The 2024 NFL head coaching hiring cycle concluded on Wednesday, when the Washington Commanders became the eighth and final team to hire a new HC this offseason. Barring an unforeseen change, all 32 head coaching positions are now filled.
With every vacancy accounted for, three established head coaches have been left without a seat at the table. Bill Belichick, Pete Carroll, and Mike Vrabel boast highly successful track records of NFL leadership but — somewhat shockingly — did not find a job this offseason.
What’s on the horizon for Belichick, Carroll, and Vrabel? Why didn’t they land HC positions this offseason, what will they do in 2024, and what are their prospects for 2025?
Let’s answer all those questions for these three coaches, beginning with arguably the NFL’s greatest head coach.
What’s Next for Bill Belichick?
- Résumé: 302-165 record with the New England Patriots and Cleveland Browns; six Super Bowls; three-time Coach of the Year.
- 2024 Interviews: Met twice with the Atlanta Falcons before they hired Raheem Morris. Reportedly received interest from the Washington Commanders before they hired Dan Quinn.
Belichick was considered the early favorite to replace Arthur Smith in Atlanta, but reports have since suggested that Belichick may have requested too much personnel control. He served as the Patriots’ de facto general manager during his stint in New England, so it’s unsurprising that Belichick wants to run the front office at his next stop.
However, that demand could also continue to present an issue in next year’s hiring cycle. Even if a club is willing to what will be a 72-year-old Belichick as its head coach, it may want a younger voice coordinating its personnel operation.
MORE: Cowboys Owner Opens Up About Working With Bill Belichick
Belichick may have let go of the idea that he could transport the Patriot Way to his next destination. His best bet may be targeting a franchise with a competitive roster, stable ownership, and an experienced GM already in place.
It’s not difficult to identify potential 2025 Belichick landing spots. Franchises that have everything riding on the upcoming season — think the Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles, and Buffalo Bills — might be interested in Belichick if they flounder in 2024.
What will Belichick do this year? As much as we’d love to see him take a defensive coordinator job, Belichick seems destined for television, where he should instantly become one of the NFL’s best on-air analysts.
What’s Next for Pete Carroll?
- Résumé: 170-120 record with the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots; 91-19 record at USC; one Super Bowl, one NCAA title.
- 2024 Interviews: None, but reportedly pushed to be considered for the Los Angeles Chargers’ head coaching job.
Age will be a concern for Carroll, who’s roughly seven months older than Belichick. But anyone who’s watched Carroll on the sidelines or in a press conference over the past few years knows he still has more energy than most younger NFL coaches.
Carroll isn’t ready to retire. He said as much in his farewell press conference, noting that he didn’t give up the Seahawks’ head coaching job without a fight and confirming that he had planned to coach in 2024.
Carroll tried to get involved in the Chargers’ search before they hired his former archenemy, Jim Harbaugh, but was not otherwise tied to this year’s head coaching process.
Could that change in 2025? Potentially, but Carroll will face many of the same barriers as Belichick. Teams might be worried that he’ll try to force wholesale change throughout their organization while only committing to a two or three-year run in charge.
Carroll is the only individual on this list who is currently employed. Seattle moved him into an advisory role, but with GM John Schneider calling the shots for the first time in his tenure, Carroll will be operating in a figurehead capacity.
What’s Next for Mike Vrabel?
- Résumé: 54-45 record with the Tennessee Titans; 2021 Coach of the Year.
- 2024 Interviews: Met with the Falcons, Carolina Panthers, and Chargers.
While he’s not as accomplished as Belichick or Carroll, Vrabel has youth on his side. Coaches with Vrabel’s track record typically don’t take an involuntary year off at age 48, and he drew interest around the NFL after being fired by the Titans.
But Vrabel will not be a head coach in 2024. So what will he do?
While teams might be interested in hiring Vrabel as a defensive coordinator, taking on play-calling duties might be risky for a coach whose value is tied to leadership and culture, not scheme.
MORE: 2024 NFL Coordinator Interview Tracker
Imagine Vrabel takes over a defense that posts poor statistical results in 2024. That would only leave a bad taste in the mouth of every club that might consider Vrabel as a head coach in 2025.
Instead, Vrabel might consider an assistant or associate head coaching role this season. He could serve as a valuable mentor for a team with an inexperienced defensive coordinator, while Vrabel’s prowess as a game and clock manager could come in handy.
Head coaches on the hot seat might view Vrabel as a threat, so he’d need to land in an organization with a stable HC. PFN’s Adam Beasley suggested the Miami Dolphins as a potential fit, while the Baltimore Ravens, Detroit Lions, and Green Bay Packers could also make sense.
As the 2023 NFL season comes to a close, the 2024 NFL Draft is on the horizon. Pro Football Network has you covered with everything from team draft needs to the Top 100 prospects available. Plus, fire up PFN’s Mock Draft Simulator to put yourself in the general manager’s seat and make all the calls!
