[Live coaching news updates]
Head-coaching searches are in full swing across the NFL as teams that didn’t make the playoffs readjust in an attempt for a brighter 2026.
But there was a monumental shift in the coaching ranks Tuesday, as long-time Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin will reportedly step away from the team after a 19-year run. His decision comes less than 24 hours after the Steelers lost 30-6 against the Houston Texans in the wild-card round.
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With the move, the Steelers will look to hire their third coach since 1969.
The NFL coaching carousel was spinning fast the week after the regular season ended. On Saturday, the Atlanta Falcons, as expected, officially hired franchise legend Matt Ryan as their new president of football operations. The move was expected following the firings of head coach Raheem Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot.
The Dolphins fired head coach Mike McDaniel. A day later, on Friday, they hired Jon-Eric Sullivan, the Green Bay Packers vice president of player personnel, as their new general manager. Sullivan will help guide the search for McDaniel’s replacement.
McDaniel’s firing came two days after the Baltimore Ravens stunned the league by parting ways with head coach John Harbaugh after 18 seasons and a Super Bowl win. That job quickly became the most attractive vacancy of the bunch, according to Yahoo Sports’ Frank Schwab.
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Harbaugh, as you can imagine, will be in high demand this coaching cycle with the Dolphins and Cleveland Browns reportedly reaching out to request interviews for their open head coaching jobs.
The changes haven’t been limited to just head coaches. As was widely expected, the Dallas Cowboys fired defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus on Tuesday after the team surrendered more than 500 points in a season for the first time in franchise history.
Staying in the NFC East, the Washington Commanders moved on from defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. and mutually agreed to part ways with offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury. Both were part of Dan Quinn’s inaugural Commanders staff that helped lead Washington to its first conference title game appearance since the 1991 season. Kingsbury is expected to receive head-coaching consideration and to have OC options after assisting Jayden Daniels’ NFL breakout.
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Here’s a full list of the head coaches who will need to be replaced this offseason:
STEPPED DOWN
Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh Steelers
Record with team: 201-126-2 (including playoffs), 19 seasons
Why he stepped down: After nearly two decades of success in Pittsburgh, Tomlin faced criticism in recent seasons for his failure to make deep postseason runs. It’s possible those demands began to weigh on Tomlin after such a long time coaching. It’s also possible he was simply ready to take a break after nearly 20 decades in a high-stress role. Since Tomlin is leaving — and was not fired — the Steelers still hold his rights should he want to return to coaching. Tomlin also could opt to take a gap year or two before returning to the game. If he decides to get back into coaching, he would presumably be a highly sought after target for teams.
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FIRED
Mike McDaniel, Miami Dolphins
Record with team: 35-35 (including playoffs), four seasons
Why he was fired: Things got off to a miserable start this season, as the Dolphins were embarrassed by the Indianapolis Colts in Week 1. From there, the Dolphins found increasingly inventive ways to lose. With the team at 1-6 to open the season, McDaniel and the Dolphins showed some life down the stretch. The team won five of its next six games, salvaging what, to that point, had been a miserable start. But that surge couldn’t save McDaniel … or Tua Tagovailoa.
John Harbaugh, Baltimore Ravens
Record with team: 193-124 (including playoffs), 18th season
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Why he was fired: The Ravens were surprisingly mediocre this season, and it can’t all be attributed to Lamar Jackson’s injuries. Their defense yo-yo’d between outright bad and competent, and some of Harbaugh’s in-game decisions have drawn scrutiny. Harbaugh has failed to get back to the Super Bowl with a two-time MVP quarterback in Jackson, and there had been a general sense that a breath of fresh air at head coach might be good for the Ravens.
Jonathan Gannon, Arizona Cardinals
Record with team: 15-36, three seasons
Why he was fired: Gannon was hired in part to toughen up Arizona’s defense, and that didn’t really happen. This season’s unit was 26th in EPA per play allowed, 27th in success rate allowed, and in general hasn’t taken a step forward despite 17 of Gannon’s 28 draft picks being on that side of the ball, including six of seven last spring. It’s hard to say the Cardinals are demonstrably better than they were when Gannon was hired.
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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.
Pete Carroll, Las Vegas Raiders
Record with team: 3-14, one season
Why he was fired: Carroll was supposed to bring stability to the franchise, but it was more losing under the 74-year-old former Super Bowl winner. The Raiders beat the Kansas City Chiefs in their season finale to end a winless streak that dated to Week 6. The offseason trade for Carroll’s preferred QB Geno Smith never yielded much, the offensive and special teams coordinators were both fired in November, and now there was a dispute with Maxx Crosby over the star pass rusher being placed on injured reserve. None of it reflected well on Carroll, who was in over his head trying to fix a franchise where the rot goes much deeper (and higher).
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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 team: 46-58 (including playoffs), six seasons
Why he was fired: The Browns suffered their fourth losing record in six years under Stefanski, as well as a second straight year picking in the top seven of the draft. The cataclysmic Deshaun Watson trade is partly on Stefanski, who recruited him in the spring of 2022, and for all of Stefanski’s offensive acumen, none of the 13 quarterbacks who’ve started under his watch has proven to be the long-term solution.
