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How does one know when an NFL coach hiring year is not like most others? When the Ravens and Steelers also need to make changes.
With John Harbaugh being fired in Baltimore and Mike Tomlin resigning in Pittsburgh, they join Kevin Stefanski, dismissed in Cleveland as former AFC North coaches. Elsewhere in the AFC, Las Vegas, Tennessee and Miami are also looking for upgrades. In the NFC, the Giants, Cardinals and Falcons increase the available job list to nine.
Seven NFL teams changed their coaches in 2025 and three were rewarded with immediate playoff-bound results. That's what all the latest teams with vacancies will be looking in 2026.
Here's predicting where the best candidates will land, including Harbaugh and Stefanski:
MORE: Ranking the head coach openings in the NFL from best to worst
NFL coaching hire predictions 2026
Peter Casey-Imagn Images
New York Giants
Projected hire: John Harbaugh, former Ravens coach
This seems like it is being fast-tracked to replace Brian Daboll. This connection makes a lot of sense as New York wants a consistent winner and someone who will get the best out of Jaxson Dart's potential as a dual-threat QB and winner. Harbaugh would clean up plenty for the Maras and give the team its first long-term keeper since Tom Coughlin.
MORE: Tracking the latest John Harbaugh coaching rumors
Atlanta Falcons
Projected hire: Kevin Stefanski, former Browns coach
The Browns may have been hasty in firing Stefanski given some of the roster limitations he had offensively in trying to complement Myles Garrett and the top defense. Atlanta should recognize this and see him as a good offensive-minded counter to Raheem Morris to be attached to Michael Penix Jr. and his young weapons.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Projected hire: Brian Flores, Vikings DC
Mike Tomlin would approve of this hire of the former Dolphins head coach, now the Vikings ace defensive coordinator following a strong assistant gig under Tomlin in Pittsburgh. Flores can generate the same kind of motivational vibes with an added fresh perspective from working to help smart offensive-minded Kevin O'Connell.
MORE: Ranking the best replacements for Mike Tomlin in Pittsburgh
Baltimore Ravens
Projected hire: Klint Kubiak, Seahawks OC
Gary Kubiak, his father, spent one season as Baltimore's offensive coordinator under Harbaugh. Kubiak is the right offensive mind to bring in for Lamar Jackson with his ability to call run-heavy, balanced and explosive game plans. Kubiak is the smoothest way for the Ravens to go right back to winning ways.
Miami Dolphins
Projected hire: Kliff Kingsbury, former Commanders OC
Kingsbury as a not-as-young offensive wunderkind replacing Mike McDaniel might not seem wise, but Miami needs a reboot at QB away from Tua Tagovailoa and Kingsbury can be attached to more his style of QB, which might be his former QB, Kyler Murray. He would bring some more innovation and should have more appreciation for the right complementary defense after spending time with Dan Quinn.
Cleveland Browns
Projected hire: Nate Scheelhaase, Rams passing coordinator
Between Scheelhaase, the Rams' 35-year-old passing game coordinator, and the Jaguars 30-year-old offensive coordinator Grant Udinski, the Browns are making it clear they want to pull this year's Kellen Moore hire and get much younger than the young 43-year-old Stefanski, but also stay offensive-minded in their hire.
MORE: Tracking every head coaching firing in 2026 NFL offseason
Las Vegas Raiders
Projected hire: Mike LaFleur, Rams OC
LaFleur would make a lot of sense coming from being the Rams' offensive coordinator under Sean McVay to lead Las Vegas into a lot more promise in the Tom Brady part-owner era with Fernando Mendoza as the presumed new rookie franchise QB in 2026.
Arizona Cardinals
Projected hire: Vance Joseph, Broncos DC
Joseph has found redemption with the Broncos as the defensive coordinator after once serving as their head coach. There's a good chance he re-reverses his roles and goes back to Arizona, where he once was the defensive coordinator, as head coach for his second stint. He's been outstanding, further growing his chops under Sean Payton.
Tennessee Titans
Projected hire: Chris Shula, Rams DC
Don Shula's grandson, Dave Shula's son and Mike Shula's nephew is ready to return the family legacy to the NFL. The 39-year-old Rams defensive coordinator is a rising star and would be ideal for the Titans to do a 180 from offensive-minded bust Brian Callahan.
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