The NFL’s 2026 coaching shakeup, which began weeks ago, has accelerated now that the 2025 regular season concluded. Teams around the league have started making moves, learning who will stay and who will be replaced. Below is a breakdown of the recent hires, firings, personnel remaining in place, and coaching candidates being interviewed.
Recruitment / Hires
– Atlanta Falcons: Matt Ryan, the team’s former quarterback, has been named president of football operations, with responsibility for overseeing all football operations and aligning business and football areas. After parting ways with Raheem Morris, Atlanta hired former Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski as head coach and plans to hire former Cleveland offensive coordinator Tommy Reese as offensive coordinator.
– Dallas Cowboys: The team will hire Philadelphia’s passing game coordinator Christian Parker as defensive coordinator.
– Baltimore Ravens: Hired Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter as their next head coach.
– Arizona Cardinals: Reportedly plan to hire former Cardinals offensive coordinator Drew Petzing as their next offensive coordinator.
– Kansas City Chiefs: Brought back Eric Bieniemy as offensive coordinator; Bieniemy previously held that role from 2018–2022.
– Los Angeles Chargers: Hired former Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel as offensive coordinator.
– Miami Dolphins: Named John Eric Sullivan (formerly Green Bay’s VP of player personnel after 23 seasons with the Packers) as general manager, and hired Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley as head coach.
– New York Giants: Hired former Ravens head coach John Harbaugh as head coach.
– Pittsburgh Steelers: Hired Mike McCarthy, previously head coach of the Cowboys and Packers.
– Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Hiring Falcons offensive coordinator Zach Robinson.
– Tennessee Titans: Hired former 49ers defensive coordinator and ex-Jets head coach Robert Saleh as head coach.
Dismissals, Resignations, and Retirements
– Arizona Cardinals: Fired head coach Jonathan Gannon after a 3–14 season.
– Atlanta Falcons: Fired head coach Raheem Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot following the regular season (Morris after two seasons, Fontenot after five).
– Baltimore Ravens: John Harbaugh and the Ravens agreed to part ways after his 18-season run.
– Buffalo Bills: Fired head coach Sean McDermott after nine seasons following a postseason loss to the Broncos.
– Dallas Cowboys: Fired defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus after one season, following a year in which the defense allowed the most points in the league and finished 30th in yards allowed.
– Detroit Lions: Fired offensive coordinator John Morton after one season; Morton had lost play-calling duties midseason to head coach Dan Campbell. The Lions missed the postseason with a 9–8 record.
– Las Vegas Raiders: Fired head coach Pete Carroll after one season and a 3–14 record. Earlier in the season they had also fired offensive coordinator Chip Kelly (Nov. 23) and special teams coordinator Tom McMahon (Nov. 7).
– Los Angeles Chargers: Reportedly fired offensive coordinator Greg Roman shortly after a wild-card loss to the Patriots; the offense had been hampered by injuries and scored only three points in that playoff game.
– Los Angeles Rams: Fired special teams coordinator Chase Blackburn on Dec. 20 after a Week 16 loss.
– Miami Dolphins: GM Chris Grier resigned on Oct. 31 after 10 seasons (77–80 record during his tenure). The Dolphins also fired head coach Mike McDaniel after missing the playoffs in consecutive seasons, ending his four-year tenure.
– New York Giants: Fired head coach Brian Daboll on Nov. 10 after a 2–8 start (Daboll was 20–40–1 over four seasons); offensive coordinator Mike Kafka served as interim head coach. The Giants later fired defensive coordinator Shane Bowen on Nov. 24 at Kafka’s direction.
– New York Jets: Fired defensive coordinator Steve Wilkes on Dec. 15 after a 3–11 start; New York’s defense was on pace to potentially finish a season without an interception.
– Philadelphia Eagles: Removed Kevin Patullo from offensive coordinator duties after the 2025 season.
– Pittsburgh Steelers: Mike Tomlin resigned after 19 seasons following a first-round playoff loss. Offensive coordinator Arthur Smith is expected to become Ohio State’s offensive coordinator.
– Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Fired offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard after one season on the staff, following a year in which the team missed the playoffs for the first time in six years.
– Tennessee Titans: Fired Brian Callahan on Oct. 13 after a 1–5 start; they were the first team this season to fire a head coach.
– Washington Commanders: Parted ways with offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury after two seasons and fired defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. after two seasons; the Commanders’ defense finished near the bottom in total yards and opponent scoring.
Personnel Remaining “As Is”
– Arizona Cardinals: General manager Monty Ossenfort remains in place after the firing of Jonathan Gannon.
– Atlanta Falcons: Defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich is expected to remain on staff under new head coach Kevin Stefanski.
– Buffalo Bills: General manager Brandon Beane will stay and has been promoted to president of football operations after Sean McDermott’s departure.
– Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Head coach Todd Bowles has stated he will remain in his position.
– Cincinnati Bengals: Will retain head coach Zac Taylor and director of player personnel Duke Tobin despite a 6–11 season and third straight year missing the playoffs.
– Cleveland Browns: Will keep GM Andrew Berry, who will lead the search for a new head coach after Kevin Stefanski’s firing.
– Green Bay Packers: Extended both head coach Matt LaFleur and general manager Brian Gutekunst.
– Indianapolis Colts: Will keep head coach Shane Steichen and GM Chris Ballard into the offseason despite a late-season collapse and key injuries.
– Las Vegas Raiders: General manager John Spytek will remain and lead football operations during the head-coach search.
– New York Giants: GM Joe Schoen expected to remain into the 2026 offseason.
– New York Jets: Plan to keep Aaron Glenn as head coach for 2026, according to reporting.
Head Coaching Interviews and Candidates (selected team-by-team highlights)
– Arizona Cardinals (HC): Interviews or requests include Broncos DC Vance Joseph, 49ers DC Robert Saleh, Dolphins DC Anthony Weaver, former Falcons head coach Raheem Morris, Patriots passing game coordinator Thomas Brown, Packers DC Jeff Hafley, Seahawks OC Clint Kubiak, Chiefs OC Matt Nagy, and Steelers OC Arthur Smith.
– Atlanta Falcons (GM): Interviews include Bears assistant GM Ian Cunningham, Panthers EVP Brant Tillis, and 49ers director of scouting Josh Williams.
– Baltimore / Other teams (various assistant and coordinator jobs): Multiple scheduled interviews and requests have involved coaches such as Jaguars OC Grant Wudinski, Joe Brady, Brian Daboll, Colts DC Lou Anarumo, former QB Philip Rivers, and Dolphins DC Anthony Weaver.
– Cleveland Browns (HC): Interviewees include defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, Bengals OC Dan Pitcher, Seahawks DC Aden Durde, Ravens OC Todd Monken, Chargers DC Jesse Minter, Rams OC Nate Schielhaas, Jaguars OC Grant Wudinski, and others. Mike McDaniel was scheduled for a second interview but later removed his name as a candidate.
– Detroit Lions (OC): Scheduled interviews include Giants interim head coach Mike Kafka, former Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel, Seahawks passing game coordinator Jake Peetz, former Falcons OC Zach Robinson, and Steelers OC Arthur Smith.
– Las Vegas Raiders (HC): Interview list includes Vance Joseph, Davis Webb, Matt Nagy (request), Mike McDaniel, Jeff Hafley, Jesse Minter, Panthers DC Ejiro Evero, Clay Kubiak (request), and Brian Daboll.
– Los Angeles Chargers (OC): Candidates/interviews include Steelers OC Arthur Smith (request), Thomas Brown, Brian Daboll, Chargers passing game coordinator Marcus Brady, former Titans head coach Brian Callahan, Shane Day, and Mike McDaniel.
– Miami Dolphins (HC): Interviews or requests include Kevin Stefanski, Seahawks OC Clint Kubiak (request), 49ers DC Robert Saleh, Chargers DC Jesse Minter, Jaguars DC Anthony Campanile, Rams DC Chris Shula, Lions DC Kelvin Sheppard, and Bills OC Joe Brady.
– New York Jets (DC): Interviewed or scheduled interviews with Matthew Araujo, Ephraim Banda, DeMarcus Covington, Dalonte Jones, Jim Leonhardt, Wink Martindale, Jim O’Neal, and interim DC Chris Harris.
– Philadelphia Eagles (OC): Interviews include Brian Daboll, a request for Colts OC Jim Bob Cooter, and Dolphins senior passing game coordinator Bobby Slowik.
– Pittsburgh Steelers (HC): Requests and interviews include Vikings DC Brian Flores, Chargers DC Jesse Minter, Rams DC Chris Shula, Rams passing game coordinator Nate Schielhaas, Packers DC Jeff Hafley, Mike McCarthy (scheduled), Dolphins DC Anthony Weaver (second interview), Panthers DC Ejiro Evero, and 49ers OC Clay Kubiak.
– Tennessee Titans (HC): Interviewed or scheduled meetings with Chiefs OC Matt Nagy, Broncos DC Vance Joseph, Chiefs DC Steve Spagnuolo (interviewed), Colts DC Lou Anarumo, Raheem Morris, Jason Garrett, Brian Daboll, Mike McCarthy (interviewed twice), Robert Saleh, and Jeff Hafley (second interview).
Fan Take (two sentences)
This round of hires, firings, and interviews shows how quickly NFL franchises pivot when results fall short—new leadership can dramatically reshape a team’s identity, scheme, and roster moves. For fans, these changes matter because coaching and front-office decisions directly influence team direction, player development, and long-term competitiveness across the league.
