Head coaching elimination, and in some circumstances front-office figures, is in full swing throughout the NFL as groups that did not make the playoffs readjust in an try for a brighter 2026.
Black Sunday and Monday bled into Tuesday, because the Baltimore Ravens stunned the league by parting ways with head coach John Harbaugh after 18 seasons and a Super Bowl win. That job now turns into the most attractive vacancy of the bunch, according to Yahoo Sports’ Frank Schwab.
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This week delivered the tip for a number of different head coaches and one normal supervisor, and the scramble begins to fill these positions.
The modifications have not been restricted to only head coaches. As was extensively anticipated, the Dallas Cowboys fired defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus on Tuesday after the group surrendered greater than 500 factors in a season for the primary time in franchise historical past.
Staying within the NFC East, the Washington Commanders have reportedly moved on from defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. and mutually agreed to part ways with offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury. Both had been a part of Dan Quinn’s inaugural Commanders employees that helped lead Washington to its first convention title recreation look for the reason that 1991 season. Kingsbury is expected to receive head-coaching consideration and to have OC choices after helping Jayden Daniels’ NFL breakout.
The first victims of the week had been Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris and normal supervisor Terry Fontenot, who were both fired Sunday after the Falcons completed 8-9. Former Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan additionally might be returning to the group in a brand new function as president of soccer.
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On Monday, the Cleveland Browns parted ways with head coach Kevin Stefanski. Two hours after Stefanski was let go, the Las Vegas Raiders parted ways with coach Pete Carroll after just one season. Not lengthy after that, the Arizona Cardinals fired Jonathan Gannon following his third straight shedding season.
Two head coaches, the Tennessee Titans’ Brian Callahan and the New York Giants’ Brian Daboll, misplaced their jobs in the course of the season. Another whose standing may need been in query, Indianapolis’ Shane Steichen, is returning next season, together with normal supervisor Chris Ballard. The Cincinnati Bengals answered an identical query Monday, announcing the return of head coach Zac Taylor and normal supervisor Duke Tobin for an additional season.
Among those that seem like protected from the newest spherical of firings is Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel, who is predicted to be again in 2026 regardless of the group’s seek for a brand new normal supervisor, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Monday.
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Here’s the rundown on the place the carousel presently stands, plus the newest coaching news updates. We additionally rank the top coaching openings, from least to most engaging. And here are the top candidates on the market to fill these vacancies.
FIRED
John Harbaugh, Baltimore Ravens
Record with group: 193-124 (together with playoffs), 18th season
Why he was fired: The Ravens had been surprisingly mediocre this season, and it could’t all be attributed to Lamar Jackson’s accidents. Their protection yo-yo’d between outright dangerous and competent, and a few of Harbaugh’s in-game selections have drawn scrutiny. Harbaugh has didn’t get again to the Super Bowl with a two-time MVP quarterback in Jackson, and there had been a normal sense {that a} breath of recent air at head coach could be good for the Ravens.
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Jonathan Gannon, Arizona Cardinals
Record with group: 15-36, three seasons
Why he was fired: Gannon was employed partly to toughen up Arizona’s protection, and that didn’t actually occur. This season’s unit was twenty sixth in EPA per play allowed, twenty seventh in success charge allowed, and generally hasn’t taken a step ahead regardless of 17 of Gannon’s 28 draft picks being on that aspect of the ball, together with six of seven final spring. It’s arduous to say the Cardinals are demonstrably higher than they had been when Gannon was employed.
Potential replacements: Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores, Cowboys offensive coordinator Klayton Adams, Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula, Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph, former Cowboys and Packers head coach Mike McCarthy.
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Pete Carroll, Las Vegas Raiders
Record with group: 3-14, one season
Why he was fired: Carroll was speculated to deliver stability to the franchise, nevertheless it was extra shedding underneath the 74-year-old former Super Bowl winner. The Raiders beat the Kansas City Chiefs of their season finale to finish a winless streak that dated to Week 6. The offseason commerce for Carroll’s most well-liked QB Geno Smith by no means yielded a lot, the offensive and particular groups coordinators had been each fired in November, and now there was a dispute with Maxx Crosby over the star move rusher being positioned on injured reserve. None of it mirrored effectively on Carroll, who was in over his head attempting to repair a franchise the place the rot goes a lot deeper (and greater).
Potential replacements: Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores, Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula, Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady, former Giants coach Brian Daboll, Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph.
