Tracking NFL coaching changes: Bears get their guy, and five openings remain
The 2024 NFL regular season is over, and seven teams moved on from their head coaches. The Cowboys had the most recent departure, as Mike McCarthy became a free agent. New England made the first new hire, agreeing to a multiyear contract with Mike Vrabel, who won three Super Bowls as a Patriots linebacker. The Bears were next, as they hired former Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson.
That leaves five openings in the league, which began when the Jets parted ways with Robert Saleh in early October and the Saints fired Dennis Allen on Nov. 4. The Bears moved on from Matt Eberflus after losing to the Lions on Thanksgiving. And the Patriots, Jaguars and Raiders waited until after their final regular-season games to fire Jerod Mayo, Doug Pederson and Antonio Pierce, respectively, before the Cowboys’ move.
Here’s everything you need to know about the latest NFL head coach movement, including pros and cons for each open gig.
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New coach hires | Open coaching jobs
Head-coach jobs that have been filled
New coach: Ben Johnson (hired Jan. 20)
Former coach: Matt Eberflus (fired Nov. 29)
What happened: The Chicago Bears are finalizing a deal to hire Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson as their next head coach, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Monday. Johnson, who has been the Lions’ offensive coordinator the past three seasons, will fill the job vacated when Matt Eberflus was fired during the season.
Johnson was available to be hired after the Lions, who were the NFC’s No. 1 seed in the playoffs, were stunned on Saturday night by the Washington Commanders.
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New coach: Mike Vrabel (hired Jan. 12)
Former coach: Jerod Mayo (fired Jan. 5)
What happened: Vrabel has returned to the Patriots after agreeing Sunday on a multiyear contract to become their new head coach, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Vrabel played linebacker for the Patriots from 2001 to 2008 and was an integral member of three Super Bowl championship teams. He served as Tennessee Titans head coach from 2018-23, posting a 54-45 regular-season record and 2-3 mark in the playoffs, which included a trip to the AFC Championship Game in 2019. Vrabel, the Associated Press NFL Coach of the Year in 2021, now replaces Mayo, who was fired Jan. 5 after posting a 4-13 record in his one season as Patriots coach.
The Patriots also interviewed Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, former Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich and former Houston Texans offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton for the opening. –– Mike Reiss
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Head coach openings
Former coach: Mike McCarthy (let go Jan. 13)
Record with Cowboys: 50-38 over five seasons
What happened: McCarthy is not expected to return as the Cowboys’ head coach and is now set to become a free agent, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Monday. McCarthy’s contract with the Cowboys expired last Wednesday, but the team held an exclusive negotiating window with the coach until Tuesday at midnight. However, the sides have not had any negotiations regarding a new deal, sources told Schefter on Monday.
Pros of the Dallas job: It’s the Dallas Cowboys. It’s “the big room,” as Bill Parcells once called it. There is talent here with Dak Prescott, Micah Parsons, CeeDee Lamb, Tyler Smith and DaRon Bland. And young players, like DeMarvion Overshown, who is coming back from major knee surgery, have showed potential in 2024, which could pay off in 2025 and beyond.
Cons of the Dallas job: There’s a lot that comes with being the Cowboys’ coach and not all of it is good. Jerry Jones has a large presence. On the field, they have more than 20 players set to become unrestricted free agents, and executive vice president Stephen Jones said the cap will be “tight” in 2025. Will the Cowboys spend to add players to the roster? Will they keep fighting to retain their free agents? — Todd Archer
Former coach: Antonio Pierce (fired Jan. 7)
Record with Raiders: 9-17 over two seasons
What happened: The Raiders have fired coach Antonio Pierce after one season, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Tuesday. Pierce, who was hired as the team’s coach last January after serving as the interim coach for the last nine games of 2023, led the Raiders to a 4-13 record this season. He had said at his media availability Monday that he was operating as if he would remain as the team’s coach but acknowledged he had not yet met with team owner Mark Davis.
Pros of the Las Vegas job: The Raiders not only have the No. 6 pick in April’s draft, but they also have a boatload of cap space (roughly $73 million for 2025, per Roster Management System). Las Vegas boasts state-of-the-art facilities, has a world-class stadium and rosters two foundational players in tight end Brock Bowers and defensive end Maxx Crosby. Plus … no state income tax.
