The NFL coaching carousel is quickly gathering momentum as seven franchises currently seek new head coaches following a series of firings. However, the process appears to be deliberately slow, particularly concerning candidates from teams participating in the wild-card playoff weekend.
According to reliable sources across several teams and coaching agencies, there is an informal agreement among teams to refrain from officially pursuing candidates who are involved in the wild-card rounds until after the games conclude. This strategy aims to keep coaching staffs focused and free from distractions as they prepare for critical postseason matches. Official league guidelines permit teams to begin interviewing coaches from other organizations as of Monday, but tangible interviews with wild-card coaches must wait until after their respective teams’ playoff games.
Despite this lull, some of the top coaching prospects have yet to be associated with any vacancies. Prominent figures including Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula, Chargers’ Jesse Minter, and others like Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady do not currently have confirmed interviews lined up. This is a notable situation since there are seven vacant positions, but only the Arizona Cardinals have publicly confirmed interview requests for coaches from playoff teams, specifically seeking permission from 49ers’ Robert Saleh and Patriots’ Thomas Brown after they dismissed Jonathan Gannon.
The league has stated there was no formal directive issued to delay coaching searches, yet many teams have agreed to prioritize their playoff focus instead. Coaches not tied to wild-card teams can conduct interviews freely at this point; however, in-person interviews with currently employed candidates will not commence until January 19.
Once the outcomes of the wild-card games unfold, a flurry of interview requests is expected to emerge, setting the stage for a competitive sprint as teams rush to secure their new head coaches. As franchises make swift strategic decisions to fill these critical roles, the next week promises to be a pivotal time in the league, shaping the future of many organizations. Overall, while the coaching cycle may currently feel dormant, it is clear that the groundwork is being laid for an intense hiring period ahead.