NFL coaching carousel tracker
The latest
- Ravens: Harbaugh out after 18 years
- Titans: Jason Garrett to interview
- Lions: OC Morton lasts 1 season
- Cardinals: Saleh on radar
- Giants: Stefanski to interview
Head coach changes
Coaching change notes
theScore's senior NFL writer, Dan Wilkins, provides his instant reactions to all coaching changes made after the conclusion of the regular season.
❌ Ravens - John Harbaugh
A stunner! The Ravens opt for seismic change with this year's heartbreak coming before they could even get to the playoffs. Harbaugh's outstanding 18-year run in Baltimore has made him one of the most respected coaches in the game, so he won't be out of work for long. In fact, reports already suggest that he'll be a top candidate for open jobs around the league. And when a coach with this kind of track record becomes available, it stands to reason that even more teams could be tempted to make a change and get involved in the sweepstakes. Does that mean the Ravens are making a mistake here? Not necessarily. Because while most organizations couldn't so much as dream of a 180-113 run with 12 playoff appearances and a Super Bowl title, even the best programs can go stale. Change can be a good thing. Still yet to get over the hump in the Lamar Jackson era, it's easy to understand why the Ravens are looking to shake things up. They'll have no trouble finding a strong pivot option, as this immediately becomes the league's most attractive coaching vacancy.
❌ Cardinals - Jonathan Gannon
Several reports leading up to Sunday's season finale appeared to suggest that Gannon was safe. While there's always a case to be made for patience, Arizona running it back for a third year would have felt like delaying the inevitable. This is another team that was supposed to take the next step toward playoff contention this season. A 2-0 start seemingly had things moving in the right direction, but disaster struck from there. The Cardinals dropped all but one of their next 15 games, including nine straight to finish the year at 3-14. Crucially, Gannon's defense suffered the greatest setbacks after a promising 2024, ranking 29th in scoring and 27th in yards allowed in 2025. He'll presumably get a chance to bounce back as a defensive coordinator next season. The Cardinals, meanwhile, could target an offensive coach to help identify and develop their next quarterback, with Kyler Murray seemingly on the way out.
❌ Raiders - Pete Carroll
A one-and-done season is a tough way for Carroll to go out, as the 74-year-old is unlikely to get another head coaching job at this point. Seeking some semblance of stability after years of turmoil, it's easy to see why the Raiders initially hired Carroll. Yet somehow the team only got worse. Maybe it was doomed from the start, with minority owner Tom Brady reportedly orchestrating the failed marriage between Carroll and Chip Kelly. But the veteran head coach also didn't do himself any favors by hiring his son to oversee what ended up being the worst offensive line in football. Although the Raiders hold the No. 1 overall pick and boast deep-pocketed ownership investors, candidates will surely be wary, considering Las Vegas has cycled through three full-time head coaches since Jon Gruden's departure in 2021.
❌ Browns - Kevin Stefanski
Stefanski probably didn't deserve to be fired. The results haven't been there lately, but whose fault is that really? We're talking about a two-time Coach of the Year who has twice led the Browns to 11-win seasons - the most recent coming in 2023, when Deshaun Watson and Joe Flacco led the way for a QB room that cycled through five starters. The Browns could very well find a strong replacement, but don't be surprised if Stefanski immediately emerges as a candidate for top jobs elsewhere. Many teams will share the belief that he wasn't the problem in Cleveland. And in a hiring cycle with few obvious rising stars, there should be at least one suitor willing to bet that Stefanski can build a consistent winner with better organizational support.
❌ Falcons - Raheem Morris
Morris made a compelling case to stay by closing out the season with four straight wins, but the damage had already been done. A complete reset felt inevitable when the Falcons, who began the year expecting a significant leap, had bowed out of a featherweight NFC South race by early December. Atlanta could look to pivot toward a rising offensive mind who can maximize the young talent on that side of the ball. Meanwhile, Morris will be a coveted defensive coordinator candidate, and he could end up finding a soft landing back with Sean McVay and the Rams if Chris Shula leaves for a head coaching job in the coming weeks.