Commentary: Taking a stab at who'll land where in the NFL coaching carousel

The NFL coaching carousel is in full swing. With Mike Tomlin and John Harbaugh departing the Steelers and Ravens, respectively, after being the longest-tenured coaches in the league, it's a particularly active hiring cycle. Harbaugh appears to be the first domino to fall, reportedly finalizing a deal with the New York Giants after interviewing in-person Wednesday at the team's facility. That leaves eight remaining head coach openings. Who will fill them? Here are our predictions: Baltimore Ravens Jesse Minter, Chargers defensive coordinator Why he fits: Minter's profile is very similar to current Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald, who also coached under both Harbaugh brothers with the University of Michigan and the Ravens before becoming a head coach. Minter completed an interview with the Ravens on Wednesday.Given how successful Macdonald has been in Seattle and with Baltimore seeking to reclaim its defensive identity after disappointing results under young coordinator Zach Orr, Minter makes a lot of sense as Harbaugh's replacement. The 42-year-old's defenses have ranked ninth and 10th, respectively, in defense-adjusted value over average in his first two seasons as an NFL play caller.Coaching is in his blood, too. His father, Rick, is a senior defensive analyst with the Chargers and was the head coach for 10 years at the University of Cincinnati. Why he might not fit: Minter has nearly 20 years of experience coaching in college and the NFL, but he's never been a head coach. That's not unusual, but with the Ravens replacing an 18-year veteran like Harbaugh, perhaps some familiarity as a program leader matters.While Minter's Harbaugh connections might work in his favor across the league, perhaps the Ravens are looking for a clean break from the famous football family and don't want anyone associated with the Harbaugh coaching tree.There's also the question of who Minter hires to lead his offense. Given how important that position will be in working with two-time NFL Most Valuable Player Lamar Jackson, his answer could determine his viability in Baltimore. Pittsburgh Steelers Chris Shula, Rams defensive coordinator Why he fits: The Steelers will be hiring just their fourth coach since 1969, so longevity is a must. Shula, 39, could stick around for a long time given his background and success in Los Angeles.The grandson of legendary coach Don Shula led the league's No. 4 defense according to DVOA this season, powered by a strong defensive front. The Steelers boast T.J. Watt, Cameron Heyward, Alex Highsmith, Nick Herbig, Keeanu Benton and Derrick Harmon and have long prided themselves on playing tough defense. Why he might not fit: While defense has routinely been a strong suit for Pittsburgh, the offense has been inconsistent ever since Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown and Le'Veon Bell departed. Quarterback has also been a revolving door, with Aaron Rodgers providing some stability in 2025, but his future uncertain at 42 years old.There's no guarantee that Shula is interested in taking over a team without a legitimate quarterback already in place. If he is, there's the question of who he'll bring with him to run his offense. Given his background in the Sean McVay coaching tree, there should at least be some enticing options, including Rams pass game coordinator and young head coaching candidate Nate Scheelhaase. Cleveland Browns Jim Schwartz, Browns defensive coordinator Why he fits: The Baltimore County native is already plenty familiar with the organization, having served as Cleveland's defensive coordinator for three seasons. That familiarity with the Haslam family ownership and general manager Andrew Berry could elevate him to the top role, especially considering that the Browns' defense has been among the league's best under his direction while the offense struggled under previous coach Kevin Stefanski.Keeping Schwartz, who led the Detroit Lions to the playoffs once in his five seasons as head coach, would at least ensure that one side of the ball is in good hands. Why he might not fit: For as good as Schwartz's defenses have been with star pass rusher Myles Garrett leading the charge, the Browns won just seven combined games over the past two seasons.There's also the longtime search for a franchise quarterback to consider, with Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders still unproven coming off their rookie seasons and Deshaun Watson still under contract in 2026. Unless Schwartz, 59, can prove that he has a plan to find a quarterback and fix the offense, he might only be considered as a defensive coordinator. Arizona Cardinals Matt Nagy, Chiefs offensive coordinator Why he fits: The Cardinals struck out by hiring a defensive coordinator from a Super Bowl staff with Jonathan Gannon. Why not try an offensive coordinator from one of the league's most successful teams?Fans might remember Nagy's Bears tenure mostly for the "double doink" playoff loss to the Eagles, but he went 34-33 in his four seasons in Chicago with Mitchell Trubisky