The NFL playoff season is coinciding with the period when teams are searching for new head coaches, putting significant pressure on some of the league’s top assistants who are juggling responsibilities.
While 14 teams are focused on making their Super Bowl dreams come true, five franchises are dealing with the fallout from lackluster performances this past season, leading to changes in their coaching staff.
These teams—the New York Jets, Chicago Bears, New Orleans Saints, Jacksonville Jaguars, and New England Patriots—have already started seeking candidates, some of whom are currently part of the coaching rosters of playoff teams.
The NFL has established specific guidelines dictating when and how long these coaches can interact with other franchises while their current teams are still active in the playoff race.

So, when exactly can these interviews take place?
Teams can initiate interviews with candidates who are not under contract elsewhere as soon as they have an opening. The Jets, for example, are already conducting interviews for both head coach and general manager positions.
For those coaches already on another team, interview requests started this week, allowing for discussions to commence on Monday for coaches who are still under contract.
Coaches from teams that failed to make the playoffs can have virtual interviews three days following their final games, which means Tuesday for the Browns or Bengals and Wednesday for other non-playoff teams.
The rules differ for assistants from playoff teams. Coaches on the two teams with a bye can hold virtual interviews beginning Wednesday, provided it wraps up by the conclusion of the wild-card weekend, and these discussions are limited to three hours.
For those coaches involved in the wild-card weekend, they can start virtual interviews up to three hours in length starting Tuesday, with the exception of members from the Minnesota Vikings and Los Angeles Rams, who are set to play on Monday night and must wait until Wednesday.

What comes next in the process?
For those assistants who are still under contract with their teams, in-person interviews can commence on January 20, unless those teams are still competing for the conference championships.
If their team is still active in the playoffs, they will have to wait until January 27 to engage in discussions. Coaches from Super Bowl-bound teams have the opportunity to participate in interviews until February 2, but cannot engage in talks after that until February 10, the day following the Super Bowl.
Additionally, if they haven’t had a preliminary virtual interview in January, coaches from Super Bowl teams are also prohibited from interviewing in person with other franchises during the bye week.
It’s important to note that no coach can finalize or agree to any contract until they conclude their current season.

Now, addressing the Rooney Rule:
This rule mandates that teams must ensure diverse hiring practices, requiring that prior to hiring a new head coach, they conduct in-person interviews with at least two candidates from underrepresented groups, including minorities or women, who do not work for the organization.
This same requirement applies to coordinator positions, and there must be at least one diverse candidate interviewed for quarterback coach openings as well.

What’s different this offseason?
This year, the NFL has introduced a modification that restricts the length of interviews with coaches who are still involved in the playoffs to a total of three hours, covering all aspects of the interview process, including meals.

Lastly, how do these rules apply to general manager candidates?
For GM interviews, the process is somewhat different. Teams could begin requesting permission on Monday to speak to candidates from other organizations, provided those candidates are not the primary decision-makers at their current team.
As with head coaching positions, teams must interview at least two candidates from minority or female backgrounds to meet the Rooney Rule requirements.
Interestingly, a GM candidate from a playoff team may be offered a position and accept it before their season concludes if they obtain formal written consent from their current organization.