NFL GMs & CFB ADs Christmas 2025 Wish List: A New Head Coach

There are 12 college football programs currently in the midst of a coaching change. Two NFL teams have already fired their current head coaches and it’s likely we see a few more before Black Monday hits right after the regular season ends. 

General managers in the NFL and athletic directors in the FBS have extremely important jobs in that they are responsible for finding the right person to lead their football program to success. It’s easier said than done. For every Kirby Smart or Dan Lanning, there are Sam Pittmans and Brent Prys.

This Christmas, the New York Giants and Tennessee Titans just want one thing – a new head coach that can right the ship and make them a perennial playoff contender. Auburn, Florida, LSU, Arkansas, Oklahoma State, Virginia Tech, Penn State, and UCLA of the FBS would love the same thing. 

Let’s take a look at the favorites to take on these new jobs.

New York Giants

Well, this is Bill Belichick’s job, isn’t it? Apparently, sportsbooks don’t think so. Belichick has, of course, been diplomatic when asked about returning to the NFL. He’s not even finished his first season at North Carolina, but he has been diplomatic and said that he is staying put.

With that said, the early betting favorite to grab the Giants job is former Green Bay and Dallas head coach Mike McCarthy (+700). McCarthy was most recently in Dallas where he produced three 12-5 seasons and three playoff berths. 

Unfortunately, the Cowboys could never advance to an NFC championship, something they have not done since winning a Super Bowl in 1995. After a 7-10 2024 season, McCarthy was let go. He’d be a great candidate in New York. He’s won a Super Bowl and he’s a proven winner with an overall NFL head coaching record of 174-112-2. 

Other top candidates included Seattle offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, son of former NFL head coach Gary Kubiak. Steve Spagnuolo and Kliff Kingsbury have come up as possible candidates.

Next Giants Head Coach Odds

• Mike McCarthy +700
• Klint Kubiak +800
• Steve Spagnuolo +900
• Lou Anarimo +950
• Kliff Kingsbury +1000

Available to bet at BetOnline Sportsbook

Tennessee Titans

The Titans just couldn’t take it anymore. It’s quite possible they are rethinking the firing of Mike Vrabel who led the Titans to two AFC South titles and three AFC playoff berths in six seasons. Vrabel went 54-45 with Tennessee and now has New England at 9-2, the best record in the NFL.

Tennessee then hired Brian Callahan before the 2024 season. Callahan went 3-14 and then started this season 1-5. The offense has been atrocious and the Titans are now in disarray. So, who will it be to lead the Titans back to relevance?

The favorite right now is Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy (+400). Nagy, of course, has had loads of success as Kansas City’s offensive coordinator under head coach Andy Reid. The Titans are probably looking for someone who can help rookie QB Cam Ward live up to his potential. 

That’s why Steelers OC Arthur Smith, Kingsbury, and Bills OC Joe Brady are among the candidates to become the team’s new head coach.

Next Titans Head Coach Odds

• Matt Nagy +400
• Arthur Smith +500
• Kliff Kingsbury +600
• Mike McCarthy +800
• Joe Brady +800

Available to bet at SportsbBetting.ag

Auburn Tigers

Now, we move to college football and Auburn, one of four SEC schools that is looking for a new head coach. It’s likely there will be a few more openings in the conference once the coaching carousel starts to spin.

After going just 15-19 overall and 6-16 in SEC play, the Tigers finally pulled the plug on Hugh Freeze who had been hired after the 2022 season had ended. Freeze went 6-7 and ended up in the Music City Bowl in Year 1. It was the only bowl trip of Freeze’s tenure. 

The Tigers really haven’t done much since the tenure of Gus Malzahn. Since Malzahn, who went 68-36 at Auburn and never had a losing season, Auburn has been the poster child for SEC mediocrity. The Tigers haven’t won more than 6 games in the past six seasons. 

The top of the betting board shows the favorite to become the Auburn head coach as current Tulane head coach Jon Sumrall. Tulane is currently 7-2 which gives Sumrall a 16-7 record with the Green Wave. Add in his 23-4 mark in two years at Troy and you have a guy who has won 78 percent of his games (39-11) in three-plus seasons as an FBS head coach.

Sumrall is a strong favorite for the job as shown by his -150 odds at top sportsbooks. Current interim head coach DJ Durkin is next on the board at +300.

Next Auburn Head Coach Odds

• Jon Sumrall -150
• DJ Durkin +300
• James Franklin +500
• Jeff Brohm +700
• Kenny Dillingham +900

Available to bet at BetOnline Sportsbook

Florida Gators 

It was a similar story for former Florida head coach Billy Napier. He had great success at Louisiana. In four years there, Napier went 40-12 overall and won two Sun Belt Conference championships.

He parlayed that into the job in Gainesville, but he was always fighting an uphill battle. In Napier’s first season, the Gators went 6-7 and played in a bowl game. In the 2024 season, Florida won its final four games of the season, recording some major upsets of Ole Miss and LSU to finish 8-5.

This season, though, it was more of the same. An offense that had trouble doing anything and loss after loss that eventually led Florida to fire Napier after a 3-4 start. Now, the Gators are right back where they were four years ago.

All the talk about the Florida job revolves around current Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin. He is a -300 favorite to be the next Gators head coach at top sportsbooks. The problem with that, of course, is that Kiffin’s Rebels are right in the thick of the College Football Playoff race. 

Missouri head coach Eli Drinkwitz and Franklin are also in the mix.

Next Florida Head Coach Odds

• Lane Kiffin -300
• Eli Drinkwitz +120
• James Franklin +600
• Jedd Fisch +600

Available to bet at BetOnline Sportsbook

LSU Tigers

Like the other SEC schools, LSU just had enough of Brian Kelly. The Tigers entered the 2025 season with high hopes. Most polls had LSU not only in its top 10, but also in its top 5. The season started well. The Tigers beat then-No. 4 Clemson and went on to win the first four games of the season.

