The end of the regular season creates the beginning of another coaching carousel. Teams like the New York Giants and Tennessee Titans already will be looking for their next head coach. Others will deliver the pink slip either on Monday or shortly thereafter. What teams will be making changes and which coaches are safe in their roles? A time to look at who will be back and what NFL head coaches will find their jobs terminated in the offseason.
Arizona Cardinals: Jonathan Gannon
Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon against the Atlanta Falcons at State Farm Stadium.
The Cardinals simply never are able to get over the equator. Gannon heads into the final week of the regular season 15-35 over three campaigns. Every time Arizona seems ready to contend the bottom falls out. The ugly sideline scene after the careless fumble by Emari Demercado could have imperiled Gannon during the season. The constant losing means he won't get another year. Prediction: Terminate him
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Atlanta Falcons: Raheem Morris
Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris leaves the field.
This is Morris' second stint as Falcons head coach. He was 4-7 in an interim capacity in 2020. Currently, he is 15-18 in almost two seasons. Yes, Michael Penix Jr. went out but the Falcons remain nothing but mediocre. They head into the final game with three straight wins. Is that enough to make Arthur Blank think Morris deserves another year? Probably. Verdict: He'll be back
Baltimore Ravens: John Harbaugh
Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh.
A disappointomg regular season could be salvaged with a win on Sunday at Pittsburgh. Harbaugh is one of the best coaches in the NFL. It should be up to him when he wants to exit this position. Verdict: He'll be back
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Buffalo Bills: Sean McDermott
Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott watches from the sidelines during second half action against the Philadelphia Eagles at Highmark Stadium.
McDermott is 97-50 as Bills coach since 2017. The regular season success is not debatable. The problem comes when one realizes he has not delivered a Super Bowl or an appearance in the NFL championship game. Hard to believe the Bills would be better with anyone else. Verdict: He'll be back
Carolina Panthers: Dave Canales
Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales.
Give credit to Panthers and their head coach. They went from 5-12 to 8-8 and have a chance to win the NFC South if they beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Saturday. Canales has taken a terrible situation and built a foundation for the future. Verdict: He'll be back
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Chicago Bears: Ben Johnson
Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson.
A fantastic first year as head coach of the Bears. Verdict: He'll be back
Cincinnati Bengals: Zac Taylor
Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor walks the sideline.
Hard to figure. Joe Burrow says things have to be different. Taylor is 52-62-1 in almost seven seasons. Recognize that Cincy was 11 games over .500 in 2021 and '22 combined. This is a franchse that doesn't make changes at the head coaching position easily. It probably should ... but won't. Verdict: He'll be back
Cleveland Browns: Kevin Stefanski
Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski looks on during the fourth quarter against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field.
Stefanski had a pair of 11-win seasons in his run. They were in 2020 and '2023. Just when you thought the Browns had escaped being perennial losers, they are 7-26 over the past two seasons with a week left. Stefanski is better than his 44-56 record. Chaos rules in Cleveland, especially at quarterback. If he exits, he will find another head job. Prediction: Terminate him
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Dallas Cowboys: Brian Schottenheimer
Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer.
It would be cruel, to be kind, if Jerry Jones decided to let Schottenheimer go after one season. The defense suffered injuries and the head coach had to guide his team through the suicide of Marshawn Kneeland. The offense is fine. The defense needs a lot of work. The team has also had its share of injuries. Give the guy a break. Verdict: He'll be back
Denver Broncos: Sean Payton
Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton chats with players before the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium.
A remarkable head coach: Look at what he has done in Denver and check out what has gone on in New Orleans since Payton left. Verdict: He'll be back
Detroit Lions: Dan Campbell
Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes, left, talks to coach Dan Campbell.
Campbell is 47-36-1 in five seasons as Lions coach. That includes a first two years he was 8-20-1. This season has been disappointing. Detroit is 8-8 and out of the playoffs going into Week 17. There has been some buzz about Campbell. However, many teams would love to have him and the Lions would be foolish to part ways with a guy who has changed the culture of the franchise in a huge way. Verdict: He'll be back
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Green Bay Packers: Matt LaFleur
Green Bay Packers head coach Matt Lafleur.
LaFleur enters the final week of the regular season at 76-39-1 as he completes his seventh season. This is another example of a ton of success but no ring. He won 13 games in each of his first three seasons and has not reached that number again. That said, this is one of the two best divisions in the NFL. Verdict: He'll be back
Houston Texans: DeMeco Ryans
Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans during training camp.
The Texans overcame an 0-3 start to become a major player in the AFC. Their defense is brilliant. Patience has paid off for Ryans, who did not panic after the sluggish beginning of 2025. Verdict: He'll be back
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Indianapolis Colts: Shane Steichen
Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen.
Steichen will continue a run that has seen him go either 9-8 or 8-9 in his first three seasons. The difference here is Indy was 8-2 before the wheels fell off and Daniel Jones was injured. The guy's mark is borderline but the first 10 games of this season earn him another go. Verdict: He'll be back
Jacksonville Jaguars: Liam Coen
Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen.
Getting to the position took a strange route. The Jaguars have to be thrilled the way it worked out. Verdict: He'll be back
Kansas City Chiefs: Andy Reid
Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid.
