Every offseason brings its own set of storylines, surprises, and high-stakes decisions as teams assess their performance, identify areas for improvement, and embark on the quest for coaching talent that can elevate their game. From seasoned veterans to rising stars, the coaching carousel offers a window into the ever-evolving landscape of the league.
This year’s hiring cycle has officially concluded, with the Commanders and Seahawks most recently making announcements about their hires. In total, we will have eight new head coaches next season. Here’s a recap on the hires:
Patriots: Jerod Mayo
Titans: Brian Callahan
Chargers: Jim Harbaugh
Raiders: Antonio Pierce
Commanders: Dan Quinn
Falcons: Raheem Morris
Panthers: Dave Canales
Seahawks: Mike Macdonald
Not seeing Bill Belichick or Pete Carroll patrolling New England’s and Seattle’s sideline will certainly be jarring as next season begins. Though, the Patriots have been confident in Jerod Mayo’s ability to lead this team for years. And, the Seahawks landed one of the hottest names in the entire league in Mike Macdonald — who engineered the Ravens’ No. 1 ranked defense in 2023.
The AFC West has certainly seen a shake up over the last couple of years. As the rest of the division tries to keep pace with Andy Reid and the Kansas City Chiefs, we’ve seen all three other teams make changes in the last couple of years. Antonio Pierce became just the 11th coach since 2000 to shed the interim tag and be promoted to head coach. We saw the Raiders defense flourish after he took over, as Pierce seemed to establish a culture quickly with his team. The Chargers hope Jim Harbaugh can have a similar effect after leaving Michigan following a National title win with the Wolverines.
In the NFC South, the Panthers and Falcons hired some familiar faces. Carolina went with Dave Canales, who spent last year as Tampa Bay’s offensive coordinator and is credited for helping Baker Mayfield to a career year. For the Falcons, there was some buzz around Belichick, but they ultimately landed on Raheem Morris. Morris was with the Rams as DC last year, coached for the Falcons from ’15-’20, and was previously head coach of the Buccaneers from ’09-’11. Both Canales and Morris should waste no time acclimating themselves to the rest of the division.
Typically, new head coaches won’t be taking over contending teams. The eight teams who hired combined to go 45-91 last year, and only the Seahawks finished with a winning record. Though, that does mean there is room for improvement. The Commanders, Titans, and Patriots have the 1st, 2nd, and 4th most cap space available among all teams entering the offseason. Washington, New England, Los Angeles, Tennessee and Atlanta all boast top-8 picks in the upcoming NFL Draft. There will be no shortage of options to build these teams back into contention.
As NFL teams make big changes in their coaching staff during the offseason, they’re showing how serious they are about winning. These moves are like pieces in a puzzle, each one affecting the team’s chances of success in the upcoming season. Even though we can’t know for sure how these changes will turn out, one thing is certain: the offseason coaching carousel is really important for the NFL’s journey to success. As we get ready for the new season, it’s clear that the choices made during this time will make a big difference on the football field.
