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Pete Carroll, Stefanski, Gannon, Raheem Morris' Top NFL Landing Spots After Firings
Following the conclusion of the 2025 NFL regular season on Sunday, four head coaches are back on the market.
The Atlanta Falcons announced Sunday night that they had fired head coach Raheem Morris after two seasons. Also, on Monday, the Cleveland Browns announced the firing of head coach Kevin Stefanski after six seasons on the job, the Raiders fired Pete Carroll on Monday after just one season, and the Arizona Cardinals fired Jonathan Gannon after three seasons.
Despite their dismissals, Carroll, Stefanski, Gannon and Morris are respected coaches with a chance to land on their feet with a different franchise.
Here is a look at the potential landing spots for Carroll, Stefanski, Gannon and Morris in 2026 now that they are free and clear to interview elsewhere.
Kevin Stefanski
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Stefanski went just 45-56 over his six seasons in Cleveland, including 5-12 this season and 3-14 in 2024.
However, over his first four campaigns, Stefanski led the Browns to a pair of playoff appearances, and he was twice named NFL Coach of the Year. Because of those accolades, it feels like Stefanski has at least a chance to immediately land elsewhere as a head coach.
If that happens, the New York Giants stand out as perhaps the most logical landing spot.
The Giants fired Brian Daboll after a 2-8 start this season and replaced him with Mike Kafka on an interim basis. Although New York only ended up going 4-13, it should be a desirable landing spot for an offensive-minded coach like Stefanski.
Quarterback Jaxson Dart performed well as a rookie first-round pick in 2025, and a pair of young offensive weapons in running back Cam Skattebo and wide receiver Malik Nabers should return next season after having their 2025 campaigns cut short due to injury.
The Giants tried to hire Stefanski as their offensive coordinator in 2018 while he was part of the Minnesota Vikings' coaching staff, so there has been interest in Stefanski by the Giants organization in the past.
Another head coaching job that could make sense for Stefanski is that of the Falcons following Morris' firing.
Like the Giants, the Falcons have no shortage of talent on offense, led by superstar running back Bijan Robinson and wide receiver Drake London.
The jury is still out on quarterback Michael Penix Jr., so it stands to reason that the Falcons would prefer to hire an offensive head coach like Stefanski in order to get the most out of the 2024 first-round pick.
Provided a head coaching opportunity does not materialize for Stefanski, a stint as the Philadelphia Eagles' offensive coordinator would make a ton of sense for both parties involved.
Stefanski, who is from Philadelphia, could quickly rebuild his value as a head coaching candidate with a successful season as the Eagles' OC.
In recent years, Kellen Moore, Shane Steichen and Frank Reich have all parlayed successful spells as the Eagles' offensive coordinator into head coaching jobs.
Current Eagles OC Kevin Patullo has been the subject of criticism for much of the 2025 season, so if Philly doesn't go on a deep playoff run, the job could become available.
Raheem Morris
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While Stefanski has a chance to remain a head coach in 2026, it feels far less likely that Morris will get that same opportunity.
Overall, Morris has spent six seasons as an NFL head coach with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Falcons, going 37-56 with no playoff appearances.
Head coaching hasn't necessarily worked out for Morris thus far, but he is a well-respected coach nonetheless, and any number of teams would likely love the opportunity to make him part of their coaching staff.
Morris is a two-time Super Bowl champion as an assistant, winning one with the Bucs and one with the Los Angeles Rams.
Before the Falcons hired him as their head coach, Morris spent three seasons as the Rams' defensive coordinator and helped them win Super Bowl LVI.
Sean McVay is still the head coach in L.A., and his familiarity with Morris could compel him to add Morris to his coaching staff next season. Morris could potentially even return to the DC role with the Rams if current DC Chris Shula lands a head coaching job.
The Washington Commanders also stand out as an organization that could have significant interest in Morris because of his relationship with head coach Dan Quinn.
