Ten Rising Offensive Skill Position Coaches to know as the NFL Coaching Cycle heats up

The NFL coaching cycle is in full swing. Multiple head coach and coordinator opportunities have opened up already, and interview requests are quickly firing in as every team looks to settle their immediate future with the right hire. At A to Z Sports, we've already covered the head coach candidates and general manager candidates to […]

AJ Schulte — College Football Trending News Writer

Jan 10, 2025 6:20 AM EST

Detroit Lions wide receivers coach Antwaan Randle El reacts to a play against Green Bay Packers during the first half at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. on Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. — Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

At A to Z Sports, we've already covered the head coach candidates and general manager candidates to monitor (link below). For this, I wanted to tackle some of the lesser known coaches on the rise who could be featured names for coordinator positions and head coaches of their own someday.

For transparency's sake, here are some criteria I used to determine this list:

I made it a rule to cut off coaches who were over 45 AND/OR had 10+ years of experience in the NFL. This is a rising coaches article after all.
If they had already served as an NFL coordinator or currently are an NFL coordinator, they will not be here (sorry Adam Stenavich).
Names were determined by track record of success and what I have personally heard through my own network and research. It's not a perfect science but the hit rate for these coaches is pretty long.
If a coach didn't make it on here, it's not because I hate your team. I had to cut this list off at some point for time's sake.

Also, this list is organized alphabetically (last name) so as not to imply any bias with the candidates or default into a "ranking" of them.

A to Z Sports NFL Head Coach Candidates
A to Z Sports NFL General Manager Candidates
A to Z Sports NFL Quarterback Coaches on the Rise

1. Nick Caley, Tight Ends coach/PGC, Los Angeles Rams

It wouldn't be an NFL coaching cycle without a Sean McVay assistant on NFL radars for a bigger job. Nick Caley has been a key part of the Rams' offensive process the past two seasons, and he's admired in the building as a teacher by the players in the tight end room. He is heavily involved in the offense as the tight ends coach and passing game coordinator. While he isn't the play-caller, he played a role in the team's offensive evolution last year that propelled the team to the playoffs.

In last year's cycle, it was reported that the New England Patriots wanted to make Nick Caley one of the highest-paid offensive coordinators in the NFL. Given how often Sean McVay's assistants get hired away and have success, I'd expect Caley to draw plenty of interest once again.

2. Declan Doyle, Tight Ends coach, Denver Broncos

One of two Broncos' offensive assistants on this list (more on the second below), Declan Doyle's name has gotten "bigger" in circles as time has gone on. He worked under Sean Payton in New Orleans as an offensive assistant and stayed on staff under Dennis Allen there, handling multiple roles behind the scenes.

Once Payton returned to coaching and was traded to the Broncos, he hired Doyle away to serve as his tight ends coach. He's proven Payton right so far, as he's reinvigorated Adam Trautman's career and helped develop UDFA Lucas Krull into a productive target.

As involved as a tight ends coach is in the offensive process, don't be surprised if teams come calling on Doyle to tap into their offensive resurgence and guidance of rookie quarterback Bo Nix to a playoff appearance.

3. John Dunn, Tight Ends coach, Green Bay Packers

A former coach for the Chicago Bears, John Dunn is now leading the Packers to success as one of the best tight end rooms in the NFL. His first NFL experience came working as an offensive assistant with the wide receivers, quarterbacks, and offensive line protections. His next NFL stop came courtesy of the New York Jets, where he mentored Chris Herndon to productive seasons and led Ryan Griffin to career-high production.

He originally joined the Packers as a defensive assistant in 2021, working with the inside linebackers, before being promoted to tight ends coach in 2022. Since? He's helped lead Robert Tonyan to career-high production and has helped the Packers develop arguably the best tight end rooms in the NFL with Tucker Kraft, Luke Musgrave, and Ben Sims.

4. Antwaan Randle El, Wide Receivers coach, Detroit Lions

A former quarterback turned wide receiver, Antwaan Randle El parlayed a successful playing career and Super Bowl ring into coaching success shortly after retiring. Randle El began his coaching career as an offensive assistant under Bruce Arians in Tampa in 2019. He was hired by the Lions as their receivers coach in 2021 and has flourished.

Detroit's wide receiver room has helped them to the one seed in the NFC and multiple playoff berths since Randle El joined the team. His work with coaching Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams garners attention, and he's able to relay his experience playing both quarterback and receiver into his teaching of players in Detroit's offense. I wouldn't be shocked to see a promotion to keep him around if Ben Johnson takes a job elsewhere.

5. Leonard Hankerson, Wide Receivers coach, San Francisco 49ers

To the surprise of no one, Kyle Shanahan has another quality offensive coach on the rise. Leonard Hankerson has quickly become one of the best wide receivers coaches in the NFL and has played a key role in the 49ers' offensive success in recent years.

A former third-round pick by Washington in the 2011 NFL Draft, Hankerson played under Kyle Shanahan at Washington and with the Atlanta Falcons. After a five-year career in the league, Hankerson transitioned into coaching, taking a role with the UMass Minutemen. He became the school's wide receivers coach in 2018, where he coached Andy Isabella into a Biletnikoff Finalist and First-Team All-American. Isabella went on to become a second-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.

