NFL Head Coaching Carousel 2026: NFL Vacancies and Predictions

NFL Head Coaching Carousel 2026: NFL Vacancies and Predictions

Following a wave of Black Monday firings, the NFL coaching carousel is about to heat up. With several head coaching vacancies expected to open, this offseason should be especially intriguing for coaches across the league.

Online sportsbooks have released updated odds for the next NFL head coaches, making now an ideal time to evaluate the latest numbers.  Explore the most recent coaching carousel news and my 2026 NFL head coach predictions for how the open positions around the league might be filled.

The following next NFL coach odds are courtesy of BetOnline:

TEAM FORMER COACH FAVORED REPLACEMENT
Arizona Cardinals Jonathan Cannon Vance Joseph (+225)
Las Vegas Raiders Pete Carroll Brian Flores (+150)
Miami Dolphins Mike McDaniel John Harbaugh (+125)
New York Giants Brian Daboll Kevin Stefanski (+110)
Atlanta Falcons Raheem Morris Kevin Stefanski (+200)
Cleveland Browns Kevin Stefanski Jim Schwartz (+250)
Tennessee Titans Brian Callahan Matt Nagy (+110)
Baltimore Ravens John Harbaugh Jesse Minter (+125)

Numerous dismissals were announced around the NFL after the regular season concluded on Sunday, January 4. There were a couple of shockers, but otherwise, it was expected for some of the biggest underperformers in 2025-26.

With top NFL betting sites releasing betting on the next NFL coaches, a strong opportunity arises to cash in on the latest round of firings. Continue reading to find my next NFL head coach predictions, and for the most up-to-date odds at BetOnline, navigate to Football > NFL Regular Season > Coaches.

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There is an unusual amount of NFL coaching odds available. Typically, we don’t see this many coaching vacancies. Check out our next NFL head coach predictions below:

Next Arizona Cardinals Head Coach Odds and Prediction

HEAD COACH ODDS
Vance Joseph +225
Mike McCarthy +500
Klint Kubiak +600
Brian Flores +700
Joe Brady +700

After three miserable seasons as head coach of the Arizona Cardinals, Jonathan Cannon was fired in Glendale. Cannon finishes his tenure in Arizona with a lackluster 15–36 record. I didn’t like the hire to begin with, so three years later, I’m not surprised.

Denver defensive coordinator Vance Joseph (+225) has emerged as the frontrunner for the Arizona job with a 30.8% implied probability. Former Dallas and Green Bay head coach Mike McCarthy (+500) is also in the mix now, ahead of Seattle offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak (+600).

I also don’t expect OC Drew Petzing to be promoted to head coach. That leaves Kubiak as the most attractive option among their most realistic candidates. The 38-year-old Kubiak has done wonders in Seattle with Sam Darnold, helping lead the Seahawks to the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs.

The Seahawks are eighth with 351.4 yards and third in the NFL with 28.4 points per game. With the Cardinals needing a jolt offensively, Kubiak to Arizona makes some sense.

A proven veteran head coach would be most ideal, but I don’t expect the Cardinals to have a considerable pool to select from and I’m skeptical of McCarthy. In other words, an young, offensive mind in Kubiak will be given serious consideration.

At +600, Kubiak is worth a look to be hired by the Cardinals for the 2026-27 season.

The Bet
Klint Kubiak
+600

Next Las Vegas Raiders Head Coach Odds and Prediction

HEAD COACH ODDS
Brian Flores +150
Klint Kubiak +400
John Harbaugh +700
Jesse Minter +900
Kliff Kingsbury +1000

Pete Carroll is out in Las Vegas after making it through just one season of his three-year contract. The 74-year-old led the Raiders to just a 3-14 record, which led to his dismissal. It could be the end of the road for Carroll, who may not receive any head coaching offers.

The Raiders are in disarray, so whose job is it to fix it? The next hire will be the fourth coach in four years in the organization. I don’t know if this will be the most attractive opening, as Mark Davis’s team is simply poorly run.

Kubiak would be a solid choice, but he’ll have other offers, and I don’t expect him to be interested in Las Vegas. There is a lot of rebuilding to be done here, and he certainly knows how quickly the Raiders fire their head coaches. The same goes for John Harbaugh, the biggest name on the NFL head coaching carousel.

