Predicting Top 2026 Coaching Openings amid Kevin Stefanski, Mike Tomlin Rumors

Two NFL franchises have already created 2026 head-coaching openings by firing their incumbents in-season. More jobs will inevitably open up between now and the end of the season, though we don't know exactly where they'll be.

With less than five full weeks left in the regular season, though, there has been no shortage of rumors. Questions about job security have circled the likes of two-time Coach of the Year Kevin Stefanski and Mike Tomlin, the league's longest-tenured head coach.

Based on the latest buzz, we'll make our predictions for the five best jobs that could be open in 2026, based on factors like roster makeup, ownership history, franchise stability and 2026 cap and draft capital.

Honorable Mentions

AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell

Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel

Before we dive into our projected top five openings, let's examine a few teams that didn't make the cut.

Miami Dolphins

Early in the year, it felt like the Miami Dolphins were destined to fire coach Mike McDaniel and GM Chris Grier. While Grier is already out, McDaniel has been given a chance to coach his way back into a job.

"There's a strong sense from people I've talked to that team owner Stephen Ross likes and believes in McDaniel and would like to see him succeed," ESPN's Dan Graziano wrote late last month.

Miami has won four of its last five, and a couple more wins may give McDaniel another chance in 2026.

Atlanta Falcons

The Atlanta Falcons don't have a great situation. They have a lot of talented pieces but not a cohesive team. They have an expensive journeyman quarterback and a second-year signal-caller recovering from his third career ACL tear.

The Falcons may not have an opening anyway. According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, franchise owner Arthur Blank "respects [head coach Raheem] Morris a lot" and won't make a "rash decision" at the end of the year.

Cincinnati Bengals

The Cincinnati Bengals would be a great situation for most coaches because they have their quarterback in Joe Burrow. Injury concerns aside, he's one of the few signal-callers who can truly carry a team—and a coach's job security.

Zac Taylor has never really been on the hot seat despite owning a 9-30 record in games Burrow hasn't started.

With Burrow back, the Bengals clinging to playoff hopes, and Taylor under contract through next season, it doesn't feel like Cincinnati will have an opening until 2026 at the earliest. That could change, however, if the Bengals believe they can land a clear-cut upgrade in January.

The Wild Card: The Pittsburgh Steelers

AP Photo/Erin Hooley

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin

The Pittsburgh Steelers and Mike Tomlin loom as the biggest wild cards of the 2026 offseason.

Tomlin, as you've probably heard, has never delivered a sub-.500 season. He's the sort of steady leader the Bengals might just fire Taylor to hire, if Tomlin were to become available. The Steelers, though, simply don't fire head coaches, and Tomlin isn't on the hot seat internally, according to CBS Sports' Jonathan Jones.

Now, Tomlin could decide that he's ready for a change of scenery and force Pittsburgh's hand, to a degree. He's under contract through 2027 on a deal that includes a no-trade clause, but he could waive that if he has a destination in mind.

Tomlin could also try to convince ownership that allowing him to walk is best. Alternatively, he could walk away from coaching—possibly securing a job in the media and reevaluating the landscape in 2027, as Sean Payton did a few years ago.

On one hand, Pittsburgh could be considered the most desirable landing spot for coaching candidates should its job become available. Coaching the Steelers has traditionally involved extreme patience from ownership and maximum job security.

On the other hand, the Steelers have a flawed roster, no long-term quarterback plan, and a fanbase with extremely high expectations. Anything short of playoff success would be viewed as a failure, and that could mean the sort of stress not all coaches are equipped to handle.

Whether the Pittsburgh job becomes open or not will probably be Tomlin's call. For now, we're inclined to believe he'll be back in 2026.

5. Tennessee Titans

AP Photo/George Walker IV

Titans QB Cam Ward

The Tennessee Titans are one of two team that are pretty much guaranteed to have an opening after the season. They fired Brian Callahan back in mid-October, and interim coach Mike McCoy hasn't compiled an impressive resume since then.

Tennessee has had one of the league's worst rosters for the past couple of seasons, but it could still provide a top-five opening for a couple of reasons. For one, they have a promising young quarterback in No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward.

Has Ward played up to his draft status? Not yet, but the physical tools are impressive, and quite a few coaches should be intrigued by his potential with a better supporting cast. The Titans also have the capital to improve Ward's supporting cast in a hurry.

Tennessee would own the No. 1 overall pick in next year's draft if the season ended today. That would either bring a blue-chip prospect like Caleb Downs or a haul of draft picks from another, quarterback-needy, franchise.

The Chicago Bears got two first-round picks, two second-round picks, and wide receiver D.J. Moore when they flipped the No. 1 pick in the 2023 draft.

The Titans are also projected to have the second-most cap space in the league next season. There's no guarantee that they'll become next year's version of the 2025 New England Patriots, but any coach weighing his options could dream of a similar scenario.

