With just five games left in the 2025 NFL regular season, the league is inching toward that inevitable reckoning known as Black Monday - the day after Week 18 when underperforming coaches and executives often find themselves out of a job. It’s one of the harshest realities of the NFL: job security is fleeting, and success is never guaranteed.
The Tennessee Titans and New York Giants have already made their moves, parting ways with their head coaches. And they likely won’t be the last.
As the coaching carousel starts to spin, several names are already surfacing as potential departures - and a few intriguing replacements are waiting in the wings. Let’s break down which coaches are on the hot seat and why they could be looking for new opportunities come January.
Pete Carroll - Las Vegas Raiders
Pete Carroll’s return to the NFL has not gone according to plan. The Raiders brought him in hoping to inject a winning culture and stability, but at 2-10, this team looks lost.
The Geno Smith reunion hasn’t sparked much of anything, and the overall product on the field has been uninspiring. There’s talent on this roster - enough to be competitive - but the results just haven’t followed.
Carroll is a Hall of Famer in waiting, a Super Bowl champion, and a coach who helped define an era in Seattle. But this Vegas stint feels like a misfire.
Sometimes, even the greats reach a point where the message doesn’t land the same way. If the Raiders are serious about building something sustainable, they may need a new voice to guide them forward.
Potential Replacement to Watch: Klint Kubiak, OC - Seattle Seahawks Kubiak is one of the more intriguing young offensive minds in the game. If Vegas is eyeing the 2026 quarterback class, pairing a rookie with a creative, QB-friendly coach like Kubiak could be a smart long-term play.
Raheem Morris - Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons looked like a team on the rise early in the 2024 season, starting 6-3. Since then?
Just six wins total. The wheels have come off, and the latest low point - a brutal loss to the Jets - only adds to the pressure on Raheem Morris and GM Terry Fontenot.
The defense has shown flashes, especially in the pass rush department, but the offense has been erratic at best and the special teams have been a mess. Atlanta’s gamble at quarterback hasn’t paid off, and that decision may ultimately define this regime. Unless owner Arthur Blank wants to give this leadership group one more shot, change feels inevitable.
Potential Replacement to Watch: Mike McCarthy, Former HC - Packers, Cowboys McCarthy may not be the flashiest name, but he brings a resume full of playoff appearances and a Super Bowl ring. If the Falcons want to avoid a full rebuild and instead stabilize the ship, McCarthy could be the kind of veteran presence to do it.
Jonathan Gannon - Arizona Cardinals
Year three under Gannon has been, to put it bluntly, a disaster. After a promising 2-0 start, the Cardinals have managed just one win since Week 2. Kyler Murray’s absence has loomed large, and while Jacoby Brissett has done what he can, the rest of the team simply hasn’t followed suit.
Arizona’s front office may decide it’s time for a reset - and Gannon could be the fall guy for another disappointing campaign. The Cardinals have pieces, but they’re not putting them together. If the organization wants to salvage Murray’s career or move on with a new quarterback in 2026, they may want someone new calling the shots.
Potential Replacement to Watch: Kevin Stefanski, Current HC - Cleveland Browns If Stefanski becomes available, Arizona could be a fascinating landing spot.
He’s shown he can build a functional offense under difficult circumstances. If Murray stays, Stefanski might be the guy to get the most out of him.
Kevin Stefanski - Cleveland Browns
Stefanski has two Coach of the Year awards on his shelf, but recent seasons haven’t lived up to that standard. The Browns’ offense has lacked identity and rhythm, and quarterback instability has been a constant thorn in the side of the franchise.
Cleveland seems poised for a high draft pick in 2026, and that could mean a fresh start - both under center and on the sidelines. Stefanski won’t be unemployed for long if he’s let go. But unless the Browns believe he’s just a quarterback away from righting the ship, they may look to reset the entire operation.
Potential Replacement to Watch: Todd Monken, OC - Baltimore Ravens Monken is one of the most respected offensive minds in the league. If Cleveland is ready to hit the reset button on its offense, Monken could be the perfect architect to design a new system - especially if a rookie quarterback is in the cards.
Zac Taylor - Cincinnati Bengals
Zac Taylor’s seat is getting warmer - and not just because Joe Burrow has missed time. Yes, losing your franchise quarterback is a massive blow, but the Bengals’ defense has been a major disappointment, and the team hasn’t looked sharp in other phases either.
If Cincinnati misses the playoffs for a second straight season, questions about Taylor’s long-term future will grow louder. The Bengals have one of the most talented offensive cores in the league, and if ownership thinks someone else could maximize it, they might make a bold move.
Potential Replacement to Watch: Joe Brady, OC - Buffalo Bills Brady helped engineer one of the most explosive offenses in college football history with Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase at LSU.
A reunion in Cincinnati? That’s the kind of storyline that writes itself - and could give the Bengals a jolt of creativity on offense.
Mike Tomlin - Pittsburgh Steelers
Mike Tomlin is one of the most respected coaches in NFL history. The Steelers haven’t had a losing season under him, and the franchise has only had three head coaches since 1969. But even legends hit crossroads.
Pittsburgh is 6-6, and while that’s not disastrous, the team feels stuck. The defense remains solid, but the offense has been middling for years, and the overall trajectory feels flat. Tomlin may not be fired - that’s not how the Steelers operate - but he could choose to step away or take a break if things don’t improve.
Potential Replacement to Watch: Jesse Minter, DC - Michigan Wolverines Minter is a rising star in coaching circles, known for his sharp defensive schemes and leadership. If the Steelers want to maintain their defensive identity while injecting new energy into the organization, Minter would be a compelling choice.
Final Thoughts
The NFL coaching landscape is always evolving, and with five weeks left, the pressure is only going to intensify. For some teams, a change is necessary.
For others, it might be a matter of timing. But one thing’s for sure: the 2026 coaching carousel is already starting to spin - and the decisions made in the next few weeks will shape the league for years to come.