As we are gearing up for the Super Bowl and the offseason, the NFL head coaching carousel is in full circle. This is the time when some franchises will try to shift their trajectory by splurging on free agents or making calculated trades with other teams. This season is no different, as there have already been firings and hirings, bringing new possibilities to some teams and leaving others still searching for a new head coach.
The first major move this offseason was Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin stepping down. As a well-respected coach who never had a losing season, Mike Tomlin was seen as one of the most reliable coaches in NFL history. Tomlin won a Super Bowl in 2009 (only 2 years into his 19-year tenure), giving him credibility early, but his success died down as the NFL evolved but he didn’t. Specifically, Mike Tomlin was always an extremely conservative playcaller with predictable plays that modern-day NFL defenses already have schemes to combat. Reflecting his old-school fashion of coaching, Tomlin held a small, player-only meeting to announce he was stepping down–likely due to the team’s limited playoff success. Now the Steelers have turned to Mike McCarthy, who coached previously for Green Bay and Dallas. After winning a Super Bowl with the Packers in 2010 and then spending multiple winning seasons with the Cowboys, he took a one-year break from coaching, but now this Pittsburgh native is back in the game.
Another surprising change was the Buffalo Bills’ firing of Sean McDermott. McDermott was 98-50 as the Bills’ coach but could not succeed in the playoffs, going 8-8 despite consistently having one of the AFC’s most talented rosters.
After repeated postseason disappointments and failing to get over the championship hump (the Bills kept losing in the conference championship), the organization decided to promote Joe Brady, the team’s former offensive coordinator. Brady, who helped revitalize the Bills’ offense and maximize Josh Allen’s quarterback play, was already a familiar presence in the building, making the transition much more team-friendly.
In a not-so-surprising turn of events, the Giants parted ways with coach Brian Daboll–and I think this is the beginning of assembling a team that will have a successful season next year. The Giants replaced 20-40-1 Daboll with a much more experienced and mature leader in John Harbaugh. Harbaugh has a strong record of player development, which is a perfect fit for the Giants’ young core (they have the ninth-youngest team in the NFL). In addition, they have Malik Nabers (a star wide receiver who, unfortunately, missed the season with an injury but will be back next season), as well as the dynamic rookie duo of quarterback Jaxson Dart and running back Cam Skateboo. I believe the future in New York is trending upwards, and the Giants could be serious contenders in the next couple of years if all goes well.
The coach stepping into the best position is the new Falcons’ head coach, Kevin Stefanski. Stefanski was a former two time Coach of the Year for the Cleveland Browns, but poor salary-cap management and a lack of offseason roster moves ultimately led to his departure from the organization he saw as a sinking ship. Now Stefanski is inheriting a team with reliable play on both sides of the ball. On offense, he has a running back in Bijan Robinson who finished second in yards gained in the NFL, giving him a reliable centerpiece to build around. The Falcons also have young weapons at wide receiver and a solid offensive line, which should allow the offense to stay consistent. On the other side of the ball, they have a very underrated defense that really turned a corner at the end of the season and was a huge factor in the Falcons winning their last four games. I strongly believe that the Falcons can have a successful season in 2026, as–with Stefanski at the helm now–there is no excuse not to excel.
The final team that has a head coaching vacancy is the Las Vegas Raiders. The Raiders had a disappointing 2025–2026 season, going 3–14, but the one positive is that they now have the number-one overall pick in the NFL Draft. That selection gives the next head coach a rare opportunity to restart his franchise on the right foot, whether that means drafting a potential franchise quarterback or trading the pick to enter a full rebuild. With a roster that lacks star power on both sides of the ball, the Raiders are clearly in reset mode.
Only time will tell whether these coaching changes will pay off, but each team has taken a significant step toward reshaping its future.
