Only two teams are left playing. The Patriots and Seahawks will meet in Super Bowl LX on Feb. 8 in Santa Clara, California.
Meanwhile, the NFL’s head coaching carousel appears to have finally come to a stop.
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Filling the NFL’s last head coach opening, the Arizona Cardinals finalized a deal with Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur to become their next head coach, the team announced Sunday. LaFleur, the younger brother of Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur, will reportedly get a five-year contract with Arizona.
(Davis Long/Yahoo Sports)
One week before the Super Bowl, the Las Vegas Raiders have reportedly agreed to a deal with Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak. A contract cannot be finalized until after the Feb. 8 matchup with the New England Patriots. Kubiak is set to become the Raiders’ third head coach in three seasons, following Pete Carroll and Antonio Pierce.
Raheem Morris is also on the move, hired by the San Francisco 49ers as their new defensive coordinator, according to reports. Morris was dismissed as Atlanta Falcons head coach after their 2025-26 season concluded.
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Earlier last week, the Browns hired former Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken as their next head coach. Monken emerged as the choice in a process that also centered on Rams pass game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase and Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz.
The Bills, meanwhile, promoted Joe Brady to head coach after firing Sean McDermott. Brady has served as offensive coordinator since November 2023.
Elsewhere in the AFC:
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The Titans hired Brian Daboll as their next offensive coordinator. Daboll was fired as Giants head coach midseason after being hired in 2022, and now he’ll get a chance to mold 2025 No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward under head coach Robert Saleh’s leadership.
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The Pittsburgh Steelers hired Mike McCarthy to become their next head coach. McCarthy replaces Mike Tomlin, who resigned at the end of the Steelers’ season. He would become the franchise’s fourth head coach since 1969.
Here’s a rundown of the biggest hirings (and firings) this coaching cycle.
HEAD COACHES HIRED
Mike LaFleur, Arizona Cardinals
Head coaching record: First job, was Rams offensive coordinator from 2023-25
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Why he was hired: The Cardinals are turning hard in a different direction after three seasons with defensive-minded Jonathan Gannon as head coach. The Rams led the NFL in total offense with 6,709 yards this season under LaFleur and head coach Sean McVay. L.A. finished first in passing yards and seventh in rushing on its way to the NFC championship game.
A major decision confronting LaFleur from the start is what to do at quarterback. The Cardinals appear ready to move on from Kyler Murray, who played in only five games before suffering a season-ending foot injury. Arizona went on to finish with the 19th-ranked offense in the league.
The Cardinals have the No. 3 overall selection in April’s NFL Draft, but no QB looks worthy of that pick. So the team may have to find a field leader in free agency. (Daniel Jones and Malik Willis are the top QBs available.) Veterans like Tua Tagovailoa, Justin Fields and Mac Jones are trade possibilities as well.
Klint Kubiak, Las Vegas Raiders
Head coaching record: First job, was Seahawks offensive coordinator for 2025
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Why he was hired: The Raiders wanted a coach who could install a more explosive offense after struggling the past two seasons. Las Vegas ranked last in total offense this season (4,168 yards), among the bottom five in passing and last in rushing despite having first-round pick Ashton Jeanty.
Also important was someone who could develop a young quarterback, as Las Vegas will likely select Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick in April. If necessary, the Raiders will also have Geno Smith as a veteran presence while Mendoza familiarizes himself with Kubiak’s offense and the NFL game.
Kubiak checks off both boxes, overseeing Seattle’s eighth-ranked offense with 5,973 yards and 351.4 yards per game this season. In his first season with the Seahawks, Sam Darnold threw for 4,048 yards, placing fifth among NFL QBs, with 25 touchdowns, leading a Super Bowl run.
Todd Monken, Cleveland Browns
Head coaching record: First job, was Ravens offensive coordinator from 2023-25
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Why he was hired: The Browns need someone to fix a broken and talent-deficient offense, and they landed on Monken, who has spent the past few seasons in Baltimore and in college at Georgia, where he helped the Bulldogs win two national championships as offensive coordinator. (He also served as Browns offensive coordinator in 2019.) Will all that experience translate to turning around Cleveland? That remains to be seen, but there’s a big offseason ahead regardless when it comes to improving the roster on that side of the ball.
