College-to-NFL head coaching jumps have been a rare occurrence in recent seasons. Fourty-three head coaches were hired between the 2019 and 2024 offseasons, and just four of them came directly from the college ranks: Kliff Kingsbury (Arizona Cardinals, 2019) Matt Rhule (Carolina Panthers, 2020), Urban Meyer (Jacksonville Jaguars, 2021), and Jim Harbaugh (Los Angeles Chargers, 2024).
However, multiple receive interviews every year, and with the regularity of turnover — average of seven openings per season over the last five offseasons — there’s always the opportunity for some to make the jump. Which college coaches have participated in the 2025 coaching carousel and interviewed for NFL jobs?
2025 Coaching Carousel Tracker
Jeff Nixon, Syracuse Offensive Coordinator
Interviews Completed: Houston Texans OC
According to ESPN reporter Jeremy Fowler, Syracuse Orange offensive coordinator Jeff Nixon interviewed for the Houston Texans’ offensive coordinator opening.
Nixon was in NFL circles as recently as 2023, serving on the New York Giants’ staff as a running backs coach before heading to Syracuse in 2024, leading an offense that jumped from a lowly 93rd-ranked unit in adjusted EPA/play (-0.08) to 21st in the FBS (0.11).
Part of that offensive revelation was Kyle McCord’s emergence in 2024, placing first in the nation in passing yards (4,779, an ACC record) while finishing fifth in passing TDs.
While it is unclear how much of a role he played in McCord’s development, an opportunity to pair that résumé with a young star like C.J. Stroud sounds like an exciting opportunity.
David Shaw, Former Stanford Head Coach
Interviews completed: Chicago Bears HC (Job Accepted by Ben Johnson), Chicago Bears OC
Interviews requested: New Orleans Saints HC
David Shaw, who has served as a senior personnel executive for the Denver Broncos since June 2024, notably coached for the Stanford Cardinal from 2011-2022, achieving a 96-54 record, including a 5-3 bowl record and four Pac-12 Coach of the Year titles.
Shaw has experience in the NFL ranks, serving with three different organizations from 1997 to 2005 before spending over a decade with the Cardinal. He has consistently been a coaching candidate among league circles for a while, including conducting multiple interviews during the 2024 offseason (Chargers and Tennessee Titans).
However, his 2024 interview with the Chargers led to public criticism regarding the reporting of the news, as both ESPN’s Adam Schefter and SI’s Albert Breer reported the news on social media accompanied by the fact that the interview led L.A. to being Rooney Rule-compliant. With Michigan’s Harbaugh the presumed favorite for the role from the start, many took issue with the situation.
This led to pushback toward the Chargers, the league, and the reporters given the seeming disregard for Shaw’s legitimacy as a candidate. Overall, the drama overshadowed what is an otherwise impressive résumé, including a seven-year stretch with Stanford where the Cardinal averaged 10.4 wins per year and finished inside the AP Poll’s top 25 six times and the top 10 four times.
Shaw may consistently be a name who gets calls every offseason, but it remains to be seen if he will ever land a head coaching gig in the NFL.
While he initially interviewed with the Chicago Bears for their head coaching position — which was filled by Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson — Shaw was brought back for another interview on Jan. 26, this time for the Bears’ offensive coordinator role. Having worked with top quarterbacks in the past, namely Andrew Luck, he could be a figurehead to help coach up young star Caleb Williams.
Noah Pauley, Iowa State Pass Game Coordinator, WRs Coach
Interviews conducted: San Francisco 49ers OC
While most of the attention has gone to the college head coaches interviewing for NFL positions, the more common jump is for coordinators and position coaches to land jobs with pro organizations in similar roles at the next level.
In this case, the San Francisco 49ers conducted an interview with Iowa State Cyclones pass game coordinator and wide receivers coach Noah Pauley for their vacant offensive coordinator position.
Before coaching at Iowa State, he served as the WRs coach for North Dakota State from 2019-22, but he does have coordinator experience in his past as the OC for the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs, a Division II program and Pauley’s alma mater.
Notably, Pauley has coached a promising set of pass catchers at Iowa State — Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel — both of which are expected to be mid-round selections in the 2025 NFL Draft. The duo combined for 67.8% of the team’s receiving yardage in a very centralized passing attack led by Rocco Becht under center.
