NFL coaching carousel: Top candidates to watch for 2026 cycle
A pair of NFL head coaching jobs are already open, with both the Tennessee Titans and New York Giants making in-season changes. As frustrations mount heading into the stretch run, a number of other fan bases are hoping their teams follow suit.
Let's check in on the most notable hot-seat situations around the league and run down some of the top candidates you can expect to get interviews when the coaching carousel ramps up in the new year.
Hot seat check-in
Top coaching candidates
Rising stars 📈
Chris Shula
Rams defensive coordinator
The Rams' emergence as a legitimate Super Bowl contender is about much more than Sean McVay's star-studded offense. Shula's defense, which terrorized Sam Darnold to the tune of four interceptions in Sunday's massive win, ranks second in EPA/play, according to TruMedia. It's a matter of time before Shula becomes the latest member of the McVay coaching tree to get his chance at the top of another organization. Could the Dolphins come calling for the grandson of a franchise legend?
Klint Kubiak
Seahawks offensive coordinator
Kubiak's arrival has been one of the primary factors in the Seahawks' ascent - his offense has proven to be the ideal complement for an elite Mike Macdonald defense. Seattle is making all the concerns about its offseason moves at quarterback and receiver look silly in hindsight, ranking third in scoring and sixth in yards. Kubiak's ability to find chunk gains has been the key, with Seattle posting the NFL's sixth-best explosive-play percentage.
Jesse Minter
Chargers defensive coordinator
It was surprising that Minter didn't get any serious looks in last year's head coaching cycle. His second season in Los Angeles has proven that his instant success was no fluke: The Chargers' defense is tied for seventh in EPA/play. For anyone looking to recreate the magic Mike Macdonald brought to Seattle, Minter might be your guy. They worked together on the Ravens' defensive staff before beginning their respective rises to prominence with defensive coordinator stints under Jim Harbaugh at Michigan.
Jeff Hafley
Packers defensive coordinator
The Packers' offense has been a major letdown so far this season. Hafley's No. 7 scoring defense is the reason this team is still in the thick of the playoff race, and it's not just the Micah Parsons effect. Hafley made an immediate impact upon arriving in Green Bay in 2024; the former Boston College head coach put together a defense that finished the year tied for fourth in EPA/play.
Joe Brady
Bills offensive coordinator
A frustrating season may have cooled Brady's market, but there's a good chance rival teams will see Buffalo's struggles as a personnel issue. Josh Allen has taken his game to even greater heights since the midseason offensive coordinator change in 2023, and the Bills' run game has been one of the best in the business for each of the last three seasons. Having enjoyed success with Brady at LSU, perhaps Joe Burrow puts in a good word regarding a potential job opening in Cincinnati.
Thomas Brown
Patriots TEs coach/passing game coordinator
Any team developing a young quarterback, or planning to draft one this spring, should look at what the Patriots have done with Drake Maye. Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels seems unlikely to get another chance after two previous failures, but regardless, he's not doing it all himself. Brown holds a significant role for an offense that leads the league in EPA/dropback. He was in the mix for the OC job before Mike Vrabel opted to bring back McDaniels, and he's already got a bit of experience as a head coach, having stepped in for five games after Chicago fired Matt Eberflus last year.
Aden Durde
Seahawks defensive coordinator
Durde might not attract widespread interest, as Mike Macdonald will get the majority of the credit for what the Seahawks have built on defense. That's not disqualifying, though. As has long been the case with Sean McVay assistants, teams don't necessarily see play-calling responsibilities as a prerequisite when they want to get a piece of the next great thing. Durde could offer his own spin on everything he's picked up as part of Macdonald's program.
Klayton Adams
Cowboys offensive coordinator
Adams provides a reminder that an offensive line guru can often be the most important assistant in the building. The Cardinals' offense fell off a cliff after his offseason departure, while the Cowboys' scoring attack has taken off under his watch. Adams' ability to keep things rolling through a brutal stretch of injuries up front presented a particularly noteworthy example of his value. Don't be surprised if that earns him some legitimate head coaching buzz in the offseason.
Second-chance seekers 🔁
Brian Flores
Vikings defensive coordinator
Owners might block Flores' chances at another head coaching opportunity in response to his ongoing lawsuit against the league. Anyone who actually prioritizes winning would be wise to reconsider. Flores' work in building an outstanding Vikings defense is a shining example of how good coaching can elevate a team. He deserves a chance to show that he's learned from the interpersonal issues that seemed to plague his first head coaching stint in Miami.
