The Super Bowl has come and gone, with the Seattle Seahawks coming out on top, and the NFL’s head coaching carousel is finally coming to a stop.
After Klint Kubiak’s Seahawks won it all, he confirmed he’s headed to the Las Vegas Raiders, reportedly on a five-year deal. Kubiak will become the Raiders’ third head coach in three seasons, following Pete Carroll and Antonio Pierce.
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Earlier in the cycle, the Arizona Cardinals finalized a deal with Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur to become their next head coach. 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)
After much speculation on where he could end up, former Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy will reportedly join John Harbaugh’s staff in the same role in New York.
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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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 former 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 blogLive coverage is over552 updates
Mon, February 16, 2026 at 2:04 PM PST
Criss Partee
The Philadelphia Eagles are expected to promote Parks Frazier to quarterbacks coach. Frazier has served as the team’s passing game coordinator during the 2025 season. Before joining the Eagles, Frazier had stints with Miami, Carolina, and Indianapolis.
Mon, February 16, 2026 at 1:38 PM PST
Criss Partee
The San Francisco 49ers are hiring veteran defensive backs coach Jerry Gray in a role that has not yet been disclosed, according to Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports. Gray has almost 30 years of NFL coaching experience and spent the past three seasons in Atlanta. He also has experience as a defensive coordinator with the Buffalo Bills and the Tennessee Titans. Gray was a first-round pick for the Los Angeles Rams in 1985 and was named to the Pro Bowl in four consecutive seasons with the team. He was also a two-time second-team All-Pro selection while with the Rams.
Mon, February 16, 2026 at 11:24 AM PST
Criss Partee
The Washington Commanders are still finalizing their coaching staff for 2026, but most positions have been filled:
David Blough takes over as head coach, Dan Quinn’s new offensive coordinator after serving as assistant quarterbacks coach the past two seasons. Washington brings in Daronte Jones from Minnesota as the team’s new defensive coordinator. Larry Izzo will continue as the special teams coordinator.
Sun, February 15, 2026 at 2:03 PM PST
Ryan Young
The Seattle Seahawks have their replacement for Klint Kubiak. The Seahawks are hiring San Francisco 49ers tight ends coach Brian Fleury as their next offensive coordinator, according to multiple reports. Fleury will take over for Kubiak, who took the Raiders’ head job after helping the team to their Super Bowl win.
Sun, February 15, 2026 at 1:59 PM PST
Seahawks QB coach Andrew Janocko is following Klint Kubiak to Las Vegas, as Janocko is set to become the Raiders’ new offensive coordinator, per multiple reports.
Sun, February 15, 2026 at 7:31 AM PST
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Sun, February 15, 2026 at 7:28 AM PST
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Sun, February 15, 2026 at 7:26 AM PST
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Sun, February 15, 2026 at 7:25 AM PST
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Sun, February 15, 2026 at 5:43 AM PST
Ian Casselberry
The Cleveland Browns appear to be zeroing in on a choice for defensive coordinator. The team will conduct an in-person interview with Houston Texans defensive pass game coordinator Cory Undlin this coming week, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
Also reportedly in the mix are in-house candidate Jason Tarver, Cleveland’s linebackers coach since 2020, and Atlanta Falcons pass game coordinator Mike Rutenberg, who also interviewed for the Titans’ DC opening.
Cleveland is seeking a replacement for Jim Schwartz, the defensive coordinator who resigned when Todd Monken was named as the Browns’ new head coach.
Sat, February 14, 2026 at 1:19 PM PST
Andy Backstrom
The Las Vegas Raiders reportedly have their new defensive coordinator. New head coach Klint Kubiak is promoting from within the organization he just joined, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, who reported Saturday that the Raiders are expected to give defensive line coach and defensive run-game coordinator Rob Leonard the bump to DC.
Leonard is close with five-time Pro Bowl pass rusher Maxx Crosby, according to Rapoport, and that’s especially significant, considering Vegas is trying to keep Crosby in the fold for the Kubiak era.
Sat, February 14, 2026 at 9:40 AM PST
Tarohn Finley
The Los Angeles Chargers are reportedly hiring Western Michigan defensive ends coach and pass rush specialist Sean Spence as their linebackers coach, according to CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz.
Spence worked with new Chargers defensive coordinator Chris O’Leary at WMU. Spence also played in the NFL as a linebacker with the Steelers, Tennessee Titans and the Indianapolis Colts.
Sat, February 14, 2026 at 9:27 AM PST
Tarohn Finley
The Las Vegas Raiders will reportedly interview Packers defensive line coach and run game coordinator DeMarcus Covington for their defensive coordinator opening, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Covington was the defensive coordinator for the New England Patriots before spending last season with the Packers. The 36-year-old has also spent time coaching at Eastern Illinois, UT Martin, Ole Miss and UAB. He also played wide receiver at Samford.
Sat, February 14, 2026 at 7:50 AM PST
Ian Casselberry
The Las Vegas Raiders will reportedly interview Seattle Seahawks safeties coach Jeff Howard for their defensive coordinator position, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
Jeff Howard has coached safeties with the Seattle Seahawks for the past two seasons under head coach Mike Macdonald. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
(Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Howard, 43, has been with the Seahawks since 2024 when Mike Macdonald became head coach. His NFL coaching career began in 2013 with the Minnesota Vikings as a defensive assistant. During his time in Minnesota, he was on the same staff with Klint Kubiak, now the Raiders’ head coach. After their stint in Seattle, they could work together again in Las Vegas.
Following his seven-year run with the Vikings, Howard coached defensive backs with the Cleveland Browns and linebackers for the Los Angeles Chargers.
Sat, February 14, 2026 at 7:39 AM PST
Ian Casselberry
The Seattle Seahawks are reportedly looking toward a division rival to possibly fill their offensive coordinator opening. Seattle is interviewing San Francisco 49ers tight ends coach Brian Fleury on Saturday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.
Brian Fleury has been on the San Francisco 49ers’ coaching staff since 2019. (Photo by Chris Unger/Getty Images)
(Chris Unger via Getty Images)
Fleury, 46, has been with the 49ers since 2019, beginning as a defensive quality control coach. He moved over to that same position on offense before being promoted to coach tight ends. Last season, Fleury also added run game coordinator to his responsibilities. Prior to his 49ers stint, Fleury coached with the Buffalo Bills and Cleveland Browns. He interviewed for the New England Patriots’ OC position in 2024.
The Seahawks are replacing Klint Kubiak, who left to become the Las Vegas Raiders head coach after Seattle won the Super Bowl.
Fri, February 13, 2026 at 3:21 PM PST
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Fri, February 13, 2026 at 3:18 PM PST
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Fri, February 13, 2026 at 3:16 PM PST
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Fri, February 13, 2026 at 3:14 PM PST
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Fri, February 13, 2026 at 3:14 PM PST
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