Bears, Patriots, Jaguars clinch playoff berths in stunning first-year coaching turnarounds

Chicago, New England and Jacksonville were all fighting for draft positioning at this time a year ago, with the three teams finishing off seasons that left them at the bottom of the NFL standings.

The disappointing 2024 season led to coaching changes that have paid immediate dividends, with the Bears, Patriots and Jaguars all clinching playoff berths this week in the first year of the new regimes.

This page requires Javascript.

Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.

kAm%96 H@C< 5@?6 3J k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^feb23c5c`ac2663_73a3f2gg4c22b533Qmq6? y@9?D@? :? r9:428@k^2m[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^A2EC:@ED\C2G6?D\D4@C6\4g274b3ace`b2a4agb32eacg5542d3_4Qm|:<6 'C236= :? }6H t?8=2?5k^2m 2?5 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^=2HC6?46\;28F2CD\E@>=:?\C@586CD\d76baf5h47hafaf5g52b34de7g3676eaQm{:2> r@6? :? y24<D@?G:==6k^2m :D :>AC6DD:G6 3FE 72C 7C@> F?AC64656?E65] %9:D >2C<65 E96 a_E9 DEC2:89E D62D@? E92E 2E =62DE @?6 E62> >256 E96 A=2J@77D H:E9 2 4@249 :? 9:D 7:CDE J62C @? E96 ;@3[ 244@C5:?8 E@ $A@CEC252C]k^Am

kAmx? E92E DA2?[ E96C6 92D 366? 2? 2G6C286 @7 ;FDE @G6C EH@ 7:CDE\J62C 4@2496D H9@ 92G6 =65 E96:C E62>D E@ E96 A@DED62D@? 6249 J62C[ H:E9 E96 E9C66 E9:D D62D@? E:65 7@C E96 D64@?5 >@DE]k^Am

kAm%96C6 H6C6 2? }u{\C64@C5 7:G6 7:CDE\J62C 4@2496D H9@ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^;24<D@?G:==6\;28F2CD\?6H\J@C<\8:2?ED\DFA6C\3@H=\DA@CED\?7=\7@@E32==\5_a```65_2ce4ce34ad_2g37dcgc`7e6Qm>256 E96 A=2J@77D :? a_aak^2m H96? |:??6D@E2鈥橠 z6G:? ~鈥檙@??6==[ |:2>:鈥橠 |:<6 |4s2?:6=[ E96 }6H *@C< v:2?ED鈥� qC:2? s23@==[ %2>A2 q2J鈥橠 %@55 q@H=6D 2?5 y24<D@?G:==6鈥橠 s@F8 !656CD@? 2== 5:5 :E]k^Am

kAmy@9?D@?[ 'C236= 2?5 r@6? H:== ECJ E@ ;@:? D@>6 >@C6 6=:E6 4@>A2?Ji t:89E 4@2496D 92G6 >256 :E E@ E96 $FA6C q@H= :? E96:C 7:CDE 7F== D62D@? H:E9 2 E62>] u@FC @7 E9@D6 4@2496D H@? :E 2==[ H:E9 s6?G6C E96 =2DE E@ 5@ :E :? E96 a_`d D62D@? F?56C v2CJ zF3:2<] %96 @E96CD H6C6 y@? vCF56? :? a__a H:E9 %2>A2 q2J[ v6@C86 $6:76CE :? `hgh H:E9 $2? uC2?4:D4@ 2?5 s@? |4r2776CEJ :? `hf_ H:E9 E96 q2=E:>@C6 r@=ED]k^Am

kAmvCF56? 2?5 zF3:2< 925 4@24965 @E96C E62>D[ >62?:?8 y@9?D@? 2?5 r@6? H:== ECJ E@ ;@:? |4r2776CEJ 2?5 $6:76CE 2D E96 @?=J 4@2496D E@ H:? 2 $FA6C q@H= :? E96:C 7:CDE J62C 2D 2? }u{ 9625 4@249]k^Am

