Happy 2025 to you and your family. I’d like to officially (but “humbly”) nominate myself for the coveted “MVP of Dragging the Christmas Tree All by Myself to the Curb Before New Year’s Day” award. It was truly a solo effort, and honestly, I’m just hoping the voters (my husband, Kevin) recognize the grind.

Speaking of voters, as one of the 50 AP voters, I am stressed about casting my ballot for league MVP this year. Josh Allen? Lamar Jackson? Joe Burrow? This feels impossible to figure out, but I’ll need to turn in my vote in a few days. (Feel free to give me advice in the comments section.)

Anyway, it’s official: See ya, 2024! It’s time for a fresh start and new beginnings, and January in the NFL is shaping up to be completely bonkers. Here’s what I’m hearing around the league, with plenty of Black Monday buzz:

• The New York Jets go big in their coaching search.

• The four embattled coaches everyone has their eye on …

• and the one team every coaching candidate is watching closely.

• What does Jerry Jones’ praise for Mike McCarthy mean? (“In this business, words are just words.”)

• A former Bears coach generates interest, while Chicago’s search for a “leader of men” takes them to the Miami Dolphins’ DC.

• When are each of the top head-coaching candidates eligible for interviews?

• That playoff prep time of year for coaches and staffs.

Trying to land the big fish

Credit to the Jets, who wasted no time bringing in one of the hottest names of this hiring cycle, Mike Vrabel. Despite the team being out on the practice field under the guidance of interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich on Friday, big moves were happening inside the building: Jets owners Woody and Christopher Johnson, along with their search-firm leads (former Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum and ex-Vikings GM Rick Spielman) and team president Hymie Elhai were meeting with Vrabel. I’d expect Vrabel to meet with more teams next week, including the Bears and Saints, but I was told both the Jets and Vrabel felt Friday’s meeting went “really, really well.”

Interesting backstory here: According to an excellent all-access piece by my colleague Zack Rosenblatt, Vrabel’s departure from Tennessee might have been fueled by tension over the GM role after Jon Robinson was fired in 2022. Vrabel told Zack that he preferred Ryan Cowden, the Titans’ player personnel exec who’d been interim GM after Robinson was fired (and who nearly landed the GM job with the Steelers in 2022 before it went to Omar Khan). Instead, Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk went outside the organization to get Ran Carthon from the 49ers.

Now, with Cowden working in the Giants’ front office, there’s a real chance we could see a reunion if Vrabel ends up landing a new gig. Even if Cowden doesn’t go with Vrabel, he’s expected to get GM interviews.

As far as the Jets go, they’ll continue their search process for a head coach and general manager, with a familiar face, former Jets coach Rex Ryan, set to meet with the team next week.

All eyes on these four teams

The Raiders, Jaguars, Giants and Patriots are all heading into the weekend with some major decisions on the horizon. For the Raiders, the uncertainty is real — I’m told nobody on the coaching staff has been given any guarantees about their future. Most around the league believe head coach Antonio Pierce is on shaky ground, and if he’s let go I would expect that Tom Brady, as a minority owner, will have significant influence on who the next head coach will be. (Though that doesn’t mean his immediate favorite is Vrabel, despite the fact they are good friends and former teammates.) It’s expected GM Tom Telesco will remain with the Raiders in his current position.

While many around the league expected Doug Pederson’s time in Jacksonville to end midseason, the Jaguars chose to ride it out instead. While that might suggest ownership is open to giving Pederson more time, sources say Jacksonville has quietly started laying the groundwork for a coaching search. If the job officially opens up, I’d expect names like Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver to be connected to the Jags.

As for the Giants and Patriots, it’s all been very weird, to say the least. Inside those buildings, it seems like most people believe they’ll get more time — specifically the head coaches. But from the outside looking in, there’s a sense from those around the league that moves are coming for both franchises. The chatter continues to be that Joe Schoen will remain the Giants’ general manager while Brian Daboll will be let go. Owner John Mara is expected to make the final call very soon.

About New England …

Looking forward to Maye

The Patriots’ head-coaching job isn’t officially open, but it’s definitely on the radar for people around the league. I’d go as far as to say it’s the job a lot of coaching candidates are eyeing. Why? Drake Maye.

If you’re trying to predict where the top coaching candidates will land, look no further than the teams with quarterbacks who have the potential to win big. Those organizations are always the most appealing. I asked three general managers where they thought Maye would land if he were in this upcoming draft; all three said No. 1 overall.

That also got me thinking: If quarterbacks Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders, expected to be the first two passers taken in April, were part of last year’s draft class, where would they fall among the 2024 QBs? The answers …

An AFC GM: “They should definitely be behind Bo Nix, in my opinion. I could see people grouping (Michael Penix Jr.), Ward and Sanders together, but honestly, it’d probably just come down to picking your favorite flavor among the three. None of them really scream ‘franchise QB’ to me.”

