Now that the 2025-26 NFL common season has concluded, the NFL teaching carousel has begun. As soon as the common season is accomplished, groups that haven’t made the playoffs will consider their total workforce. Workforce house owners, executives, and determination makers will consider the top coach as soon as the common season ends. Many coaches’ fates have been determined following the concussion of Week 18. General, groups will spend the primary few days after the top of the season evaluating in the event that they consider their present head coach and his workers are serving to the workforce progress or holding them again.
All through the common season, many names can be introduced up as speculative NFL head teaching candidates. The pool is made up of former head coaches, elite offensive/defensive coordinators, and head coaches from the faculty stage. At this level of the yr, the candidates that obtain essentially the most buzz are the names more likely to land one of many head teaching alternatives.
Groups can be interviewing NFL head teaching candidates over the subsequent few weeks. Previous to Week 18 there have been two vacancies open. Now there are eight openings accessible general this offseason. Listed here are the 2026 NFL Head Teaching Candidates that may make the leap from up-and-coming coordinator to move coach.
John Harbaugh, Former Head Coach, Baltimore Ravens
The “Belle of the ball” of this teaching cycle is former longtime Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh. This can be very uncommon for a coach of Harbaugh’s stature to be accessible this head teaching cycle. Future Corridor of Fame head coach Invoice Belichick was let go through the 2024 head teaching cycle however was not employed by an NFL workforce. Tremendous Bowl champion Sean Payton was acquired through commerce by the Denver Broncos through the 2023 head teaching cycle as a result of his rights have been nonetheless owned by the New Orleans Saints regardless of taking a sabbatical yr to work for FOX Sports activities. The final time a coach with a resume akin to Harbaugh’s was accessible on the open market was when the Philadelphia Eagles let go of Andy Reid through the 2013 offseason. That very same offseason, Reid was employed as the top coach of the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs and has coached this workforce to win at an elite stage, placing collectively some of the dominant decade-long stretches in NFL historical past.
Above all else, a workforce trying to usher in Harbaugh is in search of a program builder. No teaching candidate in current reminiscence has as many assets to construct a program right into a constant winner as Harbaugh does this offseason. Over the previous twenty years, Harbaugh has developed a ton of gamers and coaches into constant winners.
Irrespective of the place Harbaugh finally ends up, he can have the chance to usher in whoever he desires to fill out his workers and roster to expedite the successful course of. This offseason, Harbaugh has a ton of former Ravens assistant coaches accessible on the open market to carry onto his new workforce, together with Anthony Weaver, Dennard Wilson, Zach Orr, Todd Monken, and Greg Roman. On prime of that, different prime assistants across the league will need to be a part of Harbaugh’s workers to study from him and connect their names to Harbaugh, who has a popularity for successful over the previous twenty years.
Throughout his 18 years in Baltimore, Harbaugh had a 180-113 common season document (.614 successful share) and 13-11 playoff document (.542 successful share). He made the playoffs in 12 of his 18 seasons, together with successful the Tremendous Bowl through the 2012-13 season.
The workforce trying to usher in Harbaugh will possible must restructure its entrance workplace as properly. Harbaugh can be trying to have a big function in participant personnel on his new workforce.
It’s unlikely that Harbaugh will sit out the season to attend for one more alternative. Because it at the moment stands, there is no such thing as a “slam dunk” opening that Harbaugh can’t say no to, however he’ll possible take a job this offseason. Nonetheless, if that have been to occur, it wouldn’t be stunning to see him be a Senior Analyst on his brother’s workers in Los Angeles. Lately, former head coaches have taken hole years or completed the rest of the season as a part of different groups’ teaching staffs as senior assistants or advisors.
