2026 Head Coach Openings - Best Jobs, Best Candidates?
There are 9 head coaching jobs available this offseason as of January 14th.
Many of these 9 organizations are looking for different things and are in different stages of competing. There have been 88 head coaching interviews requested or completed, with overlapping candidates. We are in rare air here, as having over a quarter of head coach jobs open is not typical.
With this happening, teams may not land the candidates they are hoping for, which will lead to a couple things likely happening. For one, their may be some retread hires. Coaches who have already been HCs, specifically older or longer ago, such as Mike McCarthy and Matt Nagy. Or secondly, there will be coaches hired that many people are not familiar with, likely younger coordinators. Teams might as well take a shot on a young coach if they can't land their top choice. This cycle already didn't stand out as having lots of notable "up and coming" HC candidates, at least compared to last year, and yet 9 spots still must be filled.
I also believe there is a high chance coaches fired this season will be immediately rehired elsewhere, specifically having three candidates in mind. One of whom reportedly gets to pick his destination.
This article will be ranking all nine head coach openings as destinations, while giving my favorite candidates for each opening. When giving my coaching candidate suggestion, I will use each name on just one team, as they can only get hired once. And this one candidate will be one this team plans to interview. But I will also throw out other candidates that I see as possible fits, and there may be some overlapping names. These "fits" are a combination of what I think the coaching candidate should want, what I think the organization will look for, and my personal opinion. This is obviously subjective, but it had to be because there aren't perfect fits for some teams due to the state of their organization.
Also keep in mind I have no clue what each franchise is looking for in a coach, as every team is interviewing such a wide variety of candidates. Although, I do have my own opinion on what they should do based on their roster, i.e. if have a young QB, hire an offensive minded HC. The ranking will be based off a few subjective things:
the state of the roster
the resources(draft capital and cap space)
the quarterback
the GM/ownership
The list and what I am basing it off is already subjective, but my thoughts on each aspect is also obviously subjective. Also, all salary cap related numbers are via overthecap.com and are the base numbers, not accounting of inevitable restructuring.
Before the ranking, here is each team with an opening and who their previous coach was.
Atlanta Falcons. Fired Raheem Morris.
Arizona Cardinals. Fired Jonathan Gannon.
Baltimore Ravens. Fired John Harbaugh.
Cleveland Browns. Fired Kevin Stefanski.
Las Vegas Raiders. Fired Pete Carroll.
Miami Dolphins. Fired Mike McDaniel.
New York Giants. Fired Brian Daboll.
Pittsburgh Steelers. Mike Tomlin stepped down.
Tennessee Titans. Fired Brian Callahan.
Now let's get into this ranking!
Rankings 2026 Head Coach Openings
1). Baltimore Ravens
A general manager in Eric DeCosta who has been with the Ravens for 30 years and the GM for the last seven. A two-time MVP playing the QB position. A full slate of 2026 draft picks. And a positive amount of cap space($21m).
The roster is arguably in it's worst shape since the pre-Lamar Jackson era, but it's far from a lost cause. They have a few notable free agents, but again, this is situation is far from a lost cause, and headed by a competent front office and owner. The Ravens were a FG away from winning the AFC North in a year where Lamar missed multiple games and the team was quite banged up. There is a winning expectation in Baltimore, but it's very possible with the man at QB. And with that type of QB, you will never have a question mark at the most important position on your team.
Future Head Coach: Robert Saleh, San Francisco 49ers DC - interview scheduled.
I think Saleh would do well in Baltimore. There are a couple paths Baltimore can take. One being, get an offensive coach to pair with Lamar Jackson for the rest of his career. The second being, grab a defensive coach who you believe can install a good culture, get the most out of the defense year in and year out, and let Lamar provide the offense, regardless of coordinator. I believe Saleh's demeanor fits well with Baltimore, and he will maximize their defense. Saleh has also been around the NFL long enough to bring in a good coaching staff. As for his struggles in New York; the defense was always great. He was fired because they didn't find a QB, and that won't be an issue in Baltimore. Neither will organizational incompetence.
