Kellen Moore (New Orleans)
The former Dallas and Philadelphia OC took the Saints job just after winning the Super Bowl in February, and he should be able to bring New Orleans to at least a slight peek out of the toilet. As for what he has to work with, WR Chris Olave and RB Alvin Kamara are a solid duo, but that’s where the fun ends. Most of the rest of the roster is on the wrong side of 30, plus the team has limited cap space. Add into that the fact that Derek Carr is still a starting QB for some reason, and the Saints are probably not going to make much of a jump next year.
Moore’s job is already on the hot seat, through no fault of his own. Ownership and fans will demand results soon, and Moore simply cannot turn this dumpster fire of a team around in less than three years. I wouldn’t be surprised if Moore is fired by 2028, though fortunately, if this happens, he’ll simply go back to being an OC for a contender and win another ring or two.
Ben Johnson (Chicago)
Former Lions OC Ben Johnson was considered the hottest head coaching candidate this offseason. Almost every team with a head coaching vacancy showed some degree of interest, and Johnson chose to stay in the NFC North and coach the Bears. Chicago has some talent to work with already. Caleb Williams showed flashes of brilliance as a rookie, and DJ Moore, Cole Kmet, and D’Andre Swift are a solid arsenal for him, although he could use more. The defense is decent, although it could use some patches.
However, the offensive line is a major liability. Trading for Joe Thuney was a smart move, but whether it be through the draft or free agency, more needs to be done. Plus, the Bears play in one of the toughest divisions in the sport; last year they were the only team there not to make the playoffs. While Minnesota’s future looks cloudy because of QB controversy between Sam Darnold and JJ McCarthy, both Green Bay and Detroit look to remain in contention. Despite all of the good things going for Ben Johnson, he has his work cut out for him.
Brian Schottenheimer (Dallas)
[dying of laughter] Ladies and gentlemen, the Dallas Cowboys have already been eliminated from the 2025 NFL Playoffs. Jerry Jones, in all of his infinite wisdom, hired in-house OC Brian Schottenheimer as the new play caller in Dallas. The issue is that Schotty never called plays as an OC; now-free agent HC Mike McCarthy called all offensive plays, with Schotty in the booth mostly for moral support. Schottenheimer has some good things going for him, like an overpaid Dak Prescott and a top-10 WR in CeeDee Lamb. But Zack Martin’s retirement weakens the offensive line, just as the run game suffers from Rico Dowdle’s departure in free agency. While Matt Eberflus at DC is a very good hire, elite pass rusher Micah Parsons ends up on the move, which would relegate the Cowboys defense from decent to backburner. Add into all of this Jerry Jones, the worst owner and general manager (more like geriatric manager, am I right?) in the league, and the Cowboys look to be the laughingstock of the NFL yet again. (Still no conference championship appearances since the Clinton presidency).
Mike Vrabel (New England)
Mike Vrabel, former Titans HC and clock management specialist took the Pats job shortly after their surprise firing of first-year HC Jerod Mayo. The defensive mastermind looks to revitalize the Patriots into a new era. Second-year QB Drake Maye has shown that he can be that guy, and the defense looks decent, especially with a guy like Vrabel calling plays. Other than that, things are bleak. The run game is decent enough thanks to Rhamondre Stevenson, but other than that, Maye’s colleagues on offense are limited, especially when it comes to wide receivers. Plus, playing in the same division as the reigning MVP Josh Allen makes things harder. Vrabel’s work is cut out for him, but if anyone can bring results, it’s him.
Aaron Glenn (New York)
Former Lions DC Aaron Glenn recently took the Jets job, and the impact was immediate. The “New York Packers” era is over, as Randall Cobb has already retired, and Aaron Rodgers, Davante Adams, and Allen Lazard have either been released, given permission to seek a trade, or told that they will not be returning in 2025. But this leaves more questions than answers. The Jets play in a tough division, and with no clear vision of the future on either side of the ball, it will definitely take several years for the Jets to become relevant for the right reasons, and another few to become legitimate playoff contenders.
Pete Carroll (Las Vegas)
Former Seahawks HC Pete Carroll joined the Raiders in January, officially establishing the AFC West as the best-coached division in the sport. The four head coaches in the division have combined for nine Super Bowl appearances, five ending in rings. Carroll himself has two Super Bowl appearances and one ring. He is the oldest head coach in the league at 73 years old, but he is still a great coach as well as a great leader. For what he has to work with, superstar DE Maxx Crosby was recently extended, and second-year TE Brock Bowers, currently the team’s best offensive weapon, broke records as a rookie last year. Other than those two, the situation in Vegas is dire. The Chiefs, Broncos, and Chargers are all playoff contenders, while Vegas is busy trying to gaslight us into thinking Geno Smith is the future (he isn’t). Add into that a mildly terrible ownership, and Vegas looks set to remain in mediocrity for at least a few years—for which, as a Broncos fan, I can only thank God.
Liam Coen (Jacksonville)
Liam Coen, the former Buccaneers OC and certified cornball, is the new HC in Duval County. His offenses in Tampa Bay were decent, and it’s hoped that he can channel some of what he did for Baker Mayfield into Trevor Lawrence, who needs to prove that he was worthy of the first overall pick in 2021 and his massive contract. The Jags have cleaned house in recent weeks, releasing Evan Engram and Devin Duvernay as well as trading Christian Kirk. Brian Thomas Jr. is Lawrence’s top weapon, and for good reason, but the rest of the team is cloudy. The RB duo of Tank Bigsby and Travis Etienne is serviceable, but pales in comparison to most other RB rooms in the league. Plus, the defense was rated 32nd in the league last year, and defense will probably be one of the big focuses in the draft, with offense being addressed in free agency. The AFC South is one of the weaker divisions in the sport, so a turnaround is definitely within reach over the next few years, but a lot of things need to go right for that to happen.