The Chiefs open the season Thursday night in defense of their two consecutive Super Bowl titles when they host the AFC North Champion Ravens (Sept. 5, 8.20 PM ET on NBC) at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City.
The following night, the Eagles will play their initial “home” game in San Paulo, Brazil against the Packers (Sept 6, 8.15 PM ET on Peacock-NBC Universal). It will be the NFL’s first ever game in South America.
There currently are nine head coaches this season who also are NFL alumni and played in regular season games during their careers. Although some of the names have changed, it is the same number of former players-head coaches as last year.
Jim Harbaugh, who led the University of Michigan to the College Football Playoff title last season, has returned to the league as Chargers head coach. He spent the last nine seasons at Michigan where he built a successful program. He joins his brother John, the Ravens head coach, as the first pair of brothers in league history to serve as head coaches. Jim was 49ers head coach for four seasons (2011-14) and they opposed each other in Super Bowl XLVII when John and the Ravens prevailed. Their teams meet this season in week 12 on November 25 in LA.
Jerod Mayo was introduced last January as the new head coach of the Patriots to succeed future Hall of Famer Bill Belichick. Mayo played linebacker for seven years after being drafted by the Patriots in the first round in 2008. He most recently was the team’s inside linebackers coach.
Antonio Pierce begins his first full season as Raiders head coach. He finished the 2023 season with a 5-4 record after being named interim head coach last October 31. He originally joined the Raiders as the team’s linebackers coach in 2022. As a player, Pierce was an undrafted free agent when he signed with Washington in 2001 and played nine years in the league, including the last five seasons with the Giants.
The six other player alums who return as head coaches this year are Todd Bowles (Buccaneers), Dan Campbell (Lions), Kevin O’Connell (Vikings), Sean Payton (Broncos), Doug Pederson (Jaguars), and DeMeco Ryans (Texans).
The upcoming season concludes on February 9 in New Orleans with the playing of Super Bowl LIX in Caesars Superdome. It will be the 11th time the Super Bowl is played in New Orleans which ties South Florida for the most Super Bowls played in a community.
We at NFL Alumni wish all 32 head coaches, especially our 9 alumni brothers, much success and hope they all enjoy a healthy and safe campaign.
One thing is for certain: we WILL be watching!