Other names I like:
Brian Flores, Minnesota Vikings DC - interviewed.
Jesse Minter, Los Angeles Chargers DC - interview requested.
Kevin Stefanski, former Browns HC - interviewed.
2). Las Vegas Raiders
Nearly $90 million in cap space. The number one overall pick, plus 9 additional picks. A superstar EDGE rusher. A superstar TE. A potential superstar RB. A franchise LT. And another really solid TE.
That may be the extent of what to like about the roster, but there are building blocks, especially when you include the first pick in the draft. It's not a simple fix, but it's definitely fixable. There are two undesirable aspects here. For one, the division is incredibly tough to win. And secondly, the Raiders have had 4 (full-time) head coaches in the last 5 seasons. They are willing to move on quickly. You aren't coming in with a new GM, but John Spytek is only entering his second year. He is in cahoots with minority owner Tom Brady, but who knows if that's a good or bad thing.
Future Head Coach: Klint Kubiak, Seattle Seahawks OC - interviewed.
I believe Kubiak is ready to be a HC after two seasons of calling plays in different cities, and being a coordinator in the NFL since 2021. The type of coach the Raiders should be looking for is one that can handle a rookie QB and creating an offense he can thrive in. As a coordinator, Kubiak has worked with Kirk Cousins(2021), Russell Wilson(2022), Brock Purdy(2023), Derek Carr and Spencer Rattler(2024), and Sam Darnold(2025). He has a variety of experience, and has been around the NFL enough to use his relationships to build a quality staff. I think Las Vegas should take the offensive approach when looking for a HC, prioritizing the long-term success of their future rookie QB.
Other names I like:
Jesse Minter, Los Angeles Chargers DC - interview requested.
Nate Scheelhaase, Los Angeles Rams pass game coordinator - interview requested.
Brian Flores, Minnesota Vikings DC.
Kevin Stefanski, former Browns HC.
Mike McDaniel, former Dolphins HC.
3). Pittsburgh Steelers
Twelve draft picks and $40 million in cap space for 2026, led by a rock solid front office. The roster is solid, with some good position groups in place. The offensive line is a positive group, you have a franchise CB, a pair of good TEs, and a couple young pieces in the front four.
The most desirable aspect of Pittsburgh is the front office and ownership. GM Omar Khan has put together very good drafts since becoming GM, and the ownership knows where they are as a franchise. There will be patience and no unrealistic expectations. I am confident the Steelers know the steps they have to take to return to relevance(get a young QB). The negative part is that, you do in fact need to find a QB. And the roster has some pieces, but also is older. There will likely be a bit of a tear down, or regrouping we will call it. It won't be easy to return to contender status, but the division is winnable.
Future Head Coach: Jesse Minter, Los Angeles Chargers DC - interview requested.
The Steelers have had legendary success hiring coaches, and they typically lean towards younger coaches. I will say, as former Steelers HC Mike Tomlin just announced he was stepping down yesterday, their interview list is short. But Minter makes the list, as a younger DC who has great success since stepping into the NFL from the college realm. I could see Pittsburgh going the offensive direction, as their clear top need will be finding a young franchise QB. But I also believe Pittsburgh will hire for who they think fits best, and I think there's a good chance it's Minter. He will be able to continue the legacy of maximizing the Steelers defense like he has done in Los Angeles. The question I have is how he finds the rest of his coaching staff, but I believe due to the nature of Pittsburghs organization, Minter and the front office will figure it out.
Other names I like:
Brian Flores, Minnesota Vikings DC - interview requested.
Chris Shula, Los Angeles Rams DC - interview requested.
Nate Scheelhaase, Los Angeles Rams passing game coordinator - interview requested.
Robert Saleh, San Francisco 49ers DC.
Grant Udinski, Jacksonville Jaguars OC.
