Two teams, the Tennessee Titans and New York Giants have already begun their search for their next head coach, and in two weeks more will join them.
In this piece, I’ll look at those teams could be making changes after the season ends.
Those I’m Certain Will be Fired
Kevin Stefanski- Cleveland Browns
The Browns troubles stem mostly from the disastrous decision to acquire Deshaun Watson. How much input Stefanski had in that decision is unknown. What is known is that he will pay the price for it.
I wrote, earlier this season, that I thought the Browns would be foolish to part ways with the two time Coach of the Year, but my tune has changed.
The Browns are a mess offensively and that falls on Stefanski. I think it is obvious that Stefanski never wanted Shedeur Sanders as his quarterback. It took an injury to Dillon Gabriel for Stefanski to turn to Sanders and then it became obvious to all that Stefanski had been mistaken.
Sanders has had his rookie struggles, but he’s shown that he has a much higher ceiling as an NFL quarterback than Gabriel could ever hope to have. Stefanski’s stubborness in sticking with Gabriel as long as he did is what I think, ultimately, costs him his job.
Stefanski will be a head coach again, perhaps even as early as next season, and he will certainly be in demand as an offensive coordinator. The one question future teams should ask is how much input he had in choosing Watson over Baker Mayfield and whether he can develop a quarterback, since that question was never answered in Cleveland.
Pete Carroll– Las Vegas Raiders
This season hasn’t unfolded the way the Raiders had hoped, and I certainly didn’t think they’d actually be worse with Carroll and with Geno Smith at quarterback than they were in 2024, but here we are.
The Raiders are in for a full rebuild and the fact that Pete Carroll is 74 years old begs the question if he has the juice to see it through.
When the Raiders hired Carroll it felt like the kind of move that was meant to change the culture of the team. The Raiders didn’t need to be torn down to the studs, they just needed to be fixed up. Carroll seemed perfect for the job, but then it just imploded.
It is no secret that Raiders minority owner, Tom Brady, coveted Ben Johnson, who ultimately chose the Chicago Bears. Pete Carroll was a fall back guy, when the job didn’t look as enormous as it now does.
It feels like an ignominious end for the coaching career of Pete Carroll, who has had great success in the NFL. To be a one and done with the Raiders seems almost unfair, but I just can’t imagine Vegas entrusting this rebuild to a coach that will be 75 early next season.
I think Tom Brady will be deeply involved in picking the next head coach that will be tasked with developing the new franchise quarterback they are sure to draft in April.
Those I Think Will be Fired
Mike McDaniel– Miami Dolphins
Early in the season I thought McDaniel was on the hottest seat, but Tennessee pulled the trigger first. I still thought McDaniel would be fired by Thanksgiving, then something funny happened.
The Dolphins started winning, and they got themselves back into playoff contention. McDaniel was saving his job before our very eyes. Two weeks ago, I’d have said he was safe, but then things turned again.
A couple ugly losses, elimination from the postseason and the benching of Tua Tagovailoa I now think that McDaniel is likely fired after the season.
This is because the Dolphins have a Tua problem. They cannot afford to release him and it’s highly unlikely that any team would trade for him, so Tua will be on this roster next season. What’s more is that there is a good chance he’ll be the starting quarterback, again.
Miami is not n a great position to draft a quarterback this year. Maybe they can bring in a veteran to compete, but the chances are likely that Tua would win any competition for the starting role against any quarterback currently on the roster or any they might be able to acquire.
This is purely speculative, on my part, but I don’t see a world in which both Tua Tagovailoa & Mike McDaniel are with the Miami Dolphins next season and finances tells me it’s easier to move on from McDaniel than from Tua.
Jonathan Gannon- Arizona Cardinals
Gannon had done an admirable job with the Cardinals. This was the least talented team in the NFL when he took over, and their franchise quarterback missed most of that first season recovering from a torn ACL, but Gannon had them playing hard.
There were signs of improvement last season and there was hope they’d take another step this season (I picked them to finish second to the Rams in the NFC West). After a 2-0 start, things unraveled fast.
In an ugly loss, at home, to the lowly Tennessee Titans, I think Gannon’s fate was sealed. When he physically accosted running back Emari Demercado on the sideline following the latter’s inexcusable brain melt, I think Gannon’s job was lost.
The Cardinals are similar to the Dolphins in that they’re financially tied to a quarterback that they can’t win with and they cannot afford to outright release.
The difference is that Arizona is in a position to draft a replacement for Kyler Murray, which then begs the question is Gannon the coach you want helping to make that choice and is he the one you want overseeing the rookie’s development. Remember, Gannon is a defensive coach.
My gut feeling tells me no. I think Arizona is in for a full reboot at the head coach and quarterback positions.
Raheem Morris– Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons have won a couple games down the stretch and they look likely to finish within a game of the division winner, but this doesn’t mask the fact that they’ve been eliminated since early December and they’ve been the most underachieving team in the NFL the past two seasons.
