The NFL coaching carousel isn't just spinning this year. It's basically off the hinges. Usually, we get three or four teams looking for a new leader, but January 2026 has decided to be different. Nine jobs. Nine. That is nearly a third of the league looking for a new face of the franchise.
We aren't just talking about the usual bottom-feeders either. Some of the most stable pillars in football have crumbled. If you told a fan five years ago that Mike Tomlin and John Harbaugh would both be on the open market at the same time, they would've laughed you out of the stadium. Yet, here we are. The NFL head coach rumors are flying because the "unthinkable" became the "available."
The Titans and Giants: Where the Smoke is Thickest
Tennessee didn't even wait for the season to end. They moved on from Brian Callahan back in October after a brutal 4-19 stretch. It was ugly. Honestly, the most damning part wasn't just the losses; it was the fact that they were 4-19 against the spread too. They weren't just losing; they were consistently worse than everyone expected them to be. Now, the rumors are pointing toward experienced coordinators. The Titans have already requested interviews with Matt Nagy (Chiefs OC) and Vance Joseph (Broncos DC). They need someone who can actually develop Cam Ward, and they seem tired of taking "flyers" on unproven names.
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Then you have the New York Giants.
The vibes in East Rutherford are... tense. Joe Schoen is staying as GM, but the seat under the head coaching desk is vacant. The word on the street? The Giants are "all in" on John Harbaugh. It makes sense if you think about it. The Maras crave stability. Harbaugh is the definition of a "CEO" coach who can fix a culture overnight. He’s 63, but he doesn't look like a guy ready for the broadcast booth yet. Rumors suggest New York is trying to fast-track this one to make sure Harbaugh doesn't look elsewhere.
That Massive Mike Tomlin Void in Pittsburgh
The biggest shocker hit on Tuesday. Mike Tomlin stepped down.
Nineteen years. Zero losing seasons. It’s an era that feels impossible in modern sports. But after a 30-6 thumping by the Texans in the playoffs, the drought of postseason wins reached nine years. That was the breaking point.
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Who replaces a legend?
The rumors are wild here. Some insiders, like Jordan Schultz, say coaches are literally texting him saying they’d take the Pittsburgh job "on bended knee." It’s a gold-standard gig. The heavy favorite in the rumor mill right now is Brian Flores. He’s currently the Vikings' defensive coordinator, but he has that "Tomlin-esque" intensity and already coached in Pittsburgh as an assistant. It feels like a natural handoff.
The AFC North Fire Sale
It’s not just Pittsburgh. The entire AFC North is a mess.
- Cleveland Browns: Kevin Stefanski is out. He went 45-56 over six seasons. The Deshaun Watson trade basically acted as an anchor that eventually pulled the whole ship down. The rumors here are focusing on youth. Names like Tommy Rees (Browns OC) and Nate Scheelhaase (Rams passing game coordinator) are getting a lot of traction. Cleveland wants to get younger and more offensive-minded.
- Baltimore Ravens: Firing John Harbaugh was the shot heard 'round the league. They’ve been linked to Klint Kubiak, the Seahawks OC who just finished a massive year with Sam Darnold. The connection? Klint’s father, Gary, was an OC in Baltimore once. It’s a small world.
Why the Defensive "Gurus" are Back in Style
For years, everyone wanted the next Sean McVay. If you shared a coffee with Kyle Shanahan, you got a head coaching job. But 2026 feels different. There is a massive shift back toward defensive minds.
Vance Joseph is having a full-blown renaissance. After his stint as the Broncos' head coach didn't go well, he went back to the lab. Now, he’s one of the most requested names in this cycle, with the Cardinals and Raiders both sniffing around.
Then there’s Jeff Hafley. He left a head coaching job at Boston College to be the Packers' DC, and it paid off. The Giants and Raiders have both scheduled time with him. People in the league are starting to realize that maybe having a guy who can actually stop a modern offense is just as valuable as having a guy who can design one.
The Raiders and the Tom Brady Factor
The Las Vegas search is a spectacle. Minority owner Tom Brady is reportedly right in the middle of the process. They have the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 draft. They have Maxx Crosby. They have Brock Bowers. It is a "just add water" situation for a coach, provided you can handle the Vegas spotlight.
Rumors suggest they want someone who can maximize a rookie QB—likely whoever they take at the top of the draft. Mike LaFleur (Rams OC) is a name that keeps coming up here. Pairing a McVay disciple with a rookie QB and Tom Brady’s oversight? That’s a "Hard Knocks" season waiting to happen.
Actionable Insights for the 2026 Cycle
If you're trying to keep up with the chaos, keep these three things in mind:
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- Watch the "Retread" Market: Unlike previous years where "new" was better, teams like the Giants and Titans are pivoting toward coaches with previous head-coaching experience (Harbaugh, Joseph, Stefanski, Nagy).
- The Quarterback Domino: Almost every opening is tied to a specific QB situation. The Raiders want a guy for the #1 pick; the Falcons want someone for Michael Penix Jr.; the Giants want a mentor for Jaxson Dart. If a candidate doesn't have a clear plan for the guy under center, they won't get the job.
- The Second Wave: Once Harbaugh and Tomlin's situations settle, the "coordinator" market will move fast. Keep an eye on Jesse Minter (Chargers DC) and Chris Shula (Rams DC) as the names that will fill the gaps left by the big fish.
The coaching carousel usually slows down by February, but with nine openings and some of the biggest names in history on the move, this year’s rumor mill is just getting started. It's going to be a long, loud offseason.