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Redskins: 30 candidates who could potentially replace Jay Gruden as head coach

By Jacob Camenker

PITTSBURGH, PA - OCTOBER 06: head coach Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers calls a timeout in the fourth quarter during the game against the Baltimore Ravens at Heinz Field on October 6, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - OCTOBER 06: head coach Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers calls a timeout in the fourth quarter during the game against the Baltimore Ravens at Heinz Field on October 6, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) /
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LUBBOCK, TX – NOVEMBER 24: Head coach Matt Rhule of the Baylor Bears is presented the Shootout trophy for winning the game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders on November 24, 2018 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Baylor defeated Texas Tech 35-24. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TX – NOVEMBER 24: Head coach Matt Rhule of the Baylor Bears is presented the Shootout trophy for winning the game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders on November 24, 2018 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Baylor defeated Texas Tech 35-24. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images) /

860. . Head Coach. Bears . Matt Rhule. 7. player

Previously: 14

Last offseason, Matt Rhule was one of the rumored candidates for the New York Jets’ coaching job. Ultimately, he would withdraw his name from consideration given that the Jets weren’t necessarily going to let him choose his own assistants.

But during the 2020 offseason, Rhule could get renewed interest from teams looking for a potential-packed head coach. After all, he has rapidly turned the Baylor football program around despite scandals that derailed them. After a 1-11 mark in his first season with the Bears, Rhule was able to get the team to a bowl game last season. And this year, he has the squad off to an 8-0 start and a No. 12 ranking as of this writing.

Rhule came to Baylor after serving as the head coach at Temple and finding a lot of success. He coached countless professional prospects at Temple and got them back-to-back 10 win seasons. That’s what afforded him the opportunity to coach at Baylor.

Rhule has experience playing at the collegiate level as he played linebacker at Penn State during the mid-90s. He doesn’t have much NFL experience as a coach — he spent one season as the Giants’ assistant offensive line coach in 2012 — but he is an intriguing coaching candidate. He has a lot of experience as a top assistant or head coach, as he was the Temple offensive coordinator for four years before moving onto the Giants and then becoming Temple’s head coach.

For Washington, Rhule would be a candidate with a lot of proven college-level experience and a solid amount of success. He is still just 44 so he would have a chance to grow if given a chance to be an NFL head coach. There are other options with more NFL experience than Rhule, but he could end up earning an interview, especially if Baylor continues to play so well as the season goes along.

As the Jets showed us last season, Rhule does have some fans in the NFL. And his high-level college coaching experience could make a jump to the next level the next logical move for Rhule.

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