Ten New Coaches, Unsettled Rosters Mark Start of NFL Camp Season

Ten New Coaches, Unsettled Rosters Mark Start of NFL Camp Season

NFL training camps opened Wednesday with six franchises already reporting, beginning a preseason cycle defined by one of the largest simultaneous coaching overhauls in recent memory. Ten teams enter the 2025 season under new head coaches, several quarterback competitions remain unresolved, and a handful of notable players have changed addresses since the end of last season.

The Carolina Panthers and Arizona Cardinals were among the first clubs to report Wednesday. The two franchises are scheduled to meet in the Hall of Fame Game on Aug. 6, which opens the preseason. The reigning Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots report Friday and are set to face each other in a rematch of that championship in the regular-season opener on Sept. 9. The Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers report Saturday; the NFC West rivals are scheduled to play the first NFL regular-season game on Australian soil on Sept. 10. The remaining 26 franchises are due in camp the following Tuesday. All rosters must be trimmed from a maximum of 90 players to 53 by 6 p.m. EDT on Aug. 30. pariuri baschet cehia

Of the ten new head coaches, four are established names taking on fresh challenges. John Harbaugh, who spent 18 seasons in Baltimore before being dismissed, moves to the New York Giants, where he will develop young quarterback Jaxson Dart. Kevin Stefanski, a two-time AP NFL Coach of the Year during his six seasons in Cleveland, takes over the Atlanta Falcons, inheriting an offense that includes All-Pro running back Bijan Robinson, wide receiver Drake London and tight end Kyle Pitts. Robert Saleh arrives in Tennessee, where the Titans have posted back-to-back 3-14 records; he will work alongside offensive coordinator Brian Daboll in developing quarterback Cam Ward. Mike McCarthy reunites with Aaron Rodgers in Pittsburgh, a pairing that previously produced a Super Bowl championship together in Green Bay.

The remaining six new coaches are first-time head men at the NFL level. Mike LaFleur takes charge of the Cardinals. Klint Kubiak, who was part of the Seahawks' Super Bowl-winning staff, moves to the Las Vegas Raiders. Jeff Hafley transitions from running Green Bay's defense to leading the Miami Dolphins. Joe Brady replaces Sean McDermott in Buffalo. Todd Monken takes over the Cleveland Browns from Stefanski, and Jesse Minter is Baltimore's new head coach.

Several quarterback situations remain open entering camp. In Atlanta, Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr. will compete for the starting role. In Las Vegas, Kirk Cousins is expected to open as starter, though the Raiders hold the first overall pick in the draft, which they used on Fernando Mendoza, and a timeline for his development remains to be established. In Minnesota, Kyler Murray - acquired from Arizona - must win the job over J.J. McCarthy, the Vikings' first-round selection in 2024. In Cleveland, Deshaun Watson returns after missing the 2025 season to compete with Shedeur Sanders. Arizona will start Gardner Minshew after Murray's departure.

Among other notable roster moves: Malik Willis, whose limited but solid appearances for the Packers generated significant market interest, signed a deal with the Dolphins reported at $67.5 million with $45 million fully guaranteed. Geno Smith returned to the Jets. Justin Fields joined Kansas City as Patrick Mahomes' backup. Kenny Pickett is Carolina's new second quarterback, and veteran Andy Dalton signed with Philadelphia as a backup to Jalen Hurts.

Two subplots carry particular weight heading into the regular season. Baker Mayfield is in the final year of his three-year contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and an extension is widely anticipated; reports have placed his expected new salary at approximately $55 million per season. In Los Angeles, the Rams have bolstered their defense with the acquisition of five-time All-Pro Myles Garrett from Cleveland and the addition of cornerbacks Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson. Whether three-time Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald, 35, who retired after the 2023 season, will return to join that unit remains an open question the club has not publicly resolved.

On the preseason schedule, the majority of teams have arranged joint practice sessions against other opponents as an alternative to using exhibition games to evaluate starters and key contributors. The Lions, Chiefs, Broncos and Steelers are the only four franchises not participating in any joint sessions. The regular season culminates with Super Bowl 61, scheduled for Feb. 14 in Los Angeles - the latest calendar date on which the game will have been played.