The fact is that they have too much talent on the offensive side of the ball to be playing meaningless games in December. Last season, that could be partially blamed on an atrocious defense and the collapse of Kirk Cousins. Those excuses don’t exist this year.
The defense added talent in the draft and they’ve been a much improved unit. Michael Penix Jr’s injury inserted Cousins back into the starting lineup and they’ve been winning games with him.
The Falcons have just been too inconsistent during Morris’ tenure. One week they look like legitimate contenders, the next they look like a team destined for the number one pick.
A month ago, I was certain that Atlanta would be searching for a new head coach, today I’m considerably less certain. My gut, however, tells me that the Falcons are still likely to fire Raheem Morris.
I Wouldn’t be Surprised
Zac Taylor– Cincinnati Bengals
I thought that Taylor might get a pass this season because of Joe Burrow’s injury, but the last month of the season has made me re-think that.
The Bengals were predictably horrible in Burrow’s absence, but when he returned on Thanksgiving, Cincinnati still had a shot in a very bad AFC North.
They whipped Baltimore and then were on the verge of upsetting the Bills in Buffalo before a couple freaky interceptions doomed them. Still, the AFC North was open for the taking.
Then, the offense no showed in a rematch with Baltimore and we got a glimpse of sad Joe Burrow.
Ultimately, I think Taylor’s fate is in Joe Burrow’s hands. If the franchise quarterback wants Taylor back, he’ll be back. If Burrow is unhappy, then Taylor will be gone.
I won’t be surprised by either outcome, but I will say that if he returns as the head coach of the Cincinnati Bengals, Zac Taylor will start the 2026 season atop the hot seat rankings.
Brian Schottenheimer– Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys have been a disappointment this year, but an argument can be made that none of it is Schottenheimer’s fault. The offense, Schottenheimer’s forte, has been among the best in the NFL. Dallas’ troubles are on defense.
I think defensive coordinator, Matt Eberflus (pictured behind Schottenheimer, above), will be the one to take the fall for this season. The Cowboys defense showed signs of improvement after the trade deadline acquisitions of Quinnen Williams & Logan Wilson, only to regress in ‘gotta have it’ games versus Detroit & the LA Chargers.
The Cowboys real problems lie in the front office, but Jerry Jones will never take that blame on himself. I think Schottenheimer is, and should be, safe this year, but Jones has made impulsive moves at head coach before and nothing he does will truly shock me.
Aaron Glenn– New York Jets
Despite the dumpster fire in New York, it feels like firing Aaron Glenn after one season would be unfair. The Jets, however, have a long history of making rash and unwise decisions.
After a couple mid-season trades, the Jets have a plethora of draft capital at their disposal. They should get another shot at landing their quarterback of the future and filling in other holes.
Just my opinion, but Aaron Glenn deserves another season in New York. I wouldn’t be surprised if, however, if the Jets move on.
Todd Bowles- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Bowles wasn’t on my radar about being on the hot seat a month ago, but the collapse in Tampa has been so sudden and shocking that I have to believe some major changes could be coming.
Tampa still has a shot at winning the NFC South, as of this writing, and if they sneak into the playoffs, Bowles is most likely safe. If they miss the playoffs, however, I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets the axe.
I’d be Shocked, but There is a Chance
John Harbaugh– Baltimore Ravens
Let me be clear, there is zero chance John Harbaugh gets fired. The Ravens, however, have had such a disappointing season that changes have to be coming.
Harbaugh could decide to step down or he could transition into a front office role. I highly doubt that there is any chance he isn’t on the Baltimore sideline next season, but there is a sliver of doubt there.
Shane Steichen– Indianapolis Colts
At one point, I had Steichen pacing the field in the race for Coach of the Year, so I would be shocked if he got fired after the season.
The Colts collapse has been so sudden and complete, however, that it feels like some head is going to roll.
The trade deadline acquisition of Sauce Gardner cost Indianapolis two first round draft picks and has really hamstrung the Colts moving forward. Since the trade, Indy has only won one game. They’ve lost Daniel Jones to an Achilles injury, putting a major question mark at the most vital position heading into 2026.
Going all in on half a season of good Daniel Jones play was questionable at the time, it looks worse now. If anyone is going to pay the price for the Colts collapse, it should probably be general manager Chris Ballard, but there is a non-zero chance Steichen doesn’t survive either.
Sean McDermott– Buffalo Bills
There will be no Patrick Mahomes & the Kansas City Chiefs nor Lamar Jackson & the Baltimore Ravens, likely, in their path this year. The road to the Super Bowl is wide open for the Bills, and many expect them to take it all the way into February.
But, what if they don’t?
If Buffalo falls short of the Super Bowl, or worse falls short of the AFC Championship game, how safe is McDermott?
If Buffalo squanders their best chance in the McDermott era, the questions will get louder. Are they wasting Josh Allen’s prime with a middling head coach?
Nickels and Dimes 