Colts Expected To Retain HC Shane Steichen
The Colts’ end-of-season slide out of the playoffs has stirred some speculation about the future of head coach Shane Steichen, but he is expected to be retained for the 2026 season, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Losing the last seven games of the year is a black mark on the record of any head coach, but Steichen has a massive mitigating factor: injuries to his starting quarterback. Daniel Jones was playing on a fractured fibula in November and then tore his Achilles at the beginning of December.
Up to that point, he was – as surprising as it sounds – one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL this season and the Colts had one of the league’s best offenses. Jones still ranks among the league’s top-10 passers in yards per game, yards per attempt, completion rate, passer rating, and total QBR. It would be difficult for any team to withstand that loss.
Steichen’s success with Jones, a former top-10 pick turned reclamation project, is the Colts’ main reason to keep him. While Jones’ exact future is uncertain after his injury, the Colts appeared to be interested in re-signing him for 2026 and beyond. Since Steichen has brought out the best version of Jones, it would make little sense to move on now.
What’s more, the Colts have improved on both sides of the ball in each year of Steichen’s tenure, and 2025 was set to be his most successful season by far until Jones went down. Again, firing that head coach three years into the job feels like the wrong move.
Sill, Colts owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon is somewhat of an unknown heading into the offseason. Similar to her late father, Jim Irsay, she has taken a hands-on approach with running the franchise. Just as some have questioned Steichen’s job security, even more have wondered if general manager Chris Ballard could be on his way out. The Colts have never won the AFC South in his nine years as general manager, but he may be given some grace for the same reason as Steichen. Ballard built what appeared to be a competitive team this year, including his aggressive trade deadline acquisition of Sauce Gardner. His ability to make that move is an indicator that his job was relatively secure, though the Colts’ late-season struggles have re-raised those questions.
Ultimately, Ballard and Steichen are expected to stay in Indianapolis, but both – especially Ballard – could find themselves on the hot seat next year.
Dolphins HC Mike McDaniel Likely Safe
The job security of Mike McDaniel has remained a talking point for much of the 2025 season. The late stages of the campaign have seen improved play in the case of the Dolphins, though, pointing to stability on the sidelines for next year. 
McDaniel is in the group of coaches likely to be safe as ‘Black Monday’ approaches, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports (video link). Conflicting reports have emerged over recent months on the matter of McDaniel’s future, with Schefter among those cautioning a final decision has yet to be made. His latest update confirms that is still the case, with front office discussions still to be had after the season finale.
When general manager Chris Grier‘s lengthy Miami tenure came to an end midway through the season, it was immediately learned McDaniel would remain in place for the remainder of 2025. The Dolphins have once again fallen short of the playoffs with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa being benched. Keeping him atop the depth chart was seen at one point as a central factor in McDaniel’s job security given the success shared by that pair in the past. Strong play elsewhere on the roster has nevertheless helped the case for stability on the sidelines.
The Dolphins have won five of their last seven games entering Sunday’s action. To perhaps little surprise, then, CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones also points to McDaniel receiving a fifth season at the helm. The 42-year-old sports an overall record of 35-32 at this point, and he has led the Dolphins to a pair of postseason appearances (both of which ended with losses in the wild-card round). Presuming he remains in place for 2026, how McDaniel fits into a reshaped structure in Miami will be interesting to see.
The search for Grier’s replacement is ongoing, and broadcaster Troy Aikman is among those playing a role. Once a new general manager is in place – either through an outside hire or interim Champ Kelly receiving the gig on a full-time basis – attention will turn to the matter of potential changes in the organizational pecking order. Grier previously outranked McDaniel as well as senior VP of football and business administration Brandon Shore while reporting to owner Stephen Ross. A new setup is being considered which would see Shore, the new GM and McDaniel each report directly to Ross. Outkick’s Armando Salguero reports nothing has been finalized yet on that front, and that will presumably remain the case until a decision is made to fill the general manager spot.
A strong fit with McDaniel is not viewed as Miami’s top priority during the team’s GM search, one which Jones notes includes sports executive (and Ross’ son-in-law) Daniel Sillman. That factor suggests a McDaniel dismissal could still receive consideration, although at this point such a move would come as a surprise.