Cons of the Las Vegas job: You’re probably looking at a total rebuild in a division with three 10-win teams this season and well-established coach-QB combos in Andy Reid-Patrick Mahomes, Jim Harbaugh-Justin Herbert and Sean Payton-Bo Nix. Aidan O’Connell showed he can be serviceable in the past month, but an upgrade at quarterback is needed. Plus, more than half of the defensive starters are scheduled to hit free agency, including inside linebacker Robert Spillane and safety Tre’von Moehrig. — Paul Gutierrez
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Former coach: Doug Pederson (fired Jan. 6)
Record with Jaguars: 22-29 over three seasons
What happened: The Jaguars have fired Pederson one day after the team ended the season 4-13. The Jaguars have one of the NFL’s worst defenses, ranking 31st in the NFL in yards allowed per game (389.9) and last in passing yards allowed per game (257.4) under coordinator Ryan Nielsen, whom Pederson hired to replace Mike Caldwell this past offseason. The Jaguars offense under Press Taylor finished this season as one of the worst in the NFL, ranking 25th in yards per game (305.8), 21st in passing yards per game (204.5) and 21st in third downs (37.3%).
Pros of the Jacksonville job: Quarterback Trevor Lawrence is locked in through 2030, and there are other key building blocks in rookie receiver Brian Thomas Jr., left tackle Walker Little, defensives ends Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker and cornerback Tyson Campbell. The AFC South isn’t exactly a tough division, either, so there’s a potentially quicker path back to the playoffs provided the new staff can get Lawrence to play at a consistently high level.
Cons of the Jacksonville Job: While the Jaguars have roughly $40 million in cap space, they are also saddled with bad contracts from underperforming free agents the team signed last spring (defensive end Arik Armstead, receiver Gabe Davis). Team owner Shad Khan opted not to make a clean sweep, so will the new coach be willing to work with general manager Trent Baalke, who is entering the final year of his contract? — Michael DiRocco
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Former coach: Dennis Allen (fired Nov. 4)
Record with Saints: 18-25 over three seasons
What happened: The Saints fired Allen after losing their seventh straight game. Special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi was named the interim coach, and he addressed the media by noting it was “a tough day,” citing Allen as a close friend.
This is the first midseason firing for the Saints since the late Tom Benson purchased the team in 1985. The franchise’s last in-season firing occurred when Dick Nolan was ousted after an 0-12 start to his third season in 1980. The team also made an in-season change in 1996 when Jim Mora resigned after a 2-6 start, and New Orleans then went 1-7 under Rick Venturi.
Pros of the New Orleans job: New Orleans has a stable front office with one of the longest-tenured general managers in the league in Mickey Loomis. The Saints have shown a tendency to value continuity — Sean Payton stayed in New Orleans for 15 years, and the franchise moved on from Allen (who had a long relationship with the team) only after a long string of losses. That means it will likely be patient with the next coach as well.
Cons of the New Orleans job: The Saints have salary cap issues complicated by their strategy of pushing back cap hits in order to “win now.” That means there won’t be a lot of money to work with in free agency in 2025, and the next coach might not be able to make many changes to the roster right away. That could complicate things if Derek Carr isn’t the preferred quarterback. — Katherine Terrell
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Former coach: Robert Saleh (fired Oct. 8)
Record with Jets: 20-36 over four seasons
What happened: Upset by the team’s 2-3 start, Jets owner Woody Johnson made a stunning and unprecedented move in firing Saleh and naming defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich as the interim head coach.
Johnson, with his first in-season coaching change in 25 years of ownership, said he consulted with general manager Joe Douglas but called it “my decision and mine alone.” Woody Johnson and his brother, Christopher Johnson, the vice chairman, broke the news to Saleh in his office at the team facility.
Saleh, who promised multiple championships when he was hired in 2021, finished with a 20-36 record and zero playoff appearances. The Jets have a 13-year playoff absence, the longest active drought in the NFL, but they began the season with Super Bowl expectations, in large part because of quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
Pros of the New York job: The roster includes promising young players, most notably wide receiver Garrett Wilson, cornerback Sauce Gardner and running back Breece Hall. Defensive tackle Quinnen Williams is also still regarded as one of the better interior linemen. After cuts, the team should have about $80 million in cap room. It also has eight draft picks, including two likely top-40 selections.
Cons of the New York job: There’d be no QB1 on the roster if Rodgers is gone. The Jets have Tyrod Taylor, but he’s a bridge quarterback at best. Woody Johnson is known for meddling in personnel matters, which caused issues with the previous regime. There’s also the losing culture; it’s real and has swallowed up every coach since Bill Parcells (1997-99). — Rich Cimini
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