turns down the Broncos, while Ryans would also be a nice fit. Rosburg was the interim coach down the stretch but does not seem likely to get the gig.
Harbaugh was also in this race early on before returning to Michigan. Payton had better odds to land with Arizona at the start of all the head coaching searches, but that has now shifted to Denver.
Arizona Cardinals
Favorite: Brian Flores +115
Contenders: Sean Payton +250; Vance Joseph +550; DeMeco Ryans +650
Longshots: Shane Bowen +1000; Frank Reich +1200; Jonathan Gannon +1500; Shane Steichen +1500
Flores was once a 50-to-1 longshot to get the Cardinals’ job but is now the favorite. He has an upcoming interview with the team, after impressing during an interview in 2018. Owner Michael Bidwill seems to be a fan, while new GM Monti Ossenfort has history with Flores from their time together with the Patriots.
Payton was the favorite at the start of the process but fell to +350 odds on Monday morning. However, Howard Balzer of PHNX reported that Payton plans to interview with the Cardinals on Thursday, which has seen his odds surge back up to +250.
Arizona defensive coordinator Vance Joseph remains a peripheral candidate but is no longer seen as one of the favorites. 49ers defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans was scheduled to interview with the Cardinals on Sunday but reportedly canceled it. If he re-schedules, Ryans could be an interesting candidate that could see his odds shorten.
Reich used to coach in Arizona and has done an interview, while Steichen’s scheme would fit quarterback Kyler Murray very well, but they are listed as longshots to get the job.
