2018 NFC Coordinator Carousel
While there weren't as many total coaching changes in the NFC compared to the AFC when it comes to defensive and offensive coordinators, the source of those changes may be somewhat surprising. In the NFC, Arizona, Chicago, Detroit and the New York Giants all hired new head coaches, but of those teams only the Cardinals and Giants brought in new coordinators on both sides of the ball. The Bears and Lions retrained defensive coordinator Vic Fangio and offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter, respectively.
Two other NFC teams -- Green Bay and Seattle -- made changes at both coordinator spots this offseason while four other teams took on a ride on the coaching carousel as well. Here is a rundown on all the coordinator changes in the NFC:
Arizona Cardinals, Defensive Coordinator
Old: James Bettcher
New: Al Holcomb
Holcomb, former linebackers coach for the Panthers, follows new Cardinals coach Steve Wilks from Charlotte to Phoenix. The two worked together for five seasons in Carolina.
Arizona Cardinals, Offensive Coordinator
Old: Harold Goodwin
New: Mike McCoy
McCoy was fired after four seasons as head coach in San Diego and fired 10 games into his first season as Denver’s offensive coordinator. But as a former head coach, he’ll be an important sounding board for first-year Cards boss Steve Wilks.
Carolina Panthers, Defensive Coordinator
Old: Steve Wilks
New: Eric Washington
The Panthers’ defensive line coach for seven seasons, Washington earned a promotion to the coordinator job after his unit produced an NFL-best 311 sacks over that span. He will likely export the line’s aggressive mindset to the rest of the Panthers defense.
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Carolina Panthers, Offensive Coordinator
Old: Mike Shula
New: Norv Turner
Look up the term “NFL lifer” and you’ll find a picture of Norv Turner. After a one-year break, he’s back for his 33rd season on an NFL staff, and he’ll look to unleash a vertical passing game that’s languished.
Chicago Bears, Offensive Coordinator
Old: Dowell Loggains
New: Mark Helfrich
Aside from a season in Europe in the late 1990s, this represents Helfrich’s first job in pro football. He was fired after four seasons as Oregon’s head coach, although his Ducks maintained a high level of offensive proficiency. Helfrich will try to give his playmakers opportunities in space.
Detroit Lions, Defensive Coordinator
Old: Teryl Austin
New: Paul Pasqualoni
Matt Patricia got his first big coaching break when Pasqualoni hired him as an assistant at Syracuse in 2001. Now, Patricia returns the favor, bringing his like-minded mentor on board to help guide the Lions defense.
Green Bay Packers, Defensive Coordinator
Old: Dom Capers
New: Mike Pettine
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The Packers’ offseason housecleaning included the defense, where Dom Capers was jettisoned after a nine-year run as coordinator. Pettine (above, right) has worked under defensive-minded bosses such as Brian Billick, John Harbaugh and Rex Ryan.
Green Bay Packers, Offensive Coordinator
Old: Edgar Bennett
New: Joe Philbin
Philbin’s unsuccessful tenure as Miami’s head coach didn’t diminish his offensive reputation in Green Bay, where he worked for nine years and was offensive coordinator for five. He’ll be reunited with a hungry Aaron Rodgers.
Los Angeles Rams, Offensive Coordinator
Old: Matt LeFleur
New: Aaron Kromer/Shane Waldron
Head coach Sean McVay has decided to go the co-coordinator route, with Kromer handling the run game and Waldron overseeing the passing game. Kromer has been promoted from offensive line coach, while Waldron was formerly the tight ends coach. McVay will retain the play-calling duties he held last season.
Minnesota Vikings, Offensive Coordinator
Old: Pat Shurmur
New: John DeFilippo
The former quarterbacks coach for the Eagles, DeFilippo played a key role in the development of quarterback Carson Wentz and shepherded the position through the transition to Nick Foles for the Super Bowl run.
New York Giants, Defensive Coordinator
Old: Steve Spagnuolo
New: James Bettcher
Bettcher arrives after a successful run as defensive coordinator in Arizona. Look for him to ratchet up the pressure with a defense that was reluctant to blitz under former coordinator Steve Spagnuolo.
New York Giants, Offensive Coordinator
Old: Mike Sullivan
New: Mike Shula
Panthers fans were happy to see Shula get the boot as Carolina’s offensive coordinator, but he enters a situation with new Giants head coach Pat Shurmur that’s better suited to his strengths. Shula’s role in New York will be more conceptual and developmental, while Shurmur is likely to handle most of the play calling.
Philadelphia Eagles, Offensive Coordinator
Old: Frank Reich
New: Mike Groh
Groh earned a promotion from wide receivers coach to offensive coordinator, although the role has a different meaning in Philly, where head coach Doug Pederson retains control over the offense.
Seattle Seahawks, Defensive Coordinator
Old: Kris Richard
New: Ken Norton Jr.
The Pacific Northwest is not unfamiliar territory for Norton, who was Pete Carroll’s linebackers coach during the Seattle defense’s glory days from 2010-14.
Seattle Seahawks, Offensive Coordinator
Old: Darrell Bevell
New: Brian Schottenheimer
With the exception of 1999, 2000 and 2015, there’s been a Schottenheimer coaching in the NFL every season since 1975. Brian doesn’t bring a fresh name, but he should bring a fresh approach.
(Norv Turner photo courtesy of www.panthers.com; Mike Pettine photo by Evan Siegle, courtesy of www.packers.com)
