Oct 21, 2023; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots former linebacker and new head coach Mike Vrabel makes a speech at his 2023 Patriots Hall of Fame induction in the Cross Insurance Pavilion at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images

The Caesars Superdome in New Orleans will house a Super Bowl-winning head coach come Sunday night.

The Saints are expected to hire someone who aspires to that title soon after.

Six of the NFL’s seven head-coaching vacancies are filled, and we’ll call that a quorum for ranking the hires to date.

Here goes.

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS: MIKE VRABEL

Patriots fans know their former linebacker won as a player—three Super Bowls, in fact, but who’s counting? But Vrabel brings a strong coaching background to this homecoming dance, too.

Vrabel guided the Tennessee Titans to three playoff appearances in six seasons and takes over a group with promising youth. An infusion of culture is in order in New England, though, and Vrabel has a background there.

After inconsistency in the lone season under another former Pats LB, Jerod Mayo, expect Vrabel to stress accountability while moving the organization forward.

CHICAGO BEARS: BEN JOHNSON

Dec 22, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson before a game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Bartel-Imagn Images

The Bears cast a remarkably wide net in their coaching search and should feel giddy about landing one of the proverbial big fish in the cycle. Johnson would arguably rank ahead of Vrabel if not for the latter’s proven past.

As it is, this first-time head coach is a seasoned, innovative offensive coordinator who has steered the division rival Detroit Lions to new heights. Heaven knows the Bears desperately could use some imagination on offense, and with 2024 top pick Caleb Williams showing flashes in his rookie season at quarterback, the possibilities are imaginable, if not endless.

Managing the rest of what comes with being a head coach is next.

NEW YORK JETS: AARON GLENN

Jan 27, 2025; Florham Park, NJ, USA; New York Jets head coach Aaron Glenn speaks during his introductory press conference at Atlantic Health Jets Training Center. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images

Jets owner Woody Johnson has shown an affinity for first-time head coaches, but Glenn isn’t the garden variety in that department.

His four seasons as Detroit Lions defensive coordinator came as the organization rose from dormancy to relevancy, for one. Glenn also is a former defensive back and favorite son of Gang Green, for whom he was a first-round pick in 1994.

Glenn brings a strong personality and budding resume to an organization that faces a 14-season playoff drought and uncertainty under center. His work is cut out for him, but he’s shown he’ll be up to it.

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS: LIAM COEN

New Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen speaks as Jaguars owner Shad Khan looks on during a press conference Monday, Jan. 27, 2025 at the Miller Electric Center in Jacksonville, Fla. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]

The route wasn’t exactly a straightforward one, but the Jaguars ultimately landed one of the more well-publicized coordinators who didn’t call Detroit home in 2024.

Now the organization must hope it’s getting the Coen who helped jolt the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Baker Mayfield last season. He’s preferable to the Coen who was the Los Angeles Rams OC in 2022, when the Male Sheep were last in the league in yardage.

Jacksonville needs imagination for a stumbling attack with young skill. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence still is only 25. There’s reason to believe Coen will bring a spark. Only thing is, his track record isn’t especially lengthy.

LAS VEGAS RAIDERS: PETE CARROLL

Jan 7, 2024; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll looks on in the second half against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-Imagn Images

Certain thoughts and images take hold when you mention Carroll. Energy and some sort of motivational quip to start.

Those things still hold true for Carroll, who’ll turn 74 at the end of Week 2, but the idea of seeing him on a Super Bowl sideline again seems dicey. Being the NFL’s oldest head coach has nothing to do with it.

Las Vegas faces a considerable rebuild in the locker room and roster, where major questions at quarterback loom. The Raiders also reside in the rugged AFC West, whose other three teams made the playoffs in 2024. Carroll’s experience and pep ought to be positives for first-time GM John Spytek, but this still feels like a transitional move to set up Carroll’s successor.

DALLAS COWBOYS: BRIAN SCHOTTENHEIMER

Jan 27, 2025; Frisco, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys Head Coach Brian Schottenheimer speaks to the media at a press conference at the Star. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-Imagn Images

If this were an exercise in letter grades, Dallas’ hire would match the city’s nickname and rate a “Big D.”

While Schottenheimer brings a strong pedigree and more than two decades of coaching experience in the league, he doesn’t exactly tote the kind of cachet for which the fan base clamors. Weren’t Vrabel, Johnson, and Glenn available? Absolutely. But because the Cowboys parted ways with Mike McCarthy so late in the coaching cycle, they weren’t in a position to interview many big names.

Schottenheimer spent the past three seasons with Dallas, including the last two as offensive coordinator. That bodes well for rejuvenating a recuperating Dak Prescott under center, but Schottenheimer should know more than most how Dallas faces numerous other issues.