Top NFL Head Coaching Candidate: Ranking the Best Available Options

It’s that time of the year where a handful of NFL teams are looking—or are about to be looking—for their next leader on the sidelines. 

Finding a new coach who will immediately make a positive impact is no easy task. Just ask the New England Patriots, who hired Jerod Mayo before this season only to fire him at the conclusion of the campaign following a 4-13 finish. 

New England already went out and got its guy in Mike Vrabel, though, and the Chicago Bears also started planning for the future by bringing in former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson as their next coach.

Still, plenty of strong coaching candidates are out there. Here are three of the best: 

Kellen Moore, Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator

Philadelphia is preparing for the NFC Championship Game thanks in large part to Moore, who has brought out the best in nearly all of the Eagles’ weapons on offense. 

Running back Saquon Barkley brought his career back to life by rushing for a league-leading 2,005 yards and 13 touchdowns during the regular season; quarterback Jalen Hurts’ dual-threat capabilities were on full display (32 total TDs) and Philadelphia averaged 27.2 points per game. 

For any team in need of a lift offensively, Moore is a perfect option. His name has been thrown around in head-coaching talks ever since he was the Dallas Cowboys’ offensive coordinator from 2019-22, and it might finally be time for the 36-year-old to take on some more responsibilities.

Todd Monken, Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator

Unlike Moore, Monken already has some head-coaching experience under his belt; it just came at the collegiate level. 

Monken was at Southern Miss for three seasons (2013-15), leading the Golden Eagles to a 13-25 record. He’s been in the NFL ever since aside from a stint at Georgia, where he served as OC and quarterbacks coach from 2020-22. 

One of the more experienced names out there, Monken, 58, was supposedly gaining some serious traction with the Bears before they landed Johnson. Now it looks like Jacksonville could be where Monken is headed should he choose to move on from the Ravens. The Jaguars fired coach Doug Pederson on Jan. 6.

Mike McCarthy, former Dallas Cowboys coach

Dallas letting McCarthy go earlier this month was a move that everybody saw coming for years.

The Cowboys had frequently underperformed during McCarthy’s five seasons at the helm, especially once the playoffs rolled around. Dallas reached the divisional round just once and lost, also getting bounced in the wild-card round twice.

Everybody seems to have a strong opinion on McCarthy—and most aren’t positive—but the 61-year-old does have 174 regular-season victories to his name along with 11 wins in the postseason and a Super Bowl ring.

Like it or not, McCarthy won’t stay unemployed for long. It’s only a matter of time before a team comes and scoops him up, and who knows? Maybe a fresh start allows him to better his reputation.