2025 NFL Hiring Cycle Begins

As the NFL gears up for another exciting hiring cycle, starting Monday, teams with head coach and general manager vacancies can officially begin requesting interviews with candidates currently employed by other franchises. This year’s hiring process echoes last year’s structure but features slight adjustments aimed at optimizing team strategies.

Deceleration of Hiring Timeline

The league has made strides to decelerate the hiring timeline over the past few seasons, meaning that in-person interviews for head coaching candidates still under contract cannot commence until January 20 at the earliest. As of Monday, teams like the Jets, Bears, Saints, Patriots, and Jaguars are looking for new head coaches, while the Jets stand out as the only team with a general manager vacancy currently.

Interview Conditions

Various conditions govern when candidates can start interviewing: coaches from the playoff-bound Kansas City Chiefs and Detroit Lions, who have secured a first-round bye, can engage in virtual interviews just three days after the final regular-season games, scheduled for this weekend. This means that coaches from Saturday’s games can begin interviews on Tuesday, and those from Sunday can start on Wednesday. However, coaches involved in next weekend’s wild-card round must wait until three days post-game to conduct any interviews, creating a tight window for teams eager to fill positions.

Candidates in Focus

Additionally, candidates who are not currently tied to another team have no such restrictions and are already making moves to interview. Notable figures in this cycle include former Titans head coach Mike Vrabel and Ron Rivera, former coach of both the Panthers and Commanders. Rex Ryan, another well-known name in NFL coaching, is set to interview with the Jets this Tuesday.

Top Prospects

Among the coveted candidates is Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, who is widely viewed as a top prospect but is reportedly selective about his interview choices. He, along with defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn—who's attracting interest from the Jets and Saints—can initiate virtual interviews starting Wednesday. Kansas City’s offensive coordinator Matt Nagy is also expected to be a hot commodity with multiple interview invitations, while defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, boasting four Super Bowl rings—the most of any coordinator in NFL history—should not be overlooked.

Changes in Interview Protocols

This year sees two notable changes in interview protocols: the duration and location rules have been tightened. Teams interviewing coaches from playoff-bound teams are limited to three-hour maximum sessions, emphasizing efficiency in their outreach. Moreover, once in-person interviews can be held starting January 20, they must occur either in the team's city or another pre-approved location.

Early Interview Window

The NFL is urging teams to capitalize on the early interview window, as initial talks with coaching candidates from conference championship teams will be off-limits until their respective seasons conclude. For instance, if a team is interested in speaking with a coach from a Super Bowl team, they must act quickly before the playoffs intensify, with a cut-off on potential conversations after February 3 until the day following the Super Bowl.

Compliance with the Rooney Rule

Furthermore, the league mandates compliance with the Rooney Rule, which requires teams to interview at least two external candidates of color or women in-person prior to making hiring decisions. Hiring authorities must also undertake inclusive hiring training provided by the NFL to ensure fair and equitable practices are followed throughout the process.

Conclusion

As organizational strategies shift in the wake of playoff developments, teams must carefully navigate these new hiring protocols to secure the best candidates for their coaching and management positions within an ever-competitive landscape. Keep your eyes peeled for exciting news as the 2025 NFL hiring cycle unfolds!