Only two teams are left playing. The Patriots and Seahawks will meet in Super Bowl LX on Feb. 8 in Santa Clara, California.
Meanwhile, the NFL’s head coaching carousel appears to have finally come to a stop.
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Filling the NFL’s last head coach opening, the Arizona Cardinals finalized a deal with Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur to become their next head coach, the team announced Sunday. LaFleur, the younger brother of Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur, will reportedly get a five-year contract with Arizona.
(Davis Long/Yahoo Sports)
One week before the Super Bowl, the Las Vegas Raiders have reportedly agreed to a deal with Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak. A contract cannot be finalized until after the Feb. 8 matchup with the New England Patriots. Kubiak is set to become the Raiders’ third head coach in three seasons, following Pete Carroll and Antonio Pierce.
Raheem Morris is also on the move, hired by the San Francisco 49ers as their new defensive coordinator, according to reports. Morris was dismissed as Atlanta Falcons head coach after their 2025-26 season concluded.
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Earlier last week, the Browns hired former Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken as their next head coach. Monken emerged as the choice in a process that also centered on Rams pass game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase and Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz.
The Bills, meanwhile, promoted Joe Brady to head coach after firing Sean McDermott. Brady has served as offensive coordinator since November 2023.
Elsewhere in the AFC:
The Titans hired Brian Daboll as their next offensive coordinator. Daboll was fired as Giants head coach midseason after being hired in 2022, and now he’ll get a chance to mold 2025 No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward under head coach Robert Saleh’s leadership.
The Pittsburgh Steelers hired Mike McCarthy to become their next head coach. McCarthy replaces Mike Tomlin, who resigned at the end of the Steelers’ season. He would become the franchise’s fourth head coach since 1969.
Here’s a rundown of the biggest hirings (and firings) this coaching cycle.
HEAD COACHES HIREDMike LaFleur, Arizona Cardinals
Head coaching record: First job, was Rams offensive coordinator from 2023-25
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Why he was hired: The Cardinals are turning hard in a different direction after three seasons with defensive-minded Jonathan Gannon as head coach. The Rams led the NFL in total offense with 6,709 yards this season under LaFleur and head coach Sean McVay. L.A. finished first in passing yards and seventh in rushing on its way to the NFC championship game.
A major decision confronting LaFleur from the start is what to do at quarterback. The Cardinals appear ready to move on from Kyler Murray, who played in only five games before suffering a season-ending foot injury. Arizona went on to finish with the 19th-ranked offense in the league.
The Cardinals have the No. 3 overall selection in April’s NFL Draft, but no QB looks worthy of that pick. So the team may have to find a field leader in free agency. (Daniel Jones and Malik Willis are the top QBs available.) Veterans like Tua Tagovailoa, Justin Fields and Mac Jones are trade possibilities as well.
Klint Kubiak, Las Vegas Raiders
Head coaching record: First job, was Seahawks offensive coordinator for 2025
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Why he was hired: The Raiders wanted a coach who could install a more explosive offense after struggling the past two seasons. Las Vegas ranked last in total offense this season (4,168 yards), among the bottom five in passing and last in rushing despite having first-round pick Ashton Jeanty.
Also important was someone who could develop a young quarterback, as Las Vegas will likely select Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick in April. If necessary, the Raiders will also have Geno Smith as a veteran presence while Mendoza familiarizes himself with Kubiak’s offense and the NFL game.
Kubiak checks off both boxes, overseeing Seattle’s eighth-ranked offense with 5,973 yards and 351.4 yards per game this season. In his first season with the Seahawks, Sam Darnold threw for 4,048 yards, placing fifth among NFL QBs, with 25 touchdowns, leading a Super Bowl run.
Todd Monken, Cleveland Browns
Head coaching record: First job, was Ravens offensive coordinator from 2023-25
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Why he was hired: The Browns need someone to fix a broken and talent-deficient offense, and they landed on Monken, who has spent the past few seasons in Baltimore and in college at Georgia, where he helped the Bulldogs win two national championships as offensive coordinator. (He also served as Browns offensive coordinator in 2019.) Will all that experience translate to turning around Cleveland? That remains to be seen, but there’s a big offseason ahead regardless when it comes to improving the roster on that side of the ball.
Monken reportedly will have to find a new defensive coordinator, after Jim Schwartz reportedly told coaches he’s not coming back after being passed over for the head coaching job. The Browns’ defense has been one of the league’s best in two of the past three seasons, so nailing a new hire while Monken focuses on rebooting the offense will be crucial.
