The NFL coaching carousel this offseason has been one of the liveliest in years: Baltimore parted ways with John Harbaugh after 18 seasons, Mike Tomlin left the Steelers after 19 years, and the Bills moved on from Sean McDermott following their loss to the Broncos in the regional round. New head coaches usually rebuild staffs, and coordinator hires can be nearly as consequential as the head coach choices—some assistants may even be future head coaches themselves (names in play include Brian Flores and Clint Kubiak). CBS Sportswriters Jordan Dajani and Brian DiArdo graded the coordinator hires so far; below is a concise rewriten rundown of their evaluations and why each hire matters.
Remaining coordinator vacancies
– Offensive coordinator (8): Cardinals, Bears, Raiders, Rams, Giants, Jets, Steelers, Seahawks
– Defensive coordinator (3): Cardinals, Browns, Raiders
Selected coordinator hires and grades
Tommy Reese — Offensive coordinator — Grade: C
Dajani: Reese rose through the Browns’ staff—working as a passing-game specialist and tight-ends coach before becoming offensive coordinator in 2025—and took over play calling when Cleveland struggled at QB. The Browns’ offense finished near the bottom in yards and scoring that season, so it’s unclear how much of the problem was scheme versus personnel; losing Reese won’t trouble many Cleveland fans.
Declan Doyle — Offensive coordinator — Grade: B
DiArdo: At 29, Doyle already has multiple NFL stops: offensive assistant in New Orleans, tight-ends coach in Denver, and Bears offensive coordinator in 2025. In Baltimore he’ll be calling plays for the first time, giving the Ravens an offensive play-caller to complement a defensive-minded new head coach.
Anthony Weaver — Defensive coordinator — Grade: A+
DiArdo: Weaver was widely regarded as the top defensive coordinator on the market and Baltimore deserves credit for landing him. A former Raven who moved into coaching immediately after his playing career, he’s built strong defensive units (including a productive Dolphins defense in 2024) and has a track record developing pass rushers and linebackers.
Pete Carmichael Jr. — Offensive coordinator — Grade: A-
DiArdo: Carmichael brings a wealth of experience to Buffalo and pairs well with Joe Brady, who will remain the play-caller. He worked closely with Drew Brees for nearly two decades, has a Super Bowl-winning background, and a long history of coordinating successful rushing games—qualities that should help the Bills’ offense and Josh Allen.
Jim Leonhardt — Defensive coordinator — Grade: A-
Dajani: A compact but impactful coach, Leonhardt climbed from college DB coach to NFL defensive roles and has been in demand. His recent work with the Broncos producing strong pass-defense metrics and helping develop Patrick Surtain II shows he’s earned a shot as a full-time coordinator despite limited play-calling experience.
Travis Switzer — Offensive coordinator — Grade: C
Dajani: A first-time OC at 33, Switzer has ties to the Ravens’ operations staff and played collegiately at Akron. He’s untested outside his current organization; ideally he’ll split responsibilities with a veteran play-caller who handles passing while Switzer focuses on the run game.
Christian Parker — Defensive coordinator — Grade: B
DiArdo: Parker, 34, helped the Eagles’ staff that won a Super Bowl under Vic Fangio and has coached across several notable staffs. Dallas poaching him from a division rival is smart; Parker has the upside to become a top defensive coordinator, though pairing him with an offensively minded head coach is a calculated risk.
Davis Webb — Offensive coordinator — Grade: A-
Dajani: Webb’s promotion from passing-game coordinator to OC in Denver keeps continuity and rewards a young coach on the rise. At 31 he’s already being discussed as a future head-coach candidate, and his rapport with Bo Nix and familiarity with the staff make this a promising internal hire.
Drew Petzing — Offensive coordinator — Grade: C+
DiArdo: Petzing is a steady, low-key hire for Detroit. He has a long coaching résumé despite being 36—time in Minnesota, Cleveland, and Arizona—and injuries limited his Arizona results. In Detroit he gets a fresh roster and a real chance to show what he can do.
Jonathan Gannon — Defensive coordinator — Grade: A-
Dajani: Despite a difficult head-coaching tenure in Arizona, Gannon remains a respected defensive strategist after his strong run with the Eagles. His experience designing top-tier defenses should mesh well with playmaking defenders like Micah Parsons.
Eric Bieniemy — Offensive coordinator — Grade: B-
DiArdo: Kansas City bringing Bieniemy back is a familiarity play; he has a strong bond with Patrick Mahomes. Bieniemy’s temperament and scheme history can help, but he’ll have to adapt to an aging core and a roster that looks different than the Chiefs’ title teams of the past.
