> At a Glance
> – Three coaches were fired on “Black Monday” following the regular season: Kevin Stefanski (Browns), Pete Carroll (Raiders), and Jonathan Gannon (Cardinals)
> – Six franchises are searching for new head coaches entering the 2026 hiring cycle
> – Giants top the list due to young talent and draft capital; Cardinals rank last amid roster and cap concerns
> – Why it matters: With only 32 NFL head coaching jobs worldwide, each vacancy draws intense competition despite varying roster situations
The NFL’s annual coaching carousel spun into motion with six franchises now hunting for new leaders. While some jobs promise playoff-ready rosters, others demand full-scale rebuilds.
The Power Rankings
Sophia A. Reynolds of News Of Los Angeles evaluated each opening by roster talent, draft assets, cap flexibility, and division competition.
1. New York Giants
- Rookie QB Jaxson Dart tossed 24 touchdowns in 12 starts and headlines a young core featuring Malik Nabers, Andrew Thomas, Brian Burns, and Abdul Carter
- The team owns the No. 5 pick and ample cap space, mirroring last year’s rapid turnarounds by New England and Chicago
- GM Joe Shoen stays, but a short leash means both he and the new coach must win quickly in a loaded NFC East
- Ideal hire: Former Browns coach Kevin Stefanski, a two-time Coach of the Year with two playoff berths in Cleveland
2. Atlanta Falcons
- Skill-position stars include Bijan Robinson, Drake London, and rookie pass-rushers James Pierce and Jalon Walker
- The NFC South remains winnable; no team has repeated as division champ in nine years
- Quarterback uncertainty looms: Michael Penix Jr., Kirk Cousins, or an outside option must be decided
- Ideal hire: Veteran Mike McCarthy, 174-112-2 lifetime with 12 playoff trips, could stabilize the culture
3. Tennessee Titans
- Cam Ward, last year’s No. 1 pick, flashed promise despite a mid-season coaching change
- Chig Okonkwo, rookie receivers Chimere Dike and Elic Ayomanor give the offense building blocks
- The franchise has back-to-back 3-win seasons since moving on from Mike Vrabel
- Ideal hire: Seattle OC Klint Kubiak, 38, whose offense has Jaxson Smith-Njigba eyeing Offensive Player of the Year
4. Las Vegas Raiders
- The No. 1 overall pick secures access to quarterbacks Fernando Mendoza or Dante Moore
- Core talent features TE Brock Bowers, RB Ashton Jeanty, and possibly edge Maxx Crosby
- The Raiders have four coaches in four years, the NFL’s quickest turnover since 2021
- Ideal hire: Ex-Dolphins coach Brian Flores for culture change, paired with an OC such as Brian Daboll
5. Cleveland Browns
- 2025 draft produced standouts Quinshon Judkins, Harold Fannin Jr., Carson Schwesinger, and Mason Graham
- Myles Garrett remains under long-term contract
- The franchise has one playoff berth since 2002 outside Stefanski’s tenure and carries Deshaun Watson’s contract baggage
- Ideal hire: Rams DC Chris Shula, 40, a Sean McVay disciple and grandson of legendary coach Don Shula
6. Arizona Cardinals
- Coaching stability history: seven of eight coaches since 1996 received at least three full seasons
- Trey McBride, Marvin Harrison Jr., and Michael Wilson form a promising young nucleus
- The Kyler Murray era is ending, creating dead-cap stress and likely leaving Arizona outside the top-two quarterback options in the draft
- Competing in a division where Seattle, San Francisco, and Los Angeles all finished top-three in the NFC compounds the challenge
- Ideal hire: Texans DC Matt Burke, 49, former Cardinals assistant and architect of a 2025 top-tier defense
Key Takeaways
- The Giants and Falcons offer the clearest paths to quick contention thanks to young cores and manageable divisions
- Quarterback questions dominate Atlanta, Tennessee, Cleveland, and Arizona, while Las Vegas can draft one first overall
- Coaching stability has eluded the Raiders for decades; Cleveland hopes to buck a 20-year playoff drought
- With only 32 of these jobs in existence, every vacancy remains highly coveted despite rebuild requirements
The 2026 hiring cycle is set, and six franchises hope their next leader becomes the face of a turnaround.
