2026 NFL coaching news: Top names to watch on the market, including Mike McDaniel and Sean McDermott

The 2026 NFL head coaching carousel is as wild as any in recent memory.

Who are the top names to watch on the head coaching market? Here’s your guide, with 11 guys with head coaching experience and eight who’d be first-time head coaches.

Candidates with NFL head coaching experience

John Harbaugh, former Ravens head coach (Hired: Giants)

Baltimore decided to move on from John Harbaugh, which will no doubt delight the head coaching market. Harbaugh had just three losing seasons in 18 years with the Ravens, and won 193 games (including playoffs) as well as Super Bowl XLVII in the 2012 season. He was also Coach of the Year in 2019, and while he’s renowned for his intensity and asking a lot of his players and staff, he also has a reputation as being fair and getting the most out of anyone under his charge. It’s likely he’ll get another NFL head coaching shot, and soon, if he wants it.

Kevin Stefanski, former Browns head coach (Hired: Falcons)

Stefanski won Coach of the Year twice with the Browns from 2020-25 and led them to the playoffs each time, despite never having much in the way of quarterback play. Given all of Cleveland’s losing since the 1999 return, that might speak volumes to the market, who will value Stefanski’s offensive acumen and steady demeanor leading a franchise.

Sean McDermott, former Buffalo Bills head coach

Seven straight 10-win seasons weren’t enough for Bills ownership, not with Josh Allen’s clock ticking away. But those seven straight 10-win seasons will certainly catch the eye of every owner still looking for a new head coach. Because while McDermott failed to get the Bills to the Super Bowl, he did get them to the playoffs in eight of his nine seasons in Buffalo.

Mike McDaniel, former Dolphins head coach

McDaniel’s time in Miami sputtered this season, but that doesn’t change the fact he brought playoff berths and wins to a franchise that’s struggled to get them this century. Nor does it change the fact he’s a respected offensive mind from the Shanahan tree, and will have no shortage of coordinator opportunities, at the very least.

Robert Saleh, 49ers defensive coordinator

There’s a sense around the NFL that Saleh’s struggles with the Jets from 2021-24 were more a product of dysfunction within the organization at large. Everywhere he’s been, Saleh has run a top-tier defense when healthy and overachieved when not. He’s the type of strong leader franchises could covet.

Brian Daboll, former Giants head coach

Daboll didn’t demonstrate much promise his final three seasons with the Giants, but he did win Coach of the Year in 2022, and he’s still thought of highly in the Bills organization, where he helped develop Josh Allen before taking the Giants job. Maybe that means something to an NFL team with an opening, whether head coach or offensive coordinator.

Brian Flores, Vikings defensive coordinator

Flores’ ongoing racial discrimination lawsuit against the NFL doesn’t seem to be cooling his market much. His Vikings defenses the past three years have only bolstered his reputation as a mastermind on that side of the ball, and he had two winning records in three seasons with the Dolphins from 2019-21. He has friends around the league — including in Las Vegas with the Raiders.

Mike McCarthy, former Cowboys and Packers head coach

McCarthy has 185 career wins and 12 winning seasons in 18 years as a head coach, along with eight division titles and a Super Bowl championship. He’s also a respected leader and offensive mind, and at 62 years old he figures to have close to another decade left of coaching in him. Say what you will about his weaknesses, but that’s a pretty attractive résumé.

Matt Nagy, Chiefs offensive coordinator

The Titans have already requested an interview with Nagy, whose work as offensive coordinator with Andy Reid, Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs dynasty helped rejuvenate his head coaching candidacy. Nagy is still just 47 years old and went 34-33 overall from 2018-2021 with the Bears, including two playoff appearances. Is he about to get another shot as a head coach?

Steve Spagnuolo, Chiefs defensive coordinator

Spagnuolo has built himself a Hall of Fame-worthy legacy as a defensive coordinator with the Giants and now Chiefs. His first stint as a full-time head coach from 2009-11 with the then-St. Louis Rams ended with a 10-38 record, and he’s on the older side having just turned 66. But his creative, aggressive schemes and ability to maximize talent in Kansas City the past few years have drawn the attention of the league, including the Titans, who requested to speak with him.

