The regular season ended on Sunday, Jan. 5, and the annual coaching carousel is in full swing.
We've ranked six NFL coaching jobs by attractiveness ahead of the 2025 season, taking into account factors such as draft position, available space, owner and general manager.
NFL coaching vacancies by job attractiveness
Job attractiveness is rated on a scale of 1 to 5 stars.
| Team | Record | Former HC | Job appeal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patriots | 4-13 | Jerod Mayo | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Bears | 5-12 | Matt Eberflus | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Raiders | 4-13 | Antonio Pierce | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Jets | 5-12 | Robert Saleh | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Jaguars | 4-13 | Doug Pederson | ⭐⭐ |
| Saints | 5-12 | Dennis Allen | ⭐ |
Free-agent information according to OverTheCap as of Jan. 8.
Patriots coaching pitch: Drake Mayeux is a real player
Top 2025 players in the NFL draft: 4
Cap space: $123.9 million (1)
Owner/general manager: Robert Kraft/Eliot Wolfe
Quarterback: Drake Mayeux
Last playoff appearance: 2021
Interviews: Byron Leftwich, Pep Hamilton | Presumptive candidates: Mike Vrabel, Ben Johnson
The Patriots went 8-26 over the past two seasons and parted ways with Jerod Mayo after one campaign. But in the offseason, a team staffed by Drake Maye and with the most cap space in the NFL has a lot to hold onto.
While there are obvious holes on the team (offensive line, wide receiver, running back, etc.), nearly $125 million in free space can do a lot when the quarterback isn't a concern.
It would have been nice (and probably saved Mayo's job) if New England had lost the season finale against the Buffalo Bills' backup players, but the Pats should have a selection of non-quarterbacks at the top of the draft. Wide receivers Travis Hunter and Tetairoa McMillan are prime candidates early in the draft.
With the Rooney Rule in place, that position should be filled fairly quickly, and former Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel is reportedly the No. 1 target.
Bears coaching pitch: Caleb Williams showed his potential
- Top 2025 NFL Draft pick: 10
- Cap space: $80.1 million (5)
- Owner/general manager: Virginia Halas McCaskey/Ryan Poles
- Quarterback: Caleb Williams
- Last playoff appearance: 2020
Interviews: Pete Carroll, Mike Kafka, Mike Vrabel | Suggested candidates: Joe Brady, Brian Flores, Arthur Smith.
Heading into Caleb Williams' rookie season, the Bears overloaded their offense and paired him with receiver Rome Odunze, a top-10 pick. It didn't work out as planned, with Chicago averaging just 18.2 points per game, but with the No. 10 pick and more than $80 million in available cap space, there's no need to worry about the position player.
Those resources can be devoted to an offensive line that allowed Williams to get 68 field goal attempts and a defense that allowed over 350 yards per game.
Raiders coaching pitch: Clean slate
- Top 2025 NFL Draft pick: 6
- Cap space: $107.3 million (2)
- Owner/general manager: Mark Davis/Tom Telesco
- Quarterback: Gardner Minshew/Aidan O'Connell
- Last playoff appearance: 2021
Interview: Unconfirmed | Rumors: Bill Belichick, Mike Vrabel, Pete Carroll, Ben Johnson, Brian Flores
Owner Mark Davis may be the most unappealing part of the opening in Sin City. That or the AFC West, which is the strongest division in soccer after the Los Angeles Chargers and Denver Broncos were able to join the Kansas City Chiefs in the playoffs.
As with Mayo in New England, things would have looked a little better for the Raiders if Antonio Pierce hadn't won two of his last three games. But Las Vegas has the No. 6 pick and more cap space than 30 other teams.
The Raiders could take a step forward to get a much-needed quarterback in the draft, or they could use the vacant bridge spot and start filling out the rest of the roster. He should have plenty of room to grow in that role and develop a new culture after Jon Gruden, Rich Bisaccia, Josh McDaniels and Pierce have rotated on the sideline since 2018.
Jets coaching pitch: Aaron Rodgers could be gone
- Top 2025 NFL Draft pick: 7
- Cap space: $28.8 million (20)
- Owner/general manager: Woody Johnson/Phil Savage (interim)
- Quarterback: Aaron Rodgers
- Last playoff appearance: 2010
Interview: Rex Ryan | Rumors: Joe Brady, Brian Flores, Josh McCown, Ron Rivera, Bobby Slowik
Before taking the vacant New York coach position, I'd like to get confirmation from Woody Johnson that Rodgers is not coming back.
The future Hall of Fame winner essentially allowed head coach Robert Saleh and general manager Joe Douglas to be fired and then forced the trade of receiver Davante Adams. Rodgers has certainly been part of the problem this season, playing at a 48.2 QBR.
If Rodgers is let go (or traded somehow) - Johnson didn't seem set on bringing him back - New York will find plenty of players to like him. Former Offensive Rookie of the Year Garrett Wilson should recover, and Adams' return will help form one of the NFL's best receiving duos. Running backs Brees Hall and Braylon Allen have a good chance to step up. And former Defensive Rookie of the Year Sousa Gardner remains a cornerstone of the defense.
The No. 7 pick and ample cap space (especially if Rodgers moves on) will allow the rebuilding of a long-troubled offensive line to continue.
Jaguars coaching pitch: Trevor Lawrence was the №1 pick!
- Top 2025 NFL Draft pick: 5
- Cap space: $36 million (18)
- Owner/general manager: Shahid Khan/Trent Baalke
- Quarterback: Trevor Lawrence
- Last playoff appearance: 2022
Interviews: Incomplete | Rumors: Kellen Moore, Todd Monken, Joe Brady, Ben Johnson, Robert Saleh
Things have gotten so bad in Jacksonville this season that it's easy to forget that just two years ago this team nearly beat the Kansas City Chiefs in the second round of the playoffs.
Lawrence has turned in a major letdown, playing just 10 games. That's despite the team's additions of wide receivers Brian Thomas Jr. in the 2024 NFL Draft and Gabe Davis via free agency. The No. 5 pick will almost certainly be spent on a defense that allowed 25.6 points per game.
Interestingly, after Doug Pederson was fired, it was announced that the new coach will report directly to owner Shad Khan, even though general manager Trent Baalke will remain in place.
Saints coaching pitch: Low expectations
- Top 2025 NFL Draft pick: 9
- Cap space: minus-$50 million (32)
- Owner/general manager: Gayle Benson/Mickey Loomis
- Quarterback: Derek Carr/Spencer Rattler
- Last playoff appearance: 2020
Interview: Anthony Weaver | Rumors: Mike Vrabel, Kellen Moore, Joe Brady
I'm not sure accepting the Saints head coaching vacancy should be a gimmick shown on Fear Factor, Jackass or Impractical Jokers.
Years and years of salary cap manipulation have resulted in the Saints having a negative $50 million in available cap space this offseason. That deficit can - and will - be negated in some way, but it won't lead to an improved roster.
Veteran QB Derek Carr will have $51 million this season and $50 million if released. Fifth-round pick Spencer Rattler didn't look like a future starter, and first-round pick Chris Olave suffered another concussion that knocked him out of the last eight games.
With the Carolina Panthers showing life under Bryce Young in the second half of the season, New Orleans will likely be banished to fourth place in the NFC South for years to come.
