The NFL's head coaching hiring cycle is officially upon us, and 10 potential head coaches in particular are most prepared for the job. So here are the top-ten NFL head-coaching candidates for the 2025 season:
Kellen Moore:
Philadelphia Eagles' offensive coordinator
Kellen Moore, an offensive coordinator who's spear-headed four top-ten offenses and two no.1 offenses in his five seasons, has been present in the head-coaching conversation for several years, but no team has pulled the trigger. Moore's NFL career as a quarterback didn't go very well, but it did prepare him to be the quarterbacks coach for Dak Prescott and record 26.7 career points per game.
Kellen Moore's most impressive stint is undoubtedly his most recent, as Moore saw an Eagles' offense that sputtered out of control down the stretch of last season and had lost Jason Kelce in the offseason. Moore transformed this dysfunctional offense mainly by running the ball more than any other team after the week 4 bye, something that Moore had been criticized for not doing throughout his career.
And his running back Saquon Barkley joining the coveted 2,000-yard club might be the icing on the cake that lands the Eagles' OC his first NFL head coaching job.
Minnesota Vikings' defensive coordinator
The Vikings are the only team to have both of their coordinators on this list. 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 didn't jive with the Dolphins' ownership would be an understatement. However, teams other than the Dolphins that lack competent coaching and defense, such as the Saints and Cowboys, would be a good fit for Brian Flores.
Mike Vrabel:
Former Titans' head coach and current Browns' consultant
After one year of being a consultant for the Cleveland Browns, Mike Vrabel is exceedingly likely to land a head coaching gig for the 2025 season. While Vrabel's 7-year stint with the Titans ended in a firing, it was clearly scapegoating, as that team had gaping roster holes that no head coach could fix.
Despite ending his head coaching tenure with back-to-back losing seasons, Mike Vrabel still posted a winning record with the Titans, and his Coach of the Year award in 2021 is well documented. If there's one statistic that truly measures a head coach's ability in any sport, it's their record in one-score games. Vrabel posts a remarkable 21-11 record in that category, and his ability to squeeze every ounce of talent that a roster has will make Vrabel's second head coaching job even more successful than his first.
Ben Johnson:
Detroit Lions' offensive coordinator
This one is a no-brainer, as Ben Johnson has not only had top-five offenses back-to-back-to-back seasons but he's done so with Jared Goff at quarterback. Not to say that Jared Goff is a bad quarterback, but you know what I mean. During Ben Johnson's coaching career, he's been an offensive assistant, a quarterback's coach, a tight ends coach, a wide receiver coach, an offensive quality control coach, and a passing game coordinator, in addition to his current offensive coordinator role.
While the Lions have been his only OC job, Johnson's experience with countless different roles on an NFL coaching staff has given him more knowledge and expertise than most coordinators in the league. This vast expertise of various positions on the field has partly allowed Johnson to run the offense that he's run, with far more trick plays and third-down running plays than any other team. And in just a few short months, NFL owners will fight mercilessly to get Ben Johnson on their rosters.
Vance Joseph:
Denver Broncos' defensive coordinator
Despite a previously unsuccessful head coaching stint and allowing a catastrophic 70 points in one game, Vance Joseph has continued to creep into the 2025 head coaching conversation, and for good reason. Since allowing 70 points and 726 yards to the Dolphins in week three of 2023, Joseph's defense has allowed just 20 points per game. And the tremendously improved 2024 Denver defense has played a pivotal role in the team recording their first winning record since 2016.
Joe Brady:
Buffalo Bills' offensive coordinator
Midway through the 2023 NFL season, things were looking bleak for a 5-5 Bills team, especially the Bills' offense, which hadn't struggled this much in nearly five years. And while the Bills' firing of OC Ken Dorsey was seen as mere scapegoating, this Buffalo offense hasn't looked back after promoting Joe Brady. Under Brady's new management, the Bills have averaged 30.1 points per game and posted a 20-5 record. In addition to the entire offense, Josh Allen has benefitted from Joe Brady at the helm. Allen's new OC has tremendously helped him minimize his frequently criticized turnovers, reducing his interception total from 18 to 6.
Wes Phillips:
Minnesota Vikings' offensive coordinator
Vikings' offensive coordinator Wes Phillips is probably the most underrated potential head coach, although his resume speaks for itself: Phillips has piloted a Vikings' offense to rank top-ten in back-to-back-to-back seasons, averaging over 350 yards per game. In 2024, Wes Phillips transformed former draft bust Sam Darnold into a high-quality NFL starting quarterback. Phillips is also part of the Sean McVay coaching tree, serving as the Rams' pass game coordinator during Cooper Kupp's receiving triple crown season and the team's Super Bowl win. The McVay tree has produced an absurd amount of successful head coaches, and Wes Phillips may be no different.
Kliff Kingsbury:
Washington Commanders' offensive coordinator
Commanders' offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury is almost guaranteed head coaching interviews this offseason after piloting Washington's offense into a top-five group with a rookie quarterback in just one season at OC. In addition, Kingsbury has quite the resume, coaching Patrick Mahomes and Caleb Williams in college.
However, many teams will be hesitant to hire Kliff Kingsbury in the 2025 hiring cycle due to his previous head coaching experience. 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 end if he gets another head coaching job.
Todd Monken:
Baltimore Ravens' offensive coordinator
While it's unlikely that Todd Monken will land a head coaching job during this cycle, the Ravens would be thrilled to keep him as their OC for another season before Monken eventually becomes a head coach in 2026. In 2023, Todd Monken was hired to run a Baltimore offense that had struggled to stay consistent during the previous few years. The Ravens not only produced top-five offenses in back-to-back seasons with Monken, but their new OC also helped Lamar Jackson earn his second MVP trophy and get in the running for his third. If Monken can help pilot his offense to a deep playoff run, his name will be of higher profile for the 2025 cycle.
Bobby Slowik:
Houston Texans' offensive coordinator
Bobby Slowik is a unique choice for a head coaching job, having experience coaching both offense and defense. Slowik also has experience in the famed Kyle Shanahan coaching tree, a title that comes with a certain level of pedigree. Bobby Slowik's only OC job involved helping rookie C.J. Stroud become an MVP candidate in 2023. Leading a top-five passing offense with a rookie quarterback and no receiver on the roster drafted in the first round is certainly nothing to scoff at. Bobby Slowik might not be the most sought-after offensive mind during the 2025 head coaching cycle, but his defensive background could improve his resume.