2026 NFL coaching news: Raiders hire Klint Kubiak; Jim Schwartz resigns as Browns defensive coordinator

The Super Bowl has come and gone, with the Seattle Seahawks coming out on top, and the NFL’s head coaching carousel is lastly coming to a cease.

After Klint Kubiak’s Seahawks received all of it, he confirmed he’s headed to the Las Vegas Raiders, reportedly on a five-year deal. Kubiak will change into the Raiders’ third head coach in three seasons, following Pete Carroll and Antonio Pierce.

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Earlier within the cycle, the Arizona Cardinals finalized a deal with Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur to change into their subsequent head coach. LaFleur, the youthful brother of Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur, will reportedly get a five-year contract with Arizona.

After a lot hypothesis on the place he may find yourself, former Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy will reportedly join John Harbaugh’s staff in the identical function in New York.

Raheem Morris can be on the transfer, hired by the San Francisco 49ers as their new defensive coordinator, in keeping with experiences. Morris was dismissed as Atlanta Falcons head coach after their 2025-26 season concluded.

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Last week, the Browns hired former Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken as their subsequent head coach. Monken emerged as the selection in a course of that additionally centered on Rams move sport coordinator Nate Scheelhaase and former Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz.

The Bills, meanwhile, promoted Joe Brady to head coach after firing Sean McDermott. Brady has served as offensive coordinator since November 2023.

Elsewhere within the AFC:

• The Titans hired Brian Daboll as their subsequent offensive coordinator. Daboll was fired as Giants head coach midseason after being employed in 2022, and now he’ll get an opportunity to mildew 2025 No. 1 total choose Cam Ward underneath head coach Robert Saleh’s management.

• The Pittsburgh Steelers hired Mike McCarthy to change into their subsequent head coach. McCarthy replaces Mike Tomlin, who resigned on the finish of the Steelers’ season. He would change into the franchise’s fourth head coach since 1969.

Here’s a rundown of the largest hirings (and firings) this coaching cycle.

HEAD COACHES HIRED

Mike LaFleur, Arizona Cardinals

Head coaching file: First job, was Rams offensive coordinator from 2023-25

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Why he was employed: The Cardinals are turning arduous in a unique route after three seasons with defensive-minded Jonathan Gannon as head coach. The Rams led the NFL in complete offense with 6,709 yards this season underneath LaFleur and head coach Sean McVay. L.A. completed first in passing yards and seventh in dashing on its approach to the NFC championship sport.

A serious choice confronting LaFleur from the beginning is what to do at quarterback. The Cardinals seem prepared to maneuver on from Kyler Murray, who performed in solely 5 video games earlier than struggling a season-ending foot harm. Arizona went on to complete with the Nineteenth-ranked offense within the league.

The Cardinals have the No. 3 total choice in April’s NFL Draft, however no QB appears to be like worthy of that choose. So the group might need to discover a subject chief in free company. (Daniel Jones and Malik Willis are the highest QBs out there.) Veterans like Tua Tagovailoa, Justin Fields and Mac Jones are commerce potentialities as properly.

Klint Kubiak, Las Vegas Raiders

Head coaching file: First job, was Seahawks offensive coordinator for 2025

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Why he was employed: The Raiders wished a coach who may set up a extra explosive offense after struggling the previous two seasons. Las Vegas ranked final in complete offense this season (4,168 yards), among the many backside 5 in passing and final in dashing regardless of having first-round choose Ashton Jeanty.

Also essential was somebody who may develop a younger quarterback, as Las Vegas will likely select Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 total choose in April. If vital, the Raiders may also have Geno Smith as a veteran presence whereas Mendoza familiarizes himself with Kubiak’s offense and the NFL sport.

Kubiak checks off each containers, overseeing Seattle’s eighth-ranked offense with 5,973 yards and 351.4 yards per sport this season. In his first season with the Seahawks, Sam Darnold threw for 4,048 yards, inserting fifth amongst NFL QBs, with 25 touchdowns, main a Super Bowl run.

Todd Monken, Cleveland Browns

Head coaching file: First job, was Ravens offensive coordinator from 2023-25

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Why he was employed: The Browns want somebody to repair a damaged and talent-deficient offense, they usually landed on Monken, who has spent the previous few seasons in Baltimore and in school at Georgia, the place he helped the Bulldogs win two nationwide championships as offensive coordinator. (He additionally served as Browns offensive coordinator in 2019.) Will all that have translate to turning round Cleveland? That stays to be seen, however there’s an enormous offseason forward regardless in relation to enhancing the roster on that facet of the ball.