Joe Brady, Buffalo Bills
Head coaching record: First job, was Bills offensive coordinator from 2023-25
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Why he was hired: On the surface, it’s a weird move at best to fire head coach Sean McDermott, publicly state that coaching was a problem with the Bills’ roster … then turn around and promote a coach from that staff. To be fair, Brady is a respected offensive mind who’s fairly renowned for his creativity and maximization of talent. To be blunt, he’s also a first-time head coach who doesn’t figure to upset the power structure team owner Terry Pegula and general manager Brandon Beane clearly have in place.
Buffalo still has Josh Allen, and there’s no doubt Brady has played a key role in developing him into an MVP-level quarterback year in and year out. McDermott’s management of the roster, especially on defense, perhaps went underappreciated during his nine seasons with the Bills, so whomever they hire as defensive coordinator is the next key to watch. But really, the Bills not making a Super Bowl in this era of the franchise has been due to poor luck as much as anything. Maybe Brady is the man to get them over the hump.
Mike McCarthy, Pittsburgh Steelers
Head coaching record: 174-112-2 regular season, 11-11 playoffs, five seasons with Dallas Cowboys, 13 seasons with Green Bay Packers.
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Why he was hired: Sure, it was a while ago, but McCarthy has a Super Bowl ring for a reason — and it happens to be the only one Aaron Rodgers has won in his stellar career. McCarthy re-established his bona fides after his Packers run, leading Dallas to the playoffs in three of his five seasons under Jerry Jones. He sat out the last hiring cycle, seemingly waiting for the perfect job. McCarthy grew up in the Pittsburgh area, so he’s no stranger to the franchise’s lore.
Jesse Minter, Baltimore Ravens
Head coaching record: First job, was Chargers defensive coordinator from 2024-25
Why he was hired: The Ravens may have fired John Harbaugh, but they’re staying within his tree to replace him. Minter spent four seasons as a defensive assistant in Baltimore under Harbaugh from 2017-2020 before joining Harbaugh’s brother Jim as the University of Michigan’s defensive coordinator. After winning a national championship in Ann Arbor, he followed Jim to the Chargers, where he has spent the past two seasons coordinating a defense that’s finished top-10 in DVOA both years, earning leaguewide respect for the unpredictability of his units and his play-calling prowess. Just 42 years old, Minter was considered one of the top candidates on the market, especially among first-time head coaches.
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He steps into a situation where the expectations couldn’t be higher. Lamar Jackson is a two-time NFL MVP, the Ravens have top-end talent as good as anybody’s, and the only thing left for this iteration of the franchise is to reach the Super Bowl and win it. Minter seems to fit the bill of a guy who can do that. Baltimore is notorious for drafting and developing talent and spending little on free agents, so a coach like Minter who maximizes his players seems ideally placed. Plus, Jackson ensures a high floor on offense, so Minter can focus more of his efforts on shoring up a defense that fell short of expectations this past season.
It’s a smart swing — even if a Lombardi Trophy might be the only way the franchise gauges its success.
John Harbaugh, New York Giants
Head coaching record: 180-113 regular season, 13-11 playoffs (including a Super Bowl title), 18 seasons with Baltimore Ravens
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Why he was hired: The Giants have had four full-time head coaches and two interims since Tom Coughlin resigned after the 2015 season, and they’re fed up with the turnover. Harbaugh is 63, but he has a lot of juice left and figures to bring stability to a proud franchise that’s fallen on some of the hardest times it’s ever faced. (The Giants’ 59 wins since 2015 are the second-fewest in the NFL, ahead of only the Jets).
There’s talent to develop on the roster between QB Jaxson Dart (who might sync well with Harbaugh’s preferred offensive coordinator, Todd Monken), RB Cam Skattebo, WR Malik Nabers, LT Andrew Thomas, and a defense that includes DT Dexter Lawrence and edge rushers Brian Burns and Abdul Carter. There’s also a general manager in Joe Schoen, as Yahoo Sports’ Charles Robinson explained, who was apparently willing to cede personnel decision-making to Harbaugh despite the nominal hierarchy inside the franchise. And team owner John Mara, one of the more influential voices in the league, revealed he’s battling an undisclosed form of cancer last September, which likely emboldened the desire for a head coach to come in and command respect immediately.
The Giants have floundered for years, but landing the coach widely viewed as the best on the market brings back instant credibility. Now we’ll see how quickly they can win together.
