2026 NFL Head Coaching Vacancies | America’s Next Top Head Coach
Written by: Varun Sharma
Last Update: Wed Jan 07, 2026, 1:00 pm ET
Read Time: 15 minutes
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The NFL Coaching market is going to be one of the most interesting stories of the early part the offseason. After the news broke today of John Harbaugh's firing, there are officially seven NFL Teams in the market for a new head coach. Going into this season, we had seven new head coaches in place and once again going into next year, seven teams will have new head coaches on the sideline.
Today we're going to take a look at all coaching vacancies and dive into each respective situation. We'll talk about draft capital, cap space, the current roster and anything else that feels important. Additionally, I'll try to give you a little look into the coaches looking for jobs and give you a little insight on why this might be the deepest pool of available coaches we've seen in the modern era.
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Coaches 4 Hire
It feels like this conversation is something we have every single year. Every year there's at least one to two teams looking for a new head coach and because of it, coordinators everywhere are being picked off one by one.
Last year we saw both Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn leave the Detroit Lions after back to back division titles. Johnson won a division title in the NFC North while Glenn was at the helm of an all-time bad defense. Liam Coen left the Buccaneers after just one year as the offensive co-ordinator and now he's won a division title with the Jaguars. The year prior it was Dave Canales leaving the Buccaneers and now he's won a division title with the Panthers in just his second year.
This year we've got a ton of offensive and defensive co-ordinators being looked at but the search for 'America's Next Top Head Coach' just got messier with both John Harbaugh and Kevin Stefanski hitting the market. Both coaches are highly regarded in the NFL and it's being reported both have drawn interest from multiple teams.
Other candidates receiving some serious interest from staffs across the league include DC Jeff Hafley (GB), DC Vance Joseph (DEN), OC Klint Kubiak (SEA), and DC Chris Sula (LAR). Kliff Kingsbury and the Washington Commanders agreed to part ways and now he's become an intriguing name entering the conversation. His offense helped get the Commanders to the Conference Championship last year and I'm sure a ton of teams are looking at him too.
Metrics
Today we're going to talk about these coaching situations in terms of three major categories: QB Situation, Cap Space and Roster/Draft Capital.
These three categories should give us an overview of each individual situation and how enticing each coaching job truly is. Let's jump into it.
Tennesse Titans
QB Situation: B+
The Titans have their quarterback of the future and despite a quiet rookie year, he's shown flashes of good he can truly be. Ward played just six games under Head Coach Brian Callahan, winning just one of those games. Ward averaged 183.5 pass yards per game with Callahan calling the plays, threw 3 touchdowns and 4 interceptions.
The offensive line was one of the worst in the entire league and it did Ward no favors. The play calling was terrible and the team had no run game until about Week 15. The Titans receiving core consists of two rookies and Calvin Ridley. Cam Ward really had no help on the offense and defensively the team was bottom 10.
Whoever comes to Tennessee can be confident they've got talent at the QB position, it's just everywhere else on this roster that has holes to fill.
Cap Space: A+
The Titans have the most cap space available in the NFL. The Titans also play in a state with 0% income tax and when you're making millions of dollars playing football, that's important. Tennessee hasn't been a winner since the departure of Ryan Tannehill but with Ward under center and a fat check book at their disposal, a new coach could build this roster as he sees fit.
This much flexibility isn't common amongst these seven teams and it's definitely something that sets this Titans' job apart from the other's we'll talk about.
Roster/Draft Capital: B+
The Titans own the 4th overall pick in this year's draft, as well as seven other picks coming in rounds two through seven. Tennessee's done a great job of retaining their own draft picks and this year with a new Head Coach set to enter the picture, it's exactly what you want. You've got last year's #1 overall oick in Cam Ward, this year's 4th overall pick and seven more draft picks to work with.
Overall Grade: A-
New York Giants
QB Situation: B+
Jaxson Dart's a whole lot of fun and this is the one coaching decision I'm most torn about. Brian Daboll's time was up in New York, I understand that. It's just his connection with Dart was tough to ignore. In seven games with Daboll as his head coach, Dart completed 63.7% of his passes, averaged 202 pass yards per game and threw 10 touchdowns to 3 interceptions. He also averaged 45 rush yards per game with 7 touchdowns on the ground.