A tough five-point loss at Ole Miss wasn’t a huge deal. The Tigers could rebound with an SEC schedule loaded with ranked opponents. Unfortunately, LSU’s problems on offense were greater than imagined. The Tigers would lose three straight to Vanderbilt, Texas A&M, and Alabama, all ranked opponents, before the brass said enough is enough.

Believe it or not, the betting board has former LSU and Alabama head coach Nick Saban as the favorite to take over in Baton Rouge. Kiffin, Joe Brady, Clark Lea, and Sumrall have also been mentioned as candidates.

Next LSU Head Coach Odds

• Nick Saban +200
• Lane Kiffin +375
• Joe Brady +400
• Clark Lea +500
• Jon Sumrall +700

Available to bet at SportsBetting.ag

Arkansas Razorbacks

Sam Pittman is a very good football coach. Unfortunately, the Razorbacks just couldn’t put it all together and win for him. This year’s offense is one of the best in the nation – top 25 in rushing, passing, and scoring (35.4 ppg) – but the defense is awful. 

That defense led to a 2-3 start and Pittman’s ultimate firing. It hasn’t gotten any better since. Arkansas is now 2-7 and 0-5 in SEC play. 

The leading contender for the job is an Arkansas native. Rhett Lashlee played for Gus Malzahn at Springdale High School. He coached with Malzahn for many years before becoming the head coach at SMU where he is currently 36-15. 

Lashlee is at the top of the board with Golesh, Franklin, Golesh, and Memphis head coach Ryan Silverfield all candidates.

Next Arkansas Head Coach Odds

• Rhett Lashlee +475
• Alex Golesh +550
• Eric Morris +700
• James Franklin +800
• Ryan Silverfield +1100

Available to bet at SportsBetting.ag

Virginia Tech Hokies 

Brent Pry was James Franklin’s defensive coordinator at Penn State. He left Happy Valley in 2022 for Blacksburg, Virg., but was shown the door after starting this season 0-3. Pry went 16-24 in three-plus seasons, which just isn’t good enough at this once proud program.

What’s interesting here is that Shane Beamer, son of legendary VT head coach Frank Beamer, is not among the candidates. The younger Beamer has said he likes where he is at currently (South Carolina). 

What is also interesting is that the next Hokies head coach may also come from Happy Valley. Franklin is the leading contender here. It has been reported that Virginia Tech has offered the job to Franklin, but he is waiting to see what other jobs open up. That may clear the way for Bob Chesney who is currently 8-1 at James Madison.

Next Virginia Tech Head Coach Odds

• James Franklin -250
• Bob Chesney +700
• Alex Golesh +900

Available to bet at BetOnline Sportsbook

 

Penn State Nittany Lions

Speaking of Bob Chesney, the former Holy Cross and now JMU head coach is also a candidate at Penn State, though more of a longshot right now. The consensus favorite to replace Franklin in Happy Valley is current Ohio State offensive coordinator Brian Hartline. 

The only issue with Hartline is that he’s never been a head coach at any level and he’s only coached for one team – Ohio State. That’s why the Nittany Lions may pursue someone like Chesney or even Drinkwitz from Missouri. 

Next Penn State Head Coach Odds

• Brian Hartline -250
• Eli Drinkwitz +275
• Joe Brady +300
• Jeff Brohm +1000
• Manny Diaz +1200

Available to bet at BetOnline Sportsbook

UCLA Bruins

Deshaun Foster was let go after his 0-3 start at UCLA this season. Last year in Foster’s first season as head coach at UCLA, the Bruins started 0-5 before finishing the season 5-7. Foster was equipped to be the Bruins head coach in the first place. UCLA will likely not make the mistake of hiring a former player and coach with no experience as their next head coach.

That’s why names like Jedd Fisch keep popping up in the search for the next leader of the Bruins program. Tommy Rees, a former Notre Dame quarterback, is also catching some notice. He’s the offensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns right now.

One interesting name has surfaced in the UCLA head coaching search – Pat Fitzgerald. Remember, Fitzgerald sued Northwestern – and won – for his firing back in 2022. He’s been volunteering at a high school in suburban Chicago the past few seasons. You can bet his name will get tossed around in this hiring cycle.

Next UCLA Head Coach Odds

• Jedd Fisch +200
• Tommy Rees +275
• Tony White +400
• Pat Fitzgerald +750

Available to bet at BetOnline Sportsbook

Oklahoma State Cowboys

He was the second-longest tenured head coach in college football. Three weeks into the 2025 season, he was no longer the second-longest tenured head coach. Mike Gundy was fired after his Oklahoma State Cowboys lost to Tulsa 19-12 to start the season 1-2.

At some point this year or in early 2026, Oklahoma State will have a different head football coach for the first time since 2005. The betting favorite to land the Cowboys job is a name that should have been on the radar much earlier – Eric Morris.

Morris is the current head coach at North Texas. He’s in his third year at North Texas and the Mean Green are 8-1 heading into Week 12 of the 2025 season. Morris’ teams have been known for their explosive offenses. North Texas is currently second in the nation in scoring, averaging 44.4 points per game. 

Former Oklahoma State QB Zac Robinson, current Army head coach Jeff Monken, and former Kansas State QB and current Texas A&M offensive coordinator Collin Klein are also among the leading candidates.

Next Oklahoma State Head Coach Odds

• Eric Morris +200
• Zac Robinson +250
• Jeff Monken +400
• Jim Knowles +500
• Collin Klein +800

Available to bet at SportsbBetting.ag