Two teams, the New York Jets and New Orleans Saints, have already fired their head coaches, and they surely won’t be the last teams to make a change at the top. This is shaping up to be a star-studded hiring cycle with a mix of proven candidates and up-and-coming talent, which could lead to ownership groups acting a bit more aggressively if they believe the grass is greener with coaches on the market.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at 18 possible candidates.
Current/former NFL head coaches
Bill Belichick
The head coach of six Super Bowl victories, Belichick is gearing up to try to get one more gig after an historic 24-year run with the New England Patriots. He’s got a few of his top lieutenants preparing to join him, too, so Belichick’s staff could look awfully familiar if he gets another job.
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Belichick, who turns 73 in April, needs 15 wins to break Don Shula’s record. He might be a perfect candidate for a team that has a talented roster but needs a new voice, so the Dallas Cowboys have been pegged as an obvious fit.
Wherever Belichick goes, the timetable is paramount for both sides. Belichick won’t want to take over a full rebuild, and the organization would have to be comfortable knowing he’d likely only be there for a few years.
The question is how much Belichick covets personnel control. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has said numerous times that he’ll never hire a general manager, and there’s no way he’d diminish Will McClay’s role. Belichick might be OK with that structure in Dallas because it’s been in place for so long. But if the Cowboys stick with Mike McCarthy or go in another direction, would Belichick be good with getting paired with a less-experienced GM?
Regardless, the hiring cycle will revolve around Belichick.
Mike Vrabel
Vrabel, who turns 50 in August, went 54-45 in six seasons with the Tennessee Titans before he was fired after the 2023 season. It was mildly surprising Vrabel, currently with the Cleveland Browns as a coaching/personnel assistant, didn’t land a job in this past cycle, so he is expected to get a strong look this time around.
The former linebacker has a no-nonsense approach that players have loved. At their best, the Titans were physically imposing, disciplined and fundamentally sound because of Vrabel’s coaching style. He’s more of a throwback in that sense, but he can relate to players because he performed at a high level during his own career.
Vrabel can quickly establish a strong culture. He should be a high-priority candidate for a roster that’s already built to win.
Mike McCarthy
McCarthy is on an expiring contract with the Dallas Cowboys, which naturally makes him a free agent. But with the Cowboys badly underperforming, it might be time for the two sides to go in a different direction.
McCarthy, who coached the Green Bay Packers for 13 years before his five-year stint with the Cowboys, may not be on many short lists, but he could make sense for the New York Jets because of his history with quarterback Aaron Rodgers. There’s also no need to worry about the way the 61-year-old would handle the pressure of the New York spotlight, which is a necessary personality trait for that media market.
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Brian Flores
It’s unclear if an owner would hire Flores after his lawsuit accused the league of racial discrimination, but the defensive mastermind has at least worked himself back into the conversation due to a phenomenal season as the defensive coordinator with the Minnesota Vikings.
Flores, 43, made plenty of mistakes during his three seasons coaching the Miami Dolphins. Teams will need to be convinced Flores learned from that time, notably with his handling of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.
Flores is an incredibly smart football mind and a natural leader, but things got away from him in Miami. If he’s softened his approach, he might be ready for a second chance.
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Steve Spagnuolo
Spagnuolo turns 65 in December and hasn’t been a full-time head coach since his stint with the St. Louis Rams from 2009-11, so it’s possible his time has passed. It’s also possible Spagnuolo could be perfectly happy remaining as the architect of the Kansas City Chiefs defense considering they’ll be annual Super Bowl favorites for the foreseeable future.
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Spagnuolo is a strong communicator with a warm personality who gets the best out of his players. He’s been a well-respected defensive coach for the better part of two decades.
Perhaps teams will look at Dan Quinn’s early success with the Washington Commanders and think Spagnuolo could be a comparable example as a second-time head coach who would inject a professional mentality into the building.
Kliff Kingsbury
The Washington Commanders offensive coordinator is back in the spotlight due to quarterback Jayden Daniels’ impressive start. Daniels, the runaway NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year favorite, has played very well since the start of the season, and Kingsbury’s play calling has been an integral piece of that equation.
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Kingsbury, 45, had a topsy-turvy four-year run as the Cardinals head coach. He was criticized for a lack of offensive adjustments as the season progressed, and it led to late-season losing streaks each year on the job.