Steelers, Mike Tomlin Could Split After Season
What was unthinkable a few years ago has become a possibility: the Steelers and head coach Mike Tomlin could part ways this offseason.
Pittsburgh won their ninth game in Week 16, guaranteeing a winning record for the sixth year in a row and the 16th in Tomlin’s 19 years as head coach. He has never led the Steelers to a losing season.
However, Tomlin has not won a playoff game since 2016 with exits in the wild card round in four of the last five seasons. The Steelers’ lack of a franchise quarterback has been a clear limiting factor in the postseason, but they never play poorly enough in the regular season for a top draft pick. This has created a difficult cycle in Pittsburgh that can only be altered by an expensive trade-up in the draft or parting ways with Tomlin.
The latter has never seemed to be an option, until now. Firing Tomlin outright is unlikely, per CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones and ESPN’s Adam Schefter, but he and the team may mutually agree to part ways. The veteran head coach may be looking for a “reset” via a broadcasting gig before returning to an NFL head coaching job, according to both Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated and Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post.
Tomlin would no doubt be one of the hottest head coaching candidates if available, whether that happens this offseason or in the future. The Steelers might be best served by trading Tomlin, but the no-trade clause in his contract and the timeline of the NFL’s hiring cycle are two significant roadblocks, per Jones.
The Steelers have already considered the possibility of a post-Tomlin future. They had “internal discussions” about Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman, per The Athletic’s Dianna Russini. Multiple teams had interest in the 39-year-old, who opted to take an improved contract to stay in South Bend rather than entertain an NFL job. Freeman’s desires could change in the future and potentially offer Pittsburgh another opportunity to secure Tomlin’s successor, provided such a change does not happen this offseason.
Ravens Expected To Keep Lamar Jackson; John Harbaugh Future Uncertain?
Recent local and national media coverage of the Ravens has revived the idea that Lamar Jackson could be on his way out of Baltimore this offseason.
Obviously, it makes no sense for an NFL team to move on from a two-time MVP quarterback, and the Ravens are not expected to make such a colossal mistake. Less certain is the future of head coach John Harbaugh, who has overseen an uneven year in Baltimore.
“That seems to be a situation right now that’s up in the air, where both sides will meet and discuss after the seasons what they want to do and what direction they want to go,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter said on Sunday. He believes Harbaugh’s job is “still leaning safe,” and does not expect an outright firing.
The same belief is held by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, who said that both Harbaugh and Jackson are expected to remain in Baltimore for at least another year.
“I don’t expect a firing in any sense,” said Rapoport of Harbaugh, but noted that other staff changes could be on the way.
This kind of about Harbaugh’s job security is new, indicating that fans’ disappointment about this season is felt in equal measure inside the organization. It may not be enough for the Ravens to part ways with their longtime coach, but even having such discussions is a sign that pressure is building in Baltimore.
Ultimately, the decision will come down to Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti, who has long favored continuity and stability with his front office and coaching staff.
Though Harbaugh seems safe heading into Sunday night’s game in Pittsburgh, a loss could obviously change things. The Steelers would complete a season sweep of their rivals and take the divisional crown and a playoff spot. That would violate two of the Ravens’ core tenets: beat Pittsburgh, and make the playoffs. If Harbaugh can no longer achieve those goals, it may be time to move on.
Joe Burrow Supports Bengals Retaining HC Zac Taylor
Joe Burrow let his feelings about Bengals personnel matters be known last year, when he offered staunch support for the team extending Tee Higgins and Trey Hendrickson. The superstar quarterback went 1-for-2 on that front, but the effort did show the power he wields in the building.
Burrow comments about a lack of satisfaction presently raised eyebrows around the league, as the Bengals are wrapping a third straight season that will fall short of the playoffs. While voicing an expectation he’d be part of the 2026 Bengals, Burrow did not shut the door on potentially playing elsewhere down the road. Some took these efforts as Burrow applying pressure on the Bengals, but the heat the QB may or may not be putting on the franchise does not appear to pertain to Zac Taylor.
