A wild head coach hiring cycle is underway within the NFL, as 9 totally different groups have that function to fill forward of the 2026 NFL season.
The New York Giants made the primary transfer, hiring John Harbaugh simply days after he was fired by the Baltimore Ravens. When it was time for the second job to be crammed, the same path was adopted. An AFC North head coach was headed to the NFC, because the Atlanta Falcons employed Kevin Stefanski after he was let go by the Cleveland Browns.
These are the primary two strikes, however there will probably be extra. We’ll grade all of them as they arrive in.
New York Giants: John Harbaugh
When the preliminary job vacancies had been listed, the Giants’ job was certainly one of our favorites on the open market. Solely when the Ravens parted methods with Harbaugh was New York pushed down the checklist.
And when the Ravens parted methods with Harbaugh, it made him one of many extra enticing candidates on the open market.
To us, this appears like an ideal pairing. Greater than anything, the Giants want stability on the head teaching place. Since Tom Coughlin’s final season, the 2015 marketing campaign, New York has cycled by means of 4 totally different head teaching choices.
Harbaugh would be the fifth.
Giants followers usually are not hoping to see a sixth anytime quickly.
Atlanta Falcons: Kevin Stefanski
As famous above, the Falcons have crammed their head teaching emptiness with a coach coming from the AFC North, as Atlanta is popping to Kevin Stefanski.
Just like the rent of Harbaugh, it is a unbelievable transfer for each the coach, and the staff.
The massive focus in Atlanta is maximizing the expertise on the offensive aspect of the soccer.
Enter Stefanski, a coach rooted on that aspect of the ball.
Consider the offensive expertise that Stefanski will get to work with in Atlanta: Bijan Robinson, Drake London, and Kyle Pitts give Stefanski an unbelievable trio of offensive weapons to construct round. Determining quarterback goes to be an enormous a part of the equation, however Stefanski is a coach who can maybe get essentially the most out of Michael Penix Jr., who will probably be working again from one other knee damage however entered the yr because the staff’s beginning quarterback.
Miami Dolphins: Jeff Hafley
The Miami Dolphins have made their determination.
Inexperienced Bay Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley has been one of many hottest names throughout this hiring cycle — he underwent interviews with seven groups and was set for a second spherical with each the Dolphins and the Titans — has agreed to change into the subsequent coach of the Dolphins. This units up a reunion of types with incoming common supervisor Jon-Eric Sullivan, as the 2 shared time in Inexperienced Bay.
The thrill round Hafley this cycle is one cause for optimism in Miami, and the truth that Hafley constructed a powerful protection in Inexperienced Bay is one other. Then there’s the truth that after parting methods with Mike McDaniel, the Dolphins have engineered the frequent teaching flip: Transfer to the opposite aspect of the soccer with the subsequent rent.
Nonetheless, there’s additionally cause for skepticism. That is Hafley’s first NFL head teaching job, and he went 22-26 as the top coach at Boston School. And whereas he did construct a powerful protection in Inexperienced Bay, he additionally had a number of first-round picks alongside the defensive entrance at his disposal together with Micah Parsons, after the staff traded for him forward of the 2025 season.
So, cautious optimism may be one of the simplest ways to really feel about this.
Tennessee Titans: Robert Saleh
It’s removed from the splashiest rent of the cycle, however when the mud settles the Titans may wind up with top-of-the-line coaches in the marketplace. Robert Saleh’s expertise as a defensive coordinator and strategist have few friends within the NFL, and the best way he was unfairly booted from the Jets after being saddled with Zach Wilson was the best degree of ineptitude.
Saleh returned to the 49ers and managed to piece collectively a Prime 15 protection in factors allowed, and a Prime 10 speeding protection despite the litany of accidents San Francisco confronted, together with its two most crucial defensive gamers in Nick Bosa and Fred Warner.
With a status for non-nonsense teaching and demanding self-discipline from his gamers, Saleh is the right coach to return into Nashville and mould a younger staff in want of stewardship. Offensively he’s admitted that’s not his forte, so discovering somebody to held develop Cam Ward is a should — however there’s sufficient expertise on a protection anchored by Jeffrey Simmons that Saleh might make some noise within the ever mercurial AFC South.
The one small knock is {that a} coach like Saleh goes to wish time. It is a tradition shifting coach, and the Titans tend to be impatient.
Baltimore Ravens: Jesse Minter
A former Raven is coming residence.
The Baltimore Ravens introduced that Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter will probably be their subsequent coach, bringing residence an assistant below John Harbaugh from 2017 from 2020.
Whereas some believed the precise transfer for the Ravens was to rent an offensive-minded head coach to get essentially the most out of Lamar Jackson, the Ravens wish to enhance on the defensive aspect of the soccer. Minter constructed one of many league’s greatest defenses in Los Angeles this previous season, because the Chargers raned first in passer score allowed and fifth in yards per recreation.
The selection of offensive coordinator will probably be important, however this seems like an ideal transfer for the Ravens.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Mike McCarthy
Just like the Jesse Minter transfer, it is a homecoming for Mike McCarthy.
McCarthy grew up within the space, and now will get an opportunity to educate the staff he rooted for when he was youthful. McCarthy turns into simply the fifth head coach of the Steelers since 1969, when the group employed Chuck Noll. Since then Invoice Cowher and Mike Tomlin had been their solely two different coaches, till as we speak.
The largest query would be the quarterback place. Does this open the door to a return for Aaron Rodgers? When Tomlin stepped down the rapid thought was that the door was closed, however now a might a reunion be within the works?
Nonetheless, even with these two elements, this seems like a step again for the Steelers, and additionally it is a departure from their latest trendline of hiring youthful coaches and rising with them. As a substitute at 62 McCarthy brings expertise and a veteran presence to the Pittsburgh sideline.
This additionally seems like a grade worthy of a extra “wait and see” method.
