The 2025 NFL regular season is officially in the books, and with it comes one of the most chaotic and transformative periods of the football calendar: the coaching carousel. This offseason, it's spinning faster than usual. A total of ten teams are in the market for new leadership on the sidelines-nine due to firings, and one, the Steelers, due to Mike Tomlin stepping down after nearly two decades at the helm.
Let’s take a closer look at the current landscape. Some teams are already moving quickly-five head coaching hires have been made, including familiar faces like Kevin Stefanski and John Harbaugh landing new gigs-but five vacancies remain.
And not all jobs are created equal. From franchise quarterbacks to cap space (or lack thereof), here’s how the remaining head coaching openings stack up in terms of appeal.
1. Buffalo Bills
When you’ve got Josh Allen under center, you’re already ahead of the game. The Bills’ franchise quarterback remains one of the most dynamic playmakers in the NFL, capable of single-handedly changing the trajectory of a season-and a coaching career. That alone makes this the top job available.
But Allen isn’t the only reason Buffalo sits atop this list. James Cook just led the league in rushing during the 2025 regular season, and the defense quietly put together a stellar campaign, allowing just 156.9 passing yards per game-the fewest in the NFL. Add in a brand-new stadium on the horizon, and the infrastructure is there for sustained success.
Still, this isn’t a turnkey operation. The run defense was a glaring weakness, and the pass-catching group needs an upgrade if the Bills are going to take the next step in the postseason.
The new head coach will need to be someone who can both elevate Allen and patch the remaining holes. But make no mistake: this is a championship-caliber roster with the right leader in place.
2. Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders might be light on proven talent, but they’re heavy on potential-and flexibility. They hold the No. 1 pick in the upcoming draft, have over $100 million in cap space, and boast a trio of promising young players in Brock Bowers, Ashton Jeanty, and possibly Maxx Crosby (though trade rumors are swirling around the star edge rusher).
That kind of draft capital and financial freedom gives a new coach the chance to shape the roster from the ground up. The quarterback of the future is likely coming with that top pick, and if the front office hits on a few free agents, this rebuild could accelerate quickly.
The challenge? Stability.
Ownership under Mark Davis has been anything but predictable, and the AFC West remains a brutal division. Still, for a coach looking to make a mark and build something of their own, this is an intriguing opportunity.
3. Cleveland Browns
The Browns have one of the league’s most dominant defensive players in Myles Garrett, and they hit big in last year’s draft with tight end Harold Fannin Jr. and linebacker Carson Schwesinger. Add in multiple first-round picks thanks to the Travis Hunter trade, and there’s a foundation to work with.
But the issues here are significant. The offense lacks proven weapons, and the quarterback situation is murky at best.
Quinshon Judkins is rehabbing from a dislocated ankle and fractured fibula, and Deshaun Watson’s contract continues to weigh down the team’s financial flexibility. Cleveland enters the offseason more than $12 million over the cap, and Watson’s deal will continue to be an anchor through at least 2027.
Ownership and front office stability are also question marks. The Haslams have overseen one of the most erratic franchises in the league, and GM Andrew Berry hasn’t exactly built a juggernaut. There’s upside here, but it comes with a lot of baggage.
4. Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals’ season spiraled quickly-they lost 14 of their final 15 games and looked lifeless down the stretch. Kyler Murray’s future with the team remains uncertain, and unless this becomes a rare three-quarterback draft class or the Jets pass on a top prospect, Arizona may not have a clear path to solving its quarterback dilemma this offseason.
Cap space is another concern. With only around $21 million in room-and less than $10 million in effective space-it’s going to be tough to make major roster improvements.
There are some young building blocks: Trey McBride has emerged as a legitimate weapon at tight end, and players like Paris Johnson Jr., Michael Wilson, Budda Baker, Josh Sweat, Garrett Williams, Walter Nolen, and Will Johnson offer promise on both sides of the ball. But there are still too many holes and not enough resources to plug them all.
This is a long-term project, and any coach stepping into the job will need patience-and a clear vision for how to rebuild from the ground up.
As the hiring cycle continues, these five teams are still searching for the right fit. Whether it’s the allure of coaching a superstar quarterback, the chance to mold a team with cap space and draft picks, or the challenge of turning around a struggling franchise, each job offers a different path-and a different set of risks. The next few weeks will shape not just these teams’ futures, but the league's landscape heading into 2026 and beyond.