Re-Ranking Best NFL Head Coach Candidates After Mike McDaniel Joins Chargers

The 2026 NFL playoffs may be ongoing, but the offseason is starting to heat up for many teams.

Nearly a third of the league parted ways with a head coach either during the season or shortly after it ended, although only four of these 10 teams have managed to fill their vacancies.

The short list of clubs to announce a hiring include the New York Giants, Atlanta Falcons, Miami Dolphins and Tennessee Titans, who took John Harbaugh, Kevin Stefanski, Jeff Hafley and Robert Saleh, respectively, off the market.

While they weren't looking for a new head coach, the Los Angeles Chargers pulled off perhaps the biggest coaching coup of the 2026 offseason. The Bolts scored a major offseason victory by convincing Mike McDaniel—a popular candidate to land another head coaching gig shortly after his surprise dismissal from the Miami Dolphins—to join Jim Harbaugh's staff as Greg Roman's replacement at offensive coordinator.

While McDaniel's choice has taken a trendy candidate off the table, there are still plenty of bright minds available to fill a head coaching void.

With that in mind, let's take a ranked look—based on their past resume and chances for future success—at the top remaining head coaching candidates.

5. Brian Flores

AP Photo/Matt Krohn

Brian Flores has consistently proved he's one of the best defensive masterminds in the NFL. His skills were on full display during his three-year tenure as the Minnesota Vikings' defensive coordinator and should result in him becoming a head coach for the second time as early as this offseason.

After learning the ropes from Bill Belichick during the New England Patriots' dynasty years, Flores took the leap from coaching safeties (2012-15) and linebackers (2016-18) to head coach of the rival Miami Dolphins in 2019.

His time in South Beach started off slow with a 5-11 rookie year, but he went 19-14 over his final two seasons and narrowly missed out on the playoffs in both years.

After Flores' well-publicized and acrimonious dismissal from the organization in early 2022—a discrimination lawsuit against the league is still ongoing—he landed a defensive coordinator position in Minnesota that has significantly raised his profile and helped him become a head coaching candidate once again.

Although they haven't fielded the most talented defense, the Vikings have been consistently punching up during the Flores years. The team has ranked in the top half of the league in both scoring and total defense in all three of his seasons as DC, including this past year when Minnesota ranked as the No. 3 defense in football.

Flores has all the traits a team should be looking for in a head coach. He's a brilliant mind who motivates his players well and appears to be beloved by them. He's displayed tremendous growth since his time in Miami and should have little problem finding far more success in his next act.

4. Mike McCarthy

AP Photo/Jerome Miron

Mike McCarthy has spent a year away from football following his departure from the Dallas Cowboys, but it shouldn't be long before he's back pacing the sidelines for an NFL team.

At 62 years of age and with 18 seasons of head coaching experience on his resume, he is one of the oldest and most qualified candidates on the market. He may not be the most exciting option to fill a head coaching void, but any team that lands him has a great shot at becoming a perennial contender.

McCarthy's first head coaching job came with the Green Bay Packers in 2006, and it didn't take long for him to guide the storied program back to its winning ways. He inherited a 4-12 team and helped it go 8-8 in Year 1, 13-3 in Year 2 and was celebrating a Super Bowl XLV championship by Year 5.

Although McCarthy's tenure in Titletown ended with a rare losing record—his 4-7-1 record at the time of his dismissal was just the third time he finished under .500 during his 13 years with the program—he returned to prominence after linking up with the Dallas Cowboys.

After a slow 6-10 start in Year 1, Dallas posted three consecutive 12-5 seasons that included two NFC East championships under McCarthy. He failed to bring the postseason success that owner Jerry Jones craved, however, winning just one Wild Card Round in three tries.

Even though McCarthy's time at the Cowboys' helm ended with back-to-back seven-win campaigns, it would be unwise to bet against him overseeing a winner at his next stop.

If he winds up on one of the veteran-laden clubs that parted ways with their head coach this offseason, McCarthy could hit the ground running and have a Super Bowl contender on his hands in short order.

