Ralph Vacchiano
NFL Reporter
There are only 32 of these jobs in the world, and only a few of them open up each year. That alone makes it hard for anyone to turn down any offer to become an NFL head coach, especially if they don’t have other options.
But that doesn’t mean every job is a good one. In fact, even the candidates know that some of them are a lot better than others. Prospective coaches (and their agents) are generally looking for jobs that come with supportive, but unintrusive owners, and teams with a solid base of talent. A franchise quarterback is also usually a big need, too.
It’s just hard to find all that in a team that likely lost enough to fire their last coach.
“Guys want these jobs, so it’s hard to say no if any of them are offered,” said one NFL agent who represents an array of coaches. “But sometimes you have to be picky. You don’t want it to be a ‘one-and-done’ situation or a short-term disaster because this might be your only chance. Every coach believes he can turn things around, but you have to make sure the ingredients for success are there.”
So of the NFL head coaching jobs currently available, which ones have at least some of those ingredients? And which are the jobs that coaches with options would be smart to avoid?
The New England Patriots were No. 1 on this list, mostly because of the presence of talented, young quarterback Drake Maye. But that job has already been filled by former Titans coach (and former Patriots linebacker) Mike Vrabel.
So here’s a new ranking of the head coaching jobs that are still available, plus a look at the pros and cons for every situation, and a list of probable candidates for those openings, too. The list is basically the same as it was, though there’s a new one at the top now that the Dallas Cowboys have parted ways with Mike McCarthy and hopped onto the offseason Coaching Carousel:
1. Dallas Cowboys
Pros: They are loaded with talent. They’ve got an elite quarterback in Dak Prescott signed long–term, plus a No. 1 receiver in CeeDee Lamb. They are planning to lock up Micah Parsons too, giving them one of the best defensive players in the league. They have holes, but they were good enough to win 12 games in each of the past three seasons before injuries crushed them this year, so there’s no doubt this team is ready to win now. They don’t have a ton of cap space, but they do have the ability to create some. It also helps that, believe it or not, Jerry Jones has been very patient with his coaches. He’s had only two in the last 14 years. And this is still “America’s Team.” There’s not a higher profile job in the NFL, if a coach enjoys the spotlight.
Cons: With the spotlight comes the heat. No job might be more scrutinized in the NFL. Also, working for Jerry Jones can’t be completely easy. He appears every week on the radio to dissect what’s going on with the team and he holds many postgame press conferences. The accountability and accessibility is great, but some coaches can feel that’s intrusive. There are a lot of other distractions too, like the fans who take tours of the practice facility during working hours. And then there’s Jones the general manager. His personnel moves haven’t been terrible, but his cap management and negotiating strategies have often hamstrung the team. He’s not prone to spending big money in free agency, which in the past has prevented the team from filling holes that could have helped put them over the top.
Potential candidates: There is no doubt he’s going to get in on the chase for Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson. You can also expect that he’ll talk with Commanders offensive coordinator (and Texas native) Kliff Kingsbury. A reunion with former Cowboys offensive coordinator (and current Eagles offensive coordinator) Kellen Moore shouldn’t be ruled out either. Would Jones try and steal Bill Belichick from the University of North Carolina, or make a play for Colorado’s Deion Sanders? Maybe. If he looks to the college ranks, keep an eye on University of Texas coach Steve Sarkisian. One big wildcard to watch: He’s had a lot of high praise for former Cowboys tight end Jason Witten, who is currently a Texas high school coach.
[Read more: Cowboys coaching candidates: Deion Sanders, Ben Johnson among 7 options]
2. Jacksonville Jaguars
Pros: Generally considered the most desirable potential opening before the Patriots joined the fray, the Jags offer a roster loaded with young talent, particularly on offense. It all revolves around a young franchise quarterback in Trevor Lawrence who is signed long-term. They don’t have a ton of cap room ($42 million), but they also don’t have a ton of holes. Injuries and underachieving have been their issue. Owner Shahid Khan has shown he’ll do (and spend) what it takes to win. There’s no state tax in Florida, so there’s a financial bonus to working there. And while a new coach might not be around long enough to enjoy it, construction on a new stadium in Jacksonville is set to begin in 2026.
Cons: If general manager Trent Baalke isn’t the least respected GM in NFL coaching circles, he’s pretty close. Yet Khan said Baalke will be back in 2025. Even if the coach will now report directly to Khan, Baalke’s presence isn’t a plus. Also, if this is the team most ready to win now, the expectation will be to win now. There won’t be much of a honeymoon. And coaches surely have noticed this collection of talent has gone 5-18 over the last 13 months. There was also some alarming regression in Lawrence’s play this season.
Potential Candidates: They requested eight interviews almost as soon as they fired Pederson, and the list was heavy on offensive coaches. It included five offensive coordinators — Ben Johnson, Kellen Moore, Todd Monken (Ravens), Joe Brady (Bills) and Liam Coen (Bucs). IT also included three defensive coaches — Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham, and former New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh. Johnson long seemed like he was eyeing this job, but the idea of Saleh — a popular former Jaguars assistant — end up here as gained a lot of steam. Now former Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy could get a look here, too.
3. Chicago Bears
Pros: They have the young quarterback in place in Caleb Williams, last year’s No. 1 overall pick, and the league is sold on his talent, even though the production wasn’t always there. There’s also talent around him, particularly with a strong receiving corps. And they are projected to have about $80 million in salary cap space, so they’ll be able to add more. The McCaskey family that owns the team generally stays out of the way and has shown patience. A new coach almost certainly can expect to last at least three years. And the Bears are a flagship franchise in the NFL. That matters to some.
