5. Jim Caldwell, Free Agent
I mentioned that Doug Pederson is one of the only head coach options on this list to win a Super Bowl as a head coach.
Jim Caldwell is the other. Okay, technically he was only the “assistant” head coach, but still.
Caldwell is one of the most successful coaches in Detroit Lions history and one of the only ones to end his tenure as Lions head coach with a winning record.
That’s certainly a notch on his belt.
Although Caldwell was let go by the Lions because the team underachieved based on expectations, he’s been a very good head coach in this league and would almost certainly fit the “leadership” criteria George Paton is looking for.
Not that this means everything either, but I’m sure Peyton Manning would also vouch for Jim Caldwell.
Caldwell is 66 years old, and the older candidates on this list are borderline on the immediate “pass” list for me personally. Even so, Caldwell is getting consideration elsewhere in the league besides just potentially in Denver.
He has a 62-50 overall record as an NFL head coach.