-
NFL Nation, ESPNAug 30, 2024, 06:00 AM ET
After a 2023 NFL season that saw teams average the lowest offensive points per game (20.7) since 2017, can a new crop of playcallers help bring up scoring this season?
The playcaller landscape brings both new and familiar faces. League veterans like Kansas City Chiefs‘ Andy Reid, Denver Broncos‘ Sean Payton and new New England Patriots offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt will call plays for their respective teams, while Tennessee Titans head coach Brian Callahan and Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator Zac Robinson will be playcallers for the first time in their careers.
Other coaches will look to bounce back after a tumultuous 2023. Can New York Giants coach Brian Daboll take control of his destiny by taking over playcalling? Can New York Jets offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett bring out the best in quarterback Aaron Rodgers and receiver Garrett Wilson?
And can Washington Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, who was on yearlong NFL hiatus with a stop at USC, find redemption after a rocky head-coaching tenure in Arizona?
Here is who will be calling plays for all 32 teams (with a key stat provided by ESPN Stats & Information).
Jump to:
ARI | ATL | BAL | BUF | CAR | CHI | CIN
CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GB | HOU | IND
JAX | KC | LAC | LAR | LV | MIA | MIN
NE | NO | NYG | NYJ | PHI | PIT | SF
SEA | TB | TEN | WSH
AFC EAST
Playcaller: Joe Brady, offensive coordinator
Experience: Brady is in his second full-time offensive coordinator role in the NFL, first serving in the position from 2020 through some of 2021 with the Panthers. He then worked as Bills quarterback coach (2022 to midway through 2023) before being promoted to interim offensive coordinator last season. Brady was the passing game coordinator during LSU’s national championship run in 2019.
What to know: After Brady became the playcaller midseason in 2023, there were some changes, like running the football more (46.5% from 35.5%). He’s also now had a full offseason to prepare for the offense he wants to run with quarterback Josh Allen. There will be a challenge in a brand new wide receiver room, and the Bills will be relying on the likes of second-year tight end Dalton Kincaid and third-year running back James Cook to have significant roles. Brady has emphasized that it is “Josh Allen’s offense,” and while there will be some carry over from last year, this offense will have more of Brady’s touch on it. How defenses approach playing without Stefon Diggs will require adjustments from Brady while continuing to develop how the pieces of this offense best fit together. — Alaina Getzenberg
Key stat: Brady called a designed run 47% of the time after taking over as the Bills OC last season, the second highest in the NFL from Weeks 11 to 18. — ESPN Stats & Info
Playcaller: Mike McDaniel, head coach
Experience: McDaniel is in his third season as the Dolphins’ coach and offensive playcaller.
What to know: The Dolphins led the NFL in total yards last season, increasing their weekly average from 364.5 yards per game in 2022 to 401.3 yards per game in 2023. After averaging fewer than 100 rushing yards per game in his first year with the Dolphins, McDaniel rededicated to the run game last season. As a result, Miami put up 135.8 rushing yards per game — the fifth most in the NFL. The Dolphins’ use of pre-snap motion is a fundamental part of their offense. They used it on a league-leading 80.3% of their offensive snaps last season and will continue in 2024. With speedsters Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, Raheem Mostert, De’Von Achane and rookie Jaylen Wright, this offense figures to strain opposing defenses for a third straight year. — Marcel Louis-Jacques
Key stat: The Dolphins used motion at the snap on 67% of plays last season, considerably higher than the next closest NFL team (Rams, 44%). — ESPN Stats & Info
Playcaller: Alex Van Pelt, offensive coordinator
Experience: This is Van Pelt’s 20th season as a coach, and 29th overall in the NFL as he was a backup QB for the Bills from 1994 to 2003. He was the offensive coordinator for the Bills in 2009, calling plays, and served as the offensive coordinator for the Browns from 2020-2023 but didn’t call the plays.
What to know: Van Pelt runs a West Coast offense which features wide-zone runs that coaches believe will create explosive play possibilities for RBs Rhamondre Stevenson and Antonio Gibson. He was a trusted assistant under Mike McCarthy with the Packers from 2012 to 2017, developing a close connection with Rodgers. Last season in Cleveland, he was credited as a unifying presence in helping get five different quarterbacks ready for action. Along those lines, the Patriots are banking on him as a key presence in the development of No. 3 overall pick Drake Maye. — Mike Reiss
Key stat: Van Pelt was the Browns OC last season when they made the playoffs after using five starting QBs. Thirty-five percent of Cleveland’s pass yards came when using play action, fifth in the NFL. — ESPN Stats & Info
Playcaller: Nathaniel Hackett, offensive coordinator
Experience: Hackett called plays for the Bills, Jaguars and Broncos (as head coach) before getting to the Jets in 2023. Only once has he made the playoffs (2017 with the Jaguars).
