As NFL teams gear up for 2023 training camps, fans will largely be following the players. Coaching adjustments can be trickier to track since teams don't reveal much during open practices and the preseason, but they can have a huge impact on the season.
A year ago, for example, the Jacksonville Jaguars were coming off a league-worst 3-14 campaign. Doug Pederson was hired as head coach and helped change the culture in Jacksonville. The Jags went on to win the AFC South.
"We're in this position right now because of him," linebacker Josh Allen told reporters after Jacksonville's wild-card playoff win in January. "Because of the guys that we brought in in free agency, but also just the type of vibe that he brings to us."
Whether it's through a locker-room lift like the one Pederson brought to Jacksonville, a schematic shift that fits a team's personnel or a switch in play-calling philosophy, a coaching change can yield positive results—but there can be an adjustment period.
Every major coaching change will be worth following to some degree in training camp, but below, you'll find 11 that are most likely to impact the 2023 playoff race.
Sean Payton and a Potentially Better Situation in Denver
Five teams hired new head coaches in the offseason. The Arizona Cardinals, Carolina Panthers, Denver Broncos, Houston Texans and Indianapolis Colts added Jonathan Gannon, Frank Reich, Sean Payton, DeMeco Ryans and Shane Steichen, respectively.
Of this group, Payton has the best chance of replicating the success Pederson and the Jaguars had in 2022. This is because, like Pederson did, he inherits a strong roster and a talented quarterback.
Denver boasts a defense that ranked seventh in yards allowed last season and a future Hall of Fame quarterback in Russell Wilson. The key for Payton will be unlocking the squad's potential.
The Broncos floundered offensively under Nathaniel Hackett, who was clearly in over his head as a rookie head coach. Payton is a seasoned, Super Bowl-winning coach who should put the offense in a better position.
"The situation wasn't—it wasn't good," former Broncos running back Melvin Gordon told The Jim Rome Show. "...I think they've got the pieces there now that's gonna put him in the best situation. What he do this year? It's on him, but I definitely believe they'll be a better football team than they were last year."
Gordon also said he believes Wilson can have an MVP-caliber season because "he has an MVP coach."
If Payton can return Wilson to Pro Bowl form and pair a potent offense with Denver's proven defense, this team could emerge as a strong playoff contender.
Players like Wilson, wideout Jerry Jeudy and running back Javonte Williams could also see a big boost in fantasy production thanks to Payton's experienced coaching and offensive background.
The Broncos' culture change—and any improvements they can get from their quarterback—will be major storylines to follow during camp.