Our sports handicapping columnists have written a column on the NFL head coaching changes in 2009. This was done in order for the average sports handicapper, fan, or even sports betting beginner to familiarize themselves with the new coaches in the National Football League's 2009 season. Below you will find general information on the four new head coaches in NFL Football. These coaches include head coaches; Mike Smith (Atlanta Falcons), Jim Zorn (Washington Redskins), Tony Sparano (Miami Dolphins), & John Harbaugh (Baltimore Ravens). You will find some information about the direction that they plan to take each NFL team, where each coach came from, and who will be working as assistants under them. This information could come in handy when doing your handicapping especially at the beginning of the season as well as making your NFL Football picks in 2009. Read through this NFL Football betting information article to learn more about the new head coaches for NFL Football's 2009 season. Also, be sure to check out our our free sports picks page for complimentary expert NFL Football picks daily.

Between the Super bowl in February, and the start of the NFL regular season in September, eleven (yes, 11) NFL teams have made head coaching changes. Whether resigning, getting fired, or leaving for another job, one guy has left, while another has taken the helm.

New York Jets New Head Coach, Rex Ryan:

The Jets elected to let go of Eric Mangini after the disappointing end of the 2008 season. After becoming the youngest coach in NFL history, Mangini led the Jets to the postseason in 2006, but had a disappointing 13-19 final two seasons. Mangini was later announced as the new head coach of the Cleveland Browns. The Jets then decided to hire Rex Ryan as their new head coach. Ryan is the son of former NFL head coach Buddy Ryan, and twin brother of defensive coordinator Rob Ryan. Ryan, and the entire staff in Baltimore was fired after the disappointing 2007 season, but Ryan was later retained by new head coach John Harbaugh. This will be Ryan's first head coaching job.

Cleveland Browns New Head Coach, Eric Mangini:

The Browns fired Romeo Crennel after four seasons and a 24-40 record. In his final season, Crennel led the Browns to a very disappointing 4-12 season. Crennel never made the playoffs with Cleveland. Before taking the head coaching position, Romeo was a defensive coordinator in Cleveland, and also New England. On January 7th, 2009 Eric Mangini was named the new head coach for the Browns. Mangini is signed for a four year contract. Mangini is just the 2nd Browns coach in history to have head coaching experience coming into the job. Mangini went 23-25 with the New York Jets, getting fired after a 9-7 2008 season. Mangini, 38 years old, is a graduate of Wesleyan University.

Indianapolis Colts New Head Coach, Jim Caldwell Mangini:

Longtime head coach Tony Dungy elected to retire at the end of the 2008 season. Dungy finished his head coaching career with a 139-69 overall record, including 85 wins with the Indianapolis Colts. Before coming to Indianapolis, Dungy spent six seasons in Tampa Bay, reaching the postseason four times. With the Colts, Dungy's teams' made the playoffs every year, including winning the 2006 Super Bowl. The Colts elected to hire one of Dungy's former assistants Jim Caldwell. Caldwell spent time with Dungy in both Tampa Bay and Indianapolis, as the quarterback coach and also an assistant coach. Before joining the NFL ranks, Caldwell was the head coach at Wake Forest University, where he went 26-63. The hiring of Caldwell made the Indianapolis Colts the first organization to hire more than one minority head coach.

Denver Broncos New Head Coach, Josh McDaniels:

After longtime head coach Mike Shanahan was fired from Denver, the Broncos went to work and hired Josh McDaniels. Shanahan, a 56 year old graduate of Eastern Illinois University, spent 14 seasons as the head Broncos coach. During those 14 years, Shanahan enjoyed 138 wins, and 7 postseason appearances, including two Super Bowl titles. Before Denver, Shanahan spent two seasons as the Los Angeles Raiders head coach (15-17). Shanahan was fired on December 30, 2008 after the Broncos failed to make the playoffs for the third straight season. Josh McDaniels was hired on January 11th, 2009 becoming the youngest head coach in NFL history. McDaniels has been in the NFL since 2001, spending time with the Patriots as a personnel assistant, defensive coaching assistant, quarterbacks coach, and offensive coordinator. McDaniels hired former San Francisco 49ers coach Mike Nolan to become the defensive coordinator. Nolan is the fourth defensive coordinator in five years for Denver.

Kansas City Chiefs New Head Coach, Todd Haley:

The Chiefs fired Herm Edwards on January 23rd, 2009 after three years at the helm. In those three years, Edwards and the Chiefs went 15-33. Adding that record to his 39-41 mark as the head coach of the Jets puts him at 54-74 in eight full seasons as a head coach. Todd Haley accepted the head coaching position with the Chiefs on February 6th, 2009, signing a four year contract. Haley spent the 2008 season with the NFC Champion Arizona Cardinals, as their offensive coordinator. Haley, 42 years old, also spent time with the New York Jets, Chicago Bears and Dallas Cowboys.

