2025 NFL Head Coach Rankings: How Do Nick Sirianni and Dan Campbell Stack Up?

No matter how much talent a roster has, it’s challenging to build sustained success in the NFL without a strong head coach. Head coaches set the tone, build culture, and often take the fall when things don’t go as planned on the field.

Every year, there’s turnover, as teams move on from coaches after disappointing tenures and take the next step in their quest to find the right person for the job. In these NFL head coach rankings, we break down the coaches for all 32 teams, ranking the 25 returning names from a season ago and previewing the tenures of the seven heading into the first year with their new teams.

Here’s how each team’s head man stacks up heading into the 2025 NFL season.

1) Andy Reid, Kansas City Chiefs

Now a three-time Super Bowl champion and one of the winningest coaches in NFL history, Andy Reid has solidified his status as not just the best coach in today’s NFL but one of the greatest of all time.

The Kansas City Chiefs have reached the Super Bowl five times since 2019 under Reid’s leadership, an unprecedented run in the modern era. Losing to the Eagles in this past Super Bowl doesn’t change the fact that he remains the gold standard.

Sure, Patrick Mahomes has been a central piece in the Chiefs’ dominance, but Reid’s imprint can be felt throughout the operation. From his elite play design to his in-game adjustments, Reid’s offense continues to thrive regardless of any deficiencies the unit may have.

What makes Reid’s greatness even more remarkable is how sustainable it’s been. Over 26 seasons with the Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles, he’s won half of his six Super Bowl appearances. His consistency, creativity, and leadership remain unmatched.

2) Sean McVay, Los Angeles Rams

Sean McVay has been the standard for modern NFL coaching since he took over the Los Angeles Rams in 2017, at the age of just 31. With two Super Bowl appearances, one championship, and only one losing season across eight years, McVay has built a résumé that rivals the best in the business.

McVay has needed to adapt to significant roster turnover and shifting expectations during his tenure. While many teams would’ve collapsed into a complete rebuild after going all in for their 2021 Super Bowl run, he helped the Rams reload and return to relevance sooner than expected. He coached LA to its fourth NFC West title last season, despite the retirement of Aaron Donald and the aging of Matthew Stafford.

McVay is a true football architect who is not only an offensive wizard but has also had a strong hand in the team’s personnel decisions. If his career continues on this trajectory, and he gets back to the Super Bowl, McVay could find his way to Canton.

3) John Harbaugh, Baltimore Ravens

John Harbaugh has been a model of consistency since taking over as the Baltimore Ravens’ head coach in 2008. A Super Bowl champion, Harbaugh has delivered double-digit win seasons in six of the past seven years, with just one losing record since 2016.

The Ravens are always tough, prepared, and competitive, regardless of roster turnover or injuries. While Baltimore hasn’t been able to get over the hump in the postseason lately, it takes a special kind of coach to make playoff heartbreaks a regular occurrence.

Harbaugh’s adaptability is one of his greatest strengths. He won with Joe Flacco. Then, once Lamar Jackson arrived, he and the staff reshaped the team around his unique skill set, and it worked faster than many expected.

Harbaugh has stood the test of time, battling in two separate loaded AFC eras. He went toe-to-toe with Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, and Ben Roethlisberger. Now, he’s perennially challenging Mahomes, Josh Allen, and Joe Burrow for conference supremacy.

4) Nick Sirianni, Philadelphia Eagles

Nick Sirianni’s run with the Eagles has been nothing short of remarkable. In just four seasons, he’s led the team to two Super Bowl appearances, won a championship, and made the playoffs every year.

Sirianni’s career postseason record stands at 6-3, and his 70.6% regular-season winning percentage puts him among the best in the game. While general manager Howie Roseman gets much of the credit (and rightfully so), Sirianni has maximized the talent he’s been given.

An example of the culture Nick Sirianni continues to set.

Zack Baun telling us Sirianni shared his story in a team meeting highlighting what a player can achieve on a one year deal.

“This is an organization that is going to give you a shot.” pic.twitter.com/NtRucO9W6E

— Ashlyn Sullivan (@ashlynrsullivan) June 10, 2025

It wasn’t always smooth sailing for Sirianni, who ended up on the hot seat after a late-season collapse in 2023. He made several significant changes to his coaching staff, buying himself time and showing that he’s adaptable and capable of resetting a team’s culture. His resiliency and willingness to change kept Philadelphia among the NFL’s best and paid off in a big way.

Roseman has done a phenomenal job of assembling rosters and putting Sirianni in a great position to succeed at his job, but he can’t execute for him. Love him or hate him, Sirianni is a fiery guy, and the players seem to have a great deal of respect for him. Not to mention, the results on the field back him up.

5) Dan Campbell, Detroit Lions

Dan Campbell has completely reshaped the Detroit Lions’ identity. In just a few seasons, he’s taken a franchise long defined as bottom-dwellers and turned it into a legitimate contender.

Under Campbell, the Lions won 12 games in 2023 and an NFL-best 15 in 2024. Building sustained success in Detroit seemed like a near-impossible task, but now it’s become the expectation.

The Lions have adopted Campbell’s identity, who has instilled a culture that reflects the grit and toughness of the city they represent. His rise hasn’t come without challenges, though. Detroit battled injuries to key defensive starters last season and suffered a disappointing playoff loss to the Washington Commanders. Still, he didn’t make any excuses.

Campbell’s next chapter may be his most difficult yet, as he watched both his offensive and defensive coordinators leave for head coaching jobs, including one to the division rival Chicago Bears. He’s turned the Lions into winners, but now he has to ensure they stay there and get over the hump.

6) Kyle Shanahan, San Francisco 49ers

Kyle Shanahan remains one of the NFL’s brightest minds, capable of building elite offenses and contending with flawed rosters.

In a league dominated by star quarterbacks, the San Francisco 49ers have reached Super Bowls with Jimmy Garoppolo and Brock Purdy under center. There are several pieces of evidence to support Shanahan’s prowess as an offensive architect, including Matt Ryan’s 2016 MVP campaign.

Shanahan’s system is one of the biggest reasons why some people doubt Purdy. It just works. However, the Niners have experienced plenty of volatility under Shanahan, posting four 10-loss seasons in eight years. Injuries have derailed promising seasons, but as the head coach, he must answer the questions that come his way.

Despite never hoisting the Lombardi Trophy, Shanahan has four double-digit win seasons, including three in the last four years, and multiple NFC Championship appearances. He still has one of the NFL’s most respected reputations.

7) Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh Steelers

Mike Tomlin has become synonymous with consistency. Since becoming the Pittsburgh Steelers’ head coach in 2007, Tomlin’s never posted a losing season. His 17 straight seasons with a .500+ record is an NFL record.

With a career record of 183-107-2 and a Super Bowl title to his name, Tomlin has kept Pittsburgh competitive through a series of changes. His ability to maintain discipline and develop tough teams can’t be overstated.

Still, there’s something to be said when the regular-season consistency doesn’t yield postseason results. The Steelers haven’t won a playoff game since 2016, and their recent exits have been in lopsided losses. Part of the problem is that the team hasn’t fielded a quarterback who can keep up with the AFC’s elite. The franchise’s model could be outdated.

The 2025 season could be a defining one for Tomlin. After pursuing veteran Russell Wilson last season, the Steelers signed Aaron Rodgers this offseason. The front office appears desperate to win now. Although Tomlin has been the ultimate leader, if he doesn’t make a run soon, the team might consider starting fresh.

8) Jim Harbaugh, Los Angeles Chargers

Jim Harbaugh wins everywhere he goes. From resurrecting Stanford’s football program and restoring Michigan to national prominence, to posting a 44-19-1 record with the 49ers and leading them to a Super Bowl appearance, he’s proven to be a reliable leader who’s no stranger to impressive turnarounds.

After nearly a decade away from the NFL, Harbaugh’s return with the Los Angeles Chargers has further stamped his coaching ability. In his first season back, he led the Chargers to an 11-6 record and a playoff berth. The Wild Card loss shouldn’t overshadow the stability he’s brought to a team that needed it after Brandon Staley.