Thomas Brown, New England Patriots pass game coordinator.
4). Atlanta Falcons
A really solid roster, with multiple stars. A star RB, WR, OG duo, and a young defense. A new President of Football Operations(Falcons legend Matt Ryan) and GM will be in the building, and having a front office that is aligned with the HC is always a plus.
The major issues lie at QB and the fact that they don't have a 1st round pick this year(5 total picks). Kirk Cousins' contract was restructured and will likely be released, while Michael Penix didn't have a great year 2 and is recovering from his 4th ACL tear since 2018. The roster and getting to come in with a new GM+POFO are the highlights.
Future Head Coach: Mike McDaniel, former Dolphins HC - interviewed
Atlanta is coming off a decent season where they just fired a defensive coach. The main issue with the roster is QB, and I think it would be wise to hire a coach that can maximize this position and the offense. McDaniel offers that. His ending was not entirely smooth in Miami, but he took Tua Tagavailoa to the playoffs twice. McDaniel has been around the NFL for two decades. He has the ability to fill out a staff to Atlanta's liking, including having a history with Atlanta's current DC Jeff Ulbrich, who Falcons owner Arthur Blank has endorsed keeping. McDaniel also was an offensive assistant in Atlanta while current POFO Matt Ryan was playing QB at an MVP level.
Other names I like:
Klint Kubiak, Seattle Seahawks OC - interviewed.
Jim Harbaugh, former Ravens HC - interviewed.
Kevin Stefanski, former Browns HC - interviewed.
5). Tennessee Titans
$100 million in cap space and a full cache of draft picks to use this offseason, along with a young QB who has the makings of a franchise guy. General Manager Mike Borgonzi was hired last season, but this will be the first HC his will take part in hiring, so in a sense they are aligned.
The roster is far from complete, but the Titans rebuild is already moving in the right direction considering their QB. The QB is the main piece of this operation, the attraction that the new coach gets to work with. A big question is the ownership, who has made inexplicable moves in the past, including firing Mike Vrabel, then hiring former GM Ran Carthon, who was fired without being given a chance to have his way with the roster.
Future Head Coach: Kevin Stefanski, former Browns HC - interviewed.
Tennessee should be seeking an offensive coach that can provide QB Cam Ward with a stable situation, and Stefanski can be that. Stefanski brings experience and proof of elevating rosters to the playoffs. The question about Stefanski is that he has never truly developed a QB as a head coach, but he's never really been given the opportunity. His 20 year experience, along with his colleagues in Cleveland, should give Tennessee a clear mind that Stefanski can build a solid coaching staff. I think Stefanski would welcome the chance to work with a QB like Ward, and Tennessee should aim for a coach with a somewhat proven record.
Other names I like:
Mike McDaniel, former Dolphins HC - interview scheduled.
Mike McCarthy, former Cowboys HC - interview scheduled.
Brian Daboll, former Giants HC - interview scheduled.
John Harbaugh, former Ravens HC - interview scheduled.
6). New York Giants
A young QB who could be the franchise guy, a star WR, a star LT, and two star EDGE rushers. The roster is far from unworkable and has major key pieces in place.
The cap situation is not in a great spot($5m of space), but that can always change. The biggest issue in New York for me is the owner and general manager. Joe Schoen has no reason to have a job, building a mediocre roster with poor management in free agency over the last 4 years. It's not ideal, especially for a young coach, to walk into a building where his bosses are borderline incompetent.
Future Head Coach: John Harbaugh, former Ravens HC - interviewed
New York is a bit of a difficult situation to break down as a neutral viewer. I would prefer an entrenched figure at HC, one that will not be spoken down to by the owner and front office. And I think Harbaugh is the definition of that. Obviously, he is not bringing some major offense genius to the table, which would be welcomed when you have a young QB in Jaxson Dart there. But Harbaugh definitely has the relationships to build the desired staff that will cater to New York's needs. You would hope he doesn't copy and paste what he had in Baltimore, because that clearly didn't work out too well, but regardless, that's a major element Harbaugh brings to the table. He would bring a presence that demands respect from the front office, and his opinion would not only be considered, but often be the final word. That will go a long way when it comes to turning around this franchise permanently.