Kevin Stefanski, Cleveland Browns
Record with group: 46-58 (together with playoffs), six seasons
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Why he was fired: The Browns suffered their fourth shedding document in six years underneath Stefanski, in addition to a second straight yr selecting within the high seven of the draft. The cataclysmic Deshaun Watson commerce is partly on Stefanski, who recruited him within the spring of 2022, and for all of Stefanski’s offensive acumen, not one of the 13 quarterbacks who’ve began underneath his watch has confirmed to be the long-term answer.
Potential replacements: Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores, Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady, Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph, former Cowboys and Packers head coach Mike McCarthy.
Raheem Morris, Atlanta Falcons
Record with group: 16-18, two seasons
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Why he was fired: Morris hadn’t been flat-out dangerous. The Falcons received their last 4 video games of the season, seemingly serving to Morris’ trigger. But the Falcons regressed total this season and the operation felt shaky underneath his watch. While he ended up a fall man alongside normal supervisor Terry Fontenot, who oversaw an all-in 2025 that included buying and selling away the group’s first-round draft choose subsequent spring, Morris didn’t at all times construct the strongest case for himself. The Falcons now appear like they may utterly revamp their soccer operations division with former quarterback Matt Ryan poised to come back in as Atlanta’s new president of soccer.
Potential replacements: Former Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski, Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady, Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur, Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores, former Cowboys and Packers head coach Mike McCarthy.
Brian Daboll, New York Giants
Record with group: 21-41-1, three full seasons and 10 video games
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Why he was fired: Daboll received Coach of the Year in his first season in cost, main the Giants to a playoff win behind Daniel Jones and Saquon Barkley. But accidents and underachievement dug a gap Daboll could not coach his means out of, and his dealing with of the Giants’ total operation — from recreation administration to interfering with concussion protocol to repeatedly exposing 2025 first-round rookie QB Jaxson Dart to further punishment within the run recreation — grew to become an excessive amount of for the franchise to bear.
Potential replacements: Former Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski, Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph, former Cowboys and Packers head coach Mike McCarthy, former Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce, Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula, Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury.
Brian Callahan, Tennessee Titans
Record with group: 4-19, one full season and six video games
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Why he was fired: Callahan was extra profitable at drawing consideration to himself off the sector than successful on it. He blew up at QB Will Levis a number of occasions throughout video games, admitted he didn’t know a rule that value the Titans early this season, excoriated referees and extra. Despite his popularity as an offensive guru, it did not appear to be No. 1 total choose Cam Ward was making a lot progress underneath his auspices, and the Titans decided to admit their mistake and reduce bait.
Potential replacements: Former Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski, former Falcons head coach Raheem Morris, Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph, Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy, 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury.
ON THE HOT SEAT
Mike McDaniel, Miami Dolphins
Record with group: 35-35 (together with playoffs), fourth season
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Why he may get fired: The story of the McDaniel period (up to now) is beginning with a bang and petering out, each within the micro and macro. He made the playoffs his first two seasons (together with a hallowed 70 burger towards the Broncos), however misplaced six of the final seven in 2022 and 4 of his final six in 2023. Since then, his motion-heavy, speed-oriented offense has been much less efficient towards the league as an entire, and off-field points (together with players reportedly running out defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, who received a Super Bowl with the Eagles final season) recommend McDaniel doesn’t have a lot command of the locker room. Oh, and John Harbaugh simply hit the coaching market.
Why he could be protected: There have been some studies the Dolphins are inclined to maintain him. Tua Tagovailoa’s limitations and concussion considerations have restricted the Dolphins, and in the event that they don’t deliver him again subsequent season, the wage cap hit can be so massive that group proprietor Stephen Ross may resolve it’s value holding McDaniel round another yr to get out from underneath it.
SAFE
Todd Bowles, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Record with group: 36-36 (together with playoffs), fourth season
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Why he might have been fired: Despite winning Saturday against the Panthers, the Saints’ defeat Sunday blocked the Bucs from the postseason. Entering Week 18, Bowles’ Buccaneers misplaced seven of eight. The downturn got here as they obtained more healthy, which was complicated. There had been some dangerous losses, and for a coach with no nice profession document, perhaps there isn’t a purpose to consider issues will likely be decidedly higher within the 2026 season.
