Preseason Overreactions: New NFL head Coaches we’re Buying and Selling Already

The NFL preseason never gives us the full picture, but it does offer a preview an early read on which franchises are starting to piece things together and which ones look destined to flounder. I’m not talking about playoff odds or championship dreams just yet; this is about the men with the headsets. Seven new head coaches are stepping into the spotlight, and with that comes a revealing look at who seems to be building something sustainable and who might already be inching toward trouble.

Coaches we’re buying stock in before the 2025 season kicks off

Mike Vrabel, New England Patriots

It’s hardly shocking that Mike Vrabel’s Patriots are drawing buzz heading into the season. Since taking over from Jerod Mayo, everything about Vrabel’s presence feels like a team finally climbing out of the rebuild and gearing up to launch behind Drake Maye in year two. Vrabel has already set the tone from literally jumping into scuffles at practice (and coming away bloodied) to instilling a daily standard of improvement.

Dare I say it, but this might be the blueprint for how a new coach breathes life into a franchise in year one. Hyperbole aside, the optimism around Vrabel’s project in New England is undeniable, even before his first official game on the sideline.

Pete Carroll, Las Vegas Raiders

Pete Carroll unretiring to take over the Raiders feels like one of the league’s more fascinating storylines. After years of dysfunction under John Gruden, Josh McDaniels, and a brief Antonio Pierce stint, the Raiders finally look like they’ve found a steady hand. Carroll inherited a mess and immediately brought in reinforcements: Geno Smith at quarterback, promising rookie Ashton Jeanty, and a returning Brock Bowers. The result? An offense that could actually scare people.

The wide receiver corps remains shaky, and the defense is far from elite, but Carroll’s trademark ability to build culture and inject belief is already paying dividends. For the first time in a long while, there’s legitimate energy in Las Vegas and Carroll’s championship résumé has everything to do with it.

Aaron Glenn, New York Jets

Aaron Glenn, one of the architects behind Detroit’s recent rise, now gets his first crack at running a team and he might have walked into the best setup of any first-year coach. The Jets’ roster is loaded, and while Justin Fields remains a question mark under center, Glenn has plenty to work with.

Expectations are sky-high, which is always dangerous, but Glenn’s defensive chops should immediately elevate New York’s identity. As long as the offense doesn’t collapse, the Jets are positioned for a respectable debut season under his leadership. Between the two coordinators Detroit lost this offseason, Glenn undoubtedly landed in the more enviable spot.

Coaches who might already need to hit the panic button

Ben Johnson, Chicago Bears

I want Ben Johnson to make it work in Chicago I really do. But the warning signs are already flashing. Clips of Caleb Williams taking sacks despite clean pockets have gone viral for all the wrong reasons, and they underscore the problem: this isn’t about protection, it’s about decision-making. And that’s not something a rookie head coach with immense pressure to fix the Bears can afford to let spiral.

Even in their preseason finale win over Kansas City, Chicago’s starters looked lost for much of the first half just 22 total yards through two possessions. That’s the kind of offensive sputtering that’s plagued this team for years, and it hasn’t magically vanished under Johnson. He knows it too, admitting postgame that the sloppiness has been a recurring theme in camp. Not ideal when the mandate is to finally build an offense worth fearing.

Brian Schottenheimer, Dallas Cowboys

Brian Schottenheimer’s situation in Dallas feels like a setup for frustration more than a coaching showcase. Working under Jerry Jones is notoriously thankless, and now he has to navigate contract drama surrounding Micah Parsons on top of it.

The Cowboys’ roster is certainly good enough to contend in January, but confidence in Schottenheimer guiding them there is hard to muster. Mike McCarthy delivered playoff appearances but never broke through to an NFC Championship. Expecting Schottenheimer to suddenly clear that bar feels… optimistic. The pressure cooker starts immediately, and if Parsons isn’t on the field early, it only gets worse.

Kellen Moore, New Orleans Saints

On paper, Moore was a smart hire for New Orleans. In reality, he’s inheriting one of the league’s most nightmarish quarterback situations. Derek Carr’s unexpected retirement left him with Spencer Rattler, and that alone stacks the deck against him.

To Moore’s credit, he helped Tyler Shough become a draft pick, but pinning his coaching fate on unproven quarterbacks is a dangerous game. Until the Saints stabilize under center, it’s hard to envision Moore’s tenure being more than a short-lived experiment.

Liam Coen, Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jaguars’ reset was all about urgency firing Doug Pederson after a brief playoff run, spending aggressively, and trading a first-round pick for Travis Hunter. Which is why Liam Coen steps into a situation where patience is in short supply.

Is he the guy to meet that urgency head-on? That remains unclear. The roster is strong enough to win, and ownership won’t tolerate excuses. If Coen stumbles out of the gate, questions about whether Jacksonville hired the right leader will arrive quickly. In other words: this is not a soft landing spot.