Cons: There’s a feeling that there’s a power struggle brewing in the front office between team president Kevin Warren and GM Ryan Poles. It’s too easy for a coach to get caught in that kind of crossfire. It doesn’t help that currently, 2025 is the last year on Poles’ contract, which puts a coach’s long-term job security in question. And while coaches aren’t necessarily going to shy away from this, the NFC North has become a minefield, and the Lions, Vikings and Packers don’t look like they’re going to fade much in the next few years. That could make early success difficult.
Potential candidates: Ben Johnson has long been thought to be their top target, but they’re supposedly looking for a “leader” more than just an offensive mind. Johnson may fit, but so a lot of the other coaches on their interview list, like Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, former Panthers/Commanders head coach Ron Rivera, former Seahawks coach Pete Carroll and Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver. They’ve also talked to Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka, Cardinals offensive coordinator Drew Petzing and their interim coach Thomas Brown. Mike McCarthy is expected to draw interest from Chicago, too.
4. New York Jets
Pros: Former GM Joe Douglas didn’t leave a complete mess. There’s a lot of talent on this team. The defense is stacked with playmakers (DT Quinnen Williams, CB Sauce Gardner, and more). They have two terrific young skill players on offense too, in WR Garrett Wilson and RB Breece Hall. There’s not a ton of cap room, but there are ways to clear more with some older and expendable players. Owner Woody Johnson has certainly shown he’s willing to be bold and spend money to bring more players in. And working in New York offers a very high profile, if a coach likes that sort of thing.
Cons: Where to begin? Start with the fact there is no franchise quarterback in place and no clear path to getting one. Bringing Aaron Rodgers back would create headaches for a new staff, but even if they did, he’s too old to build around. With no QB there’s a worry that much of the team’s young talent will be gone by the time the Jets are ready to win. And then there’s Johnson, who has become even more meddlesome in recent years. It’s not just the stories about his teenage son being involved in decisions or valuing players by their Madden ratings. It’s how much he worries about what the media says about him and his team, and how that shapes his process. Oh, also there’s currently no general manager in place. That’s a dangerous unknown.
Potential candidates: They’ve already interviewed Mike Vrabel and Ron Rivera, Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy, former Jets coach Rex Ryan, Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, former Saints interim head coach Darren Rizzi and — for reasons that nobody completely understands — University of Maryland head coach Mike Locksley. They’re also not even close to done yet. They’ve requested interviews with Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores, Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik, Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph, Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady, Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, and Vikings quarterbacks coach (and former Jets QB) Josh McCown. That’s 14 candidates, which is right in line with this bizarre search since they’ve also already interviewed 13 candidates for their vacant general manager job. And they might still get on board the Mike McCarthy train at some point, too.
5. Las Vegas Raiders
Pros: This is a franchise that appears headed towards a total rebuild, which means the coach could get a big hand in shaping everything about the franchise, and there won’t be a lot of pressure to win right away. That doesn’t necessarily mean there will be job security, but it could. They also have a projected $107 million in cap space — second most in the NFL — which could make their rebuilding a lot easier. And don’t underestimate the presence of minority owner Tom Brady, who is expected to have a lot of input in building the team. He could be a big lure for players in free agency, too.
Cons: They do not have a franchise quarterback and with the sixth overall pick in the 2025 draft there’s no clear plan for getting one. They likely will have to go with a veteran quarterback next year and hope they have better luck than they’ve had in the last decade or so. Really, there’s not a whole lot of talent anywhere on this roster, which will be an impediment to instant success. And since owner Marc Davis has had four different head coaches in the last four seasons, how patient does anyone expect him to be?
Potential candidates: With Brady on board, Mike Vrabel was thought to be their top target, but now many assume the future Hall of Fame quarterback will make a strong play for Ben Johnson. But the lack of a quarterback could make it a tough sell for a candidate who will surely have options. The Raiders have also talked to, or will talk to Todd Monken, Vance Joseph, Aaron Glenn, Steve Spagnuolo and Pete Carroll. Robert Saleh is on their list too, and he could be a strong candidate. Kliff Kingsbury is expected to eventually get a look here too.
6. New Orleans Saints
Pros: They have an incredibly loyal fan base and a great stadium. When things are going well, that combination makes New Orleans one of the toughest places for opponents to play. It will also help a new head coach that the NFC South is one of the NFL’s weakest divisions. It won’t take much to get the Saints into the race. And owner Gayle Benson isn’t likely to get involved in the coach’s business. She’s been known to show patience, too.
Cons: There’s not a lot of good on this aging roster, which has big holes at nearly every position. The biggest, of course, is at quarterback where Derek Carr is 33 and signed through 2026 and they’re probably not picking high enough in the draft (9th) to find his replacement. It’s also all going to get worse, too, since the Saints are projected to be $63 million over the cap, which means they’ve got a lot of cutting and restructuring to do in the coming months. The rebuild could be long and it’ll be done mostly by GM Mickey Loomis, who has been running the football operation there for 25 years. If the new coach wants power, he won’t find it here.
Potential candidates: It’s tough to sell anyone on this job, which is partly why so many around the NFL believe it’s destined to go to Aaron Glenn, a very popular former Saints player and assistant coach. There’s also some thought that Bills offensive coordinator could be a fallback option, given that he was once the offensive coordinator at nearby LSU. The Saints are also interviewing Kliff Kingsbury, Kellen Moore, Anthony Weaver and Mike Kafka. One intriguing candidate is former Stanford coach David Shaw, who is a current Denver Broncos executive. NFL teams had been trying to get him to jump to the pros for years. Maybe he’s ready now.
Ralph Vacchiano is an NFL Reporter for FOX Sports. He spent the previous six years covering the Giants and Jets for SNY TV in New York, and before that, 16 years covering the Giants and the NFL for the New York Daily News. Follow him on Twitter at @RalphVacchiano.
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