Next NFL Head Coach Picks: 3 Long-Shot Bets to Make

The NFL's coaching carousel is about to start spinning. Let's look at three long-shot NFL head coach picks.

There are several vacant head coaching positions in the NFL following Black Monday. That means it's time to assess the odds, dig through some rumors, and see whether we can cash a long-shot bet on which head coach a team will hire. 

The Arizona Cardinals, Indianapolis Colts, Denver Broncos, and Carolina Panthers are among some of the teams searching for a new head coach. Those clubs are receiving the majority of our attention now because we can bet on who their next sideline boss will be at DraftKings Sportsbook.

I'm sorry Houston Texans, but I'm not interested in who you're hiring, unless DraftKings includes you in its odds. 

I'm sure you'll think I'm crazy with some of these bets, and it's unlikely any will pay off. But did you think the Colts would hire Jeff Saturday in the middle of the season?

Here's a look at our top NFL head coach long-shot bets (pick confidence is based on a 1-to-5-star rating).

Check out our NFL best bets and our 2023 Super Bowl odds.

Next NFL Head Coach Long-Shot Bets

Indianapolis Colts next coach odds 

Indianapolis Colts: Phillip Rivers (+10000 via DraftKings) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is easily my favorite long-shot play on the board for several reasons. Firstly, the price makes it a certified +10000 moonshot. However, I think the price should be considerably lower. 

Phillip Rivers retired from the NFL and immediately began coaching high school football. So we know that Rivers is interested in becoming a coach, and he's not just a former player who made the oddsboard because he suited up for the Colts. 

In hiring Jeff Saturday, Jim Irsay also demonstrated he's not afraid to bring aboard a head coach who hasn't logged any NFL coaching experience, and he's keen on finding his own version of Mike Vrabel. Moreover, Irsay will be the final decider on who is hired, which I believe increases Rivers' chances of being hired. 

Lastly, it's been reported the Colts are interested in trading with the Chicago Bears to obtain the first overall pick. Indianapolis would want to secure a young franchise quarterback, as the position has been a revolving door for the team in recent seasons.

If Irsay intends to trade a great deal of capital to acquire Bryce Young, I could see him hiring an offensive-minded head coach too. Irsay would view Rivers as someone who can assist Young in developing his abilities. 

Even though it's a long shot, I believe Rivers is definitely live here and worth a wager at +10000.

Check our look at Jim Harbaugh's NFL team and Sean Payton's next team odds!

Denver Broncos next coach odds

Denver Broncos: Jim Caldwell (+8000 via DraftKings) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Nathaniel Hackett and Russell Wilson experience was a complete and utter disaster for the Denver Broncos, so I'm confident they'll be looking for a head coach with experience. 

Dan Quinn (+125), Jim Harbaugh (+350), and Sean Payton (+700) are some of the favorites to become the next head coach of the Broncos. The Broncos play in the tough AFC West and Wilson's contract may be a disaster. So do you really think any of those top candidates would be interested in the position?

The Broncos must find someone with head coaching experience, and a coach who's willing to work with Wilson to improve the situation. Caldwell fits that description, and the +8000 price point makes it a very intriguing bet. Peyton Manning will definitely recommend Caldwell to the new Broncos ownership if they speak with him.

Carolina Panthers next coach odds

Carolina Panthers: Ken Dorsey (+2000 via DraftKings) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Carolina Panthers have requested to interview Mike Kafka (+800), Ben Johnson (+1200), Shane Steichen (+300), and Ken Dorsey (+2000). That raises an immediate alarm, as what do all those coaches hold in common? All of them are offensive coordinators. 

So how did I arrive on Dorsey? There are several factors in his favor.

The Panthers are clearly seeking an offensive-minded coach, and Dorsey served as the quarterback coach for the Panthers from 2013 to 2017. Brian Daboll has also been enjoying immediate success with the New York Giants following his hiring from the Buffalo Bills this past offseason, and Dorsey currently holds a position with them.

The Panthers will struggle to find a veteran head coach due to their quarterback situation. There's likely no immediate path to improving the position, as they don't pick until the ninth overall slot in the NFL draft. Is it possible that draft Anthony Richardson and allow him and Dorsey to grow together? Dorsey served as Cam Newton's quarterback coach during the signal-caller's most successful seasons with the Panthers. 

Dorsey has been given the shortest odds out of the three coaches listed here. That's warranted, as he should be getting shorter odds than candidates like Jim Harbaugh, who is trading at +1200.

Next NFL head coach picks made 1/10/2023 at 11:30 a.m. ET.

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