Saturday 10 September 2016 20:30, UK
When choosing a head coach, owners need to have 100 per cent confidence that their selection can build a winning team and lead the franchise to the Super Bowl. With four rookie head coaches appointed this season, Sky Sports assess their journey so far and 2016 playoff chances.
Adam Gase - Miami Dolphins
The youngest head coach in the NFL, 38-year-old Gase was offensive coordinator at the Denver Broncos and the Chicago Bears before accepting the role in Miami. He began his career at Michigan State University, working with Nick Saban, before joining the NFL as a scouting assistant for the Detroit Lions.
Gase is a creative play caller and has been praised for his combination routes in both Chicago and Denver. As a former quarterbacks coach, the approach is throw first and less reliant on a run game. The 2015 Pro Bowl wide receiver Jarvis Landry should expect to see a lot of the ball, particularly with Devante Parker unlikely to recover from a hamstring injury.
It couldn't be much tougher than travelling to Seattle for Gase's opening NFL game. The AFC East can be a tricky division but the Dolphins will play the New England Patriots at home in week two, with their opponents missing Tom Brady.
The Dolphins have a talented roster and if Gase can get the best out of quarterback Ryan Tannehill, they have a chance at making the playoffs for the first time since 2008.
Ben McAdoo - New York Giants
When it was rumoured that McAdoo would interview for the vacant coaching position in Cleveland early in the offseason, the Giants acted swiftly, removing Tom Coughlin and promoting McAdoo from offensive coordinator to head coach.
McAdoo offers consistency, having worked with the team since 2013. During that time, quarterback Eli Manning has posted the best stats of his career, including a 35-TD high in 2015, and Odell Beckham Jr has established himself as one of the best wide receivers in the league. McAdoo's style is similar to Coughlin's, preaching a disciplined and militaristic routine, whilst maintaining a likeability factor in the locker room.
Opening against Dallas Cowboys live on Sky Sports 2, the Giants owners will be hoping that McAdoo can establish New York as the team to beat in the AFC East this year.
Doug Pederson - Philadelphia Eagles
Hoping to rival McAdoo for the NFC East is new Eagles head coach Doug Pederson. As a player, Pederson was the back up quarterback at the 1997 Super Bowl winning Green Bay Packers. He began his coaching career with the Eagles, eventually following head coach Andy Reid to Kansas City, where he became the Chiefs' offensive coordinator.
However upon moving back to Philadelphia, Pederson has inherited a tricky situation. Having already assured Sam Bradford that he was the starting quarterback, Bradford was then traded to the Minnesota Vikings following Teddy Bridgewater's season-ending injury. The Eagles will now start with rookie quarterback Carson Wentz, who has only managed 38 snaps in the preseason.
It is shaping up to be a tough opening season for Pederson and Wentz. There hasn't been a rookie quarterback with a winning record since 2012 (Andrew Luck, Russell Wilson) and many predict that this will be a season of development for the franchise as a whole.
Dirk Koetter - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
As a college coach Koetter had a winning record with both Boise State and Arizona State before accepting the offensive coordinator position with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2007. In his first season the Jaguars finished 11-5, a record that hasn't been achieved by the team since. The Jags also set franchise records for points scored and yards gained.
Having also served as OC for the Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Koetter stepped up to head coach in the offseason after Lovie Smith was sacked following a 5-11 record. The Bucs represent a great opportunity for Koetter, with a young and talented roster including second year quarterback Jameis Winston.
Tampa Bay take on the Atlanta Falcons in an early divisional match up and, after Carolina Panthers lost their opening game of the season, the Bucs will want to take full advantage and establish an early lead in the NFC South.
