With the 2025 NFL season on the horizon, top-tier franchises such as the Kansas City Chiefs, Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills, Detroit Lions, and Philadelphia Eagles continue to dominate early Super Bowl projections. However, the excitement around the league isn’t limited to perennial powerhouses. Much of the intrigue lies in the significant turnover at key leadership positions across nearly half of the league.

According to preseason data, 13 of the NFL’s 32 teams will begin the 2025 campaign with either a new head coach, a new starting quarterback, or both. This marks a 40% turnover rate at two of the most critical positions within any franchise. As history has shown, a strong head coach-quarterback combination can determine whether a team contends or collapses.

Key Numbers:

• 13 teams entering 2025 with new coaching or quarterback leadership
• 40% of NFL teams undergoing major changes at these critical positions

Predictions and Analysis From Experts

On the latest episode of the College Baseball Podcast, Jacob Rudner and Peter Flaherty from Baseball America discussed their takeaways from the regional round and outlined their predictions for the super regional matchups. They also weighed in on which teams could emerge as dark horses heading into the College World Series.

Projected Coach-QB Duos for 2025 Season

1. Raiders: QB Geno Smith | HC Pete Carroll
A reunion of former Seahawks may be past its prime. Smith, now 34, has struggled with consistency, while Carroll, 73, returns to the sidelines after a year-long absence and six seasons without a playoff win.

2. Vikings: QB J.J. McCarthy | HC Kevin O’Connell
Despite McCarthy being a rookie, expectations are high. After a 14-win season led by Sam Darnold, the Vikings hope McCarthy can lead them through a difficult 2025 schedule.

3. Bears: QB Caleb Williams | HC Ben Johnson
The top overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft showed promise but lacked composure in a turbulent debut season. With Johnson steering the ship, Chicago aims to unlock Williams’ full potential.

4. Jaguars: QB Trevor Lawrence | HC Liam Coen
A quietly promising tandem. If Coen and Lawrence align properly, Jacksonville could surprise many critics and exceed expectations.

5. Patriots: QB Drake Maye | HC Mike Vrabel
Maye demonstrated resilience through New England’s coaching transition in 2024. With Vrabel now leading the team, Maye’s dual-threat skill set could flourish.

6. Seahawks: QB Sam Darnold | HC Mike Macdonald
In a lateral move, Seattle replaces Smith with Darnold. Both quarterbacks bring similar strengths—and weaknesses—to the table.

7. Jets: QB Justin Fields | HC Aaron Glenn
One of the league’s most drastic resets, the Jets move on from Aaron Rodgers with a new signal-caller and fresh head coach in Glenn.

8. Giants: QB Russell Wilson | HC Brian Daboll
Wilson’s partnership with Daboll might be underrated. The veteran QB could shine in a system that benefits from a strong play-action attack.

9. Titans: QB Cam Ward | HC Brian Callahan
Ward’s arm talent and improvisational ability offer Tennessee a high ceiling. Callahan’s offensive design will be crucial to the rookie’s development.

10. Browns: QB Joe Flacco | HC Kevin Stefanski
Veteran Flacco may begin the season, but the organization is also evaluating Kenny Pickett, who offers greater mobility and long-term upside.

11. Steelers: QB Mason Rudolph | HC Mike Tomlin
Tomlin’s coaching acumen remains one of the most underrated assets in the NFL. With Rudolph under center, Pittsburgh remains a playoff sleeper.

12. Saints: QB Tyler Shough | HC Kellen Moore
Despite injuries in college, Shough steps into a potentially favorable setup with weapons like Alvin Kamara, Chris Olave, and Brandin Cooks.

Outlook

With so many teams betting on new coach-QB combinations, the first few weeks of the season will be pivotal. Some duos will thrive and push for playoff contention, while others may signal a need for further rebuilding. As fans gear up for kickoff, all eyes will be on how these partnerships evolve and whether any can disrupt the usual balance of NFL power.