Only two teams are left playing. The Patriots and Seahawks will meet in Super Bowl LX on Feb. 8 in Santa Clara, California.
Many more clubs are still aboard the NFL’s coaching carousel.
Thursday’s top coaching developments:
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Thursday’s top front-office development: the Falcons reportedly found their next general manager in Ian Cunningham, who was the assistant GM for the Bears.
Other coaching news that hit this week included:
HEAD COACHES HIRED
Todd Monken, Cleveland Browns
Head coaching record: First job, was Ravens offensive coordinator from 2023-25
Why he was hired: The Browns need someone to fix a broken and talent-deficient offense, and they landed on Monken, who has spent the past few seasons in Baltimore and in college at Georgia, where he helped the Bulldogs win two national championships as offensive coordinator. (He also served as Browns offensive coordinator in 2019.) Will all that experience translate to turning around Cleveland? That remains to be seen, but there’s a big offseason ahead regardless when it comes to improving the roster on that side of the ball.
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Monken reportedly will have to find a new defensive coordinator, after Jim Schwartz reportedly told coaches he’s not coming back after being passed over for the head coaching job. The Browns’ defense has been one of the league’s best in two of the past three seasons, so nailing a new hire while Monken focuses on rebooting the offense will be crucial.
Joe Brady, Buffalo Bills
Head coaching record: First job, was Bills offensive coordinator from 2023-25
Why he was hired: On the surface, it’s a weird move at best to fire head coach Sean McDermott, publicly state that coaching was a problem with the Bills’ roster … then turn around and promote a coach from that staff. To be fair, Brady is a respected offensive mind who’s fairly renowned for his creativity and maximization of talent. To be blunt, he’s also a first-time head coach who doesn’t figure to upset the power structure team owner Terry Pegula and general manager Brandon Beane clearly have in place.
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Buffalo still has Josh Allen, and there’s no doubt Brady has played a key role in developing him into an MVP-level quarterback year in and year out. McDermott’s management of the roster, especially on defense, perhaps went underappreciated during his nine seasons with the Bills, so whomever they hire as defensive coordinator is the next key to watch. But really, the Bills not making a Super Bowl in this era of the franchise has been due to poor luck as much as anything. Maybe Brady is the man to get them over the hump.
Mike McCarthy, Pittsburgh Steelers
Head coaching record: 174-112-2 regular season, 11-11 playoffs, five seasons with Dallas Cowboys, 13 seasons with Green Bay Packers.
Why he was hired: Sure, it was a while ago, but McCarthy has a Super Bowl ring for a reason — and it happens to be the only one Aaron Rodgers has won in his stellar career. McCarthy re-established his bona fides after his Packers run, leading Dallas to the playoffs in three of his five seasons under Jerry Jones. He sat out the last hiring cycle, seemingly waiting for the perfect job. McCarthy grew up in the Pittsburgh area, so he’s no stranger to the franchise’s lore.
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Jesse Minter, Baltimore Ravens
Head coaching record: First job, was Chargers defensive coordinator from 2024-25
Why he was hired: The Ravens may have fired John Harbaugh, but they’re staying within his tree to replace him. Minter spent four seasons as a defensive assistant in Baltimore under Harbaugh from 2017-2020 before joining Harbaugh’s brother Jim as the University of Michigan’s defensive coordinator. After winning a national championship in Ann Arbor, he followed Jim to the Chargers, where he has spent the past two seasons coordinating a defense that’s finished top-10 in DVOA both years, earning leaguewide respect for the unpredictability of his units and his play-calling prowess. Just 42 years old, Minter was considered one of the top candidates on the market, especially among first-time head coaches.
He steps into a situation where the expectations couldn’t be higher. Lamar Jackson is a two-time NFL MVP, the Ravens have top-end talent as good as anybody’s, and the only thing left for this iteration of the franchise is to reach the Super Bowl and win it. Minter seems to fit the bill of a guy who can do that. Baltimore is notorious for drafting and developing talent and spending little on free agents, so a coach like Minter who maximizes his players seems ideally placed. Plus, Jackson ensures a high floor on offense, so Minter can focus more of his efforts on shoring up a defense that fell short of expectations this past season.
