# 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:** 6
**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 19, 2026, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-coaching-carousel-2025-2026-edition/1026374/101 "2026-01-19T19:43:10Z")
> [@TroutMan](#): > > And like @Great_Antibob says, the few who still think he was great don’t want to build with a 73 year old. I could absolutely see a team which has a history of making foolish, strange, shoot-from-the-hip management decisions – and by that, I mean the Raiders and the Browns – taking a flyer on Belichick. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2026, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-coaching-carousel-2025-2026-edition/1026374/102 "2026-01-19T20:21:29Z")
Just wondering if Mike Tomlin would reconsider if the Bills came calling. ---
**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 19, 2026, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-coaching-carousel-2025-2026-edition/1026374/103 "2026-01-19T20:24:59Z")
He’s under contract with the Steelers so the Bills would probably have to trade for him ---
**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, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-coaching-carousel-2025-2026-edition/1026374/104 "2026-01-19T20:30:41Z")
Even if he wasn’t, they just got rid of a coach who, since 2017, has better regular regular and post-season W-L records than Tomlin and got Buffalo its first post-season win since the 90s - and that was before Josh Allen. Buffalo’s run defense could use some work but their bigger problems seems to be the WRs are not the greatest and Allen has to play hero ball all too often to make up for it. Maybe Tomlin can bring something on the defense but I can’t see what he brings in terms of the offense to ease the burden on Allen. I see them as more on the market for an offensive coach and maybe one on the younger side, i.e. take a few risks on new blood. The experienced coaches on the market are decidedly not an upgrade over who they just fired. ---
**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 19, 2026, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-coaching-carousel-2025-2026-edition/1026374/105 "2026-01-19T21:38:55Z")
> [@Great\_Antibob](#): > > I see them as more on the market for an offensive coach and maybe one on the younger side, i.e. take a few risks on new blood. Stay away from Klint Kubiak, Buffalo. He’s ours. You can have Klay though, that’s acceptable. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2026, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-coaching-carousel-2025-2026-edition/1026374/106 "2026-01-19T22:25:50Z")
And a good DC gets a chance. He was a head coach at Boston College. > **[Sources: Dolphins hiring Packers DC Jeff Hafley as new coach](https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/47663739/sources-dolphins-hiring-packers-dc-jeff-hafley-new-coach)** > > The Dolphins are hiring Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley to become their next head coach, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter on Monday. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2026, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-coaching-carousel-2025-2026-edition/1026374/107 "2026-01-19T22:31:55Z")
Here’s another stab at McDermott, which came across my X feed: Four teams in the Superbowl Era have won a playoff game in 6 straight seasons. 1991-1996 Cowboys (Won 3 Super Bowls) 2011-2018 Patriots (Won 3 Super Bowls) 2018-2024 Chiefs (Won 3 Super Bowls) 2020-2025 Bills (did not play in a single Super Bowl) ---
**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, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-coaching-carousel-2025-2026-edition/1026374/108 "2026-01-19T22:44:01Z")
FOMO is real. Three positions filled and yet coaches from the eliminated division round teams could only have in-person interviews starting today and the coaches from the winning teams next week. Not that Hafley is a bad choice but given the roughly 2 decades of mediocrity in Miami, maybe spend the extra time on an important decision? ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2026, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-coaching-carousel-2025-2026-edition/1026374/109 "2026-01-19T23:00:02Z")
> [@Great\_Antibob](#): > > Not that Hafley is a bad choice but given the roughly 2 decades of mediocrity in Miami, maybe spend the extra time on an important decision? As the linked article pointed out, the new GM, Jon-Eric Sullivan, was in the front office at Green Bay for the past couple of years. He’s bringing in a guy who he knows. ---
**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 19, 2026, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-coaching-carousel-2025-2026-edition/1026374/110 "2026-01-19T23:22:02Z")
The Packers resigning LaFluer and losing Haffley is probably the optimal outcome for the Bears and the rest of the NFCN. ---