Harbaugh’s next challenge will be to get Los Angeles over the hump in a conference that’s a gauntlet of elite quarterbacks. Justin Herbert has yet to have postseason success, but if any coach is equipped to unlock that untapped potential, it might be Harbaugh.

9) Matt LaFleur, Green Bay Packers

Matt LaFleur has quietly built one of the most consistent coaching résumés in the league. Since taking over in 2019, he’s led the Green Bay Packers to five playoff appearances in six seasons, including four campaigns with 11+ wins.

You have to commend LaFleur for how he’s navigated the transition from a Hall of Famer in Rodgers to a young, unproven quarterback in Jordan Love. The shocking playoff blowout of the Dallas Cowboys in 2023 was undoubtedly a highlight moment of the coach-QB duo’s time together thus far. Green Bay underwent a significant shift, and LaFleur made sure the foundation was solid.

Being good isn’t enough anymore, though. At some point, you have to level up, and that’s the crossroads the Packers are currently sitting at. The NFC is tough, and while this team has been in the mix, it hasn’t made any real noise when it matters. Time will tell if LaFleur can raise the ceiling for Green Bay.

10) Sean Payton, Denver Broncos

Sean Payton has been exactly what the Denver Broncos needed to restore the franchise to relevance. He seemingly flipped a switch after a disastrous 1-5 start to the 2023 season. Denver turned heads in 2024, posting a 10-7 record with rookie quarterback Bo Nix, snapping the team’s eight-year playoff drought.

With nearly two decades of success and a career 170-105 head coaching record, Payton has brought stability to a Broncos franchise that has struggled since Peyton Manning’s departure. However, returning to relevance and becoming a true contender are two different things. Denver struggled against playoff teams last season, proving Payton’s squad still has work to do.

The Broncos’ front office has been actively improving the roster this offseason, and now, Payton enters the 2025 season with the most talented group he’s had since arriving in Denver. He’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but he undoubtedly has this team trending in the right direction.

11) Sean McDermott, Buffalo Bills

Sean McDermott has turned the Buffalo Bills into one of the NFL’s most consistent winners. With just one losing season in eight years and double-digit victories in each of the past six, he’s built a stable contender in a loaded AFC landscape.

McDermott has won 65% of his regular-season games as head coach. He’s kept the offense elite amid coaching staff changes and concerns about the team’s talent at the skill positions (See: Josh Allen’s 2024 MVP campaign). Despite turnover and a slew of injuries, the defense has performed admirably as well.

There’s no doubt that McDermott knows how to win. However, the Bills have continued to fall short in January. They’ve won a playoff game in five straight postseasons but have no Super Bowl appearances to show for it.

Knocking off Mahomes and the Chiefs is a tall task, but at some point, something has to give. If McDermott can’t break through, it could soon be time to find someone who can.

12) Kevin O’Connell, Minnesota Vikings

Kevin O’Connell might be one of the most underrated head coaches in football. In just three seasons as the Minnesota Vikings’ head coach, he’s compiled a 34-17 record, won 13 or more games twice, and kept the team squarely in the playoff hunt. And he’s done so without having an elite quarterback.

One of the game’s brightest minds, O’Connell consistently finds ways to generate offense and win games, which is easier said than done in today’s QB-driven league. He deserves a lot of credit for Sam Darnold’s career revival in 2024. Though Darnold is no longer in Minnesota, O’Connell’s leadership has helped shift the narrative on a player who was once dubbed a bust.

The Vikings overachieved in 2022, finishing with a 13-4 record. Then, they posted a 14-3 mark last year despite losing J.J. McCarthy before the season even began.

O’Connell has proven that he can have success regardless of who’s under center. Bringing in Brian Flores as defensive coordinator was also a game-changing move that shouldn’t go unnoticed.

13) Dan Quinn, Washington Commanders

Dan Quinn’s second act as an NFL head coach got off to a pleasantly surprising start, and it’s already going better than his first. He guided the Commanders to an impressive 12-5 record and a trip to the NFC Championship Game in his first season at the helm.

What makes Washington’s turnaround even more impressive is that virtually no one saw it coming. There were some skeptics about Quinn’s hire, but the Commanders seemed to hit big by landing him and Offensive Rookie of the Year Jayden Daniels in the same offseason.

