It’s already a tradition for A to Z Sports. By this time of the year, just like we did in 2023 and 2024, we create 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.

This year, we have 25 names, splitting them between former head coaches, offensive and defensive 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.

Inactive former head coaches

Mike McCarthy
He doesn’t get enough credit for what he’s done with the Packers (especially early on) and the Cowboys. His current ceiling might not be the highest, but he’s won a Super Bowl and is a respected name to stabilize a franchise.

Jon Gruden
Gruden left the NFL on bad terms and is trying to regain the respect of some around (and outside of) the league.

Offensive coordinators

Joe Brady, Buffalo Bills
The Bills’ offense undoubtedly got better since Brady took over, and his name is as hot right now as it was when he took over the Panthers’ OC job in 2020. He’s a part of the process to make Josh Allen, already an elite quarterback, into the MVP he has been.

Todd Monken, Baltimore Ravens
Monken was close to the top of last year’s list, and he deserves credit for making Lamar Jackson an even better passing quarterback. 

Mike Kafka, New York Giants
Kafka has been mentioned as a future head coach for around four years now, even though the lack of collective success in New York doesn’t help. Last year, he was promoted to assistant head coach in addition to his OC title to elevate his status.

Kliff Kingsbury, Washington Commanders
Kingsbury had a four-year stint as the Cardinals head coach, with limited success. However, he’s at a different moment of his career, and the performance with the Commanders’ offense is notable.

John Morton, Detroit Lions
The Lions lost Ben Johnson, and John Morton has done a good job early on to replace him, as the Lions still sit among the best offenses in the NFL.

Josh McCown, Minnesota Vikings quarterbacks coach
McCown is the only position coach in this year’s list, and that’s because he’s been mentioned as a future head coach since he finished his playing days. He’s had HC interviews.

Josh Grizzard, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Bucs have lost their OC to HC jobs two years in a row, with Panthers’ Dave Canales and Jaguars’ Liam Coen. And the offense is still a top 10 unit, which almost automatically puts Grizzard in the conversation.

Arthur Smith, Pittsburgh Steelers
Smith had a three-year stint with the Falcons, and it didn’t go great. But he’s a sharp offensive mind, and if he can take the most out of the Aaron Rodgers experience in Pittsburgh, his name will be around.

Klint Kubiak, Seattle Seahawks
Kubiak had a fast start with the Saints last year, but one he couldn’t sustain due to multiple injuries throughout the roster—which included quarterback Derek Carr. This year, he’s elevated the Seahawks’ offense with Sam Darnold at quarterback, and his background under Kyle Shanahan and his dad Gary Kubiak is an interesting element.

Defensive coordinators

Jesse Minter, Los Angeles Chargers
With a top 5 defense, Minter is one of the hottest names in this cycle. He’s still relatively young at 42, has strong NFL and college coaching experience, and his leadership style is impressive—learning behind Jim Harbaugh certainly helps.

Brian Flores, Minnesota Vikings
As a defensive mind, Flores is as good as anyone in the NFL. He would have to answer some questions about his failed time with the Dolphins as a head coach, but he’s so consistently good at DC that new opportunities should arise.

Jeff Hafley, Green Bay Packers
A former college head coach at Boston College, Hafley has transformed the Packers’ defense after failed experiences with previous coordinators. He’s a great defensive mind and an excellent communicator.

Robert Saleh, San Francisco 49ers
Saleh’s tenure with the Jets was bad, but it’s hard to blame him too much. His defenses will always be at least solid, and a more stable franchise could offer him a better shot.

Jim Schwartz, Cleveland Browns
Schwartz is that type of DC that has already been a head coach a long time ago (Lions, between 2009 and 2013), and it feels like he’s satisfied being a coordinator. But he’s been so successful with the Browns that he at least deserves to be mentioned.

Anthony Campanile, Jacksonville Jaguars
Campanile was highly respected during his time with the Dolphins and Packers, and now he’s making the most out of his early stages as the Jaguars DC. He’s considered a strong leader.

Vance Joseph, Denver Broncos
Joseph had a failed stint as the Broncos head coach, but he’s so respected that the franchise hired him back as a DC. And he’s done an excellent job in this area.

Chris Shula, Los Angeles Rams
Sean McVay’s coaching tree is as good as there is, and Shula has been with the Rams since McVay’s original coaching staff was built in 2017. He’s been promoted five times, including to DC in 2024. He’s made the most out of a young defensive group.

College coaches

Bill Belichick, North Carolina
Nobody in the NFL wanted Belichick in 2024 and 2025, but that could always change if a franchise wants a strong leader for a short period of time.

Steve Sarkisian, Texas
Multiple college coaches are wanting to make the transition to the NFL, and Sarkisian could be the next one. His most recent NFL experience was as the Falcons offensive coordinator between 2017 and 2018.

Matt Campbell, Iowa State
Perceived as a program builder, Campbell has been mentioned as a potential NFL coach for years now.

Lincoln Riley, USC
Riley helped develop three first overall pick quarterbacks in Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray, and Caleb Williams, so the blueprint of what he could do is there. Developing passers is his calling card.

Ryan Day, Ohio State
Day has had a lot of success in college, including a national championship in 2024. And he has experience in the NFL as a quarterbacks coach for the Eagles and 49ers under Chip Kelly.

Deion Sanders, Colorado
Sanders is a big personality, and his Hall of Fame playing career plus results as a college coach validate his profile. He was connected to the Cowboys job this year before Jerry Jones decided to hire Brian Schottenheimer.

Green Bay Packers News

Packers’ Matt LaFleur recognizes he has a future superstar developing on his coaching staff

Jeff Hafley has done an amazing job with Green Bay’s defense.

Wendell Ferreira