Meet Your 2008 NFL Head Coaching Candidates: Mike Singletary

With NFL head coaching jobs beginning to open, we'll profile some of the candidates to fill those openings.

Name: Mike Singletary

Current job: Assistant head coach/ linebackers coach, San Francisco 49ers

Past jobs: Assistant coach, Baltimore Ravens, 2003-04.

Pros: As a Pro Football Hall of Famer who played linebacker for 12 years on the Chicago Bears, Singletary would have instant credibility in any NFL locker room. He was a head-coaching candidate in a couple of places last year and was said to interview well.

Cons: Singletary would be one of the league's most inexperienced head coaches. He has only five years of coaching experience, and none as a coordinator.

Conclusions: Last year the Falcons' final decision came down to Singletary or Bobby Petrino. Think they wish they could have that one back? This year Singletary turned down the head-coaching job at Baylor, his alma mater, because he thinks he has a chance at a head-coaching job in the NFL, and that may have been a smart move: He will again be a strong candidate in Atlanta.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

12-28-2007 @ 9:03AM

Spike said...

Singletary would be best to find a coordinator job, where game day decisions and strategies made under the stress of a game provide the experience that makes for a winner. A good example of such is Tony Dungy, who all knew he'd one day be a great head coach, but had to provide his stint as a coordinator. Without such, he'll go the way of a Mariucci, who took two head coaching jobs before he was ready.

12-28-2007 @ 9:46AM

John Floyd said...

Singletary does not have to have coordinator experience. He just need to pick a good coordinator whose has experience. Many coaches are good because they are good administrators not because they have great knowledge of everything.

12-28-2007 @ 11:04AM

Kenny Samuels said...

If Mike Singletary got a head coaching job in the NFL, that would be the best choice any team in need of a coach could make. He was a great player, although that might only mean somthing to the defensive side of the ball. But he seemed to be a great motivator and an even better team mate. He really seems to give a crap if his team wins or loses, and you can't find good character guys to often in major sports anymore. Especially in the NFL. You go Mike, do your thang!