On average, seven NFL coaches get fired after every season, and there are plenty of qualified replacements who could take over in 2026. So here are the top 10 NFL head coaching candidates to watch during the 2025 season:
Jesse Minter, Chargers DC:
Through just one season as defensive coordinator, Jesse Minter transformed the Chargers’ defense from a bottom-five ranking to the league’s No. 1 scoring defense. In one season.
Minter didn’t quite have the amount of experience that NFL teams were looking for during the 2025 head coach hiring cycle. But as long as the Bolts’ defense remains even in the top-ten rankings in 2025, it seems inevitable that Jesse Minter lands his first head coaching job.
Joe Brady, Bills OC:
The Bills’ offense hasn’t looked back after replacing Ken Dorsey with Joe Brady at offensive coordinator in 2023. Under Brady’s new management, the Bills have averaged 30.1 points per game and posted a 20-5 record.
Brady tremendously minimized Josh Allen’s frequently criticized turnovers, reducing his interception total from 18 to 6. However, Brady’s lack of aggressive play calling late in games, especially against the Chiefs, is certainly an area in need of improvement.
Mike McCarthy, Cowboys OC:
Everything is bigger in Texas, including the expectations for Cowboys’ head coaches. Mike McCarthy is taking a break from coaching in 2025, after his firing in Dallas following his first losing season as head coach of the Cowboys.
McCarthy will be a very appealing option for NFL teams needing a head coach, as McCarthy’s extensive 18-year head coaching experience and .600 career winning percentage make him a safer and well-proven coach. McCarthy’s .500 postseason record could lower his hiring stock, but there will be plenty of teams thrilled to even make the playoffs in 2026.
Brian Flores, Vikings DC:
Brian Flores clearly deserves another crack at a head coaching gig after revamping Minnesota’s defense from abysmal to a top-ten group in the last two seasons with a similar roster.
Flores’s first head coaching job with the Dolphins was hardly a failure, leading a below-average roster to back-to-back winning seasons and a 24-25 record. But to say that Flores was on bad terms with Dolphins’ ownership would be an understatement. Teams other than the Dolphins that lack defense, such as the Bengals or Colts, would be a good fit for Brian Flores.
Nick Caley, Texans OC:
In January, Texans’ OC Bobby Slowik was considered for a head coaching job. Instead, he got fired. Slowik was not the problem with Houston’s mediocre offense; rather, it was the abysmally poor offensive line, which could even be worse in 2025.
The odds are certainly stacked against Caley, who does not have an offensive line background. However, if Caley manages to return the Texans’ offense to elite once again, his name should be hot during the next head coach hiring cycle.
Kliff Kingsbury, Commanders OC:
Kliff Kingsbury definitely received head coaching interviews during the 2025 offseason, but it was smart of NFL teams to wait at least one more year before deciding to hire him. Kingsbury piloted Washington’s offense into a top-five group with a rookie quarterback in just one season as OC. In addition to Jayden Daniels, Kingsbury has served as an effective quarterback mentor, coaching Patrick Mahomes and Caleb Williams in college.
However, Kingsbury’s previous head coaching experience does not paint him in a positive light. Kingsbury’s stint with the Cardinals was far from awful, but a 28-37-1 record and only one winning season left plenty to be desired. Kingsbury’s infamous late-season collapses, dating back to his time at Texas Tech, have been a major outlet of criticism he needs to silence if he gets another head coaching job.
Robert Saleh, 49ers DC:
Robert Saleh was fired from head-coaching the Jets in 2024 for no justifiable reason. The Jets’ defense ranked top-4 in yards allowed during each of the past three seasons, with Saleh calling the shots; it was the dysfunctional offense that caused the Jets to collapse during the 2024 season.
Saleh was rehired as the 49ers’ defensive coordinator, and if this is anything like his first stint in San Francisco, Saleh could be a head coach once again in 2026. Saleh engineered two defenses that ranked top-five in yards allowed in back-to-back seasons with the 49ers, earning him his first head coaching gig with the Jets.
Zac Robinson, Falcons OC:
Zac Robinson is a largely unknown name, but not for long. Michael Penix Jr. will play his first full NFL season in 2025, and he and the rest of the offense looked promising during Penix’s limited time at quarterback in 2024.
With potent offensive weapons surrounding Penix, such as Bijan Robinson, Drake London, and Darnell Mooney, the Falcons have the potential to be one of the league’s top offenses in 2025. Additionally, the Falcons play in a very winnable AFC South, and the team’s first division championship since 2016 would draw plenty of headlines and head coaching interviews for Zac Robinson.
Chris Shula, Rams DC:
The Shulas have a mixed history when it comes to head coaching; Don Shula was one of the NFL’s greatest head coaches of all time, while David Shula was one of the worst of all time. Chris Shula comes from the coveted Sean McVay coaching tree, which has produced countless successful head coaches, such as Matt LaFleur, Zac Taylor, and Kevin O’Connell.
Shula’s defense wasn’t anything exceptional last season, but they did have the league’s defensive rookie of the year, Jared Verse. This Rams’ defense is stacked with young talent, especially in the pass rush, giving it the potential to be top-tier in 2025, and the potential for head-coaching opportunities for Chris Shula.
Brad Idzik, Panthers OC:
Brad Idzik took over as offensive coordinator of the Panthers in 2024, and after an awful start, Idzik eventually piloted a productive offense and turned Bryce Young into a plus starter.
If Bryce Young records similar numbers to his 2024 season after week 7, he is on pace to finish 2025 with 23 touchdowns to 6 interceptions, and 3,842 passing yards. Brad Idzik could be the man who “fixed Bryce Young and the Panthers offense”. And if the Panthers win a very winnable NFC South, it may earn Idzik a head coaching role.
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