Finest Matches: New York Giants, Atlanta Falcons, Miami Dolphins, Tennessee Titans, Inexperienced Bay Packers (if accessible)
Up to date: New York Giants anticipated to finalize a deal to make John Harbaugh their subsequent head coach as per
Adam Schefter
Mike Tomlin, Former Head Coach, Pittsburgh Steelers
Simply when all of the hypothesis of the place John Harbaugh can be going begins to warmth up, Mike Tomlin decides to step down as the top coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers. He stepped down following their loss to the Houston Texans within the Wild Card spherical. Early stories are that Tomlin is more likely to take the subsequent season off and land a TV job. Since Tomlin stepped down, the Steelers do retain his rights if he did need to return to teaching.
Some groups with openings will attempt to persuade Tomlin to educate subsequent season for his or her franchise as a substitute of taking the yr off. Since it’s unclear if he’ll coach in 2026, he won’t be considered as a prized teaching candidate as a result of he’s unlikely to interview for a job this offseason. Groups could be doing themselves a disservice by not treating Tomlin like he’s a reputable teaching candidate. It isn’t each offseason that an elite coach and future Corridor of Famer like Tomlin is on the market to be employed by a workforce with a emptiness.
The very first thing that’s talked about every time Mike Tomlin is introduced up is that he by no means had a dropping season in any respect in his 19-year head teaching profession. Over the previous couple of seasons, Tomlin has proven a capability to boost the ground of a workforce that will not be as proficient on paper, particularly on the offensive aspect of the ball. The final time Tomlin had above-average quarterback play was the 2020-21 season, one yr earlier than Ben Roethlisberger’s last season. Tomlin has the flexibility to will much less proficient rosters to no less than 9 to 10 wins, even in a division as robust because the AFC North.
Because the 2007 season, Tomlin has a 193-114-2 document (.628 successful share). He made the playoffs in 13 of his 19 seasons in Pittsburgh. Tomlin has an 8-12 document within the playoffs (.400 successful share). Nonetheless, he has not gained a playoff sport since 2016.
Much like Harbaugh, Tomlin has connections with gamers and coaches across the league to construct a roster and workers that might compete immediately. He instantly adjustments the tone and tradition within the constructing of no matter workforce he joins. Whoever hires Tomlin to educate their soccer workforce can be getting a dramatic change within the workforce tradition, an outstanding chief within the locker room, and can be constructing a program that normalizes successful constantly yr in and yr out.
Finest Matches: FOX Sports activities, CBS Sports activities, ESPN, NBC Sports activities, Miami Dolphins, Las Vegas Raiders, Atlanta Falcons
Kevin Stefanski, Former Head Coach, Cleveland Browns
The highest candidate many anticipated to be accessible this offseason was former Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski. It is extremely truthful to say that Stefanski has been one of many best head coaches the Browns have had since they returned to the league in 1999. His availability needed to do with the truth that either side appeared to have wanted to maneuver on from one another. After an amazing stretch the place Cleveland felt like a playoff workforce (and at occasions a Tremendous Bowl contender), this workforce fell right into a rut the place it acquired outdated and costly in a short time. This course of was expedited due to the shortage of flexibility and the shortcoming to discover a long-term reply at quarterback, Deshaun Watson’s contract has given Cleveland.
Stefanski is a two-time coach of the yr, successful in each 2020 and 2023. In 2020, Stefanski ended a 17-year playoff drought and had the Browns trying like a reputable Tremendous Bowl contender. Then, within the 2023 season, Stefanski coached Cleveland into the playoffs regardless of dropping Professional Bowl operating again two video games into the season and beginning 5 quarterbacks over the course of the season, together with Deshaun Watson, P.J. Walker, Dorian Thompson-Robinson, Jeff Driskel, and 2023 Comeback Participant of the 12 months Joe Flacco.
In six seasons in Cleveland, Stafanski had a 45-56 document (.446 successful share). He made the playoffs twice, successful considered one of his three playoff video games.
In a market that feels restricted relating to hiring an offense-minded head coach, Stefanski is the very best offense-minded teaching candidate in the marketplace. Not solely did he develop Baker Mayfield (earlier than giving up on his too early), however he additionally has gotten manufacturing from a number of below-average quarterbacks all through his stint with the Browns.
