January 13, 2026
Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter has head-coaching interview requests from the Cleveland Browns, Arizona Cardinals, Miami Dolphins, Atlanta Falcons, New York Giants, Las Vegas Raiders, Baltimore Ravens, and Tennessee Titans, a source told Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated. Minter will interview with the Titans and Cardinals on Tuesday. The Pittsburgh Steelers now have an opening as well after Mike Tomlin stepped down on Tuesday, but it's unclear if they'll have interest in Minter for that job. Minter's defense in L.A. helped lead the team to the postseason for the second straight year, but they fell 16-3 to the New England Patriots on Wild-Card weekend on Sunday night. Due to his strong work with the Chargers' defense the last couple of seasons, Minter has become one of the most popular head-coaching candidates this cycle.
--Keith HernandezSource: Sports Illustrated - Albert Breer
January 13, 2026
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin informed the team on Tuesday that he is stepping down after a historic 19-year run with the organization, sources tell ESPN's Adam Schefter. The Steelers will now be searching for only their fourth head coach since 1969. The 53-year-old had an extremely successful run as the Steelers' head coach, which included a Super Bowl championship at the end of the 2008 season. He never had a losing season in his 19 years with the team, but fans had been growing impatient with Tomlin's lack of recent playoff success, which continued in Monday night's Wild-Card loss to the Houston Texans. Because of his success in the last two decades, Tomlin should have no problem finding another head-coaching job if that's what he's searching for. In addition to needing a new head coach, the Steelers could be looking for a new quarterback as well if
Aaron Rodgers decides to retire.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
January 13, 2026
Former Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski is interviewing in person for the Miami Dolphins' head-coaching job on Tuesday, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. Stefanski, who is a two-time NFL Coach of the Year, has already interviewed for head-coaching jobs with the Tennessee Titans, New York Giants, Atlanta Falcons, and Baltimore Ravens. He's one of the hottest head-coaching candidates this cycle after the Browns fired him after six seasons in Cleveland. From 2020-25, Stefanski went 45-46 with the Browns. He's known as one of the brightest offensive minds in the game, but he'd have a lot of work to do if he's hired in Miami. Not only has their offense cratered the last two seasons, but they could be moving on from former first-round quarterback
Tua Tagovailoa this offseason.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
January 13, 2026
Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio writes that it's hard to imagine Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin not coaching in 2026 after another early playoff exit in Monday night's 30-6 Wild-Card round loss to the Houston Texans. "I'm not even in that mindset as I sit here tonight," Tomlin said. "I'm more in the mindset of what transpired in this stadium, and certainly what we did and didn't do. Not a big-picture mentality as I sit here tonight." If Tomlin were to coach for a different team, it would likely require a trade, unless the Steelers let him walk without compensation in honor of the 19 years he's given to the organization. The question for now is whether Tomlin wants to come back to the Steel City for a 20th year. Tomlin, 53, has been coaching since the mid-90s, and he's won 63% of his games in his tenure with the Steelers.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Talk - Mike Florio
January 13, 2026
Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken will interview in person for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' offensive-coordinator opening on Wednesday in Tampa, according to Greg Auman of FOX Sports. Monken is a former Buccaneers assistant who worked with quarterback
Baker Mayfield for one year with the Cleveland Browns. Monken will almost certainly leave Baltimore after the Ravens fired long-time head coach John Harbaugh last week. Reports suggested that Monken could follow Harbaugh to his next destination and serve as his OC again, but that remains to be seen. Monken is drawing some consideration for open head-coaching jobs around the league, as he already met with the Cleveland Browns. Tampa fired OC Josh Grizzard and are looking for their fifth OC in the last five years. Hiring Monken to run the offense would be great news for Mayfield.
