https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/article/2025-nfl-preview-whats-new-the-changes-the-7-new-coaches-can-make-for-their-franchises-130018349.html
The right NFL coaching hire can change a franchise overnight.
DeMeco Ryans transformed the Houston Texans two years ago. The days of everyone laughing at the Texans for being the worst franchise in the league seem a lot longer ago than they actually are. Ryans won games and improved the level of professionalism in the organization.
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That’s what every sad-sack team that fires its head coach is shooting for with its new hire. Here is one specific way each of the NFL’s new coaches for this season can change their franchise.
Pete Carroll, Raiders
Carroll will turn 74 years old on Sept. 15, and on opening day of the season he’ll become the oldest coach in NFL history. On the surface it’s an odd hire for a team still in a rebuild. But the Raiders have a clear goal between hiring Carroll and trading for quarterback Geno Smith, who turns 35 years old in October. The Raiders want to raise the level of their franchise after many years of bumbling along, and they’re tired of waiting for it. Carroll is a proven winner. He might not be a long-term option, but the Raiders are hoping he brings a level of professionalism that has been lacking and leaves the franchise in a better place than he found it.
Pete Carroll takes over a Las Vegas Raiders team that has been near the bottom of the NFL for a long time. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
(Steph Chambers via Getty Images)
Liam Coen, Jaguars
Trevor Lawrence’s first pro head coach was Urban Meyer, perhaps the worst coach in NFL history. His second was Doug Pederson, who was certainly better than Meyer but didn’t get the best out of Lawrence. Not even close. In comes Coen, who had a brilliant season as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ offensive coordinator and is being brought aboard to have a similar effect on the Jaguars and Lawrence. The scheme is complicated and perhaps the Jaguars get off to a slow start this season, but we’ll finally get to see if Lawrence is capable of being an elite quarterback. The offensive coaching and scheme will be much better than it has been at any point in Lawrence’s career.
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Aaron Glenn, Jets
Robert Saleh probably wasn’t a bad head coach. It’s impossible to know because the Jets franchise is so dysfunctional, starting with a bad ownership situation. Maybe Glenn, a respected leader and defensive mind, will face the same obstacles. But he’s been brought in to remove the stink of the past couple seasons, when the Aaron Rodgers era went quite sour. The roster was purged of some old veterans brought in to support Rodgers, and now Glenn tries to reset everything in a franchise that needs a fresh start.
Ben Johnson, Bears
The goal for the Bears with the hire was to finally figure out the modern passing game. You’ve likely heard that the Bears have never had a 4,000-yard passing season, which seems like a made-up stat. But it’s true. Johnson was great as the Detroit Lions’ offensive coordinator and takes over a talented offense led by 2024 first overall pick Caleb Williams. Johnson is probably the best offensive coach the Bears have employed since anyone can remember. Johnson’s ability to turn Williams into a star — and a 4,000-yard passer — will be the first box to check on whether this was a good hire or not.
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Kellen Moore, Saints
Moore has a big challenge ahead of him. The Saints might be one of the worst teams in the NFL. His job is to keep the team competitive, though maybe not too competitive with eyes on a quarterback in the 2026 NFL Draft. We’ll see how that shakes out. But Moore takes over a roster that is surprisingly low on young and promising talent. Maybe Moore has a great season and the Saints exceed expectations. More realistically, he will be mapping out the next few years while hopefully not hitting rock bottom. Hopefully the Saints understand that Moore might need some patience.
Brian Schottenheimer, Cowboys
The goal for every new Cowboys coach is to break a Super Bowl drought that goes back to the 1995 season. So, no pressure on a first-time head coach leading the most-watched team in the NFL and maybe all of sports. Schottenheimer likely won’t be a huge change from Mike McCarthy, considering Schottenheimer was McCarthy’s offensive coordinator. But he’ll need to figure out what has eluded all of the coaches Dallas has employed since Barry Switzer, and that’s how to get the Cowboys deep in the playoffs. Good luck.
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Mike Vrabel, Patriots
The way in which the Patriots fired Jerod Mayo and then landed Vrabel was unseemly, but they did get a fantastic coach in Vrabel. Suddenly the Patriots got very aggressive in talent acquisition, spending a ton of money in free agency and also having a draft class that was widely praised. The talent shift was needed, but Vrabel’s best attribute is (cliché alert) building a culture. You don’t think the Patriots’ players noticed Vrabel diving headfirst into fights during joint practices with the Vikings? It will be a new era for Patriots football. Vrabel has already set the tone for that.
https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/article/2025-nfl-preview-whats-new-the-changes-the-7-new-coaches-can-make-for-their-franchises-130018349.html