What to know: He’s had a rough two years, and that’s putting it kindly. In 2022, his Broncos finished last in scoring, and he was fired with two games left in his first season. In 2023, the Jets ranked 29th, but he got a mulligan because of his close relationship with QB Rodgers. Let’s not be naive: Rodgers has a huge influence on the offense, but it’s on Hackett to scout opponents and figure out the best way to attack. He will try to add some wrinkles this season, perhaps more pre-snap motion involving WR Wilson. Passing game coordinator Todd Downing, a former coordinator, is waiting in the wings if things go sideways. — Rich Cimini
Key stat: The Jets gained 53% of their receiving yards after the catch last season, fifth in the NFL. From 2019 to 2021, the Packers were second in percent of receiving yards coming after the catch when Hackett was Rodgers’ OC. — ESPN Stats & Info
AFC NORTH
Playcaller: Todd Monken, offensive coordinator
Experience: Monken enters his second season as offensive coordinator for the Ravens after spending three seasons as the offensive coordinator at the University of Georgia. His previous playcaller experience in the NFL includes the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2016-2018) and Cleveland Browns (2019).
What to know: Under Monken, the Ravens got back on track offensively — ranking No. 4 in scoring at 28.4 points per game and No. 6 in total yards at 370.4 per game — and quarterback Lamar Jackson reverted back to his NFL MVP form. Monken’s biggest influence was in the passing game. Jackson set career highs with 3,678 passing yards and a 67.2% completion rate. The biggest criticism of Monken came in the 17-10 loss in the AFC Championship Game to the Chiefs. The Ravens handed the ball off to their running backs six times against the NFL’s 18th-ranked run defense. — Jamison Hensley
Key stat: The Ravens used multiple TEs on 40% of plays, third highest behind the 49ers and Dolphins. However, their 11 personnel usage increased most under Monken, from 12% in 2022 to 48% in 2023. — ESPN Stats & Info
Playcaller: Zac Taylor, head coach
Experience: Taylor is entering his sixth season as the head coach. He has been the playcaller for all of them.
What to know: Despite Dan Pitcher replacing Brian Callahan as the team’s offensive coordinator, Taylor will continue to be the team’s offensive playcaller. The synergy between the team’s running game and passing game was emphasized significantly this offseason, which was underscored by the addition of a pass game coordinator (Justin Riscati). Even though the Bengals had a healthy Joe Burrow for five games last season, Cincinnati was still efficient offensively. It ranked 11th in touchdowns per drive and 14th in points per drive. Creating more explosive plays will be a priority after Cincinnati was 25th in air yards per attempt between Weeks 5 and 10 of last season, when Burrow was at full strength. — Ben Baby
Key stat: The Bengals used shotgun on 84% of plays in 2023, third highest in the NFL and their highest in five seasons under Taylor. With Burrow on the field, that was up to 91% shotgun usage, which would have ranked second behind the Eagles. — ESPN Stats & Info
Playcaller: Kevin Stefanski, head coach
Experience: Stefanski took over as the interim offensive coordinator with the Minnesota Vikings in 2018 and was promoted to full-time OC for the 2019 season. In 2020, he became the head coach in Cleveland, where he continues to call the offensive plays.
What to know: Stefanski won his second NFL Coach of the Year Award in 2023 after leading a Browns team that used five different starting quarterbacks to the playoffs for the first time since 2020. Despite a change at offensive coordinator and bringing in Ken Dorsey to revamp the passing game, Stefanski said he will continue to call plays. Recently awarded a contract extension, the next step for Stefanski is getting quarterback Deshaun Watson, who has only played 12 games in Cleveland since 2022 because of suspension and injuries, back to Pro Bowl form. — Daniel Oyefusi
Key stat: The Browns used 11 personnel on 68% of plays in 2023, their highest in four seasons under Stefanski. From 2020 to 2022, the Browns used 11 personnel on 47% of plays, sixth lowest in that span. — ESPN Stats & Info
Playcaller: Arthur Smith, offensive coordinator
Experience: Coming off a three-season stint as Falcons head coach, Smith joined the Steelers as the offensive coordinator in February. He was previously Titans offensive coordinator and playcaller from 2019 to 2020.
