The NFL hiring cycle is as robust as it’s been in recent memory. In all, 10 openings popped up across the league this go-around, meaning over 30% of franchises were looking for new head coaches.
When we look at the array of openings, they are quite different. On the one hand, teams like the Browns, Giants, Raiders, Titans and Cardinals all fired their head coaches — some midseason — after years that left them with some of the league’s worst records and in the top 10 of the 2026 NFL Draft. Then, there are clubs like the Bills, Ravens and Steelers that moved on from their head coaches after their tenures — which were considered successful overall — ran stale and failed to meet expectations.
Now, each of those teams will have new faces leading their organizations into what they all hope will be a brighter tomorrow. With nine of the coaching positions filled and one more expected to be finalized after the Super Bowl, let’s begin rolling out our grades for each hire.
Kevin Stefanski: B+
The new brain trust in Atlanta, headlined by president of football Matt Ryan and head coach Kevin Stefanski, is quite powerful.
With Stefanski, he found himself in a quarterback tornado as head coach of the Browns, particularly over the last few seasons — beginning with the arrival of Deshaun Watson and double-dipping in last year’s draft with Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders.
Even with that instability under center, Stefanski was still able to win two NFL Coach of the Year awards (2020 and 2023), so he comes to the Falcons with a strong reputation.
Similar to the Browns, however, Stefanski’s tenure could be defined by how he develops…
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