With the regular season over, NFL franchises that didn’t make it to the postseason are looking to 2025. For some teams, the first step will be finding a head coach.
The New York Jets, Chicago Bears, New Orleans Saints, New England Patriots and Jacksonville Jaguars all have openings, and several other teams could be in the market for a new coach as well.
Several coordinators, such as Detroit’s Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn, are expected to begin the interview process in hopes of landing one of the few coveted job openings. But what exactly does the interview process entail and what are the league’s rules?
Let’s take a look at a timeline of how and when NFL teams interview candidates.
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NFL Head Coach Interview Process/Rules
The NFL has a set of rules regarding head coach interviews.
Starting Jan. 6, teams with open head coaching positions can begin requesting interviews with candidates from other teams. These interviews must be conducted virtually before the conclusion of divisional round games. Last year, the NFL encouraged teams with openings for head coaching positions to use this “virtual interview window” to set up initial interviews, allowing those teams to join Super Bowl teams during their bye week. You can now request a second interview with a candidate. Note: Teams may not interview employees of other teams that did not advance to the postseason until the third day after the employer team’s Week 18 game (for example, for the January 4th game). January 7th for games played on January 4th, or January 8th for games played on January 4th). game on January 5th).
Interview requirements for team coaches in the postseason are as follows:
If the hiring team receives a bye in the wild-card round, virtual interviews can begin three days after the Week 18 game and must occur before the conclusion of the wild-card game. If the employer team is participating in the wild card round, virtual interviews can begin three days after the team’s wild card game and must occur before the end of the division round game.
Starts the day after the divisional round ends:
Teams can conduct in-person or virtual interviews with candidates hired by other NFL teams whose seasons have ended. Teams may not conduct initial interviews with candidates employed by teams participating in the AFC and NFC Championship Games until after the employer team’s season has concluded. A candidate’s employer team cannot voluntarily grant permission for these interviews.
During the bye week between the conference championship and the Super Bowl:
Head coaching candidates hired by Super Bowl teams are allowed a second interview, either in-person or virtually. The team conducting the interview must notify the employer team.
Contact with Super Bowl head coaching candidates is prohibited during Super Bowl week until the day after the game.
Additionally, no contract signing, contract announcement, or contract agreement is permitted until the employer team’s season has concluded.
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What about coaches who are not employed by NFL teams?
Candidates who have not been hired by an NFL team, particularly those looking to interview former Tennessee Titans coach Mike Vrabel, can now do so without restrictions. For example, the Jets interviewed former Carolina and Washington coach Ron Rivera last week.
What about college coaches?
The NFL memo does not mention college coaches. Teams can now interview those coaches.
What is the Rooney Rule?
NFL teams must also abide by the Rooney Rule, the league’s policy that requires teams to interview candidates for head coaching, general manager and executive positions from underrepresented groups. The rule was adopted in 2003 and named after Dan Rooney, former owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers and chairman of the NFL’s workplace diversity committee.
This rule was established to increase diversity in team leadership and has been amended numerous times since its introduction to expand the range of groups and roles covered, including women.
For head coaching positions, teams must conduct in-person interviews with at least two external candidates who are people of color and/or women. According to the NFL, virtual interviews do not meet the requirements of the Rooney Rule.
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