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NFL coaching carousel: What head coach jobs are open, coaches on hot seat
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- NFL coaching carousel: What head coach jobs are open, coaches on hot seat
The NFL coaching carousel started with two in-season firings and continued as the offseason began with five more coach firings including John Harbaugh's exit in Baltimore .
As of Jan. 6, seven head coaching jobs are open.
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The Tennessee Titans and New York Giants fired Brian Callahan and Brian Daboll, respectively, during the season.
Let's take a look at the NFL coaching carousel, to be updated with more news coming down this week:
GENTRY ESTES: Cam Ward's offseason just shifted from development to recovery
NFL coaching carousel 2026, which teams are looking for new coaches?
NFL head coach openings
Tennessee Titans
The Titans fired Brian Callahan on Oct. 13, 2025 after a 1-5 start.
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Fired coach:Brian Callahan (4-19 in two seasons)
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2025 record:3-14 (1-5 when Callahan was fired in October)
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What's to come in 2026? Cam Ward 's Week 18 shoulder injury will need addressing first and foremost. Ward took some encouraging steps forward in December, but he needs help across the skill positions. The Titans should add a quality veteran option at receiver and tight end to give Ward a better chance. Defensively, they also need help at cornerback and off the edge.
New York Giants
The Giants fired Brian Daboll on Nov. 10, 2025 after a 2-8 start.
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Fired coach:Brian Daboll (20-40-1 in four seasons)
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2025 record:4-13 (2-8 when Daboll was fired in November)
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What's to come in 2026?The Giants' defense took a step back in 2025, as Dexter Lawrence 's impact waned and the pass rush outside of Brian Burns was less effective than in 2024. Jaxson Dart appears to be the short-term answer at QB; will he be the long-term solution? The Giants could stand to add an offensive difference-maker in the offseason.
Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta fired Raheem Morris on Jan. 4, after the Falcons ' Week 18 win.
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Fired coach:Raheem Morris (16-18 in two seasons)
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2025 record:8-9
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What's to come in 2026?The Falcons also fired GM Terry Fontenot on Jan. 4. They have an encouraging young defense, an elite running back in Bijan Robinson and a true WR1 in Drake London . The Falcons also have an experienced offensive line. So what went wrong? Special teams and up-and-down QB play. The former is an easier fix, especially with the positive stretch to finish the season by kicker Zane Gonzalez . But what do the Falcons, with a new coach and GM, do about Michael Penix Jr. and Kirk Cousins ?
Cleveland Browns
Cleveland fired Kevin Stefanski on Jan. 5.
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Fired coach:Kevin Stefanski (45-56 in six seasons)
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2025 record:5-12
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What's to come in 2026?The Browns won their final two games in 2025 to fall out of the top four of the 2026 NFL Draft. That complicates the QB question. Shedeur Sanders had an up-and-down rookie year, and Cleveland will need more talent around the 2026 starter regardless.
Las Vegas Raiders
Las Vegas fired Pete Carroll on Jan. 5
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Fired coach:Pete Carroll (3-14 in one season)
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2025 record:3-14
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What's to come in 2026?The Raiders own the No. 1 pick, and they need a QB of the future.
Arizona Cardinals
Arizona fired Jonathan Gannon on Jan. 5.
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Fired coach:Jonathan Gannon (15-35 in three seasons)
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2025 record:3-14
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What's to come in 2026?Some injury luck? Arizona finished the season with five offensive starters (including Kyler Murray , James Connor and Marvin Harrison Jr. ) and a handful of defensive contributors on injured reserve. Murray's future is a huge question.
Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens fired John Harbaugh on Jan. 6, per multiple reports.
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Fired coach:John Harbaugh (180-113 in 18 seasons)
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2025 record:8-9
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What's to come in 2026?QB Lamar Jackson deflected questions about his (and his coach's) status after being eliminated from the postseason by the Pittsburgh Steelers . That's Nos. 1 and 2 on the Ravens' offseason checklist. Next? A defensive difference-maker in the front seven (Baltimore finished near the bottom in pass defense), plus another receiver to pair with Zay Flowers .
What other NFL coaching jobs could come open?
Cincinnati Bengals
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Current coach:Zac Taylor (52-63-1 in seven seasons)
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Is he on hot seat?Despite missing the playoffs the last three seasons, FOX Sports' Jay Glazer reported on Jan. 4 that Taylor is likely safe.
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What's to come in 2026?Cincinnati's defense improved in the second half of 2025, but the season was lost by then. Keeping QB Joe Burrow healthy is a necessity, as is adding some defensive impact players. Trey Hendrickson is an upcoming free agent.
Miami Dolphins
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Current coach:Mike McDaniel (35-33 in five seasons)
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Is he on hot seat?It's unclear. McDaniel and the Dolphins missed the playoffs for the second straight season, and GM Chris Grier was fired in-season.
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What's to come in 2026?The Dolphins have a QB question, as most teams do on this list. Between Tua Tagovailoa and wide receiver Tyreek Hill , Miami has $108 million (per Spotrac) in cap hits currently devoted to the two veterans. The Dolphins will have to address the pair's future, then move on from there.
New York Jets
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Current coach:Aaron Glenn (3-14 in one season)
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Is he on hot seat?NFL Network reported on Jan. 3 that Glenn will return in 2026 . But the Jets were non-competitive in the final five games and bad on both sides of the ball all season.
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What's to come in 2026?With the No. 2 overall pick and a large amount of cap space, there are plenty of resources to infuse a roster with many holes. The biggest? Quarterback.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: NFL coaching carousel updating what head coach jobs are open, hot seat
