Darrell

Bevell

A long-time NFL coach, Bevell last served as an offensive coordinator for the Jaguars in 2021 during the disastrous Urban Meyer campaign. Bevell has served in his current role with the Dolphins since 2021 but has also spent time as offensive coordinator for the Vikings (2006-2010), Seahawks (2011-2017), and Lions (2019-2020). During a four-year run with the Seahawks, Bevell’s offense ranked in the top-10 in points scored and was a part of the Seahawks staff that defeated the Broncos in Super Bowl XLVIII. It wouldn’t be surprising to see Bevell eventually return as a play-caller in 2025.

Bevell has been coaching in the NFL for over 20 years and has held an offensive coordinator title for four different teams. Though he likely wants to work his way back to that position and possibly even a head coaching gig down the road, he can afford to wait and pick his spot while in Miami. As a part of the Dolphins’ stunning rebound on offense, Bevell will continue to draw interest around the league over the next year. For now, the Dolphins appear to have kept their coaching staff intact.

Bevell spent 2022 with the Dolphins after serving as the Jaguars’ offensive coordinator and interim head coach in 2021. In 2020, he worked under Matt Patricia as offensive coordinator and was eventually named interim head coach. Bevell’s recent offenses have been unimpressive, and it’s not like he hasn’t had quarterback talent. He had Trevor Lawrence with the Jaguars and Matthew Stafford with the Lions. Whoever he might work with in New York is unlikely to have as much talent as those passers. However, it’s possible he’s picked up some new ideas while working with the Dolphins this season. And to Bevell’s credit, while serving as passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach, Tua Tagovailoa finished second in EPA per play, behind only Patrick Mahomes.

Bevell took over as the Jaguars’ interim head coach after Urban Meyer’s disastrous tenure came to an end, but first overall pick Trevor Lawrence struggled badly under his oversight. Jacksonville ranked last in points scored and 27th in yardage with Bevell leading the offense in 2021, but the Dolphins are expected to give the three-time offensive coordinator another chance in a lesser role.

Bevell managed to hold down the fort after Urban Meyer was fired, but Trevor Lawrence struggled badly in Bevell’s offense. A full offensive redesign is in order in Jacksonville. Bevell has reportedly drawn interest from multiple NFL teams and is likely to land elsewhere before the season. Bevell’s results as an offensive coordinator have been quite poor recently, but he’ll likely find a role as a position coach or offensive assistant.

After Urban Meyer was canned, Bevell took over as the team’s head coach for the final four games of the year. The team went 1-3 in that span and secured the No. 1 overall pick for the second straight season. Bevell steadied the ship after Meyer’s trainwreck of a tenure came to a close but his results as the team’s offensive coordinator were pitiful. Jaconsvbille finished the year ranked dead last in points and 27th in yards. The Jags have already requested interviews with Packers’ OC Nathaniel Hackett and Cowboys’ OC Kellen Moore. It would be surprising for the Jags to run it back with Bevell but, to be fair, it wouldn’t be the worst coaching hire the team has made in the past year.

Aside from the fact that his offense is averaging nine points over its past seven contests, Bevell was the most sensible choice to take the reins following Thursday morning’s news dump that Urban Meyer had been relieved of his duties as Jaguars head coach after only 13 games. It is the second time in two years Bevell has served as an interim head coach after earning the “honor” in Detroit last year, as well. Although he has never served as a head coach at any level, Bevell has a decade plus of coordinating experience, and unlike Meyer, will keep himself out of the news and presumably not have the entire roster turn against him in only a matter of days. With Meyer’s tyrannical hand out of the team’s affairs, perhaps Bevell might actually coax some improvement out of an undermanned but hardly talentless offense. If nothing else, it will be addition by subtraction, with Meyer’s black cloud being removed and allowing players like Trevor Lawrence to just focus on their game for the final four weeks of the season.

Per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, “several teams made a push to hire Bevell” after he finished 2020 as the Lions’ interim coach. It’s a better hire than new coach Urban Meyer’s initial rumored target, Scott Linehan. An NFL coordinator more or less continuously since 2006, Bevell oversaw an explosive 2019 unit in Detroit before Matthew Stafford broke his back. Things were much more uneven in 2020, though bad health played a part. Bevell’s vast NFL experience, as well as comfort with both the run and pass, will serve as an excellent sounding board for Meyer as he gets himself up to NFL speed. It’s unclear who will be the play-caller.

Bevell was deemed a high-risk close contact of someone who tested positive and thus won’t be able to coach in Saturday’s game. That responsibility will instead fall to WR coach Robert Prince with QB coach Sean Ryan calling offensive plays. It’s still undetermined what the team will do as a backup plan for its defensive play-calling. It’s obviously another disaster for the Lions, who will again be without Kenny Golladay (hip) as 10-point home dogs this weekend.

Bevell, along with the entire defensive coaching staff, were close contacts of two team employees who tested positive for COVID-19 this week. The Lions shut down their facility Tuesday after the positive tests were made public, and Bevell is quarantining at a nearby hotel. QB coach Sean Ryan would likely call offensive plays for the Lions if Bevell can’t coach on Saturday against the Bucs. The Lions are set up for a slaughter this week against a Bucs team looking to improve their postseason prospects.