New NFL Head Coach Candidates for 2026

With a new year come new beginnings, that is especially true for plenty of NFL franchises. If you’re a fan of a team whose season hasn’t gone as planned, there’s a good chance you’re waiting for that firing confirmation on Black Monday. Last year’s coaching hires saw both ends of the spectrum of success. Ben Johnson, Mike Vrabel and Liam Coen have transformed their respective teams into true contenders. Conversely, Aaron Glenn and Pete Carrol have failed to move the needle, and may be one-and-done following week 18. There’s a ton of vacant positions to be filled out, so there will be plenty of movement come playoff time. With all that said, let’s take a look at the potential candidates to fill those voids as head coaches.

Klint Kubiak

Kubiak joined Seattle after a one year stint in New Orleans. As the Saints OC, he fared well in spite of the roster’s talent deficiencies. Now in Seattle, his contributions have left their mark. Sam Darnold has continued his 2024 pace, Jaxson Smith-Njigba has emerged as a top-tier wideout and the run game has been punishing. However, unless a team is grasping at straws to find a young offensive mind, he’ll have to wait his turn. His inexperience could raise some concern with teams, as this is just his second year as an OC. His inexperience has shown in Seattle’s recent skid. Kubiak’s offense hasn’t been performing up to scratch since their first affair with the Rams. First half scoring has gone downhill, and consistency has been an issue. Still, there’s always a demand for offensive minds, so expect him to get some looks.

Jesse Minter

While Justin Herbert carries the offense, Jesse Minter has been the conductor of a complementary and clutch defense. Similar to Mike MacDonald, Minter followed one of the Harbaugh brothers and became a key coordinator for his squad. In 2024, Minter’s first season, his unit was the top scoring-defense in the game. This year they haven’t missed a beat. Short of a few games, the defense has consistently found ways to throw a wrench into opposing attacks. They rank seventh among defenses in forced turnovers as well as EPA per play. Under the tutelage of Jim Harbaugh, Minter’s 16 year coaching experience will likely culminate into a head coaching gig this offseason.

Klif Kingsbury

Kingsbury took time away from head-coaching accordingly. He helped Caleb Williams develop in college before joining Dan Quinn’s staff in Washington. The Commanders saw QB play reach new heights with Jayden Daniels in Kingsbury’s first year as OC. His current campaign has been derailed by injury, leading to the decline in passing output. However, an underrated part of Kingsbury’s arsenal has still flourished, is his run-game. With the surprise addition of Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Washington is ranked sixth in EPA per rush. Kingsbury’s scheme is tailor-made for modern NFL offenses, but the memory of his previous run as head coach may sour potential suitors.

Jeff Hafley

After fans in Lambeau suffered through Joe Barry’s lethargic defense, Jeff Hafley’s hire became a marvel for them. With or without his star players, Hafley finds a way to disrupt the signal-caller and put an end to drives. He’s had to work with inconsistent d-line play, key injuries and suboptimal DBs, yet his defense ranks seventh in passing yards allowed. That is in large part thanks to his exotic blitz packages and effective playcalling. Add on the prior experience he has with being a head coach (albeit at the collegiate level), he becomes a very enticing option.

Anthony Campanile

Amidst the stout defensive coordinators from this cycle, Campanile stands tall, even in his first year. He took a bottom-ranked Jaguars unit and pulled them out of the abyss. This year, Jacksonville ranks second in forced turnovers, and is the best defense against the run. Compare that with the prior year where offenses ran rampant in Everbank stadium, Campanile’s effect on the team’s success cannot be exaggerated. Of course, similar to Kubiak, the lack of years under his belt could be reason for worry. Regardless, given the amount of openings in the head coach market, Campanile’s quick rise can go the distance.

Brian Flores

Brian Flores seemed to break the mold of the Belichick tree during his time in Miami. Due to tension in the front-office and alleged mistreatment of QB Tua Tagovailoa, he was let go. Since he’s taken his talents to Minnesota, the Vikings defense has a reputation of terrorizing quarterbacks. In three years with Flores at the helm, the Vikings have recorded 137 sacks. His blitz-happy scheme throws signal-callers off-guard, and consistently allows his guys to dominate. The friction in place during his previous stint could dissuade organizations from taking the leap of hiring him. Nevertheless, his relationships with his players and production on the field make him a worthy choice.

Mike McCarthy

At the end of the day, what teams sometimes need is simple, stability. Organizations like the Titans and Raiders have lacked coherency and quality in the past few years. For teams like them an exciting hot-shot hire can backfire tremendously due to organizational dysfunction. What is needed instead, is someone who can weave through the cracks and still put out a respectable product. That is where the value in Mike McCarthy lies. Above all else, McCarthy has experience, good experience at that. The units he’s trotted out have continued to be reliable and competitive in spite of any and all outside noise. Sure, a team’s ceiling may be capped with him calling the shots. Nevertheless, his ability to keep the ship steady and be a calming presence can work wonders, which is why you shouldn’t be surprised if he’s answering questions during a press conference this offseason.