Part 5/7:
Given the nature of playoff eligibility, certain candidates have limited availability until their teams are eliminated from contention. This dynamic creates an urgency to finalize selections swiftly, especially for candidates like Ben Johnson, who, despite being actively pursued, may not be officially hired until after the Lions conclude their playoff journey.
Historically, hiring spikes occur shortly after the divisional playoff round, with some teams like the Jaguars already establishing a coaching search timeline that stretches into next week. As interviews conclude, a clearer hierarchy of potential hires should emerge, with the fate of some franchises hinging on these crucial decisions.