With the Cowboys and Mike McCarthy splitting up, seven teams have made coaching changes so far during this year’s cycle. Here are the candidates connected to each of the HC-needy franchises. If more teams make changes, they will be added to the list.
Updated 2-11-25 (11:40am CT)
Chicago Bears
- Bill Belichick, head coach (North Carolina): Candidate expressed interest
- Joe Brady, offensive coordinator (Bills): Interviewed 1/17
- Thomas Brown, interim head coach (Bears): Interviewed 1/13
- Matt Campbell, head coach (Iowa State): Interview expected
- Pete Carroll, former head coach (Seahawks): Interviewed 1/9; hired by Raiders
- Brian Flores, defensive coordinator (Vikings): Interviewed 1/18
- Marcus Freeman, head coach (Notre Dame): Team wants to interview
- Eddie George, head coach (Tennessee State): Interviewed 1/19
- Aaron Glenn, defensive coordinator (Lions): Interviewed 1/11
- Ben Johnson, offensive coordinator (Lions): Hired
- Mike Kafka, offensive coordinator (Giants): Interviewed 1/9
- Kliff Kingsbury, offensive coordinator (Commanders): Interview requested, won’t interview until after season
- Mike McCarthy, head coach (Cowboys): Interviewed 1/15
- Todd Monken, offensive coordinator (Ravens): Interviewed 1/17; to remain with Ravens
- Drew Petzing, offensive coordinator (Cardinals): Interviewed 1/8
- Ron Rivera, former head coach (Commanders): Interviewed 1/12
- David Shaw, senior personnel executive (Broncos): Interviewed 1/14
- Arthur Smith, offensive coordinator (Steelers): Interviewed 1/15
- Adam Stenavich, offensive coordinator (Packers): Interviewed 1/18
- Mike Tomlin, head coach (Steelers): Denied meeting
- Mike Vrabel, former head coach (Titans): Interviewed 1/8; hired by Patriots
- Anthony Weaver, defensive coordinator (Dolphins): Interviewed 1/9
Dallas Cowboys
- Bill Belichick, head coach (North Carolina): Mutual interest would have existed
- Pete Carroll, former head coach (Seahawks): Discussed position; hired by Raiders
- Leslie Frazier, assistant head coach (Seahawks): Interviewed 1/20
- Aaron Glenn, defensive coordinator (Lions): Mentioned as candidate; hired by Jets
- Kliff Kingsbury, offensive coordinator (Commanders): Mentioned as candidate; won’t interview until after season
- Anthony Lynn, run game coordinator/running backs coach (Commanders: Mutual interest expressed
- Kellen Moore, offensive coordinator (Eagles): Interviewed 1/17; frontrunner?
- Robert Saleh, former head coach (Jets): Interviewed 1/18
- Deion Sanders, head coach (Colorado): Discussions commenced; no deal expected
- Brian Schottenheimer, offensive coordinator (Cowboys): Hired
- Jason Witten, head coach (Liberty Christian School): Strong contender?