Vance Joseph
Broncos defensive coordinator
Joseph didn't get much runway to show what he could do as a head coach the first time around, as Denver fired him after just two years. His eventual return to the organization under Sean Payton didn't get off to the best start either, but the Broncos have now arguably had the best defense in football for two years running. If the team stays on track to challenge the single-season sack record, he'd have to get some interest.
Kliff Kingsbury
Commanders offensive coordinator
Kingsbury seemed like an obvious one-and-done coach after his 28-37-1 run in Arizona. It was particularly concerning to see his offenses consistently fizzle out when opponents adjusted in the second half of the season. He seems to have grown quite a bit from that experience, though, as there were no such issues during an incredible 2024 campaign in Washington. Teams might want to see if he can recreate some of the Jayden Daniels magic with another young quarterback.
Robert Saleh
49ers defensive coordinator
Sam Darnold's late breakout has taught us that it's a little unfair to write someone off just because they couldn't succeed with the Jets. The same logic should probably apply to Saleh. Even with the never-ending circus going on around him, the Jets had the NFL's best defense by EPA/play and success rate from 2022-23. Competent ownership and better roster management could allow him to find success in a second go-round.
Mike McCarthy
Former Cowboys, Packers head coach
Most NFL fan bases would roll their eyes at the idea of hiring McCarthy. It's easy to understand why, but it also feels like he's somehow become an underrated coach at this point. His track record - producing 12 playoff appearances across 18 seasons in Green Bay and Dallas - will appeal to teams seeking experience. And considering his work with Aaron Rodgers and Dak Prescott, he'd probably provide significant value for a young quarterback, too.
Steve Spagnuolo
Chiefs defensive coordinator
Spagnuolo hasn't been a full-time head coach since his one such job, a three-year stint with the Rams, ended in 2011. It would be unconventional for a team to circle back on the 65-year-old now, but his interview schedule in recent offseasons hints he's drawing real interest around the league. Spagnuolo has been the unsung hero for countless Chiefs playoff runs, and his defense currently ranks seventh in yards allowed and fourth in scoring.
Matt Nagy
Chiefs offensive coordinator
This is another one that no fan base will be able to get excited about. Nagy's four-year run in Chicago would have been a disaster were he not carried by an elite defense early on, and it's tough to give him any significant credit for the Chiefs' success with Andy Reid running the show on offense. But NFL decision-makers may not see things that way. Nagy's name has been linked to recent openings, so don't be surprised if he emerges as a real candidate.
Arthur Smith
Steelers offensive coordinator
Like Nagy, Smith seemingly commands more respect within league circles than he'll ever receive from those of us on the outside. The veteran offensive coordinator interviewed with both the Bears and Jets last year, suggesting that his rough tenure with the Falcons - in which he posted three straight 7-10 seasons - didn't necessarily affect his standing in the coaching ranks.
If available 🤔
Mike Tomlin
Steelers head coach
It would be a shocker if the Steelers moved on from Tomlin, even if fans have grown frustrated with the constant playoff letdowns. Most organizations couldn't dream of a 18-year run without a losing season. Any rumblings of uncertainty on Pittsburgh's part could make other teams pick up the phone and inquire about the all-too-rare coaching trade. Remember: The Saints landed first- and second-round picks from the Broncos in the deal to hire Sean Payton. Could that kind of return influence the Steelers to shake things up?
Matt LaFleur
Packers head coach
Green Bay's offensive struggles have suddenly put the spotlight on LaFleur, creating the impression that he may be coaching for his job down the stretch. A change still seems wildly unlikely, but he wouldn't be on the market for long if he happened to become available. LaFleur has the third-best regular-season winning percentage among active head coaches (.668), and he's tied with Tony Dungy for 13th all time.
Sean McDermott
Bills head coach
A 7-3 record is a little deceptive when it comes to representing how the Bills' season has gone. Embarrassing losses to the Falcons and Dolphins showed just how vulnerable this team is. Those midseason struggles would be forgiven with another deep playoff run, but anything short of that might bring McDermott's job status into question. Much like LaFleur, he'd immediately become a top candidate elsewhere.
Kevin Stefanski
Browns head coach
It's tough to gauge whether the Browns are committed to Stefanski. They probably should be, considering the success he's enjoyed both before and somehow during the Deshaun Watson debacle, but you can never be sure with this organization. Teams looking for a new head coach will monitor Stefanski's situation closely. The two-time Coach of the Year could really thrive in a situation that offers him a little more support.
Dan Wilkins is theScore's senior NFL writer.