So far, there are two openings already available: the Tennessee Titans and the New York Giants. More are sure to come, but this does have the feel of a potentially quieter hiring cycle. A lot of the struggling coaches are first-year guys who typically have longer leashes. Others are established players in the coaching world who are in the midst of down years.

Another reason it might be a quieter cycle is there isn’t a great crop of candidates this year. Short of one of those established coaches shaking loose by the end of the year, there are only two coaches I feel confident in as great candidates for any of these head coaching openings.

Below, I’ve broken the top 21 candidates into five tiers. Each candidate is ranked within each tier, along with some history and an explanation for why I have them ranked there. Let’s take a look:

Tier 1: The Favorites

1 — Rams DC Chris Shula

Shula (yes, he’s related to legendary Dolphins HC Don Shula) was a linebacker in college at Miami Ohio and got his start as a coach in the NFL back in 2015, when he was hired by the Chargers as a defensive quality control coach. The Rams hired him as their assistant linebackers coach in 2017 and he’s worked his way up through the organization ever since, eventually earning a promotion to defensive coordinator in 2024.

Since Shula took over last season, the Rams have had one of the best defenses in the league. Specifically in 2025, Shula’s unit is arguably the top defense in the NFL, ranking in the top 3 in almost every major defensive metric. This is despite having the league’s cheapest defense — truly a testament to Shula’s coaching prowess. Los Angeles has serious young talent on the defensive line, but Shula has turned a makeshift secondary into the league’s top-graded coverage unit, per PFF.

Shula is one of Rams HC Sean McVay’s personal favorites and he’s been preparing his prodigy to one day take over a head coaching gig. At 39, Shula is young and a rising star in the coaching world. The Rams may be playing longer into the postseason than teams want to wait, but expect Shula to get a lot of interviews this cycle and to be one of the hottest names available until he decides to make the jump.

2 — Seahawks OC Klint Kubiak

A Colorado State safety back in his playing days and the son of longtime Texans and Broncos HC Gary Kubiak, Klint bounced between Texas A&M, the Vikings and Kansas early in his coaching career before returning to the NFL as an offensive assistant in Denver in 2016. He reunited with the Vikings in 2019 and was quickly promoted to offensive coordinator in 2021 before spending time on the Broncos and 49ers staffs. Kubiak joined the Saints as their offensive coordinator in 2024 and is now serving in the same role in Seattle.

Over the last two seasons, Kubiak has pieced together some impressive offenses. Though the Saints had a tough year last season, their offense was humming, particularly early on when they were healthy. Now with the Seahawks, Kubiak is again making the most of things, turning a talented but thin Seattle offense into the most explosive downfield passing attack in the league. His ability in particular to overcome perceived offensive line deficiencies at both stops should draw attention. 

At just 38, Kubiak is going to be the top target for teams who want an ascending young offensive coach to staple to their franchise quarterback, whether they already have him in-house or are planning to draft him. He’ll be in high demand.

Tier 2: Rising Coordinators

3 — Packers DC Jeff Hafley

A longtime defensive assistant in both the college and pro ranks, Hafley eventually earned a college head coaching gig at Boston College from 2020-2023. He chose to leave that position in 2024 after struggling to consistently win at the underfunded ACC program, forgoing his head coaching job for a spot as the Packers’ defensive coordinator. It’s only his second season, but Hafley is starting to get some buzz as a head coaching candidate.

Even though it was at Boston College and not in the NFL, teams will appreciate Hafley’s head coaching experience. He won’t have to battle NIL funding and difficult recruiting challenges in the NFL. He’s only 46 and has Green Bay’s defense playing at its best. Teams that want a more CEO-type head coach might like Hafley’s credentials.

4 — Chargers DC Jesse Minter

The former defensive coordinator at Michigan under HC Jim Harbaugh for two seasons, Minter followed Harbaugh when he took the Chargers job in 2024. Minter stepped right into the defensive coordinator role and immediately improved Los Angeles’ defense despite having largely the same personnel as his predecessor.

Another young, up-and-coming coaching candidate, Minter has experience across a variety of college programs and worked under Ravens HC John Harbaugh in Baltimore. His results with a middling Chargers defense is noteworthy, and he has plenty of experience under successful NFL coaches.

5 — Ravens OC Todd Monken

A longtime college offensive coach, Monken joined the NFL in 2016 with the Bucs and also spent some time on the Browns staff before returning to the college ranks and winning two National Championships as the offensive coordinator at Georgia. The Ravens lured him back to the league in 2023, and he’s served as their offensive coordinator ever since.

