Former Patriots coach Bill Belichick
The eight-time Super Bowl champ has the best resume of any NFL coach to ever go job hunting. He’d bring respectability to a franchise desperate for it. But the 72-year-old would likely want power that many general managers are loathe to give up.
Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady
The 35-year-old made a name for himself as Joe Burrow’s play-caller on the 2020 LSU national championship team. Under Brady, Bills quarterback is the MVP favorite.
Buccaneers offensive coordinator Liam Cohen
The Bears interviewed the 39-year-old Cohen for the play-caller job that eventually went to Shane Waldron in January. The Bucs rank fourth in the NFL with 28.1 points per game.
Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores
There’s no denying his impact on a blitz-happy Vikings defense. Complicating matters: Flores, 43, was one game under .500 in three years with the Dolphins and later filed a class action discrimination lawsuit against the NFL.
Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson
The 38-year-old will be the hottest assistant on the market, provided his 11-1 Lions keep winning and scoring the most points in the NFL. Johnson figures to be picky, the way he was the last two offseason.
Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury
Kingsbury coached Williams as a USC assistant last year and interviewed with the Bears for their coordinator job. He landed in Washington, where the 45-year-old helped quarterback Jayden Daniels become the favorite for Offensive Rookie of the Year. He was 28-37-1 as the Cardinals’ head coach.
Falcons offensive coordinator Zac Robinson
The Bears talked the 38-year-old about their play-caller vacancy. In his first year in Atlanta, the Falcons rank 14th in rushing and fifth in passing.
Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik
The 37-year-old mentored C.J. Stroud to the best rookie quarter season in NFL history last season. He interviewed for five different head coaching jobs but returned to the Texans — with mixed results.
Former Titans coach Mike Vrabel
After losing a power struggle with his general manager, the 49-year-old has spent the past year working as a consultant for his home-state Browns. He went 54-45 in six seasons with the Titans.