Kevin Stefanski, Atlanta Falcons
Head coaching record: 45-56 regular season, 1-2 playoffs, six seasons with Cleveland Browns
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Why he was hired: Stefanski was one of the top names on the market, with the NFL at large looking at more than just his wins and losses with the Browns while trying to lift a struggling franchise into playoff contention. Sound familiar, Atlanta? Stefanski’s offensive acumen is a hybrid of multiple schemes and coaching trees, which can help new president of football Matt Ryan sort through the talent the Falcons have on that side of the ball (including Kirk Cousins, whom Stefanski coached in Minnesota). They’re also retaining defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich after the Falcons’ defense made big strides this season.
Stefanski as head coach and offensive mastermind, with Ulbrich sticking around to continue building his side of the ball? That’s a solid recipe going forward, even if the answer at quarterback and no first-round pick this spring present significant challenges. If team owner Arthur Blank is finally willing to be patient and let this project play out, Stefanski could end the Falcons’ eight-year playoff drought sooner than expected, especially in a weak NFC South.
Jeff Hafley, Miami Dolphins
Head coaching record: First job, was Packers defensive coordinator from 2024-25
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Why he was hired: The direct connection is Jon-Eric Sullivan, who was hired as Dolphins general manager on Jan. 9 after spending over two decades in the Packers’ organization, most recently as vice president of player personnel.
As for the broader fit? Well, the Dolphins have proven to be a less attractive option among coaching candidates this cycle than previously expected, Yahoo Sports’ Charles Robinson reported, based largely on the salary cap cleanup required as the team moves on from Tua Tagovailoa. With John Harbaugh off the board, Hafley is the most logical next move, perhaps for both parties. Hafley has head coaching experience at Boston College from 2020-23, he improved Green Bay’s defenses the last two seasons, and Miami would do well to lean on that side of the ball — not to mention star RB De’Von Achane and an improving O-line — while the Dolphins try to sort out the QB situation in what now looks like a multi-season project.
Hafley is considered to be one of the stronger candidates on the market, and the Dolphins didn’t mess around in securing their best possible outcome.
Robert Saleh, Tennessee Titans
Head coaching record: 20-36, fired five games into fourth season with New York Jets
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Why he was hired: The general consensus around the league is Saleh’s failures with the Jets were largely out of his control, and he’s had good defenses wherever he’s been. He’ll reportedly call defensive plays in Tennessee, so it’ll be interesting to see who the Titans hire on the offensive staff to continue developing Cam Ward, who looked more and more promising as his rookie season went on.
Most of all, however, Saleh figures to help stabilize a Titans franchise that’s on its second general manager and now second head coach (third counting interim) since firing Mike Vrabel after the 2023 season. It’s a little surprising Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy didn’t get the job, considering his availability and ties to GM Mike Borgonzi from their time together in Kansas City, but perhaps Nagy is in play for the same position now that Saleh has been tabbed. Either way, Saleh is the kind of firm, even-keeled leader who could go a long way toward halting all the losing in Tennessee.
FIRED
Brian Callahan, Tennessee Titans (in season)
Brian Daboll, New York Giants (in season)
Raheem Morris, Atlanta Falcons
Kevin Stefanski, Cleveland Browns
Pete Carroll, Las Vegas Raiders
Jonathan Gannon, Arizona Cardinals
John Harbaugh, Baltimore Ravens
Mike McDaniel, Miami Dolphins
Sean McDermott, Buffalo Bills
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RESIGNED
Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh Steelers
NFL coaching news live blogLive429 updates
Sun, February 1, 2026 at 1:19 PM PST
Criss Partee
The Minnesota Vikings are reportedly hiring Ryan Nielsen as the team’s new defensive run game coordinator. Nielsen spent 2025 as a senior defensive assistant for the Buffalo Bills. The previous two seasons, he was the defensive coordinator for the Jacksonville Jaguars (2024) and Atlanta Falcons (2023). In 2022, Nielsn was the co-defensive coordinator in New Orleans for the Saints.
Sun, February 1, 2026 at 1:15 PM PST
Tarohn Finley
Mike Bajakian is reuniting with Todd Monken on the Cleveland Browns’ staff. He is expected to be hired as the team’s quarterbacks coach, according to several reports.
Bajakian spent the past two seasons at Utah and was the Utes’ offensive coordinator last year. He had been tabbed as Michigan State’s QB coach for next season, but will instead join Monken in Cleveland. The two were on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers staff from 2016-18 with Bajakian coaching QBs while Monken was the OC.
