Top Takeaways from the 2025 NFL Coaching Carousel

The NFL offseason can be even more exciting than the actual season. Each team starts anew, with dreams of a better record and legitimate run at the NFL playoffs. As we come out of Super Bowl LIX, it’s time to take stock in the first “shoe to drop” on the 2025 fantasy season: head coaching changes. 

Let’s take a look about the NFL and take a look at each coaching change and how it could impact fantasy football. 

2025 NFL Offseason Head Coaching Changes

Chicago Bears: Ben Johnson

Former head coach: Matt Eberflus (Thomas Brown interim)

Ben Johnson comes to Chicago as one of the most successful offensive coordinators in the NFL. During his three years guiding the Detroit attack, the Lions posted yearly averages of 26.6, 27.4 and 33.1 PPG. This past season, the Lions averaged 2.5 more PPG than the next closest team, Buffalo. 

Chicago was a very desirable head coaching position, with an abundance of talent. Quarterback Caleb Williams had an efficient rookie season (20 TDs, 6 INTs), and Chicago has two foundational wide receivers in DJ Moore and Rome Odunze Per OverTheCap, Chicago also has over $66 million in projected cap space.

Johnson added Declan Doyle as a first-year offensive coordinator, after he most recently served as the Broncos tight end coach last season. Doyle is only 28 years old but has worked under offensive guru Sean Payton for most of his NFL career. Chicago’s defense will be guided by veteran Dennis Allen, former New Orleans Saints head coach, who has eight very successful years as an NFL defensive coordinator. 

Can Johnson recreate the massive success of the Lions with their intradivisional rivals? 

Dallas Cowboys: Brian Schottenheimer

Former head coach: Mike McCarthy

Dallas promoted 51-year-old Brian Callahan after two seasons as the Cowboys’ offensive coordinator. The Dallas offense flourished in 2023, with quarterback Dak Prescott posting 36 touchdowns, 4,566 passing yards and just 9 interceptions. The lack of success in 2024 can be attributed to injuries, with Prescott missing nine games after a hamstring injury. 

Schottenheimer will also call the offensive plays, which is a heavy lift for a first-time NFL head coach. Adding Matt Eberflus as the defensive coordinator should provide stability, and hopefully improve a unit that ranked just 24th overall in defensive DVOA including 29th against the run. 

Jacksonville Jaguars: Liam Coen

Former head coach: Doug Pederson

Liam Coen was a top candidate for every available NFL head coaching position after maintaining the Buccaneers’ offensive success last season. Quarterback Baker Mayfield actually improved his impressive 2023 totals, posting career-highs in passing yards (4,500), touchdowns (41) and completion percentage (71.4%). The only question: Was Tampa Bay’s success more a result of Dave Canales’ work in 2023? 

Coen also hired 29-year-old Grant Udinski as Jacksonville’s offensive coordinator. Udinski has no prior coordinator experience, but he rose quickly among the NFL’s inner circles as Kevin O’Connell’s right-hand man in Minnesota. Anthony Campanile is another first-time hire, serving as defensive coordinator for the Jaguars. There is experience across the board with this staff, which could be good … or bad. 

Las Vegas Raiders: Pete Carroll

Former head coach: Antonio Pierce 

Pete Carroll turns 74 in September but brings an impressive resume of Super Bowl champion, two-time Super Bowl finalist and two-time AP National Champion with USC. He is one of only three coaches to win both a Super Bowl and college football national championship. 

Carroll is an open-minded innovator, ready to embrace new ideas. He retained defensive coordinator Patrick Graham, despite his preference to play more Cover-2 schemes than Carroll’s historic pattern of Cover-3 zone defensives. Carroll interviewed Darrell Bevell (Seattle OC 2011-17) for his offensive coordinator position but ultimately pivoted to Chip Kelly, who brings NFL and college experience to Las Vegas.

New England Patriots: Mike Vrabel

Former head coach: Jerod Mayo

Vrabel makes his return with the Patriots, where he won three Super Bowl titles as a player. Vrabel was also a successful head coach with Tennessee, earning 2021 Coach of Year honors. He brings back OC Josh McDaniels, who has multiple stints as New England OC on his resume. Terrell Williams has a connection with Vrabel from Tennessee, where he served as both defensive line coach and assistant head coach/defensive line coach over six seasons. This is one of the experienced and successful new coaching staffs for the 2025 season. 

New Orleans Saints: Kellen Moore

Former head coach: Dennis Allen (Darren Rizzi interim)

Kellen Moore has long been a top head coaching candidate and appears set to accept the New Orleans Saints position as his inaugural opportunity. Moore has been one of the NFL’s top offensive coordinators over the past five years, guiding elite offenses with the Cowboys, Chargers and now Eagles. 

New York Jets: Aaron Glenn

Former head coach: Robert Saleh (Jeff Ulbrich interim)

Aaron Glenn returns home to a Jets organization where he played for seven seasons, reaching the Pro Bowl on two separate occasions. He added two new coordinators in Tanner Engstrand for offense from his time with the Lions, and Steve Wilks who has guided the defense for the Panthers, Browns and 49ers. 

New York is in desperate need of a culture change, and Glenn’s successful history as a player for the Jets, as well as building the Lions defense the past three years.