New Voices, New Vibes: How 2025’s Coaching Carousel is Reshaping NFL Locker Rooms
The NFL is a league of constant change, but the 2025 offseason has been particularly seismic. A staggering number of teams – nearly a quarter of the league – ushered in new eras with fresh head coaches. This “coaching carousel,” as it’s often called, isn’t just about Xs and Os; it’s about the intangible shift in team culture, the “new voices, new vibes” that can revitalize a franchise or send it spiraling. With the regular season fast approaching, let’s delve into some of the most impactful changes and how they’re poised to reshape NFL locker rooms.
Chicago Bears: The Ben Johnson Era Begins
The Chicago Bears, after a tumultuous season, landed one of the hottest coaching commodities in the league: Ben Johnson. Johnson’s arrival in Chicago is generating palpable excitement. After the Bears fired Matt Eberflus midseason, 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.
The Bears’ offense struggled mightily in recent years, and Johnson’s task is clear: unlock the full potential of quarterback Caleb Williams. The Bears also have two foundational wide receivers in DJ Moore and Rome Odunze. 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.
New England Patriots: Vrabel Returns to His Roots
The New England Patriots made a significant move by bringing back Mike Vrabel, a former linebacker who won three Super Bowl titles with the team. Vrabel, who earned 2021 Coach of the Year honors with the Tennessee Titans, returns to Foxborough with a reputation for hard-nosed defense and a no-nonsense approach.
Vrabel 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. Vrabel has hinted that they’ll prioritize offensive line acquisitions this offseason, and the Patriots could select an offensive tackle with the fourth overall pick in April’s draft. A lot is riding on improving the offensive line play in New England, with Marrone now leading the room.
Las Vegas Raiders: A Champion’s Mentality with Pete Carroll
The Las Vegas Raiders, known for their recent instability, opted for experience and a proven track record by hiring Pete Carroll. Carroll, who turns 74 in September, brings an impressive resume: 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’s presence could help stabilize a franchise that has been a volatile organization of late. Raiders minority owner Tom Brady helped hire one of the most known commodities available to kick start his Las Vegas tenure, one in which he’s just as fired up to win as he was in New England.
New York Jets: Aaron Glenn Gets His Shot
The New York Jets, after moving on from Robert Saleh, are entrusting their team to Aaron Glenn. Glenn worked his way up through the coaching ranks, though, and didn’t take any shortcuts in his coaching career, so he should have a good idea of what he’s doing. Glenn’s Jets should be tough on the defensive side of the ball, too, but the offense remains a major question mark. Glenn brings another former member of the Detroit staff with him to New York, as Engstrand was the Lions’ passing game coordinator in 2024. Engstrand has previously served as the offensive coordinator for the University of San Diego and the DC Defenders (a team in the short-lived XFL).
Jacksonville Jaguars: Liam Coen Takes the Reins
The Jacksonville Jaguars are hoping Liam Coen can revitalize their offense and unlock Trevor Lawrence’s full potential. Liam Coen headed one of the best offenses in the league in 2024 as the offensive coordinator of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2024. He’s taking his talents north to the Jags. Expect a much better offense and a massively improved run game, and be sure to draft some Travis Etienne Jr. and Tank Bigsby in fantasy football in 2025.
Tampa Bay also had a top-five scoring offense (29.5 points per game) in his sole season with the Bucs despite Mike Evans missing three games. Jacksonville hopes to see similar results between Coen and 2021 No. 1 overall draft pick Trevor Lawrence.
Dallas Cowboys: Brian Schottenheimer Gets His Opportunity
The Dallas Cowboys 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.
New Orleans Saints: Kellen Moore Arrives in the Big Easy
The New Orleans Saints completed the carousel by inking Kellen Moore following the Philadelphia Eagles’ Super Bowl win. Kellen Moore earned his first NFL head coaching job by managing the Eagles’ offense to a Super Bowl victory. This came after he spent the last six years as an NFL OC: four in Dallas, one with the Chargers, and this last year in Philadelphia. Moore is also yet another offensive-minded head coach who is bringing along a new OC but will still be the one calling plays. The one wrinkle here is that Nussmeier is a long-time quarterbacks coach and former college OC instead of a young riser fresh off a McVay/Shanahan tree.
The Ripple Effect: More Than Just Head Coaches
It’s not just the head coaching changes that are creating new vibes. The coordinator market has also been active, with teams like the Cleveland Browns and Houston Texans revamping their offensive leadership. These changes, while perhaps less visible, can have a significant impact on player development and team strategy.
A Season of Uncertainty and Opportunity
The 2025 NFL season promises to be one of the most unpredictable in recent memory. With so many new voices guiding teams, the established order is ripe for disruption. Will Ben Johnson transform the Bears into a contender? Can Mike Vrabel restore the Patriots’ dynasty? Will Pete Carroll bring a winning culture to the Raiders? These are just some of the questions that will be answered in the months to come. One thing is certain: the “new voices, new vibes” of the 2025 coaching carousel are poised to reshape the NFL landscape.