Black Monday: NFL Coaching Changes.... So Far
- Zak Drapeau
- 1 day ago
- 5 min read
by Zak Drapeau
1/7/2026
Sportz Nation
Head Coaches
John Harbaugh (Ravens)
The most shocking firing of the week is for sure Harbaugh. After 18 seasons, 12 playoff appearances, 1 Super Bowl victory and a combined record of 180-113, the Ravens have decided their future is better off in the hands of someone else. Their most recent season being the "final straw" after an 8-9 record and missing the playoffs.
I will save most of my thoughts on this move for an article specifically on this situation coming out Later This Week, but in short I don't think this move is as bad as most others do.
On the surface, the Ravens are wrong for giving up on Harbaugh seemingly out of nowhere. One of the best coaches of all time and easily the best in Baltimore's history, Harbaugh is such a great coach he immediately got calls from about 7 different t6eams when he was let go.
If you look deeper, the Ravens are looking to win some Super Bowls with Lamar Jackson and their incredibly deep roster and Harbaugh's Ravens have only made the conference championship once, (2023) in the last 13 years. It may be a good idea to get some new blood in the system.
Pete Carroll (Raiders)
On to another hire that was a bit shocking but not nearly as much so, Pete Carroll is also out of a job after only 1 season in charge in Las Vegas. Most people including myself knew this position wasn't long for Carroll being 73 years old, but I assumed he'd get at least a few years to see a rebuild. Alas, after "earning" the number one draft pick with a 3-14 record, the Raiders' brass doesn't feel as though he can lead or rebuild this team.
Vegas has one of the most appealing rosters this offseason of any of the 7 vacant teams. With several Pro Bowl players, one of the best markets in football and ownership who truly want to win, this team could be at the top of several different suitors.
Kevin Stefanski (Browns)
Stefanski will be right behind Harbaugh as one of the top candidates for other jobs. Truthfully, Stefanski never really had a chance in Cleveland once GM Andrew Berry traded away Baker Mayfield and brought in Deshaun Watson. The 3rd most tenured Head Coach in Cleveland HISTORY, Stefanski's 6 seasons and 101 games left with a record of 45-56.
The former 2x-Coach of the Year is absolutely someone who can lead a team, evident by being the only coach to lead the Browns to a playoff win since Bill Belichick in 1994. Stefanski is a great offensive mind who has already been rumored around the Giants' head coaching job and would fit right in with the young and dynamic playmakers on the Giants.
Jonathan Gannon (Cardinals)
I still believe Gannon is a decent Head Coach who should get another chance somewhere down the road but for now, the Cardinals were absolutely right to move on. After 3 seasons in charge and a 15-36 record, Gannon showed that not only was his offense not getting the job done with Kyler Murray, but his defensive skills (his specialty) faded this season as well.
Gannon was one of the key reasons for the Eagles Super Bowl appearance in 2023 as the defensive coordinator that year. When he moved to the Cardinals he was put in charge of one of the young fantastic QB's in the league along with a defense that needed work. 3 years later and neither of those problems got any better and the Cards ended with a 3-14 record.
Raheem Morris (Falcons)
In my opinion, this firing was the most unjust of this year's cycle. I realize that's high praise after the Harbaugh news but Morris only had two seasons where he finished 8-9 both years and also made one of the better defenses in the league. In this last season, Morris' Falcons lost several key players to injury including their young QB Michael Penix and STILL only missed the playoffs based on a tiebreaker for the NFC South division.
The Falcons must have a feeling that they want to change the culture or they believe they have a lead on a guy that would perform better than Morris already. With the build of this team, I can see them wanting to prioritize finding an offensive-minded coach to optimize the potentials of Penix, Robinson, London and Pitts.
Brian Callahan (Titans)
Midseason
This move was made after Week 6 and made a lot of sense, in fact, the Titans may have ended the season only 3-14 but amassed a 2-9 record under interim coach Mike McCoy opposed to the 1-5 start under Callahan. In his near season and a half in charge of the team, Callahan had a 4-19 record and had the Titans as the worst or second worst team at any given point.
The Titans have a crucial hiring in front of them this offseason with last year's #1 pick Cam Ward being under a microscope. He is talented and finished his rookie season with an 80.2 passer rating, 17 TDs and only 7 interceptions. He looks as though he has a promising future in the league but that will only happen if Tennessee hires the right man for the rebuild that is under ways still for the Titans.
Brian Daboll (Giants)
Midseason
After Week 10 of the 2025 season, Daboll was relieved of duties in New York after over 3 seasons. An 18-42-1 record is one of the worst records a coach has ever amassed in the league but doesn't tell you the whole story of Daboll and his coaching ability. Truth be told, Daboll is one of the best offensive minds in the league and was even starting to do some VERY interesting stuff with his collective of young superstars in New York.
It was absolutely time for a change in New York and with this spot open, I have to give the Giants the same distinction as I gave the Patriots last year, as the "Most Attractive Landing Spot for Coaches" this offseason. In an Elite market, with a likely Franchise QB entering his second year, with Nabers and Skattebo as weapons and defensive superstars like Burns, Carter, Adebo, Holland and others, aaaaaaand the #5 pick in this year's draft.
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Make sure to stay tuned as we continue coverage of the 2026 NFL Playoffs and Offseason.
-Z.D.