Prior to his stint with Utah, Bajakian was OC at Northwestern, Boston College, Tennessee, Cincinnati and Central Michigan. Additionally, he previously coached QBs in the NFL with the Chicago Bears,
Sun, February 1, 2026 at 12:31 PM PST
Chris Cwik
Miami Dolphins coach Jeff Hafley is going with a name he knows to lead his defense. Former Green Bay Packers linebackers coach Sean Duggan will reportedly join Hafley in Miami, per multiple reports.
Duggan and Hafley have coached together at multiple spots over the years, including Ohio State and Boston College.
Sun, February 1, 2026 at 12:18 PM PST
Criss Partee
The Arizona Cardinals have hired Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur as the team’s new head coach. LaFleur gets a five-year contract in his new position. He’s spent the past three seasons as OC in LA under Rams head coach Sean McVay.
LaFleur is the younger brother of Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur. Mike began his coaching career in the NFL in 2014 with the Cleveland Browns and quickly began to work his way up the ranks.
Sun, February 1, 2026 at 12:13 PM PST
Criss Partee
The San Francisco 49ers have hired former Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris as the team’s new defensive coordinator. Morris spent the last two seasons as head coach in Atlanta, producing back-to-back eight-win seasons.
Before that stint in Atlanta, Morris was the defensive coordinator for the Rams for three years, including their Super Bowl season of 2021.
Sun, February 1, 2026 at 11:21 AM PST
Tarohn Finley
Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak looks on during an NFL football divisional playoff game against the San Francisco 49ers, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026 in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
The Las Vegas Raiders are reportedly working on a deal to hire Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, NFL Network and ESPN reported Sunday. Per the report, the deal can’t be finalized until after the Super Bowl.
If confirmed, Kubiak will become the Raiders’ third head coach in three seasons and their sixth since 2021. Kubiak met with the Raiders and Arizona Cardinals on Saturday, according to ESPN.
Sun, February 1, 2026 at 8:35 AM PST
Criss Partee
The Baltimore Ravens have requested Jacksonville Jaguars assistant Tyler Tettleton for the wide receivers coach job, reports Ian Rapoport. Tettleton has been heavily involved in Jacksonville’s offense’s game planning. He interviewed for the head coaching job at Ohio University last year.
Sun, February 1, 2026 at 8:20 AM PST
Criss Partee
Baltimore Ravens assistant wide receivers coach Prentice Gill will reportedly interview for the team’s WR coach job this week. Gill has been with Baltimore the past two seasons and has been involved in much of the wide receivers’ development over the past couple of seasons.
Sun, February 1, 2026 at 7:21 AM PST
Chris Cwik
Former Tennessee Titans head coach Brian Callahan and former Washington Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury are involved in the New York Giants’ search for an offensive coordinator.
Callahan went 4-19 with the Titans before he was fired just six games into the 2025 NFL season. Kingsbury was let go after the season by the Commanders.
Both men have head-coaching and offensive coordinator experience. The Giants are presumably looking for an experienced coach who can help Jaxson Dart develop into a franchise-type player.
Sun, February 1, 2026 at 6:42 AM PST
Chris Cwik
The Atlanta Falcons are turning to former New York Jets offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand to assist with their passing game. The Falcons will reportedly hire Engstrand as the team’s pass-game coordinator, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Engstrand’s first stint as an offensive coordinator didn’t go well, as the Jets ranked 31st in points scored last season. Prior to that, however, Engstrand was a pass-game coordinator with the Detroit Lions.
The Falcons could use some help refining their passing game. Michael Penix turned in an uneven first year as a starter. Unlocking Penix, or finding another usable passer, would go a long way toward the Falcons hopping back into contention as early as next season.
Sat, January 31, 2026 at 7:53 PM PST
Ian Casselberry
With a week off before the Super Bowl, Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak has finished a second interview with the Las Vegas Raiders for their head coaching position.
Kubiak will next have a second interview with the Arizona Cardinals for their head coach opening. He has previously been an OC with the Minnesota Vikings and New Orleans Saints.
The Seahawks ranked No. 8 among NFL teams in total offense (5,973 yards) and yards per game (351.4) this season. Quarterback Sam Darnold threw for 4,048 yards, placing fifth among NFL QBs, with 25 touchdowns.
Sat, January 31, 2026 at 5:59 PM PST
Ian Casselberry
Daniel Stern may follow new head coach Todd Monken to the Cleveland Browns. He will interview for the associate head coach position, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
For the past two seasons, Stern has been the Baltimore Ravens’ assistant quarterback coach and director of football strategy. He’s been with the Ravens for the past 10 years, beginning as an analytics assistant before progressing to football analyst. He has also been a football research coach, offensive assistant and defensive quality control coach.
