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\u2014some 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.<\/p>\n
Remaining coordinator vacancies
\n– Offensive coordinator (8): Cardinals, Bears, Raiders, Rams, Giants, Jets, Steelers, Seahawks
\n– Defensive coordinator (3): Cardinals, Browns, Raiders<\/p>\n
Selected coordinator hires and grades<\/p>\n
Tommy Reese \u2014 Offensive coordinator \u2014 Grade: C
\nDajani: Reese rose through the Browns\u2019 staff\u2014working as a passing-game specialist and tight-ends coach before becoming offensive coordinator in 2025\u2014and took over play calling when Cleveland struggled at QB. The Browns\u2019 offense finished near the bottom in yards and scoring that season, so it\u2019s unclear how much of the problem was scheme versus personnel; losing Reese won\u2019t trouble many Cleveland fans.<\/p>\n
Declan Doyle \u2014 Offensive coordinator \u2014 Grade: B
\nDiArdo: 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\u2019ll be calling plays for the first time, giving the Ravens an offensive play-caller to complement a defensive-minded new head coach.<\/p>\n
Anthony Weaver \u2014 Defensive coordinator \u2014 Grade: A+
\nDiArdo: 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\u2019s built strong defensive units (including a productive Dolphins defense in 2024) and has a track record developing pass rushers and linebackers.<\/p>\n
Pete Carmichael Jr. \u2014 Offensive coordinator \u2014 Grade: A-
\nDiArdo: 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\u2014qualities that should help the Bills\u2019 offense and Josh Allen.<\/p>\n
Jim Leonhardt \u2014 Defensive coordinator \u2014 Grade: A-
\nDajani: 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\u2019s earned a shot as a full-time coordinator despite limited play-calling experience.<\/p>\n
Travis Switzer \u2014 Offensive coordinator \u2014 Grade: C
\nDajani: A first-time OC at 33, Switzer has ties to the Ravens\u2019 operations staff and played collegiately at Akron. He\u2019s untested outside his current organization; ideally he\u2019ll split responsibilities with a veteran play-caller who handles passing while Switzer focuses on the run game.<\/p>\n
Christian Parker \u2014 Defensive coordinator \u2014 Grade: B
\nDiArdo: Parker, 34, helped the Eagles\u2019 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.<\/p>\n
Davis Webb \u2014 Offensive coordinator \u2014 Grade: A-
\nDajani: Webb\u2019s promotion from passing-game coordinator to OC in Denver keeps continuity and rewards a young coach on the rise. At 31 he\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
Drew Petzing \u2014 Offensive coordinator \u2014 Grade: C+
\nDiArdo: Petzing is a steady, low-key hire for Detroit. He has a long coaching r\u00e9sum\u00e9 despite being 36\u2014time in Minnesota, Cleveland, and Arizona\u2014and injuries limited his Arizona results. In Detroit he gets a fresh roster and a real chance to show what he can do.<\/p>\n
Jonathan Gannon \u2014 Defensive coordinator \u2014 Grade: A-
\nDajani: 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.<\/p>\n
Eric Bieniemy \u2014 Offensive coordinator \u2014 Grade: B-
\nDiArdo: Kansas City bringing Bieniemy back is a familiarity play; he has a strong bond with Patrick Mahomes. Bieniemy\u2019s temperament and scheme history can help, but he\u2019ll have to adapt to an aging core and a roster that looks different than the Chiefs\u2019 title teams of the past.<\/p>\n
Mike McDaniel \u2014 Offensive coordinator \u2014 Grade: A+
\nDajani: McDaniel\u2019s offensive creativity and track record\u2014Miami\u2019s explosive output and well-designed running game\u2014make 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.<\/p>\n
Chris O\u2019Leary \u2014 Defensive coordinator \u2014 Grade: A-
\nDiArdo: Harbaugh bringing O\u2019Leary back after a standout 2025 season at Western Michigan (and time as the Chargers\u2019 safeties coach) makes sense. He\u2019s demonstrated the ability to build stingy defenses in college and contributed to strong NFL defensive performances when coaching in Los Angeles.<\/p>\n
Bobby Slowik \u2014 Offensive coordinator \u2014 Grade: A-
\nDajani: Slowik earns another chance after helping CJ Stroud win Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2023 and showing strong play-concept ability. While Houston\u2019s offense underperformed later, Slowik\u2019s work with young QBs and as Miami\u2019s senior passing-game coordinator last season argues he\u2019s deserving of this role.<\/p>\n
Sean Duggan \u2014 Defensive coordinator \u2014 Grade: B
\nDiArdo: 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.<\/p>\n
Denard Wilson \u2014 Defensive coordinator \u2014 Grade: B+
\nDajani: Wilson is well-regarded and has strong connections to Baltimore\u2019s staff; he helped Philadelphia\u2019s secondary during that team\u2019s Super Bowl run and was part of the Ravens\u2019 historically strong defensive group. He improved Tennessee\u2019s defense as DC in 2024 and, despite a dip in 2025, is respected for maximizing available talent.<\/p>\n
Brian Duker \u2014 Defensive coordinator \u2014 Grade: C+
\nDiArdo: Duker\u2019s hire is rooted in familiarity with head coach Aaron Glenn from their shared time in Detroit. He hasn\u2019t called plays before, so this suggests Glenn will handle play-calling while Duker manages other defensive responsibilities.<\/p>\n
Sean Mannion \u2014 Offensive coordinator \u2014 Grade: B
\nDiArdo: 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.<\/p>\n
Patrick Graham \u2014 Defensive coordinator \u2014 Grade: B+
\nDiArdo: 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\u2014this is likely the best defensive roster he\u2019s had to work with since becoming a coordinator.<\/p>\n
Raheem Morris \u2014 Defensive coordinator \u2014 Grade: A
\nDajani: Morris has consistently gotten strong results from his fronts\u2014his 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.<\/p>\n
Zach Robinson \u2014 Offensive coordinator \u2014 Grade: B+
\nDiArdo: Robinson is a smart fit for Tampa Bay: he\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
Brian Daboll \u2014 Offensive coordinator \u2014 Grade: B+
\nDiArdo: Despite a mixed run as the Giants\u2019 head coach, Daboll\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
Gus Bradley \u2014 Defensive coordinator \u2014 Grade: B
\nDajani: Bradley\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
David Breaux \u2014 Offensive coordinator \u2014 Grade: C-
\nDajani: Breaux\u2019s 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\u2014if the offense doesn\u2019t rebound, Dan Quinn\u2019s job security could be in question.<\/p>\n
Dalonte Jones \u2014 Defensive coordinator \u2014 Grade: B
\nDajani: 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\u2019s DC. He\u2019s interviewed widely around the league and brings experience from several respected defensive staffs.<\/p>\n
Fan Take (two sentences)
\nThese coordinator moves matter because coordinators often shape a team\u2019s identity and can dramatically impact quarterbacks\u2019 development, defensive schemes, and a franchise\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":40902,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[859],"tags":[860],"class_list":{"0":"post-40901","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-nfl","8":"tag-nfl"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40901","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=40901"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40901\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/40902"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=40901"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=40901"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=40901"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}