Monken reportedly will have to find a new defensive coordinator, after Jim Schwartz reportedly told coaches he’s not coming back after being passed over for the head coaching job. The Browns’ defense has been one of the league’s best in two of the past three seasons, so nailing a new hire while Monken focuses on rebooting the offense will be crucial.
Joe Brady, Buffalo Bills
Head coaching record: First job, was Bills offensive coordinator from 2023-25
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Why he was hired: On the surface, it’s a weird move at best to fire head coach Sean McDermott, publicly state that coaching was a problem with the Bills’ roster … then turn around and promote a coach from that staff. To be fair, Brady is a respected offensive mind who’s fairly renowned for his creativity and maximization of talent. To be blunt, he’s also a first-time head coach who doesn’t figure to upset the power structure team owner Terry Pegula and general manager Brandon Beane clearly have in place.
Buffalo still has Josh Allen, and there’s no doubt Brady has played a key role in developing him into an MVP-level quarterback year in and year out. McDermott’s management of the roster, especially on defense, perhaps went underappreciated during his nine seasons with the Bills, so whomever they hire as defensive coordinator is the next key to watch. But really, the Bills not making a Super Bowl in this era of the franchise has been due to poor luck as much as anything. Maybe Brady is the man to get them over the hump.
Mike McCarthy, Pittsburgh Steelers
Head coaching record: 174-112-2 regular season, 11-11 playoffs, five seasons with Dallas Cowboys, 13 seasons with Green Bay Packers.
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Why he was hired: Sure, it was a while ago, but McCarthy has a Super Bowl ring for a reason — and it happens to be the only one Aaron Rodgers has won in his stellar career. McCarthy re-established his bona fides after his Packers run, leading Dallas to the playoffs in three of his five seasons under Jerry Jones. He sat out the last hiring cycle, seemingly waiting for the perfect job. McCarthy grew up in the Pittsburgh area, so he’s no stranger to the franchise’s lore.
Jesse Minter, Baltimore Ravens
Head coaching record: First job, was Chargers defensive coordinator from 2024-25
Why he was hired: The Ravens may have fired John Harbaugh, but they’re staying within his tree to replace him. Minter spent four seasons as a defensive assistant in Baltimore under Harbaugh from 2017-2020 before joining Harbaugh’s brother Jim as the University of Michigan’s defensive coordinator. After winning a national championship in Ann Arbor, he followed Jim to the Chargers, where he has spent the past two seasons coordinating a defense that’s finished top-10 in DVOA both years, earning leaguewide respect for the unpredictability of his units and his play-calling prowess. Just 42 years old, Minter was considered one of the top candidates on the market, especially among first-time head coaches.
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He steps into a situation where the expectations couldn’t be higher. Lamar Jackson is a two-time NFL MVP, the Ravens have top-end talent as good as anybody’s, and the only thing left for this iteration of the franchise is to reach the Super Bowl and win it. Minter seems to fit the bill of a guy who can do that. Baltimore is notorious for drafting and developing talent and spending little on free agents, so a coach like Minter who maximizes his players seems ideally placed. Plus, Jackson ensures a high floor on offense, so Minter can focus more of his efforts on shoring up a defense that fell short of expectations this past season.
It’s a smart swing — even if a Lombardi Trophy might be the only way the franchise gauges its success.
John Harbaugh, New York Giants
Head coaching record: 180-113 regular season, 13-11 playoffs (including a Super Bowl title), 18 seasons with Baltimore Ravens
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Why he was hired: The Giants have had four full-time head coaches and two interims since Tom Coughlin resigned after the 2015 season, and they’re fed up with the turnover. Harbaugh is 63, but he has a lot of juice left and figures to bring stability to a proud franchise that’s fallen on some of the hardest times it’s ever faced. (The Giants’ 59 wins since 2015 are the second-fewest in the NFL, ahead of only the Jets).
There’s talent to develop on the roster between QB Jaxson Dart (who might sync well with Harbaugh’s preferred offensive coordinator, Todd Monken), RB Cam Skattebo, WR Malik Nabers, LT Andrew Thomas, and a defense that includes DT Dexter Lawrence and edge rushers Brian Burns and Abdul Carter. There’s also a general manager in Joe Schoen, as Yahoo Sports’ Charles Robinson explained, who was apparently willing to cede personnel decision-making to Harbaugh despite the nominal hierarchy inside the franchise. And team owner John Mara, one of the more influential voices in the league, revealed he’s battling an undisclosed form of cancer last September, which likely emboldened the desire for a head coach to come in and command respect immediately.