An NFC GM had a different take: “Last year’s class is so talented. I’d say they’d both go after Bo Nix, maybe one of them before if a team didn’t know what Sean Payton knew.”

A second AFC GM: “Sanders after Maye would be my guess as it stands now. Truly hard to say until you meet them and get a feel for their intelligence, leadership, maturity, etc. Ward somewhere after Nix. Still very raw.”

In a league where success largely hinges on getting the quarterback right, the Patriots seem to have their guy, and it’s clear that many coaches would love the chance to work with him.

Matt Nagy and the New Orleans opening

Expect the Saints to show interest in former Bears head coach and current Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy. I also expect interim head coach Darren Rizzi to get a shot at the job full time but, if he doesn’t get it, I could see him still being part of the coaching staff in New Orleans, in some form.

The team could also look at McCarthy if he becomes available, which brings us to the Cowboys …

Cowboys conundrum

Jones has spent the past month singing the praises of McCarthy — and a lot of the compliments have been well-deserved. But as one NFL executive put it: “In this business, words are just words.”

McCarthy’s contract doesn’t expire until Jan. 14, which gives Jones a bit of breathing room to decide what he wants to do next. Per NFL rules, the Cowboys have about nine days during which they can deny other teams the chance to speak with McCarthy. Jones and McCarthy can use that window to hash out whether they can come to an agreement to keep him in Dallas.

But here’s the twist: Once Jan. 14 hits, McCarthy is free to interview elsewhere without Dallas’ permission. He might do that, and from what I’ve heard, the Cowboys are already doing their homework on potential head coaches, just in case.

Aponte on the GM radar

We told you back on Thanksgiving that Dawn Aponte, the league’s chief football administrative officer, was generating interest as a candidate for general manager jobs. A year ago, she interviewed with the Chargers for the position that eventually went to Joe Hortiz.

Now, a year later, she’s already been in contact with several teams. If Aponte is hired, she’d be the first woman to run an NFL team’s football operations.

Chicago search turns to Weaver

The Bears are gearing up for their head-coaching search, and a few big names are already on their radar: Vrabel, Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores, Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury and Weaver, the Dolphins’ DC. GM Ryan Poles has been doing serious homework on these candidates, particularly Weaver.

Sources from both the Ravens — where Weaver spent three seasons — and the Dolphins have nothing but praise for his leadership qualities. Currently, the Dolphins rank third in the NFL in total defense — the first time in 22 years they’ve been this high (they ranked third in 2002 as well). Players have a lot of respect for the 44-year-old Weaver, describing him as “high energy,” “emotionally intelligent” and someone who holds players accountable. While we might not have a one-size-fits-all definition of the “leader of men” the Bears say they are looking for, Weaver seems to fit the bill.

Weaver’s coaching career started as a defensive line coach with the Bills, Browns and Texans before he was promoted to Houston’s defensive coordinator in 2020, when Romeo Crennel was promoted to associate head coach. That season didn’t go as planned for Houston, leading to a coaching staff overhaul. But Weaver’s path didn’t stop there. He moved to Baltimore, where he became the defensive line coach and run game coordinator. In 2022, he dropped the run game coordinator title and was promoted to associate head coach. He interviewed for the Commanders’ head-coaching position last year and was considered a finalist. Many people around the league believe this is the year Weaver will land the big job.

There are rules, people!

If you think the NFL’s on-field rules are tough to figure out, the hiring process for head coaches isn’t much easier. But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Here’s a rundown of the top coaching candidates for this hiring cycle and when they’ll be eligible to start interviewing for open jobs.

The timing for interviews for Chiefs OC Matt Nagy is different than it will be for other candidates. (Jamie Squire / Getty Images)

A reminder of the league’s Rooney Rule: Teams must conduct an in-person interview with at least two external, diverse — minority and/or female — candidates for any GM or head-coaching vacancy.

Mike Vrabel: He can interview in person now — and he can be hired once teams complete Rooney Rule requirements. He interviewed with the Jets at their Florham Park facility on Friday.

Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn, Lions offensive and defensive coordinators: If the Lions get the NFC’s No. 1 seed, Johnson and Glenn can interview virtually any time between Wednesday and Jan. 13. If the Lions lose on Sunday night and are playing on wild-card weekend, they can interview virtually three days after Detroit’s first playoff game, up until Jan. 19. In-person interviews can’t start until the Lions’ season ends, and no earlier than Jan. 20.

Brian Flores, Vikings DC: If the Vikings get the NFC’s top seed, Flores can interview virtually any time between Wednesday and Jan. 13. If Minnesota loses on Sunday night and is playing on wild-card weekend, Flores can interview virtually three days after the Vikings’ first playoff game, up until Jan. 19. In-person interviews can’t start until the Vikings’ season ends, and no earlier than Jan. 20.