--Keith HernandezSource: FOX Sports - Greg Auman
January 13, 2026
The Tennessee Titans will interview former New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll for their open head-coaching job on Friday, sources told Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports. It's the first known head-coaching interview for Daboll this cycle. Daboll was fired by the Giants in the middle of the 2025 season after going 20-40-1 over three-plus seasons in the Big Apple. In his first year as the head coach, the Giants went 9-7-1, made the playoffs, and even won a postseason game. However, Daboll then posted records of 6-11, 3-14, and 2-8 in the three years that followed. He'll be more of a long shot to get the Titans' head-coaching job, but it wouldn't be a surprise to see Daboll resurface in the NFL in 2026 as an offensive coordinator somewhere.
--Keith HernandezSource: FOX Sports - Jordan Schultz
January 12, 2026
The Atlanta Falcons interviewed former Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh for their head-coaching position on Monday, according to Tori McElhaney of AtlantaFalcons.com. The Falcons are looking for both a head coach and a new general manager after firing Raheem Morris and Terry Fontenot, respectively, following the 2025 season. Reports suggest that Harbaugh could be down to the Falcons and New York Giants as he searches for a new head-coaching gig. Because Atlanta could let Harbaugh in on the decision to hire a new GM, it could be more attractive than the Giants' job. He was with Baltimore for 18 years from 2008-25 and helped take the Ravens to 12 playoff appearances, including four AFC Championship appearances and a Super Bowl win. The Falcons' quarterback situation is unsettled, but they have nice building blocks on offense in running back
Bijan Robinson, receiver
Drake London, and tight end
Kyle Pitts Sr.--Keith HernandezSource: AtlantaFalcons.com - Tori McElhaney
January 12, 2026
Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott said on Monday that kicker
Matt Prater (quadriceps) "is in a good spot" going into the Divisional Round of the playoffs this Saturday against the Denver Broncos, according to The Buffalo News' Katherine Fitzgerald. Prater will have a similar practice schedule to last week, but he might do more this week. The 41-year-old veteran placekicker kicked field goals and extra points in Sunday's Wild-Card win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, but he was not available for kickoffs. Prater aggravated a right-quad injury in the Week 18 regular-season finale against the New York Jets, but he was able to play on Sunday against the Jags and made both his field-goal attempts (one from 50-plus yards) and all three of his extra points. Prater will have the altitude on his side in Denver this weekend, making him slightly more attractive to fantasy managers.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Buffalo News - Katherine Fitzgerald
January 12, 2026
The Cleveland Browns requested an interview with Jacksonville Jaguars offensive coordinator Grant Udinski for their head-coaching job, a source told NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. Udinski is only 30 years old but has been rapidly rising through the coaching ranks at the NFL level. He will get his first look for a head-coaching job with Cleveland, which is looking to replace Kevin Stefanski. Udinski just completed his first year as Jacksonville's OC after the team lost to the Buffalo Bills in the Wild-Card round of the playoffs on Sunday. The 30-year-old did not call plays for the Jaguars offense in 2025. Udinski began his NFL coaching career as an assistant with the Carolina Panthers from 2020-21 before joining the Minnesota Vikings' staff in 2022 under head coach Kevin O'Connell. With no play-calling experience yet, Udinski is probably a long shot to land the Browns' job.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
January 12, 2026
The Baltimore Ravens have requested an interview with Cleveland Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz for their head-coaching job, a source told Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. Schwartz has also interviewed for the Browns' head-coaching job, and Cleveland doesn't want to lose him after they fired former head coach Kevin Stefanski. Schwartz was hired by the Browns as their DC back in 2023, and he's been responsible for an elite defensive unit the last couple of years. In addition to being one of the brightest defensive minds in the game, the 59-year-old has previous head-coaching experience. Schwartz was the Detroit Lions' head coach from 2009-13, going 29-52 with one playoff appearance in 2011, three seasons after they were the first team in NFL history to go 0-16. His defense in Cleveland led the NFL in total defense in 2023 and was ranked fourth in 2025.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
January 12, 2026