Quinn has already revitalized a franchise that had been dormant for a long time. He’s hardly the same coach he was during his tenure with the Atlanta Falcons from 2015 to 2020. He’s more aggressive, more adaptable, and has shown a willingness to trust the offense, which included putting the ball in Daniels’ hands in crucial moments.

While he still leans on his roots as a defensive-minded coach, Quinn has proven to be adaptable to the current NFL game.

14) Todd Bowles, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Todd Bowles has been quietly effective as the head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Even though Tom Brady’s lone losing season of his career came under Bowles, the Bucs still made the playoffs and won the NFC South that year. And since Brady’s departure, Tampa Bay has won back-to-back division titles, proving they can win without the future Hall of Famer.

Bowles is a defensive-minded coach, but the Buccaneers have now shifted their approach to a more aggressive offense, led by Baker Mayfield, who is coming off the most productive season of his NFL career. That adaptability proves that Bowles is more than a brilliant defensive mind.

Bowles has shown a great deal of trust in his players, allowing Mayfield to play within himself, even if it means stomaching the turnovers. He’s also helped get coaches hired, with his last two OCs (Dave Canales, Liam Coen) landing head coaching gigs.

After a failed stint with the New York Jets, Bowles has redeemed himself as a coordinator and head coach, helping the Bucs earn five straight playoff appearances.

15) DeMeco Ryans, Houston Texans

DeMeco Ryans has quickly emerged as one of the NFL’s brightest head coaches despite stepping into the role in 2023 with no prior HC experience. In just two seasons, he’s delivered back-to-back 10-7 finishes, two AFC South titles, and a playoff win.

A former Pro Bowl linebacker, Ryans has built the Houston Texans into one of the NFL’s toughest and most physical defensive units. His leadership, high football IQ, and ability to reach and relate to this young locker room have already paid significant dividends.

One of the biggest decisions that Ryans has needed to make was moving on from offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik. C.J. Stroud put together a fantastic rookie season, but he took a step back in his second year. While Ryans is a defensive-minded coach, how the Texans handle Stroud’s development will have a significant impact on the franchise’s trajectory.

16) Zac Taylor, Cincinnati Bengals

Zac Taylor remains one of the more polarizing NFL head coaches. On the surface, he’s delivered sustained success, with four straight winning seasons, a trip to the Super Bowl, and two playoff appearances.

While Taylor has benefited from having a talented roster, he’s done a respectable job of navigating injuries to Joe Burrow, managing contract drama, and keeping the Cincinnati Bengals competitive. Still, back-to-back 9-8 seasons have to be leaving fans wanting more.

After six seasons, questions still linger around whether Taylor is the right coach to elevate the Bengals to new heights. His career winning percentage sits below .500, and he’s made the playoffs in only two of his six campaigns as head coach.

With a high-powered offense, led by an elite quarterback in Burrow, the expectations are still high. Time will tell if Taylor gets them back near the top of the AFC.

17) Kevin Stefanski, Cleveland Browns

Kevin Stefanski is a difficult coach to evaluate, not because he lacks a substantial track record, but because the Cleveland Browns have had significant highs and lows during his tenure. In five seasons with the Browns, Stefanski has led two 11-win campaigns, won two Coach of the Year awards, and advanced to the postseason twice.

Stefanski deserves credit for the job he’s done, especially considering there has been no stability at the quarterback position. He brought the best out of Mayfield early in his career and also made the playoffs with an aging Flacco in 2023. That’s no small feat in Cleveland, where many new hires have struggled to find success.

Still, Stefanski’s record with the Browns is barely above .500, and he’s 1-2 in the postseason. Not to mention, the Deshaun Watson experiment has been an absolute disaster.

While that was a front office move, it has been a black cloud over Stefanski’s tenure in Cleveland. Nevertheless, he’s shown enough to suggest he could thrive in a better situation.

18) Mike McDaniel, Miami Dolphins

Mike McDaniel is still one of the NFL’s most intriguing and polarizing head coaches. On one hand, he’s an offensive savant with a brilliant football mind and a gift for squeezing production from just about any skill player he plugs into his system. On the other hand, he’s still searching for his first playoff win, and his Miami Dolphins teams often flame out late in the season.

