2025 NFL Discussion

[HarryDoyle]

Who would've thought Liam Coen would lead the Jags to a division championship in his first year? Who would've thought Mike McDonald would have the Seahawks on the cusp of a Super Bowl (and most likely will be in the Super Bowl) is his second year? Who would've thought Mike Vrabel would have the Patriots on the cusp of a Super Bowl (and most likely will be in the Super Bowl) his first year?

There are good coaches out there that don't have the sexy name. You just have to do your homework and find them. Ten head coaching openings this year and a couple of those no names are going to get hired and have a successful season next year.

[LouisEly]

5 hours ago, adambr2 said:

Despite their aggressive tendencies, I'm easily taking Campbell or Ben Johnson easily. 

Kevin O’Connell might have done the best job of anyone in the North to go 9-8 with that QB play. 

So yeah, easily 4th. 

The 2024 playoffs, when they were the #1 and #5 seeds and both got trounced in the divisional round, suggests it's a lot closer than many think.

[homer]

 

 

[Brewin]

It's always interesting to see different opinions on ranking the division coaches;

I would have KOC #1, followed by MLF, Johnson, and Campbell clearly last.

The love affair with Dan Campbell amazes me. The guy cost his team a SB by being recklessly aggressive in the NFCG in San Fran, lost his coordinators this year and looks lost on the sidelines. I just don't get the love affair with that guy.

MLF and Johnson at this point to me are similar the difference is Johnson has only done it for one year and everyone would agree the Bears were exceptionally fortunate in close games this season which will not likely reoccur next year 

 

 

[Joseph Zarr]

I am sincerely going to miss Hafley's interviews. He just has that ineffable charisma so few coaches possess. You get Malik Willis in his comfort zone down yonder and they could absolutely make some noise next season. Curious to see who (if any) he poaches from GB's staff. Obviously, his Boston College connects go with him. Anyone else? Covington DC?

[homer]

Leonhard seems like an obvious candidate given they offered him the job once before and now he has NFL experience.

[HarveysWBs]

Looks like they’re going to interview Christian Parker, assuming the Cowboys let him leave town after his interview there.

Spent time with us as a QC coach under Pettine (ugh). Then went to Denver with Fangio and then came with him to Philly, and has coached their secondary ever since (that’s more like it). Interviewed with us for the DC spot two years ago, so he has those Packers connections the brass seems to like and figures to be a strong candidate. The media seems to talk about him as a “rising star” type.

Shame he can’t pack DeJean with him if he comes over, because that could solve some issues…

[OldSchoolSnapper]

4 hours ago, Brewin said:

It's always interesting to see different opinions on ranking the division coaches;

I would have KOC #1, followed by MLF, Johnson, and Campbell clearly last.

The love affair with Dan Campbell amazes me. The guy cost his team a SB by being recklessly aggressive in the NFCG in San Fran, lost his coordinators this year and looks lost on the sidelines. I just don't get the love affair with that guy.

MLF and Johnson at this point to me are similar the difference is Johnson has only done it for one year and everyone would agree the Bears were exceptionally fortunate in close games this season which will not likely reoccur next year 

 

 

Campbell resurrected the Lions. At the time they traded Stafford, Goff was a salary dump to make it doable. They got him playing very efficient football again. Maybe his coordinators played a big part in it, but that's a staff he assembled. He built that bully culture and changed the identity of that team completely for about three years. Now they're a bit old, washed and hurt, but I wouldn't be surprised to see them right back in it. I think whittling him down to recklessness is pretty dismissive of what he's done in Detroit. He definitely has a style and he is willing to gamble and fall on the sword. Much more impressive than what LaFleur has done. 

[adambr2]

5 hours ago, Brewin said:

It's always interesting to see different opinions on ranking the division coaches;

I would have KOC #1, followed by MLF, Johnson, and Campbell clearly last.

The love affair with Dan Campbell amazes me. The guy cost his team a SB by being recklessly aggressive in the NFCG in San Fran, lost his coordinators this year and looks lost on the sidelines. I just don't get the love affair with that guy.

