January 7, 2026
Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles said that he will return to the team for a fifth season in 2026, according to Rick Stroud of The Tampa Bay Times. Bowles won't be fired after the Bucs finished 8-9 in 2025 and outside of the playoff picture, but he did acknowledge that there will be some changes to the coaching staff going into next season. In his four seasons as the head coach in Tampa, Bowles has gone 35-33. He helped lead the team to three straight NFC South titles in his first three seasons at the helm. The Bucs started 6-2 this year before losing seven of their last nine games to miss out on the playoffs. Bowles' teams have finished under .500 twice, with his best season coming in 2024 with a 10-7 record. Team brass expressed frustration with Tampa's offense under offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard, so he could be on his way out.
--Keith HernandezSource: Tampa Bay Times - Rick Stroud
January 7, 2026
San Francisco 49ers quarterback
Brock Purdy was shut down in the regular-season finale by the Seattle Seahawks, throwing for a season-low 127 yards with one interception and his only game this season without a touchdown. Purdy suffered a stinger on the final play of the game, but he is not expected to miss any practice time and will be good to go for Sunday's Wild-Card game against the Philadelphia Eagles. The 26-year-old signal-caller had another strong season overall despite playing in only nine games due to an early-season turf-toe injury. He'll be in line for another challenging matchup against a stout Eagles defensive unit that ranks sixth in both dropback-success rate (40.7%) and dropback EPA (-0.109) over the final five weeks of the season.
--Kyle McCarthySource: RotoBaller
January 7, 2026
Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott said that quarterback
Josh Allen (foot) will be a full-go at Wednesday's practice, according to Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic. Allen took the first snap of the Week 18 regular-season finale against the New York Jets to extend his streak of consecutive starts to 127 regular-season games, and then the Bills pulled him from the game on Sunday. The 29-year-old dealt with a nagging foot injury late in the year, but it's nothing serious and won't keep him from playing in Sunday's Wild-Card playoff game on the road against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Allen finished the regular season as the top overall fantasy QB with 3,668 passing yards, 25 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions in 17 games. He added a league-high 579 rushing yards and a league-high 14 touchdowns on the ground to separate himself at the position. Allen has the most fantasy upside at QB for the Wild-Card round.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Joe Buscaglia
January 7, 2026
Former Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris has confirmed head-coaching interviews in the next week with the Arizona Cardinals, New York Giants, and Tennessee Titans, sources told Adam Schefter of ESPN. Despite the Falcons' turnaround late in the season -- they finished with a four-game winning streak -- Atlanta's brass chose to fire Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot on Sunday. In his two seasons with the Falcons, Morris went 16-18. Although the Falcons disappointed in his two years at the helm, Morris is still an attractive head-coaching candidate around the league, given his experience coaching both sides of the ball in his career. Morris won Super Bowl LVI with the Los Angeles Rams as their defensive coordinator, which catapulted him to the Falcons' head-coaching gig.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
January 7, 2026
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is optimistic about the team's future based on quarterback
Dak Prescott's impressive 2025 season. "I think I've seen Dak at the best he's ever been," Jones said. Prescott certainly had one of the best seasons of his 10-year NFL career, completing 67.3% of his 600 pass attempts for 4,552 yards, 30 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions in 17 starts. His 404 completions were a league-high, and he finished as the QB5 in terms of overall fantasy points. The 32-year-old veteran entered Week 18 action with the most passing yards, completions, and pass attempts in the NFL, but he wasn't able to add much to those totals after the Cowboys pulled him in a meaningless game. Dallas' failure to make the postseason this year shouldn't rest on the shoulders of Prescott and the offense. Going into 2026, he'll be a strong QB1 target if the Cowboys bring receiver
George Pickens back to work with
CeeDee Lamb.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN Dallas - Todd Archer
January 7, 2026
Indianapolis Colts quarterback
Riley Leonard was impressive in his first career start in the Week 18 regular-season finale against the Houston Texans, going 39-for-67 passing for 415 yards and two touchdowns, although he did throw three interceptions and lost a fumble. Leonard displayed second- and third-level touch and accuracy from the pocket, which was one of his biggest question marks coming into the NFL. Kevin Bowen of 107.5 The Fan thinks it's unfair to wonder if Leonard can be the next
Brock Purdy, but it's realistic to ask if he could be the team's long-term backup behind the oft-injured
Daniel Jones (Achilles). Bowen believes Leonard's performance against the top defense in the league in the regular-season finale proves that he should be considered as QB insurance for the Colts if they run it back with Jones in 2026.
