Jeremy FowlerJan 7, 2026, 06:30 AM ETCloseJeremy Fowler is a senior national NFL writer for ESPN, covering the entire league including breaking news. Jeremy also contributes to SportsCenter both as a studio analyst and a sideline reporter covering for NFL games. He is an Orlando, Florida native who joined ESPN in 2014 after covering college football for CBSSports.com.Follow on X
Kornheiser: I’m stunned by Ravens firing John Harbaugh (2:57)Michael Wilbon and Tony Kornheiser react to John Harbaugh being let go after 18 seasons in Baltimore. (2:57)
What’s new with Mike Tomlin and Pittsburgh? How did the John Harbaugh-Ravens split go down? What are the Raiders thinking after securing the No. 1 pick and moving on from Pete Carroll?
The NFL coaching carousel is spinning fast, and only accelerating with Harbaugh’s dismissal. We canvassed sources across the league to gather intel on potential moves every team could make.
The reason Joe Schoen’s GM tenure in New York was never shaky: He has been running point on the coaching search for weeks, gathering extensive research. He’s the one making calls throughout the league to fact-find on candidates. His imprint is all over this. And most likely, there’s no high-profile candidate out there with the clout to request their own GM. The expectation is that the new head coach will work directly with Schoen.
Offensive coordinator Declan Doyle could get some attention either for playcalling opportunities or head-coaching jobs elsewhere. Defensive backs coach Al Harris is a coordinator candidate who has ties to various coaches, including John Harbaugh, Mike McCarthy and Steve Spagnuolo.
The firing of offensive coordinator John Morton gives head coach Dan Campbell the chance to redefine the Lions’ offense. The loss of Ben Johnson affected Detroit more than it probably wanted to admit. Campbell opted for continuity with Morton, a Detroit assistant in 2022. “I know [Campbell] likes calling plays, but they have so many weapons and that’s a coveted job to get a really good playcaller in there,” an NFC executive familiar with the Lions said.
What helps defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley’s head-coaching case this cycle: his unique experience. After coaching Boston College for four seasons and leaving on his own accord for the Green Bay job, he has head-coaching experience without the retread label. People I’ve talked to believe that could be a differentiator when combined with his extensive NFL background as a longtime defensive backs coach in the NFL and his two years running Matt LaFleur’s defense in Green Bay.
On the GM front, people I’ve talked to believe exec Jon-Eric Sullivan’s combination of deep personnel experience and relatability will make him a prominent candidate in Miami, where he’s interviewing. He impressed in Tennessee last year.
Defensive pass-game coordinator Jonathan Cooley is a name to watch for defensive playcaller openings elsewhere. The Panthers’ secondary is much improved this year, ranking ninth in interceptions (15), and Cooley comes from the fruitful Rams tree.
The Saints won’t need significant staff changes this week. Coach Kellen Moore has what’s considered a good group, with offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier and defensive coordinator Brandon Staley, who went 24-24 as Los Angeles Chargers coach from 2021-23 and led the Saints to top-10 rankings in several defensive categories. Nussmeier oversaw the swift development of Tyler Shough.
On the general manager front, Saints assistant GM Khai Harley could be a name to watch for the Falcons’ search. He has nearly 20 years with the Saints, and teams are starting to value the combination of managerial and salary cap experience more.
From the one-year-from-now file, offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak is poised to be a hot head coaching candidate in the 2026-27 cycle. Kyle Shanahan is very high on him and he has the right temperament for the job. He’s considered someone from this tree who could make some noise next carousel.
Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh should be a player for multiple head coaching jobs. Tennessee and Las Vegas come to mind. Saleh is expected to get an interview with the Titans and he acquitted himself well in his Raiders interviews last year.
49ers personnel exec Josh Williams interviewed for Jacksonville’s GM job last year and is a qualified candidate once again. The Columbia grad has played a big role in the 49ers’ evaluation processes and is up for the GM job in Miami. Some inside the league wouldn’t be surprised if Williams ends up being the favorite.
Don’t sleep on defensive coordinator Aden Durde’s candidacy. He’s interviewing with the Browns and there could be other teams that talk to him.
Defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver is tentatively scheduled to interview with the Falcons on Saturday. He is familiar with the operation after interviewing there two years ago.