4. Cleveland Browns

AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki

Browns edge Myles Garrett

Since the Cleveland Browns returned to the league in 1999, they've been a laughingstock more often than not. They've made the playoffs three times since their resurrection, and they own a single playoff win. The ongoing struggles can largely be blamed on owners who either haven't hired the right football people or haven't let the football people run the organization.

Jimmy and Dee Haslam are Cleveland's latest franchise owners, and under their watch, the Browns have made mistakes like drafting Johnny Manziel, trading for/extending Deshaun Watson, and shipping off Baker Mayfield.

Firing Stefanski, who hasn't produced good results over the last two years, might be the next questionable move the Haslams make. According to Fowler, many NFL executives and coaches believe "he'd be a prime candidate for a head coaching job" if Stefanski does become available.

Cleveland's recent history won't appeal to most coaching candidates. Neither will the fact that the Browns are projected to be $128.1 million over the 2026 salary cap.

What the Browns do have is a top-tier defense led by presumptive Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett and a pair of first-round picks that could be used to chase a franchise quarterback.

You can bet that there are several coaches who will look at Cleveland and say, "If I can get my quarterback and pair him with that defense, I can win, despite the historical dysfunction."

3. Arizona Cardinals

AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin

Cardinals TE Trey McBride

The Arizona Cardinals haven't notched a playoff win since 2015, but they have been to a Super Bowl this decade and don't quite carry the same stench of defeat that the Browns do.

Arizona also has some talented building blocks, like Marvin Harrison Jr., Trey McBride, Paris Johnson Jr., Will Johnson and Josh Sweat. The team has been more competitive this season than its 3-9 record would suggest.

Six of Arizona's losses have been by four or fewer points.

However, the Cardinals are just 15-31 under head coach Jonathan Gannon, and they may be looking to replace quarterback Kyler Murray in the offseason. Gannon recently announced that Murray won't return this season because of his lingering foot injury.

"It wouldn't shock many in the league if the Cardinals moved on after this season," Graziano wrote.

If Arizona does dump Murray, a total reset would make perfect sense. An incoming coach would likely inherit some strong roster pieces, a top-10 draft pick, and $42.6 million in cap space. And if Murray is out, the Cardinals' next coach will have a top-tier bridge quarterback in Jacoby Brissett, who is signed through 2026.

2. Las Vegas Raiders

AP Photo/Candice Ward

Raiders edge Maxx Crosby

Things haven't gone as expected for the Las Vegas Raiders in 2025. Head coach Pete Carroll, offensive coordinator Chip Kelly and quarterback Geno Smith were supposed to revitalize the Raiders' offense and make the team competitive in the loaded AFC West right away.

Well, Kelly has been fired, Smith leads the league in interceptions, and Carroll is not on the hot seat, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

Don't be surprised if Carroll and the Raiders announce a "mutual" parting of the ways in a few weeks.

The quick turnaround Las Vegas imagined didn't materialize, and the prediction here is that franchise majority owner Mark Davis—and minority owner Tom Brady—try again for the third time in as many years.

While Las Vegas might not be viewed as a model franchise, the job will be far more attractive than most expect—at least, to coaches who don't mind that Brady has a spoon in the proverbial pot.

The Raiders have cornerstone-caliber players like Maxx Crosby, Brock Bowers, Kolton Miller, and Ashton Jeanty. They would have the fourth-overall pick in the 2026 draft if the season ended today, and they have the third-most projected 2026 cap space in the NFL.

A draft-day trade might be required, but the Raiders have a realistic shot at landing a premier QB prospect like Fernando Mendoza or Dante Moore. They have the cap space needed to put pieces around a young QB quickly, and they already have legitimate playmakers in Bowers and Crosby.

And while Smith hasn't been the reliable veteran starter the Raiders thought he would be, he could be a solid bridge quarterback if Las Vegas' next coach decides to keep him.

1. New York Giants

AP PhotoGreg M. Cooper

Giants QB Jaxson Dart

Like the Titans, the New York Giants fired their head coach in-season. Also like the Titans, the Giants have a promising rookie quarterback with enticing physical traits.

There's a big difference between the situations in Tennessee and New York, however. While the Giants haven't had much recent success, they've traditionally been one of the league's most stable and successful franchises.

Dart has flashed more of an NFL-ready floor than Ward has too, though the Giants' next head coach needs to protect Dart from himself. Dart's willingness to take on contact, and the willingness of former coach Brian Daboll to let him, may be why New York created a vacancy in early November.

Along with Dart, the Giants have talented stars like Malik Nabers, Andrew Thomas, Brian Burns, Cam Skattebo, Jevon Holland, and Abdul Carter. The backbone of a really competitive roster is in place.

An incoming coach would inherit a promising young group, along with a valuable draft pick—New York would have the second overall selection if the season ended today. That pick could be sent to a quarterback-needy team for a fistful of players and/or draft selections.

With the pressure of the New York media market may be a hurdle for some coaches—and the potential return of GM Joe Schoen a problem for others—the chance to take the pieces in place and turn around one of the NFL's marquee franchises would be a golden opportunity for most.

*Cap information from Spotrac. Draft order information from Tankathon.