What to know: Smith is returning to his roots as a playcaller with the Steelers and figures to employ a run-heavy system with everything flowing through the trenches. Though his usage of players like RB Bijan Robinson and TE Kyle Pitts was inconsistent in Atlanta, Smith previously led high-scoring offenses in Tennessee with QB Ryan Tannehill and RB Derrick Henry. The Titans had the league’s second best rushing attack (168.1) and total offense (396.4 yards per game) in 2020. With RBs Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren, WR George Pickens, TEs Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington and a revamped offensive line, Smith figures to have the tools to implement a similar offense in Pittsburgh. The top priority, though, is determining the team’s quarterback and finding the most effective way to use QBs Russell Wilson and/or Justin Fields. — Brooke Pryor
Key stat: From 2021 to 2023, the Falcons used play action at the second-highest rate (32%) with Smith as head coach. The Steelers have ranked bottom-five in play action rate nine seasons in a row, including third-lowest rate last year (16%). — ESPN Stats & Info
AFC SOUTH
Playcaller: Bobby Slowik, offensive coordinator
Experience: This is Slowik’s second year calling plays for the Texans.
What to know: Slowik is big on getting his playmakers the ball in space and throwing the ball over the middle of the field. When throwing over the middle of the field last season, quarterback C.J. Stroud had the highest passer rating in the NFL (115) and threw for the fourth-most yards. Tight end Brevin Jordan said that “Bobby’s whole thing is to get the guys in an open space. Get them in one-on-one situations and let them go in.” — DJ Bien-Aime
Key stat: The Texans spent 40% of their offensive snaps under center, the sixth-highest rate in the NFL last season. In 2022 with San Francisco, the 49ers ranked 10th in snaps under center with Slowik calling the plays. — ESPN Stats & Info
Playcaller: Shane Steichen, head coach
Experience: Steichen first called plays in 2019 when he was promoted to Chargers interim offensive coordinator midseason. After a full season in that role in 2020, he joined the Eagles as offensive coordinator in 2021 and was hired as Colts head coach in 2023.
What to know: Steichen’s success with young quarterbacks — rookie Justin Herbert and Jalen Hurts for two seasons in Philly — has bolstered the Colts’ hopes for what he can accomplish with Indy’s own young quarterback, Anthony Richardson. His biggest feat to date might be his orchestration of the 2022 Eagles offense, with the unit finishing second in points per game, third in yards per game and QBR and fourth in offensive expected points added. That offensive performance helped propel Philadelphia to the Super Bowl that season. In Steichen’s first season in Indianapolis, the Colts offense improved from 32nd in scoring (15.8 points per game) to 13th (21.1). — Stephen Holder
Key stat: Only one team in the NFL spent more time in shotgun (90%) than the Colts last season (Eagles, 93%). In Jim Cooter’s four seasons with Matthew Stafford in Detroit (2015-18), the Lions utilized shotgun at the third-highest rate (73%). — ESPN Stats & Info
Playcaller: Press Taylor, offensive coordinator
Experience: This is Taylor’s third season as offensive coordinator and last season was his first as a full-time playcaller. He shared the duty with head coach Doug Pederson in 2022, with Pederson calling plays in the first half of games and Taylor the second.
What to know: Taylor has the title and the job at this point, but that could change. Pederson said earlier in the offseason that he was evaluating the situation and there’s a chance he could resume either full-time playcalling duties or go back to what he and Taylor did in 2022. Taylor called the plays in the preseason, though he did it from the sideline rather than the coaches booth. Owner Shahid Khan has implied he would like Pederson to call plays but would allow Pederson to make the decision. Pederson has defended Taylor after last season, saying injuries along the offensive line, the unit’s inability to create space in the run game and injuries to key offensive players (including QB Trevor Lawrence) were the reason the offense struggled, not playcalling. — Michael DiRocco
Key stat: No team threw outside the numbers more last season than the Jaguars did (29% of their pass plays). They also led the league in passing yards on those throws (2,440). — ESPN Stats & Info
Playcaller: Brian Callahan, head coach
Experience: This is Callahan’s first season as head coach and first as primary playcaller. Although he didn’t call the plays, Callahan was heavily involved in developing the game plan as Bengals offensive coordinator from 2019 to 2023.