The seventh-year Cincinnati HC has Burrow’s full support, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Taylor has taken criticism for not having the Bengals ready to play early in seasons, as a host of September losses have hurt in playoff pushes, but he has been at the helm throughout Burrow’s career. Burrow does not appear eager to transition to a new system, and NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero report Taylor is indeed safe for 2026.
Taylor, 42, made the rare jump from the quarterbacks coach level to HC, vaulting from the Rams’ QBs coach to Bengals HC. While Taylor’s first year went poorly, the Bengals timed their faceplant well. The 2-14 season landed them Burrow at No. 1 overall, much to the Dolphins’ chagrin, and he transformed the franchise’s fortunes.
Taylor guided the Bengals to Super Bowl LVI and then had them in the 2022 AFC championship game, where a crucial final-minute late hit helped the Chiefs escape the visitors’ charge. Since then, however, the Bengals have fallen off the AFC’s top tier. Burrow injuries in 2023 and ’25 defined those seasons, but he played throughout 2024 and saw the team’s defensive issues deny a playoff spot.
The Bengals had been expected to neither tinker with their HC or GM roles, with de facto GM Duke Tobin also expected back. While Burrow throwing support behind Taylor is certainly important for the sideline leader’s status, is the passer’s perceived issue with the front office? Tobin has been with Cincinnati since 1999, being an integral part of Mike Brown‘s operation. The Bengals have drifted southward in the NFL hierarchy during the mid-2020s, and Burrow has let it be known he is not exactly thrilled with the way things have gone.
Teams are expected to call the Bengals on Burrow, but that is unlikely to matter much. Burrow is one of the game’s best quarterbacks and plays for an organization known for digging its heels in against player demands. See: the Hendrickson and Shemar Stewart 2025 matters for recent examples. The Bengals remain committed to Burrow, and based on Sunday morning’s classification of Taylor’s status, the head coach has an important backer. But a turnaround will need to come in 2026. Taylor and Tobin will be the ones leading the way yet again.
Philip Rivers Expected To Receive Coaching Interest
Though he was deemed a healthy scratch for the Colts’ final game of the season, Philip Rivers‘ NFL comeback may not be over quite yet.
While the 44-year-old quarterback will retire from playing for a second time after the end of the regular season, he could stay in the league as a coach. Rivers is expected to receive interest from teams seeking new head coaches this offseason, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, with at least one interview expected.
Both NFL and college teams have considered Rivers for coaching jobs in the past, but he has generally been uninterested. That may have changed after his shocking return to the professional playing field this year.
Rivers’ appeal to NFL teams is obvious. He has already found success as a head coach, albeit as a high school level. His ability to come off the couch and start for the Colts showed that he is still in tune with the pro game. He has ties to a number of coaches across the league and could build a strong staff. Rivers’ age also makes him an old player but would also make him a young head coach. Being a former player would also help him connect with players, many of whom watched Rivers growing up. He had a reputation for taking huge hits in the pocket to get throws off; players who knew their coach gave it his all when he was on the field may be more inclined to do so as well.
The reasons why Rivers might consider a coaching job are just as clear. It would be a new challenge and a significant step up from high school ball. He would be able to stay in the NFL after clearly enjoying his comeback this year. But Rivers also has 11 kids. Taking an NFL coaching job would take him away from his family (or force them to uproot their lives and move).
A career in broadcasting may allow more flexibility; it certainly would not come with the burden and time constraints of being a head coach. He said on Up & Adams this week that he has “not ruled it out,” but noted that other opportunities haven’t “felt right.”
“The one thing I’ve loved since I was however old playing this game and being now as a coach is I’ve been able to have some impact on the score.” Rivers added. “You might be good at it, talking about it, but I have nothing to do with the outcome of this game.”
It’s hard to impact the outcome of the game from the broadcasting booth. But as a coach on the sidelines, everything he does would impact the outcome of the game.
Cardinals Likely To Retain Jonathan Gannon
Earlier this week, Jonathan Gannon was viewed as being on a hotter seat compared to GM Monti Ossenfort. Despite the Cardinals taking a major step back from last season, it appears ownership is planning to stick with both power brokers.