Groups trying to develop their offense as a complete ought to look to usher in the two-time coach of the yr to guide their franchise.
Finest Matches: Baltimore Ravens, Pittsburgh Steelers, Tennessee Titans, Atlanta Falcons
Matt Nagy, Offensive Coordinator, Kansas Metropolis Chiefs
Regardless of the disappointing season by the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs, Matt Nagy is without doubt one of the hottest teaching candidates within the NFL this offseason. Nagy was the top coach of the Chicago Bears from 2018 to 2021. After he was let go by Chicago, Nagy rejoined Andy Reid and the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs’ workers. Then in 2023, Nagy was promoted to Kansas Metropolis’s offensive coordinator, which was the place he held earlier than he was employed by Chicago in 2o18. Nagy helped lead the Chiefs to back-to-back Tremendous Bowls in his first two seasons in his second stint as Kansas Metropolis’s offensive coordinator.
Throughout Nagy’s 4 seasons in Chicago, he had a 34-31 document (.523 successful share). He made the playoffs twice in his 4 seasons however didn’t win a playoff sport.
When evaluating Nagy’s stint with the Bears along with his successor, Matt Eberflus, he was very profitable, making the playoffs twice in 4 seasons. The most important situation with Nagy’s time with Chicago is that he was pinned to Ryan Poles and John Fox’s quarterback choice of Mitch Trubisky for almost all of his tenure. Then, when Nagy was given the chance to pick out his personal quarterback (Justin Fields), he was already on the new seat and was not afforded the time to develop him, and needed to give attention to attempting to maintain his job.
NFL groups which might be occupied with Nagy should consider that he has discovered since his time in Chicago and can construct upon what he did when he was there. It will likely be essential for Nagy to be on the identical web page because the entrance workplace, which was a significant situation throughout his time in Chicago.
Groups additionally might consider that they’re getting forward of the curve by poaching Nagy this offseason. As Andy Reid enters his twenty eighth season as an NFL head coach on the age of 72, ideas of retirement may very well be crossing his thoughts. Kansas Metropolis won’t have a straightforward season subsequent yr, in addition to they are going to possible be with out Travis Kelce, who’s more likely to retire and Patrick Mahomes for a majority of the season due to a torn ACL. It seems that, because it at the moment stands, Reid will relinquish the top teaching title to Nagy within the occasion he retires. Different groups might attempt to get forward of the promotion by bringing in a coach {that a} future Corridor of Famer in Reid, thinks is able to sustaining the extent of success this workforce has had for the previous decade.
Finest Matches: Tennessee Titans, Baltimore Ravens, Atlanta Falcons
Brian Flores, Defensive Coordinator, Minnesota Vikings
Yearly, Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores proves that he deserves one other alternative to grow to be an NFL head coach. Flores was the top coach of the Miami Dolphins from 2019 to 2021. There have been some rising pains early in Flores tenure as Miami’s head coach because of some tendencies he discovered from his time as an assistant coach of the New England Patriots below Invoice Belichick. Since Flores was let go in Miami, he has tried to separate himself from the Belichick teaching tree and develop as a extra well-rounded defensive coach.
Flores had a 24-25 document (.490 successful share) in his three seasons in Miami. However in his last two seasons, Flores went 19-14 (.576 successful share). Sadly for Flores, he simply missed the playoffs in his last two seasons, which was a motive why they let him go. The first motive Flores was let go was that he was a scapegoat for (now former) Dolphins common supervisor Chris Grier to proprietor Stephen Ross for why the workforce saved falling in need of the playoffs.Grier and Flores didn’t at all times see eye-to-eye. Grier would alliterate Flores from conversations with Ross pertaining tothe way forward for the franchise. That rift between Flores and different determination makers on the franchise is what finally led to the lack of his job in Miami.