The Giants have floundered for years, but landing the coach widely viewed as the best on the market brings back instant credibility. Now we’ll see how quickly they can win together.
Kevin Stefanski, Atlanta Falcons
Head coaching record: 45-56 regular season, 1-2 playoffs, six seasons with Cleveland Browns
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Why he was hired: Stefanski was one of the top names on the market, with the NFL at large looking at more than just his wins and losses with the Browns while trying to lift a struggling franchise into playoff contention. Sound familiar, Atlanta? Stefanski’s offensive acumen is a hybrid of multiple schemes and coaching trees, which can help new president of football Matt Ryan sort through the talent the Falcons have on that side of the ball (including Kirk Cousins, whom Stefanski coached in Minnesota). They’re also retaining defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich after the Falcons’ defense made big strides this season.
Stefanski as head coach and offensive mastermind, with Ulbrich sticking around to continue building his side of the ball? That’s a solid recipe going forward, even if the answer at quarterback and no first-round pick this spring present significant challenges. If team owner Arthur Blank is finally willing to be patient and let this project play out, Stefanski could end the Falcons’ eight-year playoff drought sooner than expected, especially in a weak NFC South.
Jeff Hafley, Miami Dolphins
Head coaching record: First job, was Packers defensive coordinator from 2024-25
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Why he was hired: The direct connection is Jon-Eric Sullivan, who was hired as Dolphins general manager on Jan. 9 after spending over two decades in the Packers’ organization, most recently as vice president of player personnel.
As for the broader fit? Well, the Dolphins have proven to be a less attractive option among coaching candidates this cycle than previously expected, Yahoo Sports’ Charles Robinson reported, based largely on the salary cap cleanup required as the team moves on from Tua Tagovailoa. With John Harbaugh off the board, Hafley is the most logical next move, perhaps for both parties. Hafley has head coaching experience at Boston College from 2020-23, he improved Green Bay’s defenses the last two seasons, and Miami would do well to lean on that side of the ball — not to mention star RB De’Von Achane and an improving O-line — while the Dolphins try to sort out the QB situation in what now looks like a multi-season project.
Hafley is considered to be one of the stronger candidates on the market, and the Dolphins didn’t mess around in securing their best possible outcome.
Robert Saleh, Tennessee Titans
Head coaching record: 20-36, fired five games into fourth season with New York Jets
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Why he was hired: The general consensus around the league is Saleh’s failures with the Jets were largely out of his control, and he’s had good defenses wherever he’s been. He’ll reportedly call defensive plays in Tennessee, so it’ll be interesting to see who the Titans hire on the offensive staff to continue developing Cam Ward, who looked more and more promising as his rookie season went on.
Most of all, however, Saleh figures to help stabilize a Titans franchise that’s on its second general manager and now second head coach (third counting interim) since firing Mike Vrabel after the 2023 season. It’s a little surprising Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy didn’t get the job, considering his availability and ties to GM Mike Borgonzi from their time together in Kansas City, but perhaps Nagy is in play for the same position now that Saleh has been tabbed. Either way, Saleh is the kind of firm, even-keeled leader who could go a long way toward halting all the losing in Tennessee.
FIRED
Brian Callahan, Tennessee Titans (in season)
Brian Daboll, New York Giants (in season)
Raheem Morris, Atlanta Falcons
Kevin Stefanski, Cleveland Browns
Pete Carroll, Las Vegas Raiders
Jonathan Gannon, Arizona Cardinals
John Harbaugh, Baltimore Ravens
Mike McDaniel, Miami Dolphins
Sean McDermott, Buffalo Bills
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RESIGNED
Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh Steelers
NFL coaching news live blog
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Tarohn Finley
The Buffalo Bills hired former Arizona Cardinals passing game coordinator and WR coach Drew Terrell as their WR coach, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Terrell will join new head coach Joe Brady and offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael Jr. on the Bills coaching staff.
Terrell also interviewed for the Los Angeles Chargers offensive coordinator position before they hired former Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel.
