The start of an NFL season is typically a time for peak optimism in many cities and for numerous fan bases – so often because there’s a sense of renewal sparked by new players, a clean record and maybe even a first-year head coach. Seven teams (Jets, Patriots, Jaguars, Raiders, Cowboys, Bears and Saints) have new faces under the big headset in 2025, a number that’s also highly indicative of how quickly this league chews up guys in that job on a year-by-year basis. (Eight coaching changes occurred in 2024.)
However while nobody’s taken a bad loss – yet – perhaps this is a year when more HCs can afford just a few of them. In addition to the seven taking their maiden voyages in new assignments, there’s a division full of stable coaching legends (AFC West), perennial division champs in Buffalo, Kansas City and Tampa Bay, and future Hall of Fame coaching institutions leading teams like the Ravens, Steelers, Chiefs and (probably) the Rams – and, yes, admittedly, there’s an Andy Reid throughline to all of those categories.
As Week 1 nears, we know the only constant in the NFL is change, but there do seem to be (relatively) fewer coaches potentially bound for the chopping block. The coming months will reveal whether that’s true or not, but here are five who embark on the upcoming campaign with at least some extra pressure and scrutiny on them while operating on a seat that’s at least a few degrees warmer than their peers’:
