Latest NFL Rumors, Predictions on Mike McDaniel, Kliff Kingsbury and Robert Saleh

As 14 teams prepare to compete in the NFL Playoffs and chase a Lombardi Trophy, the other 18 teams in the league are looking to the 2026, with six of them searching for new head coaches.

Candidates include former head coaches Mike McDaniel, Kliff Kingsbury, and Robert Saleh, all of whom will be looking for their second shot at proving themselves at the top of their profession.

Dive into the latest on each candidate in this collection of insider rumors and reports.

Lions Interested in Mike McDaniel as OC?

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The Miami Dolphins fired head coach Mike McDaniel Thursday after a 7-10 campaign, his second losing season in a row. The 42-year-old may not be out of a job for long, though.

NFL Media's Ian Rapoport reported that the Detroit Lions "reached out to former Dolphins HC Mike McDaniel about their vacant offensive coordinator position."

Before joining Miami, McDaniel was the offensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers, promoted to that position in 2021. He went 35-33 in four seasons with the Dolphins.

The Lions struggled to rediscover the spark offensively that it had under former offensive coordinator and current Bears head coach Ben Johnson. Head coach Dan Campbell took over play-calling duties late in the season and the team fired John Morton as offensive coordinator in January after one season.

In his one season as OC for the Niners, McDaniel crafted a seventh-ranked offense, averaging 375.7 yards per game and 25.1 points per game.

With this Lions likely to want to make a splash and get back to winning football games and chasing the Lombardi Trophy after a down season, hiring a play caller like McDaniel would certainly accomplish one part of that.

Prediction: If not Detroit, McDaniel joins a playoff contending team as OC

Kliff Kingsbury Receiving Calls

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The Washington Commanders may have parted ways with offensive coordinator Kingsbury but, like McDaniel, his unemployment may not last long.

Rapoport noted that the Baltimore Ravens and Tennessee Titans have requested to interview the former Arizona Cardinals head coach.

Kingsbury was popular in the Washington locker room, with franchise quarterback Jayden Daniels and several other key Commanders players expressing disappointment that he was let go, according to NFL insider Jordan Schultz.

With Kingsbury calling plays, the Commanders were the seventh-best offense in the league in 2024. Injuries to Daniels led to a significant fall off in 2025, but that should have been expected.

Under Kingsbury in 2021, Kyler Murray had the finest season of his career, finishing with 3,787 yards, 24 touchdowns, 10 interceptions, and a QB rating of 100.6.

His work with the former Heisman winners understandably piqued the interest of the Ravens and Titans, both of whom have athletic quarterbacks who can throw, run, and perform RPOs, generating big plays down the field.

Based on all that he has accomplished to this point, it stand to reason that Baltimore and Tennessee would immediately benefit offensively from having Kingsbury as their head coach.

Prediction: Kingsbury signs with Baltimore, giving the Ravens their first offense-first head coach

Another Team Interested in Robert Saleh

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San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh is proving to be one of the hottest head coaching candidates in the league, even as he prepares for a Wild Card playoff match-up against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday.

The Baltimore Ravens are the latest team to request an interview, per ESPN's Adam Schefter, joining Atlanta, Arizona, and Tennessee.

Saleh has head coaching experience, going 20-36 in just over three seasons with the New York Jets.

A high-energy, high-motivation type who demands accountability and is an acclaimed leader, it is no surprise that there are organizations lining up to give him a second chance at the head coach position.

Whether he is in a rush to take on that role again, or is more interested in continuing with the 49ers in his second stint with the organization, is the question.

Prediction: Saleh stays in San Francisco