Ideal Fits for NFL's Open Head Coaching Jobs After Latest Firings

A wave of Black Monday firings has left six head coaching positions open around the NFL. It won't be long before teams start filling them, but it's important for each of these clubs to carefully pick the correct candidate for the job.

Choosing the right head coach can be a massive boon for a franchise, as it opens the door for rapid rebuilds and quick turnarounds that result in long-awaited playoff appearances and sustained success. Choosing poorly will set an organization back significantly, leaving them floundering at the bottom of the standings for years before diving back into the hiring process again and hoping to finally get it right.

With that in mind, read on to see which head coaching candidate is an ideal pair for each of the league's six vacancies.

Atlanta Falcons: Klint Kubiak

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The Atlanta Falcons clearly erred with their decision to hire Raheem Morris over Bill Belichick two years ago and are now back at square one after relieving the head coach of his duties following a pair of fruitless seasons.

Klint Kubiak could be the right person to finally get Atlanta over the hump. The team is absolutely loaded with skill position talent, but prime years from stars like Kyle Pitts Sr., Drake London and Bijan Robinson have been squandered due to the organization's inability to get consistent play from the quarterback position.

Kubiak has been surging up the coaching ladder in recent years and should get his first crack at a head coaching gig this offseason due to some impressive work with several elite NFL signal-callers such as Kirk Cousins (2019-2021), Brock Purdy (2023) and Sam Darnold (2025).

Although he didn't fare too well as the New Orleans Saints OC in 2024, Kubiak put his talents on display after landing with the Seattle Seahawks this past year. He helped elevate the offense from a middle-of-the-pack unit to one that ranked in the top quarter of the league in yardage and scored the third-most points in 2025.

Atlanta needs an offensive-minded head coach who can maximize the talents of its passing attack after it ranked in the bottom half of the league with a middling 207.2 yards per game average. Given Kubiak's track record, he should be capable of lifting this group up significantly and quickly

Arizona Cardinals: Brian Flores

Brian Flores was the reported top choice for the Arizona Cardinals' head coaching job when it was last open three years ago. While Flores elected to remove himself from contention and joined the Minnesota Vikings as their defensive coordinator—a role he has held since—it wouldn't be a shock if he ends up with the organization in 2026.

Flores last held a head coaching job in 2021, finishing out a three-year stretch with the Miami Dolphins in which he went 24-25—including a 19-14 run over the final two seasons—before being fired by the organization.

While Flores didn't reach the playoffs during his tenure in South Beach, his defenses have consistently rated as some of the league's best. His scheme emphasizes heavy pressure—rating No. 1 in the NFL in 2025—that confounds opposing quarterbacks and creates turnovers.

Although Arizona just went through an unsuccessful stint with a defensive-minded head coach in Jonathan Gannon, the Cardinals failed to live up to their potential on that side of the ball. The squad ranked a concerning No. 27 in total defense this past season and never finished above No. 21 during Gannon's three seasons at the helm.

Flores' Minnesota defenses have finished top-16 or better throughout that span, including ranking No. 3 this past season.

The Cardinals have a litany of roster issues to work out—including at the quarterback position following a tumultuous Kyler Murray campaign—but have the tools in place to emerge as an elite defensive team in 2026 with Flores at the reins.

Baltimore Ravens: Jesse Minter

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The Baltimore Ravens reportedly made the tough decision to part ways with John Harbaugh on Tuesday after 18 seasons together. The Super Bowl XLVII champion will be a tough act to follow, but Jesse Minter fits the bill as a coaching candidate with real potential to provide the type sustained success this organization has become accustomed to.

If he's chosen to succeed Harbaugh, Minter would become just the fourth head coach in Ravens history. Both Harbaugh and Brian Billick (who coached the team from 1999-2007) took the job when they were in their mid-40's and got off to hot starts, with each bringing a Lombardi Trophy to Charm City within their first five seasons at the helm. Both had extensive positional coaching and coordinator experience at the NFL level, but neither had been a head coach until Baltimore tapped them for the gig.

Minter, 42, has spent the last two seasons working as the Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator under head coach Jim Harbaugh. Since assuming the role, the Bolts have never ranked below No. 11 in total defense or No. 9 in scoring defense while reaching the playoffs in each those two seasons.

