Pat

Shurmur

Shurmur was fired as Denver’s OC after the 2021 season, when Teddy Bridgewater and Drew Lock led one of the least productive, most inefficient offenses in the NFL. Shurmur has head coaching experience with three teams -- the Giants, Browns, and Eagles -- and has served as offensive coordinator for the Broncos, Rams, Eagles, and Vikings. Washington’s OC gig opened when the team fired Scott Turner. If the team commits to Sam Howell this season -- something they might have considered four months ago -- Shurmur has a chance to succeed in Washington.

The Broncos are overhauling their staff, moving on from head coach Vic Fangio as well as Shurmur. Denver added Shurmur to the mix ahead of the 2020 season, hoping he could find a way to make Drew Lock work. As expected, he couldn’t and the Broncos became the next team to attempt to make Teddy Bridgewater a thing this year. Shurmur couldn’t coax more than replacement-level numbers out of Bridgewater despite having a solid cast of weapons for him to work with. Shurmur has over a decade of experience as a head coach and an offensive coordinator under his belt. He won’t have any problems landing a job as a position coach once the hiring cycle begins.

It’s not yet clear who will call plays for Denver in place of Shurmur, who is unlikely to record two negative tests 24 hours apart prior to kick-off. The two primary options are RB coach Curtis Modkins and QB coach Mike Shula, who are both former coordinators. Any cluster effects are worth monitoring since Drew Lock recently tested positive ahead of Week 9.

54-year-old Shurmur is an MSU alum but hasn’t been in the college coaching ranks since 1998 at Stanford. He was a Michigan State assistant from 1990-97. Perhaps Shurmur will go home for his next gig, but he is likely an NFL lifer at this point.

Shurmur is Oakland’s second interview after Seahawks OC Darrell Bevell met with the team earlier this week. The Raiders have also been linked to Cardinals DC Todd Bowles, Colts OC Pep Hamilton, Seattle DC Dan Quinn, 49ers TE coach Eric Mangini, and Broncos DC Jack Del Rio.

Another retread -- like 49ers TEs coach Eric Mangini -- for the Raiders to interview. Shurmur doesn’t excite many, but he’s a good coach. Prior to going 9-23 as the Browns’ head coach from 2011-2012, Shurmur coached Eagles QBs for seven years under Andy Reid and was the Rams’ OC during Sam Bradford’s rookie season -- his best year as a pro when he won Rookie of the Year. Shurmur has spent the past two seasons learning new ideas from Chip Kelly.

He replaces Rich Scangarello, who was fired Sunday. Shurmur had a number of suitors, including the Bears, but he chose to tie himself to Drew Lock rather than Mitchell Trubisky. In Denver, Shurmur will also run the offensive show for defensive-minded head coach Vic Fangio. In Chicago, Shurmur just would’ve been Matt Nagy’s sounding board. Shurmur has a pretty solid history as an OC but hasn’t cut it as a head coach. He’s back where he belongs, focusing on one side of the ball and fading to the background. Lock, Phillip Lindsay, Royce Freeman, Courtland Sutton, and Noah Fant are some nice pieces with which to build.

Rich Scangarello was just relieved of his duties, opening the door for Shurmur to replace him as Denver’s offensive coordinator. He’s also a candidate to join Matt Nagy’s staff in Chicago and will likely draw interest from the Vikings, who could be eyeing a reunion with Shurmur following Kevin Stefanski’s defection to Cleveland. Despite a weak showing during his two-year stint as Giants’ head coach, Shurmur has not hurt for interest as a coordinator.

La Canfora didn’t specify what position he’d be up for, though the Bears do have an offensive coordinator vacancy following Mark Helfrich’s firing last month. Shurmur was overmatched as a head coach but he’s always been a strong coordinator. With Kevin Stefanski headed to Cleveland, Shurmur could also be tempted to return to his old post as Minnesota’s offensive coordinator, assuming the Vikings have interest.

Cronin may be just speculating though it’s an easy dot to connect as Shurmur previously served as the Vikings’ offensive coordinator prior to joining the Giants in 2018. That position is once again vacant now that Kevin Stefanski has accepted the Browns’ head-coaching job. If Minnesota decides to stay in-house, Cronin believes QBs coach Klint Kubiak (son of assistant head coach Gary Kubiak) would be a leading candidate to replace Stefanski as offensive coordinator.