Kingsbury’s work with Murray and Daniels is enough to warrant an interview request. And while meeting with Kingsbury, teams need to determine if he has evolved to the point where he could be more successful as a second-time coach.
Vance Joseph
The 52-year-old Denver Broncos defensive coordinator appears ready for a second head coaching opportunity. He previously led the Broncos (2017-18) to an 11-21 record, although that team was deep into a rebuilding mode and not set up for success.
Joseph has led the Broncos’ surprising defensive turnaround, as the group ranks fourth in points allowed and fifth in yards. He’s a strong leader and communicator who is respected by his players. Joseph could bring a commanding presence to a team in need of a culture change.
Potential first-time NFL head coaches
Ben Johnson
The Lions offensive coordinator has been one of the hottest names over the past two hiring cycles, and that’ll again be the case in January. However, there’s no guarantee he will leave Detroit.
Johnson, 38, is one of the league’s best offensive minds, and he’s an elite play caller. He not only helped revive Jared Goff’s career but also turned him into one of the better quarterbacks in the NFL. In an era when QB development is more valuable than anything, Johnson will be a top candidate for any team leaning toward an offensive-leaning coach.
One problem: Teams are well-versed in Johnson’s selective approach, and the Lions appear to be on the verge of another playoff run, which will limit his interview availability.
Deion Sanders
The 57-year-old Colorado coach has said he has no plans to leave for the NFL, but that won’t prevent teams from trying to line up an interview. The money, the spotlight and the right opportunity could be enough to sway Sanders. So, too, could a team with a top-five pick and the opportunity to draft and coach his son Shedeur Sanders, the starting quarterback at Colorado
Deion Sanders, a Pro Football Hall of Famer, would command instant credibility in the locker room. It’s fair to wonder whether his style would work as well in the NFL as it has in college, but there’s no doubting his ability to lead a program.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones may salivate over the opportunity to hire his former player and welcome the marketing opportunities that come with Sanders. Really, any team in a prominent market looking for good PR would do well to target Sanders.
Sanders would need to show that he can hire a solid staff, and he’d need a strong general manager in charge of personnel. Team building is a lot different without an endless supply of NIL money.
There’d be risk involved. But if it works for Sanders in the NFL, teams will be kicking themselves for not going after him when they had the chance.
Aaron Glenn
The Lions defensive coordinator has had a strong reputation around the league while working his way up the ranks over the past decade. The former cornerback had a decorated 15-year NFL career before he started coaching.
There’s already plenty of speculation Glenn will get a look with the New Orleans Saints, as he played his final season there in 2008 and worked under Sean Payton for five years. General manager Mickey Loomis and key front office personnel from the Payton era remain in the building, so they’re familiar with Glenn. His adjustments after losing star pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson, particularly as the Lions shut down the Houston Texans during their wild comeback, will work in the 52-year-old’s favor.
The question is whether the Saints want another Payton disciple after Dennis Allen’s firing or if they’ll seek a different style.
Aaron Glenn knows his call sheet like the back of his hand. 😅 pic.twitter.com/Bwz0IrRMd5
— Sunday Night Football on NBC (@SNFonNBC) November 11, 2024
Zac Robinson
The Falcons offensive coordinator is a first-time play caller this season, and they’ve gotten improved production out of running back Bijan Robinson, wide receiver Drake London and tight end Kyle Pitts despite quarterback Kirk Cousins coming back from a torn Achilles.
Zac Robinson, 38, was Atlanta head coach Raheem Morris’ top choice at OC, as they worked together for the previous three years with the Los Angeles Rams. But beyond that, Morris knew Robinson would be a head coach in very short order, so there’s been an emphasis on developing the rest of the offensive staff for his inevitable departure.
Robinson is ready for a top job. He’s widely believed to be the next Sean McVay disciple to take over his own program.
Bobby Slowik
The Texans offensive coordinator had a fast rise in 2023 as the man behind C.J. Stroud’s development. He’s seen around the league as a good play caller who wowed his peers with a tremendous game plan during their playoff victory against the Cleveland Browns.
The Texans offense hasn’t exactly been a fireworks show this season, so the hype around him has died down a little, but if Houston wins the AFC South and shines in the postseason, it could easily dial right back up.
