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Ranking the 6 NFL head coaching vacancies from best to worst after Black Monday originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
Black Monday was relatively quiet in 2025, at least compared to recent years.
Following the infamous NFL tradition in which coaches are fired the day after the season ends, there are six vacancies.
Three of those teams parted ways with their former head coach midway through the regular season: the New York Jets (Robert Saleh), New Orleans Saints (Dennis Allen) and chicago bears (Matt Eberflus). Three more were added to the mix after Week 18 concluded: the New England Patriots (Jerod Mayo), Jacksonville Jaguars (Doug Pederson) and Las Vegas Raiders (Antonio Pierce).
So, of the six vacancies, which job is the most attractive? Each franchise has several positives and negatives that candidates must weigh, but many times coaches cannot be demanding. If a team offers you one of 32 head coaching positions, you would be wise to accept it. Still, there are certainly some situations that are better than others.
With that in mind, here is a ranking of head coaching vacancies for the 2025 hiring cycle:
1. New England Patriots
The good: It all starts with Drake Maye, who impressed during his rookie season. Having a franchise quarterback in place is all a new head coach could ask for. Aside from Maye, the Patriots enter the offseason with a projected $131.58 million. in the top space — more than any other team. With the fourth overall pick and no future pick trades (aside from a sixth-rounder in 2025), the assets are there to turn this around quickly.
Bad: Almost everything has gone wrong since Tom Brady left town five years ago. The team has not drafted particularly well, leaving many holes on the roster at key positions like offensive line and wide receiver. There is a lot of work to do to rebuild the roster and culture after three straight losing seasons.
Ideal candidate: Mike Vrabel. If you need a cultural reset, here’s your guy. Vrabel is a proven leader who took the Tennessee Titans further than anyone expected during his tenure. Not to mention, he’s a former Patriot who was inducted into the team’s Hall of Fame in 2023. This is the easiest pairing of all.
2. Chicago Bears
The good: Like the Patriots, the Bears can sell their rookie quarterback to their next head coach. Caleb Williams didn’t live up to his pre-draft expectations as a freshman, but the former No. 1 pick showed enough flashes to excite potential candidates. Chicago has $81.5 million in projected cap space, significantly less than New England, but still fifth in the NFL.
Bad: It was a dysfunctional season for the Bears, from Hail Mary losses to blunders on the clock at the end of the game. The franchise hasn’t had a winning season since 2018, and it’s been 14 years since its last playoff victory. A new coach would also have to deal with front office uncertainty: General manager Ryan Poles could find himself on the bench immediately, which puts the coach in a difficult position.
Ideal candidate: Kliff Kingsbury. It didn’t work out with the Arizona Cardinals, but his latest work has been impressive. Kingsbury took over as Washington Commanders‘ offensive coordinator this season and helped turn Jayden Daniels into the likely Rookie of the Year. He spent the previous year working with Williams as a senior offensive analyst at USC, so he is familiar with the young quarterback.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars
The good: Another team with a young, talented quarterback, except this one already got paid. Trevor Lawrence leads a team filled with young talent, including receiver Brian Thomas Jr., running back Tank Bigsby and pass rushers Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker. Warm-weather teams sometimes have an advantage when signing free agents, and Jacksonville has more than $40 million in projected cap space. In addition, a new agreement for the stadium is on the horizon.
Bad: Owner Shad Khan has made life difficult for himself by hiring general manager Trent Baalke. The much-maligned executive has survived multiple coaching changes in Jacksonville, surprising many around the league. This decision could discourage candidates from wanting to join a ship that could sink. For a team that has been in the top 10 in 15 of the last 18 years, it is a daunting task to turn this franchise around.
Ideal candidate: Liam Coen. With Baalke staying, an inexperienced and less demanding candidate will likely be hired. Coen is a worthy choice. The 39-year-old Rhode Island native is a former Sean McVay assistant who earned his first NFL challenge away from the offensive guru. In one season under Coen, Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers offense thrived. Jacksonville could use a young, talented coach like Coen.
4. New York Jets
The good: For all the criticism former GM Joe Douglas received, he added a lot of building blocks to this team. Young talents like Breece Hall, Garrett Wilson, Will McDonald IV and Quinnen Williams would provide candidate pieces to work with on both sides of the ball. Then there’s the obvious appeal of the team being in (just across the river) New York.
Bad: Quarterback Aaron Rodgers and owner Woody Johnson are daunting. The four-time MVP was a shadow of himself last season, and clearly had too much influence within the organization on roster and coaching decisions. Rodgers, 40, could leave the team, but that is unknown at this time. Then there’s Johnson, whose ownership style has revealed itself throughout this messy era.
Ideal candidate: Aaron Glenn. Would Johnson choose another defensive-minded coach after Saleh didn’t work out? If you do, Glenn is the right man for the job. He is a former Pro Bowl cornerback who played eight seasons with the Jets. Glenn has paid his dues as an assistant since 2014, currently with the Super Bowl favorite Detroit Lions. At the very least, Glenn could be an adult in the room that the Jets haven’t had recently.
5. Las Vegas Raiders
The good: Think of the Raiders as a blank canvas. There is much work to do, but there is some hope. Tight end Brock Bowers broke several rookie records. Maxx Crosby continues to dominate on defense. Even if the roster isn’t entirely desirable, the market and franchise history are attractive to free agents. With more than $110 million in projected cap space (second behind New England), the Raiders could quickly retool this spring.
Bad: Instability has been the only constant within this organization for the last two decades. Since 2004, the team has had 12 different head coaches (including interim). On top of that, the team doesn’t have a franchise quarterback or a top draft pick (No. 6) to acquire one. It will be a long rebuild and there is little evidence that any head coach will be given the time necessary to turn things around. Oh, and you’re in the same division as Patrick Mahomes.
Ideal candidate: Brian Flores. Sure, their first stop in Miami had mixed results. But the Dolphins overachieved during much of Flores’ tenure. His ties to new minority owner Tom Brady from his time in New England are an added bonus. If they hired Flores, the Raiders would immediately adopt a tough, no-nonsense identity they so desperately need.
6. New Orleans Saints
The good: The NFC South is the biggest attraction for this job. In recent seasons, that division has routinely been the worst in football. The Saints, with proven veterans like Alvin Kamara, Demario Davis, Cam Jordan and Tyrann Mathieu, could quickly reclaim the division with some adjustments and a new coach.
Bad: For years now, the Saints have always been described as being in “cap hell.” They will not escape it in 2025, with a current projection of -81.9 million dollars in space. That means veterans will have to be cut just to meet salary requirements. Combine the salary sheet with the quarterback situation (Derek Carr) and you have the least attractive job on the market.
Ideal candidate: Joe Brady. After the disaster that was the Dennis Allen era, the Saints could look for another offensive coach to try to recapture the glory days of Sean Payton. Brady was part of that success with Payton, serving as an assistant for two NFC South winning teams in 2017 and 2018. Since then, Brady, 35, has become one of the hottest names on the market. His work with Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills this year was his best yet.