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Joe Brady, offensive coordinator (Bills): Interviewed 1/18
- Liam Coen, offensive coordinator (Buccaneers): Hired
- Brian Flores, defensive coordinator (Vikings): Interviewed 1/17
- Aaron Glenn, defensive coordinator (Lions): Interviewed 1/11; hired by Jets
- Patrick Graham, defensive coordinator (Raiders): Conducted second interview 1/23
- Ben Johnson, offensive coordinator (Lions): Interviewed 1/11; hired by Bears
- Kliff Kingsbury, offensive coordinator (Commanders): Rumored candidate, won’t interview until after season
- Todd Monken, offensive coordinator (Ravens): Interviewed 1/16; to remain with Ravens
- Kellen Moore, offensive coordinator (Eagles): Interviewed 1/17
- Robert Saleh, former head coach (Jets): Second interview on hold
- Steve Spagnuolo, defensive coordinator (Chiefs): Interviewed 1/10
- Mike Vrabel, former head coach (Titans): Mentioned as candidate; hired by Patriots
Las Vegas Raiders
- Bill Belichick, head coach (North Carolina): Contacted about job
- Pete Carroll, former head coach (Seahawks): Hired
- Brian Flores, defensive coordinator (Vikings): Mentioned as candidate
- Aaron Glenn, defensive coordinator (Lions): Interviewed 1/10; hired by Jets
- Ben Johnson, offensive coordinator (Lions): Interviewed 1/10; hired by Bears
- Vance Joseph, defensive coordinator (Broncos): Interviewed 1/16
- Todd Monken, offensive coordinator (Ravens): Interview declined; to remain with Ravens
- Ron Rivera, former head coach (Commanders): Interviewed 1/17
- Robert Saleh, former head coach (Jets): Interviewed 1/16
- Deion Sanders, head coach (Colorado): Reportedly interested, but interest is not mutual
- Steve Spagnuolo, defensive coordinator (Chiefs): Interviewed 1/10
- Mike Vrabel, former head coach (Titans): Interview declined; hired by Patriots
New England Patriots
- Brian Flores, defensive coordinator (Vikings): Interested in position
- Aaron Glenn, defensive coordinator (Lions): Interview declined
- Pep Hamilton, former offensive coordinator (Texans): Interviewed 1/7
- Ben Johnson, offensive coordinator (Lions): Interviewed 1/10
- Byron Leftwich, former offensive coordinator (Buccaneers): Interviewed 1/7
- Mike Vrabel, former head coach (Titans): Hired
New Orleans Saints
- Joe Brady, offensive coordinator (Bills): Hope to schedule second interview; remaining with Bills
- Aaron Glenn, defensive coordinator (Lions): To conduct second interview; hired by Jets
- Mike Kafka, offensive coordinator (Giants): Conducted second interview 1/25
- Kliff Kingsbury, offensive coordinator (Commanders): To stay with Commanders
- Mike McCarthy, head coach (Cowboys): Withdrew from consideration
- Kellen Moore, offensive coordinator (Eagles): Hired
- Matt Nagy, offensive coordinator (Chiefs): Mentioned as candidate
- Darren Rizzi, interim head coach (Saints): Interviewed 1/17
- Mike Vrabel, former head coach (Titans): Interview being arranged; hired by Patriots
- Anthony Weaver, defensive coordinator (Dolphins): Conducted second interview 1/24
New York Jets
- Bill Belichick, head coach (North Carolina): Showed interest; meeting never scheduled
- Joe Brady, offensive coordinator (Bills): To interview
- Brian Flores, defensive coordinator (Vikings): Interviewed 1/17
- Aaron Glenn, defensive coordinator (Lions): Conducted second interview 1/21; Hired
- Brian Griese, quarterbacks coach (49ers): Interview declined
- Jeff Hafley, defensive coordinator (Packers): Interviewed 1/17
- Vance Joseph, defensive coordinator (Broncos): Interviewed 1/15
- Mike Locksley, head coach (Maryland): Interviewed 1/10
- Josh McCown, quarterbacks coach (Vikings): Interviewed 1/17
- Matt Nagy, offensive coordinator (Chiefs): Interviewed 1/8
- Ron Rivera, former head coach (Commanders): Interviewed
- Darren Rizzi, interim head coach (Saints): Interviewed 1/11
- Rex Ryan, former head coach (Bills): Interviewed 1/7
- Bobby Slowik, offensive coordinator (Texans): Interviewed 1/16
- Steve Spagnuolo, defensive coordinator (Chiefs): Interviewed 1/10
- Arthur Smith, offensive coordinator (Steelers): Interviewed 1/16
- Jeff Ulbrich, interim head coach (Jets): Interviewed 1/13; hired as Falcons’ defensive coordinator
- Mike Vrabel, former head coach (Titans): Interviewed 1/3; hired by Patriots
- Joe Whitt, defensive coordinator (Commanders): Interviewed 1/19
The Bears list seems to look a lot like an attempt to find the next Lovie Smith: Vrabel, Flores, Glenn, Weaver.