**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 19, 2026, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-coaching-carousel-2025-2026-edition/1026374/111 "2026-01-19T23:54:07Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > I could absolutely see a team which has a history of making foolish, strange, shoot-from-the-hip management decisions – and by that, I mean the Raiders and the Browns – taking a flyer on Belichick. There are long shots, and then there’s Brady and Belichick voluntarily reuniting with Brady in the power position in the relationship. Belichick to the Bills would kind of be funny as he coaches a third AFCE team. The Bills with Allen are the “a good coach away” from a Super Bowl team (in their minds anyways) so they feel like the right landing spot out of all the openings. The fly in the ointment being that Belichick has apparently completely lost the plot and has devolved into a Bravo reality show. The headlines would be kind of wild though. ---
**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 20, 2026, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-coaching-carousel-2025-2026-edition/1026374/112 "2026-01-20T00:03:09Z")
At 24, his girlfriend is younger than most of the players, so maybe he can relate to the new generation 😅 > [@Railer13](#): > > He’s bringing in a guy who he knows. I get the ‘why’ but still, “I know a guy” is a heck of a way to pick a key employee. Maybe, just maybe, it’d be a good idea to do some non-token interviews with a broader range of candidates, including one or two they don’t personally know. It might even be better than hoping the success these people had elsewhere will magically rub off in Miami under different circumstances and ownership. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2026, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-coaching-carousel-2025-2026-edition/1026374/113 "2026-01-20T00:44:17Z")
> [@Great\_Antibob](#): > > Maybe, just maybe, it’d be a good idea to do some non-token interviews with a broader range of candidates, including one or two they don’t personally know. This reminds me, is the Rooney rule still a thing? It seems like both the Giants and Falcons zeroed in on a single candidate and immediately hired their first choice. ---
**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 20, 2026, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-coaching-carousel-2025-2026-edition/1026374/114 "2026-01-20T00:48:23Z")
> [@EllisDee](#): > > This reminds me, is the Rooney rule still a thing? Yes, it is. As per the NFL’s website: > [@](#): > > In 2021, the NFL approved changes requiring every team to interview at least two external minority candidates in person for open head coach and GM positions and at least two external minority candidates — in person or virtual — for a coordinator job. Additionally, at least one minority and/or female candidate must be interviewed for senior level positions (e.g., club president and senior executives). > **[The Rooney Rule | NFL Football Operations](https://operations.nfl.com/inside-football-ops/inclusion/the-rooney-rule/)** Edit: in the Giants’ case, they did in-person interviews with Raheem Morris and Antonio Pierce, as well as Kevin Stefanski and Mike McCarthy. [https://www.npr.org/2026/01/17/g-s1-106420/harbaugh-ny-giants-coach-ravens](https://www.npr.org/2026/01/17/g-s1-106420/harbaugh-ny-giants-coach-ravens) ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2026, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-coaching-carousel-2025-2026-edition/1026374/115 "2026-01-20T00:51:24Z")
> [@Great\_Antibob](#): > > “I know a guy” is a heck of a way to pick a key employee. You and I both know that it’s a lot more than just knowing each other. In other news, Matt Nagy is officially out as OC in KC. And the new OC will be a familiar face to Chiefs fans, Eric Bieniemy. > **[Chiefs hire Eric Bieniemy as new OC, Matt Nagy officially out in KC](https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/chiefs-hire-eric-bieniemy-oc-000838714.html)** > > According to reports, the Kansas City Chiefs have hired veteran offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy to replace Matt Nagy. ---
**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 20, 2026, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-coaching-carousel-2025-2026-edition/1026374/116 "2026-01-20T00:58:27Z")
I’m not a huge supporter of Bieniemy as an OC, but this will probably be an important loss for the Bears. Our running game took a huge step forward under him. Hopefully Ben Johnson can backfill that without any regression on the field. EB feels more like a vibes and attitude guy than a Xs and Os guy, There were rumors that Nagy was an HC candidate this cycle. Wonder if him getting canned undermines that or not. Part of me wonders if the Chiefs were hoping Nagy would have accepted a job by now making this transition feel less contentious. There’s definitely a lot of open jobs and as much as people like to trash Nagy, his record in Chicago wasn’t that bad. He did a hell of a lot more with Trubisky and Fields than anyone else has. ---