Slowik, 37, is a Kyle Shanahan disciple who actually coached on defense when he arrived in San Francisco in 2017. But Slowik was promoted to the 49ers’ passing game coordinator by 2022 before he got his first crack at calling plays last year with the Texans.
Slowik deserves an interview from any team looking for a new offensive approach.
Liam Coen
Quarterback Baker Mayfield is playing the best football of his career for the first-year Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator. They hit it off so well together with the Rams in 2022 that Mayfield personally helped recruit Coen to the Bucs last offseason, which speaks to the OC’s ability to connect with his players.
Coen, 39, bounced around the New England college coaching circuit before McVay hired him in 2018. He had two one-year stints as Kentucky’s offensive coordinator (2021, 2023) that bookended his season as McVay’s OC. Now a full-time play caller for the first time in the NFL, Coen has impressed those around the league with his creativity and feel for the game while designing plays with a purpose. Tampa’s offense is fifth in the NFL right now, putting up 27 points per game.
Coen is inexperienced on the interview circuit, so he might be at least a year away from a head coaching offer. But he should garner interview requests, particularly after Dave Canales turned his one season with the Bucs into the Carolina Panthers’ top job — and the Bucs offense has been better in 2024.
Drew Petzing
The Arizona Cardinals offensive coordinator has gotten the best out of Kyler Murray, and rival coaches and executives have been impressed with Petzing’s work for the past couple of seasons.
Petzing, 37, worked under offensive coordinators Norv Turner, Pat Shurmur, John DeFilippo and Kevin Stefanski during his six seasons with the Minnesota Vikings before joining Stefanski with the Cleveland Browns.
Petzing was somewhat of an unknown commodity when he joined the Cardinals, but they’re an up-and-coming team that’s been well-coached under Jonathan Gannon. It’s only a matter of time before teams interview Petzing to get a longer look at his head coaching potential.
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Frank Smith
The Dolphins offensive coordinator has done solid work for head coach Mike McDaniel. Smith, 43, has worked for many types of head coaches, including Payton, Jon Gruden and Brandon Staley, so he’s been influenced by a mix of philosophies.
Smith has a lot of allies around the league because of his ability to cultivate relationships with coaches and players alike. He’s had a unique journey with humble aspirations, which is partly why his supporters have beamed with pride over his ascension.
Smith hasn’t earned a lot of shine because McDaniel is the face of the Dolphins’ offense, but the coordinator could bring that flare to a new organization. Smith is a high-level teacher and communicator, and those qualities will show if he’s invited for interviews.
Jesse Minter
The 41-year-old Chargers defensive coordinator worked for John Harbaugh for four seasons (2017-20) with the Baltimore Ravens before linking up with Jim Harbaugh over the last three seasons with Michigan and Los Angeles. Minter has been around a lot of quality coaching over those stretches.
He is seen as a leader who relates well to everyone in the building, and he’s in charge of a group that’s allowed the fewest points in the NFL this season. He is expected to draw interview requests in January.
Jesse Minter had Mahomes guessing– that’s hard to do. pic.twitter.com/zY9d76rgIW
— Ted Nguyen (@FB_FilmAnalysis) October 18, 2024
Todd Monken
The 58-year-old Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator has never been a head coach at the NFL level, but he did lead a fairly incredible turnaround as the boss at Southern Miss from 2013-15, turning a winless program in 2012 into a Conference USA championship game appearance in just three years.
More notably, Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson has played at an elite level during his two seasons with Monken, winning MVP in 2023 and leading the race by a wide margin again this season.
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Monken might not deliver the same sizzle as the younger offensive minds who have been in vogue over the past decade, but it’d be malpractice to overlook his results.
Joe Brady
The Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator has gone through quite a bit over the past five years.
He was viewed as the next wunderkind after guiding quarterback Joe Burrow and LSU to a historic offensive output during the 2019 national championship run, and the Carolina Panthers scooped him up as their OC the following season. That experiment failed, but hindsight has since indicated that it was more about the organization than Brady.
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He joined the Bills staff in 2022 and was promoted to offensive coordinator midway through 2023, putting more emphasis on the ground game, which helped spark quarterback Josh Allen’s midseason revival.
With the Bills back in contention and the offense scoring the third-most points in the league, the 35-year-old Brady should get some interview requests.
(Photo of Bill Belichick and Mike Vrabel: George Walker IV / Tennessean.com via Imagn Images)