What to know: Callahan’s history of working with quarterbacks dates back to 2015 as an offensive assistant for the Broncos with Peyton Manning. He served as position coach for Super Bowl-winning quarterback Stafford, Derek Carr and most recently Burrow. The offense desperately needs a modernized approach to the passing game after not averaging 200 or more yards in the air since 2021. Burrow emerged as one of the league’s best quarterbacks with Callahan as the offensive coordinator. The Titans hope to find similar success with Callahan and Will Levis. Callahan will also lean on the additions of free agent receivers Tyler Boyd and Calvin Ridley, along with holdover DeAndre Hopkins. But Callahan vows to still run the ball enough to maintain the “Tennessee Tough” mindset. — Turron Davenport
Key stat: The Titans utilized play action on 28% of their dropbacks last season, the fourth most in the NFL. That number could fall in 2024. As passing game coordinator for the Jaguars last season, Jacksonville utilized play action 22% of the time (20th in NFL). — ESPN Stats & Info
AFC WEST
Playcaller: Sean Payton, head coach
Experience: Payton has more than two decades worth of playcalling experience, including his time as an assistant with the Cowboys and the Giants along with 16 seasons as a head coach (15 with the Saints, one with Denver).
What to know: This is the first time Payton will start the season with a rookie quarterback. When Bo Nix lines up behind center in Week 1, it will also be the first time a rookie QB has started the Broncos’ season-opening game since John Elway in 1983. Payton has said he will “tailor” the offense to Nix’s strengths, so there could more pistol formations, run-pass option plays and bootlegs than Payton’s offense has had in previous seasons. He’s also promised to try to give the 24-year-old Nix a productive run game to support his learning curve, so Payton might call a few more rushing plays than he would if Nix were in his third or fourth season. — Jeff Legwold
Key stat: Of Denver’s passes last season, 33% came at or behind the line of scrimmage, the highest rate in the NFL (third highest by a team in past 10 seasons). — ESPN Stats & Info
Playcaller: Andy Reid, head coach
Experience: Plenty. Reid has been calling plays in most of his 25 seasons as a head coach — 14 with the Eagles and 11 with the Chiefs.
What to know: The Chiefs have changed offensive coordinators frequently with Reid as their head coach but things remain steady because of his hand in things. The Chiefs have made a point during training camp and the preseason of getting the ball downfield in the passing game, which was difficult for them to do last season. The Chiefs tried to get the ball deep to rookie wide receiver Xavier Worthy on the first play of the preseason and then made it happen twice the next week. Look for that to continue during the regular season until opponents attempt to consistently take that away. — Adam Teicher
Key stat: The Chiefs ran 102 screen plays last season, most by any team in a season since 2006. — ESPN Stats & Info
Playcaller: Luke Getsy, offensive coordinator
Experience: Getsy was the Bears’ offensive coordinator the past two seasons, authoring the Nos. 1 and 2 rushing attacks in the league in 2022 and 2023, respectively. Prior to that, he spent seven seasons with the Packers, his titles ranging from offensive quality control coach to receivers coach to quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator.
What to know: Given Getsy’s history with Davante Adams, and Adams’ familiarity with Getsy’s concepts, much is expected of both the new OC and the three-time first-team All-Pro receiver to make the Raiders’ offense flow. Adams was “in and out” of voluntary OTAs, missing the latter part of training camp in Costa Mesa for the birth of his son and not playing in any of the Raiders’ three exhibitions. Throw in a new starting quarterback in Gardner Minshew, and Getsy may actually be the one leaning on Adams to get his message across early in the season. — Paul Gutierrez
Key stat: Getsy used play action on 27% of Chicago’s dropbacks during his stint as OC, the eighth-highest mark in NFL over span. — ESPN Stats & Info
Playcaller: Greg Roman, offensive coordinator
Experience: Roman was head coach Jim Harbaugh’s playcaller for his last stint in the NFL with the San Francisco 49ers (2011-2014). He also was the OC for the Buffalo Bills (2015-2016) and worked with Jim’s brother John for four seasons in Baltimore (2019-2022).