McDaniel enters the 2025 season facing questions about his ability to adapt and make in-game decisions. His 28-23 record in three seasons looks average on paper, but it does improve considerably when quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is healthy.

I asked Mike McDaniel what we don’t understand or appreciate enough about Tua Tagovailoa.

“He is always. Getting. Better. He is always improving on things in his game. That’s one thing that is supremely important…and something people don’t really recognize.”

Great chat. pic.twitter.com/WiuRzvCDhr

— Kevin Clark (@bykevinclark) April 3, 2025

That’s been an ongoing concern, so perhaps McDaniel deserves some grace. When Tagovailoa starts, the Dolphins have a 25-16 record.

Some argue that McDaniel’s personality and charm have afforded him more benefit of the doubt than other coaches, but it’s hard to ignore the structural challenges he’s faced. Having a quarterback with injury concerns isn’t exactly a solid foundation.

Miami has made the playoffs twice under McDaniel’s watch, but January success is still elusive.

19) Mike Macdonald, Seattle Seahawks

Mike Macdonald might have flown a bit under the radar in his first season as an NFL head coach, but he quietly delivered an encouraging start to his tenure with the Seattle Seahawks.

Tasked with following in the footsteps of legendary coach Pete Carroll, Macdonald brought a fresh approach rooted in his defensive pedigree from his time in Baltimore and at Michigan.

The Seahawks ended the 2024 season with a 10-7 record, the franchise’s best mark since 2020. Seattle narrowly missed the playoffs, but this team exceeded expectations in its first year under Macdonald. After a rocky 4-5 start, Macdonald’s squad rallied to a 6-2 finish, which is a testament to his leadership and adaptability.

The Seahawks may not be contenders just yet, but Macdonald has already begun reshaping the franchise’s identity. He inherited a roster that many assumed was destined for regression, but instead, he improved its standing within the NFC landscape. Naturally, he also turned the defense around, coaching the unit to a top-10 finish in PFSN’s Defense+ metric.

20) Jonathan Gannon, Arizona Cardinals

Jonathan Gannon’s head coaching tenure hasn’t been flashy, but it’s been promising. After a rocky 4-13 debut in 2023, he led the Arizona Cardinals to an 8-9 record in 2024. That mini-turnaround spoke volumes, as the team showed meaningful progress on both sides of the ball.

Arizona’s offense enjoyed a resurgence last season, finishing fifth in our Offense+ metric. While the defense still struggled from a season-long perspective, the unit improved from 31st in points allowed in 2023 to 15th in 2024. Marvin Harrison Jr. didn’t take off immediately, and there are still questions about Kyler Murray’s ceiling, but this is a team trending upward.

Though Gannon’s 12-22 overall record may not turn heads, he’s managed to stabilize a roster that could’ve easily gone off the rails. The former Eagles DC has brought a disciplined and tough mentality to Arizona. He still has much to prove, but Gannon’s earned a third season and a shot to secure his future if the Cardinals can build on their momentum.

21) Shane Steichen, Indianapolis Colts

Shane Steichen has produced a 17-17 record in his two-year tenure with the Indianapolis Colts, which is a respectable mark given the carousel of quarterbacks he’s had to manage in a short time. He’s had Gardner Minshew II, an aging Flacco, and Anthony Richardson, who has a growing injury history and has yet to prove to be a legitimate starting NFL QB.

The fact that the Colts are sitting at .500 under Steichen despite the instability under center is enough to give him the benefit of the doubt. He’s a proven play-caller and offensive mind, but stability without postseason success usually doesn’t last long in the NFL.

Indianapolis has missed the postseason in both years under Steichen, which has also been plagued by late-season struggles. While it’s fair to grow impatient, it’s difficult to imagine this team making a deep playoff run with the current roster, especially with the uncertainty at quarterback.

22) Raheem Morris, Atlanta Falcons

Raheem Morris’ coaching path has been an interesting one. After more than a decade since his first gig with the Buccaneers, Morris got another shot with the Falcons, leading them to an 8-9 record in his first season at the helm.

