10 NFL playoff teams are integrating new play-callers, either out of need or to add a spark for 2023

Updated Aug. 15, 2023 1:35 p.m. ET

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SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — When Steve Wilks was handed the reins of the NFL's stingiest defense in San Francisco, the priority for the new coordinator was learning what made the 49ers so good rather than installing his own system.

Wilks stepped into what was both an easy job with a star-studded defense that led the NFL in points and yards allowed under DeMeco Ryans last season and a difficult one knowing he would get the blame if there is any regression.

Coach Kyle Shanahan's main goal when looking for a new coordinator after Ryans left for the head coaching job in Houston was finding someone who would keep the structure intact.

Wilks is putting his own spin on a successful scheme, utilizing more blitzes and spending more time working on technique with the defensive backs in hopes of limiting big plays. But the defense is still using the same basic structure.

“I think the key thing is having an open mind to learn," Wilks said. “I’ve been around quite a bit. I’ve done a lot of different things, but it’s not my way, it’s the 49ers way."

The 49ers are one of 10 playoff teams from last season that are working in at least one new offensive or defensive coordinator in 2023. The NFC champion Eagles hired Brian Johnson and Sean Desai to replace OC Shane Steichen and DC Jonathan Gannon, who each got head coaching jobs.

While San Francisco and Philadelphia made the changes out of necessity, other contenders believed they needed a spark on one side of the ball or the other.

The Ravens and Chargers wanted to overhaul offenses that had grown stagnant at times. Baltimore brought in Todd Monken and his diverse passing game to replace Greg Roman, who built a running offense around Lamar Jackson. Los Angeles hired Kellen Moore away from Dallas in hopes of unleashing Justin Herbert's big arm, which wasn't always used enough under Joe Lombardi.

The big changes on defense came in Miami, where the Dolphins hired Vic Fangio to overhaul a unit that allowed the ninth-most points in the NFL last season under Josh Boyer, and in Minnesota, where the Vikings brought in Brian Flores and his aggressive scheme to replace the more passive Ed Donatell.

But Flores knows change takes time.

“You don’t do it all on day one,” he said. "You can’t. Those teams are always fundamentally sound. To me, that’s standard operating procedure. You’ve got to be fundamentally sound, footwork, hand placement, communication, things of that nature. You do all those things, you give yourself a chance.”

Two teams gave play-calling duties to their head coach, with Dallas' Mike McCarthy taking over the offense after Moore left and Buffalo's Sean McDermott taking over from Leslie Frazier.

“I see he’s got to take two hats to practice,” said Bills general manager Brandon Beane, who worked in Carolina when McDermott was defensive coordinator for the Panthers. “He’s got one without the headset and one with the headset. He’s going to have to have his own hat guy for game day. I think Sean is excited. It’s how he got the job here. He was such a good play-caller for us in Carolina and was a big part of our success and had a lot of defensive success there and so I’m excited to see his energy.”

The other new coordinators this season are Kansas City OC Matt Nagy, who was promoted when Eric Bieniemy got the same job in Washington, and Tampa Bay OC Dave Canales, who was hired to replace the fired Byron Leftwich.

The only playoff teams that didn't make changes were Cincinnati, Jacksonville, Seattle and the New York Giants.

The most consequential changes might be on the offenses for the Chargers and Ravens with the hope being that new play-callers can lift already accomplished quarterbacks to new heights.

Herbert has thrown for the third most yards in the NFL since entering the league as a rookie in 2020 but didn't stretch the field much the last two seasons under Lombardi.

Herbert averaged the third fewest air yards per attempt last season — nearly 2 yards fewer per pass than Dak Prescott did under Moore in Dallas. The hope in Los Angeles is that more deep strikes will lead to more success.

“Certainly, it’s something that we’ve talked about with the availability of the receivers and what we have on offense,” Moore said. “We’re really excited about exploring that.”

There's even a bigger philosophical change in Baltimore, where the Ravens are shifting from a run-based offense under Roman to a heavier passing attack with Monken.

Tampa Bay ranked in the top five in yards passing when Monken was coordinator there in 2017-18 and the Ravens added receivers Odell Beckham Jr. and rookie Zay Flowers this offseason in hopes of opening things up for Jackson.

“Coach Monken being here, he’s letting the guys just freelance and let them do them,” Jackson said. "That’s what it’s about. Like I said, just letting them get the ball and letting them do them. We should see magic happen. ... The sky's the limit with this offense. We’re going to see.”

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AP Pro Football Writer Dave Campbell and AP Sports Writers Dan Gelston, Joe Reedy, Noah Trister, John Wawrow contributed to this report.

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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

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