Ranking the NFL's Seven Head Coaching Vacancies for 2026
In any given offseason, most head coaching vacancies open for a reason: the previous situation was untenable. However, history is replete with examples of transformative hires—from DeMeco Ryans in Houston to Ben Johnson in Chicago—proving that the right leader can engineer a rapid turnaround. As of Tuesday, seven teams are searching for a new head coach. Here is a ranking of those openings from least to most attractive, based on organizational stability, roster talent, and long-term viability.
7. Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals present perhaps the most challenging rebuild. The team lost 14 of its final 15 games, and injuries only partially explain the collapse. With quarterback Kyler Murray's future in doubt, no clear succession plan, and a defense that ranked in the bottom six in points and yards allowed, the foundation is weak. The potential to draft a quarterback third overall is mitigated by a perceived weak quarterback class. General Manager Monti Ossenfort remains, which may not appeal to candidates seeking full organizational alignment. Since 2015, the franchise has only one playoff appearance—a one-and-done loss—cementing its status as a dead-end job.
6. Cleveland Browns
Candidates will be wary of a franchise that just fired two-time NFL Coach of the Year Kevin Stefanski, who navigated constant quarterback turmoil. The shadow of the Deshaun Watson trade, arguably the worst in league history, still looms, and the general manager who orchestrated it, Andrew Berry, remains in place. Owner Jimmy Haslam's erratic track record further clouds the job's appeal. While a promising 2025 rookie class offers a glimmer of hope, the organization's ingrained instability and history are significant deterrents.
5. Tennessee Titans
This job hinges entirely on belief in quarterback Cam Ward, who showed flashes of development late in the season. Beyond that, the outlook is bleak. The Titans' ownership famously moved on from Coach of the Year candidate Mike Vrabel due to a power struggle, only to fire the succeeding general manager a year later—a red flag for any prospective coach. The roster lacks contending talent, and the AFC South is no longer a weak division. This vacancy is a high-risk proposition suitable only for a coach utterly convinced of Ward's star potential.
4. Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders are the epitome of a flailing organization, lacking a coherent plan. Last offseason's attempt to win now by hiring the oldest coach in NFL history and trading for a 35-year-old quarterback resulted in a 3-14 disaster. The search will be led by GM John Spytek and minority owner Tom Brady, the latter an unproven executive. The sole compelling draw is the first overall pick in the draft, offering a chance to select a new franchise quarterback. While talents like Brock Bowers and Maxx Crosby exist, decades of dysfunction make this a daunting project.
3. New York Giants
The Giants' prestige, rooted in four Super Bowl trophies, masks significant recent dysfunction. The franchise hasn't won the NFC East since its last championship in 2011 and has only two playoff appearances since. However, consecutive strong drafts have built a core of young talent, including 2025 first-round quarterback Jaxson Dart. The organization's stated desire to provide its next coach with a long runway, after cycling through four coaches in ten years, is a genuine selling point. The allure of coaching in New York and reviving a flagship franchise makes this a job candidates can talk themselves into.
2. Atlanta Falcons
This is arguably the most roster-ready job available. The Falcons possess obvious talent on both sides of the ball and play in the consistently weak NFC South. The organization also handled the search intelligently, not tying the new coach to a lame-duck general manager. The primary question mark is at quarterback, where Michael Penix Jr. faces another season-ending injury and veteran Kirk Cousins will be 38. While the quarterback situation is unsettled, the overall roster strength and divisional context make this a highly appealing opportunity for a coach confident in his ability to find a solution under center.
1. Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens' vacancy is the rare opening where a contender parts ways with its coach. Despite a disappointing season, this remains a rock-solid organization with a two-time MVP quarterback in Lamar Jackson, suggesting the team is still in its championship window. The chance to work for a stable front office and inherit a talented roster, all while following an 18-season tenure, makes this the premier destination on the market. For top candidates, the opportunity to win immediately in Baltimore will be impossible to top.
