With the 2025 NFL season officially in the books, the attention has already shifted to the 2026 campaign.
Just more than half of the league missed the playoffs and the leaders of those teams have spent the weeks since the completion of the regular season reviewing, calculating and plotting paths that they hope will lead them back to contention.
Eight of the 18 teams that missed the playoffs will have new head coaches when the 2026 season kicks off, and all but the Cincinnati Bengals, New Orleans Saints and Indianapolis Colts fired their head coach, at least one coordinator or their general manager.
Some of this year’s non-playoff teams seem likely to rebound fairly quickly. Others likely will have to endure a lengthy rebuilding process before they can even think about the playoffs.
We’re taking a look at all of the non-playoff teams and ranking them in terms of from most likely to rebound and reach the playoffs in 2026 to least likely.
The John Harbaugh era came to an end, and Ravens brass has anointed former Harbaugh disciple Jesse Minter as the man to lead Baltimore back to Super Bowl glory. Of all of the non-playoff teams, Baltimore is the closest to contending. If not for a missed field goal, the Ravens would have qualified for the playoffs. Minter, most recently the defensive coordinator of the Los Angeles Chargers, inherits a roster that includes one of the best quarterbacks of this generation in Lamar Jackson, and the two have already begun working on establishing a good rapport. Minter also has a roster that features quality pieces in supporting roles on offense, and a defense that has talent, but has underachieved ever since Mike Macdonald’s departure in 2024. Yes, Baltimore needs some upgrades at various positions this offseason, but this team has as good a chance as any to return to the playoffs.
The Lions fell prey to growing pains after having to replace both offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn while also dealing with injuries — most notably along the offensive line and in their secondary. But the core of this team remains strong, and general manager Brad Holmes always does well in the draft. Dan Campbell’s team seem likely to find itself back in the mix next season.
3. Cincinnati Bengals (6-11)
OK, this team did receive top billing in last year’s projections on teams that would most likely rebound into playoff form. But Joe Burrow’s nine-game injury absence and a porous defense derailed Cincinnati’s season. If healthy, Burrow (5-3 as a starter in 2025) will help significantly elevate the Bengals, as will a free agency and draft devoted to fortifying the defense. Given that the rest of the AFC North is starting over at head coach, the Bengals should have a leg up on the competition.
The Bucs followed a strong start to the season with an uncharacteristic slide, losing seven of their final nine games and narrowly missing the playoffs. Injuries along the offensive line and at wide receiver, and inconsistencies in the pass-rushing department, contributed to the collapse. Todd Bowles will return as head coach, but he fired all of his coordinators in search of improved effectiveness across the board. GM Jason Licht has done an exceptional job of plugging holes through the draft, so look for another wave of talent to help position Tampa Bay for a rebound in the wide-open NFC South.
A torn ACL cut Patrick Mahomes’ season short by three games, and even before that, the Chiefs were long shots to make the playoffs because of inconsistencies at wide receiver and running back, poor offensive ground depth and a drop-off in production along the defensive front. The Chiefs have salaries to purge to free up resources, but look for an aggressive offseason as GM Brett Veach tries to ensure better support for Mahomes, who anticipates a Week 1 return, while also striving to give Andy Reid another shot or two at Super Bowl contention before the future Hall of Fame coach hangs ’em up.
The Falcons have been close, finishing 8-9 in each of the last two seasons under Raheem Morris. But Arthur Blank had a quick hook and fired Morris and GM Terry Fontenot and has turned the franchise over to former quarterback and league MVP Matt Ryan, the team’s new president of football. Kevin Stefanski takes over as head coach and will try to help guide this team to a breakthrough. There’s plenty of young talent on this team with running back Bijan Robinson leading the way. There are also questions, like who will play quarterback, given that Michael Penix Jr. is recovering from a torn ACL and Kirk Cousins is expected to be released. But the NFC South remains winnable, and with a quality quarterback, the playoffs seem like a realistic goal.
An injury-plagued sophomore campaign for Jayden Daniels, hiccups caused by Terry McLaurin’s contract holdout, limitations at running back and gaping holes on defense all added up to a big disappointment for Washington after the 2024 NFC Championship Game appearance. Dan Quinn fired both offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury and defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. and now turns to a pair of first-timers in David Blough (offense) and Daronte Jones (defense) in hopes that they can help each unit fulfill its potential.
GM Adam Peters needs to have a strong offseason to infuse both units (but especially the front and back ends of the defense) with youth. There could be some growing pains with a pair of new coordinators. But if Daniels is healthy and finds comfort in the new system, Washington has a chance to bounce back in an NFC East where the Philadelphia Eagles’ stranglehold appears to be weakening and where the New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys are trying to figure things out.