3. Klint Kubiak

AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson

As the son of longtime offensive coordinator and head coach Gary Kubiak, Klint Kubiak grew up immersed in NFL head coaching culture.

He began his own journey through the coaching ranks in 2010 as a Texas A&M offensive quality control coach and has steadily worked his way up over the past 15 seasons.

Kubiak's big break occurred in 2021 when he caught on as the Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator. He helped Kirk Cousins post a Pro Bowl campaign that year, throwing for 4,221 yards and 33 touchdowns while leading an offense that ranked top-12 in both passing and total yardage.

After bouncing around the league in lesser roles for a couple seasons, Kubiak reemerged as an offensive coordinator for the New Orleans Saints in 2024.

While the team largely struggled due to injuries and inconsistencies at the quarterback position, Kubiak showed enough promise to join the staff of Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald ahead of the 2025 campaign.

Kubiak's presence has been a major asset for the Seahawks, a team that has thrived this season despite onboarding a new quarterback in Sam Darnold.

The Darnold-Kubiak pairing resulted in Seattle earning the NFC's No. 1 seed, posting a sterling 14-3 record behind an offense that ranked No. 8 in yardage and No. 3 in scoring during the regular season.

Seattle is now the favorite to capture the Lombardi Trophy after eviscerating the rival San Francisco 49ers by a 41-6 margin in the divisional round. The team's impressive playoff run only further proves Kubiak has the chops to become a star head coach at his next stop.

2. Jesse Minter

AP Photo/Kyusung Gong

Jesse Minter may not have head coaching experience yet, but the Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator should be a slam-dunk hire for one lucky franchise this offseason.

Minter has been a coaching star on the rise ever since he linked up with Harbaugh brothers, first in 2017 as a defensive assistant for John Harbaugh's Baltimore Ravens.

After a promotion to defensive backs coach in 2020 (a season in which the Ravens conceded a league-best 17.6 points and 207.2 passing yards per game), he earned his first defensive coordinator gig at Vanderbilt in 2021—faring well enough with the Commodores to secure a job under Jim Harbaugh at Michigan the following season.

With Minter playing a vital role, the Wolverines emerged as one of the nation's top defenses. His time at Michigan culminated in an undefeated national championship run in 2023, with the program allowing just 10.4 points and 247 yards per game that season.

The 42-year-old then followed Harbaugh to the Los Angeles Chargers in 2024 and has continued his run of success in the NFL. The Bolts haven't ranked worse than No. 11 in total defense or No. 9 scoring defense since Minter arrived, including leading the league in points allowed during his first season.

It's only a matter of time before Minter takes the next step. He boasts a wealth of experience under some of the game's best minds and should have little issue translating that to a long and successful head coaching tenure in the NFL.

1. Sean McDermott

AP Photo/David Zalubowski

The Buffalo Bills' controversial decision to can Sean McDermott following a narrow loss in the divisional round may not only set back the franchise significantly, but also kick-start a new dynasty for whichever team signs him this offseason.

While McDermott was never able to guide the Bills through the AFC portion of the NFL playoff bracket, he has an excellent track record, including sustained regular-season success and enough playoff victories to prove he wasn't the main problem Buffalo had in January.

Under McDermott, the Bills went from a perennial loser to a postseason fixture. In 2017 alone—his first year on the job—Buffalo posted its first winning record since 1999 and snapped a playoff drought that had been ongoing since that same season.

After a slight regression in 2018 (Josh Allen's rookie campaign), the Bills went on to make the postseason for seven consecutive years and won at least one playoff game in each of the last six seasons.

Only 14 qualifying head coaches boast a better regular-season winning percentage than McDermott's .662 win rate. His 98 victories trail only George Seifert for most in a head coach's first nine NFL seasons.

Although McDermott was never able to reach the big game, despite taking two cracks at it in the AFC Championship Game, it's clear the 51-year-old knows how to build a program and keep it competitive. He's easily the best coaching candidate on the market and should have his next team in Super Bowl contention quickly.