Brian Daboll likely among the top NFL coaching candidates for 2021
Daboll is one of the popular names around the league favored to land a head coaching jobThe University of Michigan fired defensive coordinator Don Brown on Tuesday, meaning he'll likely take the fall for a 2-4 season from the Wolverines, one that included three consecutive canceled games to end the regular season.
In all likelihood, Jim Harbaugh will return for a seventh season as the head coach of his alma matter. Harbaugh, 57, has a 49-22 record at Michigan, but has failed to produce a team that can consistently compete with the likes of Ohio State, Alabama and Clemson.
There was some thought that Harbaugh could be pulled back to the National Football League this year. While his style may come with a shelf life more suited for coaching at the collegiate level, Harbaugh had a 44-19 record in four seasons as the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers, including guiding the team to an appearance in Super XLVII. It's hard to think that someone who posted a .695 winning percentage in his first stint as an NFL head coach will never get another shot to lead a team on the sport's highest stage.
That said, things appear to be trending towards Harbaugh signing a new deal with Michigan, so for the time being, he appears content to remain at the NCAA level.
Early Tuesday evening, NFL Network reporter Tom Pelissero reported that teams around the NFL with an opening at head coach may request and conduct virtual interviews with candidates employed by other teams. However, teams are allowed to deny any request made by another team.
With that now in place, and Harbaugh likely out of the picture, here are the best coaching candidates for the 2021 cycle, which includes a mix of NFL coordinators, past NFL head coaches and some of the best minds at the college level: