NFL Notes: Hue Jackson, Coaching Candidates, Commissioner Candidates

Hue Jackson

Despite a disappointing stint in Cleveland that included three wins in three seasons, former Browns HC Hue Jackson believes he still can be a head coach in the NFL and will be looking for opportunities to prove it.

“Oh, yeah, I mean I think I can,” Jackson said via Pro Football Talk. “I mean, just because the situation in Cleveland [didn’t work out] doesn’t mean that you can’t coach. There’s a lot of great coaches who came before me that coached there and went on and did great things. Sometimes, the situation is different. I think if people dig in and really take the time to look at the overall situation there, maybe they would understand it more. At the same time, I understand what narrative gets put out there, that’s what people know. Hopefully, people will think back to the times when I’ve put myself in that position. I had to be doing something right. To go back and be a coordinator again or be a head coach, I do believe it’s in my future. I’ve just got to go work through the process and see where it goes.”

Coaching Candidates

• Sports Illustrated’s Connor Orr looks at potential future head coaching candidates, starting with “defensive Kingsbury’s” — college coaches who are seen as schematic innovators on the defensive side of the ball. 
• Orr includes LSU DC Dave Aranda, Wisconsin DC Jim Leonhard and Miami HC Manny Diaz.
• If Raiders HC Jon Gruden flourishes in 2019, Orr writes owners could consider “personality” head coaches like Rex Ryan, Mike Shanahan or Bill Cowher.
• Orr also thinks teams could consider longtime assistants like Eric Bieniemy, Eric Studesville, Teryl Austin, Dave Toub, Don Martindale, Dean Pees or Stump Mitchell.

Commissioner Candidates

• The Athletic’s Daniel Kaplan says current Vikings COO and future Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren is one of a handful of candidates who could replace NFL commissioner Roger Goodell after Goodell’s contract runs out in 2024. 
• Kaplan also lists NFL executive Brian Rolapp, chairman of Proskauer Rose law firm Joe Leccese, Giants co-owner John Mara, NBA commissioner Adam Silver and Disney CEO Bob Iger. 
• Mike Florio of PFT adds that Hall of Fame DB Aeneas Williams to the list of names to watch and says that chatter of Williams potentially succeeding Goodell first surfaced at the league meeting in Arizona.