In 2024, alongside first-year Iowa State OC Taylor Mouser, the Cyclones had a 37th-ranked passing offense in EPA/dropback (0.09), a slight downgrade from their numbers in 2023 (33rd, 0.15) but markedly an improvement from their production in 2022 (67th, 0.01) before Pauley joined the program.
With a talented WR room in San Francisco, Pauley would have plenty of options to work with at the next level if hired.
Al Golden, Notre Dame Defensive Coordinator
Job accepted: Cincinnati Bengals DC
Not long after the Notre Dame Fighting Irish fell short in the 2025 CFP National Championship game, it was reported by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport that defensive coordinator Al Golden “emerged as a top candidate” for the Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator gig.
Golden captained the Fighting Irish defense, one of the fiercest units in college football in 2024, though their title game showing was far from the standard they had displayed all season. They were second in the country in adjusted EPA/play (-0.24) and points allowed per game (14.3) and inside the top 20 in terms of yards allowed per dropback (5.66).
With the Bengals firing veteran, accomplished defensive play-caller Lou Anarumo, there’s an opening on a team looking to compete for division titles and chasing Super Bowl pursuits; however, Cincinnati has struggled to retain defensive talent recently, making it a difficult role for even the best defensive minds to man.
Ultimately, Golden accepted the position on Jan. 22, just two days after Notre Dame’s CFP National Championship loss. He will return to Cincinnati where he was a linebackers coach for a pair of seasons (2020-21) before joining the Fighting Irish.
He brings a “pro-style defense” that focuses on multiplicity and variability, particularly on the defensive front, to keep offenses honest. As a result, a talent-depleted Bengals defense that has siphoned star players like Jessie Bates III and DJ Reader will be one to watch in the 2025 NFL Draft regarding interest in top-tier defensive talent.
Eddie George, Tennessee State Head Coach
Interviews conducted: Chicago Bears HC (Job Accepted by Ben Johnson)
A former college star, Heisman Trophy winner, and NFL running back, Eddie George surprised fans when he was brought in to interview for the Bears’ vacant head coaching gig. This is part of the organization’s exhaustive search for their next head man, leaving no stones unturned in a hunt that has reached more than 20 names.
George, however, has earned his keep, earning Big South-OVC Coach of the Year honors in 2024 after leading the Tennessee State Tigers to a 9-4 record (6-2 in conference play) while earning an FCS playoff bid, losing in the first round.
The former Ohio State standout has gone 24-22 in four seasons heading the Tigers but has gone 15-9 over his last two campaigns. An FCS-to-NFL jump as a head coach does not seem likely, but this may be just the start of future NFL and upward-trajectory intrigue for George.
Wink Martindale, Michigan Defensive Coordinator
Interviews conducted: Atlanta Falcons DC (Job Accepted by Jeff Ulbrich), Indianapolis Colts DC (Job Accepted by Lou Anarumo)
A long-time assistant coach, Wink Martindale had been in the NFL for nearly 20 years before his return to the college game in 2024.
The 61-year-old is reportedly mulling a return to the NFL game and met with the Atlanta Falcons for their vacant defensive coordinator position, per CBS’ Jonathan Jones. He is also scheduled to meet with the Indianapolis Colts. However, the Falcons filled their vacancy with former New York Jets defensive coordinator and interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich.
Martindale is known for his aggressive defenses and coached a host of future NFL defenders in his year with the Michigan Wolverines including defensive tackle duo Kenneth Grant and Mason Graham, both in the top three of our 2025 defensive tackle rankings.
Martindale has been an NFL defensive coordinator with the Broncos (2010), Baltimore Ravens (2018-2021) and Giants (2022-2023) in his long career. In his one year at the helm of the Michigan defense, Martindale’s unit was 17th-ranked nationally in points per game allowed and 12th in yards per play.
The run defense, in particular, was elite. The Wolverines allowed just 3.1 yards per rush. The Falcons struggled to get stops when needed, finishing the regular season 31st in the NFL in third-down percentage and 18th in yards per rush allowed.
Mike Locksley, Maryland Head Coach
Interviews conducted: New York Jets HC (Job Accepted by Aaron Glenn)
Mike Locksley is known as a program-builder, and despite a disappointing 2024 campaign, he’s had success with the Maryland Terrapins.
