2025 NFL season: Ranking all eight candidates to go from worst to first in division races

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Hope springs eternal in the NFL offseason.

Hope that summer beginnings blossom into autumnal success. Hope that new faces author lasting memories. Hope that the downtrodden can rise from the gutter to the playoff prairie.

The 2024 campaign was an anomaly. For the first time since 2019 and only the third time since realignment in 2003, no team went from worst to first in its division. It’s remarkable that, in the past 22 seasons, only three didn’t include a club completely flipping its division’s fate. In fact, since 2003, there have been double that amount of years that have seen two clubs go from worst to first in their divisions in the same season. Two franchises — 2017 Philadelphia Eagles and 2009 New Orleans Saints — went from division losers to Super Bowl champs in a single season.

Parity is the way — as it’s been since Bert Bell was crafting the schedule.

This is why fans always hold on to hope, even in the face of dismal circumstances.

With NFL training camps set to kick off in earnest next week, let’s take a look at the teams with the best shot of getting the worst-to-first theme back on schedule after last year’s hiccup.

San Francisco underwent a massive reboot this offseason after years of shelling out big bucks. From the Deebo Samuel trade to losing valuable offensive linemen to seeing key contributors like Dre Greenlaw and Talanoa Hufanga depart on defense, the losses were substantial on both sides of the ball. Even with the changes, let’s not pretend the roster is devoid of talent. Trent Williams remains the premier left tackle. George Kittle is among the most dynamic tight ends in the NFL. Brock Purdy got paid and runs the offense with aplomb. Nick Bosa is a menace. Fred Warner is Fred Warner. Christian McCaffrey is back after an injury-plagued season. When healthy, Brandon Aiyuk gets open. Ricky Pearsall flashed burgeoning potential. Jauan Jennings remains underrated. The Niners added young talent on defense in the draft. Another significant reason to expect a swift turnaround: Kyle Shanahan didn’t just forget how to coach. The 2024 season felt akin to 2020, when QB injuries derailed that year. The following season, San Francisco bounced back with a 10-win campaign and went to the NFC Championship Game. Robert Saleh’s return to the Bay Area is another reason to believe the turnaround will be expeditious. He might have crashed and burned with the Jets, but the man can coach a defense. I’d be confident putting those young defenders in his hands. Additionally, the Niners have an advantageous schedule, boasting a league-low SOS of .415 entering the season. The NFC West is no picnic, but nary a soul would be stunned if Shanahan’s crew leaps from the basement to the penthouse.

The story writes itself: Former Patriots Super Bowl champion returns to Foxborough to clean up a mess that’s lingered from the dismantling of a dynasty he helped build, and immediately turns the ship back around. Mike Vrabel got more from less during his run in Tennessee, providing confidence that he can coax winning play from a crew that won eight games combined over the past two years. If Drake Maye breaks out in Year 2, it will make Vrabel’s reclamation project that much easier. The young signal-caller flashed glimpses of his upside last season but couldn’t consistently put it together in a dreary situation. Questions along the line and at wide receiver remain, but Maye boasts the talent to overcome them under the new coaching staff, which includes Josh McDaniels’ return to New England. The Pats threw money around this offseason, paying big bucks to upgrade the defense with DT Milton Williams, CB Carlton Davis III, LB Robert Spillane and OLB Harold Landry III. After New England won 11 consecutive division titles, the Bills have taken charge and run away with five straight crowns. A fourth-place schedule, an infusion of talent, a greenhorn quarterback making the leap, and a savvy, no-nonsense coach to lead the comeback give the Pats a shot to knock Buffalo off the divisional throne.

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