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Coaching change notes

theScore's senior NFL writer, Dan Wilkins, provides his instant reactions to all coaching changes made after the conclusion of the regular season.

❌ Bills - Sean McDermott

Another bombshell. The Bills become the 10th team to make a head coaching change this offseason, firing Sean McDermott on the heels of their latest playoff disappointment. While McDermott's 98-50 record and eight playoff appearances in nine years would seem to have earned him a better fate, the organization's desire for change is understandable. You're only going to get so many kicks at the can in Josh Allen's prime, and it's worth finding out if a new voice can make the difference in finally getting this team over the playoff hump. The confusing part is that general manager Brandon Beane isn't following McDermott out the door. Some glaring personnel issues at receiver and across the defensive front were far more to blame for this year's heartbreak than any big-picture coaching failures.

The opportunity to take over a Super Bowl contender with Allen under center puts this job right up there with the Ravens among the most desirable in football. The Giants have to be thrilled that they closed their deal with John Harbaugh as quickly as they did. Though the Bills could have their pick of up-and-coming candidates, it's fair to wonder if they might lean toward one of the familiar names with a proven track record of maximizing their superstar quarterback. Joe Brady will presumably be a candidate for promotion from offensive coordinator, and former OC Brian Daboll, who guided Allen's early-career development, is interviewing for jobs after being fired by the Giants this season. McDermott, meanwhile, immediately becomes one of the top coaches available this cycle. The 51-year-old is a proven defensive mind, owns an impressive resume as a head coach, and his connections would go a long way toward helping him put together a strong staff in a new landing spot. McDermott should have another lead job within weeks if he wants one.

❌ Steelers - Mike Tomlin

It's the end of an era in Pittsburgh. Mike Tomlin was likely never at risk of being fired by the Steelers, as it takes a truly special leader to put together a run of 19 years without a single losing season. The continued playoff failures had built a reasonable case for change, though, and the 53-year-old made the decision himself by stepping down. Tomlin will presumably receive calls from every other team with a head coaching vacancy, and perhaps even some without one. The level of respect he's earned league-wide virtually guarantees that he'll get another job if he wants it. He could also opt to follow in the footsteps of Sean Payton, taking a step back and working a broadcast job for a year or two before entertaining NFL opportunities down the road.

The Steelers suddenly find themselves in unfamiliar territory, conducting a coaching search for the first time since 2007 and for just the fourth time since 1969. But after years of hanging around as a fringe contender, trying to force the issue with an aging roster that didn't quite have the pieces to win now, this presents an opportunity for the organization to rebuild the right way. Prospective coaches can be confident that they'll be afforded the required patience from a Steelers organization that boasts an unparalleled track record of stability. That all-important factor, along with the opportunity to lead one of the true cornerstone NFL franchises, immediately makes this one of the most attractive openings on a wild coaching carousel.

❌ Dolphins - Mike McDaniel

Miami's rebound from a 1-6 start to finish the season at 7-10 made a pretty compelling argument for Mike McDaniel to return as head coach. And with no changes announced in the first three days after the regular season ended, it seemed like he just might stick around. Perhaps the Dolphins were simply taking their time, wanting to first progress through the GM search and get input from their finalists. Or maybe the sudden availability of John Harbaugh, who has connections to owner Stephen Ross, made the decision for them. Either way, starting fresh with a new head coach and general manager at the same time does make sense for the Dolphins. It's a tough outcome for McDaniel, who is one of the NFL's more creative offensive minds. There's reason to believe his system could have yielded some spectacular results with a less limited quarterback. The rest of the league will undoubtedly think the same, so it won't be a surprise when he generates interest for some of the head coaching vacancies. If all of those teams pass, he'll immediately become the most coveted offensive coordinator candidate available this cycle. McDaniel's history with Dan Quinn makes him a no-brainer for that role in Washington.

❌ Ravens - John Harbaugh

A stunner! The Ravens opt for seismic change with this year's heartbreak coming before they could even get to the playoffs. Harbaugh's outstanding 18-year run in Baltimore has made him one of the most respected coaches in the game, so he won't be out of work for long. In fact, reports already suggest that he'll be a top candidate for open jobs around the league. And when a coach with this kind of track record becomes available, it stands to reason that even more teams could be tempted to make a change and get involved in the sweepstakes. Does that mean the Ravens are making a mistake here? Not necessarily. Because while most organizations couldn't so much as dream of a 180-113 run with 12 playoff appearances and a Super Bowl title, even the best programs can go stale. Change can be a good thing. Still yet to get over the hump in the Lamar Jackson era, it's easy to understand why the Ravens are looking to shake things up. They'll have no trouble finding a strong pivot option, as this immediately becomes the league's most attractive coaching vacancy.

❌ Cardinals - Jonathan Gannon

Several reports leading up to Sunday's season finale appeared to suggest that Gannon was safe. While there's always a case to be made for patience, Arizona running it back for a third year would have felt like delaying the inevitable. This is another team that was supposed to take the next step toward playoff contention this season. A 2-0 start seemingly had things moving in the right direction, but disaster struck from there. The Cardinals dropped all but one of their next 15 games, including nine straight to finish the year at 3-14. Crucially, Gannon's defense suffered the greatest setbacks after a promising 2024, ranking 29th in scoring and 27th in yards allowed in 2025. He'll presumably get a chance to bounce back as a defensive coordinator next season. The Cardinals, meanwhile, could target an offensive coach to help identify and develop their next quarterback, with Kyler Murray seemingly on the way out.

❌ Raiders - Pete Carroll

A one-and-done season is a tough way for Carroll to go out, as the 74-year-old is unlikely to get another head coaching job at this point. Seeking some semblance of stability after years of turmoil, it's easy to see why the Raiders initially hired Carroll. Yet somehow the team only got worse. Maybe it was doomed from the start, with minority owner Tom Brady reportedly orchestrating the failed marriage between Carroll and Chip Kelly. But the veteran head coach also didn't do himself any favors by hiring his son to oversee what ended up being the worst offensive line in football. Although the Raiders hold the No. 1 overall pick and boast deep-pocketed ownership investors, candidates will surely be wary, considering Las Vegas has cycled through three full-time head coaches since Jon Gruden's departure in 2021.

❌ Browns - Kevin Stefanski

Stefanski probably didn't deserve to be fired. The results haven't been there lately, but whose fault is that really? We're talking about a two-time Coach of the Year who has twice led the Browns to 11-win seasons - the most recent coming in 2023, when Deshaun Watson and Joe Flacco led the way for a QB room that cycled through five starters. The Browns could very well find a strong replacement, but don't be surprised if Stefanski immediately emerges as a candidate for top jobs elsewhere. Many teams will share the belief that he wasn't the problem in Cleveland. And in a hiring cycle with few obvious rising stars, there should be at least one suitor willing to bet that Stefanski can build a consistent winner with better organizational support.

❌ Falcons - Raheem Morris

Morris made a compelling case to stay by closing out the season with four straight wins, but the damage had already been done. A complete reset felt inevitable when the Falcons, who began the year expecting a significant leap, had bowed out of a featherweight NFC South race by early December. Atlanta could look to pivot toward a rising offensive mind who can maximize the young talent on that side of the ball. Meanwhile, Morris will be a coveted defensive coordinator candidate, and he could end up finding a soft landing back with Sean McVay and the Rams if Chris Shula leaves for a head coaching job in the coming weeks.