A part of why Flores has not landed a head coach alternative regardless of interviewing for a number of jobs since being let go is the continuing lawsuit he has towards the NFL for the actions of a number of NFL groups that occurred through the 2022 head teaching cycle. However Flores’ influence on the Minnesota Vikings and the efficiency of his protection can’t be ignored by groups in want of a brand new head coach for much longer. His protection largely carried a disappointing Minnesota Vikings workforce to a successful document this previous season.
The workforce that hires Flores instantly turns into more durable. In addition they get an upgraded defensive scheme, which can grow to be the identification of the workforce. Now, after Flores has had stints with totally different teaching staffs in Pittsburgh and Minnesota, he’ll be capable of construct a greater offensive workers to care for the opposite aspect of the ball. Flores’ lack of ability to assemble an offense workers in Miami was a big situation throughout his final head teaching tenure.
Finest Matches: Las Vegas Raiders, Atlanta Falcons, Arizona Cardinals. Cleveland Browns. Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Ravens
Mike McDaniel, Former Head Coach, Miami Dolphins
Because the season was coming to a detailed, it appeared the previous Miami Dolphins head coach, Mike McDaniel, was going to retain his job because the Dolphins’ head coach for yet one more season. After beginning the season 2-7, the workforce completed the season combating for his or her head coach and their satisfaction, ending the yr with a good 7-10 document. After evaluating the open market, Miami determined to let go of McDaniel and have a recent slate with this regime at common supervisor and head coach.
McDaniel had a 35 -33 document (.515 successful share) in his 4 seasons as Miami’s head coach. He made the playoffs in his first two seasons with the workforce however didn’t win a playoff sport. McDaniel’s Dolphins virtually beat Buffalo within the 2023-24 playoffs with Skyler Thompson below heart for them. The next season, they misplaced to the Chiefs on the highway in Kansas Metropolis in a sport that was by no means shut.
There have been a variety of critiques of the Mike McDaniel period in Miami, however one factor that critics can by no means take away from McDaniel is that he is without doubt one of the finest offensive play-callers within the league. He’s atop of everybody’s offensive coordinator checklist and is getting reputable seems to be a head coach as quickly as subsequent season due to it.
He constructed an outstanding offense predicated on the velocity of Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, and De’Von Achane in Miami. He has at all times gotten phenomenal manufacturing from his operating backs, relationship again to his time with the 49ers as their operating sport coordinator earlier than he was promoted to offensive coordinator. Quite a lot of the problems in Miami have been that the workforce acquired outdated and costly rapidly after they’d acquired a ton of veteran expertise like Hill, Jalen Ramsey, Bradley Chubb, and Terron Armstead to expedite the rebuild.
The Dolphins let a variety of strong starters and high quality depth out the door to pay the veterans and younger long-term items of this roster, like Waddle and Tua Tagovailoa. This left the Dolphins very top-heavy and susceptible to accidents, particularly at quarterback. Tagovailoa had handled a ton of accidents in his NFL profession, confirmed on a number of events that he’s incapable of taking part in in unideal climate situations, and general wasn’t a distinct maker on a constant foundation. That is why the offense and general workforce didn’t look nice all through a season that it appeared nice throughout stretches on McDaniel’s tenure.
If McDaniel lands one other head teaching alternative this offseason, he ought to search for a state of affairs the place he might choose his quarterback this time or be paired with a quarterback that he feels extra snug attaching himself to for his tenure as a head coach. Groups with head teaching vacancies will at all times look to usher in a younger, hotshot, offensive-minded head coach. However McDaniel might should accept an offensive coordinator job. That wouldn’t be the worst situation, contemplating he’ll possible grow to be the highest-paid offensive coordinator within the league subsequent season. If it isn’t this offseason, McDaniel may very well be a premier identify within the teaching market subsequent season if he produces on a brand new workforce as their offensive coordinator.
Finest Matches: Baltimore Ravens, Tennessee Titans, Cleveland Browns, Las Vegas Raiders, Arizona Cardinals
Mike McCarthy, Former Head Coach, Dallas Cowboys
The final coach to be employed by a 3rd NFL workforce as a head coach (not one of the tenures as an interim head coach) was Lovie Smith when he was promoted to move coach by the Houston Texans in 2022. There usually are not many head coaches across the NFL who earn the chance to be the top coach of three totally different franchises throughout their NFL careers. Former Dallas Cowboys and Inexperienced Bay Packers head coach has a reputable alternative to grow to be the top coach of his third NFL franchise this yr.