Unfortunately, Atlanta ended up outside the playoff picture, marking yet another losing season in his head coaching career — which has produced just one winning campaign.

While one season with the current roster may not be enough to judge Morris on, his first didn’t do anything to erase doubts, especially after some game-management blunders last season.

What Morris does have going for him, though, is the respect that he commands from his players. He brings a steady, likeable presence to the locker room, but that’s just part of the equation when it comes to being a head coach. The results have yet to match the reputation, excluding his success as a defensive coordinator.

23) Dave Canales, Carolina Panthers

Canales entered the NFL head coaching ranks with just one year of experience as a coordinator. He also inherited arguably the league’s most challenging situation with the Carolina Panthers.

Carolina posted a 5-12 record in Canales’ debut. After an ugly start to the year — which included blowouts of 37 and 23 points in the first two games — Canales made a bold move to bench Bryce Young.

Veteran Andy Dalton wasn’t the answer at quarterback, but the decision seemed to light a bit of a fire under Young. He eventually reclaimed the starting job and showed noticeable progress by the end of the season. The hope is that he can carry that momentum into 2025.

While Carolina’s wins weren’t overly impressive, they had some encouraging losses, putting up competitive efforts against the Buccaneers, Chiefs, and Eagles. The Panthers played better as the year progressed, which is a testament to Canales’ coaching ability. After having success with Mayfield, the biggest question is if he can duplicate that with Young.

24) Brian Callahan, Tennessee Titans

Brian Callahan’s first season as the Tennessee Titans’ head coach ended with an uninspiring 3-14 record. Coming from the Zac Taylor coaching tree, where he served as Cincinnati’s offensive coordinator, Callahan was hired for his bright offensive mind. However, he inherited a Titans roster devoid of elite talent.

With Mason Rudolph and Will Levis at quarterback, the expectations were low, and even those were barely met last season. Callahan’s coaching debut was reasonably uneventful, which raises even more questions.

Help could be on the way, though, as Tennessee landed the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, which the front office used on Cam Ward. Now, the Titans have their potential franchise quarterback in place, which could offer some stability for Callahan heading into Year 2.

This season will be far more telling as to what kind of head coach Callahan is. While his seat isn’t hot yet, you can never get too comfortable in the NFL.

25) Brian Daboll, New York Giants

Brian Daboll’s head coaching tenure with the New York Giants has been a tale of diminishing returns. Following an impressive 9-7-1 debut in 2022, which included a playoff win, expectations skyrocketed. But since then, Daboll has gone just 9-25 over the past two seasons.

New York’s offense has ranked in the bottom three in scoring in each of the last two seasons, and the defense ranked 31st in PFSN’s Defense+ metric in 2024. Though Daboll’s tenure with the Giants hasn’t been long, it’s beginning to seem like his brief early success was more of an outlier than the foundation for something special.

Considering how the Giants have regressed across the board, it’s a bit surprising that Daboll made it through another offseason unscathed. We’ve seen other coaches get canned for less. However, the front office appears to be holding onto hopes that he can find the magic again. It’s fair to question whether or not Daboll should return to a coordinator role, where he thrived in Buffalo.

New Head Coaches

Ben Johnson, Chicago Bears

Ben Johnson arrives in Chicago as the NFL’s most coveted coaching hire. He has built a reputation as an offensive mastermind whose work in Detroit vaulted Jared Goff into another tier of quarterbacks and transformed the Lions into an offensive juggernaut.

After a couple of years of waiting for the right opportunity, Johnson finally landed the job he wanted when he was ready to move on.

🗣️ “This is exactly where we wanted to be.” pic.twitter.com/mT56UoVGdl

— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) January 21, 2025

Johnson appears confident in his vision, and the pressure will be on to restore one of the NFL’s most storied franchises to its former relevance. Fortunately, he’ll have plenty to work with, including last year’s No. 1 overall pick, Caleb Williams, and a group of skill players that features DJ Moore, Rome Odunze, and Colston Loveland.

If Johnson can replicate his success in Chicago, the Bears might have something special on their hands.