The Las Vegas Raiders are requesting to interview Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter for their head-coaching job, a source told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. The Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, and Tennessee Titans are other teams that have already requested to interview Minter for their vacant head-coaching positions. In addition to Minter, the Raiders have also requested interviews with Vance Joseph, Klint Kubiak,
Davis Webb, Matt Nagy, Kevin Stefanski, Jeff Hafley, Nate Scheelhaase, Mike LaFleur, Chris Shula, and Ejiro Evero. Minter has been the Chargers' DC for the last two years, and he has six seasons of NFL coaching experience. He could be a favorite to take over for John Harbaugh in Baltimore, where Minter was an assistant coach for four seasons. In Vegas, Minter would be taking over for Pete Carroll, who lasted just one season.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
January 12, 2026
There is a belief among other coaching candidates that it will be either the New York Giants or Atlanta Falcons for former Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh, according to Connor Hughes of SNY. The loser of the Harbaugh sweepstakes is expected to land former Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski. The Giants are "all-in" on Harbaugh as the culture-first leader the team is seeking with a proven track record. Harbaugh reportedly values the Giants' opening because of the franchise's history and quarterback
Jaxson Dart, but New York has stiff competition around the league. The Falcons could offer Harbaugh influence over the choice of general manager, which is something the Giants are not currently willing to entertain. The Miami Dolphins are also a strong suitor for Harbaugh, but they have already hired a new GM with no real ties to the former Ravens coach.
--Keith HernandezSource: SNY - Connor Hughes
January 11, 2026
Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur's future with the organization is in question after losing to the division-rival Chicago Bears in the Wild-Card round of this year's postseason, according to Ryan Wood of the Green Bay Press-Gazette. Packers president Ed Policy must decide if the team will give LaFleur a contract extension, or if they will be looking for a new head coach this offseason. The least likely option is for the Packers to retain LaFleur for the final year of his contract in 2026. LaFleur said "of course" his preference would be to remain with the team. If LaFleur were to be fired, he'd instantly become one of the top candidates on the market for another head-coaching job, along with Baltimore Ravens former head coach John Harbaugh. In his seven seasons with the Packers, LaFleur has gone 76-41. If Green Bay has a head-coaching vacancy, it will be one of the most coveted positions with a roster already built for Super Bowl contention.
--Keith HernandezSource: Green Bay Press-Gazette - Ryan Wood
January 11, 2026
If the Green Bay Packers decide to go in a different direction without head coach Matt LaFleur after losing the Wild-Card game on Saturday night against the division-rival Chicago Bears, many people around the league are wondering if they will vault to the top of former Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh's list of openings this offseason, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Reports suggested on Saturday that the Packers are expected to discuss a contract extension with LaFleur, who is under contract through the 2026 season, this offseason. He has gone 79-46-1 in his seven seasons at the helm in Green Bay, but the Packers' brass could be rethinking things after a tough loss in Chicago on Saturday. Harbaugh is from the Midwest, and his agent, Bryan Harlan, is the son of a former Packers president. The Giants and Dolphins are considered the top potential landing spots for Harbaugh right now, but that could change if LaFleur is fired.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
January 11, 2026
The Cleveland Browns have requested to interview Los Angeles Rams passing-game specialist Nate Scheelhaase for their head-coaching job, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Scheelhaase is an up-and-coming name in the coaching ranks as one of head coach Sean McVay's assistants. Before being promoted to passing-game coordinator in 2025, he was a passing-game specialist and offensive assistant in L.A. Scheelhaase played quarterback for Illinois from 2009-13 before coaching football for the last decade. The Browns have already interviewed offensive coordinator Tommy Rees, Bengals OC Dan Pitcher, OC Todd Monken, defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, and Seahawks DC Aden Durde for the head-coaching job. Chargers DC Jesse Minter is another candidate that Cleveland is looking at to replace Kevin Stefanski, who was the Browns' head coach for the last six years before being fired this week.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
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