As per ESPN, he might be a part of the likes of notable coaches like Wade Phillips, Invoice Parcells, Marty Schottenheimer, Pete Carroll, Mike Shanahan, John Fox, Dan Reeves, Dick Vermeil, and Norv Turner to have been the top coach of three or extra NFL franchises. As seen from this checklist, it was extra widespread for coaches to get this many alternatives again within the 80’s, 90’s, and even early 2000’s versus now, the place coaches typically wrestle to obtain a second alternative.
McCarthy has posted a 174-112-2 document (.608 successful share) in his 18 whole seasons as a head coach of the Inexperienced Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys. He went 125-77 (.618 successful share) throughout his 13 seasons in Inexperienced Bay. McCarthy had a 49-35 document (.618 successful share) in his 5 seasons in Dallas.
He made the playoffs in 12 of his 18 seasons, together with eight in a row between 2009 and 2016. The Packers made the convention championship 4 occasions throughout his tenure as head coach. McCarthy led the Packers to a Tremendous Bowl victory through the 2010-11 season.
Throughout and now after his tenure in Dallas, it is rather clear what McCarthy brings to a corporation as a head coach. He raises the ground of a franchise and retains them aggressive all through the season. His offenses at all times produce at a excessive stage, no matter whether or not it’s Aaron Rodgers or Dak Prescott on the helm. He has gotten MVP-level manufacturing out of each of them. However to ensure that McCarthy’s groups to take the subsequent step as Tremendous Bowl contenders, he’ll need assistance from a protection and training workers to raise this roster to that stage.
Much like the response that he acquired when the Dallas Cowboys employed him in 2020, McCarthy isn’t the “horny rent”as a result of he’s not a younger up-and-coming offensive play-caller. However he brings a sure stage of stability to a franchise that might desperately want it. He’s extraordinarily revered round league circles and confirmed that he might construct a proficient workers to assist his roster and preserve them aggressive.
Finest Matches: Tennessee Titans, Miami Dolphins, Arizona Cardinals, Cleveland Browns
Kliff Kingsbury, Former Offensive Coordinator, Washington Commanders
There was traction for former Washington Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury to land a head teaching alternative final season after how spectacular Jayden Daniels and Washington’s offense appeared in his first season there. Nonetheless, in stunning vogue, Kingsbury and the Commanders determined to half methods this offseason after a disappointing season the place it felt like the underside fully fell out from beneath a workforce that was within the NFC Championship the yr beforehand.
Previous to touchdown the job in Washington, Kingsbury was the top coach of the Arizona Cardinals from 2019-2022. He had a 22-37-1 document (.432 successful share) throughout his 4 seasons in Arizona. He solely made the playoffs as soon as in his time there, however didn’t win a playoff sport.
It’s onerous to make excuses for why issues didn’t work for a coach like Kingsbury, who was given a primary general decide quarterback in Kyler Murray, who was Tailored to play in his air raid model offense. However his groups weren’t very proficient. Earlier than and through Kingsbury’s tenure in Arizona (on the time), common supervisor Steve Keim had struggled to draft gamers who might grow to be actual contributors to this roster.
Offensively, Arizona was reliant on veterans like DeAndre Hopkins, Kenyan Drake, Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, and Zach Ertz, who have been introduced in through commerce to assist Kyler Murray and this offense as a result of they might not draft and develop expertise. In addition they hit gold by taking an opportunity on former Steelers operating again James Conner, who had signed a one-year prove-it take care of them in 2021 earlier than spending the subsequent 4 seasons with the workforce.