In his second stint as Maryland’s head coach (he had the interim tag for half of a season in 2015, Locksley had three consecutive winning seasons from 2021 to 2023, winning three bowl games in the process.
His Terrapins took a step back in 2024, going from 8-5 in back-to-back seasons to 4-8 this year. Still, he commands respect in the coaching industry and he’s one of the candidates to earn the Jets head coaching job.
Sources close to College Football Network have indicated that Locksley would take the Jets job, if offered, and could perhaps even waive his buyout, though the job was ultimately filled by Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, a former Jet himself.
Locksley’s Maryland contract runs through 2028, and he’s owed around $6 million per year for the remainder of the contract. If he leaves prematurely, it’s likely that he will owe the university.
Locksley has never coached in the NFL, but Maryland has been a net loser in the transfer portal this offseason, with quarterbacks Billy Edwards Jr. and MJ Morris and star running back Roman Hemby all leaving the Terrapins.
This isn’t, however, Locksley’s first NFL interview, as he interviewed with the Miami Dolphins in 2022.
Matt Campbell, Iowa State Head Coach
Interviews requested: Chicago Bears HC (Job Accepted by Ben Johnson)
Matt Campbell has been in a head coaching role in the college ranks since 2012, spending five seasons at Toldeo (35-15) before joining the Cyclones in 2016. After a 3-9 season in Year 1, he has manned the Cyclones’ ship to winning seasons in seven of his nine years in charge.
Notably, he had a 9-3 season in 2020 and finished inside the top 10 and had an 11-3 year in 2024, finishing one game shy of the first-ever 12-team College Football Playoff.
The three-time Big 12 Coach of the Year has reportedly turned down opportunities to take NFL jobs in the past and has experience building culture while leading NFL talent (11 players drafted since 2019, including three top-100 picks).
While he will have questions to answer on his plans at the next stage, he has proven himself at the college level. He has a $4 million buyout for his contract that extends until 2032.
2025 Coaching Carousel Rumors Tracker
Chip Kelly NFL Rumors
According to CBS NFL insider Jonathan Jones, Ohio State Buckeyes offensive coordinator Chip Kelly is considered a top target for multiple teams’ offensive coordinator positions, with the Texans and Jaguars named as two likely teams who could be interested in Kelly’s services.
In addition to these two teams, Jones explicitly mentioned the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a possible fit, as they lost OC Liam Coen to the Jaguars. Another team, speculatively, who could be a potential fit is the 49ers, where Kelly previously served as head coach.
READ MORE: Ohio State OC Chip Kelly Emerging as Top Candidate for Texans, Jaguars, and Others
At the time of this news, all but one head coaching vacancy has been filled, leaving top coordinator positions as the next domino set to fall.
Following the heights reached by the Buckeyes (2025 CFP National Championship victory), Ohio State’s coordinators are expected to be hot commodities. For this reason, the Buckeyes prioritized retaining their defensive coordinator, Jim Knowles, who reportedly was offered a record-setting coordinator deal to remain Ohio State’s OC. However, Knowles ultimately departed from the program to take the same gig with Penn State.
Kelly could be a good fit for multiple NFL teams, and despite his previous failed stint as an NFL head coach, he could find a better role as a play-caller, play-designer, and talent evaluator. However, Ohio State could prioritize retaining him with Knowles already out the door.
Deion Sanders NFL Rumors
Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders has been coaching in Boulder, Colo., for two seasons and was a tiebreaker away from a Big 12 Championship Game berth in 2024. Despite his success and the subsequent consistent rumors and cries for a jump to the big stage, he has seemingly rejected the discussion at every turn.
However, he made one concession on Jan. 8 regarding a potential NFL future, saying, “The only way I would consider [coaching in the NFL] is to coach my sons.”
GET DRAFTING: College Football Network’s Mock Draft Simulator
The only teams at the top of the 2025 NFL Draft order with head coaching vacancies this offseason are the New England Patriots (No. 4), the Jaguars (No. 5), the Las Vegas Raiders (No. 6), and the Jets (No. 7). However, only half of them will likely be in the QB market this offseason.