Oakland Raiders New Head Coach, Tom Cable:

After Lane Kiffin was let go early in the 2008 season, Tom Cable was introduced as the interim head coach for the remainder of the season. After much speculation, Cable was then hired as the full time head coach on February 3rd, 2009. Kiffin went 5-15 in a season and half for Oakland. Kiffin was later hired as the head coach at the University of Tennessee. Cable, 44, will begin his first full season as a head coach. Cable finished the 2008 season 4-8 with the Raiders. Cable spent time as the head coach at the University of Idaho from 2000-2003, before becoming the offensive coordinator at UCLA. In 2006, he then became the offensive line coach for the Atlanta Falcons, then moving to Oakland, keeping the same job title. Cable played college football at Idaho for head coaches Dennis Erickson and Keith Gilbertson.

Detroit Lions New Head Coach, Jim Schwartz:

In the most unsurprising move of the season the Detroit Lions fired head coach Ron Marinelli after completing the 2008 season winless. In three seasons as the head coach, Marinelli compiled a 10-38 record, with his best season coming in 2007 (7-9). After the firing, Marinelli was hired by Lovie Smith to join the Chicago Bears staff, as the defensive line and assistant head coach. On January 16, 2009 the Lions hired former Tennessee Titans defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz as their new head coach. 2009 will be Schwartz first full season as a head coach. Schwartz is a graduate, and four year letterman from Georgetown University. Before coming to Tennessee, Schwartz spent time at the University of Maryland, Minnesota University, North Carolina Central University, Colgate, Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers New Head Coach, Raheem Morris:

The surprising firing of Jon Gruden led to a promotion for Raheem Morris. Just a month after being promoted from defensive backs coach to defensive coordinator, Morris was named the head coach. Morris was also interested, and interviewed for the vacancy with the Denver Broncos. Gruden won 57 games as the head coach of the Buccaneers, reaching the postseason three times, including winning the 2002 Super Bowl. Before coming to Tampa Bay, Gruden was the head coach of the Oakland Raiders, where he won 38 of 64 games, reaching the postseason twice. In 2008, the Buccaneers finished 9-7, but failed to reach the postseason. Morris, 32 years old, is a graduate of Hofstra. Morris started as a graduate assistant at Hofstra, before spending a season at Cornell, only to find himself back at Hofstra in 2000-2001. In 2002 he was hired as the defensive quality control coach, then promoted to defensive assistant, then assistant defensive backs coach. He then spent one season as the defensive coordinator at Kansas State, before coming back to Tampa Bay as the defensive backs coach again for the 2007-2008 seasons.

San Francisco 49ers New Head Coach, Mike Singletary:

After firing Mike Nolan in the middle of the 2008 season, Mike Singletary took control of the team. The 49ers then elected to make Singletary their permanent head coach. Nolan spent 3.5 seasons in San Francisco, going 18-37 during that time. Nolan is the son of former NFL head coach Dick Nolan. Mike Singletary enjoyed an 11 year career playing in the National Football League as a linebacker for the Chicago Bears. Singletary was a 10 time pro bowl selection, winning a super bowl, along with twice winning the defensive player of the year award. Singletary's coaching career began in 2003 with the Baltimore Ravens as the linebackers coach. When Nolan left Baltimore for San Francisco in 2004, Singletary went with him becoming the defensive coordinator.

Seattle Seahawks New Head Coach, Jim Mora Jr.:

Mike Holmgren elected to retire after the 2008 season, after spending ten seasons in the Northwest. Holmgren won 86 games, losing 74 in his Seattle career, reaching the postseason six times. Before coming to Seattle, Holmgren was the head coach for the Green Bay Packers from 1992-1998 where he helped them win the 1996 Super Bowl. Overall in seven seasons in Green Bay, Holmgren won 75 games, making the postseason six times. Holmgren was always known for his offensive prowess, and his ability to work with quarterbacks. The new coach Jim Mora is a defensive minded coach. In February of 2008, Mora was signed as an assistant coach with the agreement that he would become the head coach when Holmgren retired after the 2008 season. Mora is the son of former NFL retired coach Jim E. Mora. Mora has been a head coach before, spending three seasons as the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons from 2004-2006. Atlanta won 11 games in his first season, losing to the Eagles in the Championship game. In 2005 and 2006 the Falcons went 8-8 and 7-9, which led to his firing at the end of the 2006 season.

St. Louis Rams New Head Coach, Steve Spagnuolo:

After the Rams fired Scott Linehan during the 2008 season, interim coach Jim Haslett won the first two games of the season, before falling the remainder of the season. Haslett was not retained and St. Louis went after New York Giants assistant Steve Spagnuolo. The Rams and Spagnuolo agreed to a four year, $11.5 contract. Spagnuolo, who turns 50 in December began his NFL coaching in Philadelphia, in 1999, At that time he was the defensive backs and linebackers coach. In 2007 he was hired as the defensive coordinator for the New York Giants, leading them to the 2007 Super Bowl title. Spagnuolo spent his collegiate career at Springfield College in Missouri where he played Wide Receiver.

Check out our other 2008 NFL Team & Rookie Draft Picks previews along with our Preseason Power Rankings from the writers at Bankroll Sports.