2026 NFL Coaching Carousel: 7 Hires That Will Define the Next Season

Multiple franchises are making the same bet: pair a coach with a clear offensive identity (or a defensive culture reset) and force a faster turnaround than the traditional 2–3 year build. Across these seven moves, one theme keeps showing up: quarterback decisions aren’t “down the road” anymore. They’re immediate.

#Arizona Cardinals — Mike LaFleur walks into a QB referendum

This is a hire that screams urgency. Arizona’s first question isn’t scheme — it’s whether Kyler Murray is the long-term answer. With the third overall pick, the new regime has a real opportunity to reset the entire arc of the franchise, but that also means the new coach inherits the most polarizing decision in the building.

LaFleur’s offensive background is obvious, but the context matters: he didn’t call plays for the Los Angeles Rams under Sean McVay, though he did in his earlier stop with the New York Jets. He also knows the division well from his time with the San Francisco 49ers. That familiarity helps — but it doesn’t solve the problem that the NFC West is stacked and Arizona needs answers quickly, especially with owner Michael Bidwill publicly pointing to “fast turnarounds” elsewhere.

What will define this hire:

• The Murray decision (commit, replace, or “bridge”)
• The defensive coordinator hire (must be a stabilizer)
• Whether an offense that sagged last season can become functional immediately

#Las Vegas Raiders — Klint Kubiak gets the classic “QB + play-caller” mandate

This one is basically a blueprint: take a young offensive head coach, pair him with a presumed No. 1 overall pick — Fernando Mendoza out of Indiana Hoosiers football — and let them grow together. But the Raiders’ issues run far deeper than quarterback.

The offense finished last in yardage and scoring, and the roster regularly looked overmatched. Kubiak also inherits a franchise reputation for instability — which is why the patience level from Mark Davis matters as much as the playbook. There are pieces to build around, though, including Ashton Jeanty and the franchise cornerstone on defense, Maxx Crosby.

What will define this hire:

• Whether the team truly commits to a multi-year build
• Draft + free agency efficiency (they can’t miss early)
• The defensive coordinator choice (non-negotiable for an offensive HC)

#Cleveland Browns — Todd Monken arrives with a plan, not a QB

Cleveland’s move is straightforward: hire a coach whose offense you’ve had to survive, and trust that structure to carry you into the next quarterback era. Monken’s recent work with the Baltimore Ravens — including MVP-level seasons from Lamar Jackson — gives the Browns a coherent offensive identity to build around.

But the Browns’ big swing comes next: they have two first-round picks and no clear quarterback of the future. That means the Monken era is tied to whoever they select, potentially including Shedeur Sanders. On the other side of the ball, the looming question is whether Jim Schwartz stays, which could decide whether Cleveland remains sturdy while the offense develops.

What will define this hire:

• Which QB they draft and how quickly he’s ready
• Retaining (or properly replacing) Schwartz
• Whether Monken can translate coordinator success into CEO-level leadership

#Buffalo Bills — Joe Brady is the “keep the window open” choice

This is the most “protect the core” hire of the cycle. If your franchise is built around Josh Allen, you hire the coach most aligned with maximizing Allen’s prime. Brady’s continuity keeps the offense intact — and that’s the point.

But continuity doesn’t mean comfort. Sean McDermott was fired because the standard in Buffalo isn’t “good.” It’s “Super Bowl.” Brady now inherits that pressure immediately, plus the responsibility of building a staff and defining how he’ll collaborate with GM Brandon Beane. The message behind the move is blunt: the organization believes coaching — not talent — was the final barrier.

What will define this hire:

• Staff-building (especially defense and culture leadership)
• How much he changes vs. preserves
• Whether Buffalo’s postseason ceiling finally rises

#Pittsburgh Steelers — Mike McCarthy breaks tradition, and that’s intentional

Pittsburgh doesn’t change head coaches often, which is why this one lands louder. McCarthy is older, offensive-minded, and already a championship-winning head coach — a sharp contrast to the classic Steelers model set by Chuck Noll and Bill Cowher and carried by Mike Tomlin.

The obvious domino here is quarterback. McCarthy’s arrival re-opens the possibility of Aaron Rodgers as a bridge option, which would let Pittsburgh pursue a “competitive rebuild” rather than a full teardown. McCarthy’s résumé (including a Super Bowl with the Green Bay Packers and a stint leading the Dallas Cowboys) suggests stability — but Steelers fans will judge results, not credentials.

What will define this hire:

• The QB plan (Rodgers bridge vs. immediate rookie build)
• Whether the offense modernizes quickly
• How fast McCarthy can align the roster to his identity

#Baltimore Ravens — Jesse Minter is a “culture continuity + defensive reset” pick

This hire reads like the Ravens being the Ravens: keep organizational DNA intact, but fix what started slipping. Minter’s connection to the franchise goes back to when John Harbaugh brought him onto the staff years ago, and his recent defensive success (including the top unit with the Los Angeles Chargers) makes him one of the safer “first-time head coach” bets.

The critical piece: his offensive coordinator. With Lamar in place, Baltimore’s OC is not just a staff role — it’s the hinge of the entire era. The Ravens have interviewed names like Kliff Kingsbury, and whoever wins that job will heavily influence whether Lamar stays at peak efficiency.

What will define this hire:

• OC selection and QB-coach alignment
• Maintaining the front office synergy with Steve Bisciotti, Ozzie Newsome, and Eric De Costa
• Whether the defense snaps back to elite quickly

#Tennessee Titans — Robert Saleh gets a second chance with a real runway

Tennessee going with Saleh follows a clear cycle trend: teams are favoring coaches who have already worn the head-coach headset. Saleh also comes in with a specific lesson learned — he wants to call the defense this time, after feeling disconnected when he didn’t with his prior stint.

The Titans’ optimism is tied to two big resources: cap flexibility and a young quarterback who flashed. If Cam Ward is real, the turnaround can be fast. But it hinges on offensive cohesion: Saleh and OC Brian Daboll must be perfectly aligned on Ward’s development. The GM relationship matters too, especially with Mike Borgonzi involved in building a roster that fits Saleh’s identity.