Kliff Kingsbury, former Commanders offensive coordinator

The Commanders have moved on from Kingsbury, who helped quarterback Jayden Daniels win Offensive Rookie of the Year in a memorable 2024 campaign. He went 28-38-1 overall with one playoff appearance as head coach of the Cardinals from 2019-22, and he also (say it with us) coached Patrick Mahomes in college at Texas Tech. Somebody, somewhere feels like they’ll give the 46-year-old Kingsbury another head coaching shot in the NFL. Will it be this cycle?

First-time NFL head coaching candidates

Klint Kubiak, Seahawks offensive coordinator

The Seahawks’ offense has been as explosive as any in the NFL this season, which is largely being credited to Kubiak. He’s gotten the most out of Sam Darnold, who can make any throw in the playbook when given time, and he’s helped Jaxson Smith-Njigba become an Offensive Player of the Year candidate. Kubiak is a 38-year-old Shanahan tree disciple and the son of former Super Bowl-winning head coach. That figures to check quite a few boxes in the hiring process. The Falcons are reportedly interested in speaking with him.

Jesse Minter, Chargers defensive coordinator

Minter has been Jim Harbaugh’s defensive coordinator the past four years between Michigan and the Chargers. He’s only 42 years old, his units have been unpredictable and tough to play against, and he’s lauded as one of the best defensive play-callers in the NFL. Minter also has a calm but commanding demeanor that could translate easily to leading a franchise.

Chris Shula, Rams defensive coordinator

One of the leading candidates for Assistant Coach of the Year, Shula’s defense has been top-five in DVOA this season and performed admirably in other advanced metrics. Just 39 years old, he’s has worked under Sean McVay with the Rams ever since McVay was hired in 2017. (And yes, Shula is Don’s grandson.) Shula has already been connected to the perennially stable Steelers franchise whenever they move on from Mike Tomlin. How’s that for high praise as a candidate?

Klayton Adams, Cowboys offensive coordinator

The Cowboys’ high-flying offense caught the NFL’s attention this season, and Adams was a driving force behind it. He came to Dallas last offseason after two years as offensive line coach with the Cardinals — OL coaches are becoming more and more venerated as overall offensive minds and play-callers around the league — and he maximized the Cowboys’ run game despite limited resources, to say nothing of Dak Prescott and the explosive passing game. Another year in Dallas might do him well, but it wouldn’t be a surprise if teams interview him this cycle.

Grant Udinski, Jaguars offensive coordinator

Trevor Lawrence seemed to finally consistently live up to his potential the second half of the regular season, and that falls largely on Udinski, whom head coach Liam Coen hired from Kevin O’Connell’s staff in Minnesota. How’s that for mentorship? Udinski turns 30 this month and might be a year away from truly emerging as a candidate, but he deserves plenty of credit for Jacksonville’s turnaround.

Jeff Hafley, Packers defensive coordinator

Hafley has emerged as a candidate thanks to his leadership, communication skills and defensive acumen. He immediately improved the Packers’ defense his first year as coordinator in 2024, and this year’s unit had occasional stretches looking like one of the NFL’s best before injuries to Micah Parsons, Devonte Wyatt and others took some toll. That doesn’t figure to hinder teams’ interest.

Joe Brady, Bills offensive coordinator

Brady has been on a part of the Bills’ staff that’s overseen Josh Allen’s ascendance, serving as offensive coordinator the past two seasons. He’s just 36 years old, and young offensive minds will always be en vogue. This might be the year he finally gets a head coaching shot.

Lou Anarumo, Colts defensive coordinator

The Titans have asked permission to speak with Anarumo, who was the Bengals’ defensive coordinator from 2019-24, including their Super Bowl trip in 2021. His effectiveness on that side of the ball despite dwindling talent in a cheap organization earned him leaguewide respect, and his Colts defense was solid this season before injuries caught up to teams as a whole. Expect the 59-year-old to be linked to multiple jobs.