Why he is protected: Bowles was on the verge of his fourth straight division title, albeit in a mediocre NFC South. This is the primary time in Bowles’ run with Tampa that the Bucs have not made the postseason. That seemed to be sufficient to save lots of Bowles, who said Wednesday his job was safe after assembly with the Glazer household.
NFL coaching information reside weblog
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Chris Cwik
Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy continues so as to add interviews to his schedule. Nagy will reportedly interview with the Ravens after the group surprisingly fired John Harbaugh, per NFL Network.
Nagy is already set to interview with the Raiders, Titans and Cardinals.
Nagy is again within the hunt for a head-coaching function after being fired by the Bears in 2021. He went 34-31 over 4 seasons with the group earlier than going again to the Chiefs.
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Chris Cwik
Former New York Giants linebacker Antonio Pierce will reportedly interview for the group’s vacant head-coaching function, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Pierce, 47, spent 5 seasons with the Giants as a participant earlier than ultimately going into coaching.
He does have earlier head-coaching expertise, overseeing the Raiders from 2023 to 2024. The group went 9-17 in two seasons underneath Pierce.
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Chris Cwik
Former Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris had dinner with Giants brass on Wednesday and will meet with the group Thursday.
Morris, 49, has emerged as a well-liked candidate after being fired by the Falcons after simply two seasons.
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Chris Cwik
Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy will meet with the Raiders on Thursday for the group’s vacant head-coaching function. Nagy is one in all a minimum of two interviews the group will carry out Thursday, the opposite being Broncos DC Vance Joseph.
Nagy, 47, is searching for his first head-coaching job since he was fired by the Bears following the 2021 NFL season.
Nagy spent 4 seasons in Chicago, placing up a 34-31 document. He went again to the Chiefs following that stint with the Bears, and has overseen Kansas City’s offense the previous few seasons.
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Chris Cwik
It’s a busy day for Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph, who will meet just about with three totally different groups Thursday.
Joseph, 53, will meet with the Ravens, Giants and Raiders on Thursday, per NFL Network.
Joseph already met with the Titans on Wednesday and plans to satisfy with the Cardinals on Friday.
He has earlier head-coaching expertise, main the Broncos to an 11-21 document over two seasons.
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Chris Cwik
The Atlanta Falcons will communicate to 2 further candidates for his or her newly-created president of soccer operations function. In addition to Matt Ryan, the group additionally plans to talk with Panthers EVP of soccer operations Brandt Tilis and Lions COO Mike Disner for the function.
The group first introduced the place in early January, after head coach Raheem Morris and normal supervisor Terry Fontenot had been fired.
In addition to these two interviews, the group will even communicate with Bears assistant GM Ian Cunningham on Friday for its vacant GM function.
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Chris Cwik
The offseason simply began, however the Las Vegas Raiders are already deep into interview season. The group will meet with three head-coaching candidates Thursday, and can have talked to a minimum of 5 whole by the tip of the week.
The group is internet hosting interviews with Matt Nagy, Kevin Stefanski and Vance Joseph on Thursday, per MMQB.
The group plans to host Seahawks OC Klint Kubiak on Friday. It already interviewed Broncos QB coach Davis Webb on Wednesday.
There’s so much at stake for the Raiders this offseason, because the group holds the No. 1 total choose within the 2026 NFL Draft.
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Chris Cwik
San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh has drawn curiosity for a variety of groups with head-coaching vacancies. Saleh — who cannot interview till subsequent week — presently has three groups with which he might interview quickly.
Those groups are the Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons and Tennessee Titans, in keeping with MMQB.
Saleh, 46, has earlier head-coaching expertise with the New York Jets. Under Saleh, the group went 20-36 over 4 seasons.
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Yahoo Sports Staff
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Andy Backstrom
The Kansas City Chiefs are parting methods with large receivers coach Connor Embree, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, who additionally reported Wednesday that there could also be different modifications to Andy Reid’s coaching employees.
Embree has been part of the group since 2019. After serving as a defensive assistant and offensive high quality management coach, he was employed because the group’s receivers coach in 2023.
But this season, the Chiefs missed the playoffs for the primary time in 11 years, and no wideout on the group posted greater than 587 receiving yards.
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Sean Leahy
The John Harbaugh sweepstakes is underway after the Baltimore Ravens fired their longtime head coach after 18 seasons on Tuesday. There have been many inquiries about his companies from groups seeking to fill their openings — even reportedly one group that does not presently want a head coach.