Now let's look at his stats without Daboll. In his first three games without his head coach, Dart really struggled. He was completing just 60.2% of his passes, averaging 139 pass yards per game with 3 passing touchdowns and 2 interceptions. His rushing average dropped to 30 yards per game with 0 rushing touchdowns.
Dart's rectified a lot of this over the last two weeks but he also helped screw the Giants out of the #1 overall pick. New York's won back to back games and Dart's completing 71% of his passes, averaging 218.5 pass yards, 40 rush yards per game and he's got 4 total touchdowns. The kid's loaded with talent and itching to win. Two things any head coach would love to see in their starting QB.
Cap Space: D
The Giants rank 20th in available cap space and it's because of their defense. Despite playing a bottom 10 level last year, five of the six highest paid players for the Giants are on the defensive side of the ball. Their defensive line alone has three of of the top five highest paid players on their roster and the unit was graded bottom 10 in the NFL.
The Giants job doesn't come with as much financial freedom as some of the other jobs but the roster is loaded with talent. Outside of just Jaxson Dart; Malik Nabers, Cam Skatteboo and Tyrone Tracy will all be returning to the team next year, all still on their rookie deals. The team has a loaded defensive line and part of me thinks all their missing is the right coach.
Dexter Lawrence had one of his worst years to date and the rookie Abdul Carter took more than half the season before he was having a significant impact. Again, this team has the talent but they lack the head coach needed to utilize it. Less cap flexibility for the Giants but you've already got a loaded roster, pretty much on Day 1.
Roster/Draft Capital: B-
The Giants had a shot at the #1 overall pick in this year's draft but instead decided to rattle off back to back wins and drop down to 5th. The Giants had the same opportunity last year and did the exact same thing, the only difference is this year they dropped to 5th instead of 2nd. That being said, the Giants do still have six picks in this upcoming draft and most of their picks in the 2027 draft.
New York doesn't have the treasure chest of assets some of the team's on this list do, but they've got history, a huge market and a talented roster waiting for someone to lead them.
Overall Grade: B
Atlanta Falcons
QB Situation: C
The Falcons have one of the weirdest QB situations in the entire NFL. They paid Kirk Cousins a ton of money, proceeded to draft Michael Penix in the 1st round and now neither QB has looked spectacular or lead to wins for the Falcons. Now with the team being on the hook for Cousins' big contract and Michael Penix not running away with the job; it's tough to see a direction here and that might not be as enticing to a potential head coach.
Cap Space: D
The Falcons rank just above the Giants in cap space at 16th. The team's tied a ton of money to Kirk Cousins and Darnell Mooney, but both Drake London and Kyle Pitts are up for extensions. Pitts is actually a free agent entering the 2026 offseason and the team's either going to have work out a deal with the 5th year TE, let him walk or hit him with a potential franchise tag.
Starting RB Bijan Robinson's going into his 5th and final year of his rookie contract and will obviously be due for extension, possibly as early as this summer. The Falcons have a ton of talent on the roster but a ton of that talent's coming up on their second contracts and it's got the possibility of handcuffing this Falcons team for the foreseeable future.
Roster/Draft Capital: B-
The Falcons roster is loaded with talent but there's a significant lack of draft picks here for Atlanta. They've got just five picks in next year's draft and that leaves whoever takes this job a lot less flexibility. That being said, Bijan Robinson is a top three RB in the NFL, Drake London's shown he's a top 10 wideout and James Pearce Jr. just became the 2nd rookie since Micah Parsons to record over 10 sacks in their rookie year.
The roster is loaded and most new head coaches would have an immediate chance at competing with this Falcons squad.
Overall Grade: C+
Cleveland Browns
QB Situation: F
I'm a huge Shadeur Sanders guy, probably the biggest Shadeur Sanders guy we have at Betting News. That being said, at no points this year did he look elite or look like the future QB of this Browns' team. I'm not saying it's not possible, he just didn't put anything on tape this year that would make me comfortable giving him the keys to my offense.
Outside of Sanders, the Deshaun Watson saga still hangs over the Browns and his contract being as big as it is causes even more issues. There's no clear direction at the QB position in Cleveland and that's something that a lot of coaches might have trouble getting on board with.
Cap Space: D
Like I said, the Watson contract is the worst contract in all of sports and it's why the Browns' rank 26th in available cap space. Without roster flexibility, it's tough to see how this Browns' team entices potential head coaches.