If Jayden Daniels is healthy, the Commanders have a chance to bounce back. (Ellen Schmidt / Getty Images)
The Vikings let 2024 starter Sam Darnold leave town and he helped the Seahawks win the Super Bowl. Meanwhile, J.J. McCarthy’s first season as a starter featured far more struggles than the Vikings anticipated. Those developments played a large role in the firing of general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. Now, the Vikings must find a new lead talent evaluator and also determine whether McCarthy can make a significant leap forward under Kevin O’Connell’s tutelage. McCarthy does have talented teammates to lean on. If the Vikings can upgrade his line, and help slow the game down for McCarthy, improvement should come.
9. Dallas Cowboys (7-9-1)
First-year head coach Brian Schottenheimer proved effective as an offensive architect and play caller. But an atrocious defense cost Dallas a shot at the playoffs. So Schottenheimer fired Matt Eberflus as defensive coordinator and hired former Eagles secondary coach/passing game coordinator Christian Parker, hoping the 34-year-old can ignite the unit. He has to have something to work with, though. Jerry Jones did make moves to upgrade the interior of the defensive line, but the Cowboys still badly need impactful pass rushers and reinforcements at linebacker and cornerback. Is one draft and free agency a window of opportunity enough to get that defense right?
10. New Orleans Saints (6-11)
Despite being stuck in salary cap purgatory, the Saints made some strides under first-year head coach Kellen Moore and won four of their last five games. They appear to have an answer in quarterback Tyler Shough, but drafting and developing talent around him ranks high on their list of priorities. New Orleans certainly could make things interesting in the NFC South, but might fall short in its quest to reach the postseason.
11. Indianapolis Colts (8-9)
The Colts have a strong roster and looked like a playoff team until Daniel Jones tore his Achilles tendon and was lost for the season. Jones looks like the answer in Shane Steichen’s system; however, he could miss the start of the 2026 season depending on how his recovery goes, and he will be a free agent this offseason. To reach the playoffs, Steichen may have to help Anthony Richardson — a disappointment thus far — figure out how to limit mistakes and run the offense effectively while leaning heavily on Jonathan Taylor and the defense. But getting past the Jacksonville Jaguars and Houston Texans will prove challenging.
The Browns settled on former Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken after a lengthy coaching search, and the first-time NFL head coach has his work cut out for him. He must decide whether to go with Shedeur Sanders or Deshaun Watson as his starting quarterback. He must settle on a coordinator to lead a talent-filled defense following Jim Schwartz’s resignation. And GM Andrew Berry must use the draft to repair the offensive line and upgrade the receiving unit, because Watson’s contract allows for little salary cap flexibility. The Browns can improve on last year’s 5-12 record, but the playoffs feel at least another season away.
13. New York Giants (4-13)
The Giants start anew with John Harbaugh, and the long-time head coach brings instant credibility to a franchise long lost in the wilderness, having been through six head coaches (including two interim) and having just two playoff appearances since their last Super Bowl victory, which capped the 2011 season. New York has a number of talented, young pieces, including quarterback Jaxson Dart and wide receiver Malik Nabers. But it still might take some time for the Giants to round into a playoff team.
John Harbaugh brings credibility and has some talent to work with in New York. (Julian Leshay Guadalupe / USA Today via Imagn Images)
Robert Saleh returns to the head coaching ranks and draws the task of bringing stability to a Titans franchise whose leaders have struggled to commit to anything since firing Mike Vrabel in 2023. The Titans appear to have their quarterback in second-year pro Cam Ward, who should thrive under Brian Daboll’s creative lead. But they have plenty of needs on both sides of the ball. The fourth pick of the draft could help meet a big need, but Tennessee is still likely a ways off from contention.
Head coach has represented a revolving door for the Raiders, who, since John Gruden’s dismissal in 2021, have gone through Rich Bisaccia, Josh McDaniels, Antonio Pierce and Pete Carroll. Now, they turn to Klint Kubiak in hopes the newly-minted Super Bowl champion offensive coordinator can bring stability. Armed with the No. 1 pick (Fernando Mendoza?), GM John Spytek has a chance to place the Raiders on the path to respectability. However, the needs list is quite extensive, so the playoffs will have to wait.
Year 1 under Aaron Glenn represented more of the same for the Jets. The long-time defensive coach looked at his staff and decided to clean house. The Jets still don’t have an answer at quarterback. They also need pass rushers, linebackers, cornerbacks, playmakers on offense and pass protectors. This is much more than a one-year fix.
After pulling the plug on the Mike McDaniel experiment, the Dolphins now shift to a defensive focus under former Green Bay Packers coordinator Jeff Hafley. It appears that quarterback Tua Tagovailoa could also be on the move despite a massive dead cap hit looming. Miami fans should brace for a few lean years.
After three fruitless seasons, Jonathan Gannon received his walking papers and now the Cardinals will give another first-year coach a try. Mike LaFleur struggled in his two seasons as offensive coordinator of the Jets and spent the last three seasons as Sean McVay’s right-hand man. Is the 38-year-old really ready to lead his own team? The Kyler Murray era seems to be over, so will the Cardinals roll with Jacoby Brissett for another bridge season?