Sat, January 31, 2026 at 5:32 PM PST
Ian Casselberry
The Atlanta Falcons are adding Tanner Engstrand to their offensive staff as passing game coordinator, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports.
Engstrand, 43, was recently dismissed as the New York Jets’ offensive coordinator after one season. Before being let go, Jets head coach Aaron Glenn reportedly intended to keep him as OC, but without play-calling responsibilities.
Previously, Engstrand was with the Detroit Lions for four years, progressing from offensive assistant to offensive quality control, then moving up to tight ends coach and passing game coordinator.
Before his NFL coaching career, Engstrand was the OC for the XFL’s DC Defenders. He also coached running backs and quarterbacks at San Diego before working as an offensive analyst at Michigan.
Sat, January 31, 2026 at 2:58 PM PST
Tarohn Finley
The Dallas Cowboys are reportedly expected to hire Packers defensive pass game coordinator Derrick Ansley, according to CBS Sports Matt Zenitz.
The Packers ranked as the 11th-best pass defense and in the top six in the NFL in takeaways, total defense and scoring defense in 2024.
Ansley is the former defensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Chargers and the University of Tennessee. The 44-year-old has also been the defensive backs coach with the Raiders, the University of Alabama and Huntingdon College.
Former Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon is replacing Jeff Haffley as the Packers defensive coordinator.
Sat, January 31, 2026 at 2:43 PM PST
Tarohn Finley
The New York Giants hired Baltimore Ravens defensive backs coach Donald D’Alesio as the team’s defensive pass game coordinator and secondary coach, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
D’Alesio spent one year under Giants head coach John Harbaugh with the Ravens. He also spent time coaching in Kansas City, at LSU and at Youngstown State University.
Sat, January 31, 2026 at 2:39 PM PST
Tarohn Finley
The Baltimore Ravens requested to interview Buffalo Bills quarterback coach Ronald Curry for the same position, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. Curry coached Bills quarterback Josh Allen in his MVP season in 2024 and had multiple interviews for offensive coordinator openings earlier this cycle.
Curry was a long-time assistant coach for the New Orleans Saints under Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton. Ravens’ new offensive coordinator Declan Doyle spent time coaching under Payton in Denver. Curry also spent time coaching with the San Francisco 49ers after his playing days as an NFL wide receiver ended.
Sat, January 31, 2026 at 11:15 AM PST
Tarohn Finley
The Buffalo Bills hired Arizona Cardinals assistant head coach and special teams coordinator Jeff Rodgers as their new special teams coordinator, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Rodgers, 48, is a veteran coach who has spent time coaching with the Bears, Broncos, Panthers, 49ers, Kansas State and the University of Arizona.
The Bills recently hired Joe Brady as head coach, Pete Carmichael as the offensive coordinator and reportedly hired Jim Leonhard as defensive coordinator.
Sat, January 31, 2026 at 9:44 AM PST
Tarohn Finley
The Washington Commanders reportedly moved on from assistant linebackers coach Ryan Kerrigan, defensive pass game coordinator Jason Simmons, assistant defensive line coach Sharrif Floyd and player development coach Pete Ohnegian, according to the Athletic’s Nicki Jhabvala.
Kerrigan has coached in Washington since 2022 and was the career sack leader for the franchise. Simmons is reportedly leaving for another coaching opportunity, potentially in Pittsburgh. Ohnegian and former Vikings defensive lineman Sharrif Floyd spent the last two years on the Commanders’ staff.
Commanders head coach Dan Quinn replaced former defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. with former Vikings defensive backs coach & pass game coordinator Daronte Jones. Last season, the Commanders ranked as the worst team in defensive yards allowed per game and were only better than the Jets in forced turnovers, with 10.
Sat, January 31, 2026 at 9:30 AM PST
Tarohn Finley
The Buffalo Bills hired former Denver Broncos and New Orleans Saints offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael to the same role, according to the team.
Carmichael spent many years working under Broncos head coach Sean Payton in Denver and New Orleans. He overlapped with the Bills’ head coach Joe Brady on the Saints staff in 2017 and 2018.
Carmichael will bring 26 years of experience to the first-year head coach, also working for the Chargers, Washington and Cleveland before his stops in New Orleans and Denver.
Sat, January 31, 2026 at 9:22 AM PST
Tarohn Finley
The Atlanta Falcons will reportedly hire Los Angeles Rams’ senior offensive assistant Alex Van Pelt as the team’s quarterback coach, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
Van Pelt served as the offensive coordinator of the Browns under Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski from 2020 to 2023.