**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 20, 2026, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-coaching-carousel-2025-2026-edition/1026374/117 "2026-01-20T01:36:57Z")
I may have missed it in this thread, but I have to say that I’m pretty intrigued by what the Falcons have done this offseason. The first unexpected move was this. > **[Matt Ryan returns to Atlanta Falcons as team's first president of football](https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/falcons-bring-back-their-mvp-matt-ryan-returns-to-atlanta-in-new-president-of-football-role/)** > > Ryan will need to hire both a general manager and head coach in his first offseason They created a new Team President role for the recently retired QB. Lots of industry peeps seem kind of pissed at Arthur Blank for this, criticizing the move because they don’t think Ryan has done anything to earn such a lofty position. Certainly the track record for gifting executive positions to franchise players with no experience isn’t awesome. Ryan was running the Head coaching search because. > **[Falcons fire coach Raheem Morris, GM Terry Fontenot](https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/47507975/source-falcons-move-raheem-morris-coach)** > > The Falcons have fired coach Raheem Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot after two straight disappointing seasons. And the GM position remains vacant as of today. Ryan’s first move was. > **[Atlanta Falcons hire Kevin Stefanski as next head coach after meeting with...](https://www.cbsnews.com/atlanta/news/atlanta-falcons-hire-kevin-stefanski-as-next-head-coach-after-meeting-with-arthur-blank-matt-ryan/)** > > The Atlanta Falcons have found their next head coach, naming two-time Associated Press NFL Coach of the Year Kevin Stefanski to lead the franchise into its next chapter. Many people considered Stefanski one of the top available candidates after failing in Cleveland. I think it’s fair to suggest that Stefanski wasn’t the problem there. He was saddled with Deshaun Watson, by most accounts against his will, along with his associated albatross contract and lost trade assets. He was also apparently forced to draft Shedeur this pass offseason created an unnecessary QB controversy. Atlanta’s top priority will be figuring out their own QB situation following the failed Cousins and Penix investments, but I have to think that Ryan promised Stefanski that he’d be completely in charge of that. Will be interesting to see if Kevin can get this one right, if it turns into another quagmire he won’t escape criticism this time. Finally, Stefanski has made his first big decision. > **[Falcons retaining DC Jeff Ulbrich under coach Kevin Stefanski](https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/47661016/falcons-retaining-dc-jeff-ulbrich-head-coach-kevin-stefanski)** > > New Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski will keep incumbent defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich in his role. The Falcons defense has long been a problem but they made a lot of positive strides under Ulbrich. Ulbrich seemed to be a innocent bystander in the Jets fiasco 2 years ago and landed on his feet in Atlanta. Them retaining him and pairing him with Stefanski makes a ton of sense. Ryan being inexperienced and them not hiring a GM before their HC are certainly red flags, but this definitely feels like a conscious plan taking shape. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2026, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-coaching-carousel-2025-2026-edition/1026374/118 "2026-01-20T01:37:12Z")
> [@Omniscient](#): > > There were rumors that Nagy was an HC candidate this cycle. He’s supposedly still the leading candidate in Tennessee. > **[Matt Nagy In Lead For Titans' HC Job?](https://www.profootballrumors.com/2026/01/matt-nagy-in-lead-for-titans-hc-job)** > > Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy may be the frontunner for the Titans' head coaching job. More at Pro Football Rumors. There are many more factors than an OC, of course, but the Chiefs scored a lot more points with Bienemy as OC than Nagy. | Bienemy | Season | Points | | --- | --- | --- | | | 2018 | 565 | | | 2019 | 451 | | | 2020 | 473 | | | 2021 | 480 | | | 2022 | 496 | | Nagy | Season | Points | | | 2023 | 371 | | | 2024 | 385 | | | 2025 | 362 | ---
**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 20, 2026, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-coaching-carousel-2025-2026-edition/1026374/119 "2026-01-20T02:20:07Z")
Those stops in Washington and UCLA are pretty damning. EB should probably feel grateful that he can snuggle up again under the cozy feathers of Andy Reid and Pat Mahomes. Did Nagy cause that regression when he wasn’t calling plays or setting the game plan? Or was it the fact that Mahomes’ massive contract kicked in, they jettisoned Tyreek and have had a motley WR and RB room pretty much non-stop since, and Reid/Kelce are getting old? I think Nagy has hinted in interviews that if he gets another gig, it won’t be as the primary play caller. One of his learnings from Chicago is that he needs to share more responsibility and be more of an executive. Will be interesting if he lands that Titans job with Cam Ward under center. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2026, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-coaching-carousel-2025-2026-edition/1026374/120 "2026-01-20T02:37:39Z")
> [@Omniscient](#): > > they jettisoned Tyreek and have had a motley WR and RB room pretty much non-stop since The loss of Tyreek was a huge factor in the Chiefs regression, IMO. And drafting Clyde Edwards-Helaire instead of Jonathon Taylor, of course. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-coaching-carousel-2025-2026-edition/1026374.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-coaching-carousel-2025-2026-edition/1026374.md?page=7)