Several NFL teams are looking for a new head coach. However, the coaching search process is subject to strict rules.

The NFL regular season is over, and several teams are looking for a fresh start.

Some head coaches had to leave during the season, on Black Monday or shortly thereafter, and the search for the right successor is underway.

But the franchises can’t just talk to anyone they want. Instead, the selection process is subject to strict guidelines.

NFL: Which teams are looking for a new head coach?

The New York Jets (Robert Saleh), the Chicago Bears (Matt Eberflus) and the New Orleans Saints (Dennis Allen) already parted ways with their head coaches during the season and filled the roles with interim coaches on an interim basis.

After the final game day of the regular season, there were further dismissals as expected. The New England Patriots ended the experiment with Jerod Mayo after just one year, Doug Pederson was fired by the Jacksonville Jaguars. And the day after Black Monday, Antonio Pierce was also let go by the Las Vegas Raiders.

NFL: Which candidates are available?

The portfolio of possible candidates ranges from former, currently unemployed head coaches in the NFL to current coordinators who have caused a stir with their teams and want to take the next step on the career ladder.

One prominent name that is at the top of several teams’ lists is Mike Vrabel. The long-time head coach of the Tennessee Titans is currently available and built up an excellent reputation during his time in Nashville. Ron Rivera also falls into this category.

With regard to current coordinators, Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson is considered a hot prospect. He made the Lions one of the best offenses in the entire NFL and reinvented quarterback Jared Goff.

The same applies to Liam Coen, the offensive coordinator of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Under Coen, Baker Mayfield had his best season ever and led the Bucs to another division title with some outstanding performances.

If you are looking for a head coach with a more defensive focus, you could try Brian Flores. As the Minnesota Vikings’ defensive coordinator, he put together an extremely strong unit.

NFL: When are talks with potential head coaches allowed?

However, NFL teams are subject to various rules regarding when they can talk to which candidates.

This depends primarily on whether the persons are currently employed by another team and whether that team is in the playoffs.

Option 1: Candidate is currently available

Candidates such as Vrabel or Rivera, who are not currently under contract with an NFL team, can already be interviewed without restriction. Some teams, such as the Jets, have already conducted such interviews.

Option 2: Candidate is not in the playoffs

For candidates who are currently under contract with an NFL team that has not made the playoffs, virtual interviews are possible from the third day after the last game of the season.

Anthony Weaver, defensive coordinator of the Miami Dolphins, falls into this category. The Dolphins played their last game of the season on January 5. Interested teams may therefore interview Weaver from January 8.

From January 20, interviews are also allowed in person on site.

Option 3: Candidate is in the playoffs

The situation is different for coaching candidates who have made it into the playoffs with their current teams. There is also a distinction here depending on whether the teams have a bye week (Kansas City Chiefs and Detroit Lions) or are directly challenged in the Wild Card Round.

For employees of the Chiefs and Lions, virtual interviews will be available starting January 8, but must be completed by the end of the Wild Card Round, which is January 13. This primarily affects Johnson, but Matt Nagy – offensive coordinator for the Chiefs – has been repeatedly mentioned as a possible new head coach for a team.

For all other playoff teams that are directly involved in the Wild Card Round, a moratorium will initially apply. In concrete terms, this means that virtual interviews will only be possible three days after the first playoff game and initially only until the end of the Divisional Round. Coen and Flores, for example, fall into this category.

After the end of the Divisional Round, the employees of those teams that have been eliminated from the playoffs can be interviewed both virtually and in person without restrictions.

For teams that have made it to the AFC and NFC Championship Games, the following applies: If there has not yet been an interview with another team, the first interview is not allowed until after the current team’s season ends.

A separate rule also applies to those franchises that participate in the Super Bowl. Again, if there has not yet been an interview between an employee and another team, it is not allowed until after the final. If there has already been an interview, another one is possible during the bye week between the championship games and the Super Bowl – both virtually and in person.

NFL: What is the Rooney Rule?

Throughout the selection process, NFL teams are required to follow the so-called “Rooney Rule”. This states that when filling leadership positions – i.e. head coach, general manager or other executive roles – members of minority groups and women must also be interviewed.

The rule was introduced in 2003 and is named after Dan Rooney, former owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers and former chairman of the NFL’s diversity committee. The rule is intended to make the management teams of NFL teams more diverse and to reflect more diversity.

Specifically, the search for head coaches is subject to the following rule: at least two external candidates interviewed must either be women or people of color. Virtual interviews do not suffice.