MLF and Johnson at this point to me are similar the difference is Johnson has only done it for one year and everyone would agree the Bears were exceptionally fortunate in close games this season which will not likely reoccur next year 

 

 

I don’t think Campbell looks lost on the sidelines, but losing Ben Johnson obviously hurt. 

The Lions were a perennial dumpster fire before Campbell took over. People don’t want to have this conversation, but most of his aggressive calls are in fact correct, and some of them not working out does not in fact mean they were wrong.

There is this new trend going around where every coach who goes for a 4th down and fails in field goal range gets absolutely shredded by fans on social media who all assume they can just add 3 to the final score of their team and that “would have been” the result of the game but they always conveniently ignore the points that they get when they go for it and succeed.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

14 hours ago, LouisEly said:

The 2024 playoffs, when they were the #1 and #5 seeds and both got trounced in the divisional round, suggests it's a lot closer than many think.

If we are excusing the Packers this year for injuries, the Lions were a mess by that playoff game last year. They were running out a preseason lineup on defense.

[LouisEly]

5 hours ago, OldSchoolSnapper said:

If we are excusing the Packers this year for injuries, the Lions were a mess by that playoff game last year. They were running out a preseason lineup on defense.

I was told that every team has injuries.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

I can't fathom Mike McCarthy even slightly wanting his first year in a new job to be tied to 50-year-old Aaron Rodgers. 

I like McCarthy. I like Rodgers. I think it makes no sense for them to come together in Pittsburgh at this point. I am presuming the thing Pitt likes in McCarthy is his experience at the QB position and the absolute dumpster fire they have going on there. I don't see how Rodgers fits their plans at all. If anything he will prevent them from getting the top 10 pick they badly need.

[OldHeidelberg]

On 1/20/2026 at 2:38 PM, OldSchoolSnapper said:

I can't fathom Mike McCarthy even slightly wanting his first year in a new job to be tied to 50-year-old Aaron Rodgers. 

I like McCarthy. I like Rodgers. I think it makes no sense for them to come together in Pittsburgh at this point. I am presuming the thing Pitt likes in McCarthy is his experience at the QB position and the absolute dumpster fire they have going on there. I don't see how Rodgers fits their plans at all. If anything he will prevent them from getting the top 10 pick they badly need.

There is no way that would happen, Rodgers did all he could to push MM out the door. I think Rodgers retires and maybe comes back if there is an injury to a QB from a contender next season. If he wants to play maybe the Vikings see things a little differently now. He is pretty done, can still sling it and manage a game but just isn't mobile enough to be what he was. 

[OldSchoolSnapper]

3 hours ago, OldHeidelberg said:

There is no way that would happen, Rodgers did all he could to push MM out the door. I think Rodgers retires and maybe comes back if there is an injury to a QB from a contender next season. If he wants to play maybe the Vikings see things a little differently now. He is pretty done, can still sling it and manage a game but just isn't mobile enough to be what he was. 

I don't really believe that. I think Gutekunst wanted LaFleur to usher in the new era and thought it was right around the corner, not 3 years away.  I don't think Rodgers did a lot to get him fired. He didn't try to save his job, but he made a crack last off-season that he would consider anywhere Mike McCarthy ends up. The two seem to have a very good relationship. 

Now you're right about it not happening, but I think the idea Rodgers tried getting him fired has been mostly debunked. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Likely the hardest hitting news of the entire 2025/2026 NFL news cycle:

 

[RedStickBrew]

7 minutes ago, Joseph Zarr said:

Likely the hardest hitting news of the entire 2025/2026 NFL news cycle:

 

[SeaBass]

2 hours ago, Joseph Zarr said:

Likely the hardest hitting news of the entire 2025/2026 NFL news cycle:

 

Sam Elliott approves.

[yourout]

Choosing between New England and Denver is like picking between an Asteroid impact and a zombie apocalypse.

[CheezWizHed]

On 1/23/2026 at 9:02 AM, Joseph Zarr said:

Likely the hardest hitting news of the entire 2025/2026 NFL news cycle:

"

 

"Come to where the flavor is..."

Seattle? 

[Fear The Chorizo]

On 1/19/2026 at 10:06 PM, adambr2 said:

I don’t think Campbell looks lost on the sidelines, but losing Ben Johnson obviously hurt. 

