The New Orleans Saints are heading into 2026 with a schedule that reads more like a coaching carousel than a typical NFL slate. With nine teams making head coaching changes this offseason, the Saints will face eight of them - a staggering number that could tilt the balance in their favor, depending on how things shake out.
Let’s break it down: the Saints’ schedule includes matchups against all three AFC North teams undergoing coaching changes. That’s already a rare alignment. Add in games against the Las Vegas Raiders, New York Giants, and Arizona Cardinals - all teams also replacing their head coaches - plus two divisional clashes with the Atlanta Falcons, and you’ve got eight games against teams in transition.
That’s over half of New Orleans’ schedule against opponents in the early stages of a rebuild or retool. In a league where continuity matters, that kind of turnover on the other sideline could be significant.
Coaching Turnover: A Double-Edged Sword
Facing teams with new head coaches might seem like a clear advantage - and in many cases, it can be. New systems, unfamiliar schemes, and the inevitable growing pains that come with a fresh regime can slow a team’s start. But not all coaching hires are created equal.
Take the Giants, for example. They’ve already landed John Harbaugh, and that’s not just a splash hire - it’s a statement.
Harbaugh brings instant credibility and a wealth of experience to a roster that has some pieces to work with. That’s a very different challenge than facing a first-time head coach learning on the fly.
This year’s hiring cycle isn’t exactly overflowing with hotshot coordinators ready to take the leap. Instead, we’re seeing more familiar names resurface.
Coaches like Brian Flores and Mike McCarthy are back in the conversation. Flores proved his defensive chops in Minnesota and has prior head coaching experience from his time in Miami.
McCarthy, meanwhile, took a year off after parting ways with Dallas, but his resume still includes a Super Bowl ring and multiple playoff appearances. Critics may question his ceiling, but there’s no denying he raises the floor for any team that brings him in.
Where the Saints Could Capitalize
Here’s where things could break New Orleans’ way. First-time head coaches often come with a learning curve.
We saw it last season with Kellen Moore. He had the Xs and Os, but the game management, the in-game adjustments - those things take time.
And during that adjustment period, teams like the Saints can pounce.
That’s not to say every new coach will struggle. Some hit the ground running. But the odds are, when nearly half your schedule is against teams navigating new systems, new locker room dynamics, and new leadership, you’re going to find opportunities to exploit.
And let’s not forget - the Saints aren’t exactly coming off a dominant season. They’re benefitting from a last-place schedule, which is how they ended up drawing matchups against teams like the Raiders, Giants, and Cardinals. But the combination of a softer schedule and coaching turnover across the board could give New Orleans a real shot to reset and rebound.
Don’t Count the Advantage Just Yet
Of course, there’s a flip side. The NFL is unpredictable.
A team with a new head coach can catch fire. A veteran coach can flop.
And by the time the Saints face some of these teams, there could be interim coaches in place or unexpected changes on the sidelines. Todd Bowles and Zac Taylor both survived this cycle, but job security in this league is paper-thin.
Things can change fast.
Still, on paper, the Saints are walking into a season where nearly half their opponents are hitting the reset button. That’s not just a scheduling quirk - it’s a potential competitive edge.
Whether they can take advantage of it will depend on their own internal progress. But the opportunity is right there.
In a league built on parity, sometimes the schedule gives you a break. The Saints just got one. Now it’s up to them to make it count.