--Keith HernandezSource: 107.5 The Fan - Kevin Bowen
January 7, 2026
Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy has head-coaching interviews lined up with the Tennessee Titans, Las Vegas Raiders, and Arizona Cardinals, sources told Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports. The former Chicago Bears head coach is viewed as a legitimate candidate for another head-coaching job this cycle. Nagy will interview with the Raiders and Titans on Thursday before meeting with Arizona on Friday. The 47-year-old was the Bears' head coach from 2018-21, going 34-31 with a division title and two playoff appearances. He was named AP Coach of the Year in 2018. Most of his career has come under the wing of future Hall of Famer Andy Reid. Titans general manager Mike Borgonzi worked with Nagy in KC before he was hired in Tennessee last year.
--Keith HernandezSource: FOX Sports - Jordan Schultz
January 7, 2026
The New York Giants are scheduled to interview Super Bowl-winning coach Mike McCarthy for their head-coaching job next Tuesday, sources told Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. McCarthy has a .608 career winning percentage, 12 playoff appearances in 18 seasons, and a strong quarterback development background. Pelissero writes that he's a "logical fit with
Jaxson Dart." At the top of the Giants' wish list is John Harbaugh, who was surprisingly fired by the Baltimore Ravens on Tuesday. Other candidates for the Giants' head-coaching job include Kevin Stefanski, Vance Joseph, and Lou Anarumo. The 62-year-old McCarthy won a Super Bowl with the Green Bay Packers in 2010, but he did not coach at all in 2024 after being fired by the Cowboys. During his 18 years as an NFL head coach, McCarthy has gone 174-112-2.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
January 7, 2026
The Baltimore Sun's Brian Wacker expects the Baltimore Ravens to look at former Washington Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury and Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter for their vacant head-coaching position after they fired John Harbaugh on Tuesday. One person in Baltimore's building told Wacker that the Ravens just needed a "reset" and not a complete "overhaul." Wacker also mentions Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula as a potential candidate for the opening in Baltimore. The Ravens are specifically looking for a new coach who will "invigorate" and get the most out of quarterback
Lamar Jackson, who just didn't look like himself in 2025. Among the three names that Wacker mentions, Kingsbury would be the most intriguing for his bright offensive approach and experience working with talented dual-threat QBs like Jackson.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Baltimore Sun - Brian Wacker
January 7, 2026
The Baltimore Ravens surprisingly fired long-time head coach John Harbaugh after 18 seasons at the helm on Tuesday, and they are looking for a new head coach who will "reach and "invigorate" quarterback
Lamar Jackson, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Baltimore wants to find someone who can get the "absolute most" out of Jackson going forward. The two-time MVP QB seemed disinterested during the 2025 season, but he also missed a few games with a hamstring injury and was constantly listed on the injury report with nagging lower-body injuries. The 28-year-old dual-threat QB also missed a game late in the year with a back contusion. There were reports of a rift between Jackson and Harbaugh this year, and there were even rumors that Jackson could be traded in the offseason. With Harbaugh now out in Baltimore, it appears that the Ravens are moving forward with the plan to keep Jackson as the face of the franchise.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
January 7, 2026
When asked if
Tyler Shough is the team's starting quarterback going forward in 2026, New Orleans Saints head coach Kellen Moore said, "Yeah, we feel great about Tyler." Shough continued to get better in his first NFL season and went 23-for-35 passing for 259 yards, one touchdown, and one interception in the regular-season finale against the Atlanta Falcons, adding 34 rushing yards and another score on the ground. The 26-year-old second-rounder out of Louisville completed 67.6% of his 327 pass attempts in 11 games played (nine starts) for 2,384 yards, 10 touchdowns, and six interceptions. Shough added 45 carries for another 186 rushing yards and three touchdowns. At the very least, Shough cemented himself as New Orleans' starting QB going into the 2026 season, and he should profile as a solid QB2 in superflex leagues and a nice backup with upside in single-QB formats.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Erin Summers