With no real buzz about Ossenfort losing his job surfacing, a few Gannon reports have come out. Gannon is likely to see a fourth season on the job, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero note. A chance for Gannon and Ossenfort to nab their own quarterback — as a split with Steve Keim/Kliff Kingsbury-era addition Kyler Murray is widely expected — is on track to come with a fourth season. Two years remain on both contracts, SI.com’s Albert Breer adds.
[RELATED: Gannon Expects To Keep Job For 2026]
Michael Bidwill has generally given coaches a bit more time. Kingsbury received four years, though it is worth noting Bidwill fired him months after extending him. Bruce Arians retired after five, while Ken Whisenhunt was on for six seasons.
Though, it is worth mentioning Kingsbury and Whisenhunt had made playoff berths by Year 3. Bidwill, who took over as the Cardinals’ controlling owner in 2007, did fire Steve Wilks after one season. Gannon finishing (at best) with two 4-13 seasons in his first three seasons and making it to Year 4 would be rare, but Breer adds Bidwill still likes his HC and believes a turnaround can happen.
The much-criticized owner not wanting to pay three coaches also plays into this decision, according to CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones. Kingsbury signed a through-2027 extension in 2022, with Gannon also under contract through 2027. Offset language regularly exists in these deals, but Kingsbury’s Commanders salary is south of where his Cardinals HC AAV. An offense dealing with injuries also could save Gannon, per Jones, despite the HC’s primary unit regressing. Gannon and DC Nick Rallis have overseen a production drop on defense, with that group ranking 29th in scoring and 26th in yardage after placing 15th and 21st in those categories last year.
Arizona’s offense has played most of the season without Murray, though some of that portion is due to an organizational choice to shut down a player no longer in the long-term plan, with James Conner and Marvin Harrison Jr. suffering injuries as well. Next year will be crucial for the Cardinals’ power duo, as a Murray trade (or release) will precede a true investment in a replacement. Gannon and Ossenfort had offered consistent praise for Murray for years, but the seventh-year passer wore out his welcome in 2025.
Staff changes should be expected, Breer adds. This could mean OC Drew Petzing is elsewhere. It would be interesting if Gannon fired Rallis, who came over from Philadelphia with him in 2023, and Petzing’s unit ranks higher (23rd points, 19th yards). Petzing came over from the Browns in 2023, but HCs on hot seats regularly turn to coordinator firings. It would seem Gannon staying would mean at least one of these two staffers will be out.
Falcons Leaning Toward Retaining Raheem Morris, Firing GM Terry Fontenot
10:25am: Morris is indeed expected to receive another year on the job, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. The three-game win streak has helped a coach that was once viewed as on the way out, though Schefter points to staff changes taking place if/once Morris’ second stint with the organization is given a third season.
8:11am: The Falcons have an odd role to play in determining the NFC South champion today, with their result of their Saints matchup deciding if the Buccaneers or Panthers will book the conference’s No. 4 seed. A win, however, will not move Atlanta into the playoffs. This will run the franchise’s postseason drought to eight years.
Terry Fontenot has been the GM for five of those years, and the Falcons have not completed a winning season. Arthur Blank has been evaluating his staff, most notably tabbing consultants to provide information about whether the current operation is effective. The writing may be on the wall for Fontenot.
[RELATED: How Will Falcons Proceed With Fontenot, Raheem Morris?]
As it stands, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reports many around the NFL expect the Falcons to move on from Fontenot but retain Morris. The Falcons have won three consecutive games down the stretch in Morris’ second season as the team’s full-time HC, but they are still falling short of expectations. That said, Morris is responsible for an 8-9 2024 season — the organization’s best record since 2017 — and could follow that up with another.
While that may not go down as a substantial victory for Morris — whom the Falcons employed as their interim HC in 2020 — back-to-back eight-win seasons would make for a hard-luck firing given the organizational struggles in the years prior to his return. He is still viewed as being on the hot seat entering Week 18, but the winning streak has certainly helped his prospects.
