In the ever-evolving world of the NFL, few issues have garnered more debate in recent years than the timing of the NFL’s hiring cycle. Coaches, players, and analysts alike have voiced concerns about how the league’s hiring process often interferes with the most important time of the year — the playoffs. Todd Monken, the offensive coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens, is the latest to speak out, calling it “unfortunate” that coaches are required to interview for jobs during the postseason. For coaches who are in the midst of a playoff run, the distraction of preparing for these interviews can impact their performance, focus, and even the long-term success of their teams.
A Growing Concern in the NFL
Monken’s comments echo a growing sentiment within the NFL: the hiring cycle needs to be reformed to respect the time and energy coaches must devote to their current teams during the playoffs. The league’s current hiring cycle begins after the regular season concludes, and candidates are allowed to interview for vacant positions before their teams have played their final game — including during the playoff stretch. In theory, this system is designed to allow franchises to quickly find the right candidate for the job and get a head start on building their future. However, in practice, it has become clear that the timing is problematic, especially for coaches who are focused on leading their teams deep into the postseason.
As Monken aptly pointed out, the issue is twofold: the logistics of having coaches conduct interviews while trying to prepare their teams for high-stakes playoff games, and the potential psychological toll the process takes on both the coaches and their players. When a coach is in the middle of preparing game plans, addressing injuries, and managing a playoff-caliber roster, adding the burden of job interviews can be more than just a minor inconvenience — it’s a major distraction.
Playoffs vs. Job Interviews
The crux of the issue is that, for many coaches, the playoffs are the culmination of an entire season’s worth of hard work. The tension, pressure, and focus required to compete at the highest level make playoff games the most important — and most demanding — of the year. Every decision counts. Every hour of preparation matters. And yet, these critical moments often coincide with teams trying to fill key vacancies.
Todd Monken’s own experience with this issue is a prime example. As a highly respected offensive mind who has helped turn around multiple NFL teams’ offenses, Monken has been a hot commodity in the coaching carousel. With his current team, the Ravens, making a deep run into the postseason, the prospect of job interviews could have easily become a distraction. Despite his experience and professionalism, the time-consuming nature of the interview process could take focus away from his work with the team.
Consider this: during playoff weeks, coaches are often away from their families and barely find time to breathe between practice sessions, film reviews, and strategizing for their next game. To then have to carve out time for multiple interviews with teams looking to fill head coach or coordinator roles can feel like an undue burden. It disrupts the rhythm and intensity required to be successful in the postseason, forcing coaches to split their attention between an immediate task — winning football games — and a long-term career opportunity. This dichotomy can create an unproductive, stressful situation that ultimately harms the performance of both the coach and the team.
The Psychological Toll on Coaches
Beyond the logistical concerns, there’s a significant psychological aspect to this issue. Being in the middle of playoff preparation while simultaneously interviewing for another job can create an emotional rollercoaster for coaches. On one hand, the interviews represent career advancement, an opportunity to take on a new challenge, or secure a long-term future with a franchise. On the other hand, the job you currently have requires all of your focus, and making it to — and winning in — the playoffs is often a coach’s most immediate and pressing goal.
Coaches know that their players feed off their energy and attention. If a coach is distracted by a potential job change, players are likely to sense it, which could create uncertainty and confusion within the locker room. The stakes of every playoff game are high, and players need a coach who is completely locked in, one who is single-mindedly focused on winning the next game. If that focus is diverted, even momentarily, it can have a ripple effect on the entire team. After all, a distracted coach can be a distracted team.
The Impact on Team Success
For teams with coaches in the midst of a hiring cycle, the distraction of interviews can have an even more direct impact on the outcome of playoff games. A coach who is splitting time between preparing for interviews and preparing for opponents isn’t fully dedicating themselves to their team’s success. During these critical weeks, every detail matters — every play call, every adjustment, every piece of game tape studied. The sheer amount of time it takes to prep for an NFL playoff game leaves little time for anything else, and trying to manage job interviews during that window puts a strain on a coach’s ability to focus fully on the job at hand.
Monken’s comments are not just a reflection of his personal experience, but a broader acknowledgment of how these distractions impact the league’s performance at the highest level. For many coaches, securing the right job after the season is an important career move, but when those interviews occur during playoff time, it detracts from the coach’s ability to lead effectively in the postseason.
Potential Solutions to the Issue
There are potential solutions to this issue that could help mitigate the burden placed on coaches. One proposed solution is for the NFL to shift the interview process to a later point in the offseason, after the conclusion of the Super Bowl. This would allow all coaching staff members who are in the postseason to remain fully focused on their teams’ playoff runs without the added distraction of job interviews. This would also create a more level playing field, ensuring that coaches in the postseason aren’t unfairly disadvantaged in their pursuit of new opportunities.
Another possible solution is to limit the number of interviews that can be conducted during the playoff period. By imposing restrictions on when and how many interviews can be scheduled, the NFL could ensure that coaches are given the time and space to focus on their team’s playoff success while still allowing for a fair hiring process.
Finally, the league could also consider moving up the entire hiring cycle, making it more proactive, so that coaching positions are filled early in the offseason, and teams can spend more time focusing on the postseason.
Conclusion
Todd Monken’s comments about the NFL hiring cycle being “unfortunate” are not just a reflection of his personal frustrations — they are indicative of a systemic issue that affects coaches, players, and the game itself. The timing of interviews during the playoffs puts coaches in an impossible position, forcing them to divide their attention and energy between their current team’s playoff aspirations and potential future career moves.
For the NFL, it’s clear that the hiring cycle needs to be reformed to avoid these distractions. By shifting the process to later in the offseason or placing more stringent limits on interviews during the playoffs, the league can ensure that coaches are able to focus fully on their teams and deliver the best possible results in the postseason. Until then, it will continue to be an unfortunate situation for both coaches and teams who are trying to win the ultimate prize: the Super Bowl.
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