The New England Patroit, coaching carousel is a yearly event that excites fans, analysts, and insiders alike. While a handful of teams are still locked in playoff contention, many franchises have already shifted their focus to the offseason, with key decisions around head coaches and general managers dominating the early discussions. As the 2025 hiring cycle begins to take shape, franchises across the league are already in the process of evaluating and interviewing candidates for these pivotal positions.
As always, the NFL’s head coaching and general manager roles carry significant influence in shaping the future of a franchise. For teams that haven’t lived up to expectations or those that have decided to go in a new direction, this period of change can bring about the hope of revitalization and new success. The process itself, while often secretive, is followed closely by fans, pundits, and league insiders who try to piece together the puzzle of who will land where.
For teams that have already made the decision to part ways with their head coaches or GMs, interviews are underway. These teams are casting a wide net, often considering candidates with varying levels of experience, including rising stars from within the league, established coordinators, former head coaches, and even candidates from outside the NFL who could bring fresh ideas. The hiring cycle typically sees a mix of familiar names and surprise candidates, with franchises looking for a balance of leadership, vision, and football acumen.
Currently, the list of teams with coaching and general manager vacancies continues to grow. Teams like the Arizona Cardinals and Indianapolis Colts have already parted ways with their previous leadership, and many of the other teams in question will soon follow suit. As these teams look to fill their vacancies, the competition for top-tier candidates is fierce.
For head coach positions, some of the names making the rounds are often tied to rising stars in the coaching ranks. Coordinators who have turned around struggling units or those who have shown innovative strategies in the regular season and playoffs are prime candidates for a shot at the top job. Candidates such as former player-turned-coach and offensive mastermind Shane Steichen, or defensive specialists like Jonathan Gannon, who have garnered attention for their ability to build successful units, are in the mix for potential roles.
General manager positions, while typically less visible to fans, carry just as much weight when it comes to shaping a team’s future. Many teams are targeting experienced front-office executives with a proven track record in player acquisition, draft strategies, and salary cap management. Some may look to find someone who has experience in building a winning culture, while others may be looking for fresh perspectives on how to manage the current salary cap and roster construction.
Throughout this hiring cycle, teams will conduct extensive interviews, often casting a wide net to include both familiar and less traditional candidates. These interviews provide ownership and decision-makers an opportunity to evaluate not just the football knowledge of the candidates, but their ability to lead, communicate, and work within a team-oriented environment.
While some teams may already have a shortlist of candidates, others will use this time to conduct extensive interviews and evaluations, which will eventually lead to hiring decisions. With so much turnover in the league, the landscape is constantly shifting, and as the playoff picture becomes clearer, the list of candidates for head coach and GM positions will continue to evolve.
For fans of franchises in need of a change, the hiring cycle often brings both hope and anticipation as the next chapter begins. It’s a time of change, a time when teams look to bring in new leadership to try to turn around their fortunes and take their franchise to the next level. For those not in the playoff hunt, the search for the right leader has already begun, and the 2025 hiring cycle promises to be as intense and unpredictable as ever.