Reid leaves when he is good and ready. The Chiefs aren't about to do anything foolish with a great head coach. Verdict: He'll be back
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Las Vegas Raiders: Pete Carroll
Las Vegas Raiders head coach Pete Carroll walks off the field after the game against the New York Giants.
It was worth a try. However, recreating Seattle success by bringing in Geno Smith backfired. Let Carroll exit in a distinguished fashion. Bringing him back would serve no purpose in a rebuild. No one will remember this Silver and Black mark on his record. Verdict: Terminate him
Los Angeles Chargers: Jim Harbaugh
Head coach Jim Harbaugh celebrates a field goal with Jamaree Salyer #68 and Bradley Bozeman #75 of the Los Angeles Chargers.
He continues to succeed. Verdict: He'll be back
Los Angeles Rams: Sean McVay
Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay reacts on the sideline against the Atlanta Falcons.
McVay is another of those great coaches who should the right to leave for the television booth when he is good and ready. Verdict: He'll be back
Miami Dolphins: Mike McDaniel
Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel runs off the field following a win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Hard Rock Stadium.
The Dolphins have been mediocre to bad in the past two seasons. Overall, McDaniel enters Week 17 at 35-32. They somehow have worked their way to 7-9. GM Chris Grier was fired. Now, Troy Aikman is helping with the GM search. Why would a new GM not want to make a change at head coach? Verdict: Terminate him
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Minnesota Vikings: Kevin O'Connell
Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell reacts after a play against the Detroit Lions in the first quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium.
The look may have changed now that the Vikings have won four in a row. The question is whether O'Connell deseves the credit or defensive coordinator Brian Flores. The person who should be worried is the guy who decided J.J. McCarthy was the present and future at quarterback. O'Connell shall get another year. Verdict: He'll be back
New England Patriots: Mike Vrabel
Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel runs the field before the preseason game against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium.
A brilliant decision to hire Vrabel and bring back the Patriot Way. Verdict: He'll be back
New Orleans Saints: Kellen Moore
New Orleans Saints head coach Kellen Moore watches against the Tennessee Titans during the second half at Nissan Stadium.
The Saints have a chance to finish the season with a five-game winning streak. That makes Moore a miracle worker in his first season as a head coach. Verdict: He'll be back
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New York Giants: Mike Kafka
New York Giants head coach Mike Kafka looks on during the third quarter against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium.
Mike Kafka took over when Brian Daboll was canned. He has gone 1-5 heading into a season finale against the Dallas Cowboys. There will be a new head coach. Verdict: Terminate him (a given when he took over)
New York Jets: Aaron Glenn
Coach Aaron Glenn and quarterback Justin Fields.
This season has been another disaster for a franchise that has seen more than its share of awful campaigns. The offense is terrible. Glenn fired DC Steve Wilks, like it was his fault. They will probably bring Glenn back but it is simply delaying the inevitable: Verdict: Terminate him
Philadelphia Eagles: Nick Sirianni
Head coach Nick Sirianni of the Philadelphia Eagles looks on from the sidelines in the second quarter of the game against the New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field on January 05, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Sirianni is 59-25 heading into the last week of his fifth regular season as Eagles head coach. You would think he is 25-59 with all the grief thrown his way. Eventually, it will happen. Not now. Verdict: He'll be back
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Pittsburgh Steelers: Mike Tomlin
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin looks on in the first half against the Miami Dolphins at Acrisure Stadium.
Every year the refrain starts that it is time for the Steelers to move on from Mike Tomlin. A win Sunday and they are AFC North champs. Tomlin is another who should determine when he wants to exit. Until then: Quiet down. Verdict: He'll be back (if he wants to come back).
San Francisco 49ers: Kyle Shanahan
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan watches his players work out.
No matter what injuries or obstacles have been thrown in his path, the Niners coach has found ways to win this season. season. Call it a bounce-back for just a great coach doing his job. Verdict: He'll be back
Seattle Seahawks: Mike Macdonald
Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald talks with down judge Daniel Gallagher.
Another coach who has built a great record. The Seahawks are a threat to win it all. Verdict: He'll be back
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Todd Bowles
Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles looks on after a preseason game against the Tennessee Titans.
A loss Saturday to Carolina would make Bowles 34-34 in his last four seasons. A win would make Bowles 35-33 and the Bucs could be NFC South champs four years running and overall five years in a row. What does it mean if you are the coach of the best team in the worst division in the NFL? Not much. Verdict: Terminate him if the Bucs finish 7-10.
Tennessee Titans: Mike McCoy (interim)
Tennessee Titans interim head coach Mike McCoy against the New Orleans Saints during the second half at Nissan Stadium.
There will be another head coach in Tennessee. Bank on it. Verdict: Terminate him
Washington Commanders: Dan Quinn
Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn looks on during the second quarter of the game against the Dallas Cowboys.
The hunter became the hunted in 2025. Injury after injury derailed Washington's hopes for another big year. Quinn would have had to be a miracle worker to overcome everything the Commanders faced. Verdict: He'll be back
This article originally appeared on The List Wire: NFL coaching carousel: Coaches who will and won't be back

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