Other names I like:
Kevin Stefanski, former Browns HC - interviewed.
7). Arizona Cardinals
I actually believe Arizona has a decent roster, and GM Monti Ossenfort has brought in decent players in his tenure. But outside of Paris Johnson Jr(draft), Trey McBride(draft), and Josh Sweat(FA), they lack franchise cornerstones and star players. They have a full set of draft picks, including #3 overall, and a good amount of cap room($30m).
The main problem lies in the division. The Cardinals do not possess a franchise QB(with Kyler Murray seemingly on the way out) and play in a division where the other 3 teams combined for 38 regular season wins and are all playing in the divisional round of the playoffs. It's a tough situation. So while I don't hate the roster, it's lacking the most crucial piece. And while I think the GM is fine, the head coach will not be aligned.
Future Head Coach: Thomas Brown, New England Patriots passing game coordinator - interview requested
Arizona is a peculiar spot, not because it's an awful team, but because it's just a tough spot to win in. They are not rebuilding, but you can't contend, let alone in that division, without a QB. I think the ownership is giving their GM time, so he will take that time and select a rising candidate with potential, rather than a retread. Thomas Brown has been around the league, being an OC the last two years and an interim HC in 2024. He has strong ties to the current regimes in New England and LAR. I really like the potential that Brown brings to the table, having experience calling plays for young QBs, like Caleb Williams(2024) and Bryce Young(2023), and I believe Arizona's best option is to take a shot on a young, offensive-minded coach that can find them a QB and continue to build the roster.
Other names I like:
Arthur Smith, Pittsburgh Steelers OC - interview requested.
Kevin Stefanski, former Browns HC.
8). Cleveland Browns
A legendary edge rusher that leads a really strong defense. Cleveland possesses a playoff-caliber defense as well as a load of draft picks, including two 1st rounders in 2026.
Despite having a fantastic defense, the other half of the team on offense is a nightmare. There is one positive piece offensively(Harold Fannin Jr). Overall, I don't hate Cleveland as a head coach destination, as they are in a rebuild stage, yet have an incredible defense. A good offseason/draft in 2026 that focuses on building a core on offense can get the Browns very far, but there's one problem with this "rebuild." They retained their GM, Andrew Berry, who has been there for 6 years and produced 1.5(?) good drafts. Their owner is controlling and clearly has a strong relationship with Berry, who simply has not done a good job at GM. Also, they may likely continue being in a salary cap hell. They have are currently over $15m in the red of cap space this year. Deshaun Watson is the big contract holding things up, but his hit lessens significantly next year. The problem is they will likely have to restructure his contract again due to not having cap space in 2026, pushing it further into the future and continuing to limit the way in which their team can improve. Cleveland's situation is being held up by bad general manager work, and that GM is still in the building.
Future Head Coach: Nate Scheelhaase, Los Angeles Rams passing game coordinator - interview requested
I described the messy Cleveland situation, let's move on. They seem to really want to keep DC Jim Schwartz, and the offense is the weak point of the team. It seems simple that they should hire an offensive coach. The question is, can they find a young coach who is willing to come? I land on Scheelhaase, who is getting lots of buzz in this cycle. The young pass game coordinator has been in the NFL for just 2 years, both in Los Angeles, after coaching at the college level (mostly at Iowa State) for 8 years after his college career at Illinois. The question I have about Scheelhaase is, because of his limited NFL experience, can he build a staff? Well, if the Browns are keeping Jim Schwartz, I would say Schwartz and the front office would manage to make up for some of the slack Scheelhaase may have in that area. But a young offensive coach should be the target for Cleveland, and I think Scheelhaase may be the man to jump at the opportunity.