What to know: Roman became popular for creative, prolific rushing schemes that powered the 49ers to one of the league’s best-rushing offenses during his tenure. But Roman’s run-heavy scheme has gotten him in trouble elsewhere. He was fired in his second season in Buffalo, and after his offense led to a unanimous MVP for QB Lamar Jackson and won him assistant coach of the year in 2019, Roman’s scheme quickly soured in Baltimore. Players complained about playcalling and someone placed “Fire Roman” fliers outside the team’s facility entrance. He resigned after the 2022 season. Since he’s arrived in L.A., Roman has been adamant that the Chargers offense will be balanced with quarterback Justin Herbert. — Kris Rhim
Key stat: Roman had a 45% designed rush pct as OC with the Ravens from 2019 to 2022, the second-highest mark in NFL over span (46%). They also averaged 175.2 rush YPG in that time, the most in NFL. — ESPN Stats & Info
NFC EAST
Playcaller: Mike McCarthy, head coach
Experience: As offensive coordinator with the Saints and Niners, McCarthy broke in as a playcaller and called them almost exclusively for his entire tenure as head coach of the Green Bay Packers (2006-2018) with Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers as his quarterback. To the surprise of many when he joined the Cowboys in 2020, he kept Kellen Moore as the playcaller. However, he took the job over in 2023 and quickly developed a rapport with QB Dak Prescott, who finished second in the MVP voting.
What to know: In his first year as the Cowboys’ playcaller, they led the NFL in points per game (29.9) and 10-play drives (47). They were fifth in yards per game (371.6) despite a running game that was ranked 14th. Prescott led the NFL in touchdown passes. WR CeeDee Lamb led the NFL in receptions (135) and was second in yards. This season will be a different challenge with two new starters along the offensive line, potentially including two rookies (Tyler Guyton, Cooper Beebe) and a running back by committee that includes Ezekiel Elliott, who is back for his second tenure in Dallas. The key, however, is Prescott, and he looks more comfortable in his second year with McCarthy calling the shots after going through the process already. — Todd Archer
Key stat: Under McCarthy the Cowboys designed pass percentage rose 7.5% from 2022. In 2023, Dallas used at least four wide receivers on 66 plays, which was the most in the NFL. — ESPN Stats & Info
Playcaller: Brian Daboll, head coach
Experience: Daboll has called plays throughout his career as an offensive coordinator, both in the NFL and college at Alabama with Jalen Hurts and Tua Tagovailoa as his quarterbacks. This is the first time he will do it as a head coach. His most recent experience in the NFL was from 2018 to 2021 as the offensive coordinator in Buffalo, where he had a top 5 offense in his final two years with Josh Allen as his quarterback.
What to know: Daboll made his name and got the Giants head coaching job because of his offenses and playcalling at Alabama and Buffalo. He made the decision this offseason to take over the playcalling with the Giants from offensive coordinator Mike Kafka, who did it in Daboll’s first two years as coach in New York. But Daboll stripped the duties from Kafka on multiple occasions during a tumultuous season last year. It became obvious from the moment last season ended that Daboll would take over the responsibility. He’s been leading the Giants’ offensive meetings this year. If Daboll is going down, he’s going down with him doing what he does best — calling plays. — Jordan Raanan
Key stat: In Daboll’s last two seasons (2020-2021) as the Bills OC, Buffalo ranked first in play action usage at 32.2% and 39.4% of their pass yards came from play action, the most in the NFL. — ESPN Stats & Info
Playcaller: Kellen Moore, offensive coordinator
Experience: Moore served as the Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator from 2019 to 2022 and held the same role for the Los Angeles Chargers in 2023.
What to know: Following a 1-6 collapse down the stretch last season in which a highly talented offensive unit underperformed, the Eagles replaced Brian Johnson with Moore, who received the bulk of the creative control (previously, coach Nick Sirianni was considered the architect of the offense). One noticeable difference this summer has been the uptick in pre-snap motion. The Eagles were last in that category in 2023. Star receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith are also being moved around more to help create favorable matchups. The early returns have been positive: Quarterback Jalen Hurts has looked comfortable running the offense in practice and was efficient over the course of camp, throwing one interception. — Tim McManus
Key stat: Last season the Chargers ran a play every 26.7 seconds in terms of time of possession, the fastest in the NFL. The Eagles ranked 16th at 28.6 seconds. Moore will also bring motion to the Eagles who ranked dead last in motion usage in 2023 at 25.7%. The Chargers under Moore ranked seventh at 61.2%. — ESPN Stats & Info
Playcaller: Kliff Kingsbury, offensive coordinator
Experience: As head coach of the Cardinals from 2019 to 2022, Kingsbury served as the primary playcaller. He entered the NFL having called plays in college from 2011 to 2018, at Houston, Texas A&M and then as the head coach at Texas Tech.