Mike McDaniel — Offensive coordinator — Grade: A+
Dajani: McDaniel’s offensive creativity and track record—Miami’s explosive output and well-designed running game—make him one of the best OC-level minds in the league. His ability to manufacture big plays and structure high-efficiency offenses gives him elite status entering his new role.
Chris O’Leary — Defensive coordinator — Grade: A-
DiArdo: Harbaugh bringing O’Leary back after a standout 2025 season at Western Michigan (and time as the Chargers’ safeties coach) makes sense. He’s demonstrated the ability to build stingy defenses in college and contributed to strong NFL defensive performances when coaching in Los Angeles.
Bobby Slowik — Offensive coordinator — Grade: A-
Dajani: Slowik earns another chance after helping CJ Stroud win Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2023 and showing strong play-concept ability. While Houston’s offense underperformed later, Slowik’s work with young QBs and as Miami’s senior passing-game coordinator last season argues he’s deserving of this role.
Sean Duggan — Defensive coordinator — Grade: B
DiArdo: Duggan is a familiar face to Jeff Hafley, and that relationship helps explain this hire. He has limited NFL coordinating experience but did strong developmental work with linebackers in Green Bay; since Hafley will call defensive plays, Duggan can focus on other scheming and position-group duties.
Denard Wilson — Defensive coordinator — Grade: B+
Dajani: Wilson is well-regarded and has strong connections to Baltimore’s staff; he helped Philadelphia’s secondary during that team’s Super Bowl run and was part of the Ravens’ historically strong defensive group. He improved Tennessee’s defense as DC in 2024 and, despite a dip in 2025, is respected for maximizing available talent.
Brian Duker — Defensive coordinator — Grade: C+
DiArdo: Duker’s hire is rooted in familiarity with head coach Aaron Glenn from their shared time in Detroit. He hasn’t called plays before, so this suggests Glenn will handle play-calling while Duker manages other defensive responsibilities.
Sean Mannion — Offensive coordinator — Grade: B
DiArdo: Mannion moved quickly from retiring to coaching: he parlayed a playing background into a coaching rise in Green Bay, helping Jordan Love take a major step forward. His recent success as a quarterbacks coach and recent playing experience could give him an edge in relating to and coaching young QBs.
Patrick Graham — Defensive coordinator — Grade: B+
DiArdo: Graham brings proven coordinator experience from stops in Miami, New York, and Las Vegas, where he lifted defenses significantly. In Pittsburgh he inherits a talented mix of veteran stars and developing players—this is likely the best defensive roster he’s had to work with since becoming a coordinator.
Raheem Morris — Defensive coordinator — Grade: A
Dajani: Morris has consistently gotten strong results from his fronts—his Falcons defense finished 2025 on a positive note and produced breakout rookie playmakers. With prior success running top-10 defenses, Morris is a veteran leader capable of stepping into a major NFC role.
Zach Robinson — Offensive coordinator — Grade: B+
DiArdo: Robinson is a smart fit for Tampa Bay: he’s familiar with the NFC South, developed Bijan Robinson into a premier back, and knows how to put players in advantageous roles. Working with Baker Mayfield gives him an opportunity to stabilize a key position for the Bucs.
Brian Daboll — Offensive coordinator — Grade: B+
DiArdo: Despite a mixed run as the Giants’ head coach, Daboll’s strengths as an offensive architect and veteran QB developer remain intact. He helped Josh Allen ascend and got strong production from Daniel Jones and Saquon Barkley; Daboll now gets another young QB to mentor.
Gus Bradley — Defensive coordinator — Grade: B
Dajani: Bradley’s experience as a longtime NFL defensive coach and brief head coach makes him a solid right-hand man for a staff that also includes Robert Saleh handling play-calling. His return to the AFC South adds experience to an otherwise well-rounded staff.
David Breaux — Offensive coordinator — Grade: C-
Dajani: Breaux’s promotion is a significant gamble; Washington plummeted from 12-5 to 5-12 and their young QB missed time. At 30, Breaux has yet to call plays in the NFL, so this hire is risky—if the offense doesn’t rebound, Dan Quinn’s job security could be in question.
Dalonte Jones — Defensive coordinator — Grade: B
Dajani: Jones, a Maryland native, returns to Washington after time with the Vikings as DBs coach and passing-game coordinator and a varied coaching background that includes a stint as LSU’s DC. He’s interviewed widely around the league and brings experience from several respected defensive staffs.
Fan Take (two sentences)
These coordinator moves matter because coordinators often shape a team’s identity and can dramatically impact quarterbacks’ development, defensive schemes, and a franchise’s short-term win expectations. For fans, new coordinators can mean immediate stylistic changes, refreshed playoff hopes, and a preview of future head-coaching candidates who might steer the next wave of NFL leadership.
