An lively NFL hiring cycle is nearing its finish, with eight of the ten head-coaching openings crammed.
Under, we grade the hires to this point, beginning with one of the best and ending with people who barely handed.
Jesse Minter | After seeing the success their former defensive coordinator, Mike Macdonald, has had with the NFC champion Seattle Seahawks, the Ravens snagged their former defensive backs coach (on the identical employees Macdonald served as linebackers coach) from the Los Angeles Chargers.
The perfect groups in Ravens franchise historical past have all featured wonderful defenses, and Minter, 42, has the muse in place to place collectively an elite unit out of the gate. In his two seasons because the Chargers defensive coordinator, Los Angeles ranked third in factors allowed (18.9 factors per recreation), per Stathead. |
A–
John Harbaugh | The Tremendous Bowl XLVII champion coach might spark a direct turnaround in New York. In 18 seasons as a head coach, Harbaugh, 63, is 193-124 (together with playoffs) and has solely had three dropping seasons.
If quarterback Jaxon Dart takes a 12 months 2 leap — Harbaugh’s offensive coordinator rent is likely to be essentially the most consequential of the offseason — the Giants have the potential to make a Commanders-esque leap from NFC East-worst to the playoffs in Harbaugh’s first season. Operating again Cam Skattebo and large receiver Malik Nabers are anticipated to be at full power, whereas the line of defense ought to stay one of many league’s finest, giving Harbaugh a operating begin on that facet of the ball. | B+
Kevin Stefanski | The Falcons landed their most skilled NFL head coach since Dan Reeves throughout a wild 1997 hiring cycle by getting Stefanski off the rebound after being fired by the Cleveland Browns.
Stefanski, 43, spent six seasons in cost at his earlier publish, going 45-56 (.446), one of the best successful share by a Browns head coach (excluding interim) since Invoice Belichick (.450). Whilst a two-time Related Press Coach of the 12 months, Stefanski’s finest seasons may nonetheless lie forward of him, significantly with the muse in place in Atlanta.
His first 4 offenses as both an offensive coordinator or head coach — which additionally occur to be his finest — featured profitable run-oriented assaults. That is a superb omen for 2025 first-team All-Professional operating again Bijan Robinson, one of many league’s most fun offensive gamers. | B+
Robert Saleh | A wonderful defensive coach, Saleh is in a greater place to succeed with the Titans than at his earlier stint as New York Jets head coach.
He gained seven video games in back-to-back seasons with Zach Wilson as his major beginning quarterback, and rising Titans second-year quarterback Cam Ward is a gigantic improve.
Saleh, who turns 47 on Jan. 31, has intriguing gamers to work with on protection, headlined by 2025 first-team All-Professional defensive sort out Jeffery Simmons. Linebacker Cedric Grey had a promising second 12 months, main the workforce with 164 tackles in 16 video games, whereas 2024 second-rounder T’Vondre Sweat additionally has untapped potential.
Throughout Saleh’s final three seasons as head coach of the New York Jets, his groups ranked within the high 4 in whole protection every season. He might spark a fast turnaround for a unit that ranks twenty first in yards allowed in 2025. | B-
Joe Brady | Changing Sean McDermott, who went 106-58 (together with playoffs) with seven playoff appearances in eight seasons, along with his offensive coordinator is likely to be essentially the most complicated rent to this point of the 2026 cycle.
The Payments wanted to go in one other route totally after hitting the playoff wall, not entrust the workforce’s future in a first-time head coach in Brady, 36, who has been part of the newest postseason shortcomings. | C-
Todd Monken | The longtime coach will get his first crack as an NFL head coach after a profitable three seasons as Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator, however two-time MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson could make anybody look good.
His different stops may show extra informative. To Monken’s credit score, he efficiently rebuilt a Southern Miss program that went 0-12 in 2012, going 9-5 in his third season earlier than turning into Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator.
However Monken, who turns 60 on Feb. 5, will probably be tasked with creating a younger quarterback, one thing he is failed at twice earlier than. Jameis Winston did not take a 12 months 2 leap following Monken’s addition, and neither did Baker Mayfield in 2019. | C-
Jeff Hafley | Hafley’s solely prior head-coaching expertise got here at Boston School, the place he went 22-26 in 4 seasons. His spotty monitor report extends to his time as an NFL place coach. In 2018, for instance, he was the defensive backs coach for a San Francisco 49ers protection that allowed 35 passing touchdowns with solely two interceptions.
Hafley, 46, improved his picture the previous two seasons as Inexperienced Bay Packers defensive coordinator, however the Dolphins do not have the identical high quality of defenders on all three ranges. If Miami elements with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, creating a large dead-cap cost, Hafley might want to do extra with much less, one thing he has but to show able to doing. | C-
Mike McCarthy | As an alternative of following their earlier profitable blueprint, the Steelers bucked typical knowledge with the McCarthy rent.
He had a number of playoff berths at his earlier stops in Inexperienced Bay and Dallas, however McCarthy, 62, is inheriting a way more difficult scenario in Pittsburgh. The Steelers have questions at quarterback, and McCarthy did not encourage a lot confidence at his introductory information convention when he shared he was open to bringing Aaron Rodgers, 42, again at quarterback subsequent season.
The Steelers wanted to look ahead with their 2026 rent. As an alternative, they solely confirmed they’re caught prior to now. | D+
