A major domino fell in the world of football coaches today: Bill Belichick agreed to become the head coach of the University of North Carolina. For at least the next five years, what many deem to be the best football coach in history will be in Chapel Hill. With just 26 games separating Belichick from overtaking Don Shula as the NFL’s all-time win total, it was a bit surprising. However, with the news, the list of top available head coaching candidates became much clearer. In this piece, I’ll dive into the top three options to lead a franchise into the future.
Ben Johnson, Mike Vrabel, Aaron Glenn.
2025 NFL Head Coaching Candidates
1. Ben Johnson, Detroit Lions Offensive Coordinator
Potential Fits: Chicago, Jacksonville, New England
No surprise here. After perhaps the top head coaching candidate of last year’s offseason decided to turn down the Washington Commanders among other teams and stay in Detroit, the hype for him has only risen. At times he’s called plays that are outright disrespectful to offenses, even letting Penei Sewell attempt a pass. He’s not afraid to call plays outside of the box, being the play-calling mastermind he is. The dominance of how he sets up the run game plays perfectly into his play-action game plan with Jared Goff. He’ll again be the most sought-after offensive mind and will look to pair himself with a young, up-and-coming quarterback.
2. Mike Vrabel, Cleveland Browns Consultant
Potential Fits: Las Vegas, New York Giants, New York Jets
After unfairly losing his job in Tennessee, Vrabel joined up with Cleveland head coach Kevin Stefanski and has been assisting with their defense. He’s expected to have a large pool of interest from owners, stemming from six years as the Titans’ head coach, where he went 54-45 over six seasons, winning two AFC South titles in 2020 and 2021. He established himself as a real leader of men, building an authentic culture and succeeding through a ground-and-pound, defensive mentality. It worked for the most part — until former general manager Jon Robinson stripped away the teams’ talent. Regardless, Vrabel is a fantastic option for any franchise that needs to build a foundation. In 2025 with a quality draft, Vrabel could have somewhat of a Jim Harbaugh impact.
3. Aaron Glenn, Detroit Lions Defensive Coordinator
Potential Fits: New Orleans, Chicago, Las Vegas
While not as well known as his offensive counterpart, Glenn is nearly just as valuable to the 2024Lions. Although the 2023 defensive unit struggled historically last year against the pass, through continued coaching and talent acquisition they’ve greatly improved and now rank 4th in coverage and third in overall defense according to PFF. He’s been incredible at developing talent, as seen in rising superstars Brian Branch, Alim McNeil and of course Aidan Hutchinson. This is nothing new for Glenn, as when he was in New Orleans as Sean Payton’s defensive back coach, he coached players like Marshon Lattimore, Marcus Williams, Vonn Bell and plenty more into quality players. For any ownership group with a history of hiring defensive head coaches, Glenn could be viewed as an enticing fit.
Main Image: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