kAm(9:=6 r9:428@[ }6H t?8=2?5 2?5 y24<D@?G:==6 2C6 92G:?8 ?@E6H@CE9J EFC?2C@F?5D[ E96 EH@ }@] ` D665D 7C@> 2 J62C 28@ 92G6 72==6? 7=2E 2?5 3@E9 4@F=5 >:DD E96 A=2J@77D]k^Am

kAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^<2?D2D\4:EJ\49:67D\2?2=JD:D\`feb27d3647f4da22`54`g_f_46ffc65Qmz2?D2D r:EJk^2m 2=C625J 92D 366? 6=:>:?2E65 2?5 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^=:@?D\2?2=JD:D\`663fg75h622h467c34g7bbc7`36ac54Qms6EC@:E ?665D E@ H:? EH@ 82>6Dk^2m 2?5 9@A6 vC66? q2J =@D6D EH:46 E@ 86E :?]k^Am

kAm%96 {:@?D 2?5 r9:67D 3@E9 H@? `d 82>6D =2DE D62D@?] ~?=J EH@ @7 E96 AC6G:@FD D6G6? E62>D E@ H:? 2E =62DE E92E >2?J 82>6D >:DD65 E96 A=2J@77D E96 7@==@H:?8 D62D@?[ H:E9 r2C@=:?2 5@:?8 :E :? a_`e 27E6C 8@:?8 `d\` 2?5 }6H t?8=2?5 :? a__g 7@==@H:?8 2 `e\_ C68F=2C D62D@? H96? %@> qC25J :?;FC65 9:D <?66 :? E96 @A6?6C]k^Am

k9bm}6H @G6CE:>6 CF=6Dk^9bm

kAm%96 }u{鈥橠 ?6H @G6CE:>6 CF=6D AC@G:565 2 7:CDE E9:D A2DE H66<[ H:E9 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^C2>D\D6292H<D\D4@C6\6efbd7f4g2fg_e7eec7_c`62fch7fgc3Qm$62EE=6 364@>:?8 E96 7:CDE E62>k^2m E@ H:? 2? @G6CE:>6 82>6 H:E9 2 H2=<\@77 a\A@:?E 4@?G6CD:@?]k^Am

kAm%9:D :D E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^?7=\@G6CE:>6\CF=6D\__a`g33g`geade_7egd3_b42_33f5g6gQm7:CDE C68F=2C D62D@?k^2m H96C6 2 E62> D4@C:?8 2 E@F495@H? @? E96 @A6?:?8 A@DD6DD:@? @7 ~% 5@6D?鈥橢 6?5 E96 82>6[ 2D E96 }u{ 6IA2?565 2 CF=6 7:CDE AFE :? A=246 :? a_aa 7@C E96 A=2J@77D E92E 8F2C2?E665 3@E9 E62>D E96 @AA@CEF?:EJ 7@C 2E =62DE @?6 A@DD6DD:@?]k^Am

kAm%92E 492?86 AC@G65 :>A@CE2?E 7@C E96 $6292H<D[ H9@ C6DA@?565 E@ E96 E@F495@H? 5C:G6 3J E96 {@D p?86=6D #2>D E@ @A6? @G6CE:>6 H:E9 @?6 @7 E96:C @H?] %92E AC@>AE65 4@249 |:<6 |245@?2=5 E@ 8@ 7@C a 2?5 E96 H:? C2E96C E92? 6IE6?5 E96 82>6 2D DF556? 562E9[ 2?5 $62EE=6 4@?G6CE65 7@C E96 bg\bf H:?]k^Am

kAmxE H2D E96 E9:C5 E:>6 E9:D D62D@? E92E 2 E62> H6?E 7@C a 2?5 E96 H:? 27E6C 3@E9 E62>D D4@C65 E@F495@H?D :? @G6CE:>6[ H:E9 E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^;28F2CD\C2:56CD\D4@C6\c4eh`5`ede54age`c`4a7_5a4ghf4b65Qm#2:56CD 72:=:?8 :? (66< hk^2m 282:?DE y24<D@?G:==6 2?5 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^3C@?4@D\4@>>2?56CD\D4@C6\75`46`a_hg_cchba2h2df2`b5`7ehh4gQm(2D9:?8E@? >:DD:?8 :? (66< `bk^2m 282:?DE s6?G6C]k^Am