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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 team: 16-18, two seasons
Why he was fired: Morris hadn’t been flat-out bad. The Falcons won their final four games of the season, seemingly helping Morris’ cause. But the Falcons regressed overall this season and the operation felt shaky under his watch. While he ended up a fall guy alongside general manager Terry Fontenot, who oversaw an all-in 2025 that included trading away the team’s first-round draft pick next spring, Morris didn’t always build the strongest case for himself. The Falcons now look like they will completely revamp their football operations department with former quarterback Matt Ryan poised to come in as Atlanta’s new president of football.
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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 team: 21-41-1, three full seasons and 10 games
Why he was fired: Daboll won Coach of the Year in his first season in charge, leading the Giants to a playoff win behind Daniel Jones and Saquon Barkley. But injuries and underachievement dug a hole Daboll couldn’t coach his way out of, and his handling of the Giants’ overall operation — from game management to interfering with concussion protocol to repeatedly exposing 2025 first-round rookie QB Jaxson Dart to extra punishment in the run game — became too much for the franchise to bear.
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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 team: 4-19, one full season and six games
Why he was fired: Callahan was more successful at drawing attention to himself off the field than winning on it. He blew up at QB Will Levis multiple times during games, admitted he didn’t know a rule that cost the Titans early this season, excoriated referees and more. Despite his reputation as an offensive guru, it didn’t seem like No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward was making much progress under his auspices, and the Titans decided to admit their mistake and cut bait.
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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.
NFL coaching news live blog
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Sean Leahy
The 46-year-old Graham has been leading the Raiders’ defense since 2022. Prior to his time in Las Vegas, he served as DC with the Dolphins and New York Giants from 2019-2021 after coaching in New England in various roles for seven seasons.
In Graham’s four seasons, the Raiders’ defense has averaged 336.9 yards and 23.8 points allowed per game. This past season they allowed 317.8 yards and 25.4 points per game.
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Criss Partee
The Baltimore Ravens have completed an interview with Brian Flores for their vacant head coach position. Flores is viewed as one of the brightest defensive minds in the NFL and has been the defensive coordinator in Minnesota for the past three seasons, following a three-year stint as head coach in Miami.
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Chris Cwik
After 19 seasons, Mike Tomlin’s run with the Pittsburgh Steelers has come to an end. The coach has decided to step away from the Steelers a day after a 30-6 loss to the Houston Texans in the wild-card round.
Tomlin, 53, never posted a losing season with the Steelers, leading the team to a Super Bowl win in 2008.
The Steelers now find themselves in an unusual spot this offseason. The team will be looking for a new head coach for the third time since Chuck Noll was hired in 1969. That’s quite the run for the franchise, which typically makes excellent decisions when choosing the next person to lead the team forward.
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Criss Partee
Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell announced the retirement of assistant head coach Mike Pettine in Minnesota. Pettine spent the last four years as assistant head coach in Minnesota and was head coach of the Cleveland Browns for two years, from 2014 to 2015.
Pettine began his coaching career in 1988, and served as a coach at the high school, college, and pro levels.
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Criss Partee
The Los Angeles Chargers have fired offensive coordinator Greg Roman, according to Tom Pelissero. Roman has had a long tenure as an offensive coordinator in the NFL, dating back to 2011 with the San Francisco 49ers under Jim Harbaugh.
Roman’s two-year run with the Chargers marked his second stint working for Harbaugh, following a six-year tenure with John Harbaugh in Baltimore. He began his NFL coaching career in 1995 with the Carolina Panthers.
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Sean Leahy
Stefanski went 45-56 in his six seasons in charge of the Browns. Cleveland made the playoffs twice under him, but won only eight games over the past two seasons.
In early November, Stefanski relinquished offensive play-calling duties for a second consecutive season after the Browns ranked 31st in total offense, 31st in passing offense and 29th in rushing offense through the first nine weeks 2025 season.
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Chris Cwik
Mike Kafka’s tenure as the New York Giants’ head coach appears to be coming to an end. After going 2-5 with the team after taking over in an interim role, Kafka is likely to be replaced by another candidate.
But he should land on his feet soon. Kafka reportedly interviewed for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ offensive coordinator position Tuesday, per ESPN.
It was a virtual interview.
Kafka, 38, originally rose to prominence after his time in Kansas City, where he served as a quarterbacks coach with the Chiefs. He eventually joined the Giants and, despite some poor offensive seasons, continued to gain momentum in coaching circles.
After a rough head-coaching debut, Kafka will likely look to build up his value again in the hopes of getting more head-coaching interviews in the future.
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Chris Cwik
The Washington Commanders are hoping to interview Minnesota Vikings DC Brian Flores for Washington’s open defensive coordinator position, according to NFL Network.
Flores has spent the past three seasons with the Vikings, with the team ranking No. 13, No. 7 and No. 5 in points allowed under Flores in those years.
Flores’ contract with the Vikings is up in Minnesota, meaning he can look at whatever job he pleases. Flores has head-coaching experience, as he put together a 24-25 record in three seasons with the Miami Dolphins.
