The 2026 coaching carousel was a whirlwind, with ten teams on the hunt for new head coaches. It was a season of high stakes and even higher hopes, as numerous candidates vied for top spots.
While some, like Brian Daboll and Mike McDaniel, found themselves stepping into coordinator roles, others swiftly secured head-coaching gigs. Teams like the New York Giants, Baltimore Ravens, and potentially the Las Vegas Raiders are poised for a resurgence in 2026, thanks to these pivotal coaching shifts.
The landscape of new coaching appointments has created a mix of promising opportunities and challenging rebuilds. As we look ahead, one name stands out in the race for Coach of the Year: John Harbaugh.
Oddsmakers have pegged him as the frontrunner with odds of +500. Harbaugh's five-year, $100 million deal with the New York Giants is making waves, and for good reason.
Jesse Minter, stepping into Harbaugh's shoes in Baltimore, is also in the mix with odds of +800. Joining the list of contenders are the Titans’ Robert Saleh (+1000), the Saints’ Kellen Moore (+1200), the Bills’ Joe Brady (+1200), and the Steelers’ Mike McCarthy (+1200).
Harbaugh’s arrival in New York has injected a fresh sense of optimism among Giants fans. While there are still gaps in the roster, his strategic approach is fueling hopes for a brighter future. The stage is set for an exciting season, and if these coaching moves pay off, we could witness some remarkable turnarounds.