Brian Schottenheimer, Dallas Cowboys

Brian Schottenheimer’s promotion to Cowboys head coach might be the least inspiring hire of the NFL offseason. After letting Mike McCarthy walk when his contract expired, Dallas opted against conducting an exhaustive search and instead elevated their offensive coordinator of the past two seasons.

This marks Schottenheimer’s first head-coaching opportunity after more than two decades as an NFL assistant. Given his lengthy history as an assistant, not many people expected him to land a head coaching gig, and it’s challenging to make sense of the move.

Schottenheimer was never really a strong contender for any other HC jobs, but his last name does at least hold some weight. He’ll now have the opportunity to prove that this promotion was based on merit.

Liam Coen, Jacksonville Jaguars

Coen’s arrival in Jacksonville might not have been the smoothest. In fact, the hiring process was quite dramatic. But he might be just the coach the Jacksonville Jaguars need as a franchise searching for an identity.

Coen is a rising offensive mind with just two years of NFL play-calling experience, but he helped Tampa Bay become one of the league’s top passing attacks last season. He also deserves some of the credit for Mayfield’s resurgence.

Now in Jacksonville, Coen’s mission will be to do the same for Trevor Lawrence, who hasn’t consistently looked like a former No. 1 overall pick. With Coen’s reputation on the rise, this seems like a prime opportunity for Lawrence to latch on with a younger coach with proven success working with quarterbacks. If nothing else, Coen’s tenure should be entertaining.

Pete Carroll, Las Vegas Raiders

Pete Carroll’s return to the NFL sideline might not carry the same hype that it would have a decade ago, but his hiring should still command attention. After a brief stint in Seattle’s front office, the 73-year-old coaching legend is back — this time with the Las Vegas Raiders.

Carroll’s track record speaks for itself, with a 170-120 career record and just four losing seasons across 18 years as an NFL head coach. The Raiders have had an embarrassing run of head coaches, and his hiring signals a potential shift, one that comes with stability and a higher floor than the franchise has seen in recent memory.

It feels like Carroll is getting back to his roots, teaming up with Chip Kelly and trading for veteran quarterback Geno Smith. We’ll see if Las Vegas can make real noise, but it will at least be a competent football team.

Mike Vrabel, New England Patriots

The New England Patriots’ hiring of Mike Vrabel suggests that they didn’t want to stray too far from the foundation set by Bill Belichick. After a rough one-year stint for Jerod Mayo, the Patriots brought back another familiar face, one who was a beloved player for the franchise and helped them win three Super Bowls.

Vrabel returns to New England with real head coaching credentials, too. He consistently got more out of less during his time with the Titans, finishing with a 54-45 record over six seasons and a pair of AFC South titles. Vrabel now steps into a more intriguing situation, one with a defense with promising pieces and a franchise quarterback in Drake Maye.

Kellen Moore, New Orleans Saints

Kellen Moore has been an HC candidate in waiting for several years. Now, he gets to prove himself, taking over one of the more challenging vacancies. After stints as offensive coordinator with the Cowboys, Chargers, and, most recently, the Super Bowl champion Eagles, Moore takes over a New Orleans Saints team facing an uphill climb.

It’s hard to question Moore’s reputation as an instinctive play-caller, and his arrival should help provide a spark to a Saints offense that also has major questions at the QB position. However, the franchise lacks a true identity, and for someone who hasn’t yet had head coaching experience, that could be a tall task.

Aaron Glenn, New York Jets

Aaron Glenn’s hire feels like a solid one for the Jets. He has steadily climbed the coaching ladder over the last decade, following a 15-year NFL career that included three Pro Bowl appearances.

Glenn offers a unique understanding of how to navigate NFL locker rooms from a player’s and a coach’s perspective. Last season, his Lions’ defenses played tough and deserve a ton of credit for their toughness and adaptability in the face of key injuries.

Now, Glenn gets to coach a Jets roster with serious talent on the defensive side, including Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams.

The Jets franchise has been somewhat dysfunctional, especially during the brief Rodgers era. Glenn’s leadership and experience could offer much-needed stability and hope.