Monken reportedly should discover a new defensive coordinator, after Jim Schwartz reportedly told coaches he’s not coming back after being handed over for the top coaching job. The Browns’ protection has been one of many league’s greatest in two of the previous three seasons, so nailing a brand new hire whereas Monken focuses on rebooting the offense shall be essential.

Joe Brady, Buffalo Bills

Head coaching file: First job, was Bills offensive coordinator from 2023-25

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Why he was employed: On the floor, it’s a bizarre transfer at greatest to fireside head coach Sean McDermott, publicly state that coaching was a problem with the Bills’ roster … then flip round and promote a coach from that employees. To be truthful, Brady is a revered offensive thoughts who’s pretty famend for his creativity and maximization of expertise. To be blunt, he’s additionally a first-time head coach who doesn’t determine to upset the ability construction group proprietor Terry Pegula and common supervisor Brandon Beane clearly have in place.

Buffalo nonetheless has Josh Allen, and there’s little question Brady has performed a key function in creating him into an MVP-level quarterback yr in and yr out. McDermott’s administration of the roster, particularly on protection, maybe went underappreciated throughout his 9 seasons with the Bills, so whomever they hire as defensive coordinator is the subsequent key to look at. But actually, the Bills not making a Super Bowl on this period of the franchise has been on account of poor luck as a lot as something. Maybe Brady is the person to get them over the hump.

Mike McCarthy, Pittsburgh Steelers

Head coaching file: 174-112-2 common season, 11-11 playoffs, 5 seasons with Dallas Cowboys, 13 seasons with Green Bay Packers.

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Why he was employed: Sure, it was some time in the past, however McCarthy has a Super Bowl ring for a cause — and it occurs to be the one one Aaron Rodgers has received in his stellar profession. McCarthy re-established his bona fides after his Packers run, main Dallas to the playoffs in three of his 5 seasons underneath Jerry Jones. He sat out the final hiring cycle, seemingly ready for the proper job. McCarthy grew up within the Pittsburgh space, so he is no stranger to the franchise’s lore.

Jesse Minter, Baltimore Ravens

Head coaching file: First job, was Chargers defensive coordinator from 2024-25

Why he was employed: The Ravens might have fired John Harbaugh, however they’re staying inside his tree to exchange him. Minter spent 4 seasons as a defensive assistant in Baltimore underneath Harbaugh from 2017-2020 earlier than becoming a member of Harbaugh’s brother Jim as the University of Michigan’s defensive coordinator. After profitable a nationwide championship in Ann Arbor, he adopted Jim to the Chargers, the place he has spent the previous two seasons coordinating a protection that is completed top-10 in DVOA each years, incomes leaguewide respect for the unpredictability of his items and his play-calling prowess. Just 42 years previous, Minter was thought of one of many prime candidates in the marketplace, particularly amongst first-time head coaches.

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He steps right into a scenario the place the expectations could not be greater. Lamar Jackson is a two-time NFL MVP, the Ravens have top-end expertise as good as anyone’s, and the one factor left for this iteration of the franchise is to achieve the Super Bowl and win it. Minter appears to suit the invoice of a man who can do this. Baltimore is infamous for drafting and creating expertise and spending little on free brokers, so a coach like Minter who maximizes his gamers appears ideally positioned. Plus, Jackson ensures a excessive ground on offense, so Minter can focus extra of his efforts on shoring up a protection that fell in need of expectations this previous season.

It’s a wise swing — even when a Lombardi Trophy may be the one manner the franchise gauges its success.

John Harbaugh, New York Giants

Head coaching file: 180-113 common season, 13-11 playoffs (together with a Super Bowl title), 18 seasons with Baltimore Ravens

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Why he was employed: The Giants have had 4 full-time head coaches and two interims since Tom Coughlin resigned after the 2015 season, they usually’re fed up with the turnover. Harbaugh is 63, however he has lots of juice left and figures to deliver stability to a proud franchise that is fallen on a few of the hardest instances it is ever confronted. (The Giants’ 59 wins since 2015 are the second-fewest within the NFL, forward of solely the Jets).

