The National Football League is all about change from year to year and 2020 is going to be no different.
Whether it’s a new head coach, different assistants, the additions of rookie or players switching teams, there are always teams that look totally different than the year before. That can be better or worse. But not many teams ever sit completely still.
The 2020 season is going to be full of teams with looks that are vastly different than 2019. Let’s take a look at the at the 10 teams that will have the biggest changes in looks in 2020.
10. Pittsburgh Steelers
Mike Tomlin did perhaps his finest coaching job in 2019. He somehow kept his team in the playoff race until the end. He did that without injured quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Tomlin shuffled young quarterbacks Mason Rudolph and Devlin Hodges. With Roethlisberger back, the Steelers should get back to the playoffs in 2020. Just getting Roethlisberger back will change the Steelers’ look back to what it used to be.
9. Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals desperately need a new look after a dismal first season under coach Zac Taylor. Veteran quarterback Andy Dalton is almost certainly gone. The Bengals hold the first pick in the draft and it seems a certainty that will be LSU quarterback Joe Burrow. It would make all the sense in the world for the Bengals to change their offense to take advantage of Burrow’s athleticism. Then again, the Bengals don’t always do what makes sense.
8. Cleveland Browns
Another year, another new coach for the Browns. Freddie Kitchens flopped miserably in his one year as coach in Cleveland. So the Browns went out and hired Kevin Stefanski, who unlike Kitchens, is a known commodity with a track record of success. Stefanski was the offensive coordinator in Minnesota, where he relied on a run-first offense with Dalvin Cook and let quarterback Kirk Cousins take shots downfield. Stefanski’s main job is to get quarterback Baker Mayfield back on track. Mayfield set a rookie record by throwing for 27 touchdown passes in 2018, but regressed in 2018 despite the arrival of receiver Odell Beckham Jr. Stefanski will strive to get the most out of Mayfield and Beckham. But it’s likely the offense will be built around running back Nick Chubb.
7. Dallas Cowboys
Jason Garrett is out as head coach and Mike McCarthy is in. This move could come with some structural changes. McCarthy has a better resume than Garrett, having won a Super Bowl in Green Bay. McCarthy may get more power than Garrett, specifically less interference from owner Jerry Jones. That’s something this team has needed for a long time – a coach who can call his own shots. On the field, the Cowboys won’t look that different as long as quarterback Dak Prescott and receiver Amari Cooper are re-signed to go with running back Ezekiel Elliott. Jones can’t be expected to completely keep his hands off the football side. But he would be wise to back off some and let McCarthy coach. Former San Francisco head coach Mike Nolan has been brought in as the defensive coordinator.
6. Washington Redskins
The Redskins will be among the teams with the most change in their look from 2019. That’s a good thing because this team was dysfunctional under former coach Jay Gruden and interim coach Bill Callahan. New coach Ron Rivera isn’t going to put up with dysfunction. A former linebacker for the 1985 Chicago Bears, Rivera ran a tight ship when he was the head coach in Carolina and that got him to a Super Bowl. Rivera is somewhat of a players’ coach in that he takes the time to get to know his players, but he doesn’t put up with any nonsense. Rivera also isn’t likely to put up with much interference from owner Daniel Snyder. He hired a proven defensive coordinator in Jack Del Rio and brought much of his Carolina staff, including offensive coordinator Scott Turner. As far as the new coaches, Rivera has assembled the strongest staff.
5. New England Patriots
Quarterback Tom Brady has made it clear he wants to play in 2020. But he hasn’t made it clear if that will be with the Patriots. He’s left all sorts of room for speculation and many are guessing he ends up with the Chargers because he has an offseason home in Los Angeles. If Brady leaves New England, everything changes for the Patriots and there likely will be a rebuilding process. In that scenario, it’s likely the Patriots will trade for a veteran quarterback or sign an experienced free agent. If Brady stays, there still will be major change. The Patriots have to overhaul their wide receivers who weren’t much help to Brady in 2019.
4. Los Angeles Rams
The Rams went from making the Super Bowl in the 2018 season to not even making the playoffs in 2019. Somebody had to pay the price. Coach Sean McVay got rid of all three coordinators and replaced them with Brandon Staley (defense), Kevin O’Connell (offense) and still are looking for a special teams coordinator. Although McVay will remain as the offensive mastermind and his scheme won’t change, there’s likely to be a big personnel change. Running back Todd Gurley has knee problems and isn’t the player he once was. The Rams have to find a new workhorse runner. This also is a team without much salary cap room. But don’t expect general manager Les Snead sitting still. Snead is very aggressive. He’ll find ways to free up cap space and make some significant moves.
3. Los Angeles Chargers
An era is over as the Chargers prepare to move into a new stadium. But the biggest change for one of the NFL’s most disappointing teams in 2019 will come on the field. Veteran quarterback Philip Rivers almost certainly will be gone. Rivers had some nice years for the Chargers, but is clearly past his prime. That means the Chargers will either draft a quarterback or sign one in free agency. If they draft a quarterback, they may have to take a step back before moving forward. If the Chargers fall too far back, coach Anthony Lynn’s job could be on the line.
2. New York Giants
Once you get past the fact that coach Joe Judge was an obscure hire, he might turn out to be better than predecessors Ben McAdoo and Pat Shurmur. Judge was special teams coordinator and receivers coach for the New England Patriots, so he comes with a winning pedigree. That’s something the Giants lacked in recent years. Judge already has hired Patrick Graham as defensive coordinator and has interviewed Jason Garrett for offensive coordinator. Although an offensive foundation is in place with running back Saquon Barkley and quarterback Daniel Jones, the Giants need to use the offseason to overhaul the offensive line and the defense.
1. Carolina Panthers
Perhaps no team will have a more different look than the Panthers. The Panthers are in full rebuild mode. Part of that is owner David Tepper continuing to put his own fingerprints all over the team and part of it is the sudden retirement of linebacker Luke Kuechly and the uncertainty over quarterback Cam Newton’s health and future in Carolina. Kuechly’s retirement means the team will be starting from nearly scratch on defense. It could be similar on offense if Newton is cut or traded (a possibility because the Panthers would save $19 million under the salary cap). Then, there are massive changes to the coaching staff. Baylor coach Matt Rhule was brought in to replace Ron Rivera. Rhule still is assembling his staff. But it appears it will be filled with coaches who have most of their experience in the college game. LSU assistant Joe Brady, 30, has been hired as offensive coordinator. He also brought in Baylor assistant Phil Snow to run the defense. Carolina may have the look of a college team. But that’s not a bad thing because the pro game is evolving to look more like the college game.
Pat Yasinskas has covered the NFL since 1993. He has worked for The Tampa Tribune, The Charlotte Observer and ESPN.com and writes for numerous national magazines and websites. He also has served as a voter for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