What to know: Kingsbury entered the NFL with the Air Raid offense. But that didn’t just mean a pass-heavy attack. His Arizona offenses ranked 11th in rushing attempts and 10th in rushing yards per game. But in three of his four seasons, Arizona’s ranking in yards and points scored were worse in the second half of the season. In Washington, run game coordinator Anthony Lynn, pass game coordinator Brian Johnson and line coach Bobby Johnson have helped craft the offense Kingsbury will run. They come from different systems. Kingsbury has worked with numerous young quarterbacks, from Patrick Mahomes at Texas Tech to Kyler Murray in Arizona. That experience will help with rookie Jayden Daniels. — John Keim
Key stat: Under Kliff Kingsbury (2019-22), the Cardinals used 10 personnel at the highest rate in the NFL at 17.1%. The next closest team was the Bills at 5.7%. — ESPN Stats & Info
NFC NORTH
Playcaller: Shane Waldron, offensive coordinator
Experience: Waldron is part of Sean McVay’s coaching tree after spending four seasons as the Rams tight ends coach and pass game coordinator. He spent the last three seasons (2021-23) calling plays as Seattle’s offensive coordinator.
What to know: Waldron has worked with a variety of quarterbacks from Jared Goff to Russell Wilson to Geno Smith, the latter of whom led the NFL in completion percentage (69.8%) while passing for 4,282 yards, 30 touchdowns and 11 interceptions during a career year in 2022. In terms of playcalling, the Bears and Seahawks were on opposite ends of the spectrum on called passes and runs in each of the last two seasons. Since 2022, Seattle ranks seventh in designed pass plays (64%) and 26th in designed runs (36%), and Chicago was 30th in designed passes (55%) and third in designed runs (45%). — Courtney Cronin
Key stat: Shane Waldron used multiple tight ends on 38% of plays as the Seahawks OC in the last two seasons, the fourth highest in the NFL. — ESPN Stats & Info
Playcaller: Ben Johnson, offensive coordinator
Experience: Johnson took over playcalling duties in 2022. His creativity has helped him establish a reputation around the league as one of the brightest offensive minds. Before becoming the offensive coordinator in Detroit, Johnson spent three seasons on the staff in multiple roles such as the offensive quality control and tight ends coach.
What to know: Johnson is in constant communication with quarterback Jared Goff and has helped the Lions become one of the top offenses in the NFL. He has been a driving force behind the unit’s skyrocketing production since officially being named offensive coordinator in 2022, and has turned down head coaching interest the last two offseasons to help coach Dan Campbell & Co. push for the franchise’s first Super Bowl. After the Lions finished second in passing yards (4,401) and third in total offensive yards (6,712) in 2023, Johnson was named a finalist for assistant coach of the year. — Eric Woodyard
Key stat: The Lions have led the NFL in bunch sets in each of Johnson’s two seasons as offensive coordinator (19% in 2023, 23% in 2022). — ESPN Stats & Info
Playcaller: Matt LaFleur, head coach
Experience: LaFleur has called plays during his tenure as the Packers head coach. He previously had one season of NFL playcalling experience with the Tennessee Titans in 2018.
What to know: After the LaFleur-Aaron Rodgers pairing led to two NFC Championship Game appearances and two NFL MVPs for Rodgers, it took nearly half of last season for LaFleur to get into a playcalling rhythm with Jordan Love. But when he did, it looked like a vintage LaFleur/Packers offense.
Looking back on it later in the year, LaFleur said: “There was a point in time where you realize if we’re going to generate [explosive plays], you’d better call the plays that can generate explosives. … I think when you do that, you start trusting everybody a little bit more, so it makes it a lot easier to call.” — Rob Demovsky
Key stat: LaFleur used motion at the snap on 36% of plays in 2023, the fourth-highest rate in NFL. He also averaged 6.0 yards per play on those snaps, the fifth-highest mark in NFL. — ESPN Stats & Info
Playcaller: Kevin O’Connell, head coach
Experience: O’Connell has called plays in every game since he joined the Vikings as head coach before the 2022 season. He also called plays during parts of the 2019 season with Washington.