For Fontenot, however, two straight eight-win campaigns would make it look like the team has hit a wall — especially considering Arthur Smith‘s three 7-10 seasons to begin the GM’s tenure. The Falcons’ team-building approach is under scrutiny amid Blank’s decision to bring in consultants, per Russini.
Prior to the Falcons’ historically unusual decision to sign a quarterback to a big-ticket contract only to draft his successor six weeks later, the team used three consecutive top-10 picks on skill-position players. Fontenot has seen the Kirk Cousins signing help Drake London and Kyle Pitts, — albeit while his QB2 salary (for 2025, at least) ate into the team’s ability to built out its roster this year — while Morris consistently touts Bijan Robinson as the NFL’s best player, but the moves have not made a considerable difference in the win column.
The Falcons also struggled for years to find a pass rusher, memorably choosing Michael Penix Jr. eighth overall last year and tabling the need. But the team did rectify that in this year’s draft, adding Jalon Walker and James Pearce. The Falcons enter Week 18 second in the NFL with 53 sacks. Penix, though, was erratic in his second season.
To obtain that Walker and Pearce, Fontenot traded the Falcons’ 2026 first-round pick. A team has sacrificed a future first-rounder for a pass rusher on draft weekend only a handful of times over the past 30 years, and the Rams are positioned to hold a high draft choice as a result. Blank greenlighting that move only to fire Fontenot a year later will be an interesting decision, but the Falcons’ struggles turning the corner has certainly tested the owner’s patience.
The Penix move also came a year after the Falcons sat on their hands at quarterback, refraining from pursuing an upgrade and handing the job to 2022 third-round pick Desmond Ridder. The Ridder development helped lead to Smith’s ouster. Fontenot was also believed to have played a role, alongside team president Rich McKay, in dissuading Blank from hiring Bill Belichick to replace Smith in 2024. The coach that did land the job would be expected to make changes if he retains it, but Morris could see this late winning streak spare him.
While staff changes would undoubtedly come if the Falcons retain Morris, how their organizational structure looks if/once Fontenot is fired will be something to monitor. The Falcons are believed to have increased Fontenot’s responsibilities upon moving McKay away from a day-to-day role in 2024. McKay has been with the franchise since 2003. McKay played a central role in Atlanta’s 2024 HC search and had remained close with Morris from their days in Tampa. He and Morris may be left to pick up the pieces while Fontenot — hired from the Saints — lands elsewhere south of the GM tier.
Kliff Kingsbury On Titans’ HC Radar; Commanders Not Certain To Retain OC?
Kliff Kingsbury stayed off the 2025 HC carousel, preferring to ride the momentum he built for steering Jayden Daniels‘ Offensive Rookie of the Year season. A year later, the Commanders have nosedived. Changes are expected.
As we have discussed a few times, this year’s HC talent pool features more defense-based candidates. That should give Kingsbury an opportunity to potentially return to the HC level despite being tied to a losing team. The Titans are believed to be interested in Kingsbury, whom JP Finlay of NBC Sports Washington believes has a “real shot” of landing that job.
But Kingsbury also may find himself in a highly unusual position: a candidate for HC jobs elsewhere but not certain to retain his own position. A disconnect has developed between Kingsbury and Commanders GM Adam Peters, according to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini.
Although the Commanders are still expected to retain Kingsbury — in the event he does not land a top coaching job elsewhere — that is certainly notable as a rough season concludes. This comes as rather surprising given the push the Commanders made to dissuade Kingsbury from taking the Raiders’ OC job in 2024.
The 2024 Commanders made one of the most surprising trips to the conference championship game in NFL history. Daniels flashed superstar potential as a rookie, and Kingsbury — who has spoken of wanting another HC shot — was content to stay paired with the rising talent. A three-injury 2025 season for Daniels stonewalled the Commanders’ momentum, and an aging roster will require many changes. It would surprise if the Commanders greenlit a play-caller change considering how much Daniels achieved when last healthy for an extended stretch, but any friction between Kingsbury and the front office could make him more eager to explore opportunities this year.
