With the final two head coaching vacancies now officially filled in Las Vegas and Arizona, all 10 NFL head coaching jobs for the 2026 season are locked in. That’s a massive shake-up, even by NFL standards.
Typically, we see about five to seven openings in a given offseason. Hitting double digits?
That’s rare air - and it speaks volumes about how many franchises felt the need to hit the reset button.
Nearly a third of the league will have a new face leading the locker room this fall, which is a staggering amount of turnover. And this wasn’t just about struggling teams cleaning house - even long-tenured, respected coaches like Mike Tomlin and John Harbaugh are out.
This year’s coaching carousel wasn’t just busy. It was seismic.
So now that the dust has settled, it’s time to take a closer look at how these hires stack up. We’re ranking all 10 based on projected 2026 success and how well each hire fits the identity and needs of the franchise.
Let’s dive in, starting at No. 10.
10. Mike LaFleur - Arizona Cardinals
Mike LaFleur is officially getting his shot at a head coaching gig, but it comes in one of the NFL’s most challenging situations. The Arizona Cardinals are in full rebuild mode, and LaFleur steps into a job that comes with more questions than answers - starting with the future of quarterback Kyler Murray.
LaFleur, the younger brother of Packers head coach Matt LaFleur, has carved out a solid reputation as an offensive mind. He’s worked under some of the brightest offensive coaches in the league and brings that pedigree to the desert. But pedigree only gets you so far when the roster is this unsettled.
The NFC West is no cakewalk either - it might be the most competitive division in football right now. Arizona was the last team to fill its vacancy, and it’s fair to wonder whether other candidates passed on the opportunity.
That’s not a knock on LaFleur, but rather a reflection of how steep the climb is in Arizona. He’ll need time, patience, and serious front-office alignment to turn this around.
9. Jeff Hafley - Miami Dolphins
Miami made a bold move by parting ways with Mike McDaniel after four seasons, two playoff appearances, and zero postseason wins. In his place, the Dolphins have turned to Jeff Hafley - a defensive-minded coach who spent the last two years as the Green Bay Packers’ defensive coordinator.
Hafley’s résumé is a bit of a mixed bag. His college stint at Boston College (22-26 from 2020-2023) didn’t exactly scream “future NFL head coach,” but his work in Green Bay was solid. That said, the Packers’ defense had plenty of talent to work with, and it's hard to say how much of their success was coaching versus personnel.
This hire signals a clear philosophical shift for Miami - going from an offensive innovator in McDaniel to a defense-first coach in Hafley. The question is whether that’s the right pivot, especially with a roster that’s been built around speed and explosiveness on offense. Hafley will need to find a way to keep that identity intact while tightening things up on the defensive side.
There’s potential here, but it feels like a gamble - one that will require Hafley to prove quickly that he can lead a team, not just coordinate one.