Former Miami Dolphins’ head coach and current Minnesota DC Brian Flores is the favorite at +150. With this price, Flores has a 40% implied probability of taking over head coaching duties in Las Vegas. Tom Brady being interested in an ex-Patriot and pairing him with Brian Daboll as an OC isn’t surprising.

Flores wasn’t exactly well-liked during his tenure in Miami, but the current Minnesota Vikings’ defensive coordinator will get another shot somewhere. He did well in Minnesota this past season, as the Vikings ranked third overall, with 282.6 yards allowed per game. While the results weren’t there for the team, Flores’ defense found plenty of success.

It isn’t a home run hire, and there will be some Raiders’ fans that dislike the move, but Brady targeting Flores is a realistic scenario after they worked together in New England. So, his next NFL head coaching job odds at +150 are worth a play.

The Bet
Brian Flores
+150

Next Miami Dolphins Head Coach Odds and Predictions

HEAD COACH ODDS
John Harbaugh +125
Jeff Hafley +150
Vance Joseph +500
Jesse Minter +600
Mike McCarthy +600

John Harbaugh (+125) jumped to the top of the odds, even before the Dolphins fired Mike McDaniel on January 7th! Miami reportedly reached out to Harbaugh as soon as he was dismissed by Baltimore after 18 seasons. He is the top candidate to replace McDaniel, followed closely by Green Bay defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley (+150).

Hafley is an interesting candidate, considering the Dolphins just hired Jon-Eric Sullivan as their new general manager. Sullivan came from Green Bay, and knows Hafley well. However, Miami owner Stephen Ross could overrule Sullivan here (why would you do that with a new general manager, but the Dolphins aren’t the best-run organization under Ross).

If he’s allowed to make his own pick, I think Sullivan will choose the person he knows. So, I’m taking Jeff Hafley at +150. I’m curious to see how involved Ross will be, and Harbaugh would be a massive splash. It seemed like they made a big move to open up space for Harbaugh, but with Sullivan in, they should let him build the team in his image.

The Bet
Jeff Hafley
+150

Next New York Giants Head Coach Odds and Predictions

HEAD COACH ODDS
Kevin Stefanski +110
John Harbaugh +150
Mike McCarthy +800
Vance Joseph +1200
Chris Shula +1400
Jeff Hafley +1400

The Giants are the other favored landing spot for Harbaugh (+150), although former Cleveland coach Kevin Stefanski (+110) is the favorite. This is where I think Harbaugh lands.

The Giants have more for Harbaugh to work with in quarterback Jaxson Dart, receiver Malik Nabers, and running back Cam Skattebo. Miami doesn’t have that type of talent, outside of running back De’Von Achane. They also have a talented defense that underachieved in a 4-13 season. Harbaugh brings instant credibility to the team.sideration. With Stefanski still available at plus money, he’s worth a play to be the next New York Giants head coach.

The Bet
John Harbaugh
+150

Next Atlanta Falcons Head Coach Odds and Predictions

HEAD COACH ODDS
Kevin Stefanski +200
Klint Kubiak +225
Kliff Kingsbury +800
John Harbaugh +800
Anthony Weaver +900

Stefanski is a name that will often be mentioned until he’s hired by a team. It’s no surprise that Stefanski has the shortest NFL coaching odds for the Falcons’ job, too.

The Falcons might be the big winners here, as Stefanski should fall to them after Harbaugh goes to New York. Stefanski was the favorite for the Giants’ job before Harbaugh joined the NFL head coaching carousel.

With running back Bijan Robinson and receiver Drake London, the Falcons just need a quarterback. Stefanski has had plenty of experience dealing with quarterback issues in Cleveland.n Hafley and possibly invite him for an interview. It isn’t a slam dunk bet, but I like the value at +400 odds.

The Bet
Kevin Stefanski
+200

Next Cleveland Browns Head Coach Odds and Predictions

HEAD COACH ODDS
Jim Schwartz +250
Mike McDaniel +500
Klint Kubiak +600
Mike McCarthy +800
Robert Saleh +800
Chris Shula +800

With Stefanski out, the Browns’ head-coaching search remains moderately unsettled. Current Browns’ defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz has the shorter odds to land the job, sitting at +250 with a 28.6% implied chance. San Francisco defensive cooardinator Robert Saleh (+800) was the favorite when the NFL head coaching carousel started to spin.

