As the 2026 coaching carousel expanded to 10 vacancies, all four filled positions have gone to candidates with previous head coaching experience, including John Harbaugh, Kevin Stefanski, Robert Saleh, and Jeff Hafley. Six teams, including the Raiders and Browns, now face the choice between hiring seasoned coaches or promoting assistants. Despite the presence of several former head coaches in the interview process, the trend favors experienced leaders. It remains uncertain how many of the remaining openings will be filled by first-time head coaches, who currently hold an 0-4 record this cycle.