January 7, 2026
University of Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson has declared for the 2026 NFL Draft, per Pete Nakos of On3 Sports. Simpson has a chance to be selected in the first round as one of the first quarterbacks off the board. Across 15 games for the Crimson Tide in 2025, Simpson completed 64.5% of his pass attempts for 3,567 yards, 28 touchdowns, and five interceptions. He spent four years at Alabama, but did not earn significant playing time until his redshirt Junior season. Simpson, who will turn 24 years old in December of his rookie year, should be on the radar of fantasy managers in both redraft and dynasty leagues. While he's not guaranteed to land a starting NFL job right away, there appears to be a solid chance that Simpson will have an opportunity to start games early in his NFL career.
--Will BradySource: On3 Sports - Pete Nakos
January 7, 2026
Chicago Bears quarterback
Caleb Williams finished the 2025 regular season as the QB5 for the year under first-year head coach Ben Johsnon. He completed 330 of 568 (58%) for 3,942 yards and a 27:7 TD: INT ratio. From a fantasy standpoint, he also contributed 383 rushing yards and three touchdowns, giving him a solid rushing floor. Although there were some lower moments on the season where he scored 12 or fewer fantasy points in three of his 17 contests, for the most part, Williams was a solid fantasy option, and should continue to be so in the playoffs. The Bears take on division opponent, the Green Bay Packers, in round one, who struggled to stay healthy down the stretch and have a very beatable defense after losing Micah Parsons (knee) for the season. This will be Williams' first career playoff start, and the Bears are currently underdogs(+1) to the Packers at home, so there is some risk for Fantasy managers in playoff leagues. However, if the Bears do make a run, it will likely be because the second-year signal-caller is performing at an elite level, making him a solid fantasy option for the playoffs.
--Nicho RoesslerSource: RotoBaller
January 6, 2026
The Las Vegas Raiders requested an interview with Denver Broncos quarterbacks coach
Davis Webb for their head-coaching job, sources told Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. Webb is only 30 years old and spent six years as an NFL QB before going straight into coaching. Pelissero thinks Webb is a "fascinating candidate" who "has been on the fast track." After firing veteran head coach Pete Carroll on Black Monday, minority owner
Tom Brady and general manager John Spytek might be going the unconventional approach to hiring their next head coach, especially since they are expected to draft Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick in April. Webb has worked with
Russell Wilson (one season) and
Bo Nix in his three years in Denver. This will be his first head-coaching interview. The Raiders are also expected to interview Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak for the position.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
January 6, 2026
Across 16 games played in 2025, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback
Aaron Rodgers completed 65.7% of his pass attempts for 3,322 yards, 24 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. Rodgers delivered a bit of a vintage performance in Week 18 to help power Pittsburgh into the playoffs, completing 31 of 47 pass attempts for 294 yards and a touchdown in a win over the Baltimore Ravens. Entering Wild Card Weekend, Rodgers will get some much-needed pass-catching help in the form of wide receiver
D.K. Metcalf, who missed the final two games of the regular season due to a suspension. However, Rodgers will face one of the league's best defenses in the Houston Texans in the first round of the AFC playoffs. In the regular season, Houston ranked seventh among NFL defenses in both passing yards (3,486) and passing touchdowns (20) allowed. Rodgers has played some of his best football of the season in recent weeks, but fantasy managers in playoff leagues may want to be cautious given his matchup against Houston.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
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