The NFL set the ground rules for its 2024 training cycle on Friday, sending a memo to all 32 teams, according to CBS Sports senior NFL insider Jonathan Jones, about its new anti-tampering policies ahead of Monday. when the 2023 season ends for more than half of the league (18 teams).
Teams with head coaching vacancies may at any time schedule in-person or virtual interviews with internal candidates or coaches who are not currently employed by another NFL team. Once the regular season ends Monday (Jan. 8), franchises with openings will have the opportunity to request interviews with candidates employed by other teams. If approved, coaches from other teams will be able to be interviewed virtually before the end of the divisional round of the playoffs on January 21.
If any of the candidates interviewed virtually before January 21 participate in the Super Bowl, a club will have the opportunity to request a second interview with said candidate during the bye week preceding the big game.
However, teams cannot interview coaches of other teams that did not make the playoffs until three days after a team’s final game of the season in Week 18. That’s Tuesday for eliminated teams that play Saturday and Wednesday for eliminated teams that play Sunday.
A similar process is in place for teams wanting to interview assistants from the Baltimore Ravens or San Francisco 49ers, with both teams having first-round byes in those playoffs. Virtual interviews may take place three days after Week 18 matches and must be completed before the end of the wild-card round.
If eliminated teams wish to interview assistants from teams participating in the first round of the playoffs, virtual interviews can be conducted three days after the candidate’s first playoff game and then must be concluded before the end of the divisional round in January. 21.
After the divisional round, in-person interviews can take place since assistants from 28 of the league’s 32 teams will finish their seasons at that time. These new changes are in place to level the playing field between playoff coaching candidates and those who are not, while limiting potential distractions to their current teams that could arise due to these interviews.
These restrictions do not apply to teams hiring general managers and other personnel roles. Clubs may hire candidates whose current teams are still in the playoffs (provided they have written permission).
