This NFL offseason has turned into one of the most chaotic coaching carousels we've seen in years. Ten head coaching jobs opened up - two during the season and eight more after the regular season wrapped - tying the all-time record for most vacancies in a single offseason. Among the openings: two playoff teams, two franchises with MVP-caliber quarterbacks, and even one club known for its historical coaching stability.
And that’s just the head jobs. Coordinator spots are also in flux across the league, with more likely to open depending on how the remaining head coaching hires shake out.
Let’s take a look at where things stand right now - who’s come out ahead, who’s stumbled, and which teams are still trying to stick the landing.
Winner: New York Giants
The Giants didn’t wait around. They zeroed in on their top target and got their man - John Harbaugh - locking him in on a five-year deal before he could even sit down with the Titans or Falcons. That’s the kind of decisive move this franchise has sorely lacked in recent years.
Harbaugh brings instant credibility. He’s a proven winner with a Super Bowl ring and a track record of building strong, disciplined teams.
For a Giants organization that’s been spinning its wheels through a carousel of coaches and false starts, this hire signals a much-needed reset. Even more promising: Harbaugh is expected to bring a high-level staff with him, which should help stabilize a locker room that’s been anything but steady.
Loser: Buffalo Bills
The Bills’ decision to part ways with Sean McDermott after their playoff loss to the Broncos wasn’t entirely shocking. Nine seasons is a long run in today’s NFL, and after seven years with Josh Allen at quarterback, the Super Bowl window still feels more like a cracked pane than an open door.
But it’s what happened next that raises eyebrows. Instead of a clean break, the Bills doubled down by giving general manager Brandon Beane even more power - despite the fact that the roster has regressed in key areas over the past few seasons. Then came the press conference, which only muddied the waters further, with Beane and owner Terry Pegula offering more confusion than clarity.
To make matters worse, this isn’t exactly a loaded coaching cycle. With so many openings and limited top-tier candidates, Buffalo’s timing might be as questionable as the decision itself.
Winner: Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers are making moves - smart ones. They’re expected to bring in Mike McDaniel as their offensive coordinator, and from a schematic standpoint, it’s a slam dunk.
McDaniel has already proven he can design an elite offense, even with a quarterback like Tua Tagovailoa, whose physical tools don’t exactly jump off the page. Now imagine what he can do with a more physically gifted signal-caller at his disposal. His ability to scheme receivers open, create yards after the catch, and build a creative run game could be exactly what this offense needs.
Pairing McDaniel with head coach Jim Harbaugh might raise a few eyebrows personality-wise, but on the field? It’s a near-perfect fit.
The Chargers’ offense has been stuck in neutral for too long. This could be the move that finally gets it into high gear.
Loser: Cleveland Browns (for now)
The Browns are still in the middle of their search, but so far, it hasn’t exactly inspired confidence. They moved on from Kevin Stefanski - who quickly landed what many see as a better gig in Atlanta - and have cycled through a second round of interviews with names like Todd Monken, Jim Schwartz, Jesse Minter, Grant Udinski, and Nate Scheelhaase.
There’s still time for Cleveland to make a strong hire, and if they do, this narrative could flip. But right now, the optics aren’t great.
McDaniel, one of the most sought-after offensive minds on the market, pulled out of the running before signing on as a coordinator elsewhere. Meanwhile, other jobs are getting filled, and the Browns’ vacancy is starting to slide down the priority list for top candidates.
Winner: Tennessee Titans (sort of)
Tennessee made a bold move, hiring Robert Saleh as their next head coach. And while Saleh’s stint with the Jets didn’t produce many wins, it’s hard to pin that entirely on him - especially given the quarterback chaos he had to navigate.
What Saleh did do was build one of the league’s best defenses, and that’s no small feat. If the Titans believe they’ve found their quarterback in Cam Ward, then Saleh could be walking into a much more stable situation this time around.
Also worth noting: the Titans didn’t hire Matt Nagy, despite heavy speculation due to his ties with GM Mike Borgonzi. Given Nagy’s underwhelming track record in Chicago and the Chiefs’ offensive dip since his return to Kansas City, avoiding that hire might be a win in itself.
Loser: Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins let Mike McDaniel walk - and he instantly became one of the hottest names on the market. He’s been in the mix for multiple head coaching gigs and is widely expected to land a top offensive coordinator job. That’s a tough loss for a team that had one of the most creative offenses in the league under his watch.
Rumors swirled that Miami was aiming for John Harbaugh, but he clearly had other plans. Instead, the Dolphins brought in Jon-Eric Sullivan and Jeff Hafley from Green Bay to serve as general manager and head coach, respectively.
Hafley is a respected defensive mind, but his head coaching resume - a 22-26 record at Boston College - doesn’t exactly scream “home run.” His Packers defense started strong but faded late in the season, which raises questions about whether this hire moves the needle for a franchise still searching for postseason consistency.
With several jobs still open and dominoes yet to fall, this coaching cycle is far from over. But one thing’s clear: the decisions being made right now will shape the next few years across the league.
Some teams are already setting themselves up for success. Others?
Still trying to find their footing.