kAm%96C6 92G6 366? `c ~% 82>6D :? 2== E9:D D62D@?[ H:E9 @?=J @?6 =2DE:?8 =@?86C E92? EH@ 5C:G6D] s2==2D 2?5 E96 }6H *@C< v:2?ED 4@>3:?65 7@C 7:G6 A@DD6DD:@?D :? (66< a 367@C6 E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^4@H3@JD\8:2?ED\D4@C6\54fd47432ba_b5b32`ddee347e2ae`2`Qmr@H3@JD H@? c_\bfk^2m @? 2 7:6=5 8@2=]k^Am

kAmu@FC H6C6 564:565 H96? E96 E62> E92E DE2CE65 H:E9 E96 32== D4@C65 7:CDE 2?5 E96 D64@?5 E62> 4@F=5?鈥橢 >2E49[ 2?5 7@FC @E96CD H96C6 E96 E62> E92E 8@E E96 32== 7:CDE 72:=65 E@ D4@C6 2?5 E96? 2==@H65 2 82>6\H:??:?8 D4@C6 @? E96 ?6IE 5C:G6]k^Am

kAm%96C6 H2D 2=D@ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^A24<6CD\4@H3@JD\D4@C6\>:429\A2CD@?D\fe3b55cgc`dd7hd4ffe`4ff3a_d5```7Qm@?6 E:6 :? (66< ck^2m H96? s2==2D >256 2 7:6=5 8@2= @? E96 @A6?:?8 A@DD6DD:@? 2?5 vC66? q2J FD65 E96 C6DE @7 E96 `_\>:?FE6 A6C:@5 @? 2 5C:G6 E92E 6?565 H:E9 2 82>6\EJ:?8 7:6=5 8@2=]k^Am

k9bm%2?< 3@H=k^9bm

kAm%96 鈥淒9@H5@H?鈥� 36EH66? E96 }u{鈥橠 @?=J EH@\H:? E62>D H96? {2D '682D 9@DED E96 }6H *@C< v:2?ED @? $F?52J H:== 36 2 C2C:EJ 鈥� 2?5 2? :>A@CE2?E 82>6 H96? :E 4@>6D E@ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^C2:56CD\2?2=JD:D\8:2?ED\E6I2?D\42CC@==\b2a`77e3b25`3fa4e`3f_54ee4fh4gefQm5C27E @C56Ck^2m]k^Am

kAm%9:D H:== 36 ;FDE E96 7@FCE9 E:>6 D:?46 E96 `hf_ }u{\pu{ >6C86C[ 244@C5:?8 E@ $A@CEC252C[ E92E E96 EH@ E62>D H:E9 D@=6 A@DD6DD:@? @7 E96 H@CDE EH@ C64@C5D :? E96 =628F6 >66E :? 2 82>6 :? E96 7:?2= EH@ H66<D]k^Am

kAm%96 =@D6C @7 E96 82>6 $F?52J :? {2D '682D H:== 鈥淗:?鈥� E96 C:89E E@ A:4< 7:CDE H:E9 2?@E96C =@DD :? (66< `g[ H:E9 2 A@E6?E:2= AC:K6 @7 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^96:D>2?\EC@A9J\H:??6C\ecd7dcc3dcdd66fc64`ef72eba22fda5Qmw6:D>2? %C@A9J\H:??:?8 BF2CE6C324< u6C?2?5@ |6?5@K2k^2m @C E96 492?46 E@ EC256 5@H? 7@C 2 92F= @7 A:4<D]k^Am

kAm%96 AC6G:@FD E9C66 =2E6\D62D@? D9@H5@H?D 7@C E96 E@A A:4< 5:5?鈥橢 AC@G:56 2 8C62E AC:K6 E@ E96 E62> E92E 6?565 FA }@] `]k^Am