Roster/Draft Capital: C+
The Browns roster is terrible. Outside of Myles Garrett and the teams two rookies not named Shadeur, everyone else feels disposable. Both Harold Fannin Jr. and Quinshon Judkins had electric rookie years for the Browns, both having their year end early due to injury. Both guys established themselves as the top guy at their position and going into next year that's something coaches are going to love to see.
Outside of the great rookies, the Browns also have 11 picks in this year's upcoming NFL Draft. The teams' acquired a ton of picks and will now set out to look for some help through the draft. This Cleveland job is probably at the bottom of my list but with 11 picks in this year's draft alone, it's hard to ignore them.
Overall Grade: D
Las Vegas Raiders
QB Situation: TBD
The Raiders current QB room consists of Geno Smith, Kenny Pickett and Aidan O'Connell; all back ups or third stringers. Las Vegas has so much talent on this roster but they just can't seem to get it right at the QB position. Last year they hired Pete Carroll and he brought in Geno Smith. Somehow that convinced people (me) that Smith would be good and this Raiders team could compete.
I was so wrong. Carroll's been fired after just one year and now the Raiders have the #1 overall pick.
Cap Space: A
Las Vegas has the 2nd most cap room in the NFL and a huge reason why is because all of their 'good' players are young and still on rookie deals. Brock Bowers is a top two TE in the NFL and Ashton Jeanty played his entire rookie season behind one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL. Both guys are on rookie scale deals and Jeanty's just going into his second year.
Roster/Draft Capital: B
The Raiders have the top pick in this year's NFL Draft and while they haven't said who they'd take; the consensus seems to be Fernando Mendoza out of Indiana. The team's in desperate need of a QB and there's only two true QBs in this year's draft worth top 5 picks. It's Fernando Mendoza and Oregon's Donte Moore.
Outside of the top pick, the roster's talented on both sides of the ball. Jeanty and Bowers lead the charge on the offense, but add in other young guys like Tre Tucker, Michael Mayer and Jack Bech; you can see why any coach would love this Raiders job.
Overall Grade: B+
Baltimore Ravens
QB Situation: A+
It's Lamar Jackson. The two time Most Valuable Player, Lamar Jackson.
Cap Space: C
Baltimore's 17th in cap space but that's because they have one of the most talented backfield in the NFL and I don't just mean Derrick Henry. The combination of Derrick Henry and Lamar Jackson back there has left defenses guessing for two years and despite a terrible defense this year, this job still looks attractive.
You won't have the cap space of a team like the Titans or Raiders, but you'll have a roster with an MVP, one of the greatest RBs to ever play the game and one of the best defensive players in the NFL; Kyle Hamilton.
Roster/Draft Capital: B
The Ravens have a stacked roster but their draft capital isn't what some other teams have. The Ravens have six picks this year, all in rounds 1-6 with only one pick coming before 14th in any round. Baltimore has a QB and roster that makes you an instant competitor. It also makes this decision that much more important for the Ravens. You can't go from a great head coach like John Harbaugh just to sputter for the next few years; especially when you have Lamar Jackson under center.
Overall Grade: B+
Arizona Cardinals
QB Situation: C-
The Cardinals have no clue who their QB is moving forward and with a receiving core like this, they'll need to figure it out. Michael Wilson had his first career 1,000 yard season and I think he's the first Cardinals wideout to reach that mark since Kyler Murray became the starter. Murray's been bad and it's time to move on.
Jacoby Brissett took over for Murray this year and we saw how both Trey McBride's and Michael Wilson's numbers exploded. Marvin Harrison Jr. (when healthy) even looked that much better with Brissett under center and thats not say Brissett was amazing, it's to highlight how bad Kyler was.
Cap Space: C+
The Cardinals have the 14th most cap space available and with so much young talent on the roster; the bill's due soon. The team's got a little bit of flexibility and they might need it if they need to search for a QB through avenues outside of the draft.
Roster/Draft Capital: B+
The reason I say the Cardinals might need to look elsewhere is because the Cardinals have the third overall pick in this year's draft; unfortunately both teams ahead of them need QBs too. The Raiders are likely to take Mendoza at #1 with Moore falling to the Jets at #2. So much can change between now and the draft, but the Cardinals need a QB; this offense is simply too talented for that to be their weak spot.
The Cardinals also have all seven of their draft picks in this year's draft and because of where they finished in the standings, all come before pick #5 irrespective of round. The team's got ton of things going for them and it's why I think this Cardinals job might be a little slept on.
Overall Grade: B-
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