With the NFL Playoffs underway, over half the league is already preparing for the offseason. At least five teams will be looking to fill a head coaching vacancy, with potentially more opening up in the coming weeks. We’re examining the current openings, and ranking them from most desirable to least for potential candidates:
1. Chicago Bears
The Bears would have been an even more alluring spot had the team opened up a vacancy last offseason. Instead, the organization put its faith in Matt Eberflus after a strong end to the 2023 campaign. It didn’t work out. At 4-8, Eberflus was fired following Chicago’s sixth straight loss.
For a new coach, the roster still has plenty of things to get excited about. Caleb Williams has superstar upside, and put together a solid rookie campaign (3,541 yards, 20 TD, 6 INT). You could do a whole lot worse than D.J. Moore and Rome Odunze leading your receiving corps. The defense will need a boost. It crumbled after Eberflus left, but the talent on that side of the ball is evident.
They also own a top-10 pick this year and project to have the fifth-most cap space to further bolster the roster. There will be some pressure for immediate results, but the Bears present a first-year coach with the quickest path to building a great team.
2. Jacksonville Jaguars
Doug Pederson was fired following Jacksonville’s Week 18 game, ending a three-year tenure. Franchise QB Trevor Lawrence has dealt with injuries over the last couple of years, but his uneven play has been a major cause of concern. In the search for their next head coach, the Jaguars must identify a candidate who will get the most out of their high-paid quarterback.
Overall, Jacksonville boasts a fairly solid roster. The defense boasts a handful of keepers in Josh Hines-Allen, Travon Walker, Tyson Campbell, and Arik Armstead, among others. Rookie WR Brian Thomas Jr. is already a stud and leads a talented pass-catching group that includes Evan Engram, Christian Kirk, and Gabe Davis.
One thing the Jags have over teams like the Bears is the comfort of playing in the AFC South. There isn’t a dominant team in the division, especially with how Houston’s season just went. A coach who can kickstart this Jacksonville offense has a chance to claim the division in short order.
3. New England Patriots
The Patriots shockingly canned Jerod Mayo after just one season. It came as a surprise after the team wasted no time making Mayo the heir apparent to all-time great head coach Bill Belichick. It doesn’t seem like Mayo was given a fair shake with a flawed team, but the next head coach will have a great opportunity entering next season.
This team has three things going for it: the most cap space in the league, a top-4 draft pick, and a franchise QB on a rookie deal. The Patriots are projected to have over $131 million in cap space entering the offseason according to OverTheCap. They’ll add a blue-chip prospect at the top of the draft — or can trade down and acquire even more picks. And, Drake Maye has a chance to be special. Using that cap space and a draft pick on pass catchers could turn that Patriot offense around in a hurry.
4. New Orleans Saints
The Saints can offer job security to potential candidates. Coaches are getting less leeway than ever. Previously, firing a coach after one season was unheard of. Now, it’s commonplace. New Orleans has never operated in that manner. They gave Dennis Allen two-plus seasons to right the ship despite boasting one of the worst winning percentages in head coaching history. GM Mickey Loomis has been with the team since 2000 and has put the team in dire cap straits year after year.
The roster needs plenty of work. The defense is older, and the offensive line has some serious holes that need to be addressed. Derek Carr probably sticks around for another year and he played pretty well when healthy this year. Expect the Saints to be major players in the quarterback market during the 2026 offseason. The NFC South is winnable, and a coach who can galvanize a group coming off a disappointing year has a chance to secure a division crown in Year 1.
5. New York Jets
The Jets have talent, there’s no debating that. Garrett Wilson, Breece Hall, Quinnen and Quincy Williams, and Sauce Gardner are a solid group to build around. Nothing else about the Jets currently is ideal for a future coach.
Aaron Rodgers remains a volatile player and personality. His future with the team remains up in the air, which also impacts the future of Rodgers’ good friend and WR Davante Adams. The defense plummeted this season after being elite in the previous year. The offense line remains a huge issue.
The Bills have owned the AFC East for five straight years and have no signs of slowing down as long as Josh Allen is under center. The Patriots already have their future signal caller in place and have much more flexibility. The Dolphins are in a bit of a flux, but they went 5-2 down the stretch when Tua Tagovailoa was healthy. The Jets have minimal cap space, no recent history of success, and their franchise player is a 41-year-old coming off the worst season of his career.