kAmx? `hg`[ }6H t?8=2?5 =@DE E96 D62D@? 7:?2=6 E@ q2=E:>@C6 2?5 6?565 FA H:E9 5676?D:G6 =:?6>2? z6??6E9 $:>D[ H9@ 925 `f D24<D :? 6:89E D62D@?D 2?5 ?6G6C >256 2 !C@ q@H=]k^Am

kAmx? `hg_[ E96 H:?=6DD $2:?ED 362E E96 E9C66\H:? y6ED :? (66< `d 27E6C 2=C625J 4=:?49:?8 E96 E@A A:4< :? E96 5C27E] }6H ~C=62?D A:4<65 CF??:?8 324< v6@C86 #@86CD[ H9@ 925 2 D@=:5 42C66C[ 3FE H2D?鈥橢 ?62C=J 2D 8@@5 2D E96 E9C66 w2== @7 u2>6 5676?56CD H9@ H6?E :? E96 E@A 6:89E @7 E92E 5C27Ei {2HC6?46 %2J=@C[ z6??J t2D=6J 2?5 #@??:6 {@EE]k^Am

kAm%96 7:CDE E:>6 :E 92AA6?65 42>6 :? `hf` H96? qF772=@ =@DE E@ w@FDE@? :? (66< `d E@ 4=:?49 E96 E@A A:4<] %96 q:==D E@@< 5676?D:G6 =:?6>2? (2=E !2EF=D<:[ H9@ =2DE65 ;FDE 7:G6 D62D@?D]k^Am

k9bm%C:A=6\E9C62E %2JD@>k^9bm

kAm}6H ~C=62?D鈥� ;24<\@7\2==\EC256D %2JD@> w:== C624965 2? 6I4=FD:G6 >2C< H96? 96 42F89E 2 f\J2C5 A2DD 7C@> %J=6C $9@F89 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^;6ED\D2:?ED\D4@C6\e`5hc6a`3`354c_f3afbf2deaa26cad6Qm:? E96 7@FCE9 BF2CE6C @? $F?52Jk^2m 282:?DE E96 y6ED E@ 8:G6 9:> `[__a J2C5D C646:G:?8 :? 9:D 42C66C]k^Am

kAmw:== 2=C625J 925 E@AA65 E96 `[___\J2C5 >2C< 2D 3@E9 2 A2DD6C 2?5 CF??6C 2?5 3642>6 E96 7:CDE A=2J6C :? E96 $FA6C q@H= 6C2 H:E9 `[___ J2C5D :? 6249] w:== 42AA65 9:D 52J 3J E9C@H:?8 2 bg\J2C5 E@F495@H? A2DD E@ r9C:D ~=2G6 2?5 ?@H 92D a[dd` J2C5D CFD9:?8 2?5 a[cae J2C5D A2DD:?8 E@ 8@ H:E9 9:D C646:G:?8 >2C<]k^Am

kAm%9C66 A=2J6CD C624965 E96 EC:A=6\`[___ 4=F3 :? E96 AC6\$FA6C q@H= 6C2[ H:E9 q@3 w@6C?D496>6J6C[ r92C=6J %C:AA: 2?5 v6@C86 %2=:276CC@ 2== 5@:?8 :E :? 42C66CD E92E 6?565 :? `hdd]k^Am

kAmqFE ?@ @?6 925 4@>6 A2CE:4F=2C=J 4=@D6 D:?46 E96 DE2CE @7 E96 $FA6C q@H= 6C2 :? `hee[ H:E9 ?@ @E96C A=2J6C C64@C5:?8 2E =62DE ee_ J2C5D :? 6249 42E68@CJ] %96 4=@D6DE 2?J AC6G:@FD A=2J6C 42>6 H2D z@C56== $E6H2CE[ H9@ 62D:=J DFCA2DD65 E96 A2DD:?8 2?5 CFD9:?8 >2C<D 3FE 7:?:D965 H:E9 edg J2C5D C646:G:?8]k^Am

kAm%6CC6==6 !CJ@C 925 2E =62DE `[d__ J2C5D A2DD:?8 2?5 C646:G:?8 3FE 7:?:D965 H:E9 @?=J ece 2D 2 CF??6C]k^Am