It has been an offseason of heavy turnover in the coaching ranks thus far, with 10 organizations deciding to go in a new direction. Teams that had retained the same head coach for over a decade parted ways with their coaches in the form of the Steelers’ Mike Tomlin and the Ravens’ John Harbaugh. All these sudden vacancies left room for a short but intense feeding frenzy that has seen all 10 clubs hire new head coaches. This list is speckled with established names and fresh gambles alike, so let’s evaluate the outlook of each organization’s decision and grade their hires based on potential success or improvement from the team’s previous coaching situation.
Arizona Cardinals: Mike Lafleur Grade: C-
Sure, he’s been the offensive coordinator for one of the most productive squads on that side of the ball in recent years with the Los Angeles Rams, but this can mainly be attributed to the scheming of his vaunted boss Sean McVay. This hire feels like settling for the Cardinals, as they got their guy after all the biggest names and shiniest coaching prospects had been taken off the auction floor. It’s much easier to be a great offensive coordinator when you have the National Football League’s Most Valuable Player, are working under one of the best offensive minds in the game, and have All-Pro level talent at wide receiver. Pencil in the Cards for 4-7 wins next year.
Cleveland Browns: Todd Monken Grade: D+
The Browns get a bare minimum passing grade here for this utterly uninspired hire. Perhaps it was justified to let go of former head coach Kevin Stefanski, but ditching their two-time coach of the year for a 60-year-old offensive coordinator with no head coaching experience is a level of ineptitude that only the Browns could aspire to. This overlooks the fact that Monken ran a turnover-prone offense last season, which contributed to the Baltimore Ravens missing the playoffs. Owner Jimmy Haslam would have been better off promoting defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz instead of yet another perplexing hire brought in to captain the Browns into one more year of woeful irrelevancy.
Tennessee Titans: Robert Saleh Grade: B+
I only keep the Titans from becoming A students because of the amount of work they need to do on their roster, which currently leaves a lot to be desired. That being said, Saleh is a perfect fit for Nashville and will bring a fiery and pile-driving swagger to the team, emphasizing his defensive experience and leadership. Guiding a battered 49ers defense to many respectable performances last season confirmed Saleh’s acumen and once again thrust his name into the minds of front offices across the league. Saleh has also brought in former Giants head coach Brian Daboll to call plays for second-year quarterback Cam Ward. It’s fair to say this team is looking to surprise people next season.
New York Giants: John Harbaugh Grade: A-
It was a shock to many across NFL circles when the Ravens decided to fire John Harbaugh after 18 seasons as the team’s head coach. Harbaugh’s legacy in Baltimore is cemented, and it was clear that it wouldn’t be long before Harbaugh was once again allowed to be the headsetted sideline leader of another NFL franchise. The Giants have a dynamic young core led by second-year quarterback Jaxson Dart and running back Cam Skattebo, along with an underrated defense and a rising star number one wide receiver in Malik Nabers. Can the Giants shock the world with a run to the postseason next year? We’ll have to see if Harbaugh maintains his head coaching mojo in the Big Apple.
Miami Dolphins: Jeff Hafley Grade: C
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz…
Seriously, this guy looks as if Flat Stanley wished to become a real boy, and that’s disrespectful to Flat Stanley.
Pittsburgh Steelers; Mike McCarthy Grade: B-
While Steelers fans have bemoaned this hire as a lateral move from the consistent mediocrity of the latter period of Mike Tomlin’s tenure as head coach, the McCarthy hire is not exactly inspiring, but it is sensible. First off, McCarthy is a Pittsburgh native and a Super Bowl champion who shared a genuinely touching emotional moment with the media during his introductory press conference. The roster has pieces to work with, partially depending on whether quarterback Aaron Rodgers will be willing to forgo retirement and reunite with his former head coach. The Steelers should return comfortably to around .500 next season under McCarthy’s steady leadership.
Atlanta Falcons- Kevin Stefanski Grade: A-
The Falcons needed a fresh start after the uninspiring tenures of Raheem Morris and Arthur Smith, and they appear to have found one by bringing in two-time coach of the year Kevin Stefanski to lead the team in 2026. The only knock on Stefanski in Cleveland was that his teams were sometimes great but often terrible due to a poor offense and injuries. Stefanski is the kind of stoic sideline presence and offensive-minded coach that would be perfect for Atlanta’s dynamic weapons. And who knows, they might even consider keeping Kirk Cousins around, considering the success Stefanski had with him in Minnesota.
Baltimore Ravens- Jesse Minter Grade: A-
A hire that is predictable in the best way possible for the Ravens, as Jesse Minter comes off of leading a vaunted Chargers defensive unit featuring Khalil Mack and Derwin James to lead a squad that is already playoff caliber. The only question that remains about Minter is whether he will prove to be a capable head coach given his youth and inexperience at the position.
Las Vegas Raiders- Klint Kubiak Grade: B+
Kubiak’s name was getting thrown around for a possible head coaching gig as soon as the Seattle Seahawks began their run to the Super Bowl, and his stock has only risen since taking the job, projecting a laid-back and assured West Coast demeanor in his opening presser. Kubiak also has the number one overall draft pick, which Las Vegas will most likely use to select Heisman Trophy winner and national champion quarterback Fernando Mendoza. If Kubiak can keep Maxx Crosby happy and figure out a way to utilize Ashton Jeanty better, the Raiders will be set for a meteoric rise next season.
Buffalo Bills- Joe Brady Grade: B
It’s hard to justify grading this hire any lower, considering that Brady has spent the last couple of years calling plays for quarterback Josh Allen and already knows how to run this offense well. This does not change how shocking it was to see Bills owner Terry Pegula fire Sean McDermott after the consistent run of success he has had, and that this move is a clear signal that the team is very much in Super Bowl or bust mode going into next season. Is this realistic with a defense that was near the bottom of league rankings down the stretch last year, and a receiving corps that makes Cam Newton’s 2015 crew look like all-time greats? Only time will tell.
Featured image: San Francisco 49ers
Leave a Reply