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It’s a smart swing — even if a Lombardi Trophy might be the only way the franchise gauges its success.
John Harbaugh, New York Giants
Head coaching record: 180-113 regular season, 13-11 playoffs (including a Super Bowl title), 18 seasons with Baltimore Ravens
Why he was hired: The Giants have had four full-time head coaches and two interims since Tom Coughlin resigned after the 2015 season, and they’re fed up with the turnover. Harbaugh is 63, but he has a lot of juice left and figures to bring stability to a proud franchise that’s fallen on some of the hardest times it’s ever faced. (The Giants’ 59 wins since 2015 are the second-fewest in the NFL, ahead of only the Jets).
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There’s talent to develop on the roster between QB Jaxson Dart (who might sync well with Harbaugh’s preferred offensive coordinator, Todd Monken), RB Cam Skattebo, WR Malik Nabers, LT Andrew Thomas, and a defense that includes DT Dexter Lawrence and edge rushers Brian Burns and Abdul Carter. There’s also a general manager in Joe Schoen, as Yahoo Sports’ Charles Robinson explained, who was apparently willing to cede personnel decision-making to Harbaugh despite the nominal hierarchy inside the franchise. And team owner John Mara, one of the more influential voices in the league, revealed he’s battling an undisclosed form of cancer last September, which likely emboldened the desire for a head coach to come in and command respect immediately.
The Giants have floundered for years, but landing the coach widely viewed as the best on the market brings back instant credibility. Now we’ll see how quickly they can win together.
Kevin Stefanski, Atlanta Falcons
Head coaching record: 45-56 regular season, 1-2 playoffs, six seasons with Cleveland Browns
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Why he was hired: Stefanski was one of the top names on the market, with the NFL at large looking at more than just his wins and losses with the Browns while trying to lift a struggling franchise into playoff contention. Sound familiar, Atlanta? Stefanski’s offensive acumen is a hybrid of multiple schemes and coaching trees, which can help new president of football Matt Ryan sort through the talent the Falcons have on that side of the ball (including Kirk Cousins, whom Stefanski coached in Minnesota). They’re also retaining defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich after the Falcons’ defense made big strides this season.
Stefanski as head coach and offensive mastermind, with Ulbrich sticking around to continue building his side of the ball? That’s a solid recipe going forward, even if the answer at quarterback and no first-round pick this spring present significant challenges. If team owner Arthur Blank is finally willing to be patient and let this project play out, Stefanski could end the Falcons’ eight-year playoff drought sooner than expected, especially in a weak NFC South.
Jeff Hafley, Miami Dolphins
Head coaching record: First job, was Packers defensive coordinator from 2024-25
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Why he was hired: The direct connection is Jon-Eric Sullivan, who was hired as Dolphins general manager on Jan. 9 after spending over two decades in the Packers’ organization, most recently as vice president of player personnel.
As for the broader fit? Well, the Dolphins have proven to be a less attractive option among coaching candidates this cycle than previously expected, Yahoo Sports’ Charles Robinson reported, based largely on the salary cap cleanup required as the team moves on from Tua Tagovailoa. With John Harbaugh off the board, Hafley is the most logical next move, perhaps for both parties. Hafley has head coaching experience at Boston College from 2020-23, he improved Green Bay’s defenses the last two seasons, and Miami would do well to lean on that side of the ball — not to mention star RB De’Von Achane and an improving O-line — while the Dolphins try to sort out the QB situation in what now looks like a multi-season project.
Hafley is considered to be one of the stronger candidates on the market, and the Dolphins didn’t mess around in securing their best possible outcome.
Robert Saleh, Tennessee Titans
Head coaching record: 20-36, fired five games into fourth season with New York Jets
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Why he was hired: The general consensus around the league is Saleh’s failures with the Jets were largely out of his control, and he’s had good defenses wherever he’s been. He’ll reportedly call defensive plays in Tennessee, so it’ll be interesting to see who the Titans hire on the offensive staff to continue developing Cam Ward, who looked more and more promising as his rookie season went on.