Quinn was previously head coach of the Falcons from 2015 to 2020, and Morris coached under him for his entire tenure in numerous roles, including defensive coordinator in 2020.
Since Quinn stripped Commanders defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. of his defensive play-calling duties this season amid Washington going a disappointing 5-12, the DC role could possibly be available to Morris.
The Minnesota Vikings are another team that could have a defensive coordinator opening should the highly touted Brian Flores get hired elsewhere as a head coach.
Morris and Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell were on the same coaching staff with the Rams in 2021 when O'Connell was offensive coordinator and Morris was defensive coordinator.
That combination worked to great effect in L.A., so there is reason to believe it could succeed in Minnesota as well.
Pete Carroll
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After somewhat surprisingly hiring Carroll last year, the Raiders quickly moved on from the veteran coach after posting a 4-13 record in 2025.
Carroll had been the Seattle Seahawks' head coach from 2010 to 2023, and he enjoyed a great deal of success during his tenure, reaching the Super Bowl twice and winning it once.
However, he and the Seahawks mutually agreed that he would step down as head coach following the 2023 season, and he transitioned into an advisor role in the front office.
That was short-lived, though, as the Raiders hired the 74-year-old to be their new head coach, marking one of the first major decisions that minority owner Tom Brady was involved with.
Nothing went right for Carroll in Vegas, as the Raiders struggled on both sides of the ball, and quarterback Geno Smith did not enjoy the same success under Carroll in Las Vegas as he did in Seattle.
The most likely outcome for Carroll is that he will ride off into the sunset and retire from coaching since it is difficult to envision teams lining up to hire him after the Raiders' disastrous 2025 season.
Perhaps the only exception would be a young, rebuilding team in need of some experience and leadership, such as the Tennessee Titans, who fired head coach Brian Callahan in October.
Like the Raiders, the Titans went 3-14, so perhaps the front office could view Carroll as a caretaker capable of transitioning into a more permanent solution at head coach.
If Carroll wants to continue working in the NFL, an advisor role is likely far more realistic, and any number of teams could potentially offer him that type of role.
Carroll is from San Francisco and was the 49ers' defensive coordinator at one point. He also spent significant time coaching in Los Angeles at USC.
The 49ers, Rams and Chargers all stand out as quality organizations that could possibly find a spot for Carroll.
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Jonathan Gannon
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After finishing 3-14 and losing nine consecutive games to end the 2025 season, the Cardinals parted ways with Gannon three years after hiring him.
Gannon mustered only a 15-36 record in Arizona, and he was unable to take the Cards to the playoffs during his tenure.
While it is possible Gannon could land another head coaching job in the future, there is seemingly very little chance of that happening in 2026.
That means Gannon will have to explore other opportunities, potentially as a defensive coordinator, which is a role he thrived in with the Philadelphia Eagles from 2021 to 2022.
Indianapolis Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo figures to be a strong head coaching candidate this offseason, and if he lands a job, it will leave an opening on head coach Shane Steichen's staff.
During Gannon's time as the Eagles' DC from 2021 to 2022, Steichen was the Eagles' offensive coordinator, so they have plenty of familiarity, and they have shown that their partnership can be a successful one.
Gannon was previously the Colts' defensive backs coach from 2018 to 2020, and before that, he was an assistant defensive backs coach with the Minnesota Vikings from 2014 to 2017.
Like Anarumo, Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores looks to be a popular head coaching candidate, and if he leaves Minnesota this offseason, Gannon would be a strong candidate to replace him at DC.
Vic Fangio has done an excellent job as the Eagles' defensive coordinator the past two seasons, but at 67 years of age, retirement isn't out of the question. Should that happen, Gannon would be the natural replacement, returning to coach under head coach Nick Sirianni.
However, even if Fangio sticks around, it won't be a shock if Gannon rejoins the Eagles in a non-DC capacity, perhaps as the assistant head coach.
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