Hankerson moved on to coach wide receivers at Stephen F. Austin, where he helped develop current Jets wide receiver Xavier Gipson. After two seasons with the Lumberjacks, Shanahan brought Hankerson on board as an offensive quality control coach.

It didn't take long for him to outgrow that role, and Hankerson became the 49ers' wide receivers coach after just one year with the team. He immediately hit the ground running, developing Brandon Aiyuk into one of the game's best wide receivers, as well as coaching Jauan Jennings into career-high numbers.

Hankerson has drawn plenty of interest in both NFL and college circles for his work with the 49ers. Don't be surprised to see his name brought up often this offseason.

6. Kevin Koger, Tight Ends coach, Atlanta Falcons

Kevin Koger got his first start as an NFL coach with the Green Bay Packers under Matt LaFleur as an offensive quality control coach. Koger worked mainly with the tight ends, helping develop Robert Tonyan to lead all NFL tight ends in touchdown catches in 2020. After two seasons with the Packers, he was hired to be the full-time tight ends coach of the Los Angeles Chargers under Brandon Staley in 2021.

Despite frequent injuries, odd usage, and a relative lack of investment, his tight end room still produced quality seasons underneath him. In 2022, they were one of the most productive tight-end rooms in the NFL. Koger also coached Gerald Everett to career bests with 58 receptions and 555 yards on the season, while tying a single-season career high with four touchdown catches. He followed it up with coaching Donald Parham to career bests as well.

Now, he is the full-time tight ends coach in Atlanta and has helped coach Kyle Pitts to take the next step of his career. Koger has worked under some of the smartest offensive coaches and has a strong record of positional coaching at multiple stops.

7. Aaron Moorehead, Wide Receivers coach, Philadelphia Eagles

A former Super Bowl-winning player with the Indianapolis Colts, Aaron Moorehead first began coaching in college. At stops with Stanford, Virginia Tech, Texas A&M, and Vanderbilt Moorehead has coached multiple NFL players like Doug Baldwin, Ryan Whalen, Ty Montgomery, Christian Kirk, Josh Reynolds, Kalija Lipscomb, Joshua Stanford, Isaiah Ford, and Damion Ratley.

After participating in the Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship with the Colts, where he met Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni, Moorehead was brought on to coach the Eagles' wide receivers, where he has had stunning success. A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith have grown into two of the best receivers in the NFL under him, becoming the first 1,000-yard duo in Eagles history.

8. Michael Pitre, Running Backs coach, Atlanta Falcons

The second Falcons' coach to make this list, Michael Pitre has coached elite running back play everywhere he has been in his career. Pitre's success at Colorado, Montana State, and Oregon State, where he helped Jermar Jefferson become one of the best running backs in college football, drew the attention of the NFL, and he became the Bears running backs' coach in 2021.

Pitre joined the Falcons in the same role in 2022, where he has continued his strong track record of development. Tyler Allgeier set the rookie record for most yards in Falcons' history. Cordarrelle Patterson also set single-season career highs for rushing yards and rushing touchdowns.

Oh yeah, and he's also coached some guy named Bijan Robinson. Ever heard of him?

9. Tommy Rees, Tight Ends coach, Cleveland Browns

Tommy Rees earned his first NFL opportunity as an assistant with the Chargers, working with the quarterbacks under Ken Whisenhunt and Shane Steichen.

Rees's first major job came as the quarterbacks coach of Notre Dame in 2017, where he helped Ian Book finish his Notre Dame career as the winningest quarterback in school history.

For his efforts, Rees was promoted to offensive coordinator of the Fighting Irish in 2020, coordinating one of the best offenses in college football from 2020-22 at Notre Dame before taking the same gig at Alabama. Reed helped both schools earn College Football Playoff bids before hopping to the NFL as the tight ends coach of the Browns.

Rees is well-regarded in coaching circles and is already earning offensive coordinator interviews in this coaching cycle. That move feels inevitable, whether in this cycle or next year's.

10. Drew Terrell, Wide Receivers coach/PGC, Arizona Cardinals

A former All-Pac 12 receiver at Stanford, Drew Terrell's first coaching job came underneath the aforementioned Aaron Moorehead while at Virginia Tech, where the two developed Cam Phillips and Isaiah Ford to NFL opportunities. Terrell then joined Jim Harbaugh's staff at Michigan, working with wide receivers and cornerbacks there. Terrell helped mentor Amara Darboh, Jehu Chesson, David Long, and Lavert Hill to NFL Draft selections.

It was from there that his NFL journey started, as he was hired by the Panthers as a quality control coach in 2018. That season, while working under Ron Rivera and Norv Turner, the Panthers boasted their second-highest yardage mark in franchise history. Terrell followed Rivera to Washington, this time as a receivers coach. There, Terrell aided Terry McLaurin's and Jahan Dotson's development.

A promotion came calling for Terrell, and he left Rivera to join the Cardinals as their wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator. With Arizona, he has helped Michael Wilson, Greg Dortch, and Marvin Harrison Jr. to productive seasons early in their NFL career, and has guided one of the best passing offenses in the NFL this season.