The Lions were a perennial dumpster fire before Campbell took over. People don’t want to have this conversation, but most of his aggressive calls are in fact correct, and some of them not working out does not in fact mean they were wrong.

There is this new trend going around where every coach who goes for a 4th down and fails in field goal range gets absolutely shredded by fans on social media who all assume they can just add 3 to the final score of their team and that “would have been” the result of the game but they always conveniently ignore the points that they get when they go for it and succeed.

As for the trend about shredding coaches who go for it vs taking the points....I think it has gone too far the other direction, and more often than not taking points in those situations makes sense.  I will say, I think it makes more sense to "go for it" on 4th down if you're in the red zone than kick a FG if it's a goal to go or very manageable 4th and 5-8 yards or less in those situations, because failing to convert at least pins the opponent deep in their own end taking over on downs.  With the improvement in kickers making longer FG's, I actually dont like going for it in most 4th and short or medium situations outside the red zone compared to kicking the FG - the school of thought had been, long fg is a coinflip anyway and punting only nets you 10-20 yards of field position, go for it....i think that calculus has changed a bit.  even a conversion on 4th down from the 30 likely means you need at least 1-2 more first down conversions to score a touchdown.  Taking 3 points 85 percent of the time the first opportunity you get seems like a better percentage play to finishing the game scoring more points in those spots

 

The crazy 4th and go for it scenarios from midfield or even on your own side of the field that Ben Johnson or other coaches are doing now is just reckless when it isnt a do or die end of game drive.

[nate82]

2 hours ago, Fear The Chorizo said:

The crazy 4th and go for it scenarios from midfield or even on your own side of the field that Ben Johnson or other coaches are doing now is just reckless when it isnt a do or die end of game drive.

This is all dependent on the team overall and the opponent.  If your defense can’t stop the other team’s offense then punting on a manageable 4th down is just as reckless.  It can be even more reckless if your defense was just on a long drive and you only managed to get one first down and now you’re at 4th and 4 at your 40-yard line.  Punting doesn’t really help you there.  If your defense is tired does it matter if it is 40-yards for the other team to score or if it is 70 or 60 yards to score?

This is all situational.  I prefer a more aggressive coaching style over playing it safe.  

[Fear The Chorizo]

Just now, nate82 said:

This is all dependent on the team overall and the opponent.  If your defense can’t stop the other team’s offense then punting on a manageable 4th down is just as reckless.  It can be even more reckless if your defense was just on a long drive and you only managed to get one first down and now you’re at 4th and 4 at your 40-yard line.  Punting doesn’t really help you there.  If your defense is tired does it matter if it is 40-yards for the other team to score or if it is 70 or 60 yards to score?

This is all situational.  I prefer a more aggressive coaching style over playing it safe.  

Making a team cover more yards to score a touchdown is almost always the best decision, especially if you're debating whether to give the team the ball at midfield or inside their 20 to start a drive.  Especially if you have a bad defense.  

Id argue that being overly aggressive costs your team points in the long run when its not a goal to go situation - unless you truly are in "gotta have it" game scenario mid to late 4th quarter.  

 

Sure, there should be some situations within the game and with how it's being played out to go for it at weird times....but I think even that should come after a more predictable playcalled set of downs.  I know youre a Bears fan, so you've seen Johnson trying to get gadgety on key 3rd or 4th and shorts when a simple dive up the gut is going to gain a yard against a run defense on its heels.  MLF is insanely predictable with getting 8 yards on 1st down, then calling an aggressive 2ns down play, then an unimaginative 3rd down run from the shotgun into a brick wall, followed by a frustrated timeout and 4th down play that ends up being a throw 30 yards downfield.  Its like all the probabilities and scenarios make these playcalling "wizards" try to outsmart themselves

 

[HarryDoyle]

 

[yourout]

Both these defenses are light years better than the Packers

[Fear The Chorizo]

14 minutes ago, yourout said:

Both these defenses are light years better than the Packers

Helps that both QBs are light years worse than the Packers, too

 

They are super aggressive because neither team thinks the quarterback can make the right decisions consistently....so far thats absolutely correct.  Huge passing plays left on the field