Prior to his move to L.A., Minter also worked under Jim Harbaugh at Michigan. He served as the Wolverines' defensive coordinator during the 2022-23 seasons—culminating in an undefeated national championship run in his final year with the program.

Neither Billick nor Harbaugh had any experience with the Ravens organization prior to being hired, however, while Minter does. Harbaugh provided Minter with his first NFL opportunity back in 2017, bringing him aboard as a defensive assistant after a decade spent bouncing around the collegiate ranks.

Minter worked his way up the ladder in Baltimore, culminating in a defensive backs coaching job in 2020 before jumping to Vanderbilt as a defensive coordinator the following season.

A rare combination of experience, success and familiarity with the team's culture makes Minter the ideal candidate to become the next head coach of the Baltimore Ravens, a role he could hold for decades to come.

Cleveland Browns: Mike McCarthy

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The Browns hit the reset button on Black Monday and must find a coach to lead the program into a new era.

Mike McCarthy fits the bill as a respected veteran with a long history of success at each of his NFL head coaching stops. While he was out of football this year after parting ways with the Dallas Cowboys following a disappointing, injury-plagued 2024 season, the 62-year-old will be a popular candidate during the upcoming hiring cycle.

Boasting a 174-112-2 regular-season record, McCarthy has posted just five losing seasons across 18 campaigns with the Cowboys and Green Bay Packers. He notably took over a Packers squad that had gone 4-12 in 2005 and had them in the NFC Championship Game by his second season at the helm, went on to reach the conference championship again in 2009 and finally broke through as a Super Bowl winner in 2010.

While he couldn't reach those same heights during his tenure in Dallas, McCarthy oversaw a respectable run of three consecutive 12-5 seasons between 2021-23 that included a pair of NFC East titles.

Considering the Browns haven't won 12 games since 1986, haven't claimed a divisional crown since 1989 and have just four winning seasons since their return to the NFL in 1999, having anywhere near that level of sustained success would represent a massive improvement for the downtrodden franchise.

There are pieces in place for McCarthy to succeed in Year 1—the defense is led by a generational star in Myles Garrett and the future looks bright thanks to an impressive rookie class led by Carson Schwesinger, Quinshon Judkins, Harold Fannin Jr. and others—but his ability to develop a quarterback will ultimately determine how far he can take the Browns.

Las Vegas Raiders: Robert Saleh

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It was just over a year ago that the Las Vegas Raiders envisioned going on a run of success with Pete Carroll at the helm before handing the reins over to Robert Saleh, the man they hoped would become their defensive coordinator and "coach in waiting."

While Carroll did become Vegas' head coach for the 2025 season—a brutal 3-14 one-and-done campaign—Saleh spurned the organization and returned to his former post as the defensive coordinator of the San Francisco 49ers.

Although Saleh is about to embark on a postseason run with the 12-5 Niners, the transition from Carroll to him could still occur in a much different fashion than the Raiders would have hoped.

Although Saleh's three-plus-year head coaching stint with the New York Jets wasn't very successful—the team went just 20-36 under his guidance—he has consistently proved he's one of the very best defensive minds in football at every stop.

During a six-year span from 2019 to 2024, Saleh oversaw defenses that ranked No. 5 or better. The lone outlier was a last-place finish in 2021, his first year on the job with Gang Green. New York immediately regressed upon Saleh's exit, ranking in the bottom-eight in 2025 under new head coach Aaron Glenn.

While Saleh's current defense only rates No. 20, he's done an admirable job keeping the 49ers in contention despite a myriad of injuries to players like Nick Bosa, Fred Warner and other key starters.

The Raiders have a long way to go before they can get back in contention, but rapidly improving a defense that underperformed this season would go a long way towards a return to respectability.

Miami Dolphins: John Harbaugh

After Mike McDaniel survived Black Monday unscathed, it seemed that the Miami Dolphins coach would be returning for a fifth season in 2026. The surprise availability of John Harbaugh, who was relieved of his duties with the Baltimore Ravens on Tuesday night, may have directly led to McDaniel's reported firing.

While Harbaugh rates amongst the most popular head coaching candidates to hit the open market in years and will have his pick of landing spots, his reported discussions with Miami earlier in the week may have gone well enough to cause the program to split with McDaniel.