Not the entire blame ought to relaxation on the shoulders of former Cardinals common supervisor Steve Keim, however Kingsbury confirmed throughout his time with the Commanders that he can construct a high-octane offense on the NFL stage in a brief period of time. A part of the rationale that Kingsbury possible determined to depart Washington is that he was possible leaning that means anyway if he was capable of land a brand new head teaching alternative elsewhere.
He has proven since his school teaching days that he’s very able to creating younger quarterbacks. Kingsbury has performed a vital function in creating quite a few Heisman-winning quarterbacks, together with Johnny Manziel, Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray, Caleb Williams, and Jayden Daniels. The 2 notable non-Heisman-winning quarterbacks that he has developed on the school stage are journeyman veteran quarterback Case Keenum and three-time Tremendous Bowl champion, two-time MVP, and future Corridor of Famer Patrick Mahomes.
Groups trying to usher in Kingsbury need to add firepower to a stagnant offense. They need to even have stability or a veteran coach in place to run the defensive aspect of the ball. Kingsbury is an offensive first man and certain gained’t have a lot to do with that aspect of the ball apart from what’s required for him to do as a head coach. One of the best ways to maximise Kingsbury is to pair him with a veteran defensive coordinator who can maintain down that aspect of the ball. Regardless of not having any prior NFL teaching expertise earlier than taking the Arizona Cardinals head teaching job, he had executed properly sufficient at Arizona and Washington to warrant one other alternative to grow to be an NFL Head coach.
Finest Matches: Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Ravens, Las Vegas Raiders, Tennessee Titans
Robert Saleh, Defensive Coordinator, San Francisco 49ers
Many felt that Robert Saleh was strolling right into a dream state of affairs, returning to San Francisco as their defensive coordinator. Nonetheless, this season was not a straightforward one for Saleh due to all of the losses the workforce suffered on protection because of free company and harm. Regardless of all of the adversity the 49ers confronted general this season, they made it to the playoffs and gained their highway matchup towards the Philadelphia Eagles within the wild-card spherical. Saleh’s teaching on the defensive aspect of the ball performed a significant function in San Francisco’s success this season.
Groups have been proven this season that Saleh remains to be one of many elite defensive coaches within the league. What he’s executed in San Francisco with a protection with out Nick Bosa and Fred Warner for many of the yr confirmed that. However the efficiency of his former workforce, the New York Jets, additionally confirmed what sort of coach Saleh is as properly. After Saleh was fired midseason from New York final season, their protection started to regress.
This previous season, New York’s protection regressed to one of many worst within the league regardless of starting the yr with the identical defensive expertise as final yr, together with Quinnen Williams, Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner, Jermaine Johnson, Will McDonald, and Quincy Williams. The previous season in a half in New York proved that he elevated the extent of the protection and did an amazing job creating their defensive expertise throughout his tenure there.Throughout his 4 years with the New York Jets, Saleh had a 20-26 document (.357 successful share). He by no means made the playoffs throughout his tenure with the workforce.
It’s no secret that it’s tough to educate in New York, particularly for the Jets, who’ve the longest playoff drought within the league. When taking a look at Saleh’s tenure with the workforce, his greatest situation was what the workforce missed at quarterback after two main investments within the place in a three-year span. New York took Zach Wilson second general within the 2021 NFL Draft. Wilson was clearly overwhelmed by the state of affairs and proved he wasn’t the workforce’s reply at quarterback by the top of his second season.
Then the Jets made a blockbuster deal, a ton of draft capital for an growing old Aaron Rodgers. When Rodgers was with the workforce, he clearly was not the identical participant that he was in Inexperienced Bay. However he had a stranglehold over the franchise, threatening retirement at any second in the event that they didn’t give in to his calls for. New York introduced in former teammates of Rodgers like Allen Lazard, Randall Cobb, and Billy Turner, who have been in direction of the top of their careers and couldn’t contribute a lot. These veterans took roles away from younger, creating gamers with extra upside. The workforce was composed of a number of veterans (together with Rodgers) who couldn’t elevate the remainder of the younger creating roster to the extent they’d have in previous years. Saleh seemingly was then pushed out by Rodgers as a scapegoat when the workforce had a troublesome begin to the 2024-25 season.