Adding to the saga, a report from the Las Vegas Review-Journal on Jan. 11 stated that Sanders “has a very strong interest in the [Raiders HC] job,” said a source with knowledge of the situation as reported by Vincent Bonsignore. With the Raiders firing Antonio Pierce shortly after Black Monday, Sanders could be a candidate to replace Pierce.
The Las Vegas-Sanders family rumors have run rampant and don’t seem like they will slow down no matter what is said by any parties, but for now, it seems as though Coach Prime and the Colorado athletic staff expect Sanders to return in 2025 with Colorado’s big offseason pickups.
The news did not stop there, though. According to multiple reports on Jan. 13, the Dallas Cowboys — particularly Jerry Jones — have had conversations with the former Cowboys DB, Sanders, about coaching for America’s Team. Reportedly, there is mutual interest in the reunion.
With their head coach out, Sanders’ name was inevitably found on the list of Mike McCarthy’s potential replacements, though there are still some hiccups on the already highly discussed pairing.
The incongruous owner is very particular about how he spends his money and would not likely be willing to fork up the $8 million needed for Sanders’ buyout with Colorado. Furthermore, Dallas is not in a position to bring in his son Shedeur Sanders, seemingly a must in Sanders’ prospects for the NFL.
However, Jones has a preexisting relationship with Coach Prime, potentially facilitating the move, even if it’s unconventional for the front office that has often sought out veteran, seasoned, and accomplished coaches.
“To hear from Jerry Jones is truly delightful, and it’s intriguing,” Sanders told ESPN. “I love Jerry and believe in Jerry. After you hang up and process it and think about it, it’s intriguing. But I love Boulder and everything there is about our team, the coaches, our student body, and the community.”
And in one final twist, some believe this is no more than a stunt. Jones, never one to shy away from the spotlight, would get optics while Sanders uses the notable attention as a power play with the Colorado athletic staff, some have suggested. Regardless, until an interview is conducted, this remains largely speculative.
As of Jan. 20, no interviews have been scheduled and do not yet seem to be in the works or likely under current expectations.
Ultimately, the Cowboys and Raiders — the two most prominent names attached to Sanders’ NFL candidacy — filled their positions elsewhere, hiring Brian Schottenheimer and Pete Carroll, respectively.
Marcus Freeman NFL Rumors
According to a report from NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero on Jan. 12, Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman has the attention of the Bears’ front office.
Amid his run culminating in a CFP National Championship appearance, Freeman has earned NFL buzz, rightfully so after establishing a culture in South Bend, Ind., and having a promising young career of his own. The 39-year-old head coach would be among the youngest head coaches in the NFL, and in just three full seasons leading Notre Dame, he already has a 33-8 record.
READ MORE: 5 Potential Replacements for Freeman if Notre Dame HC Leaves for the NFL
The Bears have reportedly done “extensive research” on Freeman, and Pelissero believes an eventual departure for the pro realm “would not be a shock,” but the question is if and when he would be willing to leave.
However, it has not yet been reported that the Bears have requested or scheduled an interview with Notre Dame’s lead man, leaving this situation undetermined for now as the Windy City looks for a leader for its young, promising leader under center, Williams. Ultimately, the gig was filled by the Lions’ OC, Johnson.
Bill Belichick NFL Reunion Rumors
It was reported on Jan. 8 by NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero that “multiple NFL teams have inquired” about whether 2025 North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Bill Belichick would return to the NFL in 2025, including the Las Vegas Raiders. With Tom Brady and Richard Seymour as a part of their minority ownership group, a pursuit from Vegas tracks logically.
However, a subsequent report from The Athletic’s Dianna Russini later on Jan. 8 revealed that “Belichick has no plans to return to the NFL, per sources,” and he is focused on his recruiting efforts with UNC.
READ MORE: Inside UNC, Belichick’s First 48 Hours on the Recruiting Trail
With a clause in Belichick’s contract dropping his buyout significantly after June 1, 2025, a key salary cap date for the NFL, a move seems more likely to happen later in the offseason, if at all.
However, it’s hard to imagine any NFL teams waiting until then to hire their head coach of the future, setting up the legendary coach for a new chapter in Chapel Hill, N.C.
After formally signing with North Carolina and NFL jobs filling up left and right, 2025 does not seem like the year for Belichick to return to the NFL.
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