Terrell has spent the last three seasons with the Cardinals. Before his time in Arizona, Terrell spent time with the Washington Commanders and the Carolina Panthers.
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Criss Partee
The Miami Dolphins and head coach Jeff Hafley are bringing in Brock Olivo as assistant special teams coordinator to work alongside special teams coordinator Chris Tabor. Olivo was most recently with the University of Missouri, but also has past NFL coaching experience with Denver, Chicago, and Kansas City.
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Ryan Young
Gus Bradley is joining Robert Saleh in Tennessee.
The Titans struck a deal to bring Bradley in as their next defensive coordinator on Monday, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Bradley last worked as the associate head coach with the 49ers, where Saleh spent last season as the defensive coordinator.
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Criss Partee
The Pittsburgh Steelers have completed an interview with New Orleans Saints tight ends coach Chase Haslett for their open passing game coordinator/TEs coach role on Mike McCarthy’s staff. Haslett, the son of longtime NFL coach Jim Haslett, got his start on McCarthy’s staff in Dallas in 2020 as a quality control coach. He’s continued to work his way through the ranks the past five years, joining the Saints’ staff in 2025 under first-year head coach Kellen Moore, who was also on McCarthy’s staff in Dall.
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Tarohn Finley
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Tarohn Finley
Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton said the team promoted Davis Webb to offensive Coordinator and Logan Kilgore as Quarterbacks Coach. Webb will replace former Broncos offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi.
Webb was previously the offensive pass game coordinator and quarterbacks coach and Kilgore was previously the offensive quality control coach for the Broncos. Webb was a finalist for the Las Vegas Raiders head coaching position before withdrawing. The Raiders will reportedly hire Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak after the Super Bowl.
Webb, 31, has quickly risen in coaching since his NFL playing days ended in 2022. Webb has spent the last three seasons under head coach Sean Payton with the Broncos. He was initially the quarterback coach, helping in Bo Nix’s development before adding passing game coordinator to his responsibilities last season after John Morton left to become the Lions’ offensive coordinator.
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Here are the confirmed hires for the Baltimore Ravens and new head coach Jesse Minter’s coaching staff.
Offensive coordinator Declan Doyle, defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver, offensive line coach Dwayne Ledford, Assistant OL coach Shawn Flaherty, inside linebackers coach Tyler Santucci (retained from John Harbaugh’s staff), defensive pass game coordinator/defensive backs coach Mike Mickens, defensive assistant P.J. Volker, and game management coordinator Charlie Gelman.
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Jason Owens
A familiar face is returning to Baltimore.
The Ravens are working to hire Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver for the same position, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.
Weaver will return to the Ravens team that drafted him into the NFL as a player in 2002. A defensive end, Weaver played four seasons for the Ravens and three more for the Houston Texans through the 2008 season.
Weaver also previously worked on John Harbaugh’s staff in Baltimore. He’s been a defensive line coach or defensive coordinator in the NFL since 2012. He spent three seasons from 2021-24 as Baltimore’s defensive line coach and two of those as an associate head coach.
For more, read here.
Anthony Weaver is reportedly returning to the Ravens after working two seasons as defensive coordinator for the Dolphins.
(Miami Herald via .)
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Tarohn Finley
The Pittsburgh Steelers add Jason Simmons as defensive pass game coordinator and defensive backs, Scott McCurley as inside linebackers coach and Steve Scarnecchia as chief of staff, according to the team’s social media page.
Simmons last spent time with the Washington Commanders as the defensive pass game coordinator and coached with Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy with the Green Bay Packers. McCurley spent the last four years with the Dallas Cowboys and has a history of coaching with McCarthy in Green Bay.
Scarnecchia last worked for the Falcons under former head coach Raheem Morris. He is the son of former New England Patriots assistant coach Dante Scarnecchia
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The Miami Dolphins will reportedly retain assistant coaches Austin Clark and Joe Barry on new head coach Jeff Hafley’s staff. Clark as defensive line coach, and Barry coaching the inside linebackers.
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Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy is reportedly meeting with former Saints QB coach Scott Tolzein on Monday. Tolzein was in the league as a backup for a few years during the 2010s for Green Bay and Indianapolis. He began his coaching career in 2019 at Wisconsin, before moving on to the Dallas Cowboys in 2020 on McCarthy’s staff.
