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*Update - Add the Bengals to the list
Source: The #Bengals have requested to interview #Rams QB coach Zac Taylor for their vacant HC opportunity.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 31, 2018
Former Husker quarterback Zac Taylor has seen his star rise quickly in the coaching ranks. Today, known as Black Monday for underperforming NFL coaching staffs, he is entering rare air. At least two teams have requested permission to interview Taylor for their head coaching job.
Taylor is young, only 35 years old but has caught the eye of NFL general managers desperate to keep up in an NFL that has seen the scales tip significantly in favor of offense.
The #Cardinals have requested permission to interview #Rams QB coach Zac Taylor for their head coaching job, source says.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) December 31, 2018
The #Broncos have requested an interview with #Rams QBs coach Zac Taylor, source said.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) December 31, 2018
Also looking for head coaches at this time are the Green Bay Packers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Miami Dolphins, Cincinnati Bengals, New York Jets, and Cleveland Browns. If any of these teams (or others who decide to make changes in the next few days) add Taylor to their list, I’ll update this article. (Let me know in the comments if you see any tweets or articles.)
I have a hard time believing that a coach as young as Taylor with exactly a half season under his belt as an offensive coordinator is going to get offered a head coaching position. It seems like this is more about potentially luring Zac to an offensive coordinator position or making a connection with a promising young coach who might be available the next time their team needs a head man.
On the other hand, the pool of head coach candidates is seen as rather poor right now and everyone is looking for the next Sean McVay (who just happens to be Taylor’s current boss.) It only takes one NFL general manager to be unconventional and decide to take a chance on potential rather than hire a so-so retread.