May we have this dance?
After the first wave of coaching changes, seven NFL teams are left without a dance partner for the 2026 season. With only 32 of these head coaching jobs available in a given year, there will be no shortage of courting between coach and team as the offseason takes shape.
Offense has been all the rage in recent coaching cycles, with teams looking to hire the brightest offensive minds they can find.
Of course, that has led to a supply shortage. After all, that was bound to happen eventually when the likes of Kyle Shanahan, Sean McVay, Ben Johnson and others are running their teams. That lack of offensive-minded coaches has swung the pendulum back to the defensive side of the ball.
Football, like everything else in the world, is cyclical.
Instead, it will be a group headlined by coaches looking to graduate from ‘Coordinator University,’ and others hoping for a second chance. For the most part, it’s the league’s best defensive coordinators who are ready for their chance to run the show, with plenty of other candidates sprinkled in between.
Here’s a look at some of the top coaching candidates for the NFL in 2026.
Top NFL coaching candidates 2026
John Harbaugh, former Baltimore Ravens head coach
Harbaugh’s name is enough to make him the top candidate on the list of 2026 head coaching candidates. He hasn’t been to the mountaintop since Super Bowl 47, so it has been a while for the former Ravens coach. His recent playoff exits and failures with the Ravens in 2025 won’t be enough to derail his candidacy.
After 18 seasons in Baltimore, a fresh start might be a good thing for Harbaugh. The coach would instantly lend credibility to whichever team he joins, but the staff remains the most important thing for this CEO-style coach.
Kevin Stefanski, former Cleveland Browns head coach
A two-time coach of the year with the Browns is now on the open market. Think about that sequence of words.
The offensive-minded Stefanski never had the chance to coach a great offense in Cleveland and instead oversaw a team with a great defense. Stefanski might want to return to his roots with his next gig, which should come this offseason. Arguably the top coach on the market, the staff isn’t as big a deal for the former Browns’ leader, who brings his scheme with him.
Brian Flores, Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator
Flores is going to get a second chance at being a head coach. It comes down to fit, but it’s hard not to like what the defensive coordinator could bring to the table.
His Vikings’ defenses have stolen headlines for being among the league’s best in recent years, or at least one of the more aggressive units. His schemes are enough to put even the best quarterback’s brain in a blender. While things didn’t end well in Miami, someone will take a chance on Flores.
Jesse Minter, Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator
From the team that brought you Mike Macdonald, we introduce – Jesse Minter. The Chargers’ defensive coordinator is firmly on the radar for a head coaching gig during this cycle, and that should come as no surprise.
He is only 42 and brings close connections to the modern college game after making stops at Vanderbilt and Michigan. From a team-building standpoint, those are two key benefits. He comes from the Harbaugh coaching tree, having coached under both Jim and John. Minter is one of the better defensive minds on the market and it won’t be long before he gets his chance to lead a team.
Klint Kubiak, Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator
There isn’t a Ben Johnson-level offensive coordinator on the market this offseason, but Kubiak is likely the best for any team looking to travel down that same path. It’s easy to forget that Kubiak was quickly on the head coaching radar after how things started with the New Orleans Saints in 2024. Injuries eventually derailed that Saints’ season, but Kubiak is now back on the radar after coaching the third-highest scoring offense in the league this season.
Seattle took a big step forward in 2025, capturing the NFC’s No. 1 seed thanks in large part to the offense led by Sam Darnold and Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Kubiak comes from a coaching tree that includes his father, Gary, and Kyle Shanahan, who isn’t bad company to keep either. He could be the Kellen Moore of the 2026 coaching cycle.
Jeff Hafley, Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator
Hafley has all the experience in the world, except for an NFL head coaching job. He has been patrolling sidelines since 2001, bouncing around between the college and pro ranks. After serving as Boston College head coach from 2020 to 2023, Hafley wouldn’t be flying blind if he finally landed a seat in the big chair.
The current Packers’ defensive coordinator seems to have a good reputation around the league and has seemingly paid his dues. After coaching Micah Parsons and the Packers’ defense in 2025, he figures to have a good shot to put on a new logo in 2026.
Mike McCarthy, former Dallas Cowboys head coach
When it comes to retread candidates, McCarthy might as well be atop the list. He has a long record of proven success at the NFL level and, like Harbaugh, could bring some credibility to a team that desperately needs some. He isn’t the flashy name, but McCarthy did oversee a Cowboys’ offense that ranked top-five in points during three of his five seasons on the sideline.
The 62-year-old might not be in the mood for a rebuild though. However, if the right opportunity presents itself, McCarthy could easily end up back on the NFL sidelines next season.
Chris Shula, Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator
If there’s one thing the NFL likes, it’s history. Shula is the grandson of the winningest coach in NFL history, Don Shula, so the NFL connections run deep for the Rams’ defensive coordinator.
However, don’t discount Shula as a head coaching candidate because he has a famous family. The coach not only brings his defensive identity to the table, but also has access to the Sean McVay coaching tree. As one of the league’s top defensive coordinators, his potential staff would certainly be attractive to teams looking for a new head coach.
Vance Joseph, Denver Broncos defensive coordinator
Joseph coaches arguably the league’s best defense, which is enough to put him in consideration for a head-coaching opening. His track record speaks for itself, but that’s not all. Teams hire head coaches for many reasons – being a good leader is usually among them.
All you need to know about Joseph’s character is that he was once the head coach of the Denver Broncos and was fired in 2018 after two seasons. He would return to Denver as the team’s defensive coordinator in 2023, joining Sean Payton’s staff. There aren’t many people in the world who would return to their old employer to accept a demotion. Joseph not only has the results but the leadership to back it up. He should get another crack at being a head coach.
Kliff Kingsbury, former Washington Commanders offensive coordinator
The Commanders made some headlines on Jan. 6 when they opted to part ways with Kingsbury. Washington’s offensive coordinator during a magical 2024 season, Kingsbury’s return to the NFL sidelines was short-lived after a disappointing 2025 that was ravaged by injuries.
Kingsbury has prior NFL head-coaching experience and could be in line for a second chance to run the show. In a league starved for offensive-minded coaches, it’s not hard to believe he could be in high demand.