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Criss Partee
It is being reported that the Arizona Cardinals are a more likely landing spot for longtime coach Gus Bradley ahead of the Tennessee Titans since he would have play-calling duties as defensive coordinator on Mike LaFleur’s staff, according to Albert Breer. In Tennessee, new head coach Robert Saleh, who is also a former defensive coordinator, is expected to call plays there initially.
Bradley was head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars for four seasons from 2013-2016, and has also been a defensive coordinator for multiple NFL tea
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Tarohn Finley
The Baltimore Ravens add Navy defensive coordinator and head coach Jesse Minter’s college teammate, P.J. Volker, to their defensive coaching staff, according to the Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec. Volker spent the last three seasons as Navy’s defensive coordinator and has coached linebackers the last seven years.
Volker and Minter coached together at Georgia St and Indiana St and played together at College of Mount St. Joseph (Ohio), where Volker was a three-year letterwinner and two-time all-conference selection.
He also spent time as the running backs coach and recruiting coordinator at Thiel College, coaching linebackers and served as the program’s recruiting coordinator at Thomas More College in Kentucky.
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Criss Partee
Mike LaFleur will be introduced as the Arizona Cardinals’ new head coach at a press conference on Tuesday at noon. LaFleur spent the last three seasons as offensive coordinator for the Rams and before that, was the Jets’ OC for two years.
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Tarohn Finley
Head coach Sean McVay said the Los Angeles Rams hired Bubba Ventrone as the team’s special teams coordinator. McVay said he’s “someone I’ve had my eye on a while.”
Ventrone was an assistant head coach and special teams coordinator with the Cleveland Browns before joining the Rams. The 46-year-old also spent time coaching the special teams units of the New England Patriots and the Indianapolis Colts.
Ventrone is a former NFL safety and played for the Patriots, Browns, New York Jets, San Francisco 49ers and the Cologne Centurions in NFL Europe.
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Criss Partee
The New York Giants will reportedly conduct virtual offensive coordinator interviews through at least Monday, with the expectation being that they’ll bring finalists into the building for those interviews later this week, according to Dan Duggan of The Athletic.
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Criss Partee
The Pittsburgh Steelers are expected to bring in Danny Crossman as head coach Mike McCarthy’s new special teams coordinator, reports Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. Crossman has been coaching in the league for over two decades and was most recently with the Miami Dolphins.
Crossman started his NFL coaching career in 2003 with the Carolina Panthers. He also coached in college for a decade, beginning in 1993, before moving to the NFL. Crossman played professionally from 1991-1992 for the London Monarchs of NFL Europe.
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Criss Partee
The Buffalo Bills have made a couple more coaching staff moves. The team is bringing back inside linebacker coach John Egorugwu for the same job. Egorugwu was with the Bills for a few years before coaching at Vanderbilt in 2021. He’s spent the past few seasons with the New York Giants as their inside linebackers coach.
Buffalo is also bringing in Oklahoma’s assistant head coach and co-defensive coordinator Jay Valai as the team’s new cornerbacks coach. Valai began his coaching career on the college level in 2016 and has been with the Sooners since 2022. He did coach one year in NFL with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2018
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Criss Partee
The Minnesota Vikings are reportedly hiring Ryan Nielsen as the team’s new defensive run game coordinator. Nielsen spent 2025 as a senior defensive assistant for the Buffalo Bills. The previous two seasons, he was the defensive coordinator for the Jacksonville Jaguars (2024) and Atlanta Falcons (2023). In 2022, Nielsn was the co-defensive coordinator in New Orleans for the Saints.
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Tarohn Finley
Mike Bajakian is reuniting with Todd Monken on the Cleveland Browns’ staff. He is expected to be hired as the team’s quarterbacks coach, according to several reports.
Bajakian spent the past two seasons at Utah and was the Utes’ offensive coordinator last year. He had been tabbed as Michigan State’s QB coach for next season, but will instead join Monken in Cleveland. The two were on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers staff from 2016-18 with Bajakian coaching QBs while Monken was the OC.
Prior to his stint with Utah, Bajakian was OC at Northwestern, Boston College, Tennessee, Cincinnati and Central Michigan. Additionally, he previously coached QBs in the NFL with the Chicago Bears,