The Titans have been closely connected to Matt Nagy, who joins Kingsbury as a second-chance candidate with an offensive background. Nagy also worked with Titans GM Mike Borgonzi. Kingsbury has no such tie, but he did appear on many teams’ HC radars after Washington ranked fifth in scoring an seventh total yardage in 2024. With Daniels largely out of the mix this season, the Commanders have sunk to 25th and 21st in those categories. Kingsbury, 46, did not conduct any HC interviews last year. That might change in 2026, as he has also been tied to the Giants’ HC position.
Elsewhere on the Commanders’ staff, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero note Joe Whitt Jr. is likely to be removed from this DC post. We heard last month this was the expected course of action. With Dan Quinn stripping his longtime coworker of play-calling duties, it appeared Whitt — as is the case with Lions OC John Morton after he lost his call sheet — was a clear firing candidate at season’s end.
Browns ‘Expected’ To Move On From HC Kevin Stefanski
11:00pm: The growing sentiment around the league is that the Browns moving on from Stefanski is now “expected” to happen, per Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports. NFL insider Jordan Schultz adds that “the league-wide expectation” is that changes are likely in Cleveland, and the “hottest seat” in the building appears to be Stefanski’s. As mentioned below, Schultz claims the unlikely trade route may be attempted here, but if the Browns can’t make that happen, he’s expected to be let go.
1:01pm: Kevin Stefanski is a game away from wrapping up his sixth season in Cleveland. It appears Sunday’s meeting with the Bengals will be Stefanski’s last with the Browns. The team is “leaning toward” making a coaching change, according to Dianna Russini of The Athletic. Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com passes along similar information.
Meanwhile, backing up a previous report, Russini, Cabot and Albert Breer of SI.com all expect general manager Andrew Berry to keep his job. The Browns have discussed shifting Berry to a president of football operations-type position, per Breer, but that’s unlikely to happen. Regardless, Berry’s “heavily involved” in deciding Stefanski’s fate, Cabot writes.
If Stefanski is indeed on the way out, it’s unclear whether the Browns plan to simply fire him or attempt to pull off a rare trade involving a head coach. Although odds are against it, there’s “smoke” behind a potential trade, an industry source told Conor Orr of SI.com.
[RELATED: Myles Garrett Not Interested In Rebuild]
Considering Stefanski is a two-time Coach of the Year, someone may be willing to surrender draft compensation for him. At his best, the 43-year-old has guided the Browns to 11 wins and the postseason in two different campaigns (2020 and ’23). However, success has been elusive otherwise.
Unable to find a long-term answer at quarterback, the Browns have gone just 44-56 under Stefanski. They’re a woeful 7-26 since 2024, including 4-12 this year, which could spell doom for their current head coach.
If there’s hope for Stefanski to stay on, it’s that owners Jimmy Haslam and Dee Haslam are fans, Breer notes. The Haslams also like Stefanski’s working relationship with Berry. If the team cuts the cord on Stefanski, though, it would put Berry in position to make his first head coaching hire. Flashing back to January 2020, the Haslams brought in Stefanski two weeks before Berry left Philadelphia’s front office to become Cleveland’s GM. Berry, previously a Browns executive from 2016-18, is in his second stint with the franchise.
Berry and the Browns have already gathered information on potential replacements for Stefanski, per Russini. Ultimately, they could promote from within and hand the job to defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz. He’d “undoubtedly” emerge as a candidate, according to Cabot.
Schwartz finished an ugly 29-51 as Detroit’s head coach from 2009-13, but he has long been one of the game’s best defensive assistants. The 59-year-old is currently at the helm of the league’s second-ranked defense. The face of the franchise, defensive end Myles Garrett, made it clear on Friday that he wants to win and not rebuild. Garrett also made his affinity for Schwartz known.
“Would I like to play under Jim? Would I like to keep the team and for us to improve? Absolutely,” Garrett said.
A solid relationship with Garrett doesn’t mean the Browns will promote Schwartz, but it should help the coach’s chances of taking over for Stefanski. That’s assuming the Browns wave goodbye to Stefanski, which could happen as early as Sunday.