Monken is an older candidate at 59, but what he’s done on offense at every stop can’t be ignored, especially recently. Georgia’s offense was a machine during his three seasons there, and Baltimore has fielded one of the best offenses in the league since he arrived. Ravens QB Lamar Jackson certainly has a lot to do with that, but Monken is getting more out of him than his predecessors did. If a team wants a high-floor offensive coach to take the reins, Monken might be their guy.

6 — Bills OC Joe Brady

A one-time breakout star in the coaching world, Brady was famously the passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach at LSU in 2019, the year the Tigers won the National Championship with QB Joe Burrow and WRs Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson. Brady was credited with Burrow’s development that year and became a hot commodity in the coaching world, jumping straight from that to be the offensive coordinator with the Panthers. That role didn’t work out, and he’s been with the Bills since, promoted to offensive coordinator in 2023.

Brady’s name has been bandied about in these discussions for years, but this finally feels like the year he might be a serious candidate. In a weaker crop of coaching options, Brady might be the top consolation prize to a team that loses out on Kubiak, if they’re strictly looking for offensive innovators. Brady’s Bills offenses have been fantastic, and no one has forgotten what he did for one season at LSU.

7 — Rams OC Mike LaFleur

LaFleur’s name hasn’t been a hot one recently, but that could change soon. A college quarterback at Elmhurst, LaFleur was an offensive assistant under Kyle Shanahan in Atlanta from 2015 to 2016, following Shanahan when he got the 49ers head coaching gig. LaFleur was the passing game coordinator in San Francisco until Robert Saleh brought him to the Jets to serve as offensive coordinator. When that went south, LaFleur joined McVay’s staff with the Rams and is in his third season as the offensive coordinator in Los Angeles.

It’s true LaFleur’s time as offensive coordinator in New York didn’t go well, but very little about that setup was a success. At his other stops, he’s done nothing but put good products on the field. He has experience working under Shanahan and McVay, arguably the two best offensive minds in the game today. It seems inevitable that he’ll eventually get his shot to be a head coach somewhere. 

8 — Jaguars DC Anthony Campanile

Campanile spent years in the college ranks before jumping to the league in 2020, joining the Dolphins as their linebackers coach for four seasons. He spent 2024 in the same role with the Packers before being hired last offseason by the Jaguars as their defensive coordinator.

It’s been just over half a season, but Campanile has rejuvenated this Jacksonville defense. A year after being one of the worst units in the league, the Jags are playing inspired football on defense, and Campanile is dialing up creative playcalls to maximize his guys. There’s a ton to like with what he’s done and he’ll have suitors.

9 — Colts DC Lou Anarumo

A college defensive backs coach at Marshall and Purdue for over a decade, Anarumo made the jump to the NFL in 2012 with the Dolphins. He spent six seasons as the defensive coordinator with the Bengals from 2019-2024, developing a reputation as one of the most creative and adaptable defensive playcallers in the game, stymying the Chiefs and QB Patrick Mahomes on a few occasions. He’s now in Indy, helping the Colts improve their defense.

I’m not sold on Anarumo as a head coaching candidate, but his name is consistently being brought up as someone to watch this cycle. He’s older, at 59, and it just seems like a bit of a gamble without much upside. But his defensive prowess is undeniable and if he can build a good staff, he could have quick success.

Tier 3: Retread Former Head Coaches

10 — Vikings DC Brian Flores

Flores’ ongoing discrimination lawsuit against the NFL complicates matters, but the ex-Dolphins head coach is on his third season as the defensive coordinator in Minnesota, and every year he’s put together a stifling unit. His defenses are always aggressive and well-coached, and he’s just 44 years old. I don’t know if Flores will get serious consideration until his legal battle is resolved, but if I were an NFL owner, I’d give him a long look.

11 — Former Cowboys HC Mike McCarthy

The fact that McCarthy ranks this high is an indictment of how thin this crop of coaching candidates is. McCarthy won a Super Bowl with the Packers and coached there for a long time before wearing out his welcome, and he followed that up by winning consistently in Dallas. He could never get over the playoff hump with the Cowboys and his final season in 2024 wasn’t a good one, but he could be an appealing candidate for a team looking for a stable, veteran coaching presence.

