Id take Patricia or McDaniels .
Obviously though , Number one candidate would be Payton .
( unless somehow Hardbaugh were to leave the Ravens which ... Isn't happening )
Why mcdaniels? Explain what he has actually done for you to want him other than getting run from the bronco's (a better team than we are now) and carrying billichecks coffee cup around.
Peyton? Not looking so all world now that his big talent is gone. And thats with a much better qb than he would have here!! The whole head coach thing is a lot of hype and fans are not getting the picture on how winning teams become winning teams.
1a. Players: Real players. If you dont have enough of them, no head coach will succeed.
1b: A gm who knows how to identify REAL talent and knows how to draft.
2. Quality Assistant Coaches: Now here is the meat and potatos of the coaching chain. Show me a great h/c and i'll show you a team with an exellent staff. They must be well versed in a solid scheme and know how to teach it. They have the toughest, most important job in football.
3. Head Coach: they usually pic their staff. The good ones know them. They know their career and reputation depends on them almost entirely. A lot of coaches turn down jobs not so much because they dont like team. The 2 biggest reasons are they cant get the assistants they want as they are under contract with other teams and/or the qb. If the team doesnt have one and there is nothing on the horizon in the draft or free agency, they pass. Its an almost guranteed loser. You dont win playoffs and supdrbowls without a qb, PERIOD!! VERY, VERY FEW acceptions.
Everyone is always hammering the x and o thing on head coaches and very few are guru's in that regard. They need to be strong leaders. No nonsense. Straight shooters who keep their word. Facilitators and leaders of men. They keep the right people in the right spots and dont hesitate to change what isnt working in coaches or assistants. Not be a knee jerk reactor. Someone with high character and intestinal fortitude.
In a nutshell, he keeps the band together and making good music. The perfect example of that kind of coach? Dan Campbell. Its to bad we wont see him with his own assistants and players and scheme.