The NFL coaching carousel this offseason has been unusually active — 10 vacancies opened up after the restart, meaning over 30% of teams were searching for new leadership. Some franchises, like the Browns, Giants, Raiders, Titans and Cardinals, fired their coaches during the season after extended stretches of poor results and top-10 draft finishes in 2026. Others, including the Bills, Ravens and Steelers, saw established coaches step down after tenures that ultimately fell short of expectations. New faces are arriving with the task of turning those organizations around; five head-coaching hires have already been made.
Teams still looking for head coaches: Buffalo Bills, Cleveland Browns, Arizona Cardinals, Las Vegas Raiders
Kevin Stefanski — Grade: B+
Stefanski joins Atlanta in a hire that Atlanta’s front office views as a solid move. After a mixed run in Cleveland — including handling a quarterback carousel that featured the Deshaun Watson acquisition and follow-up draft moves — he arrives with a strong résumé (he’s been NFL Coach of the Year in the past). The Falcons’ evaluation of Stefanski will hinge on quarterback development, this time with Michael Penix Jr. under center; unlike Cleveland, Atlanta provides more playmaking weapons (Bijan Robinson, Drake London) and a veteran backup option in Kirk Cousins. Keeping defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich in place also strengthens the overall setup.
Jesse Minter — Grade: A
Baltimore’s choice of Minter signals a defensive-first approach to complement Lamar Jackson. Minter inherits a defense that needs to be more consistent despite having high-end talent like Kyle Hamilton and Roquan Smith; his recent work with the Chargers showed top-five finishes in several key defensive metrics. He also has prior ties to the Ravens’ staff from 2017–2020 and climbed the ranks in college and the NFL, giving him strong coaching roots. The key variable will be his offensive coordinator hire to ensure the offense maximizes Jackson’s strengths.
Jeff Hafley — Grade: C+
Miami’s hire of Jeff Hafley follows the arrival of John-Eric Sullivan as the team’s new general manager and continues a pipeline of personnel ties to Green Bay. Hafley helped shore up defenses recently — Miami’s defensive performance improved in the second half of the season — and his units in Green Bay posted solid per-game numbers over the last two seasons. But Hafley has limited background on offense, and Miami appears poised to move on from Tua Tagovailoa with cap constraints making a clear quarterback replacement difficult. Without offensive stability, the team could struggle in 2026 despite defensive gains.
John Harbaugh — Grade: A
Harbaugh and the Giants look like a natural pairing. New York wanted an experienced, stabilizing presence rather than a first-time head coach, and Harbaugh brings a winning track record, including Super Bowl experience — something recent Giants hires lacked. He inherits a roster with a franchise quarterback in Jackson Dart, playmakers on offense, a deep defensive front and the No. 5 overall pick in the 2026 draft to add more talent. Harbaugh’s steadiness and adaptability make him well-suited to lead a quick rebuild.
Robert Saleh — Grade: B
There’s an argument Tennessee might have prioritized an offensive-minded boss to help year-two QB Cam Ward, given the team’s poor offensive rankings in 2025. Still, Saleh earned another shot after elevating defenses in New York despite uneven offensive results with the Jets. If he can recreate that defensive intensity in Tennessee, it would be a major boost: the Titans’ defense has been among the NFL’s worst in points allowed recently. Saleh arrives with a promising platform — Cam Ward under center, the No. 4 pick in the 2026 draft and roughly $100 million in cap space — but his offensive coordinator hire will be critical to success.
Mike McCarthy — Grade: C+
Pittsburgh’s hire of Mike McCarthy signals the franchise isn’t trying to completely rebuild; they opted for an experienced figure to keep the team competitive. McCarthy’s résumé includes a Super Bowl and long NFL tenure, but his later stints showed issues with stale offensive schemes and game management. Unlike some coaches who adapt their approach to personnel, McCarthy’s recent history raised doubts about his ability to succeed without top-tier quarterback play like he had with Aaron Rodgers or Dak Prescott. For many, this feels more like a conservative, short-term move than a bold new direction.
Fan Take:
This coaching shuffle matters because who teams hire now will shape development of young quarterbacks, free-agent decisions and the next wave of contenders. New coaching philosophies and personnel moves could shift competitive balance quickly, making the 2026 season a pivotal one for the league’s direction.