Most of all, however, Saleh figures to help stabilize a Titans franchise that’s on its second general manager and now second head coach (third counting interim) since firing Mike Vrabel after the 2023 season. It’s a little surprising Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy didn’t get the job, considering his availability and ties to GM Mike Borgonzi from their time together in Kansas City, but perhaps Nagy is in play for the same position now that Saleh has been tabbed. Either way, Saleh is the kind of firm, even-keeled leader who could go a long way toward halting all the losing in Tennessee.
FIRED
Brian Callahan, Tennessee Titans (in season)
Brian Daboll, New York Giants (in season)
Raheem Morris, Atlanta Falcons
Kevin Stefanski, Cleveland Browns
Pete Carroll, Las Vegas Raiders
Jonathan Gannon, Arizona Cardinals
John Harbaugh, Baltimore Ravens
Mike McDaniel, Miami Dolphins
Sean McDermott, Buffalo Bills
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RESIGNED
Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh Steelers
NFL coaching news live blog
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Tarohn Finley
After the withdrawal of Broncos quarterbacks coach Davis Webb, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported that Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero could be in the mix for the Raiders head coaching opening. Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak is still reportedly the name most commonly linked to the Raiders.
Evero has spent three seasons with the Panthers and has led two top 10 defenses with the team. Evero has also spent time as the Broncos defensive coordinator and coaching under Sean McVay with the Rams.
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Tarohn Finley
The Kansas City Chiefs requested to interview Las Vegas Raiders running back coach Deland McCullough for their running back coach position. McCullough was the Chiefs’ running backs coach from 2018 to 2020 under head coach Andy Reid and offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy.
He also spent time as the running backs coach at Notre Dame, the University of Indiana and USC.
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Andy Backstrom
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Andy Backstrom
The Los Angeles Rams have hired former Cleveland Browns and Indianapolis Colts special teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
Special teams were the Rams’ Achilles’ heel this season. Of L.A.’s six total losses, four featured special teams gaffes, including Sunday’s critical fumble by returner Xavier Smith in the NFC championship.
Ventrone, a standout special teamer for the Browns and San Francisco 49ers during his playing days, spent the past three seasons not only as Cleveland’s ST coordinator but also as Kevin Stefanski’s assistant head coach. Now he’ll link up with Sean McVay.
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Jack Baer
Broncos quarterbacks coach Davis Webb is withdrawing from consideration for the Las Vegas Raiders’ head coaching job, one of two such positions left alongside the Arizona Cardinals, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Webb has reportedly received several interview requests for offensive coordinator positions and is considered a prime candidate for that job with the Broncos, his current team. Broncos offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi was fired on Tuesday, leaving a gap the team may fill internally.
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Criss Partee
Longtime NFL special teams coach John Fassel has been retained in the same position for the Tennessee Titans under new head coach Robert Saleh. Fassel has 21 years of NFL coaching experience, primarily working with special teams units.
John is the son of former NFL coach Jim Fassel, who was head coach of the New York Giants when they reached the Super Bowl during the 2000-01 season, where they lost to Baltimore’s record-setting defense. Fassel is also a former AP Coach of the Year award winner, taking home the honor in 1997.
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Sean Leahy
Despite being limited with a right shoulder injury, Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel isn’t worried about quarterback Drake Maye.
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Criss Partee
Former Denver Broncos head coach Nathaniel Hackett is reportedly joining Jeff Hafley’s staff in Miami as quarterback coach, according to NFL Insider Dan Graziano of ESPN. Both men coached on Matt LaFleur’s staff in Green Bay, but at different times.
Most recently, Hackett was the offensive coordinator for the New York Jets during the 2023 & 2024 seasons.
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Criss Partee
Houston Texans quarterback coach Jerrod Johnson was among the candidates who received a second, in-person interview for the Philadelphia Eagles’ offensive coordinator position. Johnson has served as QB coach in Houston for the past three seasons.
Former Green Bay Packers quarterback coach Sean Mannion ended up getting the OC job in Philly.
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Sean Leahy
The 33-year-old Mannion played eight years in the NFL before becoming an offensive assistant with the Packers in 2024. He moved up to quarterbacks coach this past season.
Mannion will be the Eagles’ sixth offensive coordinator since 2020.
