The coaching cycle in the NFL is changing and growing every week.
With John Harbaugh and Kevin Stefanski taking on the New York Giants and Atlanta Falcons respectively, some believe this cycle will cool down. However, things took another turn on January 19, when the Buffalo Bills fired head coach Sean McDermott.
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McDermott’s firing adds another coaching opportunity to an already crazy coaching cycle, with eight open positions and 10 organizational changes as the offseason approaches.
Whoever takes the job in Buffalo will have quite a bit of room to fill: McDermott’s tenure alongside Josh Allen ended with a 98-50 overall record and five AFC East titles. It’s worth noting that the now-former Bills coach was unable to help Buffalo reach the Super Bowl, which means the next head coach will have to grapple with those expectations.
No pressure, (future) coach.
Beal coaching candidates: 8 options after Sean McDermott was fired
Other teams are conducting interviews to prepare for what they hope will be an era more successful than the one they’re experiencing. The Tennessee Titans hope their next coach can unleash Cam Ward’s potential to compete in a crowded AFC South, while the Giants hope Harbaugh can restore some Giant pride in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
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But who are the next coaches – those with experience and those with no experience – who could find jobs in the coming weeks? Here are some names to know:
Best NFL Coach
The following names have all had experience coaching NFL teams:
Brian Flores
Flores is a popular name for defensive coordinator and head coaching vacancies this cycle. He has interviewed for openings with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens. Flores’ lawsuit against the NFL is still ongoing, but that apparently hasn’t stopped him from his current job or a head coach’s interest in the league.
Mike McCarthy
The former Packers and Cowboys head coach is not coaching in 2025 but could return to the sideline in 2026. While McCarthy was a Super Bowl champion and had success in the regular season, his shortcomings in the playoffs during his tenure in Dallas ultimately led to his firing in Dallas.
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Robert Saleh
The former Jets head coach returned to multiple head coaching jobs after interviewing with the Titans, Cardinals and Ravens. Saleh is a well-respected and well-respected defensive coordinator, and some may view his failures with the Jets as more of an organizational issue than his own.
Matt Nagy
Nagy’s unfortunate tenure as Bears head coach was highlighted by the struggles of two young, early-draft pass rushers in Mitchell Trubisky and Justin Fields, rather than one individual. Nagy returned to his feet as the Chiefs’ offensive coordinator, making him a head coaching candidate once again.
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Mike McDaniel
The former Dolphins head coach earned well-deserved praise for his innovative, explosive offense in Miami, but the Dolphins failed to win a playoff game in his four seasons at the helm. Will a curious team view McDaniel’s tenure with the Dolphins as a glimpse of the future rather than a failure of the past? In the offense-heavy NFL, the answer is probably yes.
NFL coaching candidates
The following names are seeking first-time NFL head coaching jobs:
Clint Kubiak
Current Seahawks offensive coordinator has done wonders for Sam Darnold, with the pass rusher enjoying another quality season in his first in Kubiak’s system. The well-traveled offensive coordinator is the son of former NFL quarterback and Super Bowl-winning coach Gary Kubiak.
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Chris Shula
Shula, the grandson of the late great Don Shula, has worked well with Sean McVay and the Rams defense in his second stint as captain of the Los Angeles defense. Shula improved the Rams’ defense to rank 10th in the NFL in defensive EPA per game in 2025, an improvement from 23rd in 2024.
Grant Udinski
While Jacksonville’s defense has been the catalyst for their wins this season, Liam Cohen seemingly fixed the Jaguars overnight, and he’s got what it takes Pointing Trevor Lawrence in the right direction meansNFL teams will be watching his staff. Case in point: offensive coordinator Grant Udinski, who has been interviewed so far this offseason. Udinski, just 30 years old, was a member of Kevin O’Connell’s staff in Minnesota before joining Cohen at Duval.
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Davis Weber
The soon-to-be 31-year-old former NFL quarterback made the immediate jump from the field in 2022 to the coaching staff in 2023. Weber, currently the passing games coordinator and quarterbacks coach under Sean Payton, has generated interest as a head coach and the Raiders have interviewed.
Jesse Minter
Minter is the Chargers’ defensive coordinator and has been a hot name in the coaching ranks given the performance of Los Angeles’ defense in his two seasons. The Chargers ranked ninth in defensive EPA per game in 2025 and sixth in 2024.
Others
Some other names coming up during recruiting season:
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Mike LaFleur, Rams offensive coordinator
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Aden Durde, Seahawks defensive coordinator
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Jeff Hafley, Packers defensive coordinator
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Antonio Pierce, former Raiders head coach
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Nate Scheelhaase, Rams passing game coordinator
This article originally appeared in USA Today: Best NFL coaches include Mike McCarthy, Robert Saleh
