Ranking the NFL's head coach openings
Published in Football
NEW YORK — There are eight head coach openings in the NFL.
You read that correctly.
Indeed, a quarter of the NFL teams seek a new head coach after this year’s Black Monday — the dark day after the regular season on which typically a few teams fire their head coaches — bled all the way into Thursday.
John Harbaugh, Mike McDaniel and Kevin Stefanski are among the accomplished coaches now looking for a job.
But not all jobs are created equally.
Some of the coach-less teams are eager to contend right away. Others are nowhere close. A few are somewhere in between.
Here’s how the New York Daily News ranks the eight vacancies, from best to worst:
1. BALTIMORE RAVENS
This one is a no-brainer.
Although the Ravens (8-9) underachieved in 2025, at least some of it can be blamed on the rash of injuries that caused star quarterback Lamar Jackson to miss four games and likely affected his performance in several others.
Had rookie kicker Tyler Loop made his 44-yard field-goal attempt as time expired in the season finale, the Ravens would have been AFC North champions and playoff-bound.
Jackson, a 29-year-old two-time MVP, is the biggest reason this job is so desirable. But a strong roster, respected owner and proven front office also have the Ravens ready to compete for a Super Bowl next season and beyond.
2. NEW YORK GIANTS
The Giants are just 13-38 over the past three years, and they’ve earned only two playoff berths since their last Super Bowl victory after the 2011 season.
But with a promising 22-year-old quarterback in Jaxson Dart, this is the best QB situation of any of the non-Baltimore openings.
While the roster has holes, the Giants boast building blocks at multiple key positions with wide receiver Malik Nabers, left tackle Andrew Thomas, and pass rushers Brian Burns and Abdul Carter.
That’s not to mention the No. 5 pick in April’s draft.
The long-term job status of general manager Joe Schoen is a question mark, but the allure of turning around a marquee franchise like the Giants should be appealing to certain candidates.
3. ATLANTA FALCONS
There’s no denying this quarterback situation is messy, with second-year QB Michael Penix recovering from his third ACL tear and veteran Kirk Cousins likely destined for free agency.
But the rest of the roster is stout, from superstar running back Bijan Robinson to wide receiver Drake London to an offensive line and pass-rushing unit that are largely in place.
The Falcons still need to hire a general manager, but Arthur Blank is among the NFL’s better owners, and former star QB Matt Ryan is set to become the team’s president of football.
If Atlanta can settle the QB position, there’s no reason it can’t contend in the NFC South — football’s weakest division.
4. LAS VEGAS RAIDERS
The next two teams on this list find themselves in eerily similar situations, from barren rosters to enviable cap space to hope at the quarterback position.
But we give the slightest of edges to the Raiders, who seem to have a bit more to work with than the Tennessee Titans (more to come).
Fresh off a 3-14 season, Vegas owns the No. 1 pick in the draft. Right now, Heisman-winning Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza appears to be the consensus choice, but Oregon QB Dante Moore — should he declare — will have his supporters.
Beyond the upside of a rookie QB, the Raiders have star-level talent in tight end Brock Bowers, running back Ashton Jeanty and defensive end Maxx Crosby to build around, as well $110 million in cap space to work with, according to Spotrac.
Job security under owner Mark Davis is a major downside, as whomever gets the job will be Vegas’ fifth full-time head coach since 2020. But the involvement of partial owner Tom Brady is ramping up, adding a voice with championship pedigree to the situation.
5. TENNESSEE TITANS
Cam Ward’s rookie season was a mixed bag, but his play improved down the stretch, even on an offense devoid of weapons.
Ward, last year’s No. overall 1 pick, remains ultra-talented, making him the most appealing part of the Titans’ opening.
Beyond Ward and Pro Bowl defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons, there’s really not much else to get excited about on a roster that finished 3-14.
But the Titans’ $113 million in cap space is the most in the NFL, while the No. 4 pick in the upcoming draft should net them a much-needed play-maker.
6. ARIZONA CARDINALS
The quarterback situation is far from ideal, as a divorce from Kyler Murray is a strong possibility, even though Arizona would incur a $57.7 million dead cap hit through 2027 if it released him.
The bright side is that the Cardinals have the No. 3 pick in this year’s draft, some cap space and a strong offensive nucleus in tight end Trey McBride and wide receivers Marvin Harrison Jr. and Michael Wilson.
But perhaps the most daunting factor is that the Cardinals (3-14) play in the NFC West, where the other three teams all finished 12-5 or better.
7. MIAMI DOLPHINS
Outside of the sunshine and the lack of state income tax, Miami can offer candidates a brutal division, quarterback uncertainty and a roster that’s finished below .500 two seasons in a row.
The Dolphins (7-10) have to decide what to do with Tua Tagovailoa, who was benched for the final three games of 2025 but would leave them with $99 million in dead money through 2027 if he were released.
With the No. 11 pick, the Dolphins likely won’t be able to draft their QB of the future this year. And Miami is currently projected to be over the cap, which limits how much it can improve a roster that had only one Pro Bowler (De’Von Achane) this season.
Harbaugh seemed like a logical candidate, but Miami’s hiring of Jon-Eric Sullivan as general manager — and not longtime Harbaugh colleague Chad Alexander — makes that fit less obvious.
At least the Dolphins get to play the Jets twice a year.
8. CLEVELAND BROWNS
The Browns have a long history of dysfunction, and they are still feeling the effects of their ill-advised trade for Deshaun Watson, who is due $46 million in 2026 in the final year of his contract.
They are in quarterback purgatory, with Shedeur Sanders the best of their current options but without the necessary resources — they have limited cap space and the No. 6 draft pick — to find a meaningful upgrade.
Cleveland’s defense was awesome once again in 2026, but it still resulted in just a 5-12 season.
A situation without much upside or maneuverability is not a good one.
©2026 New York Daily News. Visit nydailynews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.







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