Other names I like:
Grant Udinski, Jacksonville Jaguars OC - interview requested.
Mike McDaniel, former Dolphins HC - interviewed.
Chris Shula, Los Angeles Rams DC.
Kliff Kingsbury, former Commanders OC.
9). Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins just hired a new general manager, Jon-Eric Sullivan, who was the vice president of player personnel for Green Bay. They have a couple bright spots on this team, including RB, C, and a couple decent players on the second level of the defense. Miami also has a full slate of draft picks.
But this is mostly a weird situation. The roster is barren, and yet somehow they sit $24m in the red when it comes to cap space. It's probably due to their QB, who will not be starting in 2026, taking up over $50m in cap. They will likely clear some of their debt by moving on from Tyreek Hill as well. But a below average roster, no QB, no cap space, and an owner with a questionable past. This can work, especially with a GM that will have an aligned thought process, if Miami embraces full rebuild mode. But it will be a long journey with no guarantees.
Future Head Coach: Jeff Hafley, Green Bay Packers DC - interviewed
As mentioned, I believe Miami needs to embrace the rebuild. So does the direction they take at HC truly matter? I don't believe so, at least not as much, because there isn't a direct need to maximize a specific aspect of the team. It's everything. So you go with the best, and hopeful more youthful, candidate you can get. And Jeff Hafley, who has been in Green Bay with Jon-Eric Sullivan for two years, could be the guy. Hafley is younger and has loads of experience at all different positions and levels. He found his way to the NFL out of college coaching in 2012, coaching in TB, CLE, and SF before heading back to college, where he eventually became the HC at Boston College, before being the DC in Green Bay. He's done a fantastic job with the defense in Green Bay, has a diverse amount of experience to build a staff, and has a relationship with the new GM. I think this would be a fine choice for Miami to restart their franchise with.
Other names I like:
Chris Shula, Los Angeles Rams DC - interview requested.
Klint Kubiak, Seattle Seahawks OC - interviewed.
So there we have it. All the openings ranked and each team paired with their head coach of the future. Coach hiring typically happen around this time, but many interviews are yet to occur. Teams also want to secure their coach before he can interview for other jobs though, so don't be surprised when there are a couple hirings this week.
Some quick things to address:
I did not select Brian Flores as any teams' future head coach. I think Flores would make a great HC given another opportunity. I had him pegged to Baltimore or Pittsburgh, specifically. But they were difficult to choose between, and I didn't want to leave out Saleh or Minter(or stick them with a team where I don't like the fit), so I left Flores out. Brian Flores is currently suing multiple NFL teams, which is a main reason he has remained a DC for so long, and I am using this as a cop out in my decision making.
I briefly mentioned this in my Steelers blurb, but Mike Tomlin made his decision to step down on 1/13/25 and I am writing this on 1/14/25, so the Steelers list of candidates is very limited. I was only going to choose a teams' "future head coach" if they were on the interview list, limiting my options for Pittsburgh.
Mike McDaniel is also taking interviews to be an offensive coordinator, currently going to Detroit for an interview. There is a decent chance McDaniel takes a year off of being a HC to become an OC in a favorable situation(Detroit, Los Angeles, Seattle, Baltimore) if he doesn't see the right fit in a head coaching opportunity. This would throw a wrench in the cycle because, in my opinion, McDaniel is one of the better candidates available.
Finally, I tried inserting this general idea into my team blurbs, but all these teams are in different situations, and we truly don't know what direction they want to take. And even if we did know what direction they wanted to take, we wouldn't know what that means to an organization. So a lot of this was guesswork, simply a combination of what I would do and what I think the organizations will do. There are some coach-team combinations that I wouldn't mind, but they wouldn't be my first choice. This was a fun exercise to do, but I have zero clue if it will be accurate at all. I suppose we shall find out soon enough.
Stay tuned for more NFL and 49ers related articles, news, and opinions!
Comments