and Justin Fields as his quarterbacks. For a team like the Cardinals that has made just one playoff appearance in the past 10 seasons, that resume might be attractive.Nagy's background with coach Andy Reid and experience working with Patrick Mahomes in Kansas City could appeal to Arizona, which must decide whether to keep Kyler Murray or begin a search for a new quarterback. Why he might not fit: For a team trying to sell its fan base on a promising new era, hiring a retread coach might not be the best move — especially in a division with Macdonald, Kyle Shanahan and McVay.Nagy is only 47, but his experience with the Bears could be held against him as proof that he's not cut out to be a head coach. He also hasn't called plays during his recent tenure in Kansas City, with Reid handling those duties. Atlanta Falcons Anthony Weaver, Dolphins defensive coordinator Why he fits: For a young and ascending defense that just brought in two standout rookies in Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr., Weaver could be the perfect coach to help take Atlanta to the next level.The 45-year-old former Ravens assistant has more than 10 years of experience coaching in the NFL and recorded 15 1/2 sacks as a defensive end with Baltimore and Houston. His expertise as both a player and coach is valuable, especially for a league skewing younger with head coaching hires who can relate to players. Why he might not fit: The Falcons talked with Bill Belichick before hiring Raheem Morris in 2024 and spoke to Harbaugh about their opening this year. Maybe owner Arthur Blank wants a proven veteran as coach, and Weaver has no experience in the top role. Las Vegas Raiders Kevin Stefanski, former Browns coach Why he fits: The Raiders have the No. 1 overall pick in the draft and will presumably take Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza. They'll need a coach who can develop him, and Stefanski fits the bill.In Cleveland, Stefanski, 43, made the playoffs with both 25-year-old Baker Mayfield and 38-year-old Joe Flacco. Early in his Browns tenure, his offenses consistently ran the ball well and relied on play-action passing. That would make life easier for a young quarterback.As a two-time NFL Coach of the Year, Stefanski often outperformed expectations in Cleveland. Las Vegas needs to do more with less to have any hope of competing with the Broncos, Chiefs and Chargers in the AFC West. Why he might not fit: Stefanski's offenses struggled in 2024 and 2025, though much of that was because of poor quarterback play, offensive line injuries and a lack of playmakers. Raiders general manager John Spytek and part-owner Tom Brady will have to decide whether Stefanski was undone by his circumstances in Cleveland and still has untapped potential. Tennessee Titans Klint Kubiak, Seahawks offensive coordinator Why he fits: The Titans have promising young quarterback Cam Ward, a new stadium coming and a respected general manager in Mike Borgonzi. In short, it's an attractive landing spot.Kubiak, the son of former Houston Texans coach and celebrated offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak, is one of the hottest candidates this hiring cycle after helping lead Sam Darnold and the Seahawks to the No. 1 seed in the NFC. Though Darnold led the league with 20 turnovers, Seattle ran the ball effectively behind Kenneth Walker and Zach Charbonnet and produced the NFL's leading receiver in Jaxon Smith-Njigba (1,793 yards). Why he might not fit: There are several factors at play, but Darnold was one of the league's worst quarterbacks in the latter part of the season. Whether that was opposing defenses figuring something out in Kubiak's scheme or Darnold's own weaknesses, it's enough of a red flag considering that Kubiak has only called plays for two seasons at the NFL level. Miami Dolphins Robert Saleh, 49ers defensive coordinator Why he fits: For a team that has faced questions about its toughness for years, especially in cold weather, Saleh could provide an exciting new culture.The Dolphins' defense has some strong building blocks in Bradley Chubb, Minkah Fitzpatrick, Chop Robinson, Zach Sieler, Jordyn Brooks and Kenneth Grant. It might even have more talent than what Saleh, 46, had in the final weeks with San Francisco after the 49ers were ravaged by injuries, and they still went 12-5 and beat the defending champion Eagles in the wild-card round.While Saleh's tenure as Jets coach was filled with disappointment, that was largely because of the offense's ineptitude and Aaron Rodgers' meddling. Saleh is a proven defensive coach who could be an effective program builder if given another chance. Why he might not fit: After seeing what life was like without a proven quarterback in New York, Saleh might not be eager to take over a team with a big question mark at the position.Tua Tagovailoa carries a $56 million cap hit next season, and it's unclear whether star wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle and other high-priced veterans will be back. There are a lot of holes on the roster, and competing in the AFC East with Buffalo and New England will take some serious work.