It’s early, but this is already a tradition for A to Z Sports (2023, 2024, 2025). After four weeks, it’s time to put together a list of potential head coaches based on what we’ve seen so far in the NFL season, past hiring cycles, and what’s trending around the league.

We have 25 names, splitting them between former head coaches, offensive, defensive, special teams coordinators/position coaches, and college coaches who could make a transition to the pros. Some names would apply for more than one category, so we go with what the person has done more recently.

Former NFL head coaches

Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh Steelers
Tomlin is doing TV right now, but his track record as a leader shouldn’t be dismissed. He spent 19 seasons on the Steelers without a single losing year, and he won a Super Bowl in 2008.

Sean McDermott, Buffalo Bills
There are fair questions about McDermott’s ceiling as a head coach after his tenure with the Bills, but it’s hard to argue that he brings a high floor to the table.

Offensive coaches

Klayton Adams, Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator
The Cowboys’ offense is pass-heavy and aggressive, and they’re third in EPA/play. But Adams is also an impressive run-game designer after his time as the offensive line coach for the Arizona Cardinals.

Declan Doyle, Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator
Doyle is one of those fast risers. At 30 years old, he’s already been in the NFL for seven years. After one season as a non-play-calling offensive coordinator under Ben Johnson, he’s now calling plays for the Baltimore Ravens, and they’re in the top 5 by EPA/play after four weeks.

Grant Udinski, Jacksonville Jaguars offensive coordinator
Head coach Liam Coen calls the plays in Jacksonville, but Udinski is highly respected there. He has a background in the Kevin O’Connell offensive infrastructure.

Klay Kubiak, San Francisco 49ers offensive coordinator
Klay is the son of Super Bowl-winning head coach Gary Kubiak and the younger brother of Klint, who’s now the Raiders head coach. Klay doesn’t call plays for the 49ers, but he’s ascended from defensive quality control to assistant QBs coach, pass game specialist, to OC. Kyle Shanahan has built a respected coaching tree, and Klay is the next in line.

Davis Webb, Denver Broncos offensive coordinator
The Broncos liked Webb enough to give him the play-caller job even with Sean Payton as the head coach. The start has been shaky, but Webb will most likely still be a viable HC candidate.

Mike McDaniel, Los Angeles Chargers offensive coordinator
McDaniel has had a tough start as the OC for the Chargers, and they’re 30th in EPA/play. But he is respected around the league for what he did with the Miami Dolphins. McDaniel runs a version of the Kyle Shanahan offense, and that has appeal too.

Sean Mannion, Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator
The Eagles have had ups and downs early in the season, but Mannion is perceived as a rising coach. Even when he was still playing, Mannion was seen as a future HC material. So far, he’s been promoted every year as a coach: from offensive assistant to quarterbacks coach in Green Bay to OC in Philly.

Josh McCown, Minnesota Vikings offensive passing game coordinator/quarterbacks coach
Just like Mannion, McCown is perceived as HC material since his playing days. The Houston Texans even interviewed him for the HC position without any type of coaching experience. Now, he’s been the QBs coach for the Panthers and Vikings. In Minnesota, he was promoted to passing game coordinator.

Tommy Rees, Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator
Even with Kevin Stefanski as a HC, Rees is the play-caller in Atlanta. It was a hard initial stretch with Cooper Rush and Jack Strand at quarterback, but things got back on track with Michael Penix back.

Jim Dray, Chicago Bears tight ends coach
Dray is a former NFL player who has risen as an assistant coach. The tight ends coach position tends to translate well for higher coaching positions, and he has done an impressive job developing players in Chicago. To a point where he was retained by Ben Johnson, who also has his origins coaching the position.

Defensive coaches

Brian Flores, Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator
Flores’ HC tenure in Miami didn’t come without some controversies, but he had a 24-25 record. However, Flores truly rebuilt his value as the Vikings’ DC and defensive play-caller. In 2026, the Vikings’ defense is first by DVOA, EPA/play, success rate, dropback EPA, and second by rush EPA. It’s a completely dominant unit based on Flores’ ability to scheme pressure and create havoc.

Chris Shula, Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator
Chris is the grandson of NFL legend Don Shula and part of a family of coaches. The Rams are third in defensive EPA/play through four weeks, even without Myles Garrett and Aaron Donald for the majority of the games.

Jeff Ulbrich, Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator
Ulbrich was the Jets interim head coach for 12 games back in 2024. Now as the Falcons DC, he has a top 10 unit despite the lack of name recognition upfront.

Anthony Campanile, Jacksonville Jaguars defensive coordinator
Respected as a position coach for his work in Miami and Green Bay, Campanile is a strong leader and built a top 10 defense in Jacksonville.

Jim Leonhard, Buffalo Bills defensive coordinator
Leonhard may not have the personnel in Buffalo to run a top defense, but he helped build one in Denver as the AHC and pass game coordinator. A creative defensive mind, Leonhard also has some HC experience with seven games as Wisconsin’s interim HC back in 2022.

Anthony Weaver, Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator
Weaver had some interviews over the past few years. While Jesse Minter is the defensive play-caller in Baltimore, Weaver is the supporting defensive coordinator with two years of play-calling experience in Miami.

Vance Joseph, Denver Broncos defensive coordinator
Joseph has a rough experience as a head coach in Denver. But his personality was liked enough to the point where Denver brought him back as a DC. And he’s been a successful and consistent defensive play-caller.

Dennard Wilson, New York Giants defensive coordinator
Perceived as a strong leader, Wilson has now two separate experiences as a DC (Titans and Giants). The results are viable despite questionable talent.

Raheem Morris, San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator
Morris has already had two HC stints, for the Buccaneers (2009-2011) and Falcons (2024-2025). It might be hard to get a third shot, but Morris as a leader with potentially a stronger coaching staff could work.

Special teams coaches

Joe DeCamillis, Las Vegas Raiders special teams coordinator
DeCamillis is a two-time Super Bowl champion with the Broncos and Rams. Now, he leads a top 5 special teams unit in Las Vegas by DVOA. In college, he had experience working as a special assistant to the HC at Texas and as an associate HC at South Carolina.

Chris Banjo, New York Jets special teams coordinator
A former special teams ace on the field, the 36-year-old is now a solid special teams coordinator. He’s been with the Jets since last year after two seasons as an assistant in Denver.

College coaches

Ryan Day, Ohio State
Day has been rumored for an NFL jump for years. He’s been the head coach at Ohio State since 2019, but he also has NFL experience as a quarterbacks coach for the Philadelphia Eagles and San Francisco 49ers under Chip Kelly. He won a national championship in 2024.

Steve Sarkisian, Texas
Sarkisian wanted to get back to the NFL in the past cycle. A HC at Texas since 2021, he’s also been a HC at Washington and USC. He had three years of NFL experience, including two seasons as the Falcons offensive coordinator in 2017 and 2018.