What to know: In Minnesota, O’Connell’s scheme and playcalling have leaned unapologetically toward the pass. In his two seasons, the Vikings have the NFL’s third-most dropbacks (1,438) and the eighth-fewest rushes by running backs (683). Within the passing game, there has been an emphasis on second-level routes. Their average pass has traveled 7.4 yards in the air and only 9.4% traveled 20 yards or more, No. 20 and No. 27 in the NFL, respectively. It’s possible those rates will shift more toward the running game this season as the Vikings transition at quarterback from Kirk Cousins to Sam Darnold. — Kevin Seifert
Key stat: Since 2022, the Vikings are tied with Chiefs for the second-most dropbacks in the NFL. O’Connell has used designed rollouts on 8.4% of those dropbacks, which is the third highest in the NFL in that span. — ESPN Stats & Info
NFC SOUTH
Playcaller: Zac Robinson, offensive coordinator
Experience: This will be his first season as a coordinator and first time calling plays. A McVay disciple and noted quarterback guru, Robinson was an offensive assistant on the Rams team that won Super Bowl LVI and the Rams’ pass-game coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2022 and 2023.
What to know: Robinson was a quality quarterback at Oklahoma State and was invited to the Senior Bowl in 2010. He kicked around the NFL for three years before focusing on work with quarterbacks, leading the curriculum at The Quarterback Ranch and then working as an evaluator for analytics outlet Pro Football Focus. Robinson was hired by the Rams in 2019, working his way from coaching quarterbacks and wide receivers to passing game coordinator the last two seasons, learning under the likes of McVay and Kevin O’Connell. Falcons coach Raheem Morris, a former Rams defensive coordinator, brought Robinson with him when he was hired in Atlanta. — Marc Raimondi
Key stat: Over the last two seasons as passing game coordinator/QB coach, the Rams used 11 personnel on a whopping league-high 93% of their plays. In that same span, the Falcons have used 11 personnel on an NFL-low 25% of their plays. — ESPN Stats & Info
Playcaller: Dave Canales, head coach
Experience: Canales got his first chance to be the playcaller last season as the offensive coordinator of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He helped journeyman quarterback Baker Mayfield post a career high in passing yards (4,044) and touchdown passes (28) with only 10 interceptions.
What to know: Canales has been dubbed a “quarterback whisperer” for how he helped Mayfield, Geno Smith and Russell Wilson have career years. As a playcaller, he believes in committing to the run game for balance and a passing game that his newest project, Bryce Young, says allows him to play free. Canales isn’t married to a specific scheme as much as he is keeping it simple and playing to the strength of his players. For Young, that means mastering pre-snap mechanics and moving the pocket around to make plays in space. It’s about a quick release and finding the open man in 2.7 seconds or less. It typically plays off of a dominant receiver, in this case Diontae Johnson, that opens the passing lanes for everyone else. — David Newton
Key stat: The Buccaneers threw 13% of their passes at least 20 yards downfield last season with Canales as OC, the fourth-highest rate in the NFL. — ESPN Stats & Info
Playcaller: Klint Kubiak, offensive coordinator
Experience: Kubiak, 37, had one year of experience as Vikings offensive coordinator in 2021 after his father, longtime NFL coach Gary Kubiak, retired. He has spent the last two seasons as passing game coordinator for the Broncos and 49ers.
What to know: The Saints overhauled their offense in the offseason, replacing longtime coordinator Pete Carmichael with Kubiak and adding several new assistant coaches. The influence of Kubiak’s father has often been discussed in regard to his scheme, but Saints coach Dennis Allen reminded everyone that he’ll have his own spin.
“I hired Klint, I didn’t hire Gary,” Allen said. “I hired Klint to do the job, but certainly I think his pedigree would lead me to believe that he has a chance to be successful. That was part of the equation, but I’d say the majority of the equation was based on how I feel about Klint and what I think he can do.” — Katherine Terrell
Key stat: San Francisco used empty sets at the sixth-highest rate in the NFL in 2023 with Kubiak as its passing game coordinator (10.5%). The 49ers averaged an NFL-best 10.2 yards per play out of empty sets last season. — ESPN Stats & Info
Playcaller: Liam Coen, offensive coordinator
Experience: Coen called plays for four years at the college level. At the NFL, he served as an offensive coordinator under Sean McVay with the Rams for one season but did not call plays.