Despite that, he hasn’t booked many head-coaching interviews yet this offseason.
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Chris Cwik
Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter will be a popular head-coaching candidate this offseason. Minter reportedly has interview requests in from all eight teams looking for a new head coach, per MMQB’s Albert Breer.
In two seasons with the Chargers, Minter has led the No. 1 and No. 9 defense in points allowed.
The 42-year-old will interview with the Titans and Cardinals on Tuesday before meeting with other clubs.
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Chris Cwik
Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley has a busy week ahead of him. Hafley will interview for the Titans’ head-coaching position Tuesday before speaking with at least four other teams about their openings.
Hafley is expected to talk to the Atlanta Falcons, Arizona Cardinals, Las Vegas Raiders and Miami Dolphins about their open head-coaching roles, per NFL Network.
The Packers have turned in two straight strong defensive seasons under Hafley. In 2024, the team ranked sixth in points allowed. That dropped in 2025, but only down to 11th.
While Hafley experienced success with the franchise, the Packers failed to win a game after losing star pass rusher Micah Parsons for the season. The defense seemed to regress without Parsons, giving up at least 30 points during the team’s season-ending. five-game losing streak.
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Chris Cwik
Former Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh finds himself in an enviable position this offseason. Harbaugh is considered the best coach available on the market, and should be able to hand pick his next team.
Harbaugh, 63, has reportedly already spoken to teams over the phone as he prepares to narrow down his list. The next step is meeting with certain teams in person, something Harbaugh intends to do at the end of the week.
It’s unclear exactly which teams Harbaugh still has on his list or how many teams he’ll visit. Presumably, the teams Harbaugh talks to in person would be the finalists for his services.
Harbaugh was fired after 18 seasons in Baltimore. He put up a 180-113 record with the franchise.
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Chris Cwik
Todd Monken’s next job could look really familiar. With John Harbaugh being fired, Monken will interview for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ vacant offensive coordinator role, per NFL Network.
Monken is extremely familiar with the franchise, serving as Tampa Bay’s OC from 2016 to 2018. He left in 2019 to join the Cleveland Browns for a year before jumping to the Ravens.
Monken, 59, is expected to have a few options this offseason. It’s possible that he’ll follow Harbaugh to his next team, as the two worked together in Baltimore the past few years.
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Chris Cwik
Former New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll is getting another shot at a head-coaching role months after being fired. Daboll will reportedly interview with the Tennessee Titans on Friday, per NFL Network.
Daboll was fired by the Giants in November.
Daboll led the team to a successful season in his first year on the job, going 9-7-1 and making the playoffs. But things went downhill after that, as Daboll put up an 11-33 record over the next two and half seasons before being fired.
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Criss Partee
The Baltimore Ravens have completed an interview with Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver. Weaver just completed his second year as DC in Miami.
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Criss Partee
The Washington Commanders have requested to interview Carolina Panthers assistant QBs coach Mike Bercovici for their QBs coach position on OC David Blough’s staff. Bercovici has played a big role on the Panthers’ staff, working with quarterback Bryce Young.
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Criss Partee
The Miami Dolphins have requested to interview Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard for their vacant head coaching position. Sheppard just completed his first year as DC and played linebacker for the Dolphins for two seasons from 2014 to 2015.
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Tarohn Finley
Former Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon is interviewing for the Commanders’ defensive coordinator opening and the Titans’ head coach position, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Gannon will also interview for the Cowboys’ defensive coordinator opening. Gannon was 15-36 in three years with the Cardinals.
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Criss Partee
The Dallas Cowboys will interview former Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon and Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Zach Orr for their DC opening.
Gannon was fired by the Cardinals following a third consecutive losing season and a 15-36 record in his three years leading the franchise. Orr has spent eight of his nine years as an NFL assistant coach with Baltimore including the past two seasons as defensive coordinator.
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Ian Casselberry
The Dallas Cowboys are considering making an internal hire for their defensive coordinator opening, created when Matt Eberflus was fired last week.
Defensive line coach Aaron Whitecotton will interview for the position, according to CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones.
Whitecotton joined the Dallas staff when Eberflus was hired before the 2025 season. Prior to coaching with the Cowboys, he was on Robert Saleh’s staff with the New York Jets and San Francisco 49ers. Whitecotton has also been an assistant with the Jacksonville Jaguars and Buffalo Bills.
Considering that Whitecotton was part of the same staff that coached the NFL’s third-worst defense, it seems unlikely that he’ll be promoted to the coordinator role.
Among the coaches Dallas has already interviewed are Denver Broncos defensive passing game coordinator Jim Leonhard, Miami Dolphins assistant Daronte Jones and Cleveland Browns safeties coach Ephraim Banda. The team has also requested an interview with Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Zachary Orr.
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Ryan Young
John Harbaugh has completed his first interview. The Atlanta Falcons officially interviewed Harbaugh, who was fired by the Baltimore Ravens last week after 18 seasons with the organization, on Monday.
Harbaugh is widely considered to be the top coaching candidate this cycle, and will undoubtedly interview with several other teams in the coming days.
