10 NFL coordinators who've improved their stock in 2023

Midway through the season, here are 10 coordinators (five offensive, five defensive) who've helped their chances at earning a promotion in 2024 the most. Who knows? One of them might just be your team's next head coach.

Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo

Cincy's defense always seems to show up for big games. Following a rough start to the season, The Athletic cautioned against a difficult stretch for the Bengals featuring opponents with explosive offenses, including the Seahawks, 49ers, and Bills. In those three games (all wins), Cincy allowed an average of 17 points per game. Anarumo interviewed for the Cardinals' opening during the offseason and should draw even more consideration after the season.

Cleveland Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz

The former Eagles Super Bowl-winning defensive coordinator is having his most success in Cleveland. It helps that Schwartz has All-Pro defensive end Myles Garrett at his disposal, but he has taken a unit that underperformed in recent years and turned it into an elite defense. Schwartz previously coached the Lions from 2009-13, when he took over after the team went 0-16 in 2008 and led Detroit to the postseason in his third year.

Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn

If the Cowboys come up short in the playoffs again, it wouldn't be a surprise if owner Jerry Jones shows head coach Mike McCarthy the exit and promotes Quinn to the top job. Otherwise, the former Falcons head coach should be in line for the promotion elsewhere after another phenomenal job this season in Dallas. The Cowboys are sixth in scoring defense (18.5 points per game) and third in total defense (288 yards per game). In Week 9's 28-23 loss to the Eagles, they allowed 292 yards, only the second time this season Philly's been held under 300 yards

Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson

Detroit's offense continues to excel in Johnson's second year as offensive coordinator. The Lions have improved from fourth in total offense in 2022 (380 yards per game) to second in 2023 (390.6 yards per game). Per ESPN's Eric Woodyard, Bengals head coach Zac Taylor praised Johnson when the Lions hired him in February 2022, telling reporters, "He's one of those guys you want on your staff because he's brilliant." In the same article, Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown echoed Taylor's comment, "The way he's explaining the plays, the way he's detailed with how we've got to run these routes in the red zone ... There's no gray area. It's super detailed."

Houston Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik

One of the best-kept secrets in the league is Texans offensive coordinator Slowik, who followed head coach DeMeco Ryans from the 49ers after serving as passing game specialist (2021) and passing game coordinator (2022) the past two seasons in San Francisco. As good as quarterback Brock Purdy looked as a rookie last season and C.J. Stroud this season, it probably isn't a coincidence that both worked alongside Slowik. Teams searching for a head coach at the end of the season might be in need of a quarterback, too. Having proven himself to be a rookie quarterback whisperer the past two seasons, look for Slowik to draw a lot of attention next hiring cycle.

Indianapolis Colts offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter

Deserving of a head coaching job based on his name alone, Cooter's done a pretty good job for himself as Colts offensive coordinator this season as well. Rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson looked better than many expected him to look before a shoulder injury ended his season. The offense has hummed with backup Gardner Minsher Jr. Indianapolis is seventh in scoring offense (25.8 points per game), including scoring 38 points against the fantastic Browns defense in Week 7, after ranking 30th in 2022 (17 points per game).

Jacksonville Jaguars defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell

Trevor Lawerence and the offense get the love in Jacksonville, but Caldwell's defense has held up its end of the bargain. The Jags are seventh in scoring defense (19.5 points per game), have allowed the third-fewest rushing yards per game (79.3 yards), and are tied for the league lead in turnovers (18). Despite ranking 30th against the pass (263.5 yards per game), per Pro Football Reference, Jacksonville is fifth in expected points allowed by its pass defense. As sound as Jacksonville is on defense, any team trying to establish its identity on that side of the ball should take a long look at Caldwell.

Miami Dolphins offensive coordinator Frank Smith

Some day soon, NFL front offices will begin looking at people in Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel's orbit like they did Rams head coach Sean McVay's a few years ago. When that happens, Smith will be the benefactor after serving as offensive coordinator of Miami's high-flying offense the past two seasons. He started his NFL coaching career in New Orleans in 2010 following its Super Bowl win and coached for the Bears, Raiders and Chargers before McDaniel hired him as his OC. As The Athletic's Jeff Howe noted in a profile on Smith, "If [he] gets a head-coaching opportunity, it won't be because he's 'a McDaniel guy.'" This offseason, though, that connection certainly won't hurt.

Washington Commanders offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy

Maybe Eric Bieniemy was important in Kansas City. The former Chiefs offensive coordinator was passed over for multiple openings over the years despite being a key member of Andy Reid's staff on two Super Bowl-winning teams. In his first year in Washington, the Commanders are averaging 21.2 points per game, up from 18.9 last season. Meanwhile, the Chiefs are averaging 23.1 points, their lowest since 2014.

Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores

Minnesota's defense has made one of the most impressive midseason turnarounds of any unit this year. In Flores's first three games as defensive coordinator, it was more of the same as last year for the Vikings with the defense allowing 27.3 points and 382.3 yards per game in an 0-3 start. Since then, during the team's current 5-1 stretch, the Vikings have allowed 18 points and 300.8 yards per game. Per Pro Football Reference, Minnesota blitzes at the highest rate in the league under Flores (51.3 percent) after ranking 24th a season ago (18.9 percent). He's pushed the right button with the Vikings and should be heavily considered for his second head-coaching job this offseason.