What to know: Coen spent eight seasons as a college offensive assistant working primarily with quarterbacks (two of those included a dual role as an offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach). At the NFL level, he spent three seasons as an assistant under McVay working with quarterbacks and receivers and four seasons total, replacing Kevin O’Connell as offensive coordinator in 2022. — Jenna Laine
Key stat: As Kentucky OC in 2023, the Wildcats used shotgun at the sixth-lowest rate in the FBS. When Coen was the Rams OC in 2022, Los Angeles operated out of shotgun at the second-lowest clip in the NFL. — ESPN Stats & Info
NFC WEST
Playcaller: Drew Petzing, offensive coordinator
Experience: Petzing took over the Cardinals’ playcalling responsibilities when he was hired as the offensive coordinator in 2023.
What to know: Petzing has established himself as an innovative playcaller in one season, albeit one that was a roller-coaster with quarterback Kyler Murray sitting out the first nine games. Petzing, a Middlebury alum, has married his high football IQ with his creativity and ability to teach the scheme in the ways he wants it run. Last season, his offense produced a 1,000-yard runner in James Conner in 13 games. It’s a dynamic, versatile offense that combines a power running game with a passing game that highlights all of Murray’s traits. — Josh Weinfuss
Key stat: Of the Cardinals’ rushing attempts last season, 32% were outside of the offensive tackles, the third-highest rate in the NFL (averaged 6.6 yards per rush, third in NFL). — ESPN Stats & Info
Playcaller: Sean McVay, head coach
Experience: McVay has been calling plays since he became the Rams head coach in 2017. Since then, McVay has become one of the predominant offensive minds in the NFL and has led the Rams to two Super Bowls with one win.
What to know: McVay worked for Jay Gruden in Washington, where he worked alongside Kyle Shanahan and Matt LaFleur. Under McVay, the Rams have always been big on 11 personnel with three receivers, a tight end and one running back, and will have a player in motion pre-snap on a high percentage of plays. Though McVay might be known for his creativity in the passing game, the Rams routinely are in the top half of the NFL in rush rate. — Sarah Barshop
Key stat: The Rams used 11 personnel (3 WRs, 1 RB, 1 TE) on 95% of their offensive plays last season, the highest rate by any team in a season since 2007. — ESPN Stats & Info
Playcaller: Kyle Shanahan, head coach
Experience: Shanahan spent a combined nine seasons as offensive coordinator of the Texans, Commanders, Browns and Falcons. He has continued to call the offensive plays for the 49ers since becoming head coach in 2017, helping them to four NFC Championship Games and two Super Bowls.
What to know: During the preseason, Shanahan allowed assistant Klay Kubiak to call plays, but it’s the only time anyone other than Shanahan has handled those duties since he arrived in San Francisco. But that isn’t a permanent decision as Shanahan remains the primary playcaller with input from a run game coordinator (Chris Foerster), pass game specialist (Kubiak) and senior offensive assistant (Mick Lombardi). The 49ers’ offense was the best it has been under Shanahan in 2023, finishing first in the NFL in offensive points per game, offensive efficiency and offensive EPA, and ranking second in yards per game. If San Francisco can work out a couple of contract-related issues, it would have all 11 offensive starters returning, which could set the stage for an even better encore in 2024. — Nick Wagoner
Key stat: The 49ers used a condensed formation on 64% of their offensive plays last season, the highest rate by any team in a season since 2016. — ESPN Stats & Info
Playcaller: Ryan Grubb, offensive coordinator
Experience: Grubb, 48, is entering his first season in the NFL after nearly two decades in the college ranks, which included OC stints at Sioux Falls (2010-13), Fresno State (2019-21) and Washington (2022-23). Seahawks GM John Schneider and coach Mike Macdonald hired Grubb in February after he had accepted a position as Alabama OC and quarterbacks coach, having followed Kalen DeBoer from Washington to Tuscaloosa.
What to know: Grubb coordinated one of the country’s most prolific offenses the last two seasons, as the Huskies ranked sixth in FBS in yards per game (487.0) and sixth in scoring (36.7) in that span. They did it mostly through the air. Washington led FBS in passing yards per game (355.8) and ranked 15th in dropback percentage, calling passing plays about 61.8% of the time. Fresno State was 17th in dropback percentage (60.2%) during Grubb’s three seasons as the Bulldogs’ OC. He’ll have to switch gears to a more balanced attack now that he’s playing for a defense-minded head coach in Macdonald who will undoubtedly want to run the ball. — Brady Henderson
Key stat: Grubb was the offensive coordinator for quarterback Michael Penix Jr. at the University of Washington last season, when Penix led the FBS in total pass attempts (555 pass attempts in 15 games). — ESPN Stats & Info