Meanwhile, the OC List looks like Ben Johnson and just filling out a list of OC guys. Arthur Smith was a miserable failure in Atlanta and Mike McCarthy has done nothing but rest on the coattails of good teams.
What’s missing (outside of Ben Johnson) are the truly innovative thinkers to help unlock Caleb Williams like Liam Coen and Joe Brady.
Instead, just reads like a “leader of men” and “coaches with prior failed experience” checklist.
They have requested interviews with Monken and Kingsbury, which have done pretty well as OCs this year. Brady has also been mentioned, so not sure what your point is. I question anyone being labeled an innovative thinker when they have Josh Allen improvising.
The only defensive minded guy the Bears should be considering is Vic Fangio who they should have given the HC job to instead of Nagy.
Don’t let this distract you from the the fact that in 1966, Al Bundy scored four touchdowns in a single game while playing for the Polk High School Panthers in the 1966 city championship game versus Andrew Johnson High School, including the game-winning touchdown in the final seconds against his old nemesis, “Spare Tire” Dixon.
Andrew Johnson High filed a protest after the game claiming the six years Al Bundy spent in high school made him ineligible for that game. There were also rumors that Bundy led a conspiracy to tamper with the footwear of players from Andrew Johnson High.
The further the Lions get in the playoffs, the less likely I see Glenn or Johnson leaving. The perceived “good jobs” will likely be gone.
Whats stopping a team from waiting on either one of them? A team would be stupid if they couldnt wait a month to get the hire they think is best for their organization
Nothing but owners tend to get antsy when hiring a new HC as they don’t want to miss out on their guy. A team would be stupid, but this is the Bears and Jets we’re talking about.
Teams never want to wait. It’s why coaches get recycled.
I’ve heard that the Jets are all in on Rex Ryan.
Doesn’t appear he’s getting a second interview.
These are jobs with mostly dysfunctional teams.
Patriots – one and done for their heir to the throne, it would be a surprise if Vrabel doesn’t get this job. 2 HC in 10-years, has QB.
Jets – Ownership mess. 3 HC in 10-years, needs QB.
Jags – Ownership mess.4 HC in 10-years, has QB.
Raiders – Ownership mess. 4 HC in 10-years, needs QB.
Saints – Cap Hell, still. 2 HC in 10-years, needs QB.
Bears – Could be good 3 HC in 10-years, has QB.
The Jags will shift from “has QB” to “needs QB” in 2 years unless they land Ben Johnson or maybe Joe Brady. He has not even closely lived up to his ceiling and is a bottom 10 starting QB at the moment.
Ok, who wants to send the Steelers 4-5 first round picks for Mike “Mr Time Management” Tomlin?
Cue Jerry Jones entrance music please.
If you trade for Tomlin, you gotta make sure you have a great punter.
The man loves punting.
Kliff Kingsbury, Ben Johnson, Arthur Smith to Jacksonville. Trevor needs some help before he becomes the next Colt McCoy. He’s got talent, but nobody to channel it. I really hope Mr Kahn backs a Brinks truck up to Ben Johnson’s door and starts shoveling. If he can resurrect Goffs career from the dead what could he do with a young guy with talent.
So I wonder why Eric Bieniemy and Rich Bisaccia have not received any calls?
Both have received a lot of support on this forum until this round of interviews.
Bieniemy even got canned as OC at UCLA
I would really like to see a league policy of no interviews of any candidates until after the Super Bowl. If that makes your rebuild more difficult, stop the cycle of hire/fire that puts your team in this position every 2-3 years. The only way to seat a new coach prior to the Super Bowl would be to promote from within the organization (Hey Pats, how did that work out?).
If no one can interview, then everyone is on equal footing and better opportunity exists for the Super Bowl participant coordinators.