ESPN: Shurmur Could Be Head Coaching Candidate In 2018

Even though none of the NFL’s 32 teams has so much as started their 2017 Training Camp yet, at least one media outlet is looking at potential head coaching candidates for the 2018 season. One member of the Minnesota Vikings’ coaches staff is listed as a coach that could get another opportunity to be the head guy.

Behind the great E$PN paywall, the folks from Bristol are taking a look at who could potentially snag a head coaching job after this season. They list current Vikings’ offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur as someone that’s “Due for another shot.”

Shurmur has a well-earned reputation as an offensive mind but couldn't overcome bad QB play (Colt McCoy or Seneca Wallace, anybody?) in his first stint as a head coach in Cleveland. He has his work cut out for him this year in trying to rebuild the Vikings' O-line.

Shurmur’s head coaching stint with the Cleveland Browns lasted two seasons, and the Browns went 9-23 in that stretch. (His overall record as a head coach is 10-23, as he got a victory as the Philadelphia Eagles’ interim head coach in the final week of the 2015 season.) The offensive talent on those teams wouldn’t exactly be confused with the 1998 Vikings or anything like that, and the Browns were 30th and 24th in points scored in Shurmur’s two seasons on the sidelines.

Still, this might be the sort of season that sees everything align for Shurmur to get another opportunity. Regardless of your feelings about Sam Bradford, he’s had his best seasons with Shurmur as his offensive coordinator, and will now get a full offseason and Training Camp in his system after Bradford came to Minnesota after camp and Shurmur took over for Norv Turner in midseason. Add in the Vikings upgrading the offensive line and snagging themselves a potential game breaker in running back Dalvin Cook, and if Shurmur is going to get another NFL head coaching job, this year could be as good a chance as he’s going to get for it.