# NFL Coaching Carousel 2025-2026 edition **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** football-nfl\ **Created:** [January 5, 2026, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-coaching-carousel-2025-2026-edition/1026374 "2026-01-05T17:12:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2026, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-coaching-carousel-2025-2026-edition/1026374/61 "2026-01-13T22:57:10Z")
I saw Andy Reid mentioned, which seems about right. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2026, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-coaching-carousel-2025-2026-edition/1026374/62 "2026-01-13T22:59:44Z")
I believe it’s Reed at 13 years in Kansas City, and second place is tied between Sean McVay in LA, Kyle Shanahan in San Francisco, and Sean McDermott in Buffalo (all at 9 years). ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2026, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-coaching-carousel-2025-2026-edition/1026374/63 "2026-01-13T23:00:28Z")
Yeah, Reid as HC for his current team and overall tenure including Philadelphia. For overall HC years, Sean Payton would be 2nd. For tenure with current team, I think McVay, Shanahan, and McDermott all started the same season ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2026, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-coaching-carousel-2025-2026-edition/1026374/64 "2026-01-13T23:46:20Z")
Zac Taylor being the only HC to survive this cycle in the AFCN is actually hilarious. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2026, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-coaching-carousel-2025-2026-edition/1026374/65 "2026-01-14T00:22:09Z")
> [@Great\_Antibob](#): > > Kingsbury is a bit of a surprise. They said it was a ‘mutual’ decision but this may actually be a case when it really was. I’m not sure if the reporting backs this up, but I always had the sense that Kingsbury coaching in Washington was intended to be a temporary thing. Both sides understood that. Kingsbury after being fired in Arizona was still considered by many to be a serious HC candidate that cycle. Him taking an OC job instead of waiting for a HC job seemed like a favor as much as a career choice. I could be remembering all that wrong, but I bet if you dug you could find some informed speculation that Kliff was never expected to be in Washington for more than a couple seasons from day one. On a separate note, it will be amazing if one of the AFCN coaches end up getting hired by a rival. Probably a long shot, but that would be a fun dynamic. ---
**Author:** ![Clawdio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d07c76/32.png) [@Clawdio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clawdio)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2026, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-coaching-carousel-2025-2026-edition/1026374/66 "2026-01-14T06:50:16Z")
I think I read somewhere that because Tomlinson had 2 years left his contract the Steelers still have his contractual rights. So while I think they might just let him sign in the NFC (for example) I doubt they’d let him sign in the AFC North without a Herschel Walker like trade offer. That said, current speculation is that he’s not coaching in 2026. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2026, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-coaching-carousel-2025-2026-edition/1026374/67 "2026-01-15T00:26:13Z")
> [@Clawdio](#): > > That said, current speculation is that he’s not coaching in 2026. He probably needs a break, and he’s relatively young, so he can probably get another HC gig somewhere in a year or so if he wants. It’s not like those positions never open up. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2026, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-coaching-carousel-2025-2026-edition/1026374/68 "2026-01-15T05:48:45Z")
Looks like it’s Harbaugh to the Giants. That didn’t take long, and it comes as little surprise. It was likely to be them or the Falcons ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2026, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-coaching-carousel-2025-2026-edition/1026374/69 "2026-01-17T20:15:35Z")
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Packers are working on contract extensions for both head coach Matt LaFleur and GM Brian Gutekunst, both of whom are entering the final year of their current contracts. The two of them were seen with team president Ed Policy at a restaurant in Kohler (about 45 minutes SE of Green Bay) on Thursday evening, and indications are that the three are working towards having new deals completed shortly. It will be interesting to see if the new deal for LaFleur accompanies any changes to his coaching staff or play-calling responsibilities. > **[Sources: Packers working on extensions for Matt LaFleur, Brian Gutekunst](https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/47638178/sources-packers-working-extensions-matt-lafleur-brian-gutekunst)** > > The Packers are working to bring back coach Matt LaFleur and GM Brian Gutekunst, and the expectation is that there will be contract extensions for both, league sources told ESPN. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2026, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-coaching-carousel-2025-2026-edition/1026374/70 "2026-01-17T23:12:14Z")
> [@Great\_Antibob](#): > > Looks like it’s Harbaugh to the Giants. 5 year contract. > **[New York Giants hire John Harbaugh as coach: What to know](https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/47616742/new-york-giants-hire-coach-john-harbaugh-know-five-year-deal)** > > The 63-year-old has been able to call his own shot in this coaching search and wound up choosing the Giants. ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2026, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-coaching-carousel-2025-2026-edition/1026374/71 "2026-01-18T03:51:43Z")
Apparently Stefanski to the Falcons. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2026, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-coaching-carousel-2025-2026-edition/1026374/72 "2026-01-18T03:55:34Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Packers are working on contract extensions for both head coach Matt LaFleur and GM Brian Gutekunst, both of whom are entering the final year of their current contracts. It appears that LaFleur agreed to a multiyear extension yesterday (Friday), though no additional details have yet come to light, and it hasn’t yet been officially announced. An extension for Gutekunst is expected shortly. > **[Sources: Packers bringing back Matt LaFleur on multiyear deal](https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/47644339/sources-packers-bringing-back-matt-lafleur-multiyear-deal)** > > The Packers are keeping Matt LaFleur as head coach on a multiyear extension that represents a "real commitment," sources told ESPN. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2026, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-coaching-carousel-2025-2026-edition/1026374/73 "2026-01-18T03:56:18Z")
I heard that too, and I think that’s a good situation for both sides. ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2026, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-coaching-carousel-2025-2026-edition/1026374/74 "2026-01-18T19:44:46Z")
Browns seem interested in Jags OC Udinski. Guy is 30 years old (youngest HC ever if so) but viewed as an up and comer advancing very quickly up the ranks. Trying to land their McVay I guess. The PR people were laying out the ground work by saying they were trying to get an up and comer a year or two early, which sounds like they’re trying to justify hiring a 30 year old. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2026, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-coaching-carousel-2025-2026-edition/1026374/75 "2026-01-18T19:53:16Z")
As a Giants fan, I’m satisfied with this move. {\color{blue}\mathbf{GIANTS}} ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2026, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-coaching-carousel-2025-2026-edition/1026374/76 "2026-01-18T19:58:30Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#): > > Guy is 30 years old (youngest HC ever if so) Well, at least the youngest since the very early days of the league. Curly Lambeau was the head coach of the Packers in 1920, when he was 22, and that same year, George Halas was coaching the Decatur Staleys (which became the Bears) at age 25. Of course, it was a far less formalized league then, and both men were acting as player-coaches (as well as being team owners). ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2026, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-coaching-carousel-2025-2026-edition/1026374/77 "2026-01-18T21:05:36Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > As a Giants fan, I’m satisfied with this move. You have a promising QB, a fantastic RB, a good coach… I’m intrigued about what might happen next year. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2026, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-coaching-carousel-2025-2026-edition/1026374/78 "2026-01-18T21:11:39Z")
If the lines don’t improve, the {\color{blue}\mathbf{GIANTS}} still won’t be all that good. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2026, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-coaching-carousel-2025-2026-edition/1026374/79 "2026-01-18T21:49:03Z")
That’s the sort of thing coaching can help with. That and a competent GM. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2026, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-coaching-carousel-2025-2026-edition/1026374/80 "2026-01-19T05:49:11Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > That and a competent GM. Well, the Giants retained Joe Schoen, so… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-coaching-carousel-2025-2026-edition/1026374.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-coaching-carousel-2025-2026-edition/1026374.md?page=5)