NFL coaching openings, ranked: Why Bears have most desirable current opening 

The NFL regular season ends in a little over a month on Jan. 5, 2025, likely meaning some head coaches are entering the final days in their current posts.

Three franchises (Bears, Jets, Saints) have already made moves, and more are likely to follow. 

But all jobs aren’t created equal. Below, we rank the three current openings, plus three more potential openings, from the least to the most attractive.

Current openings

3. New York Jets (3-9)

Pros: Get to see Broadway shows on days off • Cons: Working for the Jets

What’s to like about the Jets job? 

The quarterback situation is a mess, with Aaron Rodgers more interested in starring in a Netflix documentary no one wants than winning football games. Multiple reports have suggested Rodgers, who is under contract in 2025, could be released following the season, which would muddy the situation further.

Woody Johnson is on the shortlist of worst NFL owners, making the job even more unappealing. 

At least whoever gets the job can see “GLOW” actress Betty Gilpin take over the title role in the Broadway smash hit play, “Oh, Mary!,” assuming he can get a ticket.

2. New Orleans Saints (4-8)

Pros: Front office stability, low expectations • Cons: Salary cap hell, old roster, no future franchise quarterback

Longtime general manger Mickey Loomis, for better or worse, has always tried to maximize the team’s present at the expense of the future. While that approach was fine when New Orleans was a Super Bowl contender, it’s indefensible for a team that hasn’t made the playoffs since 2020.

At an estimated $62.8 million over the cap and with league-high $48.4 million in dead money in 2025, the Saints could be one of the league’s worst teams next season.

That could deter some candidates from considering New Orleans, but it might also work to the next full-time head coach’s advantage.

Whoever is hired will be gifted low expectations, giving them time to rebuild the team into a contender.

We’ve seen in recent seasons how seemingly long rebuilds in Houston and Washington can be abridged with the right quarterback and coach.

With one of the league’s most aggressive general managers, New Orleans’ coach should have the resources to get the Saints back into the postseason.

1. Chicago Bears (4-8)

Pros: Quarterback Caleb Williams, projected $82 million in cap space • Cons: Dysfunctional history, NFL’s toughest division

The next Bears head coach will battle the franchise’s brutal recent history more than anything else. The Bears haven’t had a winning record since 2018, former head coach Matt Nagy’s first year with the franchise. 

But Chicago has a promising core, led by rookie quarterback Caleb Williams and wide receivers DJ Moore and rookie Rome Odunze. 

It must improve its rushing attack after D’Andre Swift flopped (Ashton Jeanty, anyone?), but the Bears have pieces in place to turn thing around. And with a projected $82 million in cap space per Over The Cap, Chicago has the financial capital to make a splash in free agency. 

Potential openings

3. Dallas Cowboys (5-7)

Pros: Wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, edge-rusher Micah Parsons • Cons: Jerry Jones, Dak Prescott coming off of season-ending injury

Mike McCarthy is in the final year of a five-year contract he signed with the Cowboys in 2020. Despite the Cowboys difficult season, Prescott recently told Yahoo! Sports’ Jori Epstein, “I think he definitely deserves a chance. Another contract and a chance to coach this team.”

Despite the Cowboys having All-Pro talent at wide receiver (Lamb) and edge-rusher (Parsons), they don’t have much else going for them.

If Dallas makes a change at head coach, the next one will inherit Prescott coming off a season-ending hamstring injury. Even worse, they’ll deal with the distractions that come with working for Jones, the Cowboys’ long-time owner.

2. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-10)

Pros: Quarterback Trevor Lawrence • Cons: Front-office power structure

Doug Pederson’s run as Jags coach should end following this season.

Lawrence has been inconsistent in his four NFL seasons but is talented enough to be a long-term franchise quarterback. Coaches worth their salt should be eager to maximize the No. 1 overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft’s strengths. 

A drawback to a potential Jags opening is the organization’s power structure.

When Jacksonville fired former head coach Urban Mayer in 2021, NFL insider Albert Breer noted owner Shad Khan’s loyalty to general manager Trent Baalke as a negative.

“That’s why there are coaches who would’ve considered the Jaguars who probably won’t now,” Breer wrote. 

If Baalke survives Jacksonville’s horrible 2024, it would speak volumes about Khan’s belief in him. It could also make the team’s next head coach the scapegoat if things go awry once again.

1. Cincinnati Bengals (4-8)

Pros: Quarterback Joe Burrow, projected $64 million in cap space • Cons: Defense needs an overhaul

Coaches dream of an opportunity like this coming around.

The Bengals have been arguably the league’s biggest disappointment, squandering Burrow’s MVP-caliber season with one of the league’s worst defenses.

It will be interesting to see if ownership retains head coach Zac Taylor, who led the franchise to its first Super Bowl appearance since 1988 in 2021, losing to the Rams, 23-20.

An easy fix in Cincinnati would be moving on from defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, who’s only led the Bengals to one top-10 finish in scoring defense (sixth in 2022) in six seasons.

But if the front office feels Taylor has brought Cincinnati as far as he can, it must find Burrow a coach he deserves.