Ranking the Best NFL Head Coach Openings: Predictions & Early Favorites for All 8 Jobs
I'm diving into my ranking of the best available NFL head coach openings, with eight jobs opening up across the league since the conclusion of the regular season on Sunday night.
There have been a few surprises added to the coaching pool, and I breakdown the best fits for each of the available teams.
🏈 Ranking every NFL head coach opening
Favorites according to prediction market odds via Kalshi. You can use our Kalshi promo code for a $10 bonus by signing up today. Market subject to change.
| Rank | Team | Desirability | Favorite |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Giants | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Kevin Stefanski (39%) |
| 2 | Ravens | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Jesse Minter (31%) |
| 3 | Titans | ⭐⭐⭐ | Matt Nagy (36%) |
| 4 | Falcons | ⭐⭐⭐ | Klint Kubiak (29%) |
| 5 | Dolphins | ⭐⭐ | John Harbaugh (54%) |
| 6 | Cardinals | ⭐⭐ | Vance Joseph (21%) |
| 7 | Raiders | ⭐⭐ | Brian Flores (35%) |
| 8 | Browns | ⭐⭐ | Jim Schwartz (23%) |
📋 Best NFL head coaching vacancies
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8. Cleveland Browns ⭐⭐
We start with the least attractive head coaching vacancy, and that is the Cleveland Browns. The Browns are consistently a losing franchise, and the major concern with this team is their lack of a quality starting quarterback.
The Browns will have Shedeur Sanders, Deshaun Watson, and Dillon Gabriel inked to contracts for the 2026 season, none of whom are viable starting options. They have the 26th most cap space available entering next season, so they do not have much wriggle room to improve the roster.
The benefit this job has is that the Browns have the Defensive Player of the Year, Myles Garrett, signed to a long-term deal as well as the favorite to win the 2025 Defensive Rookie of the Year, Carson Schwesinger. The Browns need to lean into their defense, and who better than Jim Schwartz to take the job? Our Sean Tomlinson wrote in detail about the Browns' next head coach.
Prediction for next coach: Jim Schwartz (22%)
7. Las Vegas Raiders ⭐⭐
The Raiders are next on our list, and they will be selecting first in the 2026 NFL Draft. This is a massive benefit to any coach looking to take over the Raiders’ head coaching position. The Raiders also have the second most cap space entering next season, so this could be a completely new roster, with potentially Fernando Mendoza coming in as the first pick in the draft.
Now for the negatives around this organization. The owner, Mark Davis, seems extremely difficult to work with, and the team has not had success in the league in a very long time. I believe the best hire would be former NFL quarterback Davis Webb, who has been touted as an offensive guru over the last few years. Our Andrew Reid wrote about the Raiders next head coach, and his predictions.
Prediction for next coach: Davis Webb (10%)
6. Arizona Cardinals ⭐⭐
The Cardinals are another team with a lack of appeal. They are also a team with question marks at quarterback. Kyler Murray is one of the highest-paid quarterbacks in the league, and they cannot cut him until after the 2027 season without eating a catastrophic amount of dead cap ($61 million).
This is why I think they will need to hire a coordinator - someone with limited head coaching experience - as the top candidates on the market will not be interested in this job. Brian Flores has been one of the best defensive minds in the league for years now, but has not been able to secure another head coaching opportunity since 2021. This year, with so many open positions, I do believe it is his turn. It has been reported that Flores will interview with the Cardinals.
Prediction for next coach: Brian Flores (14%)
5. Miami Dolphins ⭐⭐
The Miami Dolphins are next on our rankings list, and they are the most recent team to fire their head coach. The Dolphins have quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, whom the team has made clear they do not want as their quarterback moving forward. This is the biggest detractor in taking this job, as the Dolphins are stuck with his contract for several more years. The Dolphins also sit 28th out of 32 teams in available cap space heading into next season.
They have several weapons on the offensive side of the ball and a better overall roster than each of the teams listed above in our rankings. The biggest draw to the Dolphins' job is that there's no income tax in Florida, and that's truthfully the most important reason to join this Dolphins organization. I anticipate Vance Joseph accepting the position, as the premier candidates should pass.
Prediction for next coach: Vance Joseph (22%)
4. Atlanta Falcons ⭐⭐⭐
In the fourth spot in my rankings are the Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons needed to clean house, as they drafted Michael Penix Jr., in the same offseason that they elected to pay Kirk Cousins a four-year, $180 million deal. After both moves, the Falcons still do not have a quarterback for the future.
The positive news for the Falcons is that they have a very respectable defense with several key young players. They also rank in the middle of the league in available cap space, sitting 16th overall. The one concern I would have if I were a coach interested in the Falcons is ensuring they hire a GM I am willing to work with. My selection for the Falcons' next head coach is Klint Kubiak, which our Andrew Reid has written about in detail.
Prediction for next coach: Klint Kubiak (29%)
3. Tennessee Titans ⭐⭐⭐
Third on our rankings list are the Tennessee Titans, and they are this high because I believe in QB Cam Ward. Not only do I believe in Ward, but the Titans also have the most available cap space entering the 2026 season.
The Titans’ young quarterback had an up-and-down rookie season but still showed enough upside for me to believe in him. The reports have been centered around Matt Nagy so far, and I believe he is the most logical pick for the Titans. Nagy seems to have plenty of interest, as it has been reported that he is interviewing for the Ravens, Cardinals, and Raiders coaching vacancies as well. If I'm Nagy and the Ravens elect to go with Jesse Minter, I believe I would take the Titans over any other team lower in our rankings.
Prediction for next coach: Matt Nagy (36%)
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2. Baltimore Ravens ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Ravens are my second choice in our ranking of top head coach openings. Similar to my main reason in the Giants spot, the Ravens have one of the best quarterbacks in the league in Lamar Jackson.
Another benefit of coaching the Ravens is that the team has had only three head coaches in its history, dating back to 1996. Stability is a key factor in a coach’s decision on where they want to work. The Ravens are consistently a playoff team and a threat to win the Super Bowl. All of these are benefits for a future coach. I believe that Jesse Minter will end up as the head coach of the Ravens, and our C. Jackson Cowart wrote about the their open head coaching position in his Ravens next head coach predictions.
Prediction for next coach: Jesse Minter (31%)
1. New York Giants ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Giants come in as my top destination for any available head coach in the National Football League. There are several factors as to why the Giants are the most attractive destination, but one stands out that makes them the premier spot: Jaxson Dart.
The Giants have found another quarterback out of Ole Miss who appears to be the franchise piece in New York. Among teams with a head coach vacancy, only the Giants and Ravens have solidified their quarterback position. All other teams have question marks, and the most important piece an NFL team can have is its quarterback. The Giants have several key pieces on the defensive side as well. This will come down to either Kevin Stefanski or John Harbaugh; my prediction is John Harbaugh.
Our Dustin Saracini wrote about the Giants head coach vacancy in depth in his Giants next head coach predictions.
Prediction for next coach: John Harbaugh (29%)
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