12 — Broncos DC Vance Joseph

Joseph once served as the head coach in Denver from 2017-2018, and is now on his third season as the Broncos’ defensive coordinator under HC Sean Payton. One of the best defensive minds in the game, Joseph wouldn’t be the first coach to have much more success in his second crack at a head coaching gig. The Broncos once again have one of the league’s elite defenses, and it might earn him some interviews.

13 — Commanders OC Kliff Kingsbury

Personally, I don’t understand the NFL’s fascination with Kingsbury. He was a mediocre college coach at Texas Tech and never had much success in Arizona. His offenses, while often productive, usually get stagnant and lack versatility and creativity. Still, he’s one of the names most frequently mentioned in connection with this cycle, and it shouldn’t surprise anyone to see him get another shot in a new place.

14 — Chiefs DC Steve Spagnuolo

A veteran NFL defensive coordinator, Spagnuolo does have a little NFL head coaching experience, as he had a stint running the Rams that didn’t go well and was the interim Giants head man in 2017. He’s old, though, at 65, and I don’t know if this move has much — if any — upside. Regardless, Spagnuolo is a brilliant defensive coordinator and is beloved by his players, so it’s possible a team thinks he can be a short-term solution.

15 — Chiefs OC Matt Nagy

Are we really doing the Nagy thing again? He’s in his second stint as the Chiefs’ offensive coordinator, after jumping to be the Bears head coach from 2018-2021. He was subsequently run out of Chicago and he’s well-liked in Kansas City. I don’t know why teams would convince themselves things would be different this time, but he’s another name to watch this cycle, as he keeps coming up in candidate reports.

Tier 4: Maybe A Year Away?

16 — Lions DC Kelvin Sheppard

Every year, we see a surprise candidate that wasn’t generating much buzz start getting a ton of interviews seemingly out of nowhere. It doesn’t always result in them getting a job that cycle, but they enter the next season as a hot name to watch. I’m calling my shot that it might be Sheppard this year.

Sheppard played linebacker at LSU and only retired from the league in 2018. He started with the Lions in 2021, taking over as defensive coordinator in 2025 when former DC Aaron Glenn took the Jets gig. Sheppard’s defense hasn’t missed a beat, and he’s squeezing the most out of an undermanned Detroit secondary. His energy is infectious and he’s easy to like. Watch for Sheppard to get some interviews this cycle.

17 — Colts OC Jim Bob Cooter

Topping the all-names team on this list, Cooter has worked as an offensive assistant across the league since 2009, working for the Colts, Broncos, Lions, Eagles and Jaguars, among others. Colts HC Shane Steichen hired him as his offensive coordinator in 2023, and Indy’s offense has exploded this season, putting up historic numbers. Right now, Steichen is earning most of the credit for that, but if this production continues next season, you might start to see Cooter’s name crop up more and more in these discussions.

18 — Dolphins DC Anthony Weaver

A former defensive lineman at Notre Dame, Weaver’s spent years as an NFL defensive assistant, jumping from Baltimore to take the defensive coordinator job in Miami. He’s well-liked among his peers and this isn’t the first time his name has come up in these conversations. Still, the Dolphins haven’t had a good defense at all this year, so now might not be the time to try and make the jump.

Tier 5: No College Coaches, Please

19 — Texas HC Steve Sarkisian

Sarkisian spent some time as the Falcons’ offensive coordinator in 2017 and 2018, but otherwise he’s a college coach through and through. After stints as the head coach at Washington and USC, Sarkisian rejuvenated his career as the offensive coordinator at Alabama under Nick Saban. He’s been at Texas since 2021 and has had a ton of success, and is by far the most popular name in the college ranks connected to an NFL job. Right now, he’s denying having an interest in making that move, however.

20 — Ole Miss HC Lane Kiffin

Kiffin is much more likely to take the open LSU or Florida college jobs than to entertain a move to the NFL. The only reason he’s on this list is speculation that the Giants would want him to come and coach his former quarterback, Jaxson Dart. I don’t think Kiffin has the track record or demeanor to be successful in the NFL, but like I said, he’s one of the hottest college coaching candidates right now.

21 — North Carolina HC Bill Belichick

Yeah, he’s top three in wins all-time in NFL history. He won six Super Bowls with the Patriots. But does anyone really want to hire this version of Belichick? North Carolina is a disaster right now and he comes with a bunch of off-field baggage, attention and complications. His last few seasons in New England were not good. Whether he’s interested in a return to the NFL or not, I doubt the league is eager to give him an opportunity.