The purge of Black Monday has mostly run its course. While there may be an (albeit unlikely) extra opening following the playoffs, the vacancies at head coach are now clear. These teams are desperate for someone new to man the ship, but do the candidates share that sentiment? The openings range from promising to punishing, with some franchises’ past failures raising concerns of core organizational flaws rather than a simple problem at head coach. Nevertheless, candidates will be eager to analyze every offer they get. How do those offers stack up? Let’s take a look and rank them.
6: Cleveland Browns
Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Myles Murphy (99) wraps up Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) in the first quarter of the NFL Week 18 game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Cleveland Browns at Paycor Stadium in Downtown Cincinnati on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026.
If two-time Coach of the Year Kevin Stefanski was fired, whoever the Browns bring in will have their work cut out for them.
Make no mistake, the Browns aren’t bereft of talent. Their defense in particular is a dominant unit, and finished the year top-five in plenty of metrics. Furthermore, their 2025 draft class arguably saved GM Andrew Berry’s job. Carson Schwessinger, Mason Graham, Quinshon Judkins and Harold Fannin have shown some promising flashes, with Schwessinger being a possible rookie of the year.
Nevertheless, the Browns are a far cry from being anything close to contenders. The QB problem is a big one. While they do have a ton of draft picks to work with, the top-tier signal-callers will likely be gone by the time it’s their turn to pick. Additionally, the QBs in-house, Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel, are very flawed prospects, and are by no means guaranteed a starting job. The issues also extend to the aging offensive line, and a vulnerability at wide receiver.
There’s a significant amount of course correction needed, and the job would feel daunting for almost any candidate.
5: Las Vegas Raiders
Nov 30, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith (7) reacts against the Los Angeles Chargers during the first half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
Vegas just can’t seem to get it right, but the first overall pick does bring some hope.
What was supposed to be an all-in season with Pete Carroll ended in disaster. Now, Vegas’ next head coach will inherit a roster that needs some molding. Brock Bowers, Ashton Jeanty and Maxx Crosby are all elite at their positions. However, with the future surrounding Maxx Crosby being uncertain, and the talent of the rest of the team being questionable, it’s clear the new regime will have its hands full.
What is most desperately needed for Vegas is life. The on-field product every week was lethargic and lacked passion. Players need to buy in, and that is going to be one of the toughest tasks at hand.
4: Arizona Cardinals
Jan 4, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; Arizona Cardinals tight end Josiah Deguara (45) reacts with teammates after scoring a touchdown against the Los Angeles Rams during the second half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
Arizona is a strange location.
Monti Osenfort has done a great job at creating a nucleus of starters, but they’ve struggled to get over the hump. One-score losses haunted the Cardinals this year, and every week felt like a retread. Most of all, there was just no improvement, Arizona never finished higher than third in their division during Gannon’s tenure. If there is growth in year one, it’ll be a sight for sore eyes.
An underlying issue though is the quarterback situation. In the final weeks of Gannon’s regime, it was noted that a divorce between Arizona and Kyler Murray was on the horizon. That could change following his firing, but the team has grown impatient of Murray. Whoever the head coach is may have the final say regarding Murray’s future, so they’ll immediately have to make some tough decisions.
3: Tennessee Titans
Dec 28, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Titans defensive end Sebastian Joseph-Day (69), defensive tackle James Lynch (97), defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons (98), and quarterback Cam Ward (1) stand for the National Anthem prior to the game against the New Orleans Saints at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images
Cam Ward, Jefferey Simmons, $100 million in cap space.
Those three are the main draws that will be the determining factor for whether a coach would like to be in Nashville. The fact that Ward came out of the 2025 season having suffered only an AC joint sprain is impressive enough. Pair that survival with the flashes he displayed without proper weapons or blocking, it’s clear the Titans got something.
The rest of the team though needs a lot of elbow grease. Jefferey Simmons headlines the defense, but is one of the very few franchise guys in the organization. There’s holes to be filled everywhere, and it’s not an operation that can be fixed in just one year.
That’s where the $100 million in cap space comes in. If the Titans are smart with their money, and have a good draft, they’ll be on the right path. Good leadership is crucial to that path though, and without Ward this opening would look hopeless.
2: Atlanta Falcons
Dec 11, 2025; Tampa, Florida, USA; Atlanta Falcons cornerback Dee Alford (20) celebrates with safety Jessie Bates III (3) and cornerback Cobee Bryant (37) after intercepting a pass intended for Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (not pictured) during the fourth quarter at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
It feels as if the Falcons have better players than their past records would indicate.
Arthur Smith and later Raheem Morris weren’t able to maximize those players, making Atlanta a very intriguing option. Michael Penix Jr. needs to figure it out heading into year three, but he has shown ability to lead an offense. With the weapons present, however, Penix being a game manager will suffice. Add on a defense that took major strides this year, it feels like coaching is the key that will unlock this team.
The NFC South being wide-open year in and year out also increases the value of this gig. The Panthers winning the division in spite of tying three of their rivals with a 8-9 record is representative of the fact that there’s no clear favorite to be on top next year.
The one big fault is the lack of a first rounder, but the young and improving contributors could compensate for that day 1 pick.
1: New York Giants
Jan 4, 2026; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart (6) looks on after the game against the Dallas Cowboys at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
There’s a lot to love in New York.
Starting off, the clearest and most important piece that can entice a head coach is QB Jaxson Dart. In 12 games, Dart shined despite the team surrounding him continuously collapsing. He threw for 2272 pass yards, and rushed for an extra 487 on the ground. Beyond Dart, the offense features Cam Skattebo and Malik Nabers who will return from injury. The trio of Dart, Skattebo and Nabers were all on the field at the same time for a short period against the Chargers, and were lighting it up against a top-five defense in yardage allowed.
Additionally, with all this focus on the offense, one shouldn’t forget about the abundance of talent on defense. Granted, an upgrade at DB may be due, but the unit’s failings are in large part due to insufficient coaching. With a strong defensive mind at the helm, Dexter Lawrence, Brian Burns, Abdul Carter and Co. can do some real damage.
A high draft pick, talented defense and QB who has the potential to be the face of the franchise puts the Giants on the top.
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Also, here’s another article discussing where Raiders star Maxx Crosby could go this offseason!