Even if Saleh was the Browns’ first choice, I’m not convinced he’ll be thrilled with the offer. He’s already experienced what it’s like to be a head coach for a poorly run organization, and the Browns look similar to how the Jets did when he left.

Beyond that, the Browns desperately need an offensive spark. Saleh and Schwartz are defensive specialists who doesn’t move the needle for their offense. With that in mind, Buffalo Bills OC Joe Brady could be a sneaky, forward-thinking hire for Cleveland.

Brady has spent the last two seasons as Buffalo’s offensive coordinator after previously serving as the quarterback’s coach. Josh Allen would be the first to vouch for Brady’s abilities, and an endorsement from one of the NFL’s premier quarterbacks carries serious weight.

Saleh and Schwartz may be the safer options on the field, but the Browns desperately require an offensive-minded leader. With that in mind, Brady at +4000 is my preferred bet to be the Browns’ next head coach for an outrageous return!

The Bet
Joe Brady
+4000

Next Tennessee Titans Head Coach Odds and Predictions

HEAD COACH ODDS
Matt Nagy +110
Kevin Stefanski +550
Kliff Kingsbury +700
Mike McCarthy +800
Arthur Smith +900
Vance Joseph +900

The Tennessee Titans have had a vacancy at head coach since firing Brian Callahan on October 14. Since taking over for Mike Vrabel, Callahan has had a tough time in Tennessee, finishing his first season as a head coach with a 4-19 record in a disappointing tenure.

It’s going to be difficult to attract top head-coaching candidates to Tennessee. There is a lot of work to do before the Titans can turn things around and become contenders again. However, there is one prospective head coach who might be a strong fit to work with second-year QB Cam Ward.

The former No. 1 overall pick would likely benefit most from an offensive-minded head coach who can maximize his potential.

That’s where Patrick Mahomes’ offensive coordinator comes in. Matt Nagy has been the Chiefs’ offensive coordinator since the 2023 season and has helped guide one of the league’s most successful offenses.

Although Nagy’s tenure as the Chicago Bears’ head coach ended after the 2021 season, he had some notable highs, including playoff berths in 2018 and 2020. Nagy rarely had ideal personnel in Chicago. Mitch Trubisky was his primary quarterback, so it’s difficult to place the bulk of the blame solely on him.

The Titans likely see it the same way when they evaluate his coaching resume. At +110, Nagy’s odds to be the next NFL head coach in Tennessee look like a solid play.

The Bet
Matt Nagy
+110

Next Baltimore Ravens Head Coach Odds and Predictions

HEAD COACH ODDS
Jesse Minter +125
Brian Flores +350
Klint Kubiak +425
Kliff Kingsbury +800
Kevin Stefanski +900
Joe Brady +900

San Diego defensive coordinator Jesse Minter (+125) is the favorite to replace John Harbaugh in Baltimore. Minter worked in various defensive capacities for the Ravens from 2017 to 2020. He has also worked with John’s brother, Jim, since 2022, at Michigan, and again in San Diego.

Minter has an implied probability of 44.4% at this price, ahead of Flores (+350) and Kubiak (+425). But I’m sticking with the favorite here at +125, given the Ravens’ familiarity with Minter, who did a great job with the Chargers’ defense this season. They would have to hire an excellent OC to work with Lamar Jackson, but Baltimore’s defense was bad this season. Let’s take Jesse Minter to get off the NFL head coaching carousel in Baltimore.

The Bet
Jesse Minter
+125

There are some great NFL coaching carousel odds currently, but where should you place your wagers? Note that this market isn’t offered at every sportsbook, making it important to register at the proper betting site.

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About the Author
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Kyle Eve
Editor-in-Chief
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Kyle Eve is Editor-in-Chief of The Sports Geek, providing reliable analysis for millions of readers since joining the team in 2012. After placing his first sports bet on his 18th birthday, Kyle has devoted his entire adult life to becoming the best bettor he can be. He’s covered some of the biggest sporting events in the world, from the Super Bowl and World Series to the NBA Finals and Kentucky Derby. Kyle lives in Windsor, Ontario.
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