Liam Coen, Buccaneers OC: If the Bucs make the playoffs, Coen can interview virtually starting three days after their wild-card game and until Jan. 19. In-person interviews can’t start until the Bucs’ season ends, and after Jan. 19. If Tampa Bay misses the playoffs, Coen can start interviewing virtually on Wednesday, but can’t interview in person until Jan. 20.

Kliff Kingsbury, Commanders OC: He can interview virtually three days after Washington’s wild-card game and until Jan. 19. In-person interviews can’t start until the Commanders’ season ends, and no earlier than Jan. 20.

Matt Nagy, Chiefs OC: He can interview virtually from Wednesday until Jan. 13. In-person interviews can’t start until the Chiefs’ season ends, and after Jan. 19.

Anthony Weaver, Dolphins DC: If the Dolphins miss the playoffs, Weaver can interview virtually starting Wednesday, and in person starting on Jan. 20. If the Dolphins make the playoffs, Weaver can interview virtually starting three days after their wild-card game and until Jan. 19.

Joe Brady, Bills OC: He can interview virtually starting three days after Buffalo’s wild-card game and until Jan. 19. He can start in-person interviews after the Bills’ season is over, but no earlier than Jan. 20.

Jon Gruden and Ron Rivera: Like Vrabel, Gruden and Rivera can interview in person immediately and get hired once a team completes the Rooney Rule requirements.

Deion Sanders, Colorado HC: Sanders, like any college coach, can interview in person for NFL jobs immediately and get hired once a team completes its Rooney Rule requirements.

Brian Daboll, Antonio Pierce or any other potential fired HCs: They can interview in person for jobs promptly after being fired, and they can be hired once a team completes its Rooney Rule requirements.

Did that help?

Game management mistakes keep coming

It definitely feels like we jinxed the league in last week’s column with that mention of poor game management — it seemed like every Week 17 game had a glaring example of it. But it also really hammered home just how much young quarterbacks need their offensive coordinators and head coaches to help guide them through those high-pressure moments.

Then you hear someone like Bill Belichick talk about his dynamic with Tom Brady, and it’s clear that personal preferences play a huge role in how those late-game decisions are made. Belichick’s comments on “The Pat McAfee Show” were really interesting. He mentioned that he’d prefer to have less time on the clock but keep his timeouts, so he could manage the game better. Brady, on the other hand, preferred having more time, even if it meant burning a timeout. That’s just how Brady liked to operate — trusting his ability to move the ball quickly and get his team in position to win.

Across the league, though, coaches tend to agree that it’s always good to have at least one timeout in your back pocket (Payton, we are looking at you), whether it’s for stopping the clock on a field goal attempt, using the middle of the field on a throw or protecting against a 10-second runoff after a review or penalty. That timeout can be crucial in those chaotic last moments.

It really highlights how much nuance and collaboration go into these decisions. Every coach-quarterback duo is different, but the goal is always the same: putting the team in the best possible position to win. I think we can all expect this to be a major factor in this year’s playoffs.

Playoff prep season arrives

Apologies to all the families of folks in the NFL — we have arrived at the point in the season when coaches and staffers are burning the midnight oil, reviewing film and preparing for the playoff grind. It’s the “sleeping on the office sofa” time of year (or the office floor, in some cases). One coach said, in the postseason, “the building is on steroids” (figuratively).

For teams with a first-round bye, like Kansas City, things look a little different. They don’t need to immediately dive into opponent prep but can instead focus on refining their own game. The bye week is a perfect opportunity to go back to earlier games and assess potential playoff matchups — revisiting games against teams they might face again. For K.C., it’s already faced most of its potential divisional-round opponents this season (the Texans, Steelers, Chargers and Broncos), so it’s about digging into those games and analyzing what worked and what didn’t.

Teams with a bye use the week off to stay sharp in other ways. They’ll work on situational football, focusing on two-minute drills, third-down efficiency and red zone play. And don’t be shocked if they start cooking up some surprises — maybe a gadget play, a fake punt or an unconventional formation that could catch their playoff opponent off guard.

On the other side, teams with wild-card games are in a bit of a different spot. While the coaching staff is still focused on their own team, it’s the pro scouting department that takes the lead in preparing for potential playoff opponents. The advanced scouting team kicks things off by gathering intel and putting together comprehensive scouting reports. This is where the behind-the-scenes work starts to pay off: The quality control coaches get to work early, diving into game film and compiling all the data. By the time the coaching staff starts their week of prep, they’ll have everything they need — analysis, cut-ups and reports — so they can get straight into creating their game plans.

An interesting dynamic in the AFC this year is just how much crossover there is between teams. Many of them have already faced each other, which means there’s a lot of familiarity when it comes to matchups. But when you look at the NFC, a lot of those teams haven’t played each other, so there’s more unknown. That can make things a bit trickier when trying to prepare for those games.

So whether you’ve got a bye or are grinding away for that wild-card battle, the playoff prep is all about attention to detail and anticipating what’s to come. Here we go!

(Top photo: Courtney Culbreath / Getty Images)