Every NFL fan wants to fire their head coach at least once a year. Sometimes it is warranted, and other times it is just an emotional overreaction.
Look no further than the Chicago Bears. Matt Eberflus struggled for multiple years coaching two first-round quarterbacks in Justin Fields and Caleb Williams, resulting in his dismissal, much to the satisfaction of the fans.
With the next hire being Ben Johnson, he spearheaded a complete franchise turnaround in one year. It should not have been a surprise considering he helped transform the Lions into an offensive powerhouse.
On the flip side, six time Super Bowl winner for the New England Patriots, Bill Belichick, left in 2024 only to be replaced by first time Head Coach Jerod Mayo. Mayo’s lone season saw his team win the second-fewest amount of games that year, resulting in his firing.
This year, a record-tying 10 NFL franchises have replaced their coach, signifying the first step of the eight month pro-football off-season. With some huge names and brands switching their signal caller, let’s look at the four new hirings with the biggest implications for the upcoming season and beyond.
Kevin Stefanski – Atlanta Falcons (formerly Browns HC):
The Atlanta Falcons have been keen on selecting offensive talent in the first round in years past, but have had the incompetent Arthur Smith and defensive-minded Raheem Morris at the helm for the last half decade.
With the Browns letting go of their two-time Coach of the Year, Kevin Stefanski, Atlanta was able to bring him in even while eight other teams were still alive in the post-season. In an already weak NFC South, the Falcons now bring in the best coach in their division, just a year after they were a game away from hosting a playoff matchup.
Stefanski has gotten significant results out of Nick Chubb, Amari Cooper, and David Njoku in the past, so Atlanta hopes that can translate to Bijan Robinson, Drake London, and Kyle Pitts.
Just like his time in Cleveland, the quarterback position is uncertain in Stefanski’s new role, as Michael Penix Jr. is returning from knee surgery and the expensive Kirk Cousins is still on the roster. There was not a better fit than Stefanski for this Falcons team.
John Harbaugh – New York Giants (formerly Ravens HC):
With the midseason firing of Brian Daboll, the Giants were able to get a head start in the hiring process. This allowed them to snap up the hottest name on the market: John Harbaugh.
Harbaugh’s 18 seasons in Baltimore saw 12 postseason appearances and a Super Bowl victory, although he faced criticism for failing to consistently win with Lamar Jackson. No matter the amount of talent, Harbaugh’s teams always bring an intense and physical energy to each game, fitting the style of the Giants’ Jaxson Dart and Cam Skattebo.
In the city of New York, there is very little room for failure, which Harbaugh has rarely done in the regular season. The Giants might have found their next Tom Coughlin.
Mike McCarthy – Pittsburgh Steelers (formerly Cowboys HC):
Pittsburgh native Mike McCarthy takes over his hometown team, becoming only the fourth Head Coach in Steelers history. Filling the shoes of Mike Tomlin is no easy task, as Tomlin reached two Super Bowls in his first four seasons as coach.
With Cowher and Tomlin both being first time hires, the Rooney family broke the mold in this regard for McCarthy. Their new coach has had a successful 12 and a half years in Green Bay, followed by an underwhelming stint in Dallas for the last five seasons.
With the Steelers being in the mix for a new coach for the first time since 2007, it’s understandable that fans wanted a fresh voice in the building, especially if this hire is just a front to re-sign 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers.
Pittsburgh’s culture continues to take on a “high floor, low ceiling” approach, which has been the same for at least a decade. It’s hard to imagine McCarthy’s team falling below .500, but it’s just as difficult to see them consistently competing for Super Bowls.
Joe Brady – Buffalo Bills (formerly Bills OC):
Eight postseason appearances and five division titles were not able to save Sean McDermott’s job, as he was released after a 33-30 loss against the Broncos last month. Despite this, running back James Cook blossomed into a star and Josh Allen continued to both shine under offensive coordinator Joe Brady.
This is not the first time that Brady has worked with an elite QB, as he was first discovered in 2019 for coaching Joe Burrow and the historic LSU Tigers that year. A couple of unsuccessful stops along the way brought Brady to Buffalo in 2023, where he oversaw a Josh Allen MVP season.
However, Allen was already an established star well before Brady and still has yet to reach the Super Bowl. The Bills’ offensive coordinator who oversaw Allen’s development, Brian Daboll, ultimately failed leading the Giants, and was already on the market for this cycle.
Internal promotions rarely bring a team to new levels, so Brady appears to be the safe but also risky hire, as he has never been a head coach at any level and does not have the proven NFL defensive staff to fall back on.
While these are just projections, no one can really tell the successes of each hire until September. Many times, unassuming hires like Dan Campbell turn out far better than the bigger profile names like Urban Meyer.
It is rare that a football team can be successful with a below average roster, but it is even rarer that a poor head coach lifts the Lombardi Trophy. Firing a coach can be one possible step towards greatness, but the grass is not always greener, and the next hire must be nailed to build out a strong roster.
Ten teams, including the Raiders, Titans, Dolphins, Ravens, Cardinals, and Browns, have a new sense of optimism surrounding the upcoming season, and the future to come.