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Sean Leahy
Raheem Morris was recently the Falcons head coach for the past two seasons. He did serve as the team’s defensive coordinator in 2020.
Joe Woods is currently the Raiders’ pass game coordinator/defensive backs coach. He has been an NFL DC three times: Broncos, 2017-2018; Browns, 2020-2022; and Saints, 2023-2024.
Gus Bradley was DC for the Chargers, Raiders and Colts from 2017-2024 before joining the 49ers as an assistant head coach last season.
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Andy Backstrom
The New York Giants have requested to interview Indianapolis Colts offensive passing game coordinator Alex Tanney for their offensive coordinator opening, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Tanney finished his career as a reserve quarterback with the Giants, spending three seasons with the team from 2018-20.
He started his coaching career with the Philadelphia Eagles, working on Nick Sirianni’s staff from 2021-23.
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Andy Backstrom
The Buffalo Bills are hiring Pittsburgh Steelers offensive line coach Pat Mayer, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Mayer was the O-Line coach in Carolina when Brady was the Panthers’ OC from 2020-21.
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Tarohn Finley
Baltimore Ravens’ Jesse Minter intends to call defensive plays in his inaugural year as head coach, as reported by The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec.
“I do plan on calling the defense. I think that’s a strength of mine. I think that’s one of the reasons I’m here.”
The team is still searching for offensive and defensive coordinator replacements. Before becoming head coach, Minter served two seasons as the defensive coordinator for the Chargers under Jim Harbaugh, one season at the University of Michigan, one season as Vanderbilt’s defensive coordinator, and three seasons assisting in various defensive roles for the Ravens.
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Tarohn Finley
The New York Giants will meet with Indianapolis Colts offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter to discuss the team’s offensive coordinator vacancy, according to ESPN’s Peter Schrager. Cooter, 41, also interviewed for the Philadelphia Eagles’ offensive coordinator opening.
Cooter has spent the last three seasons as the Colts OC and was previously the Jacksonville Jaguars passing game coordinator. He was also the Detroit Lions’ offensive coordinator from 2016 to 2018 and worked with he Chiefs and Broncos.
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Criss Partee
The Pittsburgh Steelers have reportedly requested to interview Dallas Cowboys assistant offensive line coach Ramon Chinyoung and New Orleans Saints assistant offensive line coach Jahri Evans.
Chinyoung was on McCarthy’s staff in Dallas and, before that, was an assistant coach with Denver. Evans has been an assistant coach with New Orleans since 2022 and played for McCarthy in Green Bay during the 2017 season.
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Chris Cwik
The Las Vegas Raiders are inching closer to making a decision on their next head coach. The team will reportedly interview Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak over the weekend, with one candidate believing Kubiak is the favorite to land the job, per ESPN.
Kubiak, 38, has interviewed with at least two NFL teams this offseason.
Kubiak is considered a strong head-coaching candidate after leading the Seahawks to a third-place finish in points scored in 2025. He’s also served as an offensive coordinator with the Minnesota Vikings and New Orleans Saints before joining the Seahawks in 2025.
If Kubiak is hired by the Raiders, he would likely get the chance to work with Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, the presumptive No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Until that happens, Kubiak will focus on preparing the Seahawks to take on the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LIX.
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Criss Partee
The Pittsburgh Steelers are reportedly hiring former Mike McCarthy assistant James Campen as an offensive line coach, per CBS Sports.
Campen, a former NFL center with the New Orleans Saints and Green Bay Packers, coached in Green Bay from 2006-2018 — McCarthy’s entire tenure as head coach with the Packers. Since then, he’s had stops with the Cleveland Browns, Los Angeles Chargers, Houston Texans, and Carolina Panthers.
The Steelers have invested significant draft capital in their offensive line over the past few seasons, including the additions of two first-round tackles in Broderick Jones and Troy Fautanu, as well as center Zach Frazier and guard Mason McCormick.
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Sean Leahy
The 38-year-old joined the Saints last year after spending five seasons as an assistant and QB coach with the Dallas Cowboys.
As a player, Tolzien played under new Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy from 2013-2015.
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Criss Partee
Longtime John Harbaugh assistant Randy Brown will stay with the Baltimore Ravens under Jesse Minter regime.
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