These Three NFL Teams Could Have Patriots-Style Turnarounds

Super Bowl LX can end one of two ways, but the outcome won't erase the fact that this was an historic season for the New England Patriots.

They’re the first team in the Super Bowl era to reach the championship game after hiring a new head coach and winning four or fewer games the prior season.

A once-great franchise which won six Super Bowls in an 18-year span appeared destined to wander in the proverbial wilderness after back-to-back four-win seasons to end Bill Belichick’s legendary tenure and during Jerod Mayo’s one-and-done stint as head coach.

But Mike Vrabel and MVP candidate quarterback Drake Maye combined for a stunningly quick return to relevance for New England.

It seems highly unlikely that a team will make the same level of jump in contention next season. However, it’s always worth examining which teams could be candidates to take a huge leap forward as the offseason looms.

New York Giants

No team has taken a bigger coaching swing this offseason than the Giants, who gave John Harbaugh quite a bit of control to convince the former Ravens coach to come to New York over heavy interest elsewhere.

Few franchises have been as listless for as long as New York, which has made the playoffs twice in the 14 years since its last Super Bowl win. But on the other hand, few active coaches have had more consistent success than Harbaugh. He won fewer than eight games just once in 18 seasons with Baltimore and led the Ravens to 12 playoff appearances, four AFC Championship Games and a championship during the 2012 season.

New York has a potential quarterback to build around in Jaxson Dart — although the rookie needs to learn how to protect himself so he can stay on the field — and some young skill-position players to build around in running back Cam Skattebo and receiver Malik Nabers.

If Harbaugh can improve a unit which ranked 26th in scoring defense and 28th in total defense, could the Giants contend in an uncertain NFC East?

Tennessee Titans

A second-time head coach who had much less success his first time was Robert Saleh with the Jets, posting a 20–36 record over three-plus seasons.

Saleh gets a second chance in Nashville with a roster that in some ways is much better set up for success. After Zach Wilson and Mike White were the QBs who made the most starts in New York under Saleh, he’ll now get a chance to work with Cam Ward.

The 2025 No. 1 overall pick wasn’t sensational as a rookie (3,169 yards, 15 touchdowns, seven interceptions) but he improved as the season progressed and has some of the best arm talent in the NFL.

Pairing that quarterback and some great young skill-position talent like rookie Pro-Bowl receiver/returner Chimere Dike with Saleh’s track record as a defensive coach could help the Titans take a leap forward, although it’ll be a challenge in a suddenly loaded AFC South division.

Washington Commanders

Let’s return to the NFC East with a team that has found success much more recently.

Led by rookie QB Jayden Daniels, the Commanders reached the NFC Championship Game for the first time since 1991 last season. This season, Daniels sustained three different injuries and played in just seven games, the team as a whole battled injuries all year and saw its record inverted from 12–5 to 5–12.

Daniels remains one of the best young talents in the league when healthy. The aging defense won’t make things easy for head coach Dan Quinn entering his third season, but he led the Falcons to a Super Bowl loss as head coach, showcasing his acumen.