Given the quantity of curiosity, it appears very possible Harbaugh will likely be coaching an NFL group in 2026. That is one thing his brother Jim, presently getting ready his Los Angeles Chargers for Sunday night’s playoff game against the New England Patriots, believes will occur so long as it is within the different convention.
“He’ll be a head coach next year,” Jim Harbaugh said Wednesday. “We’ll be playing against him in some form or fashion … And as I told him, whatever team he goes to is going to be formidable and I just hope it’s in the NFC.”
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Chris Cwik
Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles appears to be like on earlier than an NFL soccer recreation towards the Miami Dolphins Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Todd Bowles stated he met with the Buccaneers’ homeowners — the Glazer household — Tuesday and was planning to carry interviews with coaches Wednesday. Bowles informed the Tampa Bay Times that whereas he’ll return in 2026, there will likely be modifications to his coaching employees. Bowles didn’t elaborate on these modifications.
Despite Bowles’ success from 2022-24, the coach was a stunning addition to the listing of coaches who might lose their jobs this offseason following the Buccaneers’ collapse. Though the group misplaced management of the NFC South by the tip of the season, it nonetheless had a shot to make the playoffs in Week 18.
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Yahoo Sports Staff
Tampa Bay’s Todd Bowles will return as Buccaneers head coach within the 2026 season, he informed the Tampa Bay Times on Wednesday.
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Yahoo Sports Staff
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Yahoo Sports Staff
The Washington Commanders have a gap for defensive coordinator after firing Joe Whitt Jr. on Tuesday. And it appears to be like like they’re transferring quick find a substitute.
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Chris Cwik
The Las Vegas Raiders have a number of interviews scheduled for his or her vacant head-coaching function. In addition to talking with Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy and Seattle Seahawks OC Klint Kubiak, the group will even usher in Davis Webb and Vance Joseph, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Webb is predicted to interview Wednesday. Joseph will reportedly interview Thursday.
Webb spent 2025 because the Denver Broncos’ quarterbacks coach. Joseph was the Broncos’ defensive coordinator.
Joseph has earlier expertise as a head coach, serving within the function with the Broncos in 2017 and 2018. He went 11-21 with the franchise in these two seasons.
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Chris Cwik
Former Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris has a minimum of three head-coach interviews scheduled for subsequent week. Morris will reportedly meet with the Arizona Cardinals, New York Giants and Tennessee Titans for his or her head-coach openings, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Morris is obtainable after being fired by the Falcons following a two-year stint with the group. Atlanta went 16-18 underneath Morris in these two years.
It marked the second time Morris was fired as a head coach. Earlier in his profession, he spent three years with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He additionally had an interim stint with the Falcons in 2020, taking on after Dan Quinn was fired following an 0-5 begin. The group opted to maneuver on from Morris that offseason in favor of Arthur Smith.
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Chris Cwik
The Cleveland Browns’ subsequent head coach might come from a division rival. The Browns reportedly requested to interview Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher for the group’s vacant head-coaching function, per Dianna Russini of The Athletic.
Pitcher, 38, has been with the Bengals since 2016, and has labored his means up by means of the group through the years, ultimately changing into the group’s offensive coordinator in 2024.
The Bengals had an explosive offense in Pitcher’s first season as OC, rating sixth within the NFL in factors scored. Despite shedding Joe Burrow for a number of video games in 2025, the Bengals nonetheless managed to rank twelfth in factors scored
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Chris Cwik
The Cleveland Browns will interview some in-house candidates throughout their seek for a brand new head coach. The group will reportedly communicate with offensive coordinator Tommy Rees on Thursday, in keeping with ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Rees, 33, reduce his tooth at Notre Dame and Alabama earlier than becoming a member of the Browns final season because the group’s tight ends/move recreation specialist. He was promoted to offensive coordinator in 2025.
The Browns’ offense wasn’t significantly nice underneath Rees, rating thirty first in factors scored. Rees, nonetheless, did not precisely have the best weapons at his disposal, which can have restricted his potential to show issues round.
Given the quantity of coaching expertise out there, Rees is probably going an extended shot for the place. It’s promising, nonetheless, that he is already getting head-coach interviews so early in his profession.
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Sean Leahy
Nagy was beforehand head coach of the Bears from 2018-2021 and was 34-31 with two playoff appearances.
He was a senior assistant and quarterbacks coach when he returned to the Chiefs in 2022. The following yr he was promoted to offensive coordinator and helped the franchise win Super Bowl LVIII.