What New England does with its defensive coordinator job will be interesting. Terrell Williams missed the season to focus on prostate cancer recovery. Zak Kuhr has acquitted himself well as interim, to the point where he could garner interest as a primary playcaller elsewhere. But the Patriots have a really good thing going, so perhaps Mike Vrabel can find a way to incorporate both coaches while acknowledging Kuhr’s ascension.
Status quo on the Jets’ coaching staff as of Tuesday night. The team is wrapping up exit meetings, and the coaches are expected to meet mid-to-late week. My early sense is that the Jets keep offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand but that staff changes on offense could be on the way. But anything feels possible after a truly horrific passing game performance.
Offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher is an under-the-radar coaching option this cycle. He could have some traction in Cleveland, for example. Cincinnati’s offense remained respectable through a tough year. Some teams could try to lure him as a playcaller somewhere (Zac Taylor still calls plays in Cincinnati), but Pitcher should have a chance at a head job. He’s believed to have the right demeanor and leadership qualities for such a position, but the Bengals aren’t exactly a hot team.
Jim Schwartz’s presence looms large. The Browns could pair a gifted defensive coordinator in Schwartz with an offensive-minded head coach. Schwartz is under contract for 2026, so Cleveland has the ability to block coordinator suitors. He can leave for a head coaching job, of course. But Cleveland is in position to keep the core of a fourth-ranked defense in place with Schwartz, who will likely interview for Cleveland’s head job, too.
Early intel is that defensive coordinator Matt Burke is expected to receive at least one head coaching interview for the work he has done with Houston’s top-ranked defense. New York is a potential spot. Burke and Giants general manager Joe Schoen have shared history from Miami in 2016.
Quarterbacks coach Jerrod Johnson could get a coordinator spike due to his work with Houston quarterbacks. Davis Mills was sharp during a three-game stint while C.J. Stroud was out. Johnson’s offseason presentations at coaching summits are considered highly impressive by his peers.
Significant staff changes are not expected here. The Colts will need to replace defensive line coach Charlie Partridge, who is headed to Notre Dame. But any moves by Shane Steichen will be minor unless key coaches find upward mobility elsewhere, which is a possibility. Defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo will interview with Tennessee and New York. Offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter could get looks as a playcaller elsewhere. (Steichen calls the plays in Indy.)
Vance Joseph will be a busy man this week, planning to squeeze in five team interviews — Raiders, Cardinals, Giants, Titans and Falcons — before Friday. That’s the loose plan. Denver is giving a ringing endorsement to Joseph, most notably his ability to work well with others, known as being a good teammate in the entire football operation.
Denver also considers quarterbacks coach Davis Webb a rising star. Some in the building believe he’s got some Sean Payton-level confidence. While he might be a future head coach, his next step could be calling an offense somewhere as an OC.
GM George Paton is finishing the fifth year of a six-year deal. He doesn’t have an extension yet. Signs point to Paton staying in Denver. The Broncos have 24 regular-season wins in the past two years with Paton and head coach Sean Payton together. The drafts have been successful. Perhaps Denver works out an extension this offseason. But if he became available for some reason, he’d be a hot GM candidate.
The Matt Nagy situation is one to watch. The Chiefs’ offensive coordinator is a free agent who will entertain his choices. Those include head coaching opportunities — he’ll be a candidate in Tennessee, among other spots — and possibly as a playcaller/OC elsewhere. Kansas City certainly could attempt to keep him. But Nagy is also willing to bet on himself.
The Cowboys are in position to hunt for a big-name defensive coordinator after firing Matt Eberflus. Minnesota’s Brian Flores is on the radar, and recently fired head coaches Raheem Morris and Jonathan Gannon are available. Dallas feels like it has a playoff-caliber offense (second in yards per game this season) and needs someone to tie the defense together. However, people on Dallas’ staff felt the defensive problems were “not all [Eberflus’] fault.” Roster reinforcements will be necessary. Something to keep in mind: Dallas rarely hires a first-time defensive coordinator. Experience is required.
Dan Quinn is long removed from his Atlanta Falcons days, but he could tap into the Falcons tree for his next defensive coordinator hire. Some around the league wonder whether Quinn considers hiring former Falcons head coach Raheem Morris, given their close ties. And Morris’ coordinator this season, Jeff Ulbrich, should be a commodity as well. In the Commanders’ search for a new offensive coordinator, some around the league think they could hire someone who has Jayden Daniels work from under center more often for play-action purposes.