There’s expertise to develop on the roster between QB Jaxson Dart (who may sync properly with Harbaugh’s preferred offensive coordinator, Todd Monken), RB Cam Skattebo, WR Malik Nabers, LT Andrew Thomas, and a protection that features DT Dexter Lawrence and edge rushers Brian Burns and Abdul Carter. There’s additionally a common supervisor in Joe Schoen, as Yahoo Sports’ Charles Robinson explained, who was apparently keen to cede personnel decision-making to Harbaugh regardless of the nominal hierarchy contained in the franchise. And group proprietor John Mara, one of many extra influential voices within the league, revealed he is battling an undisclosed type of most cancers final September, which doubtless emboldened the need for a head coach to return in and command respect instantly.

The Giants have floundered for years, however touchdown the coach extensively seen as the most effective in the marketplace brings again prompt credibility. Now we’ll see how shortly they will win collectively.

Kevin Stefanski, Atlanta Falcons

Head coaching file: 45-56 common season, 1-2 playoffs, six seasons with Cleveland Browns

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Why he was employed: Stefanski was one of many prime names in the marketplace, with the NFL at giant taking a look at extra than simply his wins and losses with the Browns whereas attempting to elevate a struggling franchise into playoff competition. Sound acquainted, Atlanta? Stefanski’s offensive acumen is a hybrid of a number of schemes and coaching bushes, which may also help new president of football Matt Ryan type by way of the expertise the Falcons have on that facet of the ball (together with Kirk Cousins, whom Stefanski coached in Minnesota). They’re additionally retaining defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich after the Falcons’ protection made large strides this season.

Stefanski as head coach and offensive mastermind, with Ulbrich sticking round to proceed constructing his facet of the ball? That’s a strong recipe going ahead, even when the reply at quarterback and no first-round choose this spring current important challenges. If group proprietor Arthur Blank is lastly keen to be affected person and let this venture play out, Stefanski may finish the Falcons’ eight-year playoff drought prior to anticipated, particularly in a weak NFC South.

Jeff Hafley, Miami Dolphins

Head coaching file: First job, was Packers defensive coordinator from 2024-25

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Why he was employed: The direct connection is Jon-Eric Sullivan, who was hired as Dolphins general manager on Jan. 9 after spending over twenty years within the Packers’ group, most just lately as vice chairman of participant personnel.

As for the broader match? Well, the Dolphins have proven to be a less attractive option amongst coaching candidates this cycle than beforehand anticipated, Yahoo Sports’ Charles Robinson reported, based mostly largely on the wage cap cleanup required as the group strikes on from Tua Tagovailoa. With John Harbaugh off the board, Hafley is essentially the most logical subsequent transfer, maybe for each events. Hafley has head coaching expertise at Boston College from 2020-23, he improved Green Bay’s defenses the final two seasons, and Miami would do properly to lean on that facet of the ball — to not point out star RB De’Von Achane and an enhancing O-line — whereas the Dolphins attempt to type out the QB scenario in what now appears to be like like a multi-season venture.

Hafley is taken into account to be one of many stronger candidates in the marketplace, and the Dolphins did not fiddle in securing their very best consequence.

Robert Saleh, Tennessee Titans

Head coaching file: 20-36, fired 5 video games into fourth season with New York Jets

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Why he was employed: The common consensus across the league is Saleh’s failures with the Jets had been largely out of his management, and he’s had good defenses wherever he’s been. He’ll reportedly name defensive performs in Tennessee, so it’ll be attention-grabbing to see who the Titans hire on the offensive employees to proceed creating Cam Ward, who appeared increasingly more promising as his rookie season went on.

Most of all, nonetheless, Saleh figures to assist stabilize a Titans franchise that’s on its second common supervisor and now second head coach (third counting interim) since firing Mike Vrabel after the 2023 season. It’s a little bit stunning Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy didn’t get the job, contemplating his availability and ties to GM Mike Borgonzi from their time collectively in Kansas City, however maybe Nagy is in play for a similar place now that Saleh has been tabbed. Either manner, Saleh is the form of agency, even-keeled chief who may go a great distance towards halting all of the shedding in Tennessee.

FIRED

Brian Callahan, Tennessee Titans (in season)
Brian Daboll, New York Giants (in season)
Raheem Morris, Atlanta Falcons
Kevin Stefanski, Cleveland Browns
Pete Carroll, Las Vegas Raiders
Jonathan Gannon, Arizona Cardinals
John Harbaugh, Baltimore Ravens
Mike McDaniel, Miami Dolphins
Sean McDermott, Buffalo Bills

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RESIGNED

Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh Steelers

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