Groups trying to usher in Saleh ought to look to usher in an amazing chief of males. Not solely is Saleh a CEO sort of coach, however he’s well-regarded as an amazing locker room presence. His monitor document exhibits that not solely can he develop younger expertise on the defensive aspect of the ball, however his schemes have additionally led his groups to nice manufacturing for his protection. For a workforce with an infrastructure or plan on the offensive aspect of the ball, Saleh may very well be an amazing candidate to grow to be their head coach.
Finest Matches: Tennessee Titans, Miami Dolphins, Baltimore Ravens, Arizona Cardinals
Vance Joseph, Defensive Coordinator, Denver Broncos
It’s onerous to disregard what Vance Joseph has executed on the defensive aspect of the ball for the Denver Broncos the final three seasons. His protection lastly acquired the popularity they deserved as among the finest within the league. Joseph’s protection was the catalyst for the Broncos to take the subsequent step and end the season because the one seed within the AFC and at last successful the AFC West over the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs.
Again in 2017 Joseph was employed as the top coach of the Denver Broncos. He took over a workforce in transition. Denver was transitioning off of their Tremendous Bowl Champion workforce led by Gary Kubiak and Peyton Manning. Each Kubiak and Manning retired inside two seasons of their Tremendous Bowl victory. Denver didn’t have an answer at quarterback regardless of beginning a number of quarterbacks like Trevor Siemian, Case Keenum, Brock Osweiler, and Paxton Lynch throughout Joseph’s tenure.
Throughout Joseph’s two years in Denver he had an 11-21 document (.344 successful share). They didn’t make the playoffs in any respect throughout Joseph’s tenure.
Groups trying to carry Joseph in are hoping that he wasn’t prepared for his final head teaching alternative and that he has discovered from his first stint in Denver alongside along with his time in Arizona and again with the Broncos as their defensive coordinator. Joseph’s defenses have at all times carried out properly going again to his time with the Miami Dolphins. If he might develop defensive expertise for his new workforce the way in which he has throughout his current stint with Denver then he ought to have a greater tenure as a head coach the second time round.
Finest Matches: Arizona Cardinals, Tennessee Titans, Miami Dolphins
Raheem Morris, Former Head Coach, Atlanta Falcons
The primary head coach to be let go following the conclusion of Week 18 was former Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris. Regardless of displaying strides in the correct path on the defensive aspect of the ball this season, it felt like Atlanta wanted a recent begin at head coach and common supervisor. Morris’ tenure was disappointing contemplating the expectations that have been positioned on him when he was introduced in. Nonetheless groups might consider that Atlanta’s failures through the Morris period might have extra to do with the head-scratching draft picks and signings made throughout Terry Fontenot’s tenure as common supervisor.
Morris has been an NFL head coach twice all through his profession. Not solely was he the top coach of the Atlanta Falcons from 2024-2025 however he additionally was the top coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2009-2011. He was additionally the interim head coach of the Atlanta Falcons through the 2020-21 season. Throughout all of his head teaching tenures Morris had a 37-56 document (.398 successful share). He was 17-31 (.354 successful share) in his three seasons in Tampa Bay. Morris then went 4-7 (.364 successful share) because the interim head coach in Atlanta. Then in his stint because the full-time head coach in Atlanta Morris went 16-18 (.471 successful share) over the past two seasons. Morris had not made the playoffs in any of his stints as a head coach.
Over his profession Morris has proven to be an amazing chief and defensive thoughts. Many felt that he didn’t get a good alternative as a head coach in Tampa. When he took over the Falcons he took over a roster that wanted (and nonetheless wants) main work. That they had urgent wants at quarterback, go rusher, huge receiver, and cornerback to call just a few positions of want. Atlanta struggled to fill out their roster with the expertise essential to compete with influence Day 2 and Day 3 draft picks below common supervisor Terry Fontenot.