Harbaugh has the potential to get the 'Phins back into the playoffs quickly following a two-year hiatus. After reaching the Wild Card round in back-to-back years to open the McDaniel era, the team regressed to 8-9 in 2024 and finished 2025 with a 7-10 record. It's been an immensely disappointing stretch for a squad that boasted the NFL's top offense just two seasons ago before falling to the bottom quarter of the league this past year.

Harbaugh's teams have rarely had issues on the offensive end. Outside of this past season—which was marred by injuries to Lamar Jackson and other key contributors—the Ravens had finished inside the top-half of the NFL on four straight occasions and six of the past seven seasons—including in 2024 when Baltimore racked up the most yardage in the league.

With dynamic weapons like star running back De'Von Achane and wideout Jaylen Waddle on Miami's roster—as well as the potential return of All-Pro pass-catcher Tyreek Hill—the Dolphins have many of the pieces in place needed to bounce back in 2026. The future of Tua Tagovailoa remains murky after the signal-caller claimed it "would be dope" to get a fresh start elsewhere, but the Pro Bowler could have a change of heart with a new regime taking over.

Harbaugh's arrival could also herald in a full reset, rebuilding from the ground up with draft picks and signings that fit the Super Bowl XLVII winner's vision. The 'Phins currently hold eight selections in the 2026 NFL draft—including the No. 11 overall pick—and could add more capital by dealing veterans during the offseason.

Regardless of which path is ultimately chosen, the Dolphins will be in great hands if Harbaugh decides to take his talent to South Beach.

New York Giants: Kevin Stefanski

It shouldn't take long for Kevin Stefanski to land on his feet after being let go by the Cleveland Browns this week.

Although Stefanski had mixed results during his six seasons at the reins in Cleveland, he was far-and-away the best coach the long-suffering organization has had since returning to the league in 1999. He finished his tenure with a 45-56 record, including two trips to the playoffs in 2020 and 2023.

Stefanski, a Coach of the Year award winner in his debut campaign, became just the second Browns head coach (after Butch Davis in 2002) to reach the playoffs and the first to win a postseason game with the club in the 21st century.

While Stefanski's final two years in Cleveland were marred by quarterback woes, he'll have a promising young first-round talent in Jaxson Dart to work with in New York. Dart projects to be far better than any of the seven signal-callers the Browns cycled through since the start of the 2024 season.

Stefanski also brings experience to the table, something many of Big Blue's coaching hires have lacked following the departure of Tom Coughlin a decade ago. He's keenly aware of what it takes to shepherd an organization from the league's basement into the playoffs, memorably hitting the ground running in 2020 with an 11-5 season that still ranks as Cleveland's best winning percentage since 1994.  

This isn't going to be an easy turnaround, but the Giants have many of the tools needed to find success immediately with the right coach. New York shouldn't hesitate to capitalize on Stefanski's availability and bring him in to resuscitate the once-proud franchise.

Tennessee Titans: Joe Brady

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The Tennessee Titans have had their head coaching job vacant for nearly three months and likely won't want to wait much longer before getting a replacement lined up. While that may lead the club to bring Matt Nagy—a candidate linked to the club since shortly after Brian Callahan's dismissal midway through the season—aboard soon, it's not the path the Titans should take if they want to become a winning team.

Rather than go with Nagy, a failed head coach with the Chicago Bears and offensive coordinator for a Chiefs team that has largely regressed under his stewardship, Tennessee would be far better off taking a chance on Joe Brady.

Brady was on the head coaching radar last year before electing to return to his post as the Buffalo Bills' offensive coordinator, a position he's held for the past three seasons. In each of those years, the Bills have ranked No. 10 or better in total offense (including No. 4 in both 2023 and 2025) and No. 6 or better in scoring.

Brady's partnership with Josh Allen has resulted in the star quarterback taking an MVP leap last year and posting a league-best 36-15 record since the start of the 2023 campaign. It's an especially impressive feat given the lack of talent in Buffalo's receiving corps, a group that has lacked a 1,000-yard pass-catcher since Stefon Diggs' departure two years ago.

The Titans should be willing to roll the dice on Brady having similar success with Cam Ward, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 draft. Ward showed plenty of potential throughout his rookie campaign, including making some throws that few signal-callers are capable of. A lack of weapons and other roster holes ultimately doomed the Titans to a 3-14 record, but there is potential for a quick turnaround in the Music City.

While the Titans may not have the most talented roster in 2026, Brady should be able to get the most out of Ward and his supporting cast—putting the club in playoff contention by the end of his first season.