The Tale of 9 NFL Head Coach Vacancies

What Jobs are Open?

With the resignation of Mike Tomlin in Pittsburgh there are now 9 open head coaching jobs currently vacant. The Steelers join the likes of the Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, Las Vegas Raiders, Miami Dolphins, New York Giants, and Tennessee Titans. There are plenty of very well rounded candidates out there and though many interviews have taken place, not one team has yet to fill their head coaching job.

Who are the Top Candidates?

There are an abundance of very qualified candidates out there this cycle to choose from including multiple former head coaches.

John Harbaugh was fired over the phone after his 18th season as the head coach of the Baltimore Ravens. He is seen as the most sought after candidate this cycle. Experts close to Harbaugh say that he is most likely to end up with either the Falcons or the Giants. Though he could shock the world with the Cleveland Browns or Pittsburgh Steelers, that is of course if he wanted to ensure he played the Ravens twice a year.

Mike Tomlin resigned from the Pittsburgh Steelers after his 19th season as the head coach. Tomlin is the king of mediocre, he never finished with a losing record but he hadn't won a playoff game in 10 years. There is a lot of speculation on whether Tomlin will seek another head coaching job this cycle or take a couple years off. If he does decide to return he will be a top candidate for many teams.

Mike McDaniel and Kevin Stefanski were both fired from their head coaching by their respective teams this offseason, but are still high quality candidates for a head coaching position this cycle. Stefanski won Coach of the Year in 2022 leading the Browns to their first playoff win in over 20 years. McDaniels led the Dolphins to the playoffs 2 out of his 4 years at the helm.

Jason Garrett and Mike McCarthy, both former head coaches of the Dallas Cowboys, have interviewed for vacancies across the league. Both are veteran coaches with multiple playoff wins under their belt. Garrett has been a commentator since 2022 which would make for an interesting return. McCarthy, a former Super Bowl Champion, has already interviewed with the Giants and Titans.

Kliff Kingsbury, Matt Nagy, Robert Salah, Brian Flores, Raheem Morris, Vance Joseph, and Brian Daboll all have prior head coaching experience that make them potential candidates for this hiring cycle. Many with little success under their belt, but that's what second chances are for.

Mike LaFleur, Klint Kubiak, Todd Monken, Dan Pitcher, Tommy Rees, and Mike Kafka are all offensive coordinators looking to throw their hat in the ring for a chance at being the head coach. Many of these coaches are under the age of 40 looking to bring a fresh prospective to the game.

Chris Shula, Jeff Hafley, Vance Joseph, Jesse Minter, Lou Anarumo, and Anthony Weaver are all defensive coordinators hoping for their chance next season. Multiple teams such as the Steelers have a history of being a defensive minded team which would make one of these coaches a great choice.

Who has the best job?

The Baltimore Ravens have best job available right now according to just about everyone. Their roster is loaded with talent and stability, while the team and ownership have a history of year over year success. 3 out of the 4 teams in the AFC North are currently without a head coach the division would be a fresh start.

The New York Giants are also a promising job opportunity due to the fresh young roster with quarterback Jaxson Dart and running back Cam Skattebo returning next year. The Giants are also known for giving their coaches time to build the team and not see success from game one.

The Pittsburgh Steelers is probably the most unique vacancy across the league right now. The organization has only had 3 head coaches since 1969 and are known to have a very loyal ownership team. The Steelers defense is one of the best in the country though the uncertainty of what there will be for offense next year may deter some candidates.

Our Predictions

Arizona Cardinals: Jesse Minter

Atlanta Falcons: Klint Kubiak

Baltimore Ravens: Kevin Stefanski

Cleveland Browns: Mike McDaniel

Las Vegas Raiders: Mike LaFleur

Miami Dolphins: Chris Shula

New York Giants: John Harbaugh

Pittsburgh Steelers: Arther Smith

Tennessee Titans: Mike McCarthy

Only time will tell on who goes where, and it does not seem like any teams are in much of a rush. With so many firings this year, now more than ever, teams understand the importance of picking the right guy.