The Bears get their man, the Jets seemingly close in on theirs, and the league has a coaching search + agent conundrum
Jan 22, 2025
auto_awesome
Albert Breer, an esteemed NFL reporter for The MMQB and Sports Illustrated, joins forces with Kalyn Kahler from ESPN, who exposes the significant influence of coaching agents in hiring practices. They discuss the Chicago Bears' recent hire of Ben Johnson and the complexities around the coaching search processes. The conversation delves into the power dynamics of ownership, general managers, and agents, revealing how these relationships impact diversity and decision-making in NFL coaching hires. Expect insights into modern leadership and coaching trends!
The Chicago Bears seized the opportunity to hire Ben Johnson shortly after the Lions' playoff loss, showcasing the rapid coaching changes in the NFL.
The influence of coaching agents is growing, affecting the hiring process for head coaches and GMs due to their extensive networks.
The podcast emphasized the importance of team executives establishing diverse hiring practices to avoid limiting the pool of coaching candidates.
Insights revealed the need for NFL teams to move beyond agent affiliations in their hiring processes to foster inclusivity and innovation.
Deep dives
Discover Card Benefits
Discover offers a credit card that is accepted in 99% of locations nationwide that take credit cards, which is advantageous for sports fans purchasing tickets and concessions. Every purchase made with the card automatically earns cash back, creating a rewards system that can benefit users for game day expenses and general spending alike. This highlights how utilizing the Discover card can provide not just convenience but also financial rewards, making it a notable choice for anyone involved in frequent transactions, especially around sports events. Such benefits emphasize the personalization of financial tools available to consumers today.
Tax Filing Made Easier
TurboTax now offers a service whereby users can have their taxes completed by an expert who will manage the entire process from start to finish. This includes real-time updates, ensuring that users are informed about the progress without the usual confusion and delays associated with tax filing. The reliability of TurboTax’s guarantee of maximizing returns and filing with accuracy adds an extra layer of trust for individuals seeking tax help. This service aims to alleviate the common anxieties and uncertainties surrounding tax season.
Insurance Comparison Simplified
Insurify serves as a platform for users to compare insurance quotes from various top insurers, potentially saving them a significant amount on yearly expenses. It provides a hassle-free experience, enabling users to secure coverage without the typical burdens of lengthy phone calls or unwanted spam. Users can access real-time quotes, ensuring they receive competitive offers in an efficient manner. The convenience of online processing allows individuals to find suitable insurance quickly and effectively.
Coaches Carousel and Insights
The podcast discusses significant coaching developments within the NFL, including the hiring of Ben Johnson by the Chicago Bears and Mike Borgonzi as the general manager for the Titans. The conversations highlight the dynamics and ongoing shifts in coaching roles across teams, emphasizing the strategic decisions made by franchises in pursuit of attracting talent. Insights from Albert Breer reveal the complexity of these hires and the backgrounds of candidates involved, contributing to understanding the larger coaching landscape. The ongoing coaching carousel illustrates the evolving nature of team strategies and the quest for success within the league.
Understanding Coach-GM Pairing
Kaylin Kaler's exploration of the relationship between general managers and head coaches reveals how connections often stem from shared representation by coaching agents. This dynamics can significantly influence hiring practices, as general managers may lean towards candidates who are represented by the same agents or agencies they trust. The conversation points to a broader concern regarding the lack of diversity in coaching positions, linked to how agent networks can create echo chambers. Examining this packaging and its implications helps unveil the complexities behind the scenes in NFL coaching decisions.
Insights on Agency Influence
The rise of agency influence over coaching hires points to a significant trend impacting the NFL's decision-making processes. As agents become central figures in the hiring framework, their connections can dictate the pool of candidates that teams consider, potentially sidelining deserving candidates due to lack of representation. This trend raises questions regarding the equity and transparency of hiring practices in the league, highlighting an urgent need for agencies and team executives to foster a more inclusive landscape. The discussion underscores the importance of re-evaluating how decisions are made in order to promote diverse opportunities across coaching roles.
Process Improvement in Hiring
There is a pressing need for NFL teams to enhance their hiring process for coaches and general managers to avoid the pitfalls of a narrow scope of candidates. The podcast underlines the concept that teams should invest in thorough research and establish a system that thoroughly evaluates potential candidates beyond their agent affiliations. By doing so, organizations can create a more competitive hiring landscape that values diverse backgrounds and innovative ideas. This suggests a strategic pivot that could address historical inequities and foster a more dynamic environment in NFL coaching and front office roles.
The Lions letdown turned out to be the Bears opportunity, with the latter hiring Ben Johnson 48 hours after the former's playoff loss. On this episode of The Athletic Football Show, Robert Mays welcomes on Albert Breer of The MMQB and Sports Illustrated to cover the latest in this year's coaching cycle. Then, Kalyn Kahler from ESPN joins the show to discuss her story on the surprising amount of power agents hold in the head coach and GM hiring process.