Additionally throughout this period the workforce determined to double down on main wants through the offseason which alienated the opposite wants on the roster. They signed Kirk Cousins to an enormous contract then drafted Michael Penix Jr. eight general in 2018. Then the next season they drafted Jalon Walker early in 2025 NFL Draft then traded a bundle of draft picks together with their first spherical decide in 2026 to pick out James Pierce Jr. to handle their large want for an influence go rusher. In hind web site Atlanta ought to have unfold out their assets to handle the opposite wants on their roster.
Morris has gotten a variety of traction on this teaching cycle regardless of being let go just a few weeks in the past. Groups who consider that Morris didn’t get a good shake in Atlanta and consider he’s nonetheless the top coach many thought he may very well be when Atlanta employed him from Sean McVay’s workers in Los Angeles will prioritize him.
Finest Matches: Tennessee Titans, Baltimore Ravens, Arizona Cardinals
Arthur Smith, Offensive Coordinator, Pittsburgh Steelers
Arthur Smith’s offense could also be controversial at occasions, however he is without doubt one of the most extremely revered coaches within the league. He has gained a variety of traction as a head teaching candidate after what he’s executed in Pittsburgh this previous yr. His offense didn’t blow individuals away week after week, however contemplating the items he needed to work with, he acquired nice manufacturing out of the gamers he was offered this previous season.
Smith’s offense this previous season was led by a 41-year-old quarterback, Aaron Rodgers, who had simply signed with the workforce that summer season. They misplaced their main rusher for the previous 4 seasons in Najee Harris. Pittsburgh additionally solely had one dependable go catcher on the roster in newly acquired receiver D.Okay. Metcalf after buying and selling away George Pickens proper earlier than the season began. Regardless of all of the adversity, Pittsburgh’s offense was constant and had nice manufacturing from function gamers Kenneth Gainwell, Darnell Washington, and Calvin Austin III at occasions all year long.
Previous to touchdown in Pittsburgh, Smith was the top coach of the Atlanta Falcons from 2021 to 2023. Smith had a 21-30 (.412 successful share) in his three seasons with the Falcons. In all three seasons, the Falcons completed 7-10 and landed the eighth general decide within the NFL Draft. He didn’t make the playoffs whereas with the Falcons.
Much like Raheem Morris, Smith fell sufferer to a number of the poor choices made by common supervisor Terry Fontenot. In Smith’s first draft, the workforce chosen Kyle Pitts fourth general over the likes of gamers like Ja’Marr Chase, Penei Sewell, and Patrick Surtain, who have been considered franchise cornerstone gamers earlier than coming into the league.
The subsequent offseason, the workforce tried to improve from franchise legend Matt Ryan by buying and selling for Deshaun Watson. After making their intentions public about wanting to accumulate Watson to be the workforce’s beginning quarterback, they have been outbid by the Cleveland Browns. This resulted within the Falcons being pressured to commerce their long-time franchise quarterback, Ryan, as a result of they inadvertently broken the connection between themselves and Ryan by publicly making it recognized they’d have moved on from him for Watson. They have been pressured to overpay for journeyman Marcus Mariota as a result of he was conversant in this offense.
The next season, Smith’s quarterback room was composed of Mariota and rookie third-round decide Desmond Ridder. After Mariota proved he wasn’t the reply, Ridder acquired the chance to show himself and dissatisfied as properly. It felt like, all through Smith’s tenure with the Falcons, he did get to pick out his quarterback; as a substitute, he had play whoever they might get within the constructing. On prime of quarterback, the workforce had main wants at go catcher and throughout their protection throughout Smith’s tenure that have been unimaginable to resolve in a brief time period.
Groups trying to usher in Smith could be getting a confirmed offensive play caller. In his second alternative, Smith ought to have the chance to pick out his personal quarterback to staple himself to and develop if there isn’t one within the constructing already. He additionally has an amazing monitor document